"Sis, you must tell outsiders this, so that no one will eye my money after I'm out of a job."
Wang Ailing looked at Jiang Xinyu with sympathy, "If this gets out, you'll have a hard time finding a husband in the future. Who would want to marry a sickly person?"
"It's okay, I'm aiming for this effect. Who will remember this in a few years?"
"Xinyu, you're offending the village chief's family now."
"It's fine, I've thought it through. I'll go see the village chief tomorrow morning, and you spread the news tomorrow. That way, I won't seem to offend him openly.
Also, even without this situation, I estimate that the village chief doesn't favor me. Last time when I went to the county, he hinted about wanting my job, and I pretended to be ignorant."
"Alright, as long as you're aware. It's late now, I'm heading home."
Wang Ailing left the Jiang Family with mixed feelings. The job at the textile factory tempted her now. She used to disregard it because of disdain, not wanting to snatch a job from an orphaned girl. But since Xinyu is considering selling her job, she would discuss it with her family.
At home, her parents and brother were there, "Ailing, you've been to Xinyu's house again?" Mrs. Wang asked her daughter, who was already a fifteen-year-old girl. The family worried when she returned late.
"Yeah, Mom, Xinyu just told me she's thinking of selling her job."
"Selling it?"
"Yes. Last night, Kong Mengjie offered her ten yuan, and five yuan monthly for the next two years. I see Xinyu doesn't want to accept it.
She asked me to spread the word that whoever offers more money for the job, she'll sell it to them."
Father Wang, Wang Jianqiang, sat on the brick bed smoking his pipe, "This girl's smart enough, doing this is best for her."
"Dear, why don't we buy it for Ailing?"
Wang Jianqiang shook his head, "No, our family won't get involved in this. Ailing, think about what it might be like if you got this job?"
"Dad, it means working in the county and not staying home to farm."
"Ailing, it's not about the money. I can give you a hundred yuan, and pay Xinyu five monthly for three years, but think about how others are targeting this job. And last time at your aunt's county, I heard many textile factory workers have lung issues, which can't be cured."
After speaking, Wang Jianqiang watched his daughter. Though the room was lit with kerosene lamps, making her expression hard to see, he hoped she'd understand his words.
"Dad, Xinyu said the same, but I initially didn't believe it."
"Xinyu rarely speaks, but from what you say, she understands things."
"Dad, I won't take the job. But Xinyu wanted me to ask around, who should I ask?"
"Let your mom tell a few gossipy women at the canteen tomorrow morning to spread the word."
"Alright, I'll mention it in the morning. Just say the child wants to sell her job for money."
"Mom, Xinyu said to say she's selling the job for medicine."
The young ones might not know, but forty-year-olds Wang Jianqiang and Sun Ermei understood the meaning behind Jiang Family's daughter.
"Alright, that's what I'll say. Poor girl, just one left now. Xiao Long, gather more firewood for her tomorrow."
"Got it mom." The eldest brother of the Wang Family nodded, dutifully listening to his parents.
Wang Ailing felt assured knowing her parents would help Jiang Xinyu. Reflecting on her father's words, she appreciated the cleverness of Xinyu's approach.
After seeing off Wang Ailing, Jiang Xinyu locked the front door, night had fallen completely. She spread out branches and leaves from her space, covering half the courtyard.
She needed to tidy them early tomorrow to avoid having to explain to Wang Ailing.
Back inside, she mixed bathing water, brushing her teeth first to avoid a bitter mouth.
After washing, she soaked her clothes in space-brought laundry powder, which had a nice scent. Suddenly, she remembered buying a box of old soap with the word "Beijing" on it, which had no fragrance.
She poured the water onto the vegetable patch in the yard. The harvested cabbage and radishes were in the cellar; they needed to be moved into the space soon to ensure fresh vegetables, unlike before when greens were not ready.
After placing items outside, she sat on her bed. Thinking of her visit to the Kong Family tomorrow morning.
Directly talking with the village chief might be more effective than beating around the bush sometimes.
Her hair was dry, lying in a warm bed, she gazed at her space filled with grain.
All collected bit by bit over eight years. Thanks to her collecting habit, otherwise coming here would not have been accompanied by the courage to survive.
Sitting up, she drank a bag of pure milk. Gradually improving health, her appearance was far better than her past life. Though she still wasn't a beauty, being average was satisfying enough. In her previous life, she was often overshadowed by varying sizes of beauties, thinking of which always brought tears.
Early next morning, Jiang Xinyu cleaned the house as usual, accustomed to the dark.
Probably around seven o'clock, she descended from the wood shed to the cellar, where fifty cabbages and a bag of large radishes resided. She waved her hand to collect them into the space, the dampness inside was intolerable, so she quickly emerged.
Locking up, she went straight to the village chief's house. "Village Chief Uncle, are you home?"
Kong Mengjie's younger brother retreated upon seeing Jiang Xinyu.
"Xinyu, come in quickly, what brings you here?"
"Uncle, I've come to discuss my job."
"Oh? What's the matter?"
"Uncle, my health is poor. Last time at the hospital, the doctor said I must take good care of myself to avoid a short life. With no parents left, I want to live well, find a husband who'll join my household, and carry on the Jiang Family lineage.
Uncle, I want to sell the job to someone else, so I can have money for medicine. Even living in the village under your care is much better than outside. I'm not eloquent and naïve, I'm sure I'll be bullied outside."
"Xinyu, this job wasn't easy to obtain." Kong Zhongyou sighed.
"Uncle, I know, it cost my parents' lives." Jiang Xinyu kept her head down to conceal her emotions, appearing to others as overwhelmed with grief.
"Xinyu, how do you plan to sell the job?"
"Uncle, two nights ago, Kong Mengjie offered ten yuan, with five yuan monthly for two years.
This is quite a sum, but I'll need long-term medication and nourishment. I find this amount insufficient for medicine."