Chapter 351: Unreasonable

Chapter 351: Chapter 351: Unreasonable

The vegetable processing work was still ongoing, but the hiring had already concluded.

This time, a total of sixty-four people were hired. Ji Xuelan and Widow Xie organized them into groups and assigned them to shifts. Next would be a full day of orientation and training before they officially began working.

Ji Huan had said she wouldn’t interfere, and she truly kept her word, observing from the sidelines the entire time.

Ji Xuelan and Widow Xie were busy as bees, while she casually looked things over, examining details here and there and occasionally offering a reminder. She was quite at ease.

As she was leaving the Hu Family’s home that day, she ran right into Zhang Cuicui, who had been lingering by the entrance for the better part of the day.

When Zhang Cuicui saw her, her first instinct was to turn away. But she hesitated and turned back around.

"Are you looking for me?" Ji Huan asked.

She had seen Zhang Cuicui hanging around the day before. Widow Xie had gone out to ask if she was there to apply for work, but she had looked hesitant, shaken her head, and left.

Now here she was again, with an expression that said she was hesitating to speak. Ji Huan had a gut feeling that the girl had something to say to her.

Zhang Cuicui slowly approached Ji Huan, mustering a great deal of effort before finally blurting out, "I... I want to work for you."

In all their past encounters, hadn’t Zhang Cuicui always been hostile and aggressive? It was rare for her not to have some biting remark at the ready.

Ji Huan said, "The hiring is already over... but if you’re interested, you can go inside and speak with Aunt Xie and my cousin. They’re the ones in charge of it."

Zhang Cuicui stared right at her. "So you agree?"

Ji Huan spread her hands. "Like I just said, they’re in charge of it. It doesn’t matter whether I agree or not. You’ll still have to go in for an interview."

But Zhang Cuicui countered, "I know the business is yours even if you don’t say it. If you tell them not to hire me, their decision means nothing."

Ji Huan was surprised. "As long as you’re a capable worker and meet all the qualifications, why would I stop them from hiring you?"

"I’ve been working since I could walk! And my skills in the kitchen are second to none!"

"Then there shouldn’t be a problem."

"But..." Zhang Cuicui clasped her hands behind her back, nervously grinding a clod of dirt under her foot. "I’ve... insulted you before..."

’So that’s what all this fuss was about.’

"I’ve insulted you before, too." Recalling her own childish behavior in the past, Ji Huan couldn’t help but chuckle. "So, we’re even. Go on in."

"You really don’t hold a grudge? You’re letting it go that easily?" Zhang Cuicui’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"What else? Should I give you a vicious tongue-lashing, or maybe a beating instead?"

Zhang Cuicui looked conflicted for a moment, but quickly made up her mind.

"Hit me or yell at me, whatever you want. But after you’ve let out your anger, you can’t cause trouble for me later. I need to earn some money... My mother’s not well, and my father won’t pay for her treatment..."

’To be honest, Ji Huan didn’t actually dislike Zhang Cuicui. The girl’s sharp tongue was a headache, but she was a straight shooter with no real malice in her heart.’

"Insulting people is tiring, and hitting people hurts your hand. I don’t enjoy either. If you pass the interview, all you need to do is work hard for me."

"Really?"

Seeing from Ji Huan’s expression that she wasn’t joking, Zhang Cuicui grew a little bashful. She murmured a "thank you" and then ran joyfully into the Hu Family’s courtyard.

Ji Huan continued on her way home, but when she reached her own gate, she was stopped again.

"Aunt Lu? What are you...?"

"Wuan, I really didn’t want to bother you, but that Widow Xie... she rehired every single person who worked for you last year without exception, except for me! And she gave some excuse about my eldest grandson’s wife being pregnant and needing someone to look after her... That girl just married into the family, she’s not even two months along! It’s not like she’s at the point where she can’t be left alone! I just wanted to ask you... did I do something wrong? Did I offend Widow Xie...?"

As Aunt Lu spoke, she kept her head down, not daring to meet Ji Huan’s eyes.

Ji Huan sighed.

’Aunt Lu might not know the full story behind Widow Xie’s rejection, but I know it better than anyone.’

’Widow Xie had been more than decent. She’d figured Aunt Lu had just been momentarily foolish and fallen for Tian Jiao’s trick, so instead of calling her out, she even tried to give her a graceful way out.’

’But not only was Aunt Lu ungrateful, she had even come here to complain about Widow Xie behind her back.’

"Aunt Lu, since you brought up last year, let me ask you: were you happy working for me then?"

Aunt Lu nodded. "Happy! Very happy!"

"And did I exploit you? Or fail to pay your wages?"

Aunt Lu waved her hands frantically. "What are you saying? You didn’t short me a single copper coin. In all my years, that was the first time I’d ever earned money like that. You have no idea how grateful I am to you..."

"Is that so?" Ji Huan’s eyes fell as she gave a soft, humorless laugh. "You were so grateful that you told Tian Jiao my method for dehydrating vegetables?"

Aunt Lu froze, instinctively trying to deny it. "No, Wuan, I didn’t... I didn’t tell Tian Jiao! Who’s been feeding you these lies?"

"You know perfectly well whether it’s a lie or not. For the better part of this year, you’ve been avoiding me and the Hu Family at every turn. Isn’t that because you have a guilty conscience?

"But let’s assume you’re not. Let’s just go over the facts.

"My housewarming party, the roof-beam raising ceremony, or that time we went up the mountain to look for Dabao—whenever I needed help, you were nowhere to be found, every single time.

"A few days ago, when I got married, we were short-handed. Aunt Xie went to ask for your help. What was it you said to her then?"

Aunt Lu was speechless. She had told Widow Xie that her eldest grandson’s wife was pregnant and needed her...

"Aunt Xie remembered that. She was being considerate, letting you stay home to take good care of your grandson’s wife. Was there anything wrong with that?"

"I... I..."

"I see no problem with it. Otherwise, it looks like you’re nowhere to be found when I need a hand, but suddenly you’re free as a bird when there’s money to be made... That really doesn’t seem like your character, Aunt Lu."

Aunt Lu could still understand when she was being called out. Any last shred of hope she’d had was gone.

"Wuan, I never meant you any harm. I was just muddle-headed for a moment. Tian Jiao came to me, and she sounded so pathetic..."

Ji Huan held up a hand, cutting her off. "It’s in the past. There’s no use saying anything more. You should go."

"Wuan, you have no regard for our past connection."

"Aunt Lu, when you ’sold’ me out, did *you* have any regard for our past connection?"

Seeing Ji Huan’s unyielding and cold resolve, a chill went through Aunt Lu’s heart.

At the same time, she started to believe what Tian Jiao had told her... ’Without Ji Huan’s orders, Widow Xie would never have excluded her.’

"I’m an old woman begging at your door, and you have to be so merciless? Tian Jiao was right. You earn a little money and you forget where you came from..."

Ji Huan laughed. ’So that explains it,’ she thought. ’I was wondering why the timid, conflict-averse Aunt Lu would suddenly come demanding an explanation. Turns out she has a mastermind pulling the strings.’

’Utterly unrepentant. A hopeless case.’

Ji Huan didn’t want to waste another word on her. She opened her gate to go inside, but Aunt Lu grabbed her arm and wouldn’t let go.

"You talk a good game, saying you’ll treat everyone fairly, but how much do you pay Widow Xie compared to me? How am I any worse than her? I work just as hard, but I don’t even make a fraction of what she does! I’ve been resentful about it for a long time. I make one little mistake, and you refuse to let it go.

"And it’s the same with Tian Jiao! You two used to be like sisters, and she begged you, but you still refused to teach her. You’re so vindictive, without an ounce of forgiveness in you. The villagers only say a few nice things when they want something from you. Do you really think you’re some kind of savior Bodhisattva...?"

The resentment she had long harbored suddenly erupted, her words thick with bitterness. But her speech was jumbled and incoherent, and she somehow even ended up airing grievances on Tian Jiao’s behalf.

"Have you said your piece?" Ji Huan cut her off, her expression flat. "I don’t pretend to be some savior Bodhisattva, because I know my own limitations. I don’t want to waste any more words on you. Out of respect for us being from the same village, I won’t pursue what you did before. But from this day forward, there is no possibility of you ever working for me again. You feel I’ve treated you poorly, and that I’m not forgiving enough toward Tian Jiao, right? Fine. Then go find a better position elsewhere. I’m sure Tian Jiao will give you some ideas."

With that, she decisively shut the gate.

Aunt Lu stared at the closed gate, her mind a complete blank.

’What... what had she just said?’

When Ji Huan turned around, she saw Guan Shan standing behind her, his hands clasped behind his back.

Her entire conversation with Aunt Lu had surely reached his ears, every last word.

"What? Do you think I’m being heartless?"

Guan Shan paused for a moment before shaking his head. "Betray you once, never use them again. You did the right thing."

Ji Huan’s mood lifted slightly. She raised an eyebrow at him. "Great minds think alike."

’Thank goodness he didn’t try to persuade me to be the bigger person and let it go.’

’Some people can be forgiven. Others can’t.’

’Take Hu Liang, for example. His original intentions weren’t malicious, and after he made a mistake, he knew enough to reflect on it and learn his lesson. That’s why I was willing to give him a chance.’

’But people like Aunt Lu, who sway with every passing breeze and are too muddle-headed to even realize it? Better to just forget it. Giving her a chance was the same as digging a pit for myself.’

’If you want to talk about who has it rough, well, who doesn’t?’

’Life is hard for everyone. For those with crooked minds and insatiable greed, it’s even harder. They have no one to blame but themselves.’