She didn’t expect things to be this ridiculous. At the very least, couldn’t people smile or joke a little instead of acting as if they wanted to kill her?
This job seemed incredibly easy. If she could ever become part of a cooperative in her lifetime, she could probably just take it easy for the rest of her life.
If she was in a bad mood, she could even scold customers, roll her eyes, and at least she wouldn’t be bored staying at home.
The cooperative wasn’t large. She looked around but didn’t see anything she really needed. Most items she could already get from Duoduo Space. However, some cigarettes and Moutai liquor were worth buying in larger quantities.
Moutai could be saved to appreciate in value, and drinking it later would still be nice. Cigarettes weren’t available on Duoduo Space; having them would make her look respectable when doing errands.
The problem was that liquor and cigarette coupons were a bit tricky to deal with.
She had a sudden idea and searched Duoduo Space for: 1968 liquor coupons.
To her surprise, she found plenty.
But looking more closely, most were from after 1970, and there were very few from Hei Province, almost none. Using these openly would probably get her arrested.
If she wanted to pursue this path, she would need to spend time searching properly. For now, she decided to set it aside.
“Obviously a poor little thing comes in and can’t afford anything,” Bai Lili rolled her eyes. She had worked in the cooperative for five or six years and could tell immediately who came to buy and who came just to look. “Seriously, I’ve taught you for so long. Why are you still so dazed, smiling at everyone? Aren’t you tired?”
“Master…” Hu Miao glanced at Ye Cai’e, awkwardly tugging Bai Lili’s sleeve.
Bai Lili brushed her off. “Hopeless. I don’t know how your parents gave birth to someone so ignorant. Every word is a struggle! And the person hasn’t even left, so the poor little thing can’t be criticized?”
Ye Cai’e hadn’t intended to argue. She knew this was the way people behaved at the time and was respectful, but this salesperson was excessively insulting, almost pointing at her forehead and shouting.
She smiled and walked over. “Oh, so it’s a person. Stand further back—I thought it was a latrine spraying waste from a distance, the smell reached all the way here.”
Bai Lili panicked. In all her years at the cooperative, no one had ever said that to her. “Who are you calling a latrine? You poor little thing, no manners. Rural people should just stay in the countryside. Ugly people causing trouble!”
“We’re a socialist country. The descendants of poor farmers are the most glorious. And you’re acting like a capitalist rich lady, looking down on rural people. If you have the ability, don’t even eat. Every day, you do nothing but mouth off, acting like a king while selling goods!”
The cooperative manager had been slacking in the back warehouse but, half-awake, heard the commotion up front. It was clearly Bai Lili’s doing.
“What’s all this shouting about?”
Bai Lili, stunned by Ye Cai’e’s remark, rushed to the manager as if seeing a protector. “Brother-in-law! This person came in and started yelling!”
Hu Miao opened her mouth but, seeing Bai Lili’s expression, said nothing.
The manager understood. Bai Lili often abused her authority, but as long as she didn’t cause real trouble, he didn’t care.
He glanced at Ye Cai’e with mild disdain. “Little comrade, weren’t you taught by your parents to observe manners outside? What our staff say and do is our business. Coming over to scold us isn’t right, is it?”
“Wow, so your cooperative is all like this? The upper management sets a bad example, and the rest follow. Brother-in-law, what’s this, a family union? The cooperative belongs to the state; it’s a national industry. I’m a citizen of the state, I can do what I want. Honestly, people like you are a disgrace, being supported by the state. As workers, you should at least not embarrass yourselves. Even dogs would do this job better!”
The manager’s face turned green with anger. A little girl was teaching him how to work?
He raised his hand, ready to strike.
Ye Cai’e wasn’t afraid. If it came to physical confrontation, she wouldn’t hesitate.
But fate denied her the chance. Just as his hand was halfway down, a deeper, more authoritative voice rang out: “I didn’t know Manager Liu was so formidable.”
Liu Gang froze. That voice was all too familiar. The city hadn’t said anyone would inspect today.
He withdrew his hand awkwardly. “Director Zhuang, you’re here?”
“What, did you build a palace here? Can’t I come?” Director Zhuang had come for a private inspection of several cooperatives after receiving complaints.
This was the first one, and he had already encountered such a problem.
Although cooperative jobs were usually internal with loose management, there were still performance indicators. Doing well meant more resources from above.
Everyone wanted good items for themselves; over time, the city would see greater development.
It seemed the cooperative had indeed grown quite a few idle people over the years.
Liu Gang panicked. “Oh, Director Zhuang, what are you saying? Our cooperative is small, but we’ve been diligently serving the state and the people. What instructions do you have for today?”
Director Zhuang looked at Liu Gang, then at Ye Cai’e. “Little comrade, I saw what happened. You were wronged by us here. But from what I understand, you also have opinions on our work?”
Ye Cai’e cleared her throat. “Since you asked, I won’t hide anything. Your grassroots staff lack basic competence. They don’t want to do even simple work and don’t do it properly. Calling them parasites wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”
She looked at the resentful Bai Lili and the nervous Liu Gang. “I just arrived as a sent-down youth from Shanghai. I know Shanghai’s state-owned stores fairly well. The reason Shanghai developed so well is inseparable from the basic competence of its staff. Whether cooperatives or department stores, everyone greets you with a smile and follows proper etiquette. Entering a store is a pleasant experience.”
Bai Lili hadn’t expected this country girl to be a Shanghai sent-down youth. Her face fell further, realizing how shameful her previous words had been.
Director Zhuang was pleased. Indeed, their problems had grown serious recently, and they had already received multiple complaints.