From Folly to Fortune：I Rewrite My Life After Rebirth!-Chapter 973 - 969: Second Uncle Became a Miner (Second Update)
Sun Dawu blushed when he said this.
A grown man asking a little girl for a raise.
But if he doesn’t get a raise, as his wife said, he might as well go back to Shigou Town.
"Brother Wu, if you have anything to say, just say it. You don’t need to worry about me," Mu Shuangshuang said.
Sun Dawu thought for a moment and said, "I want a raise, four taels of silver a month. After that, I will fully dedicate myself to serving the restaurant.
I’ll take care of all the dishes at the restaurant on my own, even if there’s no assistant, it’s fine.
Right now, the two taels of silver is quite a bit less compared to when we were in Shigou Town."
Mu Shuangshuang smiled slightly; she really didn’t know what to say to the Sun family.
Some people are never satisfied, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant, wanting a raise even before the restaurant has started operating. Mu Shuangshuang didn’t know whether to call it overconfidence.
Or whether the Sun family was treating her like a fool.
"Brother Wu, it’s time for both of us to be honest. The chances of a raise are slim.
As for why, you should know yourself. The wages I pay aren’t low compared to other restaurants in town, and when discussing wages, I made a public statement to everyone.
As long as our restaurant’s operations are good and everyone works hard, Fengzi and I won’t be stingy.
Wages aren’t fixed. We see what you accomplish, and the corresponding pay will reflect that."
Mu Shuangshuang’s stance was unwavering, showing no sign of retreat.
Sun Dawu also knew his request was somewhat excessive.
But the gap stood right there in front of him.
The difference between reality and his expectations was just too great.
"Miss Shuangshuang, I... I..."
The words of leaving were stuck in Sun Dawu’s mouth, unable to come out for a long time.
"Just like I said, if you have something to say, just say it! You and Fengzi have known each other since your days in the military camp, and he recommended you to me because he valued your passion for cooking.
In my heart, I’ve always regarded Brother Wu as a senior. Whatever decision you make, I’ll respect it!"
Including leaving Chengfeng Restaurant.
Sun Dawu fell silent.
With Mu Shuangshuang speaking so openly, he felt that if he were to request to leave, it would be too much.
But if he stayed, was his family’s baked pancake business really destined to remain stagnant?
"Miss Shuangshuang, is there really no way to help our pancake stall thrive?"
Even now, Sun Dawu wanted a solution that could take care of both ends.
He didn’t want to give up on the restaurant.
He especially didn’t want to let go of the pancake business.
How could Mu Shuangshuang not understand? But the greedier a person is, often they end up empty-handed.
"Brother Wu, I know deep down you think I’m joking and believe your pancakes are great.
But honestly, you can try for yourselves. Five wen per pancake, see how many you can sell in a day.
If it sells well, just keep doing it. Pretend I never said anything."
Mu Shuangshuang felt she had done her utmost for the Sun family.
What Sun Dawu and his wife would do was beyond her control.
"Brother Wu, there’s one more thing I feel I should tell you. There’s no perfect solution in the world.
Even if there is, it comes at a great cost. Since you’ve decided to be the head chef at the restaurant, then leave other thoughts behind and focus on being the chef.
If you think there’s something more important than this, then go do what’s more important to you!" Mu Shuangshuang said, looking straight at Sun Dawu.
If it weren’t for the fact that she was still showing Sun Dawu some respect, she would’ve directly asked him his thoughts.
Mu Shuangshuang indeed admired Sun Dawu’s serious attitude towards his work.
After all, he was someone she chose in the first place.
Sun Dawu always felt there was an underlying message in Mu Shuangshuang’s words, but he couldn’t guess what it was, so he waited till Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng left to ask his wife.
-
By the time Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng returned to Er Gui Village, it was already lunchtime.
After not seeing them for a night, Yu Si Niang was worried sick, pulling Mu Shuangshuang close, looking her over like a mother reunited with her daughter after a long separation.
She knew her daughter had said that if they were busy and didn’t return at night, it meant they were staying over in town.
"Mom, I’m really fine. If you’re not worried about me, surely you must trust Fengzi, right?" Mu Shuangshuang said coquettishly, glancing at Yu Si Niang, shamelessly.
"Of course, Mom trusts both of you!" Yu Si Niang giggled.
She served dishes to the two kids while chatting with them.
"By the way, Mom, during the day and a half I wasn’t here, did the Old Mu Family cause any trouble?"
The Old Mu Family was always a knot in Mu Shuangshuang’s heart.
While she was around, it was fine, but if she was away, who knows if those oddballs would come harass her parents?
"There wasn’t any trouble, but I heard your second uncle found a job and discussed with your grandpa about going away for a month."
Mu Shuangshuang was taken aback.
Mu Dazhong was the laziest among the sons of the Old Mu Family.
The saying that a lazy donkey likes to urinate often was what Old Mrs. Mu often scolded him with. Why did he suddenly wise up this time?
It couldn’t be some kind of scheme, could it?
Mu Shuangshuang’s puzzled expression made Yu Si Niang realize her daughter was suspecting something.
"Shuangshuang, this time your second uncle is serious and hasn’t asked for a penny from home. He said your second uncle’s wife’s elder brother works as a steward at a mining factory, and he’s going to work there as a miner.
The monthly wage is three hundred wen, with accommodation but without meals. Your second uncle said after a lifetime of farming, it’s a great chance to work as a laborer, even if it’s lower-end than farming, it still contributes to the Old Mu Family.
He also promised to give all his wages to your grandmother; your grandparents are really happy and said your second uncle has finally grown up."
Yu Si Niang was also smiling appreciatively as she said this.
The second branch improving was a good thing for her.
The past conflicts with the second branch were largely due to money; if their situation improves, they probably wouldn’t argue with the third branch anymore.
Mu Shuangshuang listened skeptically.
A daily wage of ten wen is even less than what Yu Si Niang earned as an assistant chef in the restaurant.
Dock workers are earning twelve wen a day now, not to mention the mining tunnels which are more exhausting than dock work.
At the docks, one wouldn’t risk their life, but in the mine, who knows?
Ten wen a day is too low; even for a hundred wen, a month being three taels of silver, Mu Dazhong wouldn’t necessarily be willing to do that kind of work.
The only explanation is that this wage is a front.
It’s either higher or not related to mining at all.
"By the way, Mom, how is the situation with Sun Dawu’s son, Sun Xiaozhu?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
Since Yu Si Niang often helped out at the school with Mu Dashan, she should know the situation there.
"It’s good. Luo Bai mentioned just yesterday that he knows how to write his surname, and in a few days, he’ll learn to write his full name."
Mu Shuangshuang nodded.
"That’s good!"
