Chapter 124 City Streets 24

Chapter 124: Urban Life 24

Soon, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Xiangshan Academy was on holiday. Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi left early that morning, heading straight to the employment agency.

They sought out Ding Fangya again, but his agency specialized in property rentals, not hiring staff.

However, having worked in the industry for decades, Ding Fangya had many connections and knew other agents.

He introduced Liu Guyu to an agent named Wang, describing him as an experienced professional with extensive contacts.

Agent Wang, around forty years old with a thick beard, was quite talkative.

He first bowed to Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi, then asked with a smile, "Are you two looking to hire someone?"

Liu Guyu nodded.

Agent Wang continued, "How many workers do you need? Permanent or temporary? What kind of work? Do you have any specific requirements? Please tell me, and I'll see if I have anyone suitable."

Liu Guyu promptly replied, "I run an eatery and need two people to help out. They should be diligent, preferably with work experience. Age and gender don't matter, but no one too young. We'll start with a one-year agreement and extend it if it goes well."

Agent Wang understood, nodding, "Got it, got it. There are quite a few who meet those requirements! How about this: I'll take you to meet some candidates, and you can choose whoever you like? How does that sound?"

Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi exchanged a glance and both nodded in agreement.

Agent Wang immediately led them into the agency and introduced them to several people.

...

"How about these two?"

"The man's surname is Zhang, and the lad's surname is Tao—they're a married couple. The man used to work as a bookkeeper in a restaurant; he's quite capable. If your eatery needs a bookkeeper, hiring him would be excellent. He's also a strong worker, practically worth two people! His husband is hardworking too, a good cook! He can easily help in the kitchen!"

Liu Guyu frowned, puzzled, and asked, "He worked as a bookkeeper in a restaurant? That's a good job. Why didn't he continue?"

He worried the man might have been dismissed for misconduct, which would make him a liability if hired.

Agent Wang sighed, as if regretful.

He explained, "Brother Zhang and his husband have been through a lot!"

"Their child fell ill! A twelve- or thirteen-year-old son, smart and lively, fell seriously ill the year before last and almost didn't make it. To pay for the child's treatment, Old Zhang had to take time off often. Medical costs were steep, and he even asked his employer for an advance to buy medicine."

"The employer was already unhappy with his frequent absences and used it as an excuse to dismiss him."

"Being dismissed was one thing, but the child's condition was severe. Even the best doctor in the prefecture couldn't help and advised the couple to take the child to the capital to seek a famous doctor, saying there might still be hope there!"

"Well, going to the capital for treatment would cost who knows how much! Old Zhang and his husband sold their house in the prefecture and used the money to take their child to the capital for treatment. Oh, it was expensive and draining."

Liu Guyu understood. He then looked at the "Old Zhang" Agent Wang had mentioned.

Zhang Yun had a bookish look but was somewhat thin. He wore old, mended clothes that were faded and gray but clean and tidy. His hands were clasped in front of him, fidgeting nervously, revealing neatly trimmed nails with no dirt under them.

His husband, Tao Yu, was similarly dressed—both were clearly tidy people.

Noticing Liu Guyu looking at him, Zhang Yun rubbed his hands together and nodded awkwardly, saying, "Money isn't the main concern; being able to cure our child's illness is the real blessing."

His husband was more talkative and nodded repeatedly, adding, "Exactly! As long as we can cure the child's illness, no amount of money is too much!"

Tao Yu spoke with a sincere smile, clearly thrilled and grateful for the child’s recovery.

After smiling, he continued, "Sir, my man used to work as a bookkeeper in a restaurant! He handled large sums of money every day—he's thorough and won't let you down!"

"And don't let his thin appearance fool you—he's lost weight these past two years from scrimping on food. But he's actually quite strong! He can handle heavy tasks like moving boxes or carrying water—truly does the work of two!"

"I may not have any great skills, but my cooking is decent. I can make homemade dishes! If there's anything else, I can learn—I learn fast! I can also wash dishes, sweep, and do any other chores. When my man worked as a bookkeeper, I took care of all the household chores, keeping everything spotless."

Liu Guyu was impressed. He hadn’t initially considered hiring a bookkeeper, thinking he could manage the accounts himself after work. But having one would certainly make things easier, especially after a long day.

He glanced at Qin Rongshi beside him, then turned back to Tao Yu and asked, "Sweet soups and Sweet Oil Balls are famous in the prefecture. Can you make those?"

Tao Yu nodded repeatedly, "Absolutely!"

Meanwhile, Qin Rongshi tested Zhang Yun with a few math questions. True to Tao Yu’s praise, Zhang Yun was indeed skilled with numbers, answering correctly without an abacus.

Liu Guyu nodded in satisfaction and said to Agent Wang, "I'd like to test his cooking skills. Is there a kitchen in the employment agency?"

Agent Wang replied immediately, "Yes! There is!"

It was common for people to come to the agency looking for cooks or kitchen staff—whether for restaurants, inns, or wealthy households.

Since many employers wanted to test their skills, the agency had a kitchen set up for this purpose.

Agent Wang dismissed the other candidates who hadn’t been selected and led Liu Guyu and the others to the kitchen. Without delay, Tao Yu tied an apron and got to work.

Actions spoke louder than words.

He steamed a plate of pumpkin and began kneading dough to make small balls, working deftly and quickly filling half a bowl in no time.

Next, he peeled a sweet potato and prepared a small bowl with soaked red dates and goji berries, clearly intending to make sweet potato soup.

Soon, a bowl of sweet potato soup and a plate of pumpkin cakes were ready.

Though simple dishes, Liu Guyu could tell at a glance that Tao Yu was indeed an experienced cook, just as he had claimed.

He tasted the sweet soup and had Qin Rongshi try the pumpkin cakes.

The rice balls were soft and chewy, the sweet potato fragrant and sweet, warming to the palate.

The pumpkin cakes were also tasty, with just the right level of sweetness.

Liu Guyu looked at Qin Rongshi, who gave a slight nod and said two words: "Acceptable."

For Qin Rongshi, this was already high praise.

Liu Guyu grew even more satisfied and immediately said, "We'll take them. Let's sign the contract—one year to start."

In ancient times, "employment" differed from modern hiring relationships, bearing characteristics similar to master-servant dynamics, with restricted freedom.

Regarding Liu Guyu’s "one-year contract," only the employer had the right to decide whether to renew it after the year ended. The hired workers had no choice in the matter, which was why Liu Guyu wasn’t worried about Tao Yu leaving after gaining skills.

Agent Wang had already heard from Ding Fangya that this brother was decisive—once satisfied, he would make a decision quickly and pay promptly.

The contracts were signed, the agency fee paid, and finally, Liu Guyu took the couple out of the employment agency.

He first showed them the shop and asked as they walked, "I heard you sold your house to pay for your child’s treatment?"

Zhang Yun nodded respectfully, while Tao Yu also nodded beside him.

Liu Guyu asked further, "Where do you live now?"

Tao Yu replied, "We're temporarily staying in a short-term rental courtyard... employer, our Xiao Geer is waiting for news at the dessert shop just up ahead. May I go fetch him first?"

Liu Guyu waved his hand and said, "No need to call yourself 'this humble person' before and after. My family doesn't stand on such ceremony. You're older than me, so you're an elder!"

Then he asked, "At the shop up ahead? Why not wait at home for news?"

The usually talkative Tao Yu showed an embarrassed smile and awkwardly explained, "That short-term rental courtyard is crowded, with communal sleeping areas—each room has many people! We paid extra for our family to have a private room. But the other rooms are packed, and our child is a boy, only thirteen. We weren't comfortable leaving him alone in such a place."

Tao Yu actually had more he didn’t say. That kind of courtyard mostly housed other laborers from nearby villages and towns—how could he feel safe leaving his boy there alone?

Liu Guyu understood immediately and waved his hand. "Go on, go fetch the child."

One reason Liu Guyu was willing to take them in was because of the child. Not just in ancient times; even in modern days, many favor sons over daughters. In Shanghe Village, he often saw villagers scolding girls and boys as "financial burdens." It was rare to see a couple willing to spend all their savings to treat a boy's illness.

Such people usually have good character and would get along well with him.

Tao Yu repeatedly thanked him and hurried off.

Liu Guyu led Zhang Yun into the shop, showed him around inside and out, and finally pointed to a small storage room at the back. "There's a small room back there. If you don’t mind, you can move in with your husband and child."

"The storage room is narrow—only enough space for a small bed. Your husband and Xiao Geer can squeeze in together. As for you, Elder Brother Zhang Yun..."

"Well, at night, see if you can set up a sleeping space on the floor in the shop? Move the tables and chairs aside, find some space to sleep, and put everything back early the next morning."

"It’s makeshift living, but it’s better than where you are now. The child will be right under your eyes, so you can relax. Make it work for now, and once you’ve saved up, you can rent a proper courtyard."

Zhang Yun was in no position to complain—he was just thrilled, feeling he’d met a kind person. He bowed repeatedly, saying over and over, "Thank you, employer! Thank you, employer!"

Just then, Tao Yu returned with the child.

The boy was thirteen, dressed in the best fabric the family had, but the sleeves and pant legs were still too short—clearly old clothes from better times. And because he’d been ill, he’d lost a lot of weight; otherwise, he might not have fit into those old clothes at all.

Xiao Geer was skinny but quite fair-skinned, with bright eyes—a likable child.

Liu Guyu asked, "Is the boy's illness cured?"

Tao Yu, thinking he was worried the child might not be fully recovered and would hinder work, quickly nodded while holding the child’s hand. "He's cured! Completely cured! The doctor in the capital said he’s fully recovered. With a bit more rest, he’ll be just like before! Ping'an, greet the employer!"

The little boy was called Ping'an—a simple name, reflecting his fathers’ simple hopes.

Ping'an was shy but obediently nodded and said, "Hello, employer. I’m Ping'an. I can help my father with work—I can wash dishes and wipe tables."

Liu Guyu waved his hand and laughed. "No need! No need! I wouldn’t dream of making a child who’s just recovered from illness work right after! This child is so well-behaved—you’ve done a great job raising him."

Just then, Zhang Yun tugged Tao Yu’s sleeve and told his partner the news that Liu Guyu had agreed to let them stay.

Tao Yu was overjoyed. He’d originally planned to beg the employer to let Ping'an stay in the shop without pay, just so they could keep an eye on him—better than leaving him alone in that short-term rental! Now, he was even more excited. He gently pushed Ping'an’s head down, and both father and child bowed together. "Thank you, employer! Thank you, employer! You’re truly a good person!"

Liu Guyu didn't care for formalities. He reached out to help them up and then explained the work tasks they’d need to do.

After that, he said, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Take the day off, and we’ll start officially tomorrow."

He even gave them advance pay for this month so they could buy some food and have a proper festival celebration as a family in the shop.

Liu Guyu had considered inviting them home for a meal, but then he figured—no one really wants to eat with their boss—so he gave them the money to celebrate on their own.

With everything settled, Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi headed home by boat.