Su Caiqing summarized, “The photo studio’s business should develop along these three directions. Each segment carries different risks, profits, and marketing strategies. It’s up to you to weigh and manage them.”
From her observations while working with Liang Qiheng, she noted that he still had some artistic ideas and aspirations in photography. Once the orders increased, he probably wouldn’t have time to carefully perfect each photo.
Liang Qiheng paced back and forth twice, nodding as he went. “You’re right! Even though I’m the owner, I’ve never thought about the studio this clearly. Caiqing, I was joking earlier, but now I want to ask—would you accept my offer to be my business consultant and manager?”
In truth, his small studio only had him, so being a manager was largely symbolic.
Su Caiqing had previous experience as a consultant, manager, and chief secretary in important positions, making her fully capable of the role.
“Manager? Then we need to clarify things first. As manager, which part of the work am I responsible for? If we disagree on something, whose decision prevails?”
Even a small studio needed clear responsibilities.
Liang Qiheng scratched the back of his head. “I don’t really know, tell me what you think?”
He was surprisingly frank and humble.
Su Caiqing said, “Then I’ll just be the sales manager.”
With a title, her scope of work was clear—she would be responsible for bringing clients to the studio.
Liang Qiheng had no objections. After discussing her compensation, they immediately wrote two contracts in black and white, signed and sealed.
It was getting late. Liang Qiheng left with the contracts and the finished clothes, riding off whistling.
Su Caiqing closed the door and stretched, feeling sore from all the busy work over the past few days.
When she returned to her room, she found the foot bath ready, toothpaste squeezed out beside it—she could just wash up and sleep.
Thinking of the two little figures she hadn’t paid much attention to earlier, Su Caiqing smiled. Children could be mischievous, but when they behaved, they were utterly lovable.
After becoming the sales manager of the small studio, Su Caiqing didn’t rush to take up the post. While waiting for Liang Qiheng to deliver more fabric, she began drafting a marketing plan.
The children were amazed to see her bent over the desk writing. Zhu Yinglan scolded them for their mother being illiterate, unworthy of Zhang Min, yet here she was, not only literate but with beautiful handwriting.
“Mom, how can you write?” Zhang Yunbing asked curiously, leaning in.
Zhang Yunyang’s eyes widened as well.
Su Caiqing replied, “Your dad taught me.” She knew they wouldn’t question Zhang Min.
Zhang Yunbing tilted her head. “But I don’t remember Dad teaching you.”
“You just didn’t see it,” Su Caiqing lied without batting an eye.
Zhang Yunbing was about to argue further when Su Dazhuang called from outside, “Fifth sister! Aunt Wu from next door is here!”
Soon, Aunt Wu, neatly dressed, entered holding her little grandson, Cao Xiaowang.
Seeing Su Caiqing, Aunt Wu smiled. “Busy?”
Su Caiqing asked, “A little. What brings you here?”
Aunt Wu nudged Cao Xiaowang. “My grandaunt sent word that the old grandaunt is sick. I need to go see her, which will take the whole day. With everyone at work, the older kids can’t be relied on. I was wondering if Xiaowang could stay with you for the day?”
She probably saw Su Caiqing was home every day recently, so she came asking for help.
Su Caiqing agreed immediately. “Sure, you can pick him up in the evening. I don’t know your family well, so no one else can take him.”
Grateful, Aunt Wu said, “Good, good. I still have to hurry back to cook! Xiaowang, listen to Auntie Su, okay?”
Sensing something was wrong, Cao Xiaowang clutched Aunt Wu’s sleeve and pouted, ready to cry.
In a hurry, Aunt Wu yanked his hand and pushed him out, and Cao Xiaowang immediately burst into tears.
Su Caiqing set down her pen to comfort him.
This child was always attached to Aunt Wu, the person he relied on most. Such sudden harshness was too much for a three-year-old.
Su Caiqing’s comforting had little effect. Zhang Yunbing immediately threatened, “Cao Xiaowang! If you keep crying, I’ll kick you out!”
Cao Xiaowang cried even louder.
Su Caiqing pushed her away. “This child is already scared. The more you scare him, the more he cries.”
A three-year-old couldn’t distinguish a threat from the truth.
Zhang Yunbing fell silent, embarrassed. Normally, her threats worked well on her younger siblings.
Zhang Yunqing took Cao Xiaowang’s hand. “Xiaowang, stop crying. Sister will take you to buy some candy.”
Cao Xiaowang ignored her entirely, crying so hard tears fell like beads.
Su Caiqing lifted him onto her lap, wiping his tears. “Xiaowang, Auntie’s holding you. Don’t cry! You have such a loud voice, I’ve never heard a child cry this loudly!”
Cao Xiaowang hiccupped and cried a bit softer.
Zhang Yunbing’s eyes lit up with an idea. “Mom, give him a little treat. That’ll shut him up.”
Su Caiqing looked at her, clearly seeing her ulterior motive.
“You’re not giving him candy for him, you want it for yourself, right?”
The treats, like lard cakes and mung bean pastries, were gifts from Wang Chaoying.
Zhang Yunbing giggled and nudged her siblings.
“Okay, go get a piece of mung bean cake for Xiaowang,” Su Caiqing said.
“Got it!” Zhang Yunbing ran off immediately.
Su Caiqing wasn’t wrong—they already knew where the snacks were hidden. Seeing Zhang Yunbing head to the kitchen cabinet, the others followed; they clearly knew the house well.
Su Caiqing could only smile wryly.
Soon Zhang Yunbing returned with a piece of mung bean cake.
“When did you notice I put it there?” Su Caiqing asked as she handed it to Cao Xiaowang.
Zhang Yunbing froze, caught off guard.
“Mom—” she felt exposed.
The younger children, seeing Cao Xiaowang eating their cake, wanted some too. The oldest tried to snatch it from him, but Cao Xiaowang held on tightly, forgetting to cry.
“Go get a few more pieces for them. I’ll be torn apart otherwise!” Su Caiqing said, separating the smaller ones.
“What about us?” Zhang Yunqing asked. Clearly, he wanted some too.
“Everyone eats! Once you finish, you won’t crave more!” Su Caiqing said.
Zhang Yunbing gave the siblings their cake, and they finally let go of Su Caiqing.
These kids weren’t small in strength despite their age.
“Mom, eat!” little Zhang Yuncai suddenly stretched out her hand, almost shoving the cake into Su Caiqing’s nose.
Seeing her enthusiasm, Su Caiqing took a small bite, “Delicious, baby, you eat too.”
Zhang Yuncai lit up.
The other two triplets followed suit: “Mom, eat mine!” “Mine’s sweet!” “Mine’s sweet too!”
The two brothers among the triplets fought over everything. Su Caiqing grabbed both their hands, feeding herself both pieces, pretending to eat them all at once.
The brothers looked relieved, happy their mother hadn’t eaten everything.
After finishing the mung bean cakes, the triplets noticed Su Caiqing holding someone else, and immediately started vying for her attention.
Su Caiqing, overwhelmed, set Cao Xiaowang down and told the older girls, “Big girls, watch the little ones for me.”
Zhang Yunyang didn’t usually take the initiative to watch her siblings unless necessary.
The younger ones were taken outside to play, and Cao Xiaowang quickly forgot about Aunt Wu’s earlier actions, happily joining in.
Su Caiqing checked the kitchen; sure enough, the treats were gone. The children had definitely been sneaky.
These children weren’t easily fooled; hiding things was useless.
By evening, Aunt Wu returned, probably having rushed without delay.
She worried Cao Xiaowang hadn’t been comfortable staying there, but he didn’t want to leave. “I want to play!”
“You don’t want to see Grandma?”
“Go home!” Cao Xiaowang waved, eyes fixed on the grasshopper the triplets were holding.
Aunt Wu looked embarrassed but helpless. Su Caiqing said, “It’s normal he doesn’t want to leave when he’s having fun. Next time he plays with them, you’ll be more relaxed too.”
Carrying a child all the time was exhausting.
Aunt Wu looked at Cao Xiaowang. “True, he’s timid and rarely plays with others. It’s rare he gets along so well with your kids.”
“Children are like that. Once familiar, it’s fine. You can go rest now, and call him when dinner’s ready.”
“All right, thanks for watching him a bit longer.”
“Sure, no problem.”
The Cao family probably doted on their youngest, leaving the older siblings unhappy and impatient to entertain him.
When Aunt Wu came to call Cao Xiaowang for dinner, he refused to leave, wanting to eat at Su Caiqing’s. Eventually, she coaxed him back with some persuasion.
Unexpectedly, the next morning, Cao Xiaowang came running over to play again.