Chapter 20: Final Chapter (Part 1)
Gan Ling posted a job posting for a caregiver on her WeChat Moments, and by the time Gan Wenkang was discharged, she had already found a new one. This caregiver, Master Cai, was an experienced man. After all, Gan Wenkang was no longer able to walk independently and was completely dependent on a wheelchair, let alone bathe himself. The only drawback was that Master Cai only worked as a daytime caregiver, and the position was temporary. "The hospital's management promised me I'd be back next year, and this time I'd be a full-time employee, with social security paid. As soon as they called, I had to go back! I'll probably leave around the end of the year anyway." Master Cai's work was up to standard, but he couldn't compare to Wu Juan. Wu Juan was incredibly dedicated, while Master Cai was more of a perfunctory job. "Why don't we look for someone else? Hire someone who's interested first, so they can keep Master Cai company, just in case he leaves at any moment," Cheng Zhao suggested. Gan Ling disagreed. "What if Master Cai stays? Sending someone to stay with him now is too obvious, like forcing him to leave. How can he still work with peace of mind?" Besides, Gan Ling was truly fed up with the hiring process. It wouldn't be easy to tell if a caregiver was good or not in a day or two; it would take at least a week or two to figure it out. So, let's just stick with it. During the time Gan Ling devoted herself to caring for her father, the bookstore had unexpectedly seen some improvement, but not thanks to the livestream sales plan organized by Han Xi and Tian Miao. They'd inflated expectations before the launch, and Han Xi had even promoted it several times using his Xiaozishu account, hoping it would attract traffic. However, the initial livestream failed to generate any significant buzz. Few fans entered the room, and sales were zero. This crushing failure was like a bucket of cold water, leaving the two young men dejected. Gan Ling called them in for a meeting. "What's the problem?" They both answered in unison, "No money!" Gan Ling listened to their detailed analysis and remained silent for a while. "You mean, we have to spend some so-called marketing money first to attract customers? And then we can make money?" "Exactly!" Gan Ling spread his hands. "Then forget it. I don't have the money for marketing." One afternoon in late autumn, two elderly ladies came to the shop. They ordered tea and pastries, sat at Gan Ling's desk, and chatted for the entire afternoon. Before leaving, they bought a few more books. "Your shop is really nice. Quiet and full of culture. If you could add a few more tables, we'd come often." A second group of elderly ladies soon arrived. This time there were six, including the two who had come last time. Gan Ling's table was occupied...
Gan Ling posted an advertisement for recruiting a nurse on her WeChat Moments. When Gan Wenkang was discharged from the hospital, Gan Ling had already found a new nurse for him.
The caregiver, Mr. Cai, was an experienced male caregiver. After all, Gan Wenkang was now unable to walk independently and was completely dependent on a wheelchair, let alone bathing himself. The only drawback was that Mr. Cai only worked as a daytime caregiver, and the job was temporary for him.
"The hospital's leadership promised me I'd be able to return next year. This time, I'd be a full-time employee and their social security would be paid for. As soon as they called, I knew I had to go back! Anyway, I'll probably be leaving around the end of the year."
Master Cai's work is up to standard in all aspects, but he cannot compare with Wu Juan. Wu Juan is very dedicated and hardworking, while Master Cai is more of a perfunctory person.
"Why don't we look for it again? Let's use the ones we like first and keep Master Cai company to prevent him from leaving at any time." Cheng Zhao suggested.
Gan Ling disagreed. "What if Master Cai can stay? Having someone by his side now is too obvious. It's like forcing him to leave. How can he still concentrate on his work?"
Gan Ling was really fed up with the whole hiring thing. It wouldn't take a day or two to tell if a new caregiver was good or not. It would take at least a week or two to figure it out. So, let's just use them this way for now.
During the time when Gan Ling was taking care of her father wholeheartedly, the bookstore actually showed some unexpected improvement, but it was not because of the live sales organized by Han Xi and Tian Miao.
Before the livestream went live, the two had inflated expectations. Han Xi even used his Xiaozishu account to promote it several times, hoping it would attract traffic. However, the first livestream failed to generate any buzz, with only a handful of fans entering the room and zero sales. This crushing failure was like a bucket of cold water, leaving the two young people dejected and disheartened.
Gan Ling called them to a meeting, "What's the problem?"
They both said in unison, "No money!"
Gan Ling listened to their detailed analysis and did not speak for a long time.
"You mean, I have to spend some so-called marketing money first to attract traffic? And then I can make money?"
“That’s right!”
Gan Ling spread his hands and said, "Then don't bother. I don't have money for marketing."
One afternoon in late autumn, two elderly ladies came to the shop. They ordered tea and cakes, sat at Gan Ling's desk, and chatted for the entire afternoon. Before leaving, they bought a few books.
"Your shop is really nice, quiet and full of culture. It would be great if you could add a few more tables. We will come here often in the future."
The second group of old ladies came soon. This time there were six of them, including the two who came last time. Gan Ling's table could no longer accommodate them. Han Xi cleaned up his own table without saying a word, and put the two tables together in the middle of the store to organize an afternoon tea party for the old sisters.
They came to celebrate the birthday of one of the elderly people. They brought cakes and snacks with them and ordered milk tea at the bookstore. The birthday ceremony was accompanied by many past experiences they had shared, allowing the elderly people to spend a happy and fulfilling afternoon.
The two visits by the old ladies did not bring significant revenue to the bookstore, but Han Xi was still very excited when he reported to Gan Ling.
"These old ladies have brought life to the shop. Our afternoons are no longer dead and dull. Because of them, many passers-by stop and peek inside. Some even come in to browse a book or order a cup of tea. Before, people would pass by our bookstore without even glancing at it. I think we really should listen to the old ladies and add a few more tables so that people who like bookstores can come in and sit down."
Tian Miao disagreed, "I object! That way, the two of us will be too busy! Yes, the old ladies can make the bookstore more lively, but they sit here for three or four hours, at most ordering a few cups of milk tea, and don't spend anything else. Sometimes they even bring their own food and drinks, using our place as a free park. Don't forget, this is a bookstore!"
Han Xi said, "They bought books too! They're for the grandma whose birthday it is. Oh, and they also bought the two dolls I've been hanging on the shelf!"
“How much money can you make?”
"Without them, I can't make any money! I can't let Sister Ling pay for it every month, right?"
"That's why I said we should focus on online marketing!"
Gan Ling waved her hand and told them to stop arguing.
"I agree with Han Xi," Gan Ling said. "Opening a store shouldn't just be about making money."
Tian Miao showed a speechless expression. "Then what should I think about? Charity? Sister Ling, can you tell us the truth? How long can your money sustain us?"
"Actually, the bookstore's revenue has been better than I expected since it opened." Gan Ling pulled out her account book and quickly scanned a few pages. She was too embarrassed to read the figures aloud. "Of course, we're still losing money."
"If I was only thinking about making money, I wouldn't have opened this store. Wouldn't it be more stable to go back to the workplace?" Gan Ling put away the notebook and, for the first time, confided in the two shop assistants. "I opened the bookstore for a change of pace. I didn't want to live the same hectic office life I used to. I think I've achieved that goal. It's been open for almost a year now, and I really like my life now. It's simple, regular, and free."
Han Xi said, "I like it too. But it's not because of the bookstore, it's because you're so nice, Sister Ling. I've argued with almost every boss in the stores I've worked at before. They were either too stingy or too malicious! But I've been at the bookstore with Sister Ling for so long, and we've never had a fight. I also want to earn more, but I can't bear to leave here."
Tian Miao quickly expressed his opinion, "Me too, I like bookstores, and I like you, well, you all. I didn't read books before, but now I read a few books occasionally."
Gan Ling was moved by what she heard. "Thank you! I think we are all doing well."
Tian Miao whispered, "It's a pity that no matter how good it is, I can't make much money."
Han Xi glared at him, and he said, "I'm anxious! I'm not making money for myself. I want the bookstore to survive longer so that we can all continue to stay together."
Han Xi asked Gan Ling, "Sister Ling, where is Er?"
"Hmm? Oh, second," Gan Ling came back to her senses. "I wanted to see if opening a shop like this, which many people consider old-fashioned, would yield unexpected results."
"What's the result?"
Gan Ling shook her head. "I'm not sure either. It's just a vague idea. To put it more romantically, maybe it's about realizing some kind of value. Han Xi said those old ladies like coming to our store, and I think that's pretty close to what I'm looking for. Let's think of this as an opportunity for change. What direction can we take the bookstore in next?"
Tian Miao wondered, "What about these books? Will they still be sold in the future?"
"Sell it! If it doesn't sell, it'll still look great as a backdrop, don't you think?"
**
Cheng Zhao successfully won the project from Mr. Hu. The day after the signing ceremony, he asked Ge Xiaojia to help him cancel all dinner invitations - Ge Xiaojia had been promoted to assistant to the general manager, and then he made an appointment with Gan Ling for lunch.
"You can choose any place! Pick the expensive ones!" Cheng Zhao tapped his phone. "My wallet is pretty fat right now!"
Of course, taking a picture of your phone is not as exciting as taking a picture of your wallet, but modern people are used to electronic payments, and few people still carry a wallet with them when they go out to pay.
As a result, Gan Ling chose a food stall not far from Xiaoxi Lane, where he ate Northwest Ramen. The shop was simple, with half of the tables indoors and half along the street.
Cheng Zhao was discouraged, "You are really saving money for me!"
Gan Ling said, "The food at this restaurant is delicious. Don't look down on it. Look, there's a long line out the door! Luckily, I called the boss two hours ago to reserve a table."
"Do you know the boss?"
"Well, I've eaten here a few times. It's cheap and good."
"Okay!" Cheng Zhao followed her into the store, "You order! I'll eat with you."
Gan Ling ordered lamb skewers with grilled naan, beef brisket stewed with potatoes and radishes, two bowls of beef ramen, two lettuces, and a large plate of tender grilled veal steaks.
"That's all. The portions here are huge. If you order too much, you won't be able to finish it. What's wrong with you?"
Cheng Zhao looked embarrassed, with one hand clasped on his leather briefcase, looking around in a restless state.
"This place is really... too noisy."
"Is it not good?"
"I originally thought it would be a clean and respectable private room, so that what I want to say will seem more solemn. Now..."
Gan Ling took a few tissues to wipe the cups, plates, and bowls, then said with a lighthearted smile, "We're not acting. We don't have to find a serious place to go on stage. Just say whatever you want to say. The atmosphere here is better, more down-to-earth, and we can accommodate any topic."
Cheng Zhao stared at her and said, "Then I'll tell you!"
Gan Ling nodded, her eyes gleaming as she stared at him. Cheng Zhao suddenly felt the noisy sounds around him fade, and waves of joy welled up in his heart. Yes, it didn't matter where he spoke; what mattered was that the person he wanted to talk to was right before his eyes.
He opened his briefcase and pulled out a velvet box, about ten centimeters square. The box was red, and it shone like a ball of fire when he handed it to him. Gan Ling took it with surprise, but was in no hurry to open it. She looked up at Cheng Zhao with a wary look in her eyes.
"What?"
"My mom gave it to you. She originally said she would give it to you when you came to her house for dinner, but you always had no time to go, so she couldn't wait and asked me to bring it to you."
Under Cheng Zhao's expectant gaze, Gan Ling opened the box. Inside lay two glittering golden bracelets. She weighed them, each weighing at least one ounce. She was at a loss for words.
Cheng Zhao couldn't help but say, "My mother is a vulgar person with no taste, but she knows that gold retains its value. She said that if you don't like this as a gift, at least it's still valuable."
Gan Ling pursed her lips and said, "Thank your mother for me."
Cheng Zhao was worried that she would refuse to accept it, but he was so happy that she passed it on smoothly. He reached into his bag again to take something out, and then the waiter came with the food tray. He withdrew his hand and helped spread the food out.
Gan Ling said, "Eat it first! While it's hot."
The dishes tasted very authentic. Cheng Zhao praised the lamb skewers highly and the beef brisket was also stewed very well. The food was so hot that a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Gan Ling put the box containing the gold bracelet on her handbag, glancing at it from time to time, as if thinking about something.
In the end, Cheng Zhao did not take out the other gift. The sense of ceremony is also very important, and this place is too noisy and casual.
The two of them concentrated on eating and ended up eating too much.
"Let's find a place to take a walk!" Cheng Zhao suggested.
"You don't have to work this afternoon?"
"Today is my day off. The weather is so nice, how about going somewhere far away? Lakeside Park."
Gan Ling was thinking about the store. "Let's take a walk around here! I have to go back at two o'clock."
So the two of them walked towards the small park.
Cheng Zhao asked, "Is the store busy?"
"Not really. The three of us have come up with a new idea and we're planning to give it a try." Gan Ling told Cheng Zhao the old lady's suggestion. "We want to transform the bookstore into a teahouse. Not only will we sell books, but we'll also be able to borrow them for free. Simply put, we want to provide customers with a place to relax, drink tea, and read. It's like stealing a moment's leisure from the busy life. The problem is that the store is very small. Currently, it can only accommodate four tables at most. We're thinking about combining the bookshelves and making use of the storage room in the back to get a few more tables..."
Cheng Zhao nodded and said yes, and Gan Ling smiled instead.
"Do you really think you can do it?"
"It's your shop, and you have the final say. But no matter how hard it gets, the most important thing is that you're happy with your busyness."
"That makes sense."
Autumn has truly arrived. Even in the afternoon, when the sun is at its hottest, as long as you step into the shade of the trees, you can feel a slight coolness. As they passed the bench under the rose bush, Cheng Zhao pulled Gan Ling to his side.
"Sit here for a while."
"Didn't you say you wanted to take a walk?"
"Sit down for a moment. I have something to say."
Gan Ling had no choice but to sit down and watch Cheng Zhao place the purse on his lap and reach inside to grope around, his face solemn and nervous. She had a vague suspicion: Cheng Zhao usually left his bag in the car when they went for a walk, unlike today, when he kept it tightly clutched as they walked.
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