Chapter 408 - 147: The Green Tea Female Side Character in a Period Novel (34)

Chapter 408: Chapter 147: The Green Tea Female Side Character in a Period Novel (34)

Some people didn’t even go home, rushing straight to the post office to borrow a pen and paper to write to their children in the countryside...

The notice was very detailed. Everyone’s hearts burned with excitement, feeling the surprise was so sudden. Although many people would be competing for the four spots, it was still a glimmer of hope.

Many couldn’t contain their excitement and ran to the retail department to get more news.

You can’t just ask for news without buying something, can you? Even for a box of matches, a handful of hard candies, or a bottle of soda, they could strike up a conversation with the sales clerk.

The retail department was bustling once again. The people of Xiahua were a peculiar sort; they flocked wherever there was a crowd. Before long, a long line had formed again.

Xu Chengfang had just finished posting the notice. As she leisurely walked back, she saw Chi Yun’er so busy she wished she could grow three heads and six arms. Feeling a little guilty, she quickly ducked inside and deftly started helping.

They ended up working nonstop until eight in the evening before they finally had a chance to eat.

There was no promotion, and everyone was buying things just for the chance to ask questions. So, while the sales volume was high, the total revenue wasn’t that much. Still, the overall profit was still around a hundred and eighty yuan!

Hearing this figure, Xu Chengfang’s worries from the morning finally settled.

"Director Chi, this isn’t another one of your... your promotional tactics, is it?"

Everyone thought so. What could have been a quiet, internal hiring process had been transformed into such a grand spectacle, attracting a wave of customers to the retail department.

And this stream of customers could last for three to five days, securing a profit of at least fifty or sixty yuan per day.

Chi Yun’er raised an eyebrow. "Something like that. If you want good business, you have to lead people to you. Once they walk through our doors, will they really leave empty-handed?"

This time, they desperately needed staff to free themselves from spinning like tops. So, they decided to choose from people they knew.

People they knew well would also allow them to step back and focus on other tasks.

Next time, however, they would have to be strict and hire employees based on comprehensive assessment scores, from highest to lowest.

Chi Yun’er took this opportunity to assign tasks to everyone.

"Tomorrow, let’s hire two family members to start. We’ll see how it goes..."

Since they all lived in the same family compound, everyone knew each other’s character and how they handled things. It was easy to pick two people from the group.

They were all capable and sharp housewives, tactful without being stingy or greedy for small advantages. Plus, their families were genuinely under heavy financial burdens.

Unable to find suitable temporary jobs, they took on odd jobs every day to supplement their household income.

When the two were chosen, even though it was just a temporary position with no base salary, only a commission on sales, they felt like they were dreaming. They wept with joy and thanked everyone profusely.

Chi Yun’er also made a trip to the canteen and had a long talk with the Steward.

The hospital canteen was in a rather remote location, next to the guest house. The inpatient department was in between, and then the outpatient clinic was closer to the main hospital gate.

The outpatient clinic was busier in the evening. People get hungry quickly when they’re active, so Chi Yun’er figured they could help the canteen sell some staple foods in the morning and evening, while supplying tea eggs all day.

The Steward furrowed his brow. He listened to her patiently on the surface, but inwardly he was annoyed. ’I’m just someone on a fixed salary, and so are the cooks, kitchen hands, and cleaners in the canteen.’

’Who would want to be busy for the same pay when they could be taking it easy?’

’But she’s the vice-president’s daughter, a favorite of the hospital president, and the Director of the Welfare Department praised by the entire staff.’

He didn’t know how he could turn down the work without offending her.

The moment Chi Yun’er saw his expression, she understood. She had prepared herself for this before coming, so she wasn’t disappointed.

"Director Xu, in our retail department, every transaction is recorded. So, if we sell items from the canteen, the profit will be crystal clear."

"I’ll go talk to the hospital president later and apply to see how much of that profit can be given out as a bonus to reward everyone..."

The moment he heard there would be a bonus, the furrows on Director Xu’s brow immediately smoothed out, and his attitude became much more enthusiastic. "Bonus? What bonus? We’re all part of the same unit. It’s only right that we all pitch in and get busy."

"Our canteen prepares three meals a day, but in between, we’re just idle, gossiping. We can’t go home, can we? It’s the perfect time to make some buns, steamed bread, and tea eggs for you to sell alongside your other goods!"

"Besides, many employees come for breakfast early in the morning and always complain that we open too late, leaving them hungry all night. With you guys helping, you’ll be taking a huge load off our shoulders..."

As long as there was money to be made, what was a little fatigue?

Chi Yun’er smiled and nodded, then unapologetically started listing her requirements, counting on her fingers. "We have two sets of freezers and refrigerators. We can use one set to store the food."

"Tea eggs can be kept in the fridge for two or three days, and so can the other food. When it’s time to sell, we can just heat them up on the stove..."

"I’ll also have to trouble you, Director, to have your staff make some meatballs, sausages, and things like that for us to freeze... The profit margin on these is high, which means a bigger bonus for everyone..."

Director Xu nodded as he listened. Seeing there was a lot to do, he quickly took out a pen and paper and started scribbling, promising to work overtime tonight to get the first batch ready and ensure a stable supply from now on.

Chi Yun’er added that if the staff got too tired or had too much work, they could outsource some of it to the family members, allowing them to earn a little pocket money too.

Director Xu hummed excitedly in agreement. He looked at her as if she were the God of Wealth himself, wishing he could kowtow to her on behalf of his entire staff.

When she got home, Chi Yun’er was surprised to see a sewing machine and couldn’t help but ask, "Mom, was our sewing machine broken?"

Mrs. Chi shot her a look, then gazed at her daughter’s pretty, delicate face and sighed softly. "This is the betrothal gift from the Jiang Family. It was supposed to be the ’Three Rounds and a Sound,’ but since you already have a watch and a bicycle, the Jiang Family sent a sewing machine and a radio instead."

"All the furniture in Jiang Yihua’s room is new, freshly lacquered. So they converted the cost of that into cash and ration coupons for you two. You can save it or spend it as you like."

As she spoke, Mrs. Chi handed over a cloth bundle. "Have your father go with you to deposit the money tomorrow morning."

Chi Yun’er opened it and saw a thick stack of brand-new ten-yuan notes. She was stunned for a moment. "Mom, isn’t this too much?"

Mrs. Chi nodded. "That’s what I said, but Yihua’s mother said they only have one child, Yihua, and their family doesn’t lack money. They were glad to finally have a legitimate reason to give you two some money, so she wants you to take it."

"She also said you’re all one family now, so it’s just moving money from the left hand to the right."

Chi Yun’er gave a helpless smile, recalling the time at the hospital when Mrs. Jiang had shut down those rumors. She really hadn’t spared the Fang family’s mother and daughter an ounce of face.