The two began to compete, both for a living; it wasn't easy to find a job.
Xie Sui smiled and said, "Since that's the case, you can both stay. My two boys are quite robust, and looking after them isn't easy. As for this auntie..."
"My surname is Chen."
Aunt Chen was delighted. If they both stayed, there would be no competition, and her wrinkled old face crinkled even more as she smiled.
"Alright, Aunt Chen, you'll handle the kitchen matters. Make sure the children eat well and are well-cared for. I get a bonus at the end of the month. As for this auntie..."
"My surname is Li."
Xie Sui said, "Aunt Li, you'll be responsible for picking up and dropping off the children, doing their laundry, and looking after them. You're younger, so you'll have more work, but the salary will be the same, starting at twenty yuan a month."
"Okay, okay, can I start tomorrow?"
"I can start right now."
Xie Sui smiled, "Come tomorrow. Prepare yourself at home. From now on, my children will be entrusted to the two of you."
With Aunt Chen and Aunt Li settled, the young girl wasn't too pleased. "What about me?"
"I'm sorry, it's better for an auntie to look after children. A young girl can do lighter work, like being a waitress. This job isn't suitable for you, I'm truly sorry."
Xie Sui rejected her. Director Gu said, "Xiao Xie is right. Xiao He, I'll introduce you to a job later."
Xiao He's full name was He Xiaoyu. She pursed her lips and looked pitifully at Xie Sui. "My family has always been urging me to get married. If I don't have a job, I'll have to marry someone I don't like. I know you're capable, big brother. Can you help me?"
Director Gu was displeased. "Xiao He, why are you telling him this? It's not appropriate for a first meeting. I'll talk to your family. It's a new society now; arranged marriages are no longer acceptable."
He Xiaoyu was unwilling, tears welling up. She saw that Xie Sui was easy to talk to and generous, and she didn't want to miss this opportunity.
Xie Sui held up his hand. "Since that's the case, I'll arrange a job for you at the pickle factory. Report there."
"Thank you, big brother. I knew you were a good person."
Xie Sui waved his hand. "Go back. Don't call me a good person. It's just a small favor. But you have to do a good job. I'm not a pushover."
Director Gu was happy. "Xiao Xie, you're so kind-hearted. You were looking for one nanny, but now you've kept all three."
Xie Sui replied, "As long as they're useful to me, it doesn't matter if there's one more or one less. Thank you for your trouble, Director Gu."
"Don't be so formal. You've helped me too. I'll be going now. When your wife comes back, I'll treat your whole family to a meal."
"Alright, we'll definitely come and try your cooking."
Director Gu left with He Xiaoyu. He Xiaoyu learned some of Xie Sui's situation – he already owned two factories at such a young age. It was a pity he was married.
A flicker of sadness crossed her eyes. Director Gu pretended not to notice. Young girls all had such thoughts. No wonder Xie Sui didn't want her.
With the children settled and the factories gradually on track, Xie Sui and Xu Siman reconciled their accounts at the end of the month. The income was better than Xie Sui had expected, exceeding twenty thousand yuan.
Twenty thousand yuan was the net profit after taxes, salaries, and all expenses were deducted. In an era when even ten thousand yuan was a rarity, earning over twenty thousand yuan in a month was extraordinary.
"It's just so-so. Next month it should double. If we can make a hundred thousand by the end of the year, it won't have been a wasted effort."
Xu Siman thought his words were incredibly boastful. How were others supposed to live?
"Alas, I have the money, but my wife is gone. My Wanwan is like a released hawk. It's been over a month, and even the leaves are worried, but she still doesn't want to come back. Uncle Xu, I shouldn't have let them go to the city. I'm left alone, so miserable."
Xu Siman didn't want to talk to him. One moment he was a big factory director, and the next he was acting frivolous. Could he not live without his wife? It made one want to hit him.
After seeing Xu Siman off, Xie Sui called Lin Wanwan. His usual question: "Wife, when are you coming back? My neck is getting long from craning it to see."
Lin Wanwan's laughter was full of joy and vibrancy. "Soon. The sales channels here have just opened, and I need to oversee them. In half a month at most, my second sister and I will definitely be back. How are the children?"
"Good, very good. They've almost forgotten about you. They're closest to me now. When you come back, your son won't even recognize you."
Lin Wanwan sounded a bit childish, suppressing her wistfulness. "Aren't I doing this for our family? Brother Xu found a batch of goods, jeans and batwing tops. My second sister and I plan to go big. We'll bring in a thousand pieces of each. If we make three yuan per piece, we can earn several thousand in one trip!"
Xie Sui thought it was feasible. Batwing tops seemed to sell well around this time. A thousand pieces could be sold in the county town. If not, they could send them to the neighboring county. Wei Hao was familiar with that area; selling clothes wouldn't be a problem.
"Alright, you're making money and forgetting your husband and children. You're something else. What about my second sister? He Liang has been to our house to cause trouble three times. This matter needs to be resolved. Our parents are very worried."
Lin Wanwan was also troubled. Her second sister had been away from home for almost half a year. It really needed to be resolved. From her second sister's demeanor, she didn't seem to want to go home.
"We'll talk about it when we get back."
"I miss you, wife. Remember to miss me too."
Lin Wanwan blushed and hung up the phone, her emotions unsettled for a long time. The current life felt like a dream.
Xie Min said sourly, "You old married couple, being so mushy. How can I, who am unhappy in my marriage, bear it?"
Lin Wanwan said seriously, "Second sister, what do you plan to do? He Liang keeps bothering the elders at home. Xie Sui is already angry. This can't drag on."
Xie Min asked, "If I divorce him, will people laugh at me?"
Lin Wanwan replied, "Others can't live your life for you. If He Liang had changed like Xie Sui, you could give him another chance. But He Liang is clearly lazy and now harasses the elders so rudely. I don't like him."
When Xie Sui was being a scoundrel, he at most stole chickens and dogs, but he never did anything truly shameless. He still had his principles. Sudan Novel Network.
Xie Min was silent. Lin Wanwan didn't say more, letting her think it through.
Xie Sui waited anxiously, urging Xu Dong to help Lin Wanwan send back the goods sooner. Finally, ten days later, they returned.
He personally went to the train station to pick them up. The clothes had already been transported back by train in advance. Zhang Weiguo handled the delivery, making a profit from the price difference. Both of them found the money-making process unbelievable; it was too easy.
Xie Min was restless and brought back two large bags of clothes. The more she could earn, the better. Selling them herself would earn an extra yuan. For two hundred pieces, that was two hundred yuan.
Xie Min was obsessed with making money. Xie Sui would help her raise her daughter, but he couldn't do everything for her. Xie Min was spirited and had pride. For her two daughters, she had to live with dignity and make something of herself.