Divorced woman with child travels through time

Chapter 374 Payday!

On the fifth day of the seventh lunar month, as dawn was breaking, in Caiguang Village, Zhao Di, with her slightly rough hands, tied her hair into a bun and carefully pressed down the wrinkles on her clothes. She looked at her face in the basin, which had become quite fair after nearly a month without sun exposure. An uncontrollable smile flowed from the corners of her mouth. She smirked, quickly washed her face, and handed the leftover steamed buns from yesterday, which had been heated up in the pot, to the child.

"Eat slowly on the way. Come on, let's go find Huang Yatou."

As soon as she stepped out, she ran into Ms. Huang, who was also holding a child. She was also wearing the same light blue Chen Ji uniform and had her hair in a very common low bun. When she saw her come out, she immediately smiled.

Have you eaten?

"I've already eaten," Zhao Di lied with a smile.

"Here!" Huang insisted on giving her an egg. "I can't eat anymore, you can eat it for me."

"Oh my, you really are something." Zhao Di took her hand, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

Huang knew perfectly well what was going on, but she didn't expose her. The two walked and laughed, excitedly discussing how much they would get paid today and what they could buy with the money.

Their thoughts raced faster than their steps. The children, who were always running around, had no trouble walking this distance. They arrived at the militia headquarters a little earlier than usual, and according to the rules, they first sent the children to the nursery before starting their work.

The women, who are usually very lively and talkative, were whispering amongst themselves today, constantly speculating.

"Hey, do you know if we'll get paid today?"

"I don't know, but I heard from them that Madam Chen asked Manager Chen to accompany Caiyun to get the silver and copper coins, so they should be able to make money."

"Really?"

"real!"

"Did you hear? They went to collect their money. They'll get their wages soon." Upon hearing this, the female worker quickly relayed the message to her fellow villager while delivering goods.

"That's great! Now that I've got my wages, I'm going to Chen's to buy some things." The woman was so excited that her hair trembled slightly, and she almost jumped up.

“Then I’ll go with you.” The female worker pinched the purse in her sleeve, which contained only three jingling copper coins.

Lunch was still coarse flour steamed buns, with side dishes of scrambled eggs with cucumber, fried tofu and braised pork, seasoned with chili flakes and scallions. It was fragrant and spicy, and especially delicious. After eating two solid steamed buns, we weren't hungry even if we didn't eat dinner. Zhao Di would always save half of one, carefully wrap it in a handkerchief and put it in her bosom so that the children could have it for breakfast the next day.

As long as there's no waste, Aunt Hu, who manages the meals, won't say anything. Of course, no one will leave any steamed buns or vegetables uneaten; otherwise, their wages will be deducted. There are big signs on the wall saying, "Take only what you can eat, and waste will result in a ten-cent deduction per meal."

While we were eating, Caiyun came over and said, "Everyone, after you finish eating, go and finish up what you're doing. We'll get paid later, so you don't need to work this afternoon."

"Oh! Oh!" "We're getting paid!" "We can even rest this afternoon!" The crowd erupted in cheers, their eyes filled with joy. Some of the younger female workers even jumped up in excitement.

"Have you finished eating?" Huang asked excitedly as she approached Zhao Di. "I just need to tidy up and clean up."

"Me too, wait a minute." Zhao Di finished the food in her bowl in a few bites, and said while washing the dishes, "You go first, I'll come over after I've cleaned up the stove."

"Okay, then I'll take the money and wait for you at the door with the child. I'll bring Huan'er along too." Huang said and left.

"Okay!" Zhao Di quickly put the washed bowls on the cabinet, picked up a rag to wipe the water stains she had accidentally left, washed her hands, and hurried to the cooked food area of ​​the workshop. She was assigned there because she was quick and efficient. She had learned from Chen Wenfang and was considered his last disciple. She heard that when the workshop expanded its workforce in the future, people like her would become master chefs.

Zhao Di couldn't hide her excitement. With her hands trembling, she washed and tidied up all the pots, pans, and utensils. She also packed the dried fish into jars, sorted them, and labeled them with dates. After taking off her apron and saying goodbye to the female workers who had come to finish up, she ran out quickly like a teenager.

She came into the yard and was immediately drawn to the baskets of copper coins. My goodness, so much money! She had never seen so much money in her life.

She subconsciously followed the crowd and lined up. Since the wages were all the same, there was nothing to say. They asked her name and gave her the wages directly. Soon it was her turn.

"Huang Zhaodi, right!" Chu Yi glanced at her while holding her employee ID. Lou Guo made a note of it beside him.

"Yes." Zhao Di lowered her head, somewhat embarrassed.

"You were among the first batch to arrive at the beginning of the month, and you've been very diligent. We believe your efforts deserve a full salary, so we're giving you one tael of silver as wages. Do you want copper coins or silver?" Chu Yi glanced at her; he recognized the woman, who seemed to be unmarried.

"I...I'll take the copper coins." Zhao Di didn't even understand what he said, but answered subconsciously.

"Okay, then come over here and put your fingerprint on it, then go over there to collect your money."

"Hey." Zhao Di took her employee ID card, pressed her fingerprint on it, and then took a heavy string of copper coins from Cai Yun. She left the house somewhat bewildered.

"Hehe, you got your full salary too?" Huang shook her string of coins, grinning from ear to ear. "Come on, let's go shopping. We have employee badges, so we can get a 20% discount."

"Hmm." Zhao Di secretly rubbed the copper coins in her pocket, feeling like she was dreaming. What should she buy?

"Mom, I want to eat shasha ma." Xiaoyu was pleading with Huang Shi. "Last time, a brother gave me a piece, and it was so delicious."

"Okay, okay, Mom will buy it for you." Huang Shi doted on her child, so she readily agreed.

Zhao Di looked at her son, Huan'er, who was very sensible. He said in a small voice, "Mom, I don't want to eat. Let's buy noodles. I want to eat the noodles you make."

Zhao Di turned her back and wiped away her tears. "Okay, Mother will make you noodles and put some big shrimp on them."

"En!"

The four of them quickly followed the crowd to Chen's Grocery Store.

The entrance was filled with horse-drawn carriages and peddlers coming to buy goods. Fortunately, someone was directing them and leaving a path, so they lined up to enter.

They discovered that the busiest spot was the delicatessen, filled with people buying cooked food. There was spicy pork jerky, dried small fish, and chicken and duck pieces that were stir-fried until very dry and fragrant. As soon as they entered the store, they were greeted by the irresistible aroma of meat, and all four of them swallowed hard.

"Is the dried fish you usually stir-fry really that good? Didn't you say it tasted alright? Did you make that?" Mrs. Huang asked three questions in a row.

"I don't know, I didn't eat much. I can't eat spicy food, so Aunt Hu did all the tasting. I was just in charge of stir-frying! That dried meat must have been delicious." Perhaps because she lives by the sea, Zhao Di particularly dislikes eating fish, no matter what kind of fish it is.