Chapter 68
It was the weekend, and even though it was only around ten o'clock, there were still many people in the square with their children playing. When Qin Xiang took people out to check, there were already quite a few people watching.
A woman in her fifties sat on the ground, sobbing and wailing, pointing at Qin Xiang's shop and complaining loudly, "This is outrageous! I was fired for working properly! You're worse than Zhou Baopi! This is outrageous! A whole family of old and young depends on the children's salary, and you fire them! You're killing us."
Qin Xiang looked at the woman and felt that her face looked familiar. Glancing to the side, she saw Sun Xiumei standing there with her head down, tugging at the corner of her clothes, looking at the woman on the ground anxiously.
The onlookers started to speak up, "Fired? Why was he fired?"
"Yeah, there has to be a reason."
Nowadays, everyone's intuitive feeling is that once you find a job, it's a lifelong iron rice bowl, and how can you be fired?
Yu Aifang wiped away her tears and pointed at Qin Xiang's shop, crying bitterly, "My daughter worked here for a month, and then they fired her just like that. Is this what capitalists do? They're killing people."
Then, seeing Qin Xiang, he angrily shouted, "You, woman, are even worse at exploiting people than the capitalists. My daughter doesn't come home until after 10 o'clock every night, and this is what she ended up with. Everyone, please judge for yourself. Are you a capitalist?"
Hearing the woman say this, many people felt that Qin Xiang had gone too far. "Yeah, it's not right to fire someone who works so hard every day."
"I can't even work that late at work."
To be honest, few people work overtime at work now.
Seeing everyone defending Yu Aifang, Tan Xiu and the others became anxious, but Qin Xiang comforted them, "It's okay."
She cast a cold gaze on Sun Xiumei and asked, "Sun Xiumei, do you dare to tell me why you were fired?"
Sun Xiumei stood there pinching the corner of her clothes without saying a word, tears streaming down her face. She looked like someone who had been wronged.
An old lady's eyes fell on Qin Xiang's face and said dissatisfiedly, "You little girl, how can you be so cruel at such a young age? Is this how your parents taught you to behave? The country doesn't fire people, so why do you still fire people? Isn't this making life difficult for people?"
Qin Xiang was amused. "Auntie, I'm a self-employed person and my own boss, so I have the final say on how and who to hire in this store."
"Ah, what you said, little girl..."
"How I speak is my business. You speak rudely yourself and expect me to speak nicely to you?"
Qin Xiang ignored her and turned to look at Sun Xiumei. "Sun Xiumei, you're embarrassed to say why you were fired, so I'll say it for you. It's because you were slacking off during work hours and weren't attentive when entertaining customers. You couldn't bring any useful value to my store. I'm paying you dozens of yuan a month, plus bonuses, just to let you slack off here? This isn't a state-owned factory. No one's going to care if you slack off. As for leaving get off work after 10 pm, have you ever been to work before 9 am? Which company gives you two cents a day for overtime like I do? You're lazy while others work, and you stand back when others entertain customers. And I'm still paying you for it. What will others think?"
Qin Xiang's words were very blunt, making Sun Xiumei blush, but Yu Aifang did not accept it. She felt that since she had a job, it was a stable job, and Qin Xiang could not fire her casually. She had to give an explanation to their family.
Even though Sun Xiumei tried to stop her from talking, Yu Aifang still shook her off and said, "I've never heard of anyone being fired for such a trivial matter. It's not a big deal."
Qin Xiang was speechless. She went into the room and took out the probation agreement she had signed. "Auntie, please read it carefully. It clearly states that the probation period is one month. If there are any problems such as laziness during the probation period, as the boss, I have the right to decide whether to hire you."
A woman who was standing nearby took it and took a look. She smiled and said, "It's really written on the agreement. There's even the girl's signature on the back."
Yu Aifang panicked, "This doesn't count. Who knows if this thing of yours is just to fool my daughter?"
"Your daughter graduated from junior high school, how could she not be able to read?" Qin Xiang looked at her and said, "If you really feel that your daughter has been wronged, then you can report me to the relevant department. If you continue to make trouble, then I have the right to report her to the police."
A few onlookers said, "There's no need to report it to the police. It's not a big deal."
Qin Xiang: "Of course not! They're causing trouble right when customers are coming in. It's extremely detrimental. It's affecting the flow of customers, and it's affecting my store's sales. Not only will I have to report this to the police, I'll also have to ask them for compensation."
Seeing that several women were about to speak, Qin Xiang asked, "If your family's business was being disrupted like this, what would you choose?"
Several women shut up.
She looked at Sun Xiumei and said, "Sun Xiumei, when you left, I not only paid you your probationary salary, but also gave you an extra ten yuan. And this is how you repay me? You allowed your mother to make a scene here. Do you think I can give you your job back just by making a scene? Don't even think about it. Do you know what you're doing? It's disrupting social order, and at the worst, it's threatening and intimidating."
Qin Xiang's words made Sun Xiumei's eyes widen. The people watching the excitement around her didn't expect that such a small commotion could be such a serious sin.
However, some people think that Qin Xiang did a good job. He didn't say anything about deducting money and gave an extra ten yuan. He didn't say anything about it when he took the money, so it's not appropriate to make a fuss now.
"Little girl, what they said makes sense."
"That's right. The radio promotes self-employed people every day. They are their own bosses, unlike state-owned enterprises. You should take your mother back home quickly. It would be embarrassing if she was really taken to the police station."
Sun Xiumei's tears were still falling, but she didn't dare to look at Qin Xiang. She hurried to pull her mother, "Mom, let's go."
"No, I can't leave." Yu Aifang cried miserably, "They bullied us so much, we can't just let it go like this, they must give us an explanation."
Qin Xiang smiled, "What do you want to say?"
Yu Aifang saw Qin Xiang smiling, thinking she was showing weakness, so she stiffened her neck and said, "I don't care whether you report it to the police or not. Either let my daughter come back to work and get a permanent job, or give us 200 yuan in compensation."
Qin Xiang's face turned cold. She looked to the side and saw He Liping coming over with a police officer. "Then you can complain to the police officer."
She had previously told the store staff that if they encountered troublemakers, they shouldn't be afraid and should just report it to the police. Because of the location, there was a police station not far away. When Qin Xiang came out to fight, she gave He Liping a look, and the girl ran over and now brought people with her.
Yu Aifang shuddered, "Don't try to scare me with the police. They won't be on your side regardless of right or wrong."
Qin Xiang said righteously, "The police will not discriminate between right and wrong. They will only handle the case impartially. The laws and regulations will naturally determine who is right and who is wrong."
"The police are here."
Someone shouted and looked over, and a policeman in his forties came over.
Yu Aifang widened her eyes, "You..."
Feeling guilty and angry, "The police can't be unreasonable."
Sun Xiumei was frightened and hurriedly pulled her mother, "Mom, let's go back. The police are really here."
Qin Xiang said to the police, "Comrade Public Security, someone is making a scene in front of my store and keeps asking me to give an explanation. Please investigate impartially."
At this moment, Yu Aifang was still sitting on the ground. When she saw the police coming, she started crying again.
Public Security Cheng first asked what was going on, and Qin Xiang told him everything. "The country encourages the development of self-employed individuals. So I opened a shop, and it's my problem to decide how to set the hiring system. If an employee isn't suitable during the probation period, shouldn't I decide not to hire him?"
Public Security Officer Cheng nodded, agreeing with this statement. He turned to Sun Xiumei and advised, "Comrade, what they said makes sense, and the agreement is clearly written. If you continue to make a scene and even demand money, that would be threatening and intimidating, and you are also attempting to endanger public security. If you continue to make trouble, you will have no choice but to come with me to the police station."
Most people these days are afraid of the police, especially since the country has been cracking down on acts that endanger society in the past two years. As people in the provincial capital, it is impossible for them not to know this.
Yu Aifang came to make trouble because she heard that Qin Xiang was just a girl from the village, and she felt that she was bullying them because she had some money. After all, they were locals from the provincial capital. They didn't have any rich relatives, but they had many poor relatives. They didn't have to be afraid of an outsider.
She had a good idea. She came to the store door and cried, getting people to sympathize with her. Then she took the opportunity to put forward her own demands, asking for more compensation even if she couldn't come back to work.
This is what everyone has done in recent years when someone left the factory.
But why did I suddenly hit a wall today? Even the police said so.
She didn't take it seriously when Qin Xiang said it, but she panicked when the police said it. "Comrade Public Security, you can't favor her just because she's pretty. Her behavior is that of a capitalist. Why don't you side with the people and the capitalists?"
Yu Aifang's words were harsh, and Public Security Cheng's face darkened immediately. "Since you are so unconvinced, please come with me to the police station and we will investigate thoroughly through formal procedures."
The people around hurriedly advised, "Sister-in-law, we can't disbelieve what the police say. Why do you say that about them?"
"That's right. You guys wouldn't be able to face the police if you really went to the police station."
Yu Aifang was also afraid, but now that she was pushed to this point, she was no longer afraid. "Let's go. I'm going to talk to your director. If you don't give me an explanation, I'm going to die in the police station."
Sun Xiumei was terrified and pulled her mother to beg, "Mom, stop making trouble. Can we go home?"
"You silly girl, I'm doing this for you." Yu Aifang was furious and slapped Sun Xiumei in the face. Sun Xiumei burst into tears immediately.
Qin Xiang said to Cheng Gongan, "Comrade Gongan, since they're asking to go to the police station, why don't you take them there to investigate thoroughly? It's not a big deal for them to just block my door. I still want to ask for compensation."
"You still dare to ask for compensation?" Yu Aifang was so angry at the moment that she forgot to show weakness and pretend to be aggrieved. She yelled and was about to hit Qin Xiang.
Qin Xiang stood there without moving, and Zhao Ping stood directly in front of Qin Xiang, with a strong sense of protection.
Qin Xiang said to Zhao Ping, "Brother Zhao, it's okay. The public security comrades are here. Let's see if she dares to do anything."
Yu Aifang was so angry that she was about to hit someone. People around her thought this woman was hopeless. No wonder the boss didn't want her daughter. She didn't seem like a good person.
"Alright, everyone, go to the police station," Cheng said sternly, grabbing Yu Aifang's arm. "Everyone, go to the police station! If you make trouble again, I'll handcuff you."
"You just want to scare people." Yu Aifang said this, but she was too afraid of the police to say anything else.
So the group went to the police station. As the shop owner, Qin Xiang also had to make a statement. Qin Xiang told Tan Xiu and followed them.
The crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed, and some people saw the novel styles of clothes in Qin Xiang's store and couldn't help but go in to take a look.
Tan Xiu suppressed her worries and introduced them with a smile.
Qin Xiang didn't think it was a big deal and followed him to the police station.
But Yu Aifang still felt aggrieved, and finally cried out that the police station was biased towards Qin Xiang.
Qin Xiang was too lazy to argue with her any further, so she asked Cheng Gongan, "Comrade Gongan, I demand that they make a public apology in front of my store, otherwise I will not forgive them for this."
Public Security Cheng didn't think the request was wrong, so he nodded and said, "We will handle it impartially."
Qin Xiang thanked him and asked, "Can I leave now?"
Cheng Gongan nodded, "Okay."
As for what would happen to Yu Aifang, Qin Xiang wasn't worried. These days, police officers have a strong sense of justice, and with Yu Aifang making such a fuss, the police station would definitely follow the rules and regulations. However, in this case, she would probably receive criticism and education at best, and it was unlikely that she would be detained like Tanaka Mei.
When she returned to the store, there were no more people watching the excitement at the door. In fact, because of the commotion, many people came in to try on the clothes in her store. Although it was lively, it had nothing to do with her after all. But as a woman, there is no woman who doesn't like beautiful clothes.
Qin Xiang kindly introduced the styles to the customers, and several women in their thirties said, "It's more comfortable to be in a self-employed store. In the state-owned stores, everyone is so arrogant."
When the elder sister said this, the others all agreed. Qin Xiang smiled and thanked her, "This is as it should be. When we open a store, we must not only have good quality clothes, but also provide customers with comfortable service. Otherwise, no customers would be willing to come in."
Several women laughed, and one of them said, "It's a pity that the clothes in your store don't really suit us."
The clothes in Qin Xiang's store were targeted at women in their twenties and thirties, but the women in front of her clearly hadn't worn such fashionable clothes much. Qin Xiang looked around and found a few slightly more mature pieces. "Sister, you can try these. I think they'll suit you better," she said.
A few women thought it looked good and went to the fitting room to try it on.
It is the hottest time of the year now, and most women like to wear skirts, mainly to keep cool.
The clothes in Qinxiang store are of high quality, and the materials include Dacron and other more comfortable ones.
Several women put them on and looked at themselves in the big mirror, and they all liked them.
"Today's matter also relies on the fair opinions of the elder sisters. So, if you want, I'll give you a 10% discount on everything. Consider it just making friends." Qin Xiang had just seen clearly that most of the people helping Yu Aifang were elderly, while most of those speaking to her were younger. Perhaps it was because they were of similar age, they could empathize more. Qin Xiang had received such kindness, so it was impossible not to repay them.
After hearing what Qin Xiang said, the women were quite happy and each of them asked for one.
When sending the girl out, an older woman said, "No wonder your shop is doing so well. There's a reason for that. The girl didn't stay because she didn't cherish her."
Qin Xiang was helpless. "Everyone has their own destiny. There's nothing we can do about it. I didn't expect her to ask her mother to make a scene. We clearly parted ways on good terms when we left."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw several people coming out of the alley at the other end of the square. They were Cheng Gongan and the dusty Yu Aifang and her daughter.
Qin Xiang smiled, "They are coming."
There is no woman who doesn't like to watch the fun. After buying clothes, several women simply stood there and refused to leave. "Let's take a break before we go on."
Qin Xiang was right. Cheng Gongan was coming towards her with two people.
Soon they approached, and Cheng Gongan said, "They have already admitted their mistakes, and we have already criticized and educated them. They came here to apologize to you."
Qin Xiang looked at Yu Aifang and could tell at once that she was unconvinced. But it didn't matter. If she came again, she would dare to send her to the police station. People like her were used to making trouble in the market and thought everyone could indulge her. Unfortunately, she was not the kind of person who would be taken advantage of. She could handle it once, but if she came twice, she didn't believe Yu Aifang would not be afraid.
Thinking about this, Qin Xiang said tolerantly, "It would be best if they could realize their mistakes."
Qin Xiang looked at Sun Xiumei and said, "I thought we parted ways amicably, and I was thinking that I would give you priority when there were other suitable job opportunities in the future, but I didn't expect..." She smiled regretfully, "So, our fate ends here."
Sun Xiumei was stunned and looked at Qin Xiang in disbelief. She had never thought that Qin Xiang had such a plan. She bit her lip and said, "Sister Qin Xiang, I'm sorry..."
Qin Xiang ignored her and looked at Yu Aifang.
Yu Aifang, who had just been at the police station, had been severely criticized by the police and lectured on some current laws and regulations, which had frightened her greatly. Even though she was reluctant, she had no choice but to come along and apologize.
Yu Aifang lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry, Comrade Qin Xiang, I shouldn't have come to your store to make trouble. Please forgive me."
Hearing this, Qin Xiang smiled generously, "For the sake of our past friendship, I'll let it go today. Auntie, if it happens again, I'll still send you to the police station."
Yu Aifang suddenly looked up at her.
Qin Xiang smiled, her tone less threatening than "I, Qin Xiang, am a law-abiding person. I cannot sit idly by when I see someone violating national laws and regulations. Besides, I open my business to make money. If someone comes to cause trouble, that would be ruining my job. I can't be soft-hearted towards someone who ruins their job, don't you agree?"
Yu Aifang frowned and said nothing.
Qin Xiang said to Cheng Gongan, "Comrade Gongan, thank you for today. I'll go get busy now."
After finishing his work, Public Security Cheng had to go back. Before leaving, he did not forget to say to Aifang seriously, "Comrade Yu Aifang, you must pay attention to your words and deeds in the future and do not do anything that violates the law. If you do it again, it will not be as simple as criticism and education."
Yu Aifang nodded hurriedly.
After seeing Yu Aifang and her daughter leave, Cheng Gongan turned around and left, and he had a more intuitive understanding of Qin Xiang, the self-employed person.
Nowadays, you really don’t have the courage to go out and mess around. A young girl is so tough and afraid of nothing. No wonder she can open a store in such a location.
It was noon now, and Qin Xiang was hungry and ready to go upstairs to cook and eat. Uncle Ge from next door watched the whole scene and gave Qin Xiang a thumbs up. "Not bad, you're not afraid of trouble. You have a bright future."
Qin Xiang couldn't help but laugh. "These days, kind people are often bullied. Believe it or not, if I give in even a little today, those two girls won't let it go."
It's obvious that he wants to extort money from her before leaving. What a wishful thinking.
Uncle Ge nodded, waving his palm-leaf fan. "You see it clearly."
Qin Xiang went back to eat and pack up her things. She had to go back to Qingshui County in the afternoon. She didn't know how many days it would take for her third brother to come back.
At lunchtime, Mi Hongjun came back from the university town. After hearing about what happened that morning, he was immediately furious and said, "What kind of people are these?"
No one is useful. You can't possibly search through every ancestor of a person's family when hiring. All I can say is that I should pay more attention to their character in the future. At least the other employees in the store are pretty good.
In the afternoon, Qin Xiang was going back to the county town. Mi Hongjun was worried and wanted to go with him, but Qin Xiang waved his hand and said, "Forget it. You go to the university town to clean up. Let Brother Zhao take care of this. I can go back by myself."
She hadn't given up the lease on the yard in the county town, and there were still some things inside. Qin Xiang planned to go and clean it up, giving the useful ones to her second brother and the unusable ones to him. There was no point in keeping the yard any longer.
Mi Hongjun nodded aggrievedly, "Alright then, just be careful and be safe."
Qin Xiang nodded.
It was almost dark when we got back to the county town by bus in the afternoon.
However, the bedding and other things in the yard had been moved away long ago, so Qin Xiang couldn't live there and simply stayed in a guesthouse near the school.
Seeing that it was still early, Qin Xiang bought some more things and went to Qin Hai's house. When Qin Hai learned that she was staying in a guesthouse, he was immediately dissatisfied and said, "It would be better if you could just come and stay at my house."
Qin Xiang smiled, "I like staying in a guesthouse. There's always someone to do everything for me. It's so nice."
After all, they have already started their own families and careers, so even if her second brother has good intentions, she doesn't want to come over and disturb them too much.
It was already past dinner time. Huang Xiufen brought in a large bowl of noodles and said, "If the food doesn't last long enough, there won't be any left at home. Just make do with this bowl of noodles."
Qin Xiang nodded. She was indeed hungry, so she picked up the chopsticks and started eating.
Unexpectedly, there was a fried egg nestled underneath, and a few slices of bacon underneath. She looked at Huang Xiufen, who said gently, "Eat it. We have plenty of eggs at home."
Qin Xiang nodded and continued eating. After finishing a big bowl of noodles, her stomach felt better.
She remembered the gifts she had brought and hurriedly gave them to Huang Xiufen. "I bought a set of paintbrushes for each of the two children."
The paintbrushes were bought in the provincial capital when we came here. There are twelve colors in total. The two children liked them as soon as they saw them. They found a used notebook and started painting on the back.
Qin Hai disagreed, "Don't spend money when you come here next time. We'll buy the child whatever he needs."
Qin Xiang rolled her eyes. "Is it not okay for me, your aunt, to buy it for you? How can you be so mean? If you say that, I won't come here anymore."
"Your second brother is afraid you'll spend money." Huang Xiufen and Qin Hai have always had a good relationship. Huang Xiufen felt sorry for her sister-in-law because of what happened during the Chinese New Year. She smiled and said, "Your second brother knows that it's not easy for you to make money, so he doesn't want to spend your money. Don't mind."
Qin Xiang nodded, "I know. But I still have money to buy something for my niece, so don't worry."
She knew from the moment she came to borrow money that her second brother seemed unwilling to get involved, but he still cared about her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have given her two hundred yuan when he was broke.
She thought of Qin Juan again, "By the way, how is my sister?"
As soon as she said that, Qin Hai and his wife looked unhappy.
Qin Hai said, "Although it's a little stronger than before, it's just that."
Qin Xiang couldn't help but frown when he heard this. It seemed that the lesson his third brother gave Zhao Qianjin last time was not enough. Now that they were not in the county, Zhao Qianjin became arrogant again.
Qin Xiang said, "I'll ask Third Brother to go over when he comes back."
Qin Hai didn't take it seriously. "Xiangxiang, everyone lives their own life and chooses their own path. You and Third Brother have tried to persuade her to divorce, but she doesn't want to. Why should we interfere? You should walk the path you choose. Can your family members watch over you forever? There will always be a time when they can't watch over you. If you can't stand up on your own, it's useless. What's the point of expecting others to take care of you?"
Qin Xiang was stunned. Yes, what's the point of living by relying on others? If you can't stand up on your own, it's really impossible to live.
But her sister's ending in her previous life was too tragic, so she would definitely help her if she could. Don't look at her sister, she still has a child. Living in a family like that, the child is the most pitiful one.
After dinner, the brother and sister chatted for a while, and Qin Xiang played with the two children for a while before preparing to return to the guesthouse.
Qin Hai was naturally worried late at night, so he went to see her off.
As they walked along the street, Qin Hai asked about Qin Xiang's business. When he learned that Qin Xiang's new store would open in September, Qin Hai became thoughtful.
Qin Xiang looked at his second brother and thought that he had been a successful man in his previous life. He said nothing more and only said to Qin Hai, "Second brother, if you need any help, come to me."
Qin Hai was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "What can I do that you can help me with?"
In the past, Qin Hai naturally had no idea. But when he was helping to keep an eye on Qin Xiang's business a while ago, he realized that even the self-employed people who bought from Qin Xiang were making a lot of money. If you just ask around, you'll find that they're likely to earn much more than the workers themselves.
Of course he had some ideas, but he always felt that it was not the right time yet and he would wait and see. Before he had a clear idea and confidence, he would not easily change his current living situation.
Qin Hai couldn't help laughing at himself sometimes. To put it bluntly, he just didn't have the courage to disrupt his current stable life, and he didn't have the courage like Qin Xiang to take a gamble.
Looking at the guesthouse right in front of him, Qin Hai said, "Okay, let's go in."
Qin Xiang looked at his second brother and nodded. He walked a few steps and couldn't help but look back. "Second brother, times will get better and better. There is no hope for state-owned enterprises."
After saying that, Qin Xiang went in. Qin Hai stood there, thinking about his sister's words, and did not move for a long time.
Early the next morning, Qin Xiang got up, had breakfast, and then went straight to school.
It’s time to estimate your scores and fill in your application form.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
