Chapter 8, Interview
Wushuang lamented: "Just stick it this time; if it doesn't work, you all think of another way."
Is a bungalow acceptable? There are quite a few inexpensive bungalows in our community, the particularly spacious ones are only about 100 to 200 yuan per month
I picked up the supermarket scanner to show her
Apo whispered to me: "This girl doesn't seem foolish, nor is she overly cunning. Aside from being a bit of a lovesick fool, I think she is quite suitable."
Xiao Hui also seemed quite satisfied and asked, "Can you use a scanner?"
What reason do I have not to go? Is it easy for me to go around posting small advertisements looking like this?
As for me, spare me, do you think I would stop time at this moment
Aunt Meng nodded vigorously and said with satisfaction, "I have always said that Director He is capable! Well, I will have sweet and sour fish for lunch then." As she spoke, Aunt Meng shared this good news with the neighbors. It was only later that I realized she was actually waiting for me to buy soy sauce for the opening.
In light of this situation, Xiao Hui decided to conduct an interview first, scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, to be held at the supermarket
Apo hummed and said: "Then you don't need to go, just the three of us is perfect."
The girl heard the voice, slowly raised her head, but did not respond.
... ...
Apo suddenly kept poking me: "Straighten up, straighten up!"
Xiao Hui said: "I will print a few copies of the advertisement, and let Wu Shuang stick them up while he is at work this afternoon"
Really
Xiao Hui looked at Xiao Lu and said, "With a monthly salary of 1,000 yuan, we will help you find accommodation now. Is there any problem with starting work this afternoon?"
Young lady: "What is a diploma? I do not know."
The four of us exchanged glances, feeling as if thunder was rumbling around us. A Po, who had been arrogant before, now appeared humble and nervously asked, "So what are your demands of us?"
"Where is it straightened?" I followed his hand and indeed it was straightened.
Miss: "It is ... ..."
Xiao Lu lowered his head again and said, "The salary can be a little less, just arrange a place for me to stay."
Xiao Hui said: "We need to hire a cashier first; we will no longer personally handle these trivial tasks in the future"
I said to myself that it is the first time I have seen a soy sauce party at such an old age
The girl stared intently at Wushuang, completely lost in thought. She was quite an ordinary girl, with a slender figure, wearing a floral dress. She had a small chest and a small bottom, and her calves were exposed, revealing a fair segment of skin. Her hands were crossed in front of her abdomen, swaying slightly like a small plant in the wind. Her looks were not outstanding, but she was not unattractive either; she had ordinary double eyelids, slightly squinty eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips.
I broke out in a sweat; Aunt Meng's investigative skills are second only to Zhuge Liang from the *Book of Changes* and 007
Of course
The next morning, A Po was pulled out of bed by Xiao Hui to buy furniture and paint for the renovation. As A Po opened his eyes, he saw Xiao Hui standing at the foot of the bed, the blanket wide open. He hurriedly covered himself and exclaimed, "How did you get in here?"
Apo cannot die, he has no sense of pain, but he does have hearing; there is no problem in this world that can stump Xiaohui, and now there is one: how can we make this crazy girl stop her mad singing? As for Wushuang, that goes without saying; in Apo's words, being handsome can also be considered a form of enchantment, it is utterly unreasonable
... ...
That night we were busy for most of the night. First, we cleared away the broken bricks, and then Xiaohui began to plan: placing a mural here, arranging a circle of sofas there, standing tall with one hand on her hip, pointing out the landscape with fervent words, eager to compete with the decoration company. A Po followed her closely with paper and pen, hurriedly taking notes. The two previously L-shaped rooms had now transformed into a semi-口-shaped layout, the living room had become circular, and the balcony, which was originally adjacent, now flowed naturally into the space.
Xiao Hui asked with a pleasant expression: "Are you here to apply for the position of cashier?"
I walked out with my hands behind my back and took a stroll around the entrance of the supermarket, experiencing the sense of confidence akin to that of a wealthy landlord. Suddenly, Aunt Meng ran over to me and said, "Director He, when will your supermarket open? I am waiting to use some soy sauce at noon."
Wushuang asked: "What are your special skills?"
The young woman said in one breath: "Provide food and accommodation, and just give me a few pocket money each month—however, the five social insurances and one housing fund must be paid. When I leave, you must issue me a work certificate in the name of the company, as it may be needed when I study business management in the future"
"Little Green." The voice remained timid, and the eyes did not dare to look at Wushuang any longer.
I said: "Xiao Hui can just go."
In Qinghai, the young woman responded to each statement with a reply.
After the formal start of the interview, a girl with a rosy complexion from the highlands entered first. Upon seeing our setup, she was taken aback and stood frozen on the opposite side.
I: "... ... So, can you perform the four basic arithmetic operations?"
I do not know why, but whenever I think of Xiao Lu, I cannot help but recall the book "The Travels of Lao Can." It mentions a white girl whose singing lingers in the air for three days without ceasing, and it is said that afterwards, one does not know the taste of meat for three months. In any case, I believe Xiao Lu has achieved this—after listening to her sing, I had nightmares for three consecutive days, and for a long time afterward, nothing tasted good to me.
No wonder in Monopoly, Sun Light Beauty always excitedly exclaims, "I and the library love big houses!" every time she connects two scattered properties to form a large building. I am eager to share this experience nationwide
... ...
The difference is merely a wall, yet our living environment has transformed dramatically; even though it may still seem somewhat rudimentary, the layout already exudes a sense of luxury.
As I walk towards the office in the morning sunlight, swinging my arms, my office is just a gate away from my residence, separated by a small community. On both sides of Wangfujing Street, there are small communities, with shops lining the street. Xiaohui's supermarket is also very close to me. Being an old-style community, there is no community management committee; our residents' committee holds a dominant position. The environment in the community is quite pleasant, featuring low shrubs and green belts, with a pebbled path leading to the street. I walk along this path, squinting my eyes, continuously nodding and greeting those who greet me. Elderly men and women exercising carry birdcages and swords on their backs, while young people rushing to work hurriedly grab a fried dough stick to catch the bus—this is what life is! I believe that a spirit can only achieve true results by cultivating in such an environment. Can you understand why 1 plus 1 equals 2 if you run off into the deep mountains and forests?
As noon approached, none of us found a suitable candidate, and the four of us began to feel increasingly restless. At that moment, the last girl timidly walked in through the door, her head lowered, and she nervously said, "I am here to apply for the position"
... ...
I said: "Is it still possible to recruit now? I promised Aunt Meng that we would open tomorrow"
Yes, we are demons, we possess superpowers, we are very powerful, but...! ... we still cannot endure this!
Xiao Hui nodded slightly and quietly asked us, "Do you have any other questions?"
Apo asked: "Who is going for the interview tomorrow"
Apo exclaimed, "On what basis? I still want to indulge in the thrill of wielding life and death authority—how about we set up a judging panel, and then each judge scores to determine the fate of the contestants?"
I assure you: "Tomorrow it will definitely open, rest assured. From now on, whenever you purchase something, it will be at cost price. For others in the neighborhood, we will offer a 10% discount compared to the market price."
As soon as the next girl entered, she immediately performed a belly dance for us. Her long eyelashes, whether real or not, made our hearts flutter with every blink. Then, she confidently introduced herself, casting flirtatious glances at the three male judges: "Teachers, do you think I am good enough?"
We : `` ... ... ''
Little Green was taken aback and fell silent: "What happened?"
Young lady: "I eat it bite by bite"
The people on Wangfu Street have one advantage: regardless of how your money was earned, as long as it allows them to benefit, they will undoubtedly support you wholeheartedly. Their ancestors once followed the shameless old man in rebellion, all for the sake of a few levels of salary. Therefore, when my preferential policy was announced, everyone rushed to spread the news and celebrated. In reality, a 10% discount does not save much; soy sauce priced at 1 yuan sells for 0.9 yuan, and only when buying 100 bags do you save 10 yuan. Who can consume 100 bags of soy sauce in a month? The White Lady initially had this mindset of doing good for the community, but ultimately was exposed by Fahai for her true identity as a demon.
But her singing is terrible
After a long period of silence, Wushuang finally said expressionlessly: "Being able to sing is a virtue, singing poorly is a flaw, but being able to sing as poorly as you do is a characteristic!"
Xiao Hui's task today is to negotiate with the supermarket owner to take over the store. The supermarket where she works is quite sizable; the owner is not a local and acquired this property on Wangfu Street during a period of blind expansion in earlier years. He has been struggling between profitability and loss for a long time, and this location feels like a mere trifle to him. Therefore, Xiao Hui appears confident and determined to succeed
Little Green, do you have any requests, such as regarding compensation?
Scanner
Aunt Meng casually remarked, "Hey, what is there to not know? Didn't you all already drive the car together with that unparalleled one?"
Young lady: "What is meant by the four basic operations? I do not know."
"Is there a resurrection match? Have you watched too much Super Girl?"
We nodded simultaneously, perplexed, and asked: "What should we do?"
Finally, I sent the young lady out, patting her shoulder and earnestly saying: "One must eat a meal bite by bite; studying is like finding a partner, do not be too greedy..."
Xiao Lu thought for a moment and said, "Then I will sing a song 'The Sea'—from that distant seaside, you slowly fade away, your originally blurred face gradually becomes clear. I want to say something but don’t know where to start..." Unexpectedly, this girl, who usually speaks shyly and timidly, sings without hesitation, but...! ... her singing is just too terrible! Although you can't tell when she speaks, once she starts singing, you will find that her vocal cords seem to be twisted several times, producing a sound that is neither completely hoarse nor entirely smooth. At this moment, she has already reached the first high note: "If the sea could call back the love of the past, let me wait a lifetime. If you no longer cherish the deep feelings of the past, let them drift away with the wind..."
After a morning of silence, Wushuang finally broke the quiet with his deep baritone voice, asking a rather mundane question: "Have you done this before?"
I was dumbfounded and said: "Do you... already know?"
We could only feel as if hundreds of dustpans were violently scraping the sandy ground around us, causing every part of our bodies, from our hair to our heels, to tremble, as if we were being drenched from head to toe with hundreds of tons of ice shards in the depths of winter
Apo smiled and said: "I think this is it!"
The following few are either too dull or too shrewd. As for the role of the cashier, if one is too foolish, they will disadvantage others; if one is too shrewd, they will also disadvantage others
"Go ahead, sing."
Little Green looked at Wushuang with a pitiful glance, then lowered his head and fell silent
Have you ever worked as a cashier before
It is time to get up and take a stroll after eating. You have gone from having a hearty meal to indulging in French cuisine, turning your dining experience into a continuous feast, which is not good for your stomach. I suggest you first check the construction site to see if there are any suitable jobs available, where you can use your knowledge in bridge design and nuclear physics to assist in building or demolishing structures.
The girl expressed her disappointment, saying: "Isn't this an audition for actors?"
Therefore, Xiaohui is smarter than us
At noon, I put the grand opening plan on the agenda. I said to Xiaohui: "When do you plan to open? Everyone on the street is waiting to buy soy sauce. If you delay for a few more days, they will only eat salt and not soy sauce, and they will all turn into wild beasts."
Oh, I haven't done it before, but I can learn
Xiao Hui asked: "What is your name?"
Xiao Lu lowered his head and said timidly, "No problem"
Go out
The young woman silently took out a stack of certificates from her backpack, and her expression instantly changed, radiating confidence as she said: "I hold a dual doctor's degree—or rather, I am on the verge of obtaining a dual doctor's degree. I have already completed my degree in Bridge Design, and I am currently pursuing a degree in Nuclear Physics Engineering"
It is possible
Early the next morning, A Po moved two long tables and four chairs from my office to the center of the supermarket. He also took four bottles of mineral water from the shelves and placed them neatly on the seats. Additionally, he folded a piece of cardboard and wrote his name on it, placing it on the table. However, seeing that none of us were there, he could only awkwardly toss it aside.
Apo raised his hand and said: "I agree"
We three have encountered such situations many times, and couldn't help but chuckle. I cleared my throat, and only then did the girl startle, exclaiming, "Ah?"
Although we have suffered greatly, the three of us still feel a pang of conscience. A Po gave Wu Shuang a punch and said, "Are you trying to take the route of a sharp-tongued person?"
I privately said to them: "What do you think?"
Wushuang raised his ancient Greek hero-like face and exclaimed, "No way, am I really going to be the one to post small advertisements everywhere?"
The second person to enter was a girl who appeared to be quite rustic. This time, A Po dared not judge by appearances and cautiously asked, "What is your educational qualification?"
At noon, news arrived: Xiaohui purchased this supermarket located to my right, along with its property and operating rights, for a price of less than 500,000. From now on, the four of us will be its owners
Fortunately, Aunt Meng did not inquire in detail—this is an advantage of having administrative experience. They know a lot, but rarely ask questions. If they do ask, it is usually something like: "Director Xiao He, when will you be opening for business? I am looking forward to getting some soy sauce."
It was said that the interview would start at 9 o'clock. When we arrived at around 8:40, there were surprisingly seven or eight people already lined up outside, most of whom were young women. A few of them were quite attractive. To pass the time while waiting outside, they were doing splits and practicing their vocal exercises.
Wangfu Street does not have many convenience stores, so local residents primarily rely on this small supermarket for their oil and vinegar needs. This is also the reason it has been able to sustain itself. It is unexpected that our actions have caused inconvenience to the citizens.
The young woman gazed at the sky and counted on her fingers for a long time: "1 mao 5, right?"
Little Green raised his head again and asked, "Does being able to sing count?"
That doghouse was later covered by A Po in an extremely unsightly manner. Upon seeing it, everyone's first reaction was: "What is this covering? It looks like a doghouse."
I disdainfully said: "Is it embarrassing to post small advertisements when your brother has already driven a car worth a fortune?"
... ...
The concerns of the results being unmatched were unfounded, and the effect was surprisingly good. After the advertisement was posted, we received a continuous stream of phone calls in the evening. Many of the applicants reported having associate degrees or bachelor's degrees, and there were even two individuals with master's and doctoral degrees pursuing their studies consecutively—this illustrates the extent to which the current job market is tense.
I patiently said: "Let me give you a question. Eggplants are 0.75 yuan per jin. I bought 3 jins and gave the vendor 2.50 yuan. He gave me 0.20 yuan in change. Now, how much does he still owe me?"
Since Wushuang did not have to work in the morning, she suggested using the car to take Xiaohui. As a result, when she went downstairs, she discovered that overnight someone had carved the words "Why" on the back again. When combined, it formed the phrase "Why 1 + 1 = 2," reminiscent of Goldbach's conjecture, which is likely not the work of a child.
Then she swayed there like a plant, gazing blankly, lost in silence.
As for the matters concerning the house and the car, I had no intention of keeping them a secret; such things are difficult to conceal. However, the situation with the supermarket is truly mysterious.
Where is home
The four of us changed our expressions dramatically and simultaneously slammed the bottles of mineral water we held onto the table, saying: "Stop singing, stop singing!"
Apo impatiently said: "Do you know how to read?"
Xiao Hui tapped the table and calmly said, "But do we need her to sing?"