Some days ago, Ding Sha and Xiao Jun were still discussing whether or not they should hire more people. With the small shop's business getting better and better, it was getting hard for just the two of them to handle everything.
Xiao Jun put everything in place and sat down next to Ding Sha. "Big Brother Zhuang, you're not working at the construction site anymore?"
"It's not me, it's my wife," Da Zhuang said somewhat awkwardly. "She wants to find some work to do."
As he spoke, he seemed a bit hesitant. "But there are some circumstances I need to tell you about first."
"What is it?" Ding Sha was very curious seeing his hesitant and awkward manner.
"Well..." Da Zhuang bit his teeth. "She's not alone - she has to take care of her aunt."
As the words came out, Da Zhuang felt somewhat relieved but also really ashamed. He knew Ding Sha was kind, which was why he had the audacity to come ask.
"Her aunt used to have some mental issues, but she's not violent at all, and will also help with the work."
As soon as Xiao Jun heard this, he refused. Knowing Ding Sha's current condition, he didn't feel assured having any unstable factors around her, let alone someone with a history of mental illness.
Da Zhuang quickly said, "Brother Xiao, please hear me out. My aunt absolutely won't harm our miss!"
"You don't know - my aunt used to be known as an extremely capable person in the ten li surrounding area. Her husband was also diligent and honest. They had two children, an older brother and a younger sister, and both kids were smart and obedient. Everyone in the village said they envied how well off their family was."
Da Zhuang sighed and continued, "But a few years ago, the whole family of four went out to celebrate the little girl's birthday. They had just put the candles in the cake at the restaurant and hadn't sung happy birthday yet when there was a huge explosion in the kitchen due to a gas leak."
"Both kids died on the spot, and uncle passed away after struggling for a few days at the hospital. Only auntie survived because she had gone out to buy ice cream for the kids."
"But after a few days, auntie's mental state became abnormal. She ignored people and didn't speak, and would cry when she saw little girls, and was afraid of big fires."
"Auntie took care of our family before. The things I prepared for my wedding with Cui'er were all arranged by auntie. She was good to us, so Cui'er and I decided to bring auntie to live with us."
"Previously Cui'er was always at home taking care of the child and auntie. I worked at construction sites to earn money. Now auntie's mental condition has almost fully recovered, and Cui'er felt bad for me and said to bring auntie to find some work, so things at home would be better too."
Da Zhuang rubbed his hands. "That's basically the situation. Unfortunately there are still many places that don't want auntie, so I shamelessly came to ask if you all..."
Xiao Jun hadn't said anything yet, but Ding Sha spoke up. "Can we meet sister-in-law and auntie?"
"Of course, of course!" Da Zhuang was extremely happy and immediately took out his phone to call them at the door.
"Ding Ding, I think..." Xiao Jun frowned, about to say something.
Ding Sha immediately covered her ears. "I don't want your opinion, I want my opinion!"
After saying this, she observed Xiao Jun's reaction. As expected, she saw him completely confused.
He really hadn't read the Ming classics!
Ding Sha chuckled. She hooked Xiao Jun's arm and said, "Oh come on, it's just meeting them! I haven't decided to hire them yet, don't worry so much."
"If it's not suitable after meeting them we can talk then. If it is suitable, it'll save us the trouble of hiring someone else."
She also gently shook his arm.
Xiao Jun stroked her head. His eyes were full of tenderness - this was the Ding Sha he was most familiar with.
"Ding Ding, since I've been back, you've been much more distant with me. Are you..."
Xiao Jun wanted to ask if she minded that he had been in prison once.
But Ding Sha panickly thought he had noticed her slip-up.
"What did you say?" Ding Sha pretended she didn't hear him clearly.
But Xiao Jun noticed her barely concealed panic and unease.
So she did mind after all?
Da Zhuang came back holding his phone. "I told Cui'er, they'll be here soon!"
Xiao Jun stood up. "Then you sit first. I'll go stir fry something."
He put on an apron and went into the kitchen.
He soaked large pieces of pork belly in cold water, then cooked them with scallions, ginger, garlic, and rice wine. He cut the cooked pork into thin slices, then stir fried it in hot oil until the fat rendered out. He fried the aromatics until fragrant, then added a spoonful of salty and spicy doubanjiang to make the red oil. Based on experience, he seasoned it.
Every chef's twice cooked pork tasted different. Xiao Jun liked to dry fry then fry the fatty pork until aromatic. The saltiness of the doubanjiang was already enough, so he added some rice wine, salt, sugar, and a little bit of soy sauce. Finally he threw in a handful of garlic sprouts and gave it a few more stirs before taking it off the heat.
Xiao Jun brought out this rice killer dish from the kitchen. Ding Sha was already sitting inside going through yesterday's remaining accounts, while Da Zhuang eagerly scooped out rice into bowls.
"You don't know how much I've been craving this!" Da Zhuang shoveled a huge mouthful in, savoring it blissfully for a few chews. "Especially recently, being so busy I'm exhausted. The workers are so tired when they get home they just pass out. We've been dreaming about your twice cooked pork these days."
"Come often then." Xiao Jun brought over a pot of water and placed it on the table, and also fished out some homemade pickles Ding Sha had made for him to try.
After eating their fill, it wasn't long before the two women came in.
It was Cui'er and her auntie.
Da Zhuang hurried off, "I have to get back to the construction site, or I'll get fined for being caught playing hooky. Cui'er, let me know however it turns out!"
He left instructions and rushed off.
The women stood awkwardly in place, not daring to move.
Cui'er looked much older than women her age, probably from years of hard work. Her hands were full of calluses and cracks. She wore a floral top, and her hair was neatly combed.
Her auntie had a round face despite being gaunt, looking very amiable. She was likewise clean and tidy, extremely capable looking.
"Have a seat first, you must be tired coming all this way. Have some water first." Ding Sha poured two cups of cooled boiled water and placed them on the table.
The women hurriedly thanked her and accepted them.
Perhaps Ding Sha's gentle and soft manner put them at ease. Cui'er spoke up somewhat nervously, "Boss lady, I'm called Cui'er, 35 this year. This is my auntie, called Zhuang Qiongying, 48 this year."
As she spoke, she took some papers out of her pocket. "These are mine and my auntie's physical exam reports. This is my auntie's diagnosis certificate. She really doesn't have any more problems now."
Xiao Jun took them and looked through carefully, while Ding Sha looked at Zhuang Qiongying. Zhuang Qiongying smiled at her. "Boss lady, I've recovered now. I can do normal tasks like washing dishes, cleaning, washing vegetables and preparing ingredients. I can also do bookkeeping."
She seemed very normal.
After Xiao Jun asked some more questions, he decided to keep both of them with Ding Sha's consent.
"There are empty rooms in the west wing. You guys can clean up and live there," Xiao Jun didn't let Ding Sha get up. He brought them to the backyard. "The toilet is over there, the kitchen is there."
"Since it's room and board, the pay won't be too high."
"My wife is pregnant now so many things are inconvenient for her, so you must take extra care of her."
Xiao Jun gave instructions one by one. "That's it, feel free to move around."
After finishing, he went to accompany Ding Sha.
He still remembered their earlier conversation topic.
Xiao Jun was stubborn. He wanted to ask Ding Sha if she really minded.
