"Uncle~" Suddenly, an adorable head popped out from the doorway, its face beaming with a big smile as it looked at Hu Yi with a fawning expression: "Have you finished chatting?"

"Alright." Hu Yi couldn't be serious in front of his niece at all. After Li Xiuxiu came over, his reply was full of smiles: "Your friend is very good!"

"Of course!" Hearing her uncle affirm her friend, Li Xiuxiu fully exposed herself, puffed out her chest, and proudly raised her head. "I am excellent, therefore, my friend is excellent too!"

"Yes, you're absolutely right." Hu Yi gestured for Zhan Chunlan to leave, while simultaneously replying to Li Xiuxiu, "Birds of a feather flock together, and you've grasped that perfectly!"

Seeing that he was about to leave, Li Xiuxiu quickly carried the thermos and water cup into the office, then hurriedly chased after him, saying, "Uncle, I got you the hot water today, so be sure to drink plenty of water!"

"Okay, I'll definitely drink the whole kettle of water you filled today, and I won't let anyone else pour it for me." The interaction between the two brought tears to Zhan Chunlan's eyes and warmed her heart.

The mall had just opened, and before any customers had entered, Hu Yi escorted Zhan Chunlan to the bicycle counter and quietly introduced her: "This is the bicycle counter. You'll be working here from now on."

She wasn't introduced in front of everyone, since she was just a substitute, and it wouldn't be appropriate to make it too grand.

Standing behind the bicycle counter, Zhang Jing stared at the scene before her, her face stiff. She hadn't expected that the person she'd casually brought in to fill in for her actually had connections in the department store. Could she even get her job back?

Hu Yi was a shrewd person and understood the pressure she was putting on him, but he didn't want to say it outright, so he just pretended not to know and continued to introduce her: "Zhang Jing, you have been working at this counter for many years and have a lot of experience. You must teach her well."

"Yes, I will, Director Hu." Zhang Jing's hands were practically raw from scratching under the counter, but she managed to stay calm.

"Zhan Chunlan, you are a high school student. I believe you will be able to get up to speed quickly. You must seize this opportunity, study hard, and make achievements in your own position in the future."

"Yes, I understand, thank you, Director Hu." Zhan Chunlan knew how helpful Director Hu's words were to her, so she immediately nodded to show that she understood, looking like a good student listening attentively.

"Okay, hurry up and familiarize yourself with the place. Customers will be coming in soon. Don't just focus on this one counter; look around at the others too. If they're too busy, lend a hand. This trip is mainly for learning." Hu Yi spoke cryptically, not caring whether the two understood or not. He had successfully completed the task his niece had given him.

Hu Yi left. Zhang Jing's expression softened slightly upon hearing his last words, but she was still somewhat uneasy and gripped Zhan Chunlan's hand tightly: "You know Director Hu? Then why are you still here to lead the class? Just have him find you a temporary worker."

“I only met him today.” Zhan Chunlan’s hands were sore from gripping him, but she didn’t struggle. She understood Zhang Jing’s worries and leaned closer to her and whispered, “He is my friend’s uncle. My friend asked him to come over today to help me get acquainted with the business. I don’t have that much influence to get him to help me find temporary work. I just hope that this department store is well-informed and can help me find a job opportunity. Otherwise, I will have to go to the countryside in two months.”

What Zhan Chunlan said was true. However, she wasn't actually as nervous as she seemed. After all, she had many options recently and had accumulated a lot of wealth in her space. If she couldn't find a job, she could at least buy one. She had the means to choose.

"Is that so?" Hearing her say that, Zhang Jing's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, settled down again, and she was able to spare some attention to comfort her: "Then you should seize the opportunity. Most of the people who come and go here every day have a lot of information, they just rarely talk about it in public."

On her first day at work, she was indeed very relaxed. She wasn't familiar with the people around her. To her left was the radio counter, and to her right was the sewing machine counter. Every day, many people came to look at the machines, but very few actually bought anything.

Zhan Chunlan observed carefully for a day and really thought these counters were quite good. Even though there were more people looking at them than buying at the department store counters, everyone was engrossed in knitting sweaters and barely responded to anyone who asked questions.

This service attitude is even more comfortable than a workplace run by Gen Z. Where is "the customer is God"? Here, the salesperson is God!

Not a single bicycle was sold today. Only a few young people came to look around. Judging from their clothes, they were all employees of a company, who came after get off work in their work uniforms.

They didn't need any introductions; they could speak fluently and knowledgeably just by standing in front of the counter, knowing more than Zhan Chunlan, a teller who was new to the job.

They didn't just browse the bicycle counter; they would also turn around the radio, sewing machine, and watch counters one by one before leaving with regretful expressions.

"It's so wonderful." Zhan Chunlan sighed with emotion. In this era, everything was full of hope, and everything was thriving. Whether it was a bicycle, a radio, or a watch, as long as you worked hard, you could always save up enough money to buy it. Some people even liked to calculate and could specify which month they could afford it.

Everything is subject to purchase restrictions, houses are allocated by work units, and medical expenses are reimbursed by the work unit when sick. Workers only need to work diligently, and things will eventually get better.

Suddenly, she saw a familiar face.

That person has changed quite a bit. He left a deep impression on her when they first met and even gave her a large sum of money. He was Huang Ju, the sister-in-law of the former director of the Revolutionary Committee.

The last time we met, she was arrogant and confident that she could buy more defective fabric than she was entitled to, even without proof, though she didn't succeed.

When they met again, she had blended into the crowd. She was no different from any other middle-aged woman, and even seemed somewhat timid, afraid of being mentioned to her sister and brother-in-law who had been sent to the farm for reform through labor.

"Comrade, could you please get me a bar of laundry soap?" Seeing the smile that unconsciously appeared on her face, Zhan Chunlan couldn't help but sigh: So, she can also stand in line obediently and talk to people properly.

"3 cents and a soap coupon." The salesperson was very casual, with absolutely no service awareness; their main message was take it or leave it.

"Here, here, I've got everything ready." Huang Ju wasn't annoyed and quickly took out the money she had prepared beforehand and handed it over.

Huang Ju didn't leave immediately with the soap in her hand. Instead, she stood in front of the biscuit and milk candy section for a long time before reluctantly leaving.

Perhaps before, she could buy these cookies and candies whenever she wanted, but now she needs to be more careful with her money.

I wonder if her dear nephew is still at her house. I haven't heard from him at all. I'll ask Li Xiuxiu and Fan Hongying after get off work.