Chapter 1568 - 1550: Applying for Piano Teacher

Ah Tan was surprised by her calculations, discovering that just from selling pig trotters, they earn over 200,000 a month. Can selling food really make that much money these days?

"Marcus, why can your pig trotters sell for so much?" Ah Tan looked at the man with some concern. She had heard stories about some businessmen adding poppy shells to food for huge profits.

Marcus, with just one glance, understood her thoughts and couldn’t help but chuckle. Calmly, he said, "I also thought it was a bit pricey. At first, I only suggested selling them for 200 yuan a pound, because some Chinese herbs are expensive. That’s why they sell for more than other pig trotters. But then the restaurant heard that I was offering the secret recipe, so they raised the price to 300 yuan per pound. It’s considered buying my secret recipe."

Although the food industry generally has high profits, few earn to this extent. However, Marcus’ pricing is considered very honest. His grandfather wasn’t just an ordinary chef; he once prepared state banquets for the superiors in the Imperial City. After his grandfather passed away, this legacy ended with Marcus. In the eyes of discerning people in the Imperial City, the price he sets for pig trotters is considered a bargain.

Hearing this, Ah Tan felt relieved and couldn’t quite believe it as she laughed, "Marcus, I can’t believe that selling pig trotters can make so much money. What should we do after selling them for three months?"

"Once we save some money, I’ll do some odd jobs. It doesn’t matter what you want to do, as long as we can get by," the man’s voice was slightly heavy. He pondered that to get married, he needed to have a house. The housing prices in Fountain City aren’t cheap. In good areas, the average price is over 10,000 per square meter, so a 100 square meter house would cost over a million. If you want a small villa, it’s even more expensive.

There’s also daily expenses to consider. Neither he nor Ah Tan are the kind to save money; they spend extravagantly. From this perspective, the money they earn is still far from enough.

Ah Tan nodded. Although she didn’t know the cost of living in Fountain City, she knew that a villa of the Chase Family used to cost tens of millions, and their daily expenses were even bigger. She never thought earning 200,000 a month was shocking, just surprising that life wasn’t as tight as she initially imagined.

Compared to the Chase Family’s wealth, what Marcus and she earn is just small change.

"You should keep this card with you, after all, you earned this money." Ah Tan thought, even though there’s only 9,000 in it now, a month later it will be more. Holding so much money made her uneasy.

"Then keep it at home." Marcus did not take the bank card. He got up to serve her a bowl of Black Chicken Motherwort Soup for blood replenishment and menstrual pain relief, watched her finish it, and then cleaned up the dishes, leaving the rest for Ah Tan to drink at home tomorrow.

Ah Tan carefully put the card in the drawer before brushing her teeth and going to sleep.

Soon it was Sunday. Ah Tan wore her only floral dress again, with the little high-heeled shoes she bought near the neighborhood, and left early for an interview.

The appointment was for ten in the morning. Ah Tan thought she could also shop at the mall in the afternoon to buy clothes for Marcus.

The interview was in a famous wealthy residential area in Fountain City. When Ah Tan arrived, she waited for a long time before the maid came to escort her.

"Miss Chase, the sir and young miss have a bad temper. Be careful with your words when you go in." The maid, an elderly woman in her fifties, observed Ah Tan wearing the cheapest cotton dress and carrying a small cloth bag. Her poverty was evident, and the maid unconsciously looked down on her while instructing her.

"Okay." Ah Tan didn’t mind, nodded, and followed Maid Zhang into the villa.

The Leighton Family’s villa appeared grand, considered a luxury house even at the Seaside. Ah Tan estimated the villa cost at least tens of millions. She was surprised by such wealthy people when she merely looked online for a tutoring job.

Ah Tan frowned lightly, having been once bitten. She was now thrice shy about dealing with the wealthy.

"Sir, the piano teacher is here." Maid Zhang led Ah Tan inside, handed her a pair of disposable slippers, and respectfully addressed Mr. Leighton, who was home today.

"Bring the young miss down." Julian Leighton removed his gold-rimmed glasses, instructed Maid Zhang, then looked at Ah Tan and was momentarily stunned. The Leighton Family was wealthy and well-known merchants in Fountain City. Julian had grown up surrounded by beautiful women, and seeing Ah Tan, there was a flash of amazement in his eyes.

Men and women view women differently. Men first notice the face and figure. Although Ah Tan wore a cheap cotton dress, her features were genuinely delicate and exquisite. The exposed skin on her wrists and neck was ivory-like in whiteness. No matter her posture or temperament, she was exceptionally outstanding.

The most remarkable was her natural charm, unadorned beauty, much more pleasant and appealing than those women with elaborate makeup.

Julian unconsciously got up, his gaze filled with curiosity and interest, and smiled, "Miss, may I know your last name? What piano pieces can you play?"

Ah Tan gave him a polite smile. Seeing that he was in his thirties, with bright eyes and a sense of taste in clothing, she just found his inquiry strange. If she was applying to be a piano teacher, naturally, she had real skills.

"My last name is Chase. I can play general pieces." Ah Tan’s voice was soft and gentle, like a timid little rabbit. Her personality was inclined towards quietness, and having been imprisoned for a year, she somewhat had a shadow dealing with the outside world. Even becoming a tutor took her a lot of mental preparation.

Fortunately, she left information with Marcus, which gave her some confidence to step out.

Julian noticed her sweet, soft-spoken demeanor. Her actions and manners displayed a lady-like grace, which pleased him further.

Though he was estranged from his wife and had been for a long time, seeing such a beautiful and gentle potential family tutor piqued his interest. No one needing money would work as a tutor otherwise. Thinking about such a lovely woman often visiting his home offered many opportunities. He smiled, "Miss Chase, please feel free to play a piece. If it’s good, my daughter will learn piano with you in the future."

Julian Leighton’s daughter, Candy Leighton, a 7-year-old girl, looked Ah Tan up and down, snorted, showing a flash of disdain, precisely as Maid Zhang described her bad temper.

Understanding the challenges of earning a living, Ah Tan didn’t take it to heart. She went over to the piano, sat down, and played the Layman’s recognizable piece "For Alice," also known as "Bagatelle in A minor." Although this melody was widely used everywhere, Ah Tan played it seriously, adding her years of piano learning techniques and emotions.

At the end of the piece, Ah Tan gently breathed out, her fingers lingering on the piano, as if touching a part of her past life.

In a moment of daze, she quickly returned to reality, seeing Mr. Leighton nodding in appreciation, with sharp eyes fixed on her. She stood up without feeling embarrassed and softly asked, "What does Mr. Leighton think?"

"I can see you have high expertise in piano, Miss Chase. It’s a bit of a waste for you to work as a tutor." Julian smiled, instructing Maid Zhang to serve tea, suggesting a closer relationship.

"It’s not a waste." Ah Tan lowered her eyes and said calmly. She had seen many looks like Julian’s, which cooled her demeanor slightly. Nevertheless, she tolerated it for the sake of earning money.

"When would Miss Chase be available to come and teach piano?" Julian was sharp, seamlessly shifting the topic back to tutoring.

"Miss Leighton is only seven years old, so twice a week for piano lessons would suffice." When Ah Tan used to learn piano, she only had two lessons a week, studying over the long term.

Although young Miss Candy remained rolling her eyes in discontent, Mr. Leighton finalized the time with Ah Tan. Initially, he wanted her to start teaching today, but Ah Tan planned to buy clothes for Marcus in the afternoon, so she declined, setting the lessons for Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 3 to 5 PM, with an hourly fee of 800.

After discussing it, Ah Tan got up to leave, exiting the residential area, breathing a long sigh of relief. Her palms were cold with sweat but she broke into a smile; she wanted to tell Marcus that she had found a job as well.