Chapter 369: Chapter 367: Agreed
Gu’er and Sun Jiaming went to the Wang Family’s home again the next day.
Wang Shun wasn’t home when they arrived. Liu Cui was taken aback when she saw them, but she still invited them inside.
Liu Cui told them that Wang Shun had gone out to look for work.
Gu’er and Liu Cui chatted for a bit, but the conversation soon died down. They didn’t know each other well, and Liu Cui wasn’t a talkative person, so the atmosphere grew a little awkward.
"Please, have a seat. I’ll go make lunch. It’s almost noon, so you should eat here. Wang Shun will be back by then."
After speaking, Liu Cui went to the kitchen. ’This is so strange,’ she thought. ’What are this husband and wife here for? It can’t be for a free meal; the money they spent on transportation to get here is more than a meal would cost. So what are they after? Our family doesn’t have anything worth wanting.’ Liu Cui’s mind raced as she cooked.
When Wang Shun returned, covered in dirt, he was also taken aback to see the two of them. But he quickly broke into a laugh and started talking to them boisterously.
They all had lunch together. The Wang Family couldn’t make anything fancy; the meal was much like the dinner from the previous night.
After the meal, Gu’er and Sun Jiaming explained the reason for their visit.
Wang Shun and Liu Cui were initially overjoyed to hear the offer, but then they fell silent.
It was a good thing that someone was willing to hire Wang Shun, and he wouldn’t have to do hard labor anymore. But the job wasn’t in the city; it was in a village. Who knew what it would be like over there?
"This? I... I’m not prepared for this at all. How about I discuss it with my wife and let you know? My head’s spinning right now; I can’t think straight. I don’t know if I should go or not."
Wang Shun truly didn’t know what to do.
"Of course, you should definitely discuss it. We were actually planning to leave today, but we can wait one more day. Whether you decide to go or not, please let us know tomorrow, Uncle Wang."
Sun Jiaming nodded. This was a major decision for the Wang Family, and they deserved time to talk it over.
"Yes, yes, you’re right, Brother. I’ll give you an answer for sure tomorrow."
Wang Shun nodded repeatedly.
Now that the matter was settled, the couple said their goodbyes. Wang Shun and Liu Cui walked them out.
"Oh, right! Look at my brain, I completely forgot to ask. If I really go, I’ll be living there, and you’ll cover food, right? I’m not a picky eater; I can eat bran and wild greens. But I don’t know how the wages are calculated. Could I make thirty a month?"
They were already at the door when Wang Shun seemed to just remember to ask about the salary.
Gu’er smiled.
"Uncle Wang, if you can come, we’ll cover your room and board. For the first month, the salary will be thirty a month. After that, if you’ve settled in well, it will increase to fifty. On top of that, if you do a good job and are diligent and responsible, there will also be bonuses for holidays and the New Year."
Sun Jiaming stated the salary he and Gu’er had agreed upon. They couldn’t offer a large sum right from the start; they needed to observe his performance. If he truly did a good job, they would raise his pay and give him bonuses. Even paying him a hundred a month was no big deal for them. What they needed was someone who could report back on the true situation at the site.
This salary wasn’t high for Gu’er and Sun Jiaming, but for Wang Shun, it was a huge amount. He gaped at his wife, Liu Cui, whose eyes had also gone wide.
Back when Wang Shun worked as a gatekeeper for the factory, he only made a little over thirty a month. Combined with her earnings, it was barely enough for the family to get by. After he lost his job, the work he found was never long-term, and his monthly income was sporadic, not to mention it was all hard labor. She never expected these two to offer so much money. ’They aren’t sending Wang Shun to the village to do something shady, are they?’ she wondered. ’But they said it’s to look after the elderly, so it should be fine. If Wang Shun can really make fifty a month, and with a little bonus on top of that... then... then the family can survive. I won’t have to worry anymore.’
But with Wang Shun away from home, could she support the family by herself? Liu Cui didn’t know if she should let him go.
Regardless of their thoughts, Gu’er and Sun Jiaming had laid out their terms. Having said what needed to be said, they left.
After they left, Wang Shun and Liu Cui discussed it for a long time. That evening, the whole family discussed it for a long time, but still couldn’t reach a decision.
Since they weren’t heading back until the next day, Gu’er and Sun Jiaming had nothing else to do. The two of them went for a stroll, exploring the streets and trying some of Harbin’s authentic local snacks.
「The next day.」
The two ate breakfast and then lingered in their room. Their train tickets were for that evening, they had nothing to do during the day, and they had to wait for Wang Shun, so they didn’t go out.
Wang Shun didn’t arrive until almost noon. Gu’er and Sun Jiaming treated him to a meal. Seeing the delicious food on the table, Wang Shun didn’t hold back. He enthusiastically stuffed his cheeks with fatty meat, exclaiming how wonderful it tasted.
"Brother, we talked until we went to sleep yesterday and still couldn’t come to a decision. Then, in the middle of the night, I shot right up. I’ve decided to go with you. Even though it’s not in the city, the pay you’re offering is high. With this money, my wife and my three kids can live well. As long as they can live well, it doesn’t matter where I am. So I’ll go! Don’t you worry, I won’t let you waste your money. I’ll definitely do a good job."
Wang Shun spoke earnestly. He really had woken up in the middle of the night and made his decision then. Liu Cui hadn’t objected. Although she would miss her husband, she knew he was doing this for the family. Without a stable job, she was under immense pressure, and they fought all the time. Sooner or later, their affection for each other would fade.
"Excellent. Welcome aboard, Uncle Wang. It’s not too complicated, really. We just want you to watch over the place for us. We can’t be there often, so if anything happens, you just need to let us know. If anyone is slacking off, isn’t treating the elderly well, or does anything detrimental to the nursing home, you just have to tell us."
Sun Jiaming raised his glass to toast Wang Shun, welcoming him.
"Don’t worry, I guarantee I’ll do a good job."
Wang Shun pounded his chest and promised.
When it was time for Wang Shun to leave, Sun Jiaming gave him a hundred yuan, calling it a salary advance. He told him to leave it for his family so they could get by.
Wang Shun was incredibly grateful. He secretly swore to himself that since they were treating him so well, he would definitely look after the place for them.
That evening, Wang Shun boarded the train with Sun Jiaming and Gu’er. He couldn’t help but feel emotional; here he was, in his middle age, leaving the city where he had lived for most of his life.
After a night’s sleep on the train, they arrived back in their own city the next morning.
When they arrived at the Sun Family’s home, Wang Shun was dumbfounded by the sight of their house. He had always thought of himself as a big-city dweller, but there were so many things in their home he didn’t even recognize. The house was enormous, many times the size of his own. He felt a little overwhelmed just looking at it all.
Gu’er told Grandma Sun and Aunt Zhao about Wang Shun. Grandma Sun told him not to be a stranger and to make himself at home. Aunt Zhao also brought out lots of snacks for Wang Shun, treating him with great warmth and not a hint of condescension.
Wang Shun felt that this family was very kind, which helped ease his apprehension and awkwardness.
Wang Shun had lunch there, then proactively asked to go to the nursing home in the village. Although the place wasn’t completely finished, there were livable quarters and someone to cook for the workers, so it wasn’t like he’d have nowhere to stay. He said he wanted to go and keep an eye on things.
Gu’er and Sun Jiaming didn’t insist he stay, and they arranged for a car to take Wang Shun to the village.
