Reborn in the 80s, Get Rich by Eating Melons

Chapter 458: Chapter 458: Just call me Sister Yaoyao like Wenwen does!

The agreed time was two days later. Tong Yao thought that Jian Jun and Liu Sanwa would arrive on time, or perhaps a little later.

To her surprise, they were already waiting at the entrance when she arrived at the milk tea shop the next day.

They were still in the same dirty and tattered clothes they had on the day before, although their hands and faces were exceptionally clean. They seemed nervous when Tong Yao approached.

"Why did you guys come so early?" Tong Yao found it strange, wondering if the money she gave them was insufficient for Jian Jun to get his leg injury examined.

She cast her gaze on Jian Jun’s leg, "Jian Jun, have you had your leg checked?"

"I have." Jian Jun hastily nodded, his hands awkwardly clutching onto his clothing, "My leg injury hasn’t reached the bone, it was an external wound. They applied an anti-inflammatory medication, it’ll be better in a few days. Sanwa and I discussed it, we have nowhere else to go, we thought we’d start work at the breeding farm today. Do you think that would be okay?"

Jian Jun and Liu Sanwa had no one to rely on and no place to live. They were sleeping under the bridge and surviving day by day.

The spring and autumn seasons were still manageable. But summer was unbearable, with the mosquitoes and sweltering heat, it felt like being roasted alive. And winter was akin to falling into an ice cave, the cold penetrating so deep into the bones that even piles of straw offered little warmth.

It was a miracle that Tong Yao was willing to hire them, and the salary was so substantial that they barely slept that night due to excitement. They were afraid that they might wake up to find it all a dream.

Only when they arrived at their place of work, would they feel at ease.

Seeing their situation, Tong Yao had an idea of what was going on. She nodded and said, "Alright, I’ll arrange transportation for you both in a while. You may go in and rest first!"

After Tong Yao opened the shop, both Jian Jun and Liu Sanwa hesitated to enter.

Jian Jun flushed and said awkwardly, "We are dirty. We wouldn’t want to enter and affect your shop’s business."

Liu Sanwa nodded in agreement.

Tong Yao didn’t insist any further. Once inside the shop, she called Tong Yaohui and Gu Hongwei, telling them about the arrangements and briefly explaining the situation of the two boys.

Tong Yaohui and Gu Hongwei were understanding and stated that they would allow Jian Jun to rest when he arrived and start work once his foot healed.

If Jian Jun and Liu Sanwa could handle the work up in the mountains, it would be great if they could stay on permanently.

After all, technical skills are required for breeding. Once they gained experience, they would be able to identify basic conditions in poultry and reduce cost losses.

After sorting out these issues, Tong Yao contacted a driver. However, he was busy with a fare and wouldn’t be available until noon. Seeing the two boys looking weak and feeble, she went out to buy breakfast for them.

Worried they might still be hungry, she bought twenty meat buns and two large bowls of plain porridge. This small gesture moved Jian Jun and Liu Sanwa to the verge of tears.

After losing their family in the Qing City earthquake, they were treated like pariahs. Even begging for food was difficult. People saw them as young and able-bodied and therefore assumed they were simply lazy and dishonest. Nobody felt sorry for them.

What Tong Yao did for them warmed their hearts. They thought of her as beautiful and kind, a living goddess. They resolved to work hard to repay her kindness.

Tong Yao didn’t think much of it. She didn’t expect anyone to remember her kindness for doing these small things. As long as they were willing to work hard, that was enough.

She wasn’t an enlightened being who could help a multitude of people. But she would certainly take good care of her staff, as that’s what a good employer should do.

"Why are you guys here so early?" Deng Wenwen asked in surprise when she noticed Jian Jun and Liu Sanwa eating buns by the entrance.

She remembered Sister Yaoyao saying that they should only come after two days.

Lowering her voice, Tong Yao explained, "They don’t have anywhere to go, so they are hoping to start work at the breeding farm as soon as possible. It would be better for them to leave earlier so that they don’t have to wander around any longer."

At the very least, they wouldn’t have to worry about being mistreated or going hungry.

Upon hearing this, Deng Wenwen’s heart filled with sympathy, "Sister Yaoyao, don’t you think they’re pitiful! They are strong young lads, yet they don’t even have any luggage. They must have endured a tough life. Look how thin they’ve become."

Tong Yao had noticed this too. After some thought, she said, "You take care of the shop, I’ll go out and buy them two sets of work clothes."

"Alright!" Deng Wenwen was thrilled, "Sister Yaoyao, it is indeed their great fortune from previous lives to have met you."

Tong Yao laughed at Wenwen’s comment and without further delay, headed to the nearby tailor shop to buy four sets of male clothing and shoes. When she returned, Jian Jun and Liu Sanwa were nowhere to be seen.

When Deng Wenwen saw her, she quickly reported, "Sister Yaoyao, they were afraid that standing at the entrance would affect our business, so they went to wait in the alleyway next door."

Raising an eyebrow, Tong Yao took the clothes and shoes and went to find them. Jian Jun and Liu Sanwa were sitting in the entrance of the alleyway chatting in hushed tones, their eyes filled with anticipation for the future.

Seeing Tong Yao walk over, they thought the car had arrived and quickly stood up, dusting their bottoms. Jian Jun asked, "Boss Tong, is it time to leave?"

"Not yet. I’ve bought you some work clothes. You can go to the nearby public toilet to change into them!" Tong Yao handed the clothing to the boys and added, "I’m a few years older than you. If you don’t mind, you can follow Wenwen and call me Sister Yaoyao!"

They were stunned to find that Tong Yao had bought them clothes and had asked them to call her ’sister’. By the time they come to their senses, she had already left the alley.

The two boys hurried to the nearby public toilet to change. Seeing each other in their new clothes, they couldn’t hold back their tears.

Jian Jun laughed, "Sanwa, you look rejuvenated in your new clothes."

"Who are you to talk? Don’t you look the same?" Liu Sanwa touched his clothes and speculated, "These must have cost quite a bit, right? The fabric is much better than the one we got in our town. It cost five yuan for a piece"

"This outfit must be worth dozens of yuan. The cost of living in Kyoto is not the same as back home, even the price of meat buns has doubled here." Jian Jun looked at the bag and was surprised to find four pairs of canvas shoes, "There are shoes here too."

"Quickly try them on."

Liu Sanwa, his face a picture of surprise, changed out of his old worn-out shoes into the new ones. He stepped around, "These shoes are really comfortable!"

Jian Jun quickly followed suit. His shoes were already worn out at the toe. During winter his feet would swell from cold, there was a period he even feared his feet would be ruined. He hadn’t imagined there would be a day he would wear brand new canvas shoes.

The two boys, unfazed by the stench of the toilet, admired their new clothes and shoes, their faces beaming as if they were children again.

They were so engrossed in their joy that they failed to notice a man in his forties, who had entered the toilet, and was watching them intently.