Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading-Chapter 138: Acting Store Department Director
"If the leaders aren’t here, who’s going to hear your flattery?"
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t even need to turn her head to know that the one with the loose tongue had to be none other than Wang Lili.
She secretly glanced at the old lady quietly mopping the floor and straightened her back: "What I’m saying is the truth. The salespeople in our department store are supposed to serve the people. We shouldn’t behave one way when the leaders are here and another when they’re not. Isn’t that just being sneaky and slacking?"
After she finished speaking, Su Xiaoxiao almost wanted to applaud herself.
Indeed, she was flattering someone, just that the object of her flattery seemed to have gone unnoticed by everyone for now.
Zhang Dongmei sneered even more: "Who are you trying to impress? Acting all righteous? If you’re so noble and great, why don’t you stay behind and work overtime while we all leave after work?"
Yang Baoguo leisurely walked over with an enamel mug in hand.
Although he was temporarily demoted,
it was all just temporary. He usually maintained an authoritative demeanor in front of the junior salespeople.
Because of previous incidents, he held a grudge against Su Xiaoxiao and now sided with Wang Lili.
"Alright, since it’s almost time to clock out, why not start tidying up and get ready to leave?"
He had one hand behind his back and held the enamel mug with the other, exuding a distinct aura of leadership.
Back in the day, he would never have said such things. Dreaming of leaving early? Dream on.
He was hoping that when the commercial bureau leaders arrived, these salespeople would speak well of him, helping him get reinstated sooner.
Su Xiaoxiao glanced at the hunched figure sweeping the floor and said, "Isn’t it still a bit early for that? There’s still over ten minutes before leaving, and there might be customers coming to shop."
Yang Baoguo clicked his tongue: "Are you the leader, or am I? I said leave early, so we leave early. Anyway, the commercial bureau leaders aren’t coming today. If you don’t want to leave, you can stay and work overtime."
He then prepared to leave with the mug when his foot suddenly slipped, and his hefty body unsteadily tipped backward.
Fortunately, he managed to grab the counter beside him in time, barely standing straight with a clumsy flop.
Good news—the man didn’t fall.
Bad news—the tea in his cup spilled, drenching him from head to toe.
Yang Baoguo’s face immediately turned green. He glanced at the old lady mopping beside him, eyes wide with rage: "How are you mopping? It’s so slippery! What if someone fell?"
In the midst of speaking, he snatched the mop from the old lady’s hand, sounding displeased: "Didn’t you hear me? Are you deaf? What’s your name? Your salary is halved this month!"
The moment he finished speaking, everything went eerily silent around him.
The old lady he was scolding not only didn’t admit any wrongdoing but straightened her spine and looked directly at him with her eyes.
"Oh? What’s this? Still have an attitude after being scolded?"
Yang Baoguo got even angrier seeing her like this.
Just as he was about to continue scolding, the old lady calmly took off her filthy outer garment and tucked her messy hair behind her ears.
Yang Baoguo suddenly recognized that familiar face and was so frightened that he stumbled, landing exactly where he almost slipped earlier, sprawling on his back.
"Direc... Director Sun, why are you dressed like this?"
Yang Baoguo scrambled up from the floor, "Director Sun, let me explain..."
Before he could finish, Sun Chunhua let out a cold snort.
"If I wasn’t dressed like this, how would I know your actual work conditions?"
Wang Lili and Zhang Dongmei were flabbergasted, realizing the commercial bureau leader had been present while they spoke.
What had they done? They had brazenly spoken in front of the bureau’s director.
Finished! If the director took it seriously, their jobs might be in jeopardy.
Both of them wished they could find a crack to hide in.
Sun Chunhua’s authoritative gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Su Xiaoxiao with a smile: "Comrade Su, are you interested in temporarily acting as the director of the store’s department?"
"What?"
Yang Baoguo’s face turned green when he heard this: "Director Sun, what do you mean by this? If she’s the department director, then what am I supposed to do?"
"You?"
Sun Chunhua expressionlessly tossed the mop to him: "Starting tomorrow, you’ll be in charge of mopping. Reflect and repent before you get reinstated."
Yang Baoguo swallowed hard: "What if... what if I never reflect well?"
"If you can’t reflect well, then you won’t be the director, and it might be time to step down and make way."
Yang Baoguo stumbled at this, falling flat on his backside again.
Sun Chunhua didn’t spare him a glance, her gaze sweeping over the other salespeople and speaking loudly: "Comrade Su is right. Salespeople are here to serve the people. Whether the leaders are present or not, your service must be up to standard."
As she spoke, her gaze swept over Zhang Dongmei and Wang Lili.
The two met her gaze and turned pale with fright.
"As for you two, write a thousand-word self-reflection and submit it to Manager Xu after you get home tonight."
With that, she patted Su Xiaoxiao on the shoulder: "Comrade Su, I have high hopes for you. Keep it up."
After speaking, she turned and left with her hands behind her back.
As soon as she left, Zhang Yulan excitedly approached and gave Su Xiaoxiao a thumbs-up: "Xiaoxiao, you’re incredible! You just got confirmed and became the acting director of the department? What an honor!"
Su Xiaoxiao blushed at the praise, feeling slightly embarrassed: "Sister Zhang, I’m just an acting director for now, thanks to the leader’s appreciation. I still have a lot to learn, and I’ll need your guidance in the future."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yulan became more appreciative, thinking, look at Comrade Xiao Su, modest and unpretentious, unlike some who get overly proud over little things.
She immediately replied with a smile: "No problem, feel free to ask me if you have any questions."
Wang Lili watched nearby, grinding her teeth. How could this country bumpkin Su Xiaoxiao become the acting department director?
If anyone should have gotten the position, it should have been her, the top-scoring and most outstanding newcomer to the department store.
No, she had to go back and talk to her father, ensuring this arrogant brat didn’t get too full of herself.
Su Xiaoxiao involuntarily sneezed and rubbed her nose, puzzled about who was gossiping about her behind her back.
But she quickly dismissed the thought, happily riding her bike home.
As soon as she parked her bike at the courtyard gate, a group of village aunties and ladies gathered around her, encircling her.
