“If you pay sixty yuan per hour, others will say you are a fair man.”
“They will say I am a fool who pays top dollar for a cow who has not yet given milk.”
“He gave milk to your little plant.”Auntie Daiyu took the coriander pot from Leander and put it on the table.
“That may be the limit of his powers.Twenty-five renminbi per hour.”
“If it is the limit, you will still benefit from having his chi improve your ingredients.Fifty-five yuan.”
“He is an outsider with magic that might not be stable.Twenty-five.”
Auntie Daiyu leaned back and studied the pill master through narrowed eyes.She reminded Leander of a snake preparing to strike.“You are a great fool.”
“Not so great a fool as to part with my money without cause.”
Auntie Daiyu pursed her lips.“You will pay him thirty-five yuan an hour for three hours per day for the next two weeks.If his work benefits you, you will then offer more or have everyone call you a great fool for losing a chance to improve your work.”She stood and gestured for Leander to stand as well.She left the room without a word, but Leander couldn’t.
He bowed.“Master Yang, thank you for the tea.I will return tomorrow, an hour after the sun rises.”
“Dress more appropriately,” Yang said.
Leander bowed again.“Of course,” he agreed.He didn’t bother to explain that Auntie Daiyu had forced him to come like this.He knew powerful men like Yang didn’t care about excuses, not even when they were legitimate.
So, he had a job.A shitty job for crap pay and an asshole boss, but a job.
It was still better than his last job.
Chapter Seven
“Did you get the job?”Shanlin asked the moment Leander stepped into the house.
“En,” Leander said.“Yes,” he corrected himself.Switching from one language to another was making his brain sore.He froze when he realized someone else was in the room.“Welcome to my home, honorable visitor,” he offered with a small bow.
The stranger bowed lower.“Honorable Boon Lian, Acolyte Nie Heng sends this gift to celebrate your choice to join the village.”He gestured to an elaborately painted chest.
Leander bowed.“Thank you for delivering this gift, and please express my gratitude to Acolyte Nie Heng.”
