Chapter 37: The Shop Assistant

Xianxian had a blast playing all morning, and she slept soundly until after five o'clock. The little one didn't hesitate to wet Lu Anzhi’s bed, leaving Zhang Suxin feeling quite embarrassed and wanting to wash the sheets.

Lu Anzhi had already purchased all the necessary appliances, such as a washing machine and refrigerator. Zhang Suxin didn't need to hand-wash the sheets; she could just use the machine. Even so, she waited until the cycle finished, hung the sheets on the balcony drying rack, and only then prepared to take Xianxian home.

Xianxian was naturally reluctant to leave. Lu Anzhi told the little one that he had to go receive a shipment of books and that he would let her come back to play once the shelves were fully stocked. Only then was she persuaded, saying, "Daddy has work to do."

"Yes, that's right, Daddy has work to do." Lu Anzhi nodded.

The little one’s thoughtfulness made Lu Anzhi want to pat her small head. Zhang Suxin then hailed a taxi and left with Xianxian.

Lu Anzhi locked the shop door and went to a nearby food market to pick up some simple ingredients. Now that he had a place to live, along with pots, pans, and a stove, he couldn't keep eating out. While his cooking skills weren't exactly stellar, he could manage basic home-cooked meals like shredded potatoes or stir-fried tomatoes with eggs without any trouble.

After returning with the groceries, he checked his phone. Kuku had sent him a message an hour ago: "Boss, everything is ready! Latest news: the stock has been gathered and can be delivered tomorrow. Is tomorrow okay for you?"

Lu Anzhi replied: "No problem. I'll be waiting at the shop."

Kuku’s "away" status turned to "online": "Great, I'll let them know. It’s perfect timing, actually—'Dragon Clan 3' hits shelves nationwide the day after tomorrow. Just in time."

This internet-addicted girl! At this hour, Kuku should have been off work. She spent her time online at the editorial office and kept right on browsing when she got home—she was truly one of a kind.

Lu Anzhi shook his head and replied: "It’s not the same; I need to hire a good shop assistant before I can open. If I can't find one, I'll just have to wait a bit longer."

"Knock, knock, knock..."

The knocking interrupted his exchange with Kuku. Lu Anzhi looked toward the door and saw a middle-aged woman walking in.

The woman was short, very thin, and had a kind face. She was dressed in ordinary clothes, but they were neat and tidy. Lu Anzhi invited her in. Once inside, she gave a cautious, apologetic smile and spoke politely, asking, "Excuse me, are you hiring a shop assistant?"

Speak of the devil.

Lu Anzhi moved the groceries he had just placed on the table to the side, clearing a spot for her, and said, "Yes, are you here to apply? Please, have a seat."

The woman seemed a bit hesitant to enter further. Standing by the door, she said, "I... I'll just take a look first. Boss, your place is... it’s decorated so nicely, I’m not sure if you’d hire someone like me? If it’s okay, I could just work as a cleaner here."

Looking at the empty shelves in his shop, Lu Anzhi understood her hesitation. She must have wanted to apply, but seeing the interior, she felt it didn't quite match her image and started to back away.

His "Sanwei Bookstore" did look a bit different from a typical shop. To put it bluntly, it was perhaps a bit too "bourgeois." It was no wonder people felt intimidated.

Lu Anzhi smiled at her and said, "It’s alright. No matter how it's decorated, it’s still just a bookstore. Why don't you come over and sit down, and we can talk? If it’s a good fit, you can help out around the shop."

"Oh... okay..."

The woman seemed relieved, nodding repeatedly as she walked over and sat at the table intended for future readers.

Lu Anzhi sat across from her. Seeing that she was sitting stiffly and didn't dare lean back against the chair, he smiled and said, "Relax, Sister. It’s not that scary in here, is it?"

The woman gave a strained smile.

Seeing this, Lu Anzhi didn't push. "Why don't you introduce yourself?"

The woman said, "I... my name is Wang Ping. I’m from Jinzhou and only recently arrived in Haidu to help my son look after my grandson. My grandson just left for a summer camp, and since I’m on my own with nothing to do, I wanted to find some work. I used to run a bookstore back in Jinzhou, so when I saw your job posting, I wanted to come and ask... but the shop you’ve opened is quite different from mine; it’s much more elegant..."

Lu Anzhi laughed. "Elegant or not, isn't it all just a bookstore? Sister Wang—since your surname is Wang, I'll call you Sister Wang. If you’ve run a bookstore before, you must have experience."

Wang Ping nodded quickly. "I certainly have the experience. I ran a shop back home; it kept us fed and clothed, and I even made a little extra each year. If it weren't for coming to see my grandson, I wouldn't have sold the business. Managing the books, keeping accounts, and cleaning—I can handle it all."

Lu Anzhi said, "That's great. But Sister Wang, there is one thing I need to ask you in advance. You just said you're looking for work because your grandson is at summer camp. Once he returns, will you still have the time?"

Wang Ping replied, "No problem at all! My grandson will be starting school once he gets back from camp. I only need to cook for him and drop him off and pick him up from school; I don't have anything else to do. I’ll definitely be able to manage!"

Seeing her urgency, she was clearly in need of money and desperate for a job. But Lu Anzhi didn't point it out directly. Often, people don't want their hardships highlighted—even if they are obvious.

Lu Anzhi nodded. "How about a one-month trial period, Sister Wang? If everything goes well during the trial, you can stay on long-term."

As for specific working hours, he wasn't too demanding. After all, he lived there himself, and he wasn't planning on imposing KPIs or chasing performance targets. There was no need to be strict about when someone arrived or left.

Wang Ping nodded eagerly. "No problem at all."

Lu Anzhi said, "The salary for the trial period is 1,000 yuan. If you pass the trial, it will go up to 2,000 a month. Does that sound okay to you?"

Wang Ping’s eyes widened. "That much?!"

In this day and age, that was indeed a respectable salary for a bookstore clerk. However, Lu Anzhi wasn't short on money, and he preferred a comfortable environment—there was no need to be stingy. Seeing her reaction, he smiled and said, "It’s that much with a condition: I hope you’ll help me out well."

Wang Ping nodded quickly. "No problem! Definitely no problem!"

Lu Anzhi then made arrangements with Wang Ping to come in the next day to sign the agreement and start her trial. He had already prepared the document and just needed to print it out. Once Wang Ping left, he went to find a place to print the papers.

Everything was truly ready now. Once the books arrived tomorrow, the Sanwei Bookstore could finally open its doors.