Zhang Li saw that she still remembered her and her eyes immediately curved into smiles. She quickly walked two steps closer. "Sister Chen, we haven't seen each other for over a year. I almost didn't recognize you when I just saw you. You're getting more and more beautiful."
Chen Lishu smiled, "Do you live around here?"
Zhang Li shook her head. "I'm looking for Li Fang. She lives here. Do you remember Li Fang? She's the one who introduced us last year when I was selling underwear."
Chen Lishu had a slight impression of that girl and nodded. "Are you two attending high school this year?"
Zhang Li shook her head bashfully. "Neither of us got into high school. We stopped studying after junior high and are now waiting for our families to arrange jobs for us."
Thinking of something, Zhang Li asked, "Sister Chen, 'Shu Se' underwear, is that yours? You're amazing. Li Fang and I are wearing this brand now. By the way, I originally wanted to continue selling underwear. It paid much better than working, but I had no way to contact you. I asked people at the supply and marketing cooperative, but they were afraid I had other intentions and refused to tell me anything."
Hearing Zhang Li's words, Chen Lishu suddenly had an idea. She looked at her and asked with a smile, "Do you still want to sell it now?"
Zhang Li's eyes lit up. "Yes, I do. My parents said they'd find someone to arrange a job for me, but it's been half a year with no progress. I don't want to wait anymore. Besides, working starts from apprenticeship, and a formal position only pays a little over thirty yuan a month. Selling underwear earns much more."
Seeing her interest, Chen Lishu smiled. "I'm opening two more stores after the new year. Are you interested in working as a sales assistant? The probationary period is one month with a salary of twenty-five. If everyone is satisfied after the probation, it will be a base salary of thirty plus commission. You'll get a dime for each piece sold. What do you think?"
Given the current sales of the underwear, they sold four to five hundred pieces every month. Coupled with the base salary of thirty, Zhang Li's monthly income would be at least seventy to eighty yuan.
"Sales assistant? Sister Chen, is that true?" Zhang Li was full of surprise. After all, being a sales assistant in a store was the most coveted job at this time.
"The opening might still take some time as the stores need to be renovated. If you agree, you can start tomorrow, and Lin Qi can guide you for two days."
Chen Lishu introduced Lin Qi to Zhang Li as she spoke.
Renovating two stores would definitely take a lot of time, and Lin Qi wouldn't be able to handle everything alone while also overseeing the business. Chen Lishu had initially planned to slowly find suitable people, but by chance, she met Zhang Li today. She thought this young girl was good – bold and meticulous, perfect for a sales assistant.
Since Zhang Li had started selling underwear with Chen Lishu for a period last year, she greatly admired and trusted Chen Lishu. Moreover, she disliked working in factories. Now that Chen Lishu offered her such a great opportunity, how could she refuse?
"Sister Chen, I agree. I can start working now."
Chen Lishu found her eagerness amusing. "Work isn't just your decision. You should go home and discuss it with your parents to see what they think. If they all agree, you can find me at my place tomorrow."
Then Chen Lishu told her the address of the small courtyard.
To Chen Lishu's surprise, the next morning, as soon as she returned from the hospital, she ran into Zhang Li. Another girl came with her, the same girl Chen Lishu had met outside the Sixth Middle School, Li Fang.
"Sister Chen, are you still looking for people?" Li Fang was very tempted when she heard that Zhang Li would earn thirty yuan a month and have commissions in the future, so she begged Zhang Li to bring her along.
Since she was indeed short-handed, how could Chen Lishu refuse? With two stores, it was perfect to have one person for each.
After signing the employment contracts, Chen Lishu had Lin Qi take the two girls to familiarize themselves with the work process.
Considering that Zhang Li and Li Fang's jobs were slightly different from others, being customer-facing positions that greatly impacted a store's image and influence, Chen Lishu took some time to write a detailed training plan and a set of rules and regulations.
Chen Lishu also took some time to briefly train the two girls on bookkeeping methods. Zhang Li and Li Fang were young and quickly got the hang of everything.
On Sunday, Chen Lishu treated Zhou Bin and Nan Hai Tao to dinner at Liu Yong's restaurant.
Besides business matters, Chen Lishu also asked Zhou Bin to help procure some renovation materials.
For Zhou Bin, this was just a matter of making a few phone calls, so he readily agreed.
Chen Mantun's complexion was still not good when he was discharged from the hospital, but the doctor said he could only recover slowly at home.
After sending Chen Mantun and Wu Chunmei home, Chen Lishu returned to the Gu family residence.
As soon as she reached the courtyard entrance and before she could open the gate, she heard Liu Yuemin's scolding voice: "What's wrong with you, child? If your little brother Ming likes it, why can't he wear it? Will it cost you anything? You were brought back from outside by his third aunt. If you don't behave, do you believe I'll send you away directly?"
"Second sister-in-law, you're quite capable. Where do you plan to send my son?"
Chen Lishu pushed open the courtyard gate and saw the few people standing in the yard.
Gu Lin and Gu Ming stood by Liu Yuemin's side. Rui Rui stood with his head bare beside the Gu brothers. The hat Chen Lishu knitted for him was currently on Gu Ming's head.
Chen Lishu's eyes narrowed with displeasure. She turned and took off her scarf, wrapping it around Rui Rui. "Are you cold?"
Rui Rui shook his head, his eyes full of grievance as he looked at the hat on Gu Ming's head, but he said nothing.
Liu Yuemin didn't expect Chen Lishu to return at this time and gave a sheepish smile. "Sister-in-law, I was just scaring the child. I didn't really intend to send him away."
"Third aunt, Ming insisted on snatching brother's hat. If I didn't give it to him, he started acting up." Gu Song, being older, quickly explained the situation clearly to Chen Lishu.
Seeing him complain, Liu Yuemin's face immediately fell. She said with some guilt, "Song, why are you speaking nonsense with your eyes open? He's your younger brother and still too young to understand. Besides, Second Aunt has always treated you well. Can your third aunt stay home for a few days, buy you some ice cream and firecrackers, and win you over? It's true that whoever feeds you is your mother. You ungrateful child."
Chen Lishu didn't pursue the matter further. She held Rui Rui's hand and said to Liu Yuemin, "Alright, second sister-in-law. Since the child has already worn it, please return the item."
As soon as Gu Ming heard that his hat was to be snatched, he immediately protected his head and started crying loudly. "I won't give it! This is mine! My mom said he's not our family at all and told him to get out!"
Hearing Gu Ming's words, Chen Lishu's face instantly darkened.
"What nonsense are you spewing, child? If you talk any more rubbish, I'll throw you out." Liu Yuemin reached out and patted her son on the back, then stepped forward and complained unhappily.
"Sister-in-law, you're quite something. You knit hats for any unrelated child, but you don't even knit one for your own nephew. Aren't you encouraging the child to cause trouble?"