I survived the famine by scavenging and supported my family.

—He speaks in a logical and organized manner.

The shopkeeper nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. We just dismissed a cook who made a mistake today, but we need skilled cooks to hire. It's not like just anyone can come here."

Jiang Hui quickly said, "Shopkeeper, I can make you a dish to try!"

It was past lunchtime, and the kitchen wasn't busy, so the manager nodded and said, "Alright, come with me."

Jiang Hui glanced outside and said to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, my friend is still waiting for me outside. Can she come in with me?"

"Oh?" The shopkeeper agreed. "Since you're together, please come in."

The next moment, Tang Rui brought in a large pile of packages with a clatter, blocking the entrance. The shopkeeper's face turned green.

He thought to himself: If this little girl dares to lie to him, he will definitely drive all of them away!

Now that he had already said he would let people in, he couldn't go back on his word immediately, so he could only reluctantly send them to the kitchen.

Jiang Hui followed them to the back kitchen, where eight stoves were lined up in a row, all kept clean and tidy.

In the middle was a long table, on which vegetables and rice and noodles were neatly arranged.

There were also shelves in the room with urns covered with red paper. Jiang Hui glanced at them and saw that the red paper said they were for seasoning sauces.

There were kitchen helpers around, and the manager asked Jiang Hui to tend the fire, asking, "What are you planning to make?"

Jiang Hui stepped forward and looked around. Seeing a large bowl of white rice left on the table, she said, "Fried rice with egg!"

Before fleeing the famine, her mother taught her mostly how to make fried rice with eggs. Since she was applying for a cook's job, she had to show off her best skills.

This dish uses simple ingredients, is quick to make, and can also showcase your culinary skills.

The waiter brought a chair for the shopkeeper, who then sat by the door, watching Jiang Hui's actions.

She calmly looked at the seasonings in the jar, and even scooped some into a bowl and tasted them.

The shopkeeper didn't show it on his face, but he nodded inwardly.

—That's right, she's a meticulous girl; she even knows to serve the food before tasting it.

After tasting the flavor, Jiang Hui went to wash the scallions. She took the washed scallions, first chopped them into sections, and then chopped them into minced pieces.

Finally, I took three eggs out of the basket, cracked them into a bowl, and stirred them with chopsticks.

Heat the wok, then Jiang Hui scooped a spoonful of lard into it. Once the lard had melted, she added the chopped scallions.

With a sizzle, oil splattered out, but Jiang Hui remained unfazed. After stir-frying for a few seconds to release the aroma of scallions, she removed the scallions and poured in the beaten egg mixture.

She poured a thin layer of egg mixture into the pan, stirring it gently with chopsticks as she poured. Finally, she stirred it a few times with a spatula and added the remaining rice.

The fire stirred the scrambled eggs and leftover rice together. Jiang Hui added seasonings as she stir-fried, and finally sprinkled in chopped green onions. In an instant, the fried rice burst with aroma.

The shopkeeper knew this girl was the one just by smelling her fragrance.

Turn off the heat, plate the fried rice, and nervously present it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper didn't rush to eat. He first scooped up some rice with a spoon and examined it closely. The rice grains were intact and distinct, with a few occasionally coated in egg liquid.

The beige-white, egg yolk, and bright green scallions complement each other beautifully, making it look very appetizing.

After taking a bite, the aroma of scallions and eggs intertwined on the tongue, with a hint of rice. The shopkeeper nodded, "It's alright, keep it."

The waiter next to me said, "Miss, we don't know your name yet."

Jiang Hui was delighted and replied, "My name is Jiang Hui!"

"Miss Jiang Hui, my name is Ding Mao. The cooks at our Jubao Restaurant earn one tael of silver a month. In addition, we also provide room and board and a set of clothes a year."

Jiang Hui hadn't expected such an unexpected surprise. After her initial joy subsided, she immediately pleaded, "Shopkeeper, could you let my sister and me stay as well?"

"Our restaurant doesn't need that many cooks," the manager frowned.

Jiang Hui quickly explained, "No, innkeeper, I mean, could she stay with me? In the same bed, and I don't need to worry about her food or drink."

"This..." The shopkeeper looked at the two girls standing to one side with a puzzled expression.

"How can three people fit into one bed?"

"There's only one innkeeper!" Jiang Hui went over and took Tang Rui's hand. Tang Rui, sensing the situation, gave a polite bow and said, "Innkeeper, I won't stay for free; I can help with the dishes!"

After a moment's hesitation, the shopkeeper nodded, "Alright, but it's settled then, we won't be responsible for your friend."

"Thank you, shopkeeper!" Jiang Hui was overjoyed and pulled Tang Rui to thank him as well.

Liu Yuzhen panicked, "What about me! Jiang Hui, the three of us came out together, how can you abandon me!?"

"There are so many shops on this street, you could have gone to find one that's hiring," Tang Rui blinked. "It's just that I like to stick close to Jiang Hui, so I'll do anything to be with her."

"You! You all!" Liu Yuzhen exclaimed angrily, "You just wait and see!"

After saying that, she crossed the lobby and ran out.

Jiang Hui ignored her and, led by the waiter, went into the back room of the restaurant.

The room reserved for the cook contained only a narrow bed and a small cabinet at the head of the bed.

The space beside the bed is so cramped that only one person can pass through.

Even so, Jiang Hui was still extremely satisfied. After thanking the waiter, she and Tang Rui made the bed together.

Making the bed was just a formality; they simply untied the clothes they were using as bundles, put the things in the closet, and spread the clothes on the bed.

"It's so warm inside!" Tang Rui exclaimed.

Even if you wear two layers of clothing, sleeping outside still makes you feel chilly when you wake up in the morning.

"Yes, Tang Rui, things will get better and better for us in the future!" Jiang Hui placed the remaining clean clothes on the bedside table as a pillow.

"Miss Jiang Hui, Miss Jiang Hui!"

Ding Mao was calling for help outside.

Jiang Hui quickly opened the door and went out, only to see Ding Mao holding a plate with the egg fried rice she had just made.

"The shopkeeper said he wanted to give you the fried rice you made. Here, you can have it!" Ding Mao smiled and handed the plate to Jiang Hui, adding two spoons to it.

Swallowing hard, Jiang Hui thanked him, "Thank you, Brother Ding Mao!"

"Hahaha, you little rascal, you're actually mimicking me." After laughing, Ding Mao kindly told them that there was a special place to put hot water in the kitchen, so if they wanted some, they could just go and get some themselves.

After taking the plate back to the room, Tang Rui took a bite and started crying, "Jiang Hui, waaaah... Are we still alive? Am I dreaming?"

"Silly girl," Jiang Hui patted her on the shoulder, "This time you're really getting to eat!"

The next day, before it got dark, Jiang Hui and Tang Rui went to find the village head and the others and told them about her job as a cook at Jubao Restaurant.

Miao Chunfang never imagined that she would have such good fortune, and she was happy for her.

Holding Jiang Hui's hand, Miao Chunfang secretly slipped her a piece of silver and whispered, "Miss Jiang Hui, please be careful outside. If we need to continue fleeing the famine, we will send you a message from the restaurant."

Jiang Hui nodded: "Okay!"

As dusk approached, Miao Chunfang stopped trying to keep her and waved for her to leave.

Clutching the silver, Jiang Hui returned to the restaurant.

She must do a good job!

Zhao Ningning's home.

As soon as the door closed, Ning's mother took out a bucket of water from the space, and Ning's father washed the kitchen inside and out.

It was getting late, so the family of four quickly cooked a simple meal and rested. They planned to get up early the next morning to check which shops in Yikang County were still open.

They finally found a county where they could buy things normally, so they were determined to buy some supplies!

Ning's parents made the bed, and Zhao Ningning said goodbye to Zhao Qi before going back to her room to sleep.

The next morning, the group got up, ate a simple breakfast, and then, with Ning's parents carrying a small bundle, they disguised themselves and went out hand in hand.

First, they rented a small courtyard as a transit point before heading out to the street.

When we arrived at the grain store, it wasn't open yet, but there was already a huge line of people outside.

At a quick glance, Zhao Ningning noticed that many of the people inside were from Wangli Village. She also saw that the Wen family had come to buy grain.

The people from Xiangzhong County and Wangli Village stood together, chatting quietly while waiting for the grain shop to open.

Zhao Ningning overheard them talking about news they had heard at the inn.

Yikang County has been receiving migrants recently, and the county seat plans to tighten controls in the coming days and let fewer migrants in.

Listen, the people queuing to buy grain couldn't help but feel relieved: thank goodness they got in, otherwise they would have been crying if they had been locked out of the city!

Zhao Ningning's family had no shortage of dry food and was in no hurry to buy more. The family held hands and strolled down the street.

The leather coats and hats bought in Lingbei Prefecture were very warm for winter. Ning's mother thought that another cold disaster was coming soon, so it would be better to buy more in advance to prepare for the worst.

There are also quilts. These are inconvenient to wash on the road, so Ning's mother plans to stock up on twenty quilts per person.

Then there's the clothes they're wearing. Finally, while they're resting here, they can take out their best clothes and wear them to show them off.

While we're at it, let's also buy some clothes of the same style. We'll wear out clothes and shoes on the way, so Ning's mom thought she should buy more shoes later.

When they got out onto the street, the shops were open, but there were only a few pedestrians. When Zhao Ningning and her family entered the clothing store, there was only one shopkeeper inside.

Upon seeing someone enter, dressed neatly, the shopkeeper hurriedly greeted him, "Sir, would you like to take a look at the fabrics?"

Ning's mother touched the fabrics displayed in the store and said, "We need to look at the fabrics, and we also need to look at the finished clothes. See if you have any durable and comfortable clothes, and pick out a set for each of us."

The shopkeeper smiled and went to find clothes, helping the group to match colors and find durable materials, giving them a good welcome.

Ning's mother held up the clothes for Zhao Ningning to compare, and once she saw them, she couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.

During their escape from famine, Zhao Ningning grew even taller, standing there slender and quiet as long as she didn't speak.

When the pale yellow dress was shown on her, Ning's mother was immediately captivated by Zhao Ningning.

Regardless of whether the dresses were durable or not, Ning's mother bought five dresses for Zhao Ningning in one go. Only when Zhao Ningning shouted that it was enough did she stop.

Each person needs to buy twenty sets of clothes for the season, including thicker ones with thin cotton linings. Ning's mother also needs twenty sets.

Then there were the thick cotton clothes; Ning's mother bought thirty sets by herself in one go.

Fearing that Madam He might not be prepared, she also prepared ten sets for each of Madam He and Zhou Jian, based on their body sizes.

Even if Zhou Jian doesn't wear it, Xiao Qi will be able to fit into it by the time the new year comes.

By the end, the shopkeeper was grinning from ear to ear.

After the selection was made, he diligently helped to wrap all the clothes in brand-new cotton cloth as an extra gift, and later gave two bolts of cotton cloth as well.

With so many things, it was inconvenient for them to carry them around while shopping. After agreeing on a delivery time, Zhao Ningning's family continued their shopping spree.

Right next to the clothing store is a shoe store.

The shoe store owner, having just witnessed the commotion at the clothing store, hurriedly went back and brought out all the shoes from the warehouse.

As soon as Zhao Ningning and her family came out, he stood at the door shouting, which naturally attracted the big spender.

Zhao Ningning's family bought fifty pairs of shoes each at the shoe store, including both thinner styles and cotton boots.

If it weren't for the fear of buying too many at once, Ning's mom would have liked to buy a hundred pairs, no, two hundred pairs.

Zhao Ningning told the shopkeeper to go with the clothing store to deliver the goods later, and then continued shopping.

This feeling of using money like a happy tofu pudding is so great!

After shopping all morning, they returned to the small courtyard where they were transferring goods. After having lunch and resting for a while, the deliverymen arrived.

The waiter and the shopkeeper helped carry the items into the house, while Ning's father counted them on the side.

After all the items were delivered, Zhao Ningning and Zhao Qi closed and locked the front door before entering the main room, where Ningning's mother put the items into her spatial storage.

The family then continued walking down the street.

In the morning, they bought everyday items, and in the afternoon, they bought some things they would need for sleeping outdoors on the road.

Oilcloth, umbrella, stove, pot.

While Ning's mother was shopping at the general store, Ning's father found a charcoal shop and bought ten cartloads of charcoal in one go.

There's a lot to say, but actually charcoal doesn't burn very well.

It's a pity that there's no coal in this county town; otherwise, we could buy some coal, burn a lot, and it wouldn't take up so much space.

The two sides split up, and Ning's mother took the children to buy some coarse salt, dried vegetables, dried meat, and candied fruit.

These things keep well, so you can take them out to cook on the go without them drawing too much attention.

After buying everything, the family returned to the small courtyard in the transit area.

After the store delivered the goods, Ning's mother put everything into her spatial storage, and the family of four changed their clothes and carefully left the courtyard.

No one is following them.

The group walked confidently along the long street toward the courtyard where they had stayed the day before.

As she walked, Zhao Ningning saw a large sign standing on the second floor of a building next to the long street. She looked closely and saw: "Jucai Restaurant".

"A restaurant?" Ning's mother asked. "How about we eat here tonight?"

"Great! Let's get a private room!" Ning's father rubbed his hands together, and the four of them turned and walked into the restaurant.

When the waiter learned that the four wanted a private room, he looked troubled and said, "Sirs, our restaurant doesn't have enough private rooms for everyone."

"It's just a minimum spend requirement!" Ning's father took out a piece of gold that he had left over from the shopping earlier and put it in his younger brother's hand. "If it's not enough, we'll make up for it after we finish eating."

Holding the gold, the waiter's eyes widened. He smiled obsequiously, "So I was blind to your greatness! Thank you for your understanding, sir. This way! I'll take you to a private room facing the street!"

As he spoke, he held up the silver and led the group to the second floor.

After everyone was seated, each person received a menu. Zhao Ningning ordered several elaborate dishes that were difficult to prepare, then put down the menu and waited for the food to be served, her mouth watering.

Seeing that she had ordered dishes that were difficult to digest, Ning's father ordered two vegetarian dishes, while Ning's mother ordered soup.

Zhao Qi chose a fish dish and a dessert.

The family of four ordered, the waiter prepared the tea, put away the menu, and respectfully left the room and went downstairs.