Free Web NovelChapter 431: Chapter 427: Job
After hearing Guan Yicai’s story, Gu’er understood why Guan Fengling had been able to leave her home so decisively and wander with him. It was because she had no close family left there.
But even so, an ordinary girl wouldn’t have been able to do that.
Guan Yicai had said Feng Ling was only seventeen, but she looked more like fifteen or sixteen. They had left the Guan Family two years ago, which meant Feng Ling was only fifteen at the time, and probably even thinner and smaller. ’What was I doing when I was fifteen? Did I have that kind of courage? Probably not. Most people wouldn’t.’
’Even if her grandfather left, she still had her uncles and aunts at home. They might not have treated her well, but they would have at least given her a bowl of rice and a roof over her head, enough to keep her from starving and freezing. It was the only home she’d ever known. Even if life was hard, she could have just toughed it out for a couple of years. Once she was old enough, she could have married into another family and started her own life.’
But Guan Fengling had followed her grandpa, Guan Yicai, and left that home. A fifteen-year-old girl wandering with an old man—she must have suffered immense hardship, yet she had persevered with strength and never once looked back.
’Guan Fengling is incredibly resilient. At first, I thought it was a result of the hardships from the past two years, but now I see that’s not it. To be able to leave home like that... even back then, Guan Fengling was no simple girl. She was strong-willed and deeply determined.’
’What on earth could have made her so resolute? I have a feeling Guan Fengling must have been deeply hurt. Her determination... it’s just like... how do I put it? It’s like how I felt when I was determined to leave the Zhou family. It’s incredibly strong. There must have been a specific reason, a final straw.’
"Grandpa Guan, if your sons and their wives could kick you out, they must have treated Feng Ling terribly too, right? Did they often beat or curse at her?"
Gu’er asked Guan Yicai, wanting to know the real reason Feng Ling had left the Guan Family.
"Well, my eldest and second sons... they weren’t particularly good to Feng Ling, but they didn’t beat or curse at her often. In a village like ours, what kid doesn’t get a scolding? Feng Ling certainly got her fair share of yelling. But other than my second son’s wife slapping her once, I don’t think she was ever really hit, was she?"
Guan Yicai said with some hesitation. That was what he knew, at least. He had never considered before that things might have happened behind his back.
’From the sound of it, it doesn’t seem like outright abuse.’ Gu’er knew that, just as Guan Yicai said, getting scolded was par for the course for kids in the village. Even biological children often got a few smacks. A single slap really wasn’t a big deal. ’That couldn’t be the reason Feng Ling left home.’
"Then was there something else? For example, did her uncles try to sell her off or something like that?"
Gu’er pressed.
Guan Yicai thought for a long moment before shaking his head. "That girl Feng Ling was never one for talking, even as a child. But she was always diligent and quick with her chores. She never caused any trouble. I never heard my eldest or second son talk about selling her off, and I can’t think of anything else major that happened."
’Grandpa Guan wouldn’t lie. So if the Guan Family wasn’t planning to sell her, then why was Feng Ling so determined to leave that house?’
Gu’er couldn’t figure it out. She shook her head. ’I’ll have to take my time with this.’
"Gu’er, your sister Feng Ling has suffered a lot following me these past two years. She’s the type who doesn’t want to trouble anyone. You were kind enough to offer her a job, and I know you just wanted to help her. But she feels she already owes you all too much and was too embarrassed to ask for work. That’s why she went to look on her own. She’s afraid of racking up a debt she can’t repay. Please don’t think she’s being ungrateful. If she runs into any trouble in the future, for my sake... for this old grandpa’s sake, could you lend her a hand? Please?"
Guan Yicai pleaded, his expression tinged with desperation.
’This man really does care deeply for his granddaughter.’
"Grandpa, don’t say that. Since Feng Ling calls me sister-in-law, of course I’ll help her if she ever runs into trouble. She’s a capable person, and her life will only get better from here. You can rest assured."
Gu’er nodded at Guan Yicai.
Guan Yicai finally relaxed. He could tell that the Sun Family cared a great deal for Gu’er. Since Gu’er had given her word, he knew that if Feng Ling ever faced hardship in the future, the Sun Family would be there to help. She wouldn’t have to suffer all alone.
That evening, to Gu’er’s surprise, Xinghua and Guan Fengling returned together.
"How did you two end up coming back together?"
Gu’er was a little confused. Lin Shuying, Zheng Zhongshan, and Xinghua hadn’t come over yesterday; they sometimes made their own dinner. So Xinghua shouldn’t know Guan Fengling.
"Big Sister, it’s such a coincidence! Sister Feng Ling was looking for a job right next to my shop. Some people were giving her a hard time, bullying her because she doesn’t have a city household registration and saying some nasty things. I happened to see it and stepped in to help her out. I brought her back to my shop to rest for a bit, and she saw I was hiring. She asked if she could apply, but since we were strangers, I couldn’t just agree on the spot. I asked about her situation, and she gave me a general idea. She didn’t mention she was staying here with you all, just that she and her grandpa were living with one of his friends. I thought she seemed really filial and that she’s had it rough—I really admire her. So, I told her she could try working at the shop for a few days to see how it goes. Then, believe it or not, on the way home, we ended up walking the same way! I asked where she was staying, and when she told me, I realized we live in the same building! Then she mentioned your husband and Brother Li Zhi, and we came back together. Can you believe how much of a coincidence it is?"
Xinghua chattered happily. She had always been an outgoing person, but now her personality was even more vibrant. Her shop might not be very big, but business was excellent—she could make several hundred a month. However, she was getting too busy to handle it all and was looking for someone to help mind the store and take orders. The pay wouldn’t be high, but she still needed someone good, so she hadn’t found anyone yet. ’I originally wanted to recommend Feng Ling for the job,’ Gu’er thought, ’but Feng Ling had refused. To think they’d end up meeting like this on their own... is this fate?’
In contrast to Xinghua’s excitement, Feng Ling was rather quiet. Her job search today had not gone well. She didn’t want a job where she’d have to deal with customers, but even places looking for dishwashers weren’t willing to hire her. Even if she was a hard worker, they’d take one look at her face and say she looked like trouble. They were afraid she would seduce the chefs or waiters, calling her a jinx and refusing to hire her.
Another place had been particularly nasty to her, which was right when she ran into Xinghua. Xinghua had stood up for her. When she saw Xinghua was hiring, she asked about the job. After Xinghua asked about her situation and she gave a brief explanation, the other girl told her she could stay for a trial run. She was overjoyed. The shop wasn’t big, but the owner was a woman, so she wouldn’t have to worry about anything.
The shop was a knitting business. All she had to do was be diligent, help mind the store, wind yarn, and greet customers. She could even learn how to knit. The owner said if she learned and could knit well, she’d get a raise. She felt quite satisfied—she would have a salary and could learn a trade. But in the end, it still connected her back to this circle of people. She didn’t quite know what to make of it.
