[094] Recruiting

The next morning during physical exercise, Fang Chang'an didn't line up with his class but instead went over to Class Six's formation to look for Aunt Xu Jing.

He hadn't come yesterday, and Xu Jing had seen the BMW delivering steamed buns. Although she found it odd, she didn't have any intention of seeking out Fang Chang'an to ask about it. She simply hoped her nephew would behave himself during exercise and not stir up any trouble.

Who would have thought that after just one day of peace, he'd show up again?

Liu Cheng also saw Fang Chang'an. Like his homeroom teacher, he assumed Fang Chang'an was here to invite him to officially skip morning exercise together. As he arranged himself in the line, he waited for his "Brother Chang'an" to call him over.

He loved the feeling of openly enjoying special privileges—while everyone else had to exercise, he didn't, and with the teacher's approval. Wasn't that enviable? Didn't it make the others jealous?

"Are you going to buy steamed buns again? Didn't someone deliver them yesterday?" Before Fang Chang'an could speak, Xu Jing spoke up first. There was no reproach or annoyance in her tone, just a hint of teasing—she was rather fond of this nephew, who was obedient, sensible, and got good grades.

"No, from now on, the buns will be delivered. There's no need to go get them," Fang Chang'an replied, feeling a bit embarrassed that after just two days of skipping morning exercise with Liu Cheng, his aunt had already labeled him like this. He explained, "Here's the thing: the bun shop is run by our homeroom teacher's husband. He specializes in delivering buns to students. There are several schools in our town; since there are many who need them, they're hiring."

"Teacher Cheng?" Xu Jing was surprised. "Her husband can run a shop?"

"Uh, I think he quit his job," Fang Chang'an said.

"Really?" Xu Jing couldn't wrap her head around the fact that Shen Chengyan would give up an enviable, stable job with good benefits to sell steamed buns. She was at a loss for words.

"They're hiring now. Uncle Shen asked me yesterday if I had any relatives who might be interested, so I came to ask if you have anyone to recommend—someone honest and hardworking would do," Fang Chang'an continued.

Job opportunities in town were scarce. Many people idled about mostly because there was nothing to do. Fang Chang'an vaguely remembered that Xu Jing had a nephew on her side of the family who should have graduated from high school by now. In his previous life, the young man went out to work, but it seemed he spent two idle years at home beforehand.

Xu Jing's expression changed slightly, as if she’d thought of a suitable candidate, but then she laughed and asked, "Wouldn't it be perfect for your father? That way he wouldn’t spend all day at home drinking and playing cards."

Fang Chang'an smiled. "They said town residents get priority, since you might need to get up early. Besides, my dad is already planning to go out to work."

He hadn't mentioned the preference for locals earlier because he was waiting for Xu Jing to bring it up. Whether or not his father had decided, it was best to spread the news that he was going out to work. His uncle and aunt certainly hoped his father would go out and earn; when relatives back home asked, it was best if everyone heard it publicly. His father was a proud man—once the word was out, he'd be too embarrassed to refuse.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jing’s plump face brightened with a smile. "Your father’s going out to work? Where?"

"I'm not really sure," Fang Chang'an replied with a bashful grin. "I think he’s planning to go with that uncle from Li Village. Last Sunday, he even went to their house to ask for the address."

"That’s good, that’s good," Xu Jing sighed softly, then smiled again. "Alright, I'll talk to your uncle and see if there's anyone suitable."

"Okay," Fang Chang'an nodded. Xu Jing then asked, "Did they say how much it pays?"

Fang Chang'an shook his head, puzzled. "I'm not too sure, probably around five or six hundred. It might be less at first since you have to learn how to make buns."

Xu Jing thought that five or six hundred was already quite good—better than sitting idle at home. She nodded, "That’s not bad at all. Plus, you can learn a skill."

"I thought so too," Fang Chang'an agreed, pulling a slip of paper from his pocket and handing it to Xu Jing. "This is my homeroom teacher’s husband's number. Talk it over with Uncle, and if there’s someone suitable, just give him a call."

Xu Jing glanced at the numbers—just a string of digits, but somehow they looked smooth and pleasing, which surprised her a little.

Fang Chang'an said, "Aunt, I'll head back now."

"Alright," Xu Jing replied, watching Fang Chang'an return to his class's line. She felt a mix of surprise, comfort, and warmth.

She was surprised that Fang Chang'an had such a good relationship with Cheng Mengfei's husband and that he thought of their family for something like this. The comfort and warmth came from this as well, and she felt a weight lift from her heart.

In his previous life, though Fang Chang'an was close to his uncle's family, it was mostly due to blood ties; their lives and work rarely intersected, and his memories were hazy, just snippets overheard now and then.

Xu Jing had seven siblings and was closest to her third sister, who ran a small general store in town. The business was decent, and she had a son and a daughter, both older than Fang Chang'an.

Her eldest nephew hadn't gotten into college and had been at home ever since—already over twenty. He helped out at the shop, but the place was small enough for her sister and brother-in-law to handle alone, so they’d long wanted to find him something to do.

He was honest but too quiet and reserved. At the beginning of the year, he finally mustered the courage to go work elsewhere with an old classmate, but within two months, he’d been beaten up and immediately bought a ticket home, refusing ever to leave town again.

His parents asked everywhere for a job for him, but despite the number of shops in town, most were family-run and rarely hired outsiders—when they did, it was usually through acquaintances, so others seldom got the chance.

Whether by accident or intention, Fang Chang'an had truly done them a big favor this time.

After the morning exercise, Shen Chengyan came again in the BMW to deliver buns. Perhaps he was slightly bored or wanted to witness the early days of his fledgling business empire. There was another reason: he hadn’t officially informed the school, so he worried that if Zhang Fei came alone, he might be chased off. With the BMW present, though, everyone kept their distance.

Fang Chang'an probably understood Shen Chengyan’s thinking, but he still teased, "Uncle Shen, you’re not really planning to deliver buns like this every day, are you?"

"I want to," Shen Chengyan replied indifferently, taking the buns out of the car.

Zhang Fei, having heard that this little kid actually had a share in the business, explained, "We’ve already found a tricycle. I told him I’d deliver them myself, but he just wouldn’t have it…"

Fang Chang'an had Chang Wei help bring the buns to his class as usual, then asked Shen Chengyan, "Uncle Shen, have you started hiring people?"

"We’re in the process. Why, do you have someone in mind?"

"I just told my aunt—she seems to have a nephew on her side…," Fang Chang'an began, scratching his head, "My aunt’s sister’s son—is that a nephew or a cousin?"

Shen Chengyan, both amused and exasperated, smacked him on the head. "Don’t you know any basics? What are you learning at school?"

"They don’t teach us that…"

Xu Jing, meanwhile, had started cooking porridge before heading to school. Fang Luguo stayed home to heat up leftovers. Xu Jing picked up ten pan-fried buns on her way home; back at the house, Fang Luguo was still warming dishes.

She set the buns on the table and went to wash her hands. Fang Danran also returned home, washed up, and by the time both parents had set the meal on the table, the family sat down to eat.

"Just now…" Xu Jing took a bun and, after a moment's thought, began, seeing her husband and daughter glance her way. "During exercise, Chang'an came to see me."

Fang Luguo, sipping his porridge, asked, "Is he going to buy buns again?"

"No, not that. Today he told me that Cheng Mengfei’s husband quit his job," Xu Jing replied.

"Really?" Fang Luguo had never met Shen Chengyan, but he knew of him through Cheng Mengfei. "He quit?"

"Apparently, he’s opened a bun shop, specializing in deliveries to students," Xu Jing said, nodding. "Today he drove the BMW over again and looked quite happy."

"He quit to deliver buns?" Fang Luguo looked thoroughly bewildered.

Fang Danran, listening nearby, pieced together the gist of the story. He didn’t grasp the full implications of Shen Chengyan quitting, but his parents’ surprise made him realize it was a big deal, and he too was puzzled.

"Yes," Xu Jing agreed, sipping her porridge. "Chang'an seems to get along well with Shen Chengyan. He told me Shen is hiring and asked if our family had anyone who might be interested."

Fang Luguo immediately sat up straighter. "That’s great! What about Lujun—"

"Don’t rush," Xu Jing said, waving her chopsticks. "Let me finish. Don’t I know Lujun?"

Fang Luguo suppressed his excitement. Xu Jing continued, "I asked Chang'an, but he said Lujun is going out to work."

"What? When?" Fang Luguo hadn’t expected this.

"I’m not sure. Apparently, he’s planning to go with that guy from Li Village—Li Chang, right?"

Fang Luguo considered this and nodded. "So, in that case…"

He couldn’t decide whether working away or staying in town was better and fell silent, lost in thought.

"Besides, making buns means getting up early, so they prefer locals," Xu Jing added slowly. "From what Chang'an said, his father’s going out to work, so they won’t need him here—they were asking if we could recommend someone."

She paused, then continued, "I was thinking, if Lujun isn’t going, why not let Liangliang try? He’s always at home with nothing to do."

Fang Luguo had been about to suggest Luyong, but when his wife mentioned Liangliang, he said nothing, thought it over, and nodded. "That works."

He paused, then asked, "So who do we talk to? Do we just…"

"Chang'an gave me Shen Chengyan’s number," Xu Jing replied. "I’ll go tell Third Sister about it. Once it’s settled, you can call Shen Chengyan to confirm."

Fang Luguo considered this and nodded. "Alright."

By this time, they’d nearly finished eating. Fang Danran returned to school, and the couple cleaned up. Once they were done, Fang Luguo seemed to recall something. He said to Xu Jing, "Maybe I’ll wait until tonight to call. I’ll see if I can swap classes and go home first to ask Lujun what he thinks and when he’s planning to leave. We don’t want any misunderstandings because Chang'an wasn’t clear."

Xu Jing, knowing her husband was meticulous and couldn't keep things to himself, thought about it and didn’t object, only reminding him, "Go ahead, just ask him what he wants first. Don’t rush to say everything as soon as you see him."

Fang Luguo understood her meaning and was a bit displeased but said nothing other than, "I know, I know."

He called a colleague to swap classes, then rode his bicycle back to his hometown.