It’s not easy to find a part-time job recently. My legs are numb from running around, but no one has agreed to hire me. The reasons given by different bosses for rejecting me are the same - sorry, we don’t need child labor.
I really wanted to yell at the sky, "How could I be a child laborer? How could I be a child laborer? I am only 18 years old, okay?" Sitting on a bench in the mall, I felt a little exhausted.
"An An, what are you doing here? Why didn't you call me when you went shopping?"
Song Jingyan came out from somewhere, with Gu Feng standing next to him.
"Jingyan, it's you. I just came out to get some fresh air, so I didn't call you." I sat there and answered weakly.
"Hey, Xiao Anan, are you looking for a part-time job?" Gu Feng flipped through the recruitment advertisement I placed on the table.
"Looking for a part-time job? An An, are you having any difficulties?"
Seeing Jingyan's nervous look, I smiled and shook my head, telling her that I just wanted to find a part-time job to earn some pocket money. I knew that Jingyan's family owned a logistics company and a restaurant, and a rich girl would not understand how sad it was to spend a penny in two.
Jingyan didn't ask any more questions. She said she would go home and ask her father to help me find a job.
Dad still came home late every day. I could still hear him snoring half a day after I got up in the morning. Under the glass of the coffee table were bills for water and electricity, and three red bills, which seemed to be my living expenses. I took out one and prepared to go shopping for groceries.
I picked up a bunch of celery and was about to ask the price when two people were arguing at the vegetable stall next to me. I turned my head and saw that it was He Xubei's mother.
"We just agreed on the price, why did you change your mind?" The female stall owner grabbed Aunt Shen and held her tightly, not letting her leave.
"Hey, are you being unreasonable? I bought the five corn cobs because you said they cost three dollars, and now you regret it?" Aunt Shen was not to be outdone.
"Can I say three dollars for five corns this big? I said five dollars for three, but you took five and only gave me three dollars. How can that be?" The stall owner wanted to take the corn back and not sell it.
"How can such bald corn be so expensive? Why don't you just keep your word and go back on your word?"
I squeezed over to take a look, and the corn wasn't actually that bad, but I had to help Aunt Shen, because she was He Xubei's mother.
"Forget it, forget it. Stop arguing, two of you. Three dollars for four. If you want to sell them, then sell them. If you don't want to sell them, then forget it! The leaves have been torn off, and no one will want them if they're not fresh after a while." I seemed to be acting as a peacemaker, but in fact I was helping Aunt Shen. If this corn was sold in a supermarket, it would cost at least more than two dollars a piece.
In the end, the transaction was successful and I bought the vegetables .
I went home with Aunt Shen. On the way, she kept talking about how good He Xubei was, how obedient, sensible and filial he was, and she said He Xubei was her life. I smiled and agreed, quietly looking at her.
Since He Xubei moved here, I have only seen his mother from a distance. This is the first time I have seen her so closely. Aunt Shen must have been a great beauty when she was young, otherwise how could she have such a good-looking son like He Xubei.
When I passed by He Xubei's house, Aunt Shen insisted on keeping me for dinner. When I was about to refuse, He Xubei came out. Maybe he was a little surprised by my appearance, and he said, "Mom, you go cook. Yi Ping'an, come with me."
The tone of command was worthy of being the monitor. I didn't know what he was going to do. Although I liked him secretly, we didn't have much interaction in private and rarely talked, except for the time when he helped me and Yangguang.
The small bedroom and study room has bookshelves filled with books. I was a little surprised. It turns out that this is how a top student is made.
"Have you seen enough? Yi Ping'an, last time you and Song Jingyan skipped class, I signed the leave note for you. I don't know where you went, but I hope you will stop fighting and make noise in the future, and study quietly. I've checked, your academic foundation is not bad, it's just that you indulge yourself too much." He Xubei noticed the bookshelf I was staring at, and said with some displeasure.
I looked up at He Xubei. No wonder the teacher didn't ask me or punish me for skipping class last time. It turned out that he helped me. Suddenly I felt a little guilty and said, "Thank you, He Xubei."
"If you really want to thank me, then study hard."
"Yeah, okay, I'll try my best."
I went to the kitchen to say goodbye to Aunt Shen, then ran home quickly.
Aunt Shen came out of the kitchen: "Xiaobei, what did you say about An An? Why did she leave? Didn't she agree to stay for dinner?"
"Mom, nothing. Is the meal ready? I'm hungry."
Thinking of the answer I heard from He Xubei before I went out, I smiled secretly.