Jin Huaihua sat on the kang, covering her eyes and sobbing uncontrollably.
This dilapidated courtyard was rented by her and Hu Xier. It had only one small room, cramped and filled with a musty odor...
The kang was blocked, and no matter how much they burned the stove, it wouldn't get warm.
The late autumn nights were very cold. Hu Xier, wrapped in a blanket, glared at Jin Huaihua, "Oh, sister-in-law, can you stop wailing? Isn't it enough?"
"It's just about finding work. Tomorrow, we'll go to that shop that makes soybean paste again. I saw a notice outside looking for odd-jobbers..."
Ever since being driven out of the old Yun family by Madam Gu, the sister-in-law duo had moved into the county town.
They thought a beautiful life was about to begin, but they couldn't even find a job.
Either they found Jin Huaihua too inarticulate, a mute.
Or they said Hu Xier was too flighty, not yet married. What if she went out dating every day? Who would do the work in the shop?
Most of the shops in the county town hired men, or married women...
So, it was really not easy for them to find some work.
Jin Huaihua felt she had been tricked by Hu Xier and was extremely wronged, so she sat on the kang and cried incessantly.
"Ah! Ah!~"
She gestured with her hands: If you hadn't angered Madam Gu, would we have been driven out?
Seeing this, Hu Xier instantly became angry, "Sister-in-law, why do you blame me for everything? If you had refused to leave, what could the old Yun family have done?"
Jin Huaihua: "..."
Good heavens, she could even blame herself for this. This sister-in-law was truly a scoundrel.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry. Second sister-in-law is also in the county town. I'll go find her tomorrow and see if the steamed bun shop needs anyone..." Hu Xier said with a confident expression.
Jin Huaihua blew her nose, then covered herself with the quilt and lay down.
Let Hu Xier do whatever she wanted.
Anyway, before she left, Madam Gu had said that if she was truly desperate, she could return to the old Yun family, but only herself...
Whether Hu Xier would find a husband and get married, or continue to drift in the county town, she couldn't be bothered.
The next morning, after Hu Xier woke up, she ate two cornmeal cakes and then strolled to the steamed bun shop.
Just as Liu Cui Jin came out to pour water, she saw Hu Xier and was stunned for a moment, "You're that maid from the old Yun family, right?"
"Sister Cui Jin, is Second Sister-in-law here?" Hu Xier asked with a smile.
Upon mentioning Liu Cui Rong, Liu Cui Jin showed an expression of disgust, "She's lying on the kang inside..."
Hu Xier smiled slightly and walked into the room.
Liu Cui Rong had drunk two bowls of dumpling soup and eaten two large steamed buns that morning, and was now taking a second nap.
After Hu Xier walked in, she glared at her, then immediately put on a cheerful smile, "Ahem, Second, Second Sister-in-law, wake up!~"
Why did she feel such a strong smell of blood in the room?
Liu Cui Rong smacked her lips, opened her eyes, glanced at Hu Xier, and frowned, "You little slut, who let you in? Get out, get out..."
"Oh, Second Sister-in-law, we are both in the same boat now, so let's not quarrel!~" Hu Xier sat down on the edge of the kang.
Liu Cui Rong sat up, covering her stomach, "What do you mean in the same boat? What happened to you? Did your lover bully you again?"
Little slut, she had disliked her from the moment she was in the old Yun family, calling her seductive and pretentious...
Hu Xier lowered her head and said, "Second Sister-in-law, I, I and Sister Huaihua were also driven out by Madam Gu. We have nowhere to go now and can't find work, so, so I hope you can help us!~"
As she spoke, she observed Liu Cui Rong's stomach.
Her stomach was flat. Had she already given birth?
Then why didn't she see the child...
"How can I help you? I don't even have my daughter anymore, my mother doesn't approve of me, and I don't have a single copper coin in my pocket. Should I help you with air!~"
Liu Cui Rong glared at her, then crawled to the head of the kang, lifted the quilt, and took out a handful of sunflower seeds.
These were raw sunflower seeds, not yet roasted. Liu Cui Rong spread them on the kang to roast them...
"Second Sister-in-law, you gave birth to a daughter?" Hu Xier's eyes widened.
In the old Yun family, everyone knew that young girls were the most sought after.
If Second Sister-in-law took the child back, wouldn't she be able to stay?
Liu Cui Rong cracked the sunflower seeds with a crunch, crunch, and said faintly, "It was a daughter, yes, but I miscarried a stillborn child. The baby has already been buried!~"
"Huh?" Hu Xier was shocked again.
Isn't this retribution...
Second Sister-in-law had done so many unspeakable things, and heaven must be punishing her.
"What's wrong? I'm still young. Having a child is not difficult. When I remarry, I'll have ten or eight daughters to anger the old Yun family! Hmph!~" Liu Cui Rong casually spat out the sunflower seed shells.
Hu Xier twitched her lips and said nothing.
"Xier, you're actually not ugly, and you know how to flirt. With your looks, it's as easy as playing a game to hook up with a rich gentleman, isn't it? Why are you looking for work? Isn't it better to eat well and drink spicy food every day?" Liu Cui Rong said.
Hu Xier: "..."
She also wanted to find someone, and had been looking all along, but no one fancied her.
She came from a humble background. If she married into a prominent family, she could only be a concubine or a maid.
That would be so boring, being inferior and bullied every day. She couldn't stand it.
"Second Sister-in-law, does your steamed bun shop need people? Sister Huaihua and I can work. We know how to knead dough and prepare fillings!~" Hu Xier asked.
After cracking the last sunflower seed, Liu Cui Rong clapped her hands, "I can't decide this. The steamed bun shop is run by my mother and Cui Jin. You should ask them..."
Just then, Madam Lu walked in to get soap.
Seeing this, Hu Xier quickly bowed, "Um, um, Auntie, I'm from the old Yun family and want to find some work at your steamed bun shop!~"
Madam Lu looked her up and down, "You're that maid who hooked up with a wild man and was caught red-handed by the Yun family, right?"
She had also heard about the Yun family's affairs.
A maid like this, they wouldn't want her even if she was given for free.
Hu Xier: "..."
Did she have to be so blunt?
"Auntie, I, I..."
"Go out. Don't come to find Cui Rong anymore. We don't lack staff at our steamed bun shop either!~" Madam Lu directly gave her the order to leave.
Hu Xier cursed inwardly.
What was so great about it? It was just a broken steamed bun shop, and she really thought she was the head shopkeeper.
Hu Xier rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
Liu Cui Rong rolled her eyes, quickly put on her shoes, got off the kang, and chased after her...
"Xier, wait a moment!"
"What is it?"
Liu Cui Rong pulled her to the corner and said with a wicked smile, "Do you want to earn quick money?"