Chapter 88 Good News
Although the seven-day free makeup trial event was a huge success, Lin Qingqing was working alone, and her health couldn't keep up with such a busy schedule. Therefore, after the event ended, Lin Qingqing and Director Gao discussed it and decided to reposition the regular event as offering free eyebrow drawing with purchases.
This shopping doesn't just refer to shopping at cosmetics counters; you can also get your eyebrows done by purchasing products from other counters.
Therefore, although the new activity was not as popular as the free makeup trial, the cosmetics counters were still bustling with customers. But this time, Lin Qingqing wasn't the only one responsible for doing eyebrows; other staff members from other counters took turns doing them.
This rotation is a new assessment task that lasts for one month. Whoever has the best makeup skills will become a sales clerk at the cosmetics counter.
Seeing the booming success of the cosmetics counter, and considering it was a newly established counter by Lin Qingqing, the women, except for the men who voluntarily gave up competing, all put in their best effort to learn makeup, and no one wanted to miss this opportunity.
At that time, not many people wore makeup. Among the sales clerks at the supply and marketing cooperative, apart from Miao Hui who would occasionally draw her eyebrows, none of the others wore makeup. However, Miao Hui was also clumsy with makeup, or perhaps she hadn't received any systematic training; her drawn eyebrows were either too thick or uneven in length.
So, everyone was actually on the same starting line, and their hands were a little shaky when they first started. However, because Lin Qingqing would remove the painting and redo it if the customer was not satisfied after the first time, the customers had no objections.
Once the rounds are over, the differences in each person's talent in makeup become obvious.
Among these people, Zhou Xiaofang, Miao Hui, Deng Lingling and Su Rong had the best eyebrows. Since Su Rong was in charge of Xingfeng Women's Clothing and had no intention of participating in the competition, the top three were the ones who advanced to the next round of assessment.
Although the free makeup trial event had ended, Lin Qingqing would still ask customers if they needed makeup if they purchased cosmetics. In these situations, most people would choose to wear makeup. So, for the next week, those who passed the first round of assessments took turns observing at Lin Qingqing's cosmetics counter, and during this time, they would also have the customers do their own makeup.
A week later, the second round of assessments began.
This assessment involved three people taking turns working with Lin Qingqing. Each day, Lin Qingqing would solicit opinions from ten customers and have them apply makeup to them. The person who was most willing to leave with makeup on would become a sales clerk at the cosmetics counter. If no more than five customers were willing to leave with makeup on, the assessment would be failed, and the assessment would have to start over.
Miao Hui was with Lin Qingqing on the first day.
Perhaps it was because Lin Qingqing had become a leader, or perhaps she had been reprimanded by Director Gao, but Miao Hui's temper had become much more restrained. When learning from Lin Qingqing, she was very obedient and no longer dared to be sarcastic as before. Lin Qingqing did not delve into the reasons for her personality change; on the surface, however, the change seemed positive and would not interfere with her work.
That's enough.
Therefore, when Lin Qingqing was with Miao Hui, her attitude was no different from that of others.
On the contrary, Miao Hui was always worried that Lin Qingqing would make things difficult for her. She was so nervous the night before the assessment that she didn't sleep a wink, and she was still a little restless when she sat down at the cosmetics counter in the morning.
When Lin Qingqing arrived, she saw her sitting behind the counter with a bare face, not moving at all. She tapped on the counter and said, "Ready to open for business."
"Oh, oh," Miao Hui came to her senses, picked up a clean powder puff from the counter, dipped it in face powder, and applied it to her face. Because she used a little too much force, she applied the foundation unevenly.
Lin Qingqing couldn't help but frown as she looked at her: "If you're going to face customers like this, there's no need to continue with today's assessment."
Miao Hui panicked: "Manager Lin."
"Are you not reconciled?" Lin Qingqing asked.
"No, no." Miao Hui gritted her teeth. She was indeed unwilling to accept it and felt that Lin Qingqing was targeting her.
Lin Qingqing noticed her resentment and picked up a mirror from the counter, handing it to her: "Take a look for yourself."
Miao Hui took the mirror, looked at her face, and felt extremely embarrassed: "I'll remove it and redo my makeup right now."
"Do your makeup well," Lin Qingqing said.
Miao Hui quickly scooped water to wash her face. In the dead of winter, her face was red from the cold after washing, and she had a runny nose. She took out a handkerchief from her pocket, wiped her nose, and sat in front of the mirror.
Miao Hui had had enough of being at the bottom of the sales charter at the supply and marketing cooperative for several months, only able to watch others receive bonuses. She was determined to leave the wardrobe counter and become a sales clerk at the cosmetics counter.
Thinking of this, Miao Hui took out a powder puff, picked up more powder, and began to apply it little by little to her face.
On this day, Miao Hui did makeup for ten people. Seven of them were willing to leave with their makeup on, while three expressed their wish for Lin Qingqing to redo their makeup.
...
Zhou Xiaofang participated in the assessment on the second day.
She wasn't worried about Lin Qingqing making things difficult for her, but she knew that her makeup skills weren't as good as the two girls'. She had gotten this far entirely through hard work—she borrowed from all her relatives and friends to put together a set of cosmetics and applied them at home every day.
Even so, the effect she achieved was not as good as the other two, and she felt that she was destined to be just a runner-up in the final round of assessment.
Despite this, Zhou Xiaofang still gave it her all that day, but the results were not satisfactory. Only six customers were willing to leave with their makeup on.
Deng Lingling was the last one to be assessed. She wasn't afraid of being treated unfairly, nor did she think that her makeup talent was inferior to others, but she still felt pressure.
Su Rong, who joined the supply and marketing cooperative at the same time as her, is already a key member and will be receiving her bonus at the beginning of next month. However, Deng Lingling can only rotate between different counters. Actually, rotating is not bad, since the turnover is calculated on an individual basis. If she works harder this month, she might be able to get a monthly bonus of one yuan. But Deng Lingling feels that it is not enough.
Moreover, Zhou Xiaofang has already lost to Miao Hui. If she also loses and Miao Hui is transferred to the cosmetics counter, then someone will definitely need to take over the wardrobe counter that she is currently in charge of.
Who will fill the hole left by Miao Hui?
Deng Lingling thinks it's her, but as for her position, she'll probably have a newcomer fill it.
For Deng Lingling, it would be better to rotate between different counters like she is now than to manage a wardrobe counter, at which point there is still some hope for her future. However, now that the assessment has been conducted, she has no other choice.
Deng Lingling told herself that she could only win, not lose!
...
By 4 p.m., Deng Lingling had done makeup for nine people, six of whom were satisfied with her work, while three opted for Lin Qingqing to redo their makeup. This frustrated Deng Lingling, who felt she had tried her best, but the results were unsatisfactory.
But Deng Lingling didn't want to give up.
Although she was left alone and only had one chance, the best she could hope for was a draw with Miao Hui, but even a draw could turn things around.
With this in mind, Deng Lingling perked up and focused on applying makeup to the next customer.
This time, Deng Lingling did a great job. After the makeup was finished, the client looked in the mirror and was very satisfied with the result. Moreover, during the makeup process, Deng Lingling explained some application techniques to her, and she readily bought duck egg powder and an eyebrow pencil, ready to try them out when she got home.
The assessment is now complete.
The result was somewhat unexpected. Apart from Zhou Xiaofang having six people, Miao Hui and Deng Lingling both had seven people, resulting in a tie.
Although she did not win, Deng Lingling was still satisfied with the result.
Miao Hui's heart was in her throat. Although Lin Qingqing hadn't tripped her up during the assessment, now that she and Deng Lingling were evenly matched, it was obvious who Lin Qingqing would choose.
The other long-time employees on the second floor felt the same way. Everyone had seen how Miao Hui treated Lin Qingqing when she first came up to the second floor. If they were in Lin Qingqing's shoes, they would be considered magnanimous not to try to fire her, let alone promote her.
Then look at Deng Lingling. Although she joined the supply and marketing cooperative late, she always addressed Manager Lin sweetly.
For a time, some people gloated, while others felt a pang of sadness.
Lin Qingqing still needed to discuss the final selection with Director Gao, but Director Gao wasn't at the supply and marketing cooperative today. So after the assessment, Lin Qingqing didn't rush to announce the results; she waited until the inventory was checked before leaving work.
Just as Lin Qingqing stepped out of the supply and marketing cooperative, Miao Hui called out to her. She stopped and turned around to ask, "What's wrong?"
"Manager Lin..."
Miao Hui felt somewhat ashamed calling out "Manager Lin." Although she had called Lin Qingqing that at the supply and marketing cooperative, her feelings back then were different from now. This was in private; her coming to see Lin Qingqing was tantamount to her bowing down to her.
Thinking about this, Miao Hui felt a little annoyed, but no matter how upset she was, she could only smile and ask, "Manager Lin, have you decided who to choose as the sales clerk for the cosmetics counter?"
"We need to discuss this with Director Gao before we can make a decision," Lin Qingqing said as she walked forward.
Miao Hui inwardly scoffed, but put on a smile: "Director Gao trusts you so much, so isn't this matter ultimately up to you?"
"Director Gao is the director of the supply and marketing cooperative, so of course she should decide the outcome. How could it be up to me?" Lin Qingqing ignored her words and walked to the other side of the road to wait for the bus. "Besides, if it were up to me, what's the point of you coming to me?"
"Hmm?" Miao Hui was slightly taken aback, but quickly realized what she meant and explained, "I just wanted to ask you so I could be mentally prepared."
"That's for the best," Lin Qingqing said calmly.
Miao Hui's face lit up with joy: "Then..."
"As I said, the candidate needs to be discussed with Director Gao before it can be determined. Even if you keep asking me now, I can't give you an answer."
"Is it that you can't give me an answer, or that you don't want to give me an answer?" Miao Hui felt wronged and said, holding back her anger, "Yes, I offended you before, but haven't I suffered enough ridicule and sarcasm these past few months while managing the wardrobe counter? I've tried so hard this time, why won't you let me go?"
Lin Qingqing almost laughed in anger upon hearing this: "You're in charge of the adult product counter, and it's my fault that you get ridiculed? It's my fault that you worked hard and your sales were the worst? Comrade Miao, let me make this clear, you're an adult now, no longer at the age where you can get candy by begging! Besides, I'm not your parent, and I'm not responsible for your failures!"
Miao Hui and Lin Qingqing had maintained peace for several months, and Miao Hui had almost forgotten how sharp-tongued Lin Qingqing used to be. She was stunned to be scolded like this.
"I just don't understand, what did I do that makes you think I'm targeting you and won't let you go?" Lin Qingqing asked, amused.
Miao Hui snapped out of her daze: "You dare say you didn't have any ulterior motives in this assessment?"
"What ulterior motives do you and I have?" Lin Qingqing asked. "If I had ulterior motives, I should have set a rule from the beginning that the person with the worst performance is not eligible to participate in the competition!"
Miao Hui's face flushed red. She did have the worst sales performance last month, but said, "It's not my fault that my sales performance was the worst. Nobody buys the clothes at the counters I manage."
"Have you made any effort? Did you even listen to the styling tips taught in the training?" Lin Qingqing said. "With your work attitude, even if the cosmetics counter were handed over to you, it would only become the next worst-performing counter in the end!"
Miao Hui's eyes widened: "You, you..."
"What do you mean, 'I'? You think what I said is wrong? Then I ask you to make your own efforts before you refute me. Don't just complain and feel like everyone has wronged you!" As she spoke, the bus swayed and pulled up. Lin Qingqing said coldly, "Now that I've said this, you might think I'm targeting you, but I have to tell you, everyone chooses their own path. Whether you are ridiculed or respected doesn't depend on how I treat you, but on your own actions."
"I won't tell Director Gao about what happened today, but I can't help you with the specific choices."
As Lin Qingqing finished speaking, the shuttle bus swayed and pulled up in front of them. The door opened, and Li Chunying bent over to look outside, smiling as she asked, "Sister-in-law, you're off work?"
"Yes, I just got off work." Lin Qingqing smiled, stepped into the bus, and found a seat.
After Lin Qingqing sat down, Li Chunying saw Miao Hui standing dejectedly outside the car and asked in confusion, "Little sister, aren't you getting on the car?"
“She took the bus going in the opposite direction,” Lin Qingqing said.
Li Chunying suddenly realized what was going on and, after the driver closed the car door, asked, "Is that someone from your supply and marketing cooperative? What's wrong with her? She looks listless."
Lin Qingqing smiled and said, "Perhaps you feel wronged?"
"Oh dear, who wronged her?" Li Chunying asked, puzzled.
"Me."
Li Chunying was taken aback: "What?"
"I said some things to her, I think it was because I felt wronged," Lin Qingqing explained.
At first, Li Chunying thought it was someone else's fault for scolding the young girl like that, but after hearing Lin Qingqing's explanation, she changed her tune and said, "These young girls who have just started working are just living too well, which is why they feel wronged at the drop of a hat."
She knew Lin Qingqing well enough to know that while she wasn't exactly mild-tempered, she wasn't the type to curse without reason. If Lin Qingqing had gotten angry, it must have been Miao Hui's fault!
The topic was unpleasant, so Li Chunying quickly changed the subject and asked, "Are you going home for the Chinese New Year?" It was already the end of January, and there were only a dozen days left until the New Year, so it was no wonder she asked this question.
Lin Qingqing shook her head and said, "I can't go back this year." Xie Wei couldn't leave the army, and she definitely couldn't go back this year because the supply and marketing cooperative was in a period of expansion. She then asked, "Are you going back?"
“We’re not going back this year either,” Li Chunying shook her head. “It’s better not to go back, so we won’t have to argue all the time.” She then asked them if they had bought everything they needed for the New Year.
"Not yet, but our supply and marketing cooperative has them all, I'll buy them when I have time," Lin Qingqing said.
Li Chunying nodded: "You guys are very convenient." She was a shuttle bus saleswoman, and she started work earlier and finished get off work later than the supply and marketing cooperative, so she didn't have much time to prepare for this.
Lin Qingqing said, "If you don't have time to buy, make a list of what you want to buy and I'll bring it back for you."
"I can't possibly trouble you like that," Li Chunying said quickly.
“It won’t take much effort,” Lin Qingqing said. “Then it’s settled. You can give me the order tomorrow morning.” Her get off work schedule is now very stable, and she runs into Li Chunying once every morning and evening.
Li Chunying quickly smiled and said, "Thank you so much."
As they were talking, the shuttle bus arrived at the family compound, and Li Chunying was able to get off work. After handing over her work to the driver, she got off the bus with Lin Qingqing, while the driver drove the shuttle bus back to the station.
...
When Lin Qingqing arrived home, Xie Wei was already back. He had not only lit the coal stove but also started cooking rice. Lin Qingqing glanced at her watch to make sure she wasn't later than usual and couldn't help but ask, "Why are you home so early today?"
"Hmm?" Xie Wei asked.
"The rice is already cooked," Lin Qingqing said, pointing to the rice steamer on the coal stove. "You're back so early today?"
"I didn't light the stove today," Xie Wei said, shaking his head. When he came back to light the stove, Yu Xiuhong saw him and used fire tongs to take a piece of honeycomb briquette from her own coal stove for him.
Lin Qingqing suddenly realized: "Then I have to thank Sister Yu."
So after preparing dinner, Lin Qingqing delivered half a plate of shredded chicken to someone. The chicken was bought by Lin Qingqing at the vegetable market next to the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative at noon. It was half a chicken that had already been killed and was cooked with Sichuan peppercorn flavor. It smelled delicious.
Yu Xiuhong was about to eat when she saw the shredded chicken that she had brought, and she was both surprised and delighted: "You can eat it yourselves, why did you bring it to us?"
"If it weren't for the honeycomb briquettes that Xie Wei had already prepared, our family wouldn't be able to eat so early," Lin Qingqing said with a smile.
Yu Xiuhong then understood the reason and sighed, saying, "It's nothing, you're too kind!"
"This chicken was bought today. It's too big for just Xie Wei and me to finish. You guys can have some. Just return the plate when you're done."
Children love to eat meat. Lin Qingqing put the plate down, and Chen Jianbang had already reached for the big chicken leg and started eating. Yu Xiuhong had no choice but to say, "Okay, then I'll wash it and bring it to you later."
After seeing Lin Qingqing off, Yu Xiuhong patted her son on the back and said, "You're like a reincarnated starving ghost!"
Chen Jianbang was taking a bite of chicken when, because he ate too quickly, a peppercorn got stuck in his throat from not cleaning it properly. Yu Xiuhong patted him on the back, causing him to cough. Yu Xiuhong panicked at his cough and quickly poured him water, patting his back and asking, "What's wrong? What's wrong?"
Chen Jianbang spat out the peppercorns, pinched the chicken leg, and said, "I choked on it."
He choked so hard his eyes turned red, but Yu Xiuhong couldn't bear to scold him and said helplessly, "Eat slowly."
When Lin Qingqing returned, Xie Wei had already set out dinner and was sitting at the table. Seeing her come in, Xie Wei picked up his chopsticks and said, "Sit down quickly, or the food will get cold."
That's the downside of winter; the food gets cold before you finish eating. At times like this, Lin Qingqing always misses the all-in-one cooker.
Although making hot pot with a coal stove is a bit of a hassle, it's not impossible. It's just that preparing the hot pot ingredients is quite troublesome, and the ingredients are hard to find. But Lin Qingqing also thought that since she was just eating alone, she could also make a pot of fish soup with vegetables, which would at least warm her stomach, unlike now, where she felt colder and colder as she ate.
Thinking of this, Lin Qingqing said, "Let's have hot pot on Sunday?"
"Um?"
"I suddenly have a craving for hot pot," Lin Qingqing said.
In the past, Xie Wei would be curious about where Lin Qingqing learned to cook new dishes. But after living together for a while, Xie Wei stopped asking. One reason was that Lin Qingqing had two ancient books on food that she often read, and the other was that he knew she always had all sorts of ideas in her mind, so he just ate along with her.
So Xie Wei nodded and said, "Okay."
After finishing this, Xie Wei pretended to have just remembered and said, "Oh, right, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?" Lin Qingqing asked in confusion, as Xie Wei rarely spoke with such seriousness.
“We might have to move,” Xie Wei said.
Lin Qingqing looked surprised: "What?"
Xie Wei replied, "There are vacant houses over there, and I've already submitted an application. I estimate it will be finalized before the end of the year. Don't you dislike planting vegetables and manure in the yard? Those houses are all detached, so fewer people grow vegetables there."
After a while, Lin Qingqing remembered the argument she had with Yu Xiuhong and smiled, "How long have you been keeping this to yourself?"
Xie Wei, with something in his mouth, only uttered a single syllable: "Hmm?"
"How long have you been keeping the idea of applying for a detached house to yourself?" Lin Qingqing made the question clearer. "You didn't even tell me. I wasn't prepared at all."
"We had someone keep an eye out for me soon after we moved in, because we weren't sure when there would be a vacant place, so we didn't mention it to you." Lin Qingqing and Yu Xiuhong had argued about this, which made him even more eager to move. He asked around again, and only got news a couple of days ago.
As soon as the news came out, he immediately submitted his application and estimated that it would be approved in a few days.
Lin Qingqing was naturally happy to be able to exchange for a large detached house with its own yard, and asked, "Do you know which building it is? Who are the neighbors?"
“I asked around, and the family living in front is Deputy Chief of Staff Wang, and the family living behind is Old Ding and his wife. They don’t grow vegetables in their yard. The family living to the left is Sister Fu’s family,” Xie Wei said, referring to Sister Fu. “You and Sister Fu are quite close, aren’t you?”
Having learned from past mistakes, Xie Wei paid close attention to who his neighbors were this time. Coincidentally, Old Ding lived in the back, so he specifically inquired with him. He heard that the neighbors had all lived there for several years without any conflicts, which is why he quickly applied for a taxi. Otherwise, if the neighbors were difficult to get along with, he would rather wait another year or two.
When Lin Qingqing heard that she would be neighbors with Sister Fu, she was both surprised and delighted. She said, "That's such a coincidence! I'll tell her tomorrow... No, it's better to wait until the house is ready before telling her. Shall we move in before the New Year after the house is ready?"
"It would be best if we moved before the New Year, so we can celebrate the holiday in our new house," Xie Wei said.
A new year brings new beginnings, so moving before the new year is definitely a good idea.
Lin Qingqing agreed, nodding and saying, "Then it's settled. But is this matter absolutely certain now?"
"About 80%," Xie Wei said, not giving a definitive answer.
Lin Qingqing wasn't particularly disappointed after hearing this. It would be great if the deal went through, but it wouldn't matter if it didn't. She was used to her current house anyway, and she'd be reluctant to leave. Besides, there was always another chance if it didn't work out this time. So, Lin Qingqing had a very calm attitude about this matter.
Xie Wei, on the other hand, was more eager for the matter to succeed.
Although Xie Wei had gotten used to living in Building 18, he didn't interact much with the Hong family there. His neighbor, Yu Xiuhong, seemed nice at times, but the argument she had with Lin Qingqing was still weighing on his mind. Rather than enduring the stench and constant arguments next year, he figured it was better to move out sooner rather than later.
After all, he married her to give her a good life, not to make her suffer because of these things.
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