11 Double Buff
Early that morning, Wu Xia suddenly called.
Her menopausal anxiety was indeed relieved by the Chinese medicine prescribed by Ni Yue - she got her period!
Although the momentum was weak and only a blood stain the size of a baby's fist was left on her underwear, which was less than the amount of the previous surge, Wu Xia was still as excited as a girl having her first period. She pulled out a pack of 35cm sanitary napkins from the shelf - as if she would really need such a large area, and ran into the bathroom cheering.
Before she even tied her belt tightly, she called Ni Yue to inform him of the good news, praising the experts from Union Hospital for their skills and ability to bring the patient back to health.
Ni Yue’s first reaction: What does this have to do with traditional Chinese medicine?
Wu Xia has only been taking the medicine for a few days.
However, it was just past eight in the morning and Ni Yue was busy outside. He had no mood to argue with her and just said a few perfunctory words.
Finally, Wu Xia said that Ni Ying was going to have summer vacation and would be at home every day, so she asked Ni Yue to take some time off and go back to his hometown for a while so that the family could be reunited.
Ni Yue rolled his eyes. "Reunion? That sounds so nice, but it just means I can go home and help you look after your son and do his summer homework!"
"Ahahahaha..." Wu Xia was speechless and could only pretend to be stupid and scream like a pig.
After hanging up the phone in a hurry, Ni Yue took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to expel the resentment in his body.
At this moment, she was standing in a corner of the lobby of an office building in Songjiang, with the visitor card she had just changed hanging around her neck.
In five minutes, she will take the elevator to the 25th floor.
She came for an interview.
She never told Zhang Chenling that on the day she came to Shanghai, she browsed the recruitment software on the high-speed train and casually applied for positions in several early childhood education institutions here. Later, she joined Shangshan Ruoshui as a bathing assistant and completely put the matter behind her and never opened the recruitment software again.
Yesterday evening, she suddenly received a call from an unfamiliar number. It turned out to be an early childhood education institution where she had submitted her resume before. The other party invited her to an interview at nine o'clock this morning!
After hesitating for two seconds, she agreed, hung up the phone and walked out of the room. She saw her cousin pacing back and forth in the living room, discussing business with Xiao Ma on the phone with a serious face.
Then she thought, it was just an interview and they didn't really need her, so she decided not to tell her cousin for the time being.
It just so happens that there are no orders this morning.
When she went out at 7:30 in the morning, Zhang Chenling was still in a dream.
This early childhood education institution occupies an entire floor of an office building, which shows that it is quite large.
Ni Yue first reported to the HR department, filled out a form and left basic information, had a brief chat with a human resources manager, and then, with the introduction of the human resources manager, met Mr. Zhao, one of the persons in charge of this early childhood education institution.
A middle-aged woman who is well-dressed and elegant.
The interview initially focused on past work experience and achievements. Ni Yue talked freely, and Mr. Zhao gradually showed a look of satisfaction on his face.
She pushed her glasses up on her nose and expressed her admiration for Ni Yue without reservation. "You have an excellent background, your own unique educational philosophy, and you are particularly experienced in localizing foreign teaching materials. From a professional perspective, you are exactly the talent we need..."
Um, from a professional perspective... So, can we talk about it from other perspectives?
Ni Yue seemed to understand the subtext.
That reporting PPT must be well-known to everyone in the industry.
Although the HR manager didn't point it out just now, he hinted at it in his words.
I guess this minefield should be left to the end and dealt with by the boss himself.
She smiled bitterly to herself, feeling that she had no hope.
That dark history is like an ugly tattoo that a person gets on his body when he is young and ignorant, and it can never be washed off.
"The culture of our early childhood education institution is very inclusive and respects personal privacy, but we value the reputation of the institution and the professional ethics of our employees more."
Sure enough, Mr. Zhao began to lead the topic in that direction.
Ni Yue nodded and sat up straight, ready to get up and leave at any time.
"However," Ms. Zhao changed the subject, "I've been in this industry for over twenty years and have weathered many storms. I know that even small talk can make a tiger strong. So," she paused, her expression unusually sincere, "I'd like to hear your version of events regarding your departure from your previous firm."
Ni Yue was stunned. In a trance, he felt that the woman in front of him was somewhat similar to his cousin Zhang Chenling.
So, even though she was not mentally prepared, she still frankly told the whole process of being raped by the mistress.
Of course, the part about the big triangular bathtub is omitted.
President Zhao listened very attentively. At the end, a smile appeared on her lips. It was obvious that she was not surprised by Ni Yue's answer. "I probably guessed that this was the case, because Zhou Yanan also deceived my former subordinates."
"Ah?" Ni Yue was surprised. "She's also on the PPT?"
"No," Mr. Zhao shook his head in denial. "They were dating for a very short time, probably less than a month. She accidentally discovered that Zhou Yanan was married, so she took the initiative to break up with him. That's why she luckily escaped this round of online violence."
So that's how it is. Ni Yue couldn't help but admire and envy this girl who jumped out of the fire pit with her own strength.
"In our line of work, the most taboo thing is to have emotional disputes with clients..." Mr. Zhao's tone was exactly the same as Zhang Chenling's.
"But I believe that after this incident, you won't make such stupid mistakes again. That might be a good thing!" She smiled. "It must have been tough for you during this period, and I completely understand. Fortunately, this position at our company doesn't require you to meet with parents or teach in person, so we can arrange for you to start quietly."
etc!
Was this the rhythm of issuing an offer on the spot? Ni Yue couldn't believe his ears for a moment.
"When is the earliest time you can start working?" Mr. Zhao really extended an olive branch.
"Uh," Ni Yue licked his lips nervously and said, "It will be on the first of next month."
The air conditioning temperature in the high-end office building was set at a comfortable 26 degrees, but Ni Yue was already used to taking long baths in the steaming hot air, so the moment she walked out of the office building, her whole body was cold.
It was not until the warm breeze of early summer blew towards her and wrapped her tightly that she suddenly woke up: she was not dreaming, and she had classes to go to again!
Moreover, Mr. Zhao also promised to give her a 20% salary increase.
What kind of shit luck is this?!
However, the dopamine pleasure lasted less than half a minute. Soon, her mind was in turmoil, and question marks popped up one after another:
Should I really accept this offer? If I do, what will happen to my "Shangshan Ruoshui" (Shangshan Ruoshui)? How should I explain this to my cousin and Xiao Ma Ge? Will they blame me? If I don't accept, will I regret it? After all, education is the field where I can truly put my knowledge into practice...
Each one is a tougher challenge than the interview itself.
After returning home, Ni Yue searched the whole house for Zhang Chenling, but couldn't find her.
I sent her a WeChat message, and it took me a while to receive a reply: I’m outside, I have an appointment to discuss something with someone.
Ni Yue returned to his room, sat down on the edge of the bed, and fell backward like a free fall, falling into the soft sponge mattress.
The calves hanging under the bed swung back and forth, making the bed frame creak.
A few hundred meters away, in a cafe on Fuxing Middle Road, Zhang Chenling was meeting an old friend, Mr. Wang, the third-party head of marketing for a housekeeping company, to ask him for ideas on promoting bathing assistance.
Mr. Wang briefly helped her brainstorm.
"…Services like yours that help the elderly should be promoted more on official media or other platforms focused on people's livelihoods. It will definitely be more effective than promoting them on platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin!"
Well, official media, platforms that focus on people’s livelihood… Zhang Chenling wrote down Mr. Wang’s words in her memo, and then asked him to help make the connection.
"Mr. Wang, I have to be frank. I can't afford the high service fees I used to pay."
When she mentioned the cost, her smile was bitter.
Mr. Wang always sticks to business principles, charging according to the effort, and vice versa. However, since Zhang Chenling is a long-time customer, he is happy to help.
"...Also, I looked at your Xiaohongshu and felt that the videos and pictures needed updating. Why don't you show more of your team members' faces?"
This reminded Zhang Chenling that the videos and pictures she had posted before were all standard templates provided by the Japanese bathing assistance agency. At the beginning of her business, she found a photo retoucher online to do some simple retouching, adding the "Shangshan Ruoshui" logo and Chinese introduction.
She had originally planned to tailor some promotional materials, record some bathing assistance videos, take some photos, etc. after the team stabilized.
It now seems that this matter needs to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.
Mr. Wang made some detailed suggestions, and Zhang Chenling wrote them down one by one.
The conversation ended in a pleasant atmosphere.
Before leaving, Mr. Wang patted her on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Chen Ling, it's not easy for you to choose this career!"
Zhang Chenling smiled and said nothing.
Of course she knew that this job was difficult. If it were easy, would she need to beg for help?
However, the most difficult part is not going door to door to give baths, but to promote the brand of "Shangshanruoshui". She firmly believes that there are many families who need assisted bathing, but the current marketing methods are not down-to-earth enough, and they can hardly meet these needs.
After watching Mr. Wang leave, she picked up the cold hot American coffee on the table and took a sip.
That same afternoon, there was an order from the grumpy Lao Deng.
The restroom lighting cost six figures, casting an expensive soft-light filter over everyone's face, but he still looked menacing.
Sure enough, as soon as the three men placed him on the bathing bed, he started cursing.
This time, he was scolding his two sons who were far away in the United States.
"You two damned Xiaonings, your pockets are full of money, yet you're so stingy with me. It took me several days to invite you to the bathhouse!"
Zhang Chenling smiled and said, "Mr. Wang, how about you add me on WeChat later? Whenever you want to take a bath, you can contact me directly instead of going through your son, okay?"
"Don't bother! I've thought it through. From now on, I'll take a bath twice a week! Let those two damned Xiao Nings pay the bill! I gave them all my money, and they still didn't want to spend money on me to take a bath!..."
Hearing this, Zhang Chenling lost control of her expression for once, her mouth twitching to her ears. Finally got a big order!
In fact, after helping Mr. Wang take a bath last time, Ni Yue checked his background online.
It turns out that he was an old man who made his fortune in real estate business in his early years. His two sons had moved to the United States early on and were considered successful business celebrities there: the eldest son was an executive at a unicorn startup in Seattle, and the youngest son ran his own yoga brand in Los Angeles.
Zhang Chenling has a WeChat group with her two sons. Every time she communicates with her eldest son about bathing assistance, she either sends WeChat messages or makes voice calls. The youngest son never participates. Only when it comes to paying, the youngest son will send a red envelope of equal amount like the eldest son, which is half of the fee each time, that is, 199.5 yuan.
"Huh? His family is so rich but still so stingy? He wants to split the bill even for a few hundred dollars to one decimal place?" Ni Yue and Xiao Ma Ge were so surprised when they heard about this.
"What's that?" Zhang Chenling smiled. She was used to seeing clients' outrageous behavior. "Brothers should settle accounts clearly. That 0.5 yuan is just a statement of respect!"
…
"Forget about washing twice a week. Three or four times a week is no problem!" Zhang Chenling took advantage of the situation to finalize a schedule with Mr. Wang. "So, which day of the week would you like to wash, morning or afternoon?..."
They were discussing something enthusiastically, but Ni Yue was distracted.
She mechanically poured water on Mr. Wang, but in her heart she was thinking about how to tell her cousin that she had received the offer. Otherwise, how about taking a bath together tonight and chatting?
"...Are you feeling quite worried today?"
Mr. Wang's voice suddenly became harsh, piercing into Ni Yue's heart and scaring her - could it be that Lao Deng had seen through her thoughts?
She instinctively said "Ah?" and looked up at him.
Unexpectedly, he wasn't talking to him at all.
At this moment, his sharp eyes fell on Brother Xiao Ma who was helping him scrub his thighs.
Brother Ma seemed to be in a state of shock. After a few seconds, he realized that Mr. Wang was talking to him. He muttered as if he had just woken from a dream: "You talking about me? I don't have any worries!"
Mr. Wang insisted, "What nonsense! Not only are you worried, but your health isn't good either!"
Ni Yue stared at Xiao Ma Ge again and again, and then he realized that something was indeed wrong.
He may have lost some weight recently, his chin has become pointed, his face is pale, his lips are bloodless, his eyebrows are nervously knitted together, and his expression is obviously not as relaxed as before.
Perhaps because they saw each other all day, Ni Yue ignored these not-so-subtle changes that accumulated over time.
But now it's becoming more and more obvious.
Zhang Chenling also just realized that something was wrong with Xiao Ma Ge, and hurriedly asked him: "What's wrong with you? Are you okay?"
"Nonsense! Of course he's in trouble! I can see it with half my eyes!" Mr. Wang retorted to her.
Xiao Ma Ge was being stared at by three people. He felt that he could no longer hide it, so he stammered, "I have been feeling a little unwell recently. My stomach always hurts, and going to the toilet is not smooth."
"Then go to the hospital!" Zhang Chenling and Mr. Wang said in unison.
Xiao Ma's face turned red and white, and he was extremely embarrassed. "My wife is too busy this week, so I have to look after the kids when I get home. I'll go to the hospital for a checkup next week. It shouldn't be anything serious."
Zhang Chenling frowned. She realized belatedly that on the day when the three of them ate Old Beijing Hot Pot, Xiao Ma Ge didn't eat much, and even less than Ni Yue who was immersed in playing with his mobile phone next to them.
Moreover, he went to the bathroom in the middle of the trip and didn't come back for a long time. The two sisters laughed at him and said that he had secretly called his wife to report.
At that time, Xiao Ma Ge had an embarrassed smile on his face. He must have been feeling uncomfortable at that time!
…
"Thank you for your concern. It's okay."
Xiao Ma Ge forced himself to smile, but beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and his face looked even uglier than before.
On the way home, Xiao Ma Ge kept silent and stepped on the accelerator again and again.
Zhang Chenling didn't say anything, her eyebrows furrowed into a cloud of dark clouds.
The atmosphere was suffocating. Ni Yue wanted to bring up the topic several times and talk about something light-hearted to liven up the atmosphere, but when the words came to his lips, he swallowed them back.
No one is in the right state.
She turned her head to look out the window and saw the tall camphor trees on the roadside were twisted due to the high speed of the car, and her heart suddenly sank.
There might be something wrong with Xiao Ma Ge's health, and he might have to quit the group after receiving the offer... These two buffs combined will push Shang Shan Ruo Shui into a desperate situation.
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