In stark contrast to Manager Yu, who was always frowning, Meng Zhao had been riding high these days, her smile never fading. On this particular day, she was rolling up her sleeves and leading the shop assistants in building a bread oven in the backyard of Mingxiang Restaurant when Su Meng rushed over and whispered a few words in her ear, instantly freezing her smile on her face.
After taking off her mud-splattered apron and washing the mud off her hands and face, she changed her clothes and brewed a pot of pre-rain Longjing tea in the private room of Mingxianglou. As the aroma of the tea filled the air, a hesitant knock sounded at the door.
"Go in." Meng Zhao's voice was so calm that no emotion could be detected.
The person outside seemed frozen in place, hesitant to move. Su Meng said coldly, "Weren't you all talking so readily just now? Now you're afraid to see the manager?"
The man's eyes suddenly reddened, and he twisted the hem of his clothes as he pushed open the door and entered. Meng Zhao was pouring tea at the tea table. When he looked up, his eyes were gentle: "Qingzhi is here. Please sit down."
The girl only dared to sit down by the chair, her back ramrod straight, like a frightened quail. Meng Zhao pushed the celadon teacup in front of her, and Qingzhi couldn't help but say, "Shopkeeper, I'm sorry."
Meng Zhao laughed and said, "It's alright, there's nothing to be sorry about. You're here to work for me, not to sell yourself to me. If you want to leave, do you think I'd tie you up and stop you from going?"
As soon as she said that, Qingzhi's tears fell in a flash. Su Meng, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it and sneered, "Hmph, you're crying here now? Qingzhi, do you remember when the shopkeeper first saw you and saw that your eyes were red and swollen? He asked you what happened, and you said that your mother was sick and you didn't have money to see a doctor?"
Back then, the shop hadn't even opened yet, you were still an apprentice, and the shopkeeper lent you two taels of silver! So you could take your mother to see a doctor. And now, you've only just received your first month's wages? You've barely paid back those two taels of silver, and you're already leaving? How can you face the shopkeeper? You're truly heartless!"
Qingzhi's tears fell in a steady stream. "Shopkeeper, I'm so sorry. If it weren't for you, my mother might have died from her illness. But I... it's all my fault."
Meng Zhao handed her a handkerchief. "Wipe your tears and stop crying. Although what Su Meng said wasn't very nice, Qingzhi, what you did today has really broken my heart."
Qingzhi's sobs suddenly intensified. Meng Zhao stopped trying to persuade her and instead looked at her coldly. Treasure Pavilion had been open for a little over a month, and the shop assistants had been getting along well until five days ago when two of them suddenly said they wanted to leave.
Although somewhat surprised, Meng Zhao did not object too much. After all, working is a mutual choice, and the shop has indeed been quite busy these days, with little free time and frequent overtime.
Even though she pays very generous overtime wages, some people may not be used to this way of working, which she can completely accept. So if an employee resigns, she won't dig into the reasons, but at most ask if they have thought it through. If they still decide to leave, she won't stop them.
But this is already the third person in such a short time, which makes her have a bad feeling. She twirled the teacup in her palm and Meng Zhao suddenly said, "Qingzhi, do you remember? When we first came to the shop, we signed a contract that you could not work in the rouge shop for two years after you left me."
Qingzhi suddenly looked up, her red eyes filled with fear. "Heaven and earth bear witness! The shopkeeper has been incredibly kind to me. If I go to another shop, may I be struck by lightning!" She was so anxious that her voice cracked.
Meng Zhao gazed at her for a moment, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, as if she were truly afraid of misunderstanding him. His expression softened, and he poured her another cup of tea. "Your voice is hoarse from crying. Here, moisten your throat."
Qingzhi picked up her teacup and took a few sips. Seeing that her expression had softened, Meng Zhao said, "Since you're not going to another shop, could you tell me why you're leaving? Is there something wrong with my shop? Is there anything you're not satisfied with? You can tell me so I can improve."
Qingzhi hurriedly waved her hand, "No, shopkeeper, Treasure Pavilion is the best shop I've ever run."
"If I'm so good, why did you leave?"
"I... I just feel a little tired and want to rest."
Meng Zhao's eyes suddenly narrowed. If someone else had said this, Meng Zhao might have believed it, but Qing Zhi's family not only had a sick mother, but also an older brother and two younger brothers. Her father couldn't support the whole family by himself, and now they were counting on her to earn more money.
In the past, when overtime was needed, she was always the first to raise her hand in order to earn overtime pay. She was also very enthusiastic at work and was often the first to arrive at the store. Now she says she feels too tired and wants to take a break, but I don't believe her.
"Qingzhi, you should be able to tell that I think highly of you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have moved you to the second floor in the first place. So, don't try to fool me with these words, okay?"
Hearing Meng Zhao say this, Qingzhi felt even more guilty. In the end, she told the truth, "Manager, after I leave, I will not go to any other rouge shops. I... I am going to sell myself into the manor."
"Sell, sell yourself? Why!" Meng Zhao was somewhat surprised. Selling oneself was something only people who couldn't make ends meet would do. Although Qingzhi's family was struggling, she worked here, and her basic salary plus overtime pay, plus future commissions, was quite substantial. Why would she sell herself?
Qingzhi cried and said, "My brother wants to study, but the family doesn't have enough money. So my parents made me sell myself into the family first, and they will redeem me when my brother passes the exam."
Meng Zhao hadn't expected the truth to be like this. Could it be that he was overthinking things? The fact that all three of them had resigned was just a coincidence. Meng Zhao continued, "Which mansion do you want to sell yourself to?"
Qingzhi lowered her head even further: "The Cui family in the east of the city."
Upon hearing this surname, a thought suddenly flashed through Meng Zhao's mind. The lady of the Cui family was a regular customer of the shop. These past few days, when she came to the shop for treatment, Su Meng had arranged for Qingzhi to do it for her.
Meng Zhao suddenly realized: "Ah, so that's the reason."
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