Chapter 571
The father and daughter said goodbye to several good neighbors and told them that they were going back to Nanning for the winter vacation.
Aunt Li asked, "Are you all going back? Are you closing the shop?"
Su Miao replied, "My father and I will be going back first. Brother Sui will be back after he manages the store for another week. The store will be closed for a while and the reopening time has not been decided yet. He won't be back until after the Chinese New Year at the very least."
Aunt Li lowered her voice and said, "We're giving you two weeks of vacation. Will you pay your employees' salaries?"
Su Miao nodded frankly: "It's sent as usual."
"I've seen other people from other places who come to open shops also close for half a month, after all, going home for the Lunar New Year is a big deal. But they only pay their employees half their wages during the Lunar New Year, after all, they don't do any work. Wouldn't it be a big loss for your family to pay the full salary?"
"It's okay, Aunt Li. It's different in our family. The salary and benefits we negotiate with our employees will only be more, not less.
Since we've hired employees to work in the store, we have to provide them with good working conditions. My father and I decided to take the Lunar New Year holiday. We can't pass this profit shortfall onto our employees. It's disheartening.
Besides, our family was able to open a store in Beijing so smoothly thanks to the dedicated support of several employees. Although the benefits are not very many at the beginning, the basic salary is still guaranteed."
Aunt Li couldn't help but sigh, "These top students are really different. They have such a broad vision. They are so lucky to have a boss like yours."
"Auntie Li, when Brother Sui returns, our yard will be empty. Please help keep an eye on it."
"No problem, you guys, just go home and reunite with your families. Everything is safe in the alley. There's nothing I don't know about. I'll keep an eye on it for you."
In addition to greeting the neighbors, Su Miao also had to call Jiayin and Ziyi to say hello.
Jiayin told her not to wait until school starts to come back, but to come back a few days earlier so that she could take her out to play again and show her the courtyard of her own home.
Jiayin usually lives with her parents in the compound of her workplace, but she bought a courtyard house outside a few years ago and has renovated it.
She knew that Su Miao had always wanted to buy it, so she wanted to take her to have a look first.
When Su Miao heard about the courtyard, her ears immediately perked up and she said excitedly, "Great, great! Sister Jiayin, I will definitely come back a week early."
The winter vacation in college is much longer than that in high school, at 35 days, which is enough for Su Miao to squander. He has to stay in Ning County longer during this Spring Festival to keep the house popular.
On the day of departure, in order to get enough rest, the father and daughter did not set the alarm clock and slept until they woke up naturally.
But their biological clock is there. Even if they turn off the alarm clock, they don’t sleep long. They wake up at 7 o’clock, take a nap, and then get up at 8 o’clock because they can’t bear it anymore.
After a delicious breakfast, the father and daughter began to load the luggage into the car.
When Su Miao put the bag of snacks in the back seat, he found a small cloth bag secretly tucked under the passenger seat.
"Dad, there seems to be something under this seat."
"Shh, Miaomiao, this was released by dad." Su Yuanzheng said in a low voice.
"What is it?" Su Miao also asked in a low voice.
"It's emergency funds. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. I'm afraid of any emergencies on the road, so I've put several hundred dollars in several places."
Su Miao immediately gave him a thumbs up: "Dad! You are so thoughtful."
The roar of the engine was particularly loud in the alley. Su Miao fastened his seat belt and waved goodbye to the neighbors standing on the roadside through the car window.
Aunt Li had just forced two packets of snacks into their hands, saying they were for their stomachs on the road.
Uncle Wang put his hands behind his back, nodded with a smile, and waved his hand gently;
A few children jumped and ran after the car for a few steps, but were pulled back by the adults with smiles on their faces.
"Xiao Su, Miaomiao, have a safe journey!"
"Have a bon voyage! Come back after the New Year!"
"Don't worry about the yard, we're watching!"
Although they have only lived in the hutong for half a year, the father and daughter have completely integrated into this warm community.
"Dad, our six months living in the alley have been worth it. The neighbors are so nice."
Su Miao put the snacks into the car door storage compartment and adjusted the angle of the seat.
Su Yuan was steering the car skillfully, slowly driving it out of the alley.
"Yes, they say that a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. You're usually not at home much, so you'll feel it more deeply if you stay longer. When you come back, remember to bring some Nancheng specialties to your neighbors."
The shouts of "sharpening scissors and kitchen knives" in the alley gradually faded away. He glanced at the gradually shrinking crowd of people seeing him off in the rearview mirror, a warm smile on his lips.
The car drove onto the road, and the winter sun shone through the windshield. Su Miao opened the window a crack to let fresh air flow.
She opened the map, looked at the route, and said, "First stop, Jinshi. Dad, should we take National Highway 104?"
"Yes, more than a hundred kilometers, but the road conditions are average right now. It's very slippery. You can only drive at 70 or 80 kilometers at most. It will take more than two hours to get there."
"It's okay, we're not in a hurry, just take our time. We've just set out~"
After leaving the city, the car drove onto the national highway.
The poplar trees on both sides are bare, and their branches sway in the cold wind, telling the loneliness of winter.
There were potholes on the road from time to time, and Su Yuan was carefully avoiding them. Several farmers were driving donkey carts slowly, and the donkeys' hooves made a "tapping" sound on the road.
When passing by the village, the slogan "Have fewer children and plant more trees" on the wall of the adobe house had faded a little, and several people who looked like village cadres were using brushes to add color.
Several women were drying red peppers in front of the courtyard gate on the roadside, with golden corn stacks next to them, forming a rustic rural picture.
After driving for an hour, Su Miao felt a little drowsy.
At this time, Su Yuanzheng suddenly said: "Miaomiao, there is a gas station ahead, we need to fill up the gas."
Su Miao looked at the fuel gauge and asked doubtfully, "Don't we still have plenty of fuel?"
"I've already driven a bit, so if I come across a gas station, I'll fill up. I don't know where else there might be more, so I'd better be safe."
The gas station is quite simple. There are two gas pumps lined up under a shed outside, and two houses built at the back to serve as offices.
With fewer cars, there are naturally fewer people coming to refuel, and the staff are hiding in the house.
Su Yuanzheng stopped the car and honked the horn, and a staff member in a military coat came over.
"Gas costs one yuan at 90, how much do you want?"
“Fill it up!”
Gas stations use mechanical fuel dispensers that combine electric and manual operation. Oil can be dispensed either electrically by using an oil pump or manually by rotating a belt.
While refueling, Su Miao went to the restroom. The restroom was a large pit, and as soon as he opened the door, a pungent smell hit him in the face.
Su Miao quickly covered her mouth and nose with a scarf, enduring the discomfort and finishing the job.
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