Chapter 287: Helping Out an Old Friend
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Old Madam Li saw Su Wenwu and immediately felt energized. She did not care about her physical condition and got down from the heated platform to welcome him.
The house door opened, and Su Wenwi saw Old Madam Li getting down from the heated platform. “Hello, Madam Li!”
Old Madam Li happily said, “Wenwu, you’re here! Quick, sit on the heated platform. It’s warm.”
“Madam Li, get back on the platform. Don’t tire yourself out.” Su Wenwu looked at the older lady’s appearance and dared not even hold her arm. His heart ached when he looked at her.
“You should get on the platform too, Wenwu.”
Su Wenwu nodded. “I will.” He prepared to help the older lady get on the platform as he spoke.
Old Madam Li held onto the edge of the platform and got up. However, her legs were no longer agile, so she had trouble getting up. Li Dazhuang was the one who hurriedly helped her up.
Li erying said politely, “Hello, Third Brother Su.”
“Hello, Erying!”
Li Sanzhu was more introverted, so he said lowly, “Hello, Third Brother Su.”
“Hello, Sanzhu!”
Su Wenwu revealed some snacks in his hand, saying, “I didn’t bring much, just enough for you guys to try.”
Old Madam Li hurriedly declined, “Oh, you didn’t need to do that. We’re happy enough that you visited. What else did you bring?”
Su Wenwu said smilingly, “I made these myself and brought them here. Why would you decline? Besides, I came looking for Dazhuang because I have something to discuss with him.”
Old Madam Li smiled back, saying, “Then I won’t argue.”
She knew Su Wenwu was sincere when he brought things over and wanted them to accept it. Then she said to Li Erying and Li Sanzhu, “Hurry up and thank Wenwu. ”
“Thank you, Third Brother Su!”
“Thank you, Third Brother Su.”
Li Erying and Li Sanzhu did not have any snacks throughout the year. It was good enough for them even to eat an egg occasionally. However, they had gotten some snacks when Su Fengmao threw some off the beam at his family’s new house.
The two siblings could not bear to eat them, so they brought them home and gave them to their grandmother to eat. Still, Old Madam Su declined and let the two siblings have the snacks instead.
The snacks were so delicious that the Li siblings could still remember how they tasted. Therefore, their eyes lit up when they saw that Su Wenwu had brought more snacks.
However, the Li siblings tried their best to control their emotions. It was just that their eyes could not deceive anyone.
Old Madam Li said, “You and Dazhuang should go into the back room to talk.”
She thought it might be inconvenient for the two to be there, so she took the initiative to help Su Wenwu out of the predicament. It also prevented Su Wenwu from feeling uneasy about the important things he was about to discuss with Li Dazhuang.
Su Wenwu said, “It’s okay Madam Li. We can talk here. My sister is preparing to open a hotpot restaurant in town, and she needs ingredients for the hotpot, like pork, mutton, and some vegetables. I wanted to find someone to help me stock up.
“Don’t worry. Dazhuang only needs to run errands and collect the meat and produce. Of course, we will slaughter the pigs and sheep ourselves. My family will also send the mutton, pork, and vegetables to the restaurant.
“I will pay the workers a monthly salary of two silver taels each. There will be bonuses for those who perform well. When we establish the scale, Dazhuang and the others can work as managers and hire others to take over. At that time, the managers will earn more money.”
Su Wenwu had thought about this and knew his three friends would not have money to buy meat. Since that was the case, Su Wenwu would manage that while his three friends collected and delivered the meat to him.
‘Two silver taels monthly?’ Old Madam Li, who had experienced many things, felt excited as two silver taels were a considerable amount of money. Even Li Erying and Li Sanzhu were stunned and forgot to continue peeling corn.
‘Did I mishear?’
Two silver taels were a large sum of money to Li Erying and Li Sanzhu. It would add up to twenty-four silver taels a year, and Su Wenwu said there would also be a bonus.
Li Erying’s eyes burned with passion. She thought she would follow her eldest brother if she were not so young. Meanwhile, Old Madam Li could not find her voice for a long while. Her lips moved, but she could not speak.
If Li Dazhuang worked for Su Wenwu, the Li family would no longer have to worry about their livelihoods. Moreover, the Su family members were good people since Su Wenwu was there to help them.
Li Dazhuang’s eyes widened. “W-Wenwu, are you telling us the truth?”
He rubbed his hands on his clothes as he did not know what to do with them. ‘Two silver taels monthly are a considerable amount. I couldn’t even earn one silver tael in the past.’
Old Madam Li had been saving up for a betrothal gift for her eldest grandson’s potential wife, and it was still not enough.
Su Wenwu noticed Li Dazhuang and Old Madam Li’s expressions and thought of how he looked when he had just returned home from the capital. He looked clueless.
He still remembered thinking that two silver taels were more precious than anything else when he had just returned from the capital, but his family looked calm in comparison.
Su Wenwu wholly understood how Li Dazhuang and the others felt, but this time, it was his turn to appear calm in comparison.
He said very seriously, “What I said is true, Dazhuang. You didn’t mishear me. I would never lie, but my family and I will draw up a contract. When you sign it, you must abide by it.”
Li Dazhuang’s eyes reddened as he nodded and said, “All right, Wenwu. I will work with you from now on. Don’t worry, as I’m not the kind of person who would slack off. I’ll undoubtedly do what you say.”
He did not know how to express his gratitude but knew he had to work hard and sincerely earn his two silver taels.
‘With the two silver taels, Grandma will no longer have to work so hard. My family’s conditions will improve, and my siblings can eat better.’
Moreover, Li Dazhuang could save money for his sister’s dowry and leave a portion for his brother. Since he was the eldest brother, he felt responsible for his siblings and grandmother.
Still, Su Wenwu’s heart ached for Li Dazhuang. He knew he would not know what to do if he were in the same situation as Li Dazhuang.
Nonetheless, life had to continue, no matter what, and people had to live well. Therefore, Su Wenwu wanted to help his close friend.
He was warm-blooded but did not have the capabilities to help his friend out in the past. Since he could rely on Su Binglan, he decided he would help others. Of course, Su Binglan told Su Wenwu that helping others was good, but he had to choose someone worth helping.
After all, the Su family wanted to hire people to work and were not helping others unconditionally.
Old Madam Li discreetly wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. She said,
“We thank you, Wenwu.”
“Don’t thank me, Madam Li. I’m asking for Dazhuang’s help since I want to hire him. I should be saying thank you instead.”
Although Su Wenwu said so, Old Madam Li was not someone who did not know what was right. Su Wenwu did not look for anyone else considering this job opportunity. Instead, he looked for her eldest grandson because he wanted to help the family.
After Su Wenwu left, Old Madam Li said to her eldest grandson, “Always remember this favor. Wenwu is helping our family by helping you. Don’t forget your roots and work hard, even if your life is better in the future.”
Li Dazhuang became teary-eyed, but he tried his best not to cry. He nodded and sobbed, “I-I know, Grandma. I know..”
