Rebirth: She is Ready for a Counterattack!-Chapter 264 - 263: Getting on Track (Third Update)
The new semester has started.
Gu Xiaoqing just finished with her tasks, and Guo Donghua had already arrived. Her first reaction upon arriving was to drop off her luggage, tidy up her dorm bed, and then head straight to the milk tea shop.
Because this is an investment by the two of them, it’s their hard work too.
Along with Guo Donghua were He Yan and the entire dormitory crew.
A group of decked-out girls walked towards the milk tea shop, attracting the attention of numerous students passing by. Especially many senior boys, who were eagerly following the figures of the girls with stars in their eyes.
Seeing Gu Xiaoqing busy helping at the counter, not helping wasn’t an option. With the arrival of the new semester, the influx of freshmen and returning students meant the milk tea shop’s business was booming, earning almost five hundred yuan a day.
Moreover, business was continually increasing, especially with the very popular fries and chicken strips. These were the favorites of most students because such Western-style snacks were practically nonexistent in this era. Even the kids born in the 2000s might still treasure such foods.
So now Gu Xiaoqing joined the busy team, primarily responsible for frying various kinds of fries and chicken strips. As she hustled, she thought it was about time to hire two more people, as Mr. Chen and Xiao Li were starting school soon and wouldn’t have much time to work, only being able to do short shifts.
The main shop employees need to be those who have fixed times without any issues.
The recruitment ad was already posted, and Gu Xiaoqing planned to sort it out over the next couple of days.
As soon as Guo Donghua walked into the store, she headed to the counter where a few students from the university were already in line. Seeing the three busy people behind the counter, Guo Donghua hesitated to call out.
She considered herself a boss, yet compared to Gu Xiaoqing, she felt she was quite irresponsible, essentially a boss in name only.
This summer, Gu Xiaoqing hadn’t even gone home.
When only two people were left in front of the counter, Guo Donghua finally said to Gu Xiaoqing, "Xiaoqing, I’m back!"
Gu Xiaoqing had already put the fried fries and chicken strips in the warming cabinet when she heard someone call her, turned around, saw Guo Donghua, and nodded.
She tidied up a bit and came out, just in time to meet He Yan and the dormitory mates.
He Yan felt a bit envious, actually not just envious. Watching those two busy employees behind the counter for so long, He Yan could guess the business there must be good. She secretly blamed Gu Xiaoqing for choosing to partner with Guo Donghua, who always gave her the cold shoulder, for business rather than helping her even though she had always been nice to Gu Xiaoqing.
"This woman really doesn’t appreciate kindness."
"Xiaoqing, your shop must be doing well, huh? Surely you make a lot of money, right?"
He Yan couldn’t get out of her habit of prying; it was a fundamental flaw in her character.
Guo Donghua was unhappy about the question.
"He Yan, do you have an issue? Don’t be short-sighted, only seeing the money-making part. Have you considered that opening this shop cost tens of thousands of yuan? It’s only been a few months, and you’ve seen that it started right before the summer holidays, so how much could it have earned in those two months? It’s only with the school opening now that things have picked up a bit." Guo Donghua had heard this from Gu Xiaoqing and knew not to judge based only on superficial appearances.
Indeed, hearing this, the roommates looked understanding, realizing the significant investment, uncertain of how long it would take to recoup it.
He Yan was speechless. She didn’t know such a small shop required an investment of tens of thousands. Only people like Gu Xiaoqing and Guo Donghua would do it; it might take years to get their money back.
Her envy vanished instantly, and she felt relieved. Perhaps this was human nature—when seeing others not as glamorous as imagined, one immediately feels a sense of comfort.
Gu Xiaoqing smiled, "Let’s not talk about such meaningless topics. Since you’re here today, as the bosses, Donghua and I must treat you guys, especially as fellow dorm mates. Let’s treat you to some drinks and snacks from our shop, and you guys can give us some feedback."
Then she went to the counter and prepared a drink for each person: milk tea, milkshakes, red bean ice, and so on, along with two plates of fries and chicken strips. She brought them over on a tray, and everyone cheered and immediately started helping themselves.
Each took the drink they liked. Actually, they didn’t really know the taste, just that it looked nice.
Even Guo Donghua didn’t know.
She took a cup of strawberry ice and was pleasantly surprised by its refreshing, sweet and sour taste, nodding slightly in approval; it was indeed quite good.
The girls couldn’t stop praising it among themselves; these drinks, in their eyes, were pretty nice indeed.
He Yan took a sip of milk tea and was surprised by the flavor, not expecting Gu Xiaoqing to have such a talent.
No wonder her family is in business.
After spending half a day, Gu Xiaoqing went back to school with her classmates, mainly because it was the start of a new semester, and she couldn’t stay there all the time.
The dorm needed organizing, and many things couldn’t be ignored.
Before they left, someone came to apply for a job.
Gu Xiaoqing had to let Guo Donghua take everyone back while she stayed behind to interview the candidates.
The applicants were sisters, but only eighteen years old. By their clothes, they seemed to be from the countryside because those clothes were unmistakable.
The two were thin and gaunt, clearly not well-cared-for.
Gu Xiaoqing wouldn’t look down on rural folks, but she needed to clarify a few things.
It turned out the sisters were called Li Caimian and Li Caiqing, from the rural areas of Jiangsu, out working to support their two younger brothers. Their parents had passed away.
The sisters hadn’t been able to attend school since primary, working to support their brothers. But at their young age, without sufficient experience, they found themselves in an unfamiliar city without any skills. They could only do manual labor to earn some living expenses, but the city expenses here were far higher than in the village, and they didn’t earn much, struggling to feed even themselves, let alone their brothers.
They hadn’t found work recently and saw the recruitment ad here, so they decided to try their luck.
Gu Xiaoqing understood their situation and thought it over. She informed them that they could stay and work but first needed to undergo a one-month trial period. During this time, their salary would be two hundred, with accommodation provided but not meals.
If they passed the trial period and performed well, they could become official employees, earning three hundred, with an additional bonus during the annual home trip at the end of the year.
The two nodded gratefully.
So, Gu Xiaoqing asked Xiao Li and Mr. Chen to help the sisters tidy up the inner office to make a temporary dorm. However, this was only temporary, and Gu Xiaoqing planned to find them an apartment nearby in the next couple of days, making it easier for them to commute to work.
