Xiangmaozi carried Xin Mao all the way back to the restaurant. She was going to return the teapot.
When I arrived at the restaurant, I found that the shopkeeper was settling accounts, while the boy was cleaning slowly.
At this time, the night was getting late, and the guests who had just been eating and chatting had dispersed. At this time, only one or two tables of guests were still chatting under the dim lights.
Xiangmaozi suddenly had an idea. She walked over and held up the teapot: "Thank you, shopkeeper!" She held the teapot respectfully with both hands and handed it over.
The shopkeeper just said something, glanced indifferently from the corner of his eye, signaled Xiang Maozi to put the teapot aside, and continued to settle the accounts.
Xiangmaozi put down the teapot, turned around and walked to the boy. She had been observing for a long time and knew that the boy was very busy. She also watched how the boy did things.
At this moment, she quickly grabbed a rag, held the swill bucket with one hand, folded in all the leftover food on the table, and then tidied the table.
There is a table and a table. She did it quickly and well.
After folding the swill bucket, she began to lift the stools to the table and arranged them neatly.
After setting up the stools, she picked up the broom and swept the floor neatly but gently. It was quiet but very clean. At first glance, she looked like she was a good worker who often worked. When Xiangmaozi swept the ground roughly and divided the debris on the ground into several piles, she saw a pair of cloth shoes stepping in front of her.
When Lemongrass looked up, she saw the boss staring at her seriously, "What are you doing?"
Lemongrass was holding a broom, "I, I want to help." She said.
The boss shook his head, "We don't need your help here, we have guys." He pouted and pointed to the guy next to him.
The waiter who had just been robbed of his job was staring at Lemongrass angrily with wide eyes.
Lemongrass knows that success or failure lies in one move.
She mustered up her courage and said, "I know you have a clerk, but I've been watching for a long time. When there are many people, the clerk can't be busy at all, and there are always people complaining about him. Uncle, please accept me, I can do my job well, It's fast and good, and it won't delay anything! And I don't want any wages, as long as you give us a place and let us eat some leftovers every day. Uncle, please, please let me stay and work, I promise to do a good job!"
The shopkeeper is really looking for someone recently, because a young boy is really too busy, but he can't find anyone who is particularly suitable.
He looked up and down the lemongrass. When the lemongrass saw it, she quickly stood up straight. She said seriously, "Uncle, I am really capable! I can chop wood, carry water, clean, wash dishes, and mend everything! As long as I do it, I can do it all!" You just need to take in our two siblings, and I can eat less!"
The shopkeeper was still pondering. He wasn't worried about anything else. This girl's ability was already evident just now. She was definitely a good worker! What he was worried about at the moment was her origins.
"Where are your family members?" asked the shopkeeper.
Xiangmaozi said, "I am from Yexi Village. My parents went up the mountain to look for cattle, but suddenly a monster came to the village. I ran out with my brother. In a few days, when someone comes from our village, I will let someone know Dad and mom are coming to pick us up."
Seeing Xiangmaozi speaking clearly and crisply, the shopkeeper finally nodded, "In that case, you can stay and work with Chun Yu every day, and you must be diligent. As agreed, you will be in charge of food and accommodation, and no wages will be paid!"
"Hey! Thank you, uncle!" Xiangmaozi replied loudly, his voice full of joy.
The shopkeeper said to Xiangmaozi, "My surname is Chen. You can call me Uncle Chen from now on. Chunyu, go and arrange for them to stay in a room."
The little boy Chun Yu curled his lips and said, "Hey, come with me." There was a look of reluctance on his face.
Xiangmaozi was ecstatic and pulled Xin Mao. She was glad that she had a place to stay in Huangshi Town. Because of this, she ignored Shopkeeper Chen's sighing expression.
After listening to Xiangmaozi's self-report, Shopkeeper Chen felt a touch of sadness in his heart. Different from the ignorant country girl, today he has met many villagers who have fled from various places, and heard enough all kinds of gossip and information. However, there is not a single adult in Yexi Village who has not come so far. It is definitely not a problem of the long distance. .
Boss Chen, who is well-informed, has already made his own judgment: Yexi Village is probably completely destroyed.
Partly out of sympathy, and partly out of Xiang Maozi's quick hands and free of charge, he agreed to take in the siblings. Just think of it as raising a cat or dog and doing a good deed.
Xiangmaozi followed the stubborn and arrogant boy Chun Yu towards the kitchen. Along the way, he heard the boy muttering: "Everyone comes to eat, and if there is too much to eat or not to do, they will be kicked out in two days!" snort!"
Lemongrass memorizes the path silently without making a sound. Xin Mao even held his breath, clinging tightly to the lemongrass and saying nothing.
A few people walked back along the corridor. Behind the firewood shed next to the kitchen, there was a thatched house with a door, but it was no better than a firewood shed.
Chunyu pushed the door open hard, and the ash inside the room suddenly rushed out, with a faint smell of ash haze. Chunyu quickly ducked to the outside, pinched her nose and fanned the air, "Here, it's right here."
With the lantern in Chunyu's hand, Xiangmaozi and Xin Mao looked inside the house. The dark house only had a dilapidated wooden bed, and there was nothing except the smell of dust.
Chunyu said, "Tomorrow morning at five o'clock, you go to the kitchen to help first. We'll talk about the rest later." After that, he left with the only light on.
Xiangmaozi's heart moved. She quickly grabbed a small handful of copper coins from the handkerchief on her chest, about the size of a dozen coins, and handed them to Chunyu, "Brother Chunyu, please take care of you! Please take more care of me in the future."
Chunyu unconsciously took the copper coin and held it in both hands, "What are you..."
Xiangmaozi said seriously, "I know that this time I asked shopkeeper Chen to take me in, which caused trouble for Brother Chunyu. But don't worry, I will work more and talk less in the future. When I know the news about my parents, I will I took my brother home."
Chunyu held the copper in both hands, with a somewhat embarrassed expression, "You, look why you are so polite. You are here to help me. Well, take the copper back, you don't even have wages, I There's more. As he spoke, he held up his hands and handed over the copper.
Xiangmaozi shook his head firmly, "Brother Chunyu, this is what I want, and I also have a request. I hope you can give me more guidance in the future."
Seeing that Xiangmaozi really wanted to give it, Chunyu scratched his head and said, "Well, thank you."
He paused, "Then just wait, I'll find a quilt for you." After that, he turned around and left quickly, but this time, he left the lantern behind.
Xiangmaozi held a lantern and led Xin Mao into the hut.
The house was visibly empty, and there was dust everywhere.
Xin Mao blinked his little eyes and looked back and forth, "Sister, how do you live here?"
Citronella scolded him, "Why don't you live here? There is a house, a window, and a bed. How do you want to live here?! You are so excited!" After saying that, he handed the lantern to him and ordered: "Hold it!"
Xin Mao shut up quickly. Xiangmaozi's current tone was not very good. If he dared to talk nonsense again, he would probably get a beating. In this regard, Xin Mao wanted to be more knowledgeable.
With the faint candlelight, Lemongrass placed the basket on the ground. He took out the cloth covering the basket from the basket, jumped on the bed board, and wiped it briefly.
Then he directed Xin Mao, "Go to the woodshed next door to see if there is straw. Bring it over and lay it down."
It's dark outside and it's a strange place. Xin Mao didn't want to go, so he hesitated, "They won't let us use the woodshed."
Xiangmaozi stared, "Go quickly, don't talk nonsense. We are either stealing other people's things, or sleeping on the bed board for half the night, and put it back tomorrow morning." Xin Mao still twisted his body and refused to move.
Lemongrass was about to jump down and get it for herself, when she saw a faint light slowly coming from outside through the open door. Xiang Maozi turned around and saw Chunyu slowly walking over holding a small oil lamp and holding a large roll of something under her arm.
Seeing that it was Chunyu, Xiangmaozi quickly jumped down and greeted Chunyu, "Brother Chunyu, haven't you rested yet?"
Chunyu said, "I thought you had nothing here, so I went to get some unused bedding for you, and I also left this oil lamp for you. Can you use it?"
Although Xiangmaozi's family was poor, they still had an oil lamp, so she nodded, "It will work."
Chunyu nodded, "That's good. These beddings are not wanted by the previous customers, and the shopkeeper also kept them for nothing. I told him, and he asked for them to be used by you."
Xiangmaozi knows that this is the function of those dozen big bucks, but in this world, who should help you if you have no relatives or friends? ! Lemongrass has understood this truth since she was a child.
So she thanked Chun Yu seriously, and her attitude was sincere, which made the young Chun Yu very helpful, and she also vaguely regretted her initial attitude, so he gave a few more words, "I'll call you in the front hall." Floor shop, you should go to bed early, I will call you tomorrow morning. Don't worry, although shopkeeper Chen is a bit picky, he is a good person."
After finishing the instructions, Chunyu left the oil lamp and left with the lantern.
Xiangmaozi reluctantly closed the broken door. The door was so broken that there was no place to latch it. After thinking about it, I felt relieved that I had nothing to steal.
She quickly unfolded the bedding provided by Chun Yu. It was just a thin mattress and a stiff quilt. It was not clear whether it was clean or not in the dark, but there was just a musty smell that came over her nostrils. It's probably been a long time since I've been exposed to the sun.
But Xiangmaozi has always been very adaptable. She kept spreading the bedding with her hands and feet, and finally felt sleepy all over.
She yawned and called to Xin Mao, "Come and sleep!"
Seeing that Xiangmaozi had made the bed, Xin Mao happily climbed up, left the oil lamp beside the bed, climbed up from the end of the bed, lay down, and fell asleep almost instantly.
The same goes for Xiangmaozi, she is sleepy as hell. But he didn't dare to fall asleep completely. She was afraid that if she got up late, she would be disliked by others. Simply sit up halfway, lean against the head of the bed, and squint your eyes to rest.
As if in the blink of an eye, the watchman in the town beat five drums. One fast and four slow, boom - boom, boom, boom, boom!
Unlike Xin Mao, who was already sprawled out in sleep and drooling, Xiang Maozi didn't dare to sleep hard. She actually sat there for half the night, just squinting her eyes and taking a nap.
When she heard that the fifth watch had passed, she immediately turned around and got up, carefully turned on the oil lamp, and fumbled to put on her shoes. It was still dark outside the window at this moment, and the stars in the night seemed brighter than before.
She turned her head and glanced, but finally did not wake up the sleeping Xin Mao. He opened the door and walked out.
According to yesterday's memory, she successfully found the front hall.
The little boy Chun Yu has also gotten up, put away his bedding, and is moving the table. On weekdays, he just puts two tables together and uses them as his bed.
The table was a solid wood Eight Immortals table, which was very heavy. Chun Yu pushed up the table with his belly, and suppressed his blush before lifting it up. Xiangmaozi quickly ran over and carried the other side. The two of them worked together to easily move the table to the designated position.
Chunyu saved a lot of things and said happily, "You got up so early. I planned to call you after cleaning up here! I didn't expect that you are so small and strong. I usually carry this table by myself." It's a lot of trouble."
Xiangmaozi smiled but said nothing.
Chunyu thought for a while, "I can be alone here, there is nothing to do. The kitchen is busy every morning, so I need a helper!"
Lemongrass replied resoundingly: "Okay!"