Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading-Chapter 289: As Narrow-Minded as a Needle’s Eye
"Comrade Xiao Su, I’m not trying to criticize you, but look at what time it is now. Why are you just arriving?"
Su Xiaoxiao doesn’t need to turn around to recognize the voice; it’s obviously Manager Liu.
Liu Changjiang comes over, hands behind his back, walking with a formal air, expression serious.
Actually, he’s quite pleased inside. The little brat, he managed to catch her quickly this time.
Let her ignore him yesterday!
Su Xiaoxiao raises her hand to check the watch on her wrist. The time is just right, 7:30.
Manager Liu is clearly hostile towards her, so there’s no need to be polite to him.
She immediately points at the numbers on her watch to show him, "Manager Liu, it’s exactly 7:30 now. I haven’t been late by a second. Is there a problem?"
"Who said no problems if you’re not late? As a sales assistant in the department store, you should arrive at least ten minutes early to prepare for the day’s work. You’re always here right on time, which shows you’re not proactive in your job!"
Su Xiaoxiao feels like rolling her eyes. At least in modern times, when bosses use workers, they symbolically offer them a big picture.
But Manager Liu doesn’t even bother with logic.
"Manager Liu, I’m working according to the department store’s schedule, not late, not leaving early. How is that not proactive? If you think the working hours are problematic, go tell the general manager. Picking on a small sales assistant like me, what does that count as?"
"You!"
Manager Liu is so angry his chest hurts, yet he can’t refute her. Why is this girl so sharp-tongued?
He can’t win the argument, and with so many people watching, he can’t afford to curse as a leader, so he can only turn away, full of rage.
This little brat, someday he’ll kick her out.
Zhang Yulan looks at Su Xiaoxiao with envy on the side. If only she could be like this girl, she wouldn’t always suffer under the old lady’s hand.
As she’s thinking, she sees Su Xiaoxiao turn to her, showing a smile and flashing two fingers at her, not sure what that means.
Zhang Yulan smiles, her morning anxiety is somewhat relieved.
"Hmph, Su Xiaoxiao, how do you make people so mad? You’re even daring to offend Manager Liu? Who do you think you are? Be careful, you might get sacked soon."
Zhang Dongmei shouts mockingly at Su Xiaoxiao from afar. Recently, the little brat has been in the limelight, getting temporarily transferred, helping the department store get sewing machines—it drives her crazy.
She’s thrilled to finally see the little brat suffer.
"Sister Zhang, did you hear a dog barking from somewhere? It’s really annoying."
Su Xiaoxiao mocks, pretending to clean her ear, full of disdain.
"Su Xiaoxiao!"
Zhang Dongmei is so furious she could bite that nasty girl to death.
Early morning’s drama doesn’t affect Su Xiaoxiao’s mood.
Anyway, she’ll be traveling tomorrow, let Manager Liu do what he wants, out of sight, out of mind.
After a busy day, finally, it’s the most anticipated time of the day—getting off work.
Su Xiaoxiao starts packing exactly on time, and Manager Liu walks past, seeing this scene, his face darkens. He snorts coldly and turns away.
A leader so big, yet with a mind as narrow as a needle.
She clicks her tongue secretly, thinking of the business trip tomorrow, raises her voice, "Manager Liu, I’m going directly on the trip tomorrow, won’t come to the department store."
Manager Liu walks away without even acknowledging her.
Su Xiaoxiao doesn’t care; she’s already informed him before. Whether he listens is his problem.
Qin Shuang comes over, stuffing a bag of things into her arms.
Su Xiaoxiao looks down—wow, a bag full of big red apples, at least seven or eight.
They look delicious just by the color.
"Xiaoxiao, take these home to eat. My family brought them when some relatives visited, too many to finish."
Qin Shuang hurriedly explains, fearing she might refuse.
"Alright, then I won’t be polite."
Su Xiaoxiao accepts them. Just after she finishes, Zhang Yulan walks over.
Looking at Su Xiaoxiao, she reluctantly smiles, "Xiaoxiao, sorry, I can pay you for the watch in a few days."
"No problem, Sister Zhang, no rush."
Even if she doesn’t pay, Su Xiaoxiao doesn’t care; it was meant to be a gift anyway.
She glances suspiciously at Zhang Yulan, feeling something’s off with her today. Usually quite cheerful, today she hasn’t smiled much.
She notices Sister Zhang’s empty wrist, can’t help but call her back, "Sister Zhang, your electronic watch?"
Yesterday, when Zhang Yulan received the electronic watch, she seemed to like it, wearing it fondly on her wrist. How come it’s gone today?
"No worries, left it at home this morning."
Zhang Yulan casually replies, clearly not wanting to elaborate.
Something’s clearly up.
The two exchange a look, but don’t know what to say.
"Shuangshuang, while I’m away these few days, please keep an eye on Sister Zhang. She seems off; maybe she’s facing some trouble."
Before leaving, she asks Qin Shuang worriedly.
"Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out."
...
Su Xiaoxiao rides home, passing the village entrance, and sees a familiar figure from afar.
Not tall, with two braided pigtails, skin a bit dark; who else could it be but Zhang Dongmei?
Facing Zhang Dongmei is a tall, slender young woman, but she’s facing away so her face can’t be seen.
Su Xiaoxiao isn’t on good terms with her, instinctively wants to ride away, yet Zhang Dongmei spots her first.
"Su Xiaoxiao, what are you looking at? Don’t think that just because you made some waves at the department store, you’ve forgotten who you are."
She originally just wanted to leave quietly but this person insists on making trouble.
Su Xiaoxiao directly changes direction, speeding towards Zhang Dongmei.
"Ahhhh... Su Xiaoxiao, are you crazy!"
Zhang Dongmei screams, hurriedly pulling the woman in front to dodge.
Su Xiaoxiao smoothly makes a sharp turn, cycling past the two.
Only then does Zhang Dongmei realize and angrily curses behind her.
Su Xiaoxiao pretends not to hear it, let her babble. Next time, she’ll just run her over.
Returning home, she steps into the yard to see Liu Cuilan sitting there using a griddle to make pancakes, already piled up high, and even made from white flour.
"Mom, why are you making so many pancakes?"
Unexpectedly, Liu Cuilan got home earlier than her today, and smelling the aroma makes her stomach rumble.
While placing pancakes on the griddle, Liu Cuilan answers, "To take on your trip, buns get hard when cool but these are convenient and taste good. We’ll pack some shredded pickles too."
As the saying goes, a child traveling a thousand miles worries the mother, afraid she’ll go hungry. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
"Mom, no need to trouble, there are boxed meals on the train and they provide food too."
"Train boxed meals are so expensive, and they might not be as tasty as mom’s pancakes—all made with white flour, the aroma is great."
Liu Cuilan keeps working. They’re chatting as the yard gate is pushed open.
She looks up at the visitor and immediately her face drops.
"What are you here for? Something you need?"
