The next day, Zhang Yunlei woke up bright and early.

After getting himself ready, he came out and saw that Xue Xingjun was also up. He was in the kitchen, helping Xue Xingzhou with breakfast.

The cook Zhang Qian’s family hired had a particular schedule. She didn’t make them breakfast. Since she lived nearby and had her own children to look after, she would eat at her own home and come over just as Zhang Qian and the others were leaving for work. The cook would then watch the child during the day. In the evening, she would prepare dinner for them before heading home.

He waited for a short while before seeing Xue Xingjun come out with the food.

Xue Xingjun glanced at him, placed the dishes on the table, and went back into the kitchen.

He came out again with two bowls of rice.

Xue Xingzhou wiped his hands and said to them, "You two go ahead and eat." With that, he went into the room.

Tun Tun was still asleep, and Zhang Qian was currently washing up.

"Time to eat," Xue Xingzhou said as he came in, then went to check on his son.

When Zhang Qian and Xue Xingzhou came out of the room, the two of them were already eating, but neither was speaking.

After sitting down, Zhang Qian said to Xue Xingjun, "Xing Jun, today is Zhang Yunlei’s first day of work. Please show him the ropes. If there’s anything he doesn’t understand, you can explain it to him."

Xue Xingjun swallowed a mouthful of congee and said, "Sister-in-law, I’ll definitely help where I can. It’s just that our jobs are different. I work under my brother-in-law, so I probably won’t be with him all the time. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure to tell the others to look out for him."

Zhang Qian nodded. "Ah, that’s good. Thank you, Xing Jun."

Xue Xingjun smiled. "Don’t mention it."

Zhang Yunlei glanced at Xue Xingjun and lowered his head to drink his congee.

When Xue Xingjun finished eating and stood up, he quickly finished his own in a couple of mouthfuls, got up, and fixed his eyes on Xue Xingjun.

Xue Xingjun shot him a sideways glance. "Let’s go."

"Brother, Sister-in-law, we’re off to work."

Zhang Qian stood up. "Be careful on the way. Yun Lei, you stick with Xing Jun."

"I know, Aunt."

On the way to Xue Yue’s house, Xue Xingjun walked very quickly, and Zhang Yunlei hurried to keep up.

When they arrived, He Lang’s family was in the middle of breakfast.

Seeing them come in, Mrs. He asked Xue Xingjun, "Little Jun, have you eaten? If not, sit down and have a bite."

"Auntie, I’ve already eaten."

Mrs. He looked at the young man behind Xue Xingjun. "And this is?"

Xue Xingjun said, "This is my sister-in-law’s nephew. He’s coming with us to the supermarket today."

When Mrs. He heard he was Zhang Qian’s nephew, she greeted him warmly as well.

"Young man, have you eaten? Why don’t you have something with us?"

Zhang Yunlei blushed and said, "I’ve eaten too."

Mr. He, who had never seen Zhang Yunlei before, looked him over a few times.

"Little Jun, you two have a seat and wait. We’ll be done soon."

Xue Xingjun didn’t stand on ceremony and sat down on a stool. "Uncle, it’s still early. Take your time."

When they got to the supermarket, Zhang Yunlei went inside and looked left and right, completely stunned. The biggest store he had ever been to was the old department store in the provincial capital. He never imagined this place would not only be bigger, but its decor would be so lavish.

Xue Xingjun glanced at him, feeling incredibly smug. ’What a country bumpkin who’s never seen the world.’

He Lang said to Xue Xingjun, "Take him to the product aisles, see where there’s an opening, and get him set up. Come upstairs afterward."

Xue Xingjun nodded.

After Mr. He arrived, he went straight to the warehouse.

"Follow me."

Zhang Yunlei glanced at He Lang and saw he was already heading upstairs, so he followed after Xue Xingjun.

Xue Xingjun walked around for a bit, then called over Han Group Leader from the snack aisle.

"Assistant Xue." Han Group Leader was a middle-aged woman in her forties. Upon seeing Xue Xingjun, she bowed her head and bent her waist, looking extremely respectful.

Xue Xingjun pointed at Zhang Yunlei. "A couple of days ago, didn’t you say someone here quit? Have him fill the spot."

Han Group Leader glanced at Zhang Yunlei and nodded in agreement.

"Explain our supermarket’s rules to him properly." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

After setting Zhang Yunlei up, Xue Xingjun left.

Watching Xue Xingjun walk away, Zhang Yunlei felt an incredibly strong impulse stirring within him.

"You’re the new guy. What’s your name?"

Zhang Yunlei snapped out of his daze. "My name is Zhang Yunlei."

"Come with me. From now on, you’ll be responsible for these few counters. When you get here in the morning, the first thing you do is restock. Then, check the expiration dates on every single item. If something is out of stock, you go to the warehouse and get it yourself. When customers are shopping, you can give them some guidance."

Han Group Leader spoke for a while without getting a response. Frowning, she turned to look at him and found him lost in thought.

"Hey, did you hear what I said?"

Zhang Yunlei nodded. "I heard you."

Han Group Leader continued, "Don’t talk back to the customers. Just answer whatever they ask. Also, and this is important, you can’t sneak any food. Everything here is counted. If items from your shelves are missing at the end of the month and the inventory doesn’t match up, that’s your problem. Getting your pay docked would be a minor issue; you could even get fired."

"Okay."

Han Group Leader took him on a tour, briefly showing him the different sections of the supermarket, where the restrooms were, and who to find if he had any problems.

"That’s about it. The supermarket has a cafeteria for lunch. You have to pay, but it’s cheaper than eating out. You’ll get a meal allowance with your salary starting next month. That’s pretty much everything. You can go back to your post now."

Zhang Yunlei nodded, then remembered something and asked, "Um, what’s my monthly salary?"

Han Group Leader paused. "Didn’t Assistant Xue tell you?"

Zhang Yunlei shook his head.

"Since Assistant Xue didn’t say, then it’s the same as everyone else. Forty yuan a month, plus an eight-yuan meal allowance. So, forty-eight yuan in total."

Forty-eight yuan. It was more than the job he’d found before, but it was still a far cry from what Zhang Yunlei had imagined. He thought that by coming here, he’d be making at least eighty or a hundred yuan a month.

Han Group Leader was older and had seen a lot of people come and go. She said to Zhang Yunlei, "Young man, don’t be too ambitious. This salary is already very good, and the work isn’t tiring. A few years ago, this job would have been like being a clerk at a supply and marketing co-op. Do you know how many people would have fought tooth and nail for a position like that?"

Zhang Yunlei gave an awkward smile. "Thank you for the reminder, Han Group Leader."

Han Group Leader gave him a complicated look, then left.

Seeing that no one was around, Zhang Yunlei’s head instantly drooped.

He walked over to the aisles he was in charge of, picked up a snack, and looked at it. He wanted to tear it open and have a taste, but then he suddenly remembered he’d have to pay for it, so he put it back.

Perhaps because it was his first day and the novelty hadn’t worn off yet, Zhang Yunlei still found it all quite interesting.

When it was time for lunch, Xue Xingjun came over again.

"Here, this is for you."

Zhang Yunlei looked at the small slip of paper he was handed and asked, "What’s this?"

Xue Xingjun thrust the slip into his hand and said arrogantly, "You have to pay to eat here. This slip lets you eat for free, but only for today. Starting tomorrow, you’ll have to pay your own way."

As Zhang Yunlei picked it up to look, Xue Xingjun had already walked off.