As she asked the question, Lin Xiangxiu already knew the answer. She could see the satisfaction on Lu Xingzhi’s face, and barring any surprises, she had already secured this job.
But Lin Xiangxiu stubbornly wanted a definite confirmation.
This was her first job ever! And with such high pay!
Back in her hometown, her adoptive mother always treated her as an idle good-for-nothing – someone who could only cook and do manual labor, but nothing else. She wasn’t book-smart, didn’t have advanced education, and didn’t have successful parents who could bring honor to the family.
Lin Xiangxiu had never taken her adoptive mother’s words seriously, but she couldn’t help feeling eager for an opportunity to prove herself. She, Lin Xiangxiu, was no good-for-nothing – wasn’t cooking a valuable skill too?
Lu Xiaoxia felt completely satisfied after the meal, so full that she felt dizzy and nearly fell asleep on the sofa. Hearing the question, she drowsily opened her eyes and patted her brother’s shoulder. “She’s asking you – do you want her to come work for us?”
Lu Xingzhi also opened his eyes and shook his head.
After gathering his thoughts, he stood up solemnly and extended his hand toward Lin Xiangxiu. “Welcome to work in our home!”
Unsure of his intention, Lin Xiangxiu tentatively reached out her hand. The next moment, Lu Xingzhi grasped it and gave it two firm shakes, a smile appearing on his face.
“I passed?” Lin Xiangxiu belatedly broke into a smile as well.
Their clasped hands formed a contrast – one large and pale with prominent knuckles from leanness, the other slightly darker but slender and well-proportioned.
The handshake lasted only a moment before they separated.
Lu Xingzhi picked up his coffee for a sip, then took six yuan from his wallet. “I’ve been keeping time – it’s been exactly two hours from your arrival until now. At the agreed rate, that comes to six yuan. This is your pay for today.”
Lin Xiangxiu was startled and instinctively tried to decline. “That’s not necessary. We agreed today was just a trial.”
“If labor has been provided, compensation should be given,” Lu Xingzhi disagreed, looking directly at her as he firmly pressed the money into her hand with a businesslike manner. He quickly moved on to discuss work arrangements.
Taking out a notebook, he began writing with flowing strokes as he spoke: “I don’t need you here all day. Just come at noon or in the evening to cook one meal and tidy up the house. You can decide the timing – would you prefer noon or evening?”
Lin Xiangxiu thought for a moment. It was summer now, and with late sunsets it would be fine, but come winter, it would be dark by six in the evening. It wouldn’t be safe for her to return alone, and Lin Xiao would be scared at home by himself.
She immediately decided, “Let’s make it noon. I’ll come at ten every day, prepare one meal and do the cleaning. I can finish in two hours. If more detailed cleaning is needed, we can count it as two and a half hours.”
Lu Xingzhi’s pen paused briefly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
For the exact same work, all the previous housekeepers – regardless of age – would drag it out to three or four hours. He disliked having people moving around his home as it always disrupted his train of thought.
“Then let’s set the work schedule for noon. I’ll come back for a meal. You just need to buy groceries and finish cooking before 12 o’clock. I’ll leave some money on the shoe cabinet – keep accounts after grocery shopping, and ask me if it’s not enough. Cleaning can be done after meals. The hygiene standards are…” Lu Xingzhi paused here again, recalling the previous housekeepers who had complained to him.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose, “Forget it, as long as there’s no grease in the kitchen, no trash on the floor, and the clothes don’t get color-bleed during washing.”
Lin Xiangxiu found these requirements not difficult at all and nodded, “Don’t worry, Mr. Lu, I’ll keep everything clean.”
“My sister should have mentioned the salary to you before – three yuan per hour. I just thought about it, let’s calculate it as a monthly salary directly. Counting three hours per day, that’s 270 yuan per month. Is that acceptable to you?”
This was a sudden surprise! Lin Xiangxiu initially thought she could only earn 180 yuan per month at most, but now it suddenly became 270! Her current salary was probably higher than Lin Shuping’s!
Lin Xiangxiu inappropriately thought of Lin Shuping – not because she had any special feelings for him, but… Lin Shuping used to be the highest earner among people she knew. That was only in the past.
Now she herself was the highest earner!
Lin Xiangxiu slightly widened her eyes, her fingers curling up, “This much?”
“Not much, my requirements are quite particular,” Lu Xingzhi said.
Lin Xiangxiu didn’t refuse further. She desperately needed money – she needed to settle in Shencheng, to give Xiaoxiao a good life. Money was what she lacked most, and this salary would give her the confidence to establish herself in Shencheng.
At worst, she would work harder to meet Lu Xingzhi’s standards. If others met eighty percent of the standards, she would meet one hundred percent, to deserve this salary.
Several thoughts flashed through Lin Xiangxiu’s mind, but she didn’t say anything more.
After discussing work matters, Lu Xingzhi asked Lin Xiangxiu for her identification and briefly inquired about her information. After noting everything down, he tore a page from his notebook with a rip – it listed several precautions. Lin Xiangxiu squinted and saw they were things he was allergic to, along with some personal information.
“I’ll remember these,” she said, putting away the paper. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, “Could you write me a certificate? Just to prove I work here.”
Lin Xiangxiu smiled sheepishly, “This is my first job, I want to keep it as a memento. Also, when I came earlier, I saw there’s a guard downstairs. I’m afraid he might stop me tomorrow.”
Lu Xingzhi hadn’t thought of this, but readily agreed. He wrote another line in his notebook and signed his name before handing it to Lin Xiangxiu.
Halfway through handing it over, he thought better of it, turned to his desk drawer, found his personal seal, and stamped it with a snap.
Lin Xiangxiu held her first employment certificate, staring at it for several seconds before showing a satisfied smile, treasuring it as she put it away.
“Is there anything else? If not, I’ll take my leave now,” Lin Xiangxiu said.
Lu Xingzhi: “Nothing else.”
Lin Xiangxiu waved to Lin Xiao, then bid farewell to the siblings, “Then I’ll come punctually at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning. Thank you, Mr. Lu, and thank you too, Sister Xiaoxia. You’ve helped me so much.”
After politely saying goodbye to both of them, she took Lin Xiao’s hand and left.
The door closed gently. Lu Xiaoxia, who had been feigning sleep, stretched lazily and said to her brother, “On the way here, I chatted with Xiao Lin. She and her daughter are having a tough time. She divorced that scumbag husband of hers, and now she’s raising her daughter alone. No home, no job—what a bastard.”
“Did you offer such a high salary because you wanted to help them out?” Lu Xiaoxia looked at her brother approvingly, surprised that her usually indifferent brother had such a compassionate side.
Lu Xingzhi looked at her blankly. “I didn’t know all that. I just offered a fair price. She does good work and deserves it.”
“If you think she’s good, that’s even better.” Lu Xiaoxia didn’t press the matter further and smiled as she advised him, “Since you’re happy with this nanny, lower your standards a bit. Don’t be so strict about cleanliness and all that—you’ll scare her away. Where would I find another nanny who cooks to your taste? As the old saying goes, ‘You can’t have your cake and eat it too.’ It’s impossible to find someone who’s perfect in every way.”
Lu Xingzhi thought this made sense and nodded.
As the siblings were talking, the door was knocked again. Lu Xiaoxia opened it.
As soon as the door opened, she found herself face to face with Lin Xiangxiu.