I Became the Mother of His Child

Seeing Yuanyao relax a bit, Jingjing finally began to explain forthrightly, "My third sister just opened another branch of Sichuan Pavilion the day after tomorrow! They're also short-staffed at the moment. Seeing that Yuanyao seemed quite interested, I asked her if she wanted to take a summer job. Although being a server pays less and the work is tough, Sichuan Pavilion's treatment has always been top-notch in the catering industry, and I think starting in the service industry is the first step into society. Yuanyao, despite studying in teacher training, will ultimately face a group of children or adolescents, but after all, it all requires communication. Switching the soup but not the medicine—therefore I think she could actually give it a try, since working a summer job is also a great opportunity for training."

Sitting nearby and occasionally serving dishes to Song Chengguang, Xu Xiuxiu looked at Jingjing, explaining things openly to Yuanhuan, and felt immensely relieved. She then glanced at Yuanyao's expression, noticing some surprise and envy, she knew that Yuanyao herself also wanted some change in City Z.

Yuanyao's temperament is relatively indifferent, seeming not to care much, but such people can hardly carry through a crisis. Taking the incident over the New Year when she and Wang Qinghua had a fallout as an example, thinking about it, Xu Xiuxiu was quite in favor of Yuanyao going to Sichuan Pavilion to learn. After all, among three hundred sixty trades, being a server is arguably the most strenuous. Getting an excellent service person is not easy as each industry involves dealing with people of all sorts. Moreover, it is often said that one's character is judged by their attitude towards servers which, Xu Xiuxiu felt, made a lot of sense. The service industry indeed is a field that truly trains people, and Jingjing's growth is testament to this.

"Do you want to go?" Yuanhuan, having listened to Jingjing, paused for a moment and then turned his deep eyes towards Yuanyao.

"Yes, I want to try," Yuanyao gave a firm answer to Yuanhuan.

"Then go and try it!" Yuanhuan spoke easily, considering himself an open-minded elder brother. If his sister wanted to work and be independent in his wife's store, he naturally wouldn't stop her.

"Thank you, second brother," Yuanyao felt ecstatic, but Yuanming disagreed, "Sis, if you go to sister-in-law's store for a summer job, what about me? Am I supposed to play alone?" Yuanming complained; he felt choked up, finding his sister too ignorant of enjoyment.

"Yuanming! Your sister is going to work for the summer, maybe sister-in-law could offer you three multiple-choice questions too?" With Yuanyao sorted out, might as well bring Yuanming in due to a shortage of hands, thought Xu Xiuxiu, her face beaming with a smile as she faced Yuanming: "One, you and your sister could go to Sichuan Pavilion for summer work—there's a shortage in delivery and kitchen prep! The welfare and wage are pretty good! Two, come with me to the construction site at Soup City. It's all manned there, and though you'll be under the scorching sun every day, it's tough. Besides, you can witness the growth of the largest and most luxurious resort in the province, which I think is quite fulfilling. Think about it, being a part of the largest and most luxurious resort in the province, doesn't that sound pretty good?" Xu Xiuxiu actually wanted to lure the kid to the construction site for a transformation.

"Thirdly, stay home and help Aunt Luo take care of the kids, go out whenever you want, and occasionally help us pick up and drop Cheng Guang at school when we are too busy. Now, these three options I've presented, which do you find more appealing?" Xu Xiuxiu smiled cheerily at Yuanming.

"Second sister-in-law, I am a man, and you're asking me to stay at home and help you with the kids!" Upon hearing the third option, Yuanming felt the insult of being misused.

"Oh dear, I also think it's not suitable. Yuanming is a boy, how can we make him stay at home and take care of children like an old housewife, that won't do. Yuanming, you absolutely cannot agree to this," Aunt Luo, who sat with everyone at the dining table, refused without a second thought, fearing Yuanming would agree, and made sure to advise Yuanming immediately.

Aunt Luo, who is older, instinctively felt it was absurd for this boy to stay home and take care of a baby.

Song Yuanming went through the multiple-choice options his second sister-in-law had given him twice in his head. Clearly, Sister-in-law Luo had correctly ruled out the ones that didn't need consideration. Although he liked the boy and girl twins, being with them 24 hours a day would be the death of him!

After a moment of silence, Song Yuanhuan asked, "Second sister-in-law, is there a salary? Is the pay better at the construction site or for a waiter?"

Song Yuanming had originally planned to have a good time in City Z, but since he had to work, he would naturally choose the job with the higher pay. That way, he would have his own spending money when he started high school after summer break.

"Of course, the construction site pays more! We have a piece-rate system at our site. You get ten cents for carrying a bag of cement and one cent for a brick. Think about it! If you carry two hundred bags of cement in a day, that's US$ 20, and US$ 20 for two thousand bricks too. That's almost equal to a month's salary for a waiter at Sichuan Pavilion." Xu Xiuxiu calculated gleefully for Song Yuanming.

Song Yuanhuan gave his wife a sidelong glance, then looked at his foolish younger brother, whose eyes were shining with excitement under Xu Xiuxiu's coaxing. He completely lacked the will to stop him.

"Then I'll go with you to the construction site," Song Yuanming calculated. He wasn't very old, but he could handle carrying bricks and cement. He didn't want much—just to carry one hundred bags of cement and one thousand bricks a day. That wouldn't be too tiring, and he could earn US$ 20 a day. In a month, that would be six hundred yuan! By the end of the two-month summer vacation, he would have saved up twelve hundred yuan.

"I'll go tomorrow," Song Yuanming had practically visualized his overnight riches and becoming a small tycoon with savings of up to two thousand yuan after two months. He was thrilled and could hardly wait a moment longer.

"You can go! But Song Yuanming, you have to sign a labor contract when you get there. Once you sign the contract, you have to honestly work until the end of the summer vacation. Even if you can't endure it and it's really exhausting, I won't allow you to quit halfway, understand?" Xu Xiuxiu laid down the ultimatum first.

Though the construction site offered good pay and quick earnings, the risks were high. And with Song Yuanming's capability, he would be exhausted on the very first day. She wouldn't allow him to work for a day and then start thinking of backing out.

"No problem," Song Yuanming pledged, thumping his chest.

"Song Yuanming, you need to do what you promise," Song Yuanhuan, knowing full well his wife had set a trap for his brother, still cooperated with Xu Xiuxiu and sternly reminded him again.

"Yes," Song Yuanming confidently agreed.