I Bacame the Mother of His Child-Chapter 43 - 42nd - : Want to Enter Sichuan Pavilion

Xu Xiuxiu saw this and did not stop it. She was happy to see Song Chengguang play with other children. Although, he just proudly sat on the lawn, his lips pursed tightly, his round eyes curiously watched the toys in the children’s hands—the mud.

"Auntie, don’t worry, Nannan promises to complete the task." The little one saluted Xu Xiuxiu and then turned to run towards the center of the small lawn where the children were playing. "You all behave, you can’t bully your little brother, okay?" The child-serious words were sincerely conveyed.

The children on the lawn listened with a dazed expression, looked at the proud Song Chengguang, and then obediently nodded their heads.

Xu Xiuxiu was initially worried about Song Chengguang; she would occasionally turn her head to take a look. When she saw the little guy sitting with several children who were not walking steadily around him, listening to their babbling half-understandable baby language, she gradually stopped worrying.

Children always have their own ways of getting along.

"That Major Song’s wife, if you don’t mind, take a seat here! I have some sunflower seeds that I fried myself, crispy and delicious, brought from home." Ma Xiaohua called out enthusiastically, and she even made room by moving aside the two plastic bags she had sat on.

Seeing Ma Xiaohua’s enthusiasm, Xu Xiuxiu smiled lightly and walked forward to sit down.

Upon seeing this, Ma Xiaohua immediately laughed heartily and introduced Xu Xiuxiu to the several military wives around them, one of whom was the delicate woman Xu Xiuxiu had met in the cafeteria during a previous visit—the Wei family’s daughter-in-law, Feng Yuzhen, Company Commander Xu’s wife, Yan Moli, Deputy Company Commander Wang’s wife, Song Xiaoying, and Company Commander Xu’s sister-in-law, Xu Bao’er, who had just come to the military base few days ago. Moli brought her out to get to know others and let us military wives see if there was a suitable match to introduce her to."

Ma Xiaohua was very familiar as she introduced several people to Xu Xiuxiu. While others were okay and Xu Xiuxiu was receptive to her kindness, her words regarding Company Commander Xu’s sister Xu Bao’er were a bit inappropriate. After all, discussing a teenage girl’s private affairs openly was indeed indiscreet.

Thus, once Ma Xiaohua finished her introductions, the people present were suddenly a bit embarrassed, all casting their glances towards Xu Bao’er, who immediately blushed and hung her head low, her eyes brimming with tears.

Yan Moli, always a calm and mild person, paused the movement of the knitting yarn in her hands and frowned slightly as she gently lifted her eyelids to look at Ma Xiaohua, seemingly trying to ascertain whether Ma Xiaohua was deliberately making fun of her sister-in-law, Xu Bao’er.

Ma Xiaohua seemed completely oblivious to the problems in what she had said and was still smiling, "You know Major Song’s family, right? Xu Bao’er is pretty impressive, she became a teacher all on her own! Although she teaches kindergarten kids, she’s more accomplished than us military wives, right!" As Ma Xiaohua spoke, there was a hint of envy and jealousy; she was just a plain military wife from a rural area without much education and average looks, who had managed to make some acquaintances in the army over the year through her cheerful and enthusiastic nature.

"Indeed, very impressive," Xu Xiuxiu nodded in agreement.

"Sister-in-law He, my sister is quite shy, please don’t tease her," Yan Molin slowly spoke up to defend her, but her reference to ’sister’ also honestly revealed the harmonious relationship between the sisters-in-law and Yan Molin’s intention to protect Xu Bao’er.

Ma Xiaohua was not a fool and naturally picked up on the underlying meaning in Yan Molin’s words, so she quickly changed the subject, albeit in a somewhat inappropriate way, "But Xu Bao’er is impressive, yet she still doesn’t compare to you and Major Song’s family. You’re truly remarkable, a woman who managed to open a big restaurant in the city. I heard business is booming? By the way, is your restaurant hiring? If you need people, your sister-in-law here could help out." The fact that Xu Xiuxiu had opened Sichuan Pavilion was well known within the Military District, often discussed over meals.

Even her husband had mentioned it a few times, and she had heard from others that the pay for helping out at her restaurant was at least fifty a month, and Zhao Nan’s aunt, Zhao Xiumei, reportedly earned over a hundred a month! Plus, there were bonuses and benefits at the end of the month, making the compensation sound all the more enticing. In light of this, Ma Xiaohua secretly regretted not having asked to help out earlier; had she known how great the terms were, she would have surely agreed to help if she had suggested it earlier. Now, she wondered if they were still hiring.

"I’m not that impressive; it’s just a restaurant," Xu Xiuxiu shook her head, not intending to elaborate on Sichuan Pavilion, "We’re not short of staff there at the moment. But sister-in-law, are you looking for a job? Why, doesn’t the Military District arrange jobs for military wives? If so, why bother working at my place, where it’s not only tiring but also leaves no time for home throughout the month?" Xu Xiuxiu tactfully rebuffed Ma Xiaohua’s probe, shifting the conversation from passive to proactive.

"Ah! I don’t have much of an education, and I can’t handle the jobs the Military District arranges. Nowadays, I just help out at the army canteen, doing dishes and cleaning pots and pans, not very tiring and pretty easy, but it only pays twenty a month. My husband has many siblings at home, none of them very old, and the whole family relies on my husband’s salary. His salary alone isn’t enough for our expenses. Right now, just the two of us tightening our belts can barely make ends meet, but what will happen when we have a child?" Ma Xiaohua vented her frustration and helplessness, her eyes fixed on Xu Xiuxiu, hoping for her sympathy.

Xu Xiuxiu knew what Ma Xiaohua was planning, but she also understood she couldn’t set this precedent. Although hiring another person to help at Sichuan Pavilion was feasible, Xu Xiuxiu didn’t plan to break the rule just because of a few words from Ma Xiaohua; such precedents, once set, would never end, and she didn’t have the energy to deal with them. Besides, there were many others in the army struggling.

"The Military District has already arranged jobs, right? Helping out at the canteen is pretty good!" Xu Xiuxiu said lightly, her tone neutral. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

That’s true, but compared to the at least fifty a month at Sichuan Pavilion, it really isn’t much, Ma Xiaohua thought to herself, but seeing that Xu Xiuxiu was not relenting, her smile faded slightly.

"Sigh! It’s getting dark, I need to head home and help out in the canteen," Ma Xiaohua began gathering up the roasted sunflower seeds next to her, "Are you all still eating seeds? If you are, grab a handful, or I’ll take them away." Though asking, her hands didn’t stop moving.