Chapter 567 | Chapter 568 | Chapter 569
Chapter 567: Opening Branch Stores!!
“Have the two little ones been fed?”
Seeing how happily they were eating, Aunt Hu went to tend to the two infants.
“Yes, they’ve been fed.”
Aunt Hu nodded with a smile, checked the two little ones’ diapers, and seeing they were dry, began playing with them.
Once Sheng Wanyan and Yi Yi finished breakfast, Aunt Hu cleared the dishes and washed them up, acting with immense speed and efficiency.
Sheng Wanyan sent Yi Yi off to her dance class, then headed to the clothing store. The three employees had already become completely independent, and Sheng Wanyan had some calculations brewing in her mind.
“Post a hiring notice at the storefront this afternoon. We need to recruit two shop assistants and five seamstresses.”
The three employees hurriedly nodded, pasting the recruitment notice outside according to her instructions.
Sheng Wanyan then made a trip to the leased external warehouse to pack it tightly to the brim before returning home to look after her two sons.
Lailai and Maomao were kicking their little legs, cooing “Ah, ah, ah~” as Aunt Hu mixed formula for them to drink. Sheng Wanyan and Aunt Hu each held one to feed them. Once they were full, the two brothers farted simultaneously.
Sheng Wanyan was already long accustomed to this; twins shared a telepathic connection and loved doing everything together. But this was the first time Aunt Hu had witnessed such twin synchronization, and her heart felt incredibly fascinated and curious.
“Do twins always share this kind of telepathy?”
Sheng Wanyan nodded with a smile, explaining the level of synchronization between the two. “Usually, when they’re hungry or need a diaper change, it happens at the same time. Sometimes they cry together, and once you coax the younger brother, the older brother stops crying too.”
Hearing this, Aunt Hu grew even more curious. These twins were simply too amusing.
After eating their fill, it was time to coax the two babies to sleep. Aunt Hu possessed an excellent knack for soothing infants. Usually, Maomao would cry whenever he was about to fall asleep, and aside from Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao, no one’s soothing was effective. To her surprise, Aunt Hu successfully put him to sleep.
“Anyway, as long as the two of them start fussing together, you just need to soothe the younger brother first.”
Lailai basically never cried. If he did cry, it went without saying that he had a conflict with his younger brother. As long as Maomao stopped, Lailai would naturally stop as well.
“Lailai truly acts like an older brother; he’s far too sensible,” Aunt Hu couldn’t help but praise after getting a handle on the twins’ temperaments.
“They’re only two-month-old infants, what could they possibly understand,” Sheng Wanyan said with a smile, pulling up the blankets slightly for the two children to let them sleep.
The middle child often became the easiest to overlook the more sensible they were. She would rather Lailai possess a mischievous, troublemaking temperament. Gu Tingxiao had suffered this exact grievance during his childhood, so Lailai could not follow in his footsteps.
“True, the children are still so small.” Aunt Hu didn’t know what Sheng Wanyan was thinking. In the eyes of the older generation, no matter where a boy ranked in the household hierarchy, he wouldn’t be left to suffer grievances.
With the two infants asleep, Aunt Hu went to sweep the house clean and tidy the children’s toys away.
“Aunt Hu, remember to scald the toys with hot water usually to sanitize them, lest the two babies put bacteria into their mouths. Also, Yi Yi’s toys need to be sanitized and cleaned from time to time.”
“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.” Aunt Hu quickly went to handle it. In her hometown, people weren’t this particular, but this was a wealthy household, so things were naturally handled with more precision.
Sheng Wanyan knew she was Uncle Hu’s wife, and Uncle Hu was a veteran member of the family circle. However, since she had hired her as a nanny, she didn’t intend to pamper her like an ancestor. If this couldn’t be done and that couldn’t be done, what had she hired her for? Was she paying forty yuan a month just for her to come enjoy herself?
Privately, she could be viewed as an elder, but during working hours, she was the boss and Aunt Hu was the employee; this boundary could not be crossed.
Sheng Wanyan observed Aunt Hu’s situation for two days, and seeing that she was indeed highly adept at managing the three children at home, she finally let her guard down to handle her own business.
Sheng Wanyan began making preparations to open branch stores, and Father Sheng also threw his all into it, running to the city proper every single day. Soon, Father Sheng finished renovating the storefront and hired the employees for the general store. As long as the goods were hauled in and arranged on the shelves, the store could open for business!
Sheng Wanyan told Father Sheng to just take the reins and go for it. Since everything came out of her space anyway, they wouldn’t lose money no matter what. Seeing her trust him so completely, Father Sheng full of confidence went ahead to open the branch store.
Sheng Wanyan didn’t attend the grand opening because she was busy managing the opening of the clothing store’s branch, leaving her with no time to assist Father Sheng’s side.
The news of Sheng Wanyan opening branch stores quickly reached the ears of the three veteran employees, leaving them incredibly thrilled. Sheng Wanyan took some time to hold a meeting with everyone at the clothing store, straightforwardly stating that she needed to select store managers.
The three veteran employees finally realized why Sheng Wanyan had forced them to act independently before; it turned out she had been setting up for this all along.
“It’s like this: I intend to open a branch store near Beijing Dance Academy, and I need a store manager. The store manager will be responsible for the entire storefront’s management. Naturally, the responsibility is greater, but the wages will also increase.”
Hearing this, the three veteran employees couldn’t help but rub their hands together. They knew the choice would be made from among the three of them, and as for who it would be… every single one of them hoped it would be herself.
“Which of you lives near that area?”
The oldest employee raised her hand; her home was right near there, and walking to Beijing Dance Academy only took about ten minutes. Sheng Wanyan looked at the other two veteran employees, noting their slight disappointment thoughtfully.
“Then it will be you.”
The oldest employee grew instantly ecstatic; she truly hadn’t expected it would be her.
“This storefront will also select a store manager. Which of you has already started a family?”
One of the remaining veteran employees raised her hand, while the last one was still unmarried and looking for a partner.
“Then you will manage this store. From now on, you two will come over to report your daily sales figures before closing time. As for the salary and benefits package, I will discuss it with you in detail later.”
“Understood, thank you, Boss.” The two of them were thrilled beyond words, leaving only the young unmarried employee without a new assignment.
“You two go post hiring notices. That branch store needs three new hires, and this store needs one more.”
“Understood, Boss, we’ll go right now.” Before the two employees departed, they cast a worried look at their remaining colleague. The remaining employee offered them a reassuring smile, which finally put their minds at ease.
“Boss… I…”
“Are you interested in going to the city proper?”
“What!?” The employee stared at her, completely stunned. Go to… the city proper?
“I plan to open a branch store in the city proper. Are you interested? The other two employees have already settled down with families, so it isn’t suitable for them. I recall you’re still looking for a partner, right?”
“Yes, still looking.” The employee’s body was present but her mind was floating; what did finding a partner matter compared to the importance of earning money? Ever since she started working here, drawing such high wages every month made her feel that those men weren’t even worthy of her… It wasn’t that she was snobbish, but rather that the families who came to propose matches only did so because she could earn money.
“Then are you interested in going to the city proper? The store in the city proper is also a courtyard house, so a room can be set aside for you to live in.”
Chapter 568: Yi Yi Calls to Tell on Her
Father Sheng had helped her buy quite a few courtyard houses and shop spaces recently, so she had several vacant properties in the city proper.
“My dad frequently goes to the general store over there, so he’ll pick up the store’s daily earnings when the time comes.”
“If anything comes up at the shop, you can talk to my dad, and he will pass the message along to me.”
“Of course, if you don’t want to live at the shop, I can rent a small apartment for you.”
“No, no, no… I’m more than willing!”
By the time Sheng Wanyan finished explaining, the veteran employee finally snapped out of her daze. How could she possibly be unwilling?! She would absolutely cherish such a wonderful opportunity.
Sheng Wanyan nodded with a smile. Father Sheng had already hired people to renovate the shop space in the city, but they still needed to recruit floor staff.
“That’s perfect then. I’ll make the arrangements for you.”
“However, aside from the renovation work which is already done, you’ll have to handle everything else in the city yourself for now.”
“That means recruitment, stocking the shelves, and so on.”
“Boss, I will definitely manage the store well and won’t let you down.”
Sheng Wanyan looked at the girl, who was younger than her, and felt a brief wave of nostalgia seeing the sheer drive to succeed in her eyes. The girl was fortunate to have been born into an era of great opportunities; she was luckier than most. She didn’t have to get married according to her family’s arrangements just because she reached a certain age, nor was she worn down by life or tied down by a family. Currently, she only had herself to answer to… Countless people in this day and age would envy her.
“Today is the 28th. Move over to the city next month.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll take you there so you can get your bearings.”
“Understood, Boss.”
Seeing that the other two employees had finished their tasks, Sheng Wanyan called them over to explain the store manager’s compensation package.
The base salary for a store manager was 100 yuan, plus a 0.5% commission on the store’s total monthly turnover. If the clothing store brought in a revenue of 50,000 yuan a month, the manager would make 250 yuan from commissions alone. This was a whopping three times what a regular employee made. After the three veteran employees did the math, an irrepressible joy flooded every one of their eyes.
“All of your positions will take effect next month. The clothing store near Beijing Dance Academy will officially open on the 1st of next month.”
“Yes, Boss!”
The three veteran employees were brimming with drive, taking the opening of the branch stores even more seriously than Sheng Wanyan herself.
Sheng Wanyan instantly felt a wave of relief. She had finally delegated the heavy burdens on her shoulders, which would free up more time for her to look after things at home.
Over the weekend, Sheng Wanyan took the employee to the city proper and handed her the keys to the shop.
“The room at the very back is your bedroom. The back courtyard has a kitchen area, and it’s fully equipped with pots, pans, and utensils.”
“Understood, Boss.”
The employee inspected the place. The bedroom furniture was brand new, and the space had been cleaned meticulously. All she needed to bring was her bedding and daily necessities to move right in.
“Just let me know if you run short on anything later.”
“Boss, I don’t need anything else. This is already wonderful.” This place was far more comfortable than her own home; she couldn’t be more satisfied.
“Good to hear.”
Sheng Wanyan showed her around the vicinity. When the employee requested to walk around the neighborhood to familiarize herself with the streets, Sheng Wanyan naturally didn’t refuse. It just so happened that she needed to visit Grandfather and Grandma Gu at the military compound, so they parted ways.
When Sheng Wanyan was close to the compound, she slipped into a secluded spot to retrieve ten catties of meat, a crate of fruit, and three cans of malted milk extract from her space.
When Grandfather and Grandma Gu saw her return, they quickly pulled her down to sit and chat.
“What brings you back so suddenly? Where is Yi Yi?”
“I brought an employee to check on the branch store in the city today, so I figured I’d drop by and visit you both since I was in the neighborhood.”
Hearing that she had explicitly made the trip to see them, Grandma Gu was delighted beyond words.
“You’re opening a branch store in the Capital? What kind of branch?” Grandfather Gu interjected hastily. How did his third granddaughter-in-law quietly pull off another major venture without a word?
Just as Sheng Wanyan was about to explain, Grandma Gu’s scolding voice cut in.
“Stop poking your nose into the child’s affairs. Why are you asking so many questions?”
Their granddaughter-in-law had her own career, and now that her business was thriving, wasn’t it perfectly normal to open a branch? This old man… always had to pry and micro-manage everything. Wasn’t he afraid the juniors would find him overbearing?
“Grandma, it’s quite alright to talk about it,” Sheng Wanyan intervened with a laugh. “Grandfather, I’ve opened a branch of both the general store and the clothing store in the Capital. It’s only a twenty-minute walk from the compound. If you two ever want any snacks, just head over to the general store and grab whatever you like.”
“Don’t be stingy with yourselves; the general store has plenty of delicious things.”
Grandfather Gu’s interest was instantly piqued. Did that mean they would have good liquor for sale???
“The clothing store also has a lot of new arrivals. Grandma, you and Mom should go browse together sometime. Take whatever you like back to wear.”
Hearing her words, Grandma Gu affectionately took her hand, feeling closer to her than anyone else.
“Your mom and I have plenty of clothes. We haven’t even worn all the pieces you brought back previously.”
“You are incredibly capable, child, but you must look after your health as well. Don’t work yourself to exhaustion.”
Grandma Gu would never take Mother Gu along to exploit their positions as elders to get freebies from the shop. They would accept what their granddaughter-in-law chose to give them so as not to waste the junior’s filial piety. However, if they were to simply go and take whatever they wanted, other relatives and friends would eventually find out over time and pester them to get items for them too. When that happened, more distant relatives would think that gifting a piece of clothing was a minor matter.
Having spent so long in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Grandma Gu believed that business should be treated strictly as business; one shouldn’t clutter a shop with personal relationships.
“Grandma, I’m not tired.”
“Once the branch stores stabilize and the weather warms up a bit, I’ll bring the children over to visit you.”
“Good, good, good. The two little ones are still tiny, so you absolutely can’t bring them out into the draft.”
“We two old folks are in great health, so we have plenty of time.”
Grandma Gu patted her hand with deep comfort, wanting to keep her for dinner, but Sheng Wanyan couldn’t stop worrying about the three children at home. Understanding her plight, Grandma Gu fetched the gifts she had purchased for her three great-grandchildren and handed them over for her to take back.
“Be careful on the road, and give us a call once you get home.”
“Will do.”
Sheng Wanyan agreed. However, before Grandfather and Grandma Gu could receive her call, they received a phone call from Yi Yi instead.
“Hello~ Great-grandpa~”
“Oh~ my sweet girl.”
Hearing the voice on the other end of the line, Yi Yi stopped crying. Her mother had been gone for so long that she had grown scared.
“What’s wrong? Are you crying?”
“Who is next to you?”
“Grandma~”
Hearing that Mother Sheng was by her side, Grandma Gu’s heart eased.
“Great-grandpa~ Where is Mama?”
Realizing she was looking for her mother, Grandma Gu instantly burst into laughter. The little girl was quite sharp, knowing exactly how to make a phone call to lodge a complaint.
“Your mom just left a moment ago. She’ll be home shortly.”
“Really?”
“Really. When has Great-grandmother ever lied to you?”
Armed with her guarantee, Yi Yi immediately stopped crying. Wiping her tears clean, she sat obediently by the front door to wait for Sheng Wanyan to return.
“I’m going to wait for Mama. Goodbye, Great-grandpa~”
“Goodbye, goodbye. Listen to your grandma, and don’t run around blindly.”
“Okay~”
Yi Yi hung up the phone. Seeing that she was finally no longer crying, Mother Sheng let out a massive sigh of relief. This girl was growing older and wasn’t nearly as easy to trick as before. In the past, making up an excuse or giving her a snack would coax her easily. Now, it felt as though nothing could escape this little smart aleck; she insisted on knowing the details of absolutely everything.
Chapter 569: Paying Respects to the Ancestors of the Gu Family
Yi Yi went into the bedroom to check on her little brothers, and seeing them sleeping obediently, she ran out to sit by the front door with peace of mind.
When Sheng Wanyan arrived home in the afternoon, she caught sight of the little flesh roll sitting right by the entrance.
Excellent, she had gotten chubbier again.
“Yi Yi?”
“Mama~”
Hearing her mother’s voice, Yi Yi quickly looked up, opened her arms, and came flying over. Sheng Wanyan caught her and pulled her into her arms, stumbling slightly. She was almost reaching the point where she couldn’t carry her anymore.
“Yi Yi, why are you sitting by the door? Aren’t you cold?”
Yi Yi shook her little head. Her grandma had wrapped her up like a rice dumpling, so she wasn’t cold at all.
“Waiting for Mama~”
“Such a good girl, let’s go inside.” Sheng Wanyan kissed her little cheek, carried her into the house, and headed straight to the coal stove to warm her up.
“Mama will always come back, you don’t need to be afraid,” Sheng Wanyan said while fixing her messy, tangled hair.
“Mama was gone for a long, long time.”
“You left and said you’d pick up Yi Yi at three o’clock, but now it’s four o’clock~”
Yi Yi denounced her mother’s crimes. She was starting to develop a concept of time, and every time Sheng Wanyan failed to appear at their agreed hour, she would begin to protest.
“Mama stopped by to visit Great-grandfather and Great-grandmother along the way, which took up a bit of time.”
“Next time, Mama will call home so Yi Yi won’t worry.”
Only then did Yi Yi forgive her. After the mother and daughter made a pinky promise, the little girl was back to her usual affectionate self.
After tending to Yi Yi, Sheng Wanyan went into the bedroom to check on the two little ones. The twins loved to sleep on regular days, usually only waking up around five o’clock to drink milk.
Seeing that her mother was busy taking care of her little brothers, Yi Yi went into her own bedroom to fetch her picture book, then sat on the sofa to look through it while waiting for Sheng Wanyan.
Aunt Hu had been working here for a week now, successfully passing her trial period, and Sheng Wanyan was highly satisfied with her. Working here, she constantly saw Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan doting heavily on their daughter, fulfilling her every request. Even a man as cold as Gu Tingxiao would soften completely in her presence, speaking in warm, gentle tones.
Aunt Hu had initially worried that Yi Yi would become spoiled and ill-tempered from all the coddling, but she later discovered that the girl possessed an excellent disposition and was exceptionally well-mannered. Every morning when she got up, she would obediently greet her with a “good morning” and never threw tantrums at anyone. Whenever she needed something and asked Aunt Hu for help, or when Aunt Hu was looking after her, she would always say thank you.
Aside from occasionally throwing a small, childish tantrum when she felt aggrieved, she never cried or fussed easily on regular days. Instead, she was lively and mischievous. She didn’t act spoiled in the slightest; on the contrary, she was highly generous, thoroughly willing to share her toys with others.
“Yi Yi, do you want some water?”
“Yes, thank you, Grandma Hu~”
Aunt Hu smiled, went to pour a cup of warm water for her, and brought it over. Yi Yi hopped down from the sofa, holding the cup with both hands as she sipped slowly. Once she finished, she handed the cup back to Aunt Hu with both hands for her to take to the kitchen.
Yi Yi sat back down obediently to read her picture book, knitting her little brows when she reached an exciting part, and balling her fists during the frustrating moments. By the time Sheng Wanyan came out, she had already finished one book and was pondering over its contents.
Sheng Wanyan recalled what Grandma Gu had mentioned to her earlier today. Tomb-Sweeping Day was fast approaching, and they wanted to pay respects to the ancestors of the Gu family. Therefore, they hoped they could bring Yi Yi along. As a child of the Gu family, she needed to understand the magnificent deeds performed by the family’s ancestors. Yi Yi was already three and a half years old, and as a junior of the Gu line, she ought to know these things.
“Yi Yi, in a few days we’re going back to see Great-grandfather and Great-grandmother.”
“Okay~” Yi Yi gladly agreed.
Time flew past, and Tomb-Sweeping Day soon arrived. The family returned to stay at the military compound, and Aunt Hu took leave to head home for the holidays. Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan each carried a baby back to the compound, while Yi Yi walked in the center, clutching a piece of their clothing on either side.
The moment she arrived at the compound, Yi Yi turned into a liberated butterfly, instantly letting loose. Spotting her sworn little sisters along the path, she distributed her candies to them. To be the “Big Boss,” one had to ensure her subordinates ate and drank well!
“Big Boss, you’re back!”
“Big Boss, you’ve finally returned!”
“Exactly! Big Boss, why did it take you so long to come back!”
Several little girls swarmed around Yi Yi in an instant, chiming in one after another with fiery enthusiasm. Yi Yi’s immense popularity in the compound and her manner of interacting with the other children completely flabbergasted Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao.
Gu Tingxiao lowered his head in silence, looking at the somewhat familiar scene as a trace of guilt gradually crept over him. Of all the things my daughter could inherit from me, she had to inherit my knack for being a leader…
“Quiet!”
“Line up properly, I’m handing out candies!”
With one command from Yi Yi, her little sisters immediately stood in a straight line, waiting for her to distribute the sweets.
Seeing this, Sheng Wanyan truly couldn’t hold back her laughter, and even the corners of Gu Tingxiao’s mouth involuntarily twitched upward. This treasure of a girl… looked exactly like his wife when she was being arrogant.
Yi Yi made a promise to play with her little sisters tomorrow before walking ahead of her parents with her head held high to enter the house. Her chin was slightly elevated and her little face was filled with pride, putting on the full facade of a “Big Boss” as she waited for her parents to praise her.
Sheng Wanyan couldn’t bring herself to say the words, telling Gu Tingxiao to do it instead. Gu Tingxiao opened his mouth, but not a single word squeaked out. Usually, Gu Tingxiao would instantly execute any task Sheng Wanyan requested, making this the very first time the couple shirked a duty between themselves.
“It’s fine. We’ll let Grandma and Mom praise her once we get inside,” Gu Tingxiao whispered softly in her ear.
Sheng Wanyan’s ear tickled, and her ear tips turned red in an instant.
True to form, once they entered the house and Grandma Gu and Mother Gu heard that Yi Yi was the “Big Boss” of the little girls, they immediately pulled her into their arms to shower her with praise.
“Oh~ my sweet girl is truly amazing.”
“Exactly, exactly! To be a leader at such a young age, imagine what she’ll achieve in the future.”
“To manage the children of the compound until they are perfectly compliant—as expected, she is of my Gu family bloodline!”
Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao: “……”
The couple lowered their heads in silence. As long as you all are happy…
Standing to the side, Eldest Sister-in-law Gu covered her mouth to laugh. Why did this scene look so incredibly familiar? She cast her gaze toward Gu Jinfang. Gu Jinfang had long since joined the praise brigade, teaching Yi Yi how to continue acting as the “Big Boss.”
A drizzling rain fell during the Tomb-Sweeping season, creating a light mist outside. Even so, it couldn’t deter the primary task of paying respects to the ancestors today. Grandfather and Grandma Gu had made preparations long ago.
The ancestral tablets and graves of the Gu family were all located within the Capital’s Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery…
The three infants who were only a few months old were left in the care of the family’s nanny. The men in the family wore military uniforms or suits, while the women dressed in somber, steady black attire, meticulously adjusting their appearance. It felt as though they were attending a grand occasion, looking exceptionally proper and solemn.
“Let’s go.”
Grandfather Gu’s emotions were visibly dampened. Supported by his orderly, he climbed into the vehicle. A convoy of three cars drove out in a grand procession, heading in the direction of the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery.
Yi Yi looked at her parents. She could sense that everyone seemed unhappy, and that everyone was feeling very sorrowful.
