Chapter 110: Demanding Wages

  Niu Laogen felt uncomfortable in his heart after listening, but he didn't catch the implicit meaning of Zhong Gensheng's words, such as picking up good fortune and so on...

  Shen Sisi also seemed to not understand, others even more so, only He Axiu listened with a sour heart, couldn't help but shed some tears. Back then when they went to rely on Zhong Gensheng's older brother and sister-in-law, who knew... the idle air they suffered, now thinking about it is still unbearable. These years, living in poverty, not only did they never ask for alimony, most importantly these years, they never asked about their situation...

  When people are poor, they are often deceived by others, even their parents and siblings. What's more, outsiders? Only the couple is truly heartbroken. Every year, except for letting someone bring money to support their parents, there is nothing else, no letters or words of comfort. They don't ask about it on that end, and even if they are suffering, they don't want to say anything. They just endure and get through it. Now they have finally endured to the point of success...

  "Our family's Tuni... is really good, if it wasn't for her, would the second and third treasures have money to attend private school?!" Zhong Gensheng choked with sobs, then grabbed Niu Laogen and said: "...Old Root, rest assured, our family are all honest people, from now on we will definitely treat Xiaohua well, you can be at ease..."

  "Alright, alright, I believe you, Xiaohua is also a lucky child... " Niu Laogen supported him and said: "Just don't drink too much..."

  "I'm so happy today...!" Zhong Gensheng laughed, sticking out his tongue and said: "...Old brother, I haven't touched wine in years... Today we must drink to our heart's content..."

  Niu Laogen heard this and also stirred up a heroic spirit, laughing: "......Alright, today we'll drink to our heart's content......"

  Shen Sisi listened to their lively conversation and felt that home was truly cozy. Such days, although with some minor annoyances, were really happy.

  They seemed to want to continue drinking, so they stayed in the yard. He Qiu and Niu Xiaohua went back into the house to continue making clothes. Seeing that it was already dark outside, Shen Sisi led the four of them into the room, lit the oil lamp she had bought from town, and said: "You all practice what you learned yesterday, I'll go rest for a bit..."

  Four people listened and nodded, but they didn't suspect anything. Shen Sisi hadn't entered the space for several days, mainly because she was really busy, there were too many people at home, and she couldn't just disappear out of thin air. Now that she was in the same room as Niu Xiaohua, taking advantage of the opportunity when Niu Xiaohua went to He Axiu's house to make clothes, she immediately entered the space and looked at the lotus in the pond with joy, which had grown big and protruded from the surface of the pond...

  Before long, when she has saved up enough money, bought land and dug a pond, she can plant lotus roots to sell, what a big business it is...

  She went to see the vegetables she had planted, and they were already taking shape. There was still a hint of fragrance in the air, and she thought with joy that these vegetables must be very different from those grown outside. However, their growth rate was a bit slow. But compared to those outside, it was really against the sky's growth, more than twice as fast...

  The fruit trees in the orchard were also lush and green, but it was unknown when they would bear fruit. Now, not even a flower bud could be seen. However, Shen Sisi was not anxious, she believed that with time, this orchard would surely bring her surprises.

  She once again entered the Food God Tower to study, and after concentrating her mind and reading for a while, she came out. Although her memory is still good now, but understanding requires more time, so she's not in a hurry. She believes that as long as she takes it slow, she will definitely become a food god... just like Zhou Xingxing, thinking of that movie, Shen Sisi couldn't help but smile secretly again.

  Out of the house, Niu Xiaohua had not returned yet, and she finally let out a sigh of relief. In the outer room, looking at Er Bao, San Bao, and Si Bao all normally reciting yesterday's words, only Da Bao had three mistakes. Suddenly, she gazed at him with a deep sigh, her eyes fixed on him, making Da Bao feel his scalp tingling, not daring to meet Shen Sisi's gaze, feeling very ashamed...

  Shen Sisi handed over the words she was supposed to write today to three others, and focused solely on Da Bao: "... being stupid is not something that can be helped, but diligence can make up for it. You must work harder, understand?! If you can't learn it in one day, then take two days. I don't believe you're so stupid that you can't learn anything..."

  Dà bǎo xiū kuì de dào:“……duì bù qǐ, tǔ jiāo.”

  Translation:

  Dabao said with shame: “......Sorry, Tuniu.”

  Today, unexpectedly, he didn't get beaten up. Da Bao was a bit incredulous and even more so when Shen Sisi comforted him in such a gentle tone that he became somewhat at a loss.

  "Alright, that's the word you're going to learn today. Practice later and sleep a bit earlier tomorrow, I'm sure you'll get it. Now let me teach you how to calculate...". Shen Sisi dragged Da Bao to another small table, turning her head back to say to the other three: "You three, continue..."

  "...The three of them didn't dare to refute, but only sympathetically glanced at Da Bao who was being scolded, silently grumbling in their hearts, fortunately they didn't have to learn this, otherwise they would go crazy."

  The second treasure and the third treasure don't need to be said, their efforts are certain. However, the fourth treasure looks at the short Shen Sisi with a thoughtful expression, wondering why she can do everything?!

  Perhaps he followed Shen Sisi to learn something, which is more useful than being with Mr., Si Bao thought a lot, but Er Bao and San Bao were surprised by her cleverness, didn't think much, just devoted himself to practicing calligraphy, today bought pen, ink, paper and inkstone, they almost couldn't put it down...

  After teaching Da Bao once, she let him practice on his own and then got up to teach him using modern methods and formulas, with the help of Arabic numerals. As a result, the accounts were much easier to remember. From now on, only she and Da Bao could understand the accounts, so there was no need to worry about others stealing their account book. However, Da Bao still needed to work harder...

  However, the child is not completely unteachable; he just lacks some understanding and is not stupid to the point of being unable to do anything.

  Shen Sisi was just thinking of going out to the courtyard to see Zhong Gensheng, when Si Bao walked in front of her, his eyes rolling around looking at her.

  Shen Sisi narrowed her eyes and looked up at him, saying: "Si Bao, what's going on?!"

  Si Bao saw her like this, with this tone of voice, and nervously swallowed his saliva, but still summoned up the courage to say: "......I think I do a lot every day, you should pay me wages now."

  "Work for pay?!" Shen Sisi chuckled lightly.

  "Yes, wages..." Si Bao felt that he had retreated too miserably, but he puffed out his chest to boost his courage.

  "Salary? But before we calculate your salary, let's first calculate your medical expenses and food expenses...". Shen Sisi smiled lightly, glancing at him with a casual expression.

  Si Bao's face changed instantly, and he even blushed with anger. He recalled the last time they discussed this topic, he was very depressed. After moving his mouth, he still didn't say anything in the end.

  "Didn't I already calculate your medical expenses for you last time?! Shen Sisi chuckled lightly, "The food you eat is the same as our family members', do you think you can still get paid wages?! And the new clothes that are being made, those are also money... The place where you live, although it's shabby, but it's also counted as accommodation fees. Calculating all these, I'm already being lenient with you, and yet you still want to ask me for wages?!"

  "...I didn't ask for those clothes, you gave them to me on your own initiative."

  "So you're prepared to work naked?!" Shen Sisi sneered.

  Si Bao stared at her with his mouth agape, instantly turning bright red in the face. This little girl... how dare she say such things! "You, you..."

  He stared at her, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

  "...I'm also going to sell braised meat, can't you calculate it for me like you do for Er Gouzi and the others? Besides, I've done more than they have..."

  "Ugh, you're making me think too much... Alright, let's say 25 coins a day. With the meat, buns, and soup you eat every day, it can't be just 25 coins, right?! And what about other things... Do I really have to calculate everything seriously?!"

  Si Bao almost couldn't talk anymore, and in his urgency he nearly jumped up saying: "Anyway, everything you said makes sense, I just can't outsmart you, you...you're too much of a bully..."

  He was so angry that his face turned red and his ears were burning, he couldn't even fight back against her, and he couldn't even win an argument with him. Was he supposed to work for the Zhong family for free for the rest of his life?!

  Shen Sisi gazed at him with a subtle smile, her eyes very nuanced. Si looked away, feeling somewhat guilty, but then gathered his courage and stared back at her, though he was afraid of her.

  On the other side, Da Bao looked at him with sympathy. After all, although he was often beaten, he wasn't doing it for nothing. Tuni still gave him pocket money from time to time. As for Si Bao... Er Bao and San Bao also looked at him sympathetically, their expressions very innocent and helpless.

  "Do you want your wages?!" Shen Sisi scratched her fingernails and blew on them, smiling lightly: "Wait until you've worked for five years before talking about it. I've calculated it out - after working for five years, all the accounts will be settled. At that time, you can choose to receive your wages or leave this place. Of course...the things you learn here, I won't charge you for. For example, these books, the characters I teach you, and the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone here...hmm, after five years, what you've learned will be enough for you to make a living on your own..."

  "You, you, you..." Si Bao was so angry that he couldn't help but glare at Shen Sisi. He really wanted to beat her up. Five years later?! Five years later... he would be 17 years old, and still have to work for little pay! Who knows how many more years of exploitation he would suffer?! Si Bao was so furious that he had nothing to say, and could only glare at her with a fierce gaze, not knowing how to retort.

  Shen Sisi just patted his shoulder and smiled lightly: "Young man, relax a bit, try to learn more things in these five years, later you can also have an extra skill, this is... very useful oh..."

  Si Bao was so angry that he almost fainted.