71: Chapter 71: Forced to Work 71: Chapter 71: Forced to Work The winter break hadn’t yet ended when Gu Fan discovered a crisis more urgent than solving a mysterious disappearance.
It was a financial crisis.
Gu Fan found he had spent uncontrollably while dating Lin Xi.
Now, Gu Fan only had two hundred yuan left.
Mostly because during his last visit to the club and a subsequent fight, Gu Fan had used up all of his savings.
The increase in activities and expenses had left him with a dwindling fund.
His head ached at the thought.
Should he ask his parents for money?
Gu Fan rembered promising to live independently and had assured them that he only needed a small allowance each month and he could figure out the rest.
Should he ask Su Hui for the rent in advance?
Gu Fan tried once before.
However, when he saw Su Hui back from shopping with loads of bags and various bottles and jars of costics and skincare products, he knew getting the rent early was impossible.
The only option now was to take up a job.
Though aware of the exploitation as a cheap labor force, Gu Fan was determined to struggle for his living.
He called Lu Yi to inquire about any job openings at his workplace.
Lu Yi stated there was no shortage of manpower in the shop at the mont but promised to inform Gu Fan imdiately if a job opened up.
He also suggested to Gu Fan to raise the rent for Su Hui.
Gu Fan instantly stated he would be beaten up by Su Hui and refused this deadly suggestion.
But the problem still needed to be solved.
In order to maintain his social lifestyle – als, movies, clubbing, amusent parks, trips, and dates with Lin Xi – all of these needed money.
Therefore, Gu fan began to search for part-ti jobs online.
However, all the job ads he found were too far away.
The commuting cost alone would make the jobs not worth it.
“What do you an, you only want females, just to be extras in a TV drama?
I’ll sue you for gender discrimination when I get a chance.”
“What?
The salary is so low, it won’t even cover my daily travel and al expenses.
The boss is really stingy, no future prospects here.”
“What, the salary is good and even includes lunch, but it lasts till late at night.
I don’t want to walk alone late at night, it’s too dangerous.” Just when Gu Fan was losing patience searching for a suitable part-ti job, he saw a restaurant across from his school urgently hiring.
Gu Fan quickly called to ask if they were hiring part-tirs.
Once the affirmative response was received, Gu Fan was elated and imdiately rushed to the interview venue.
He sped all the way, out of fear soone would beat him to it, and snatch away this job that fit him perfectly.
Finally arriving at the comrcial plaza, Gu Fan tidied up his appearance and clothes, feeling quite presentable, took a deep breath, and decided to seize this new job opportunity.
The restaurant was mid-scale with good reviews online, but Gu Fan and Lin Xi had only passed by it without having tried it yet.
Gu Fan explained his purpose to the front desk clerk, who called the manager and asked Gu Fan to wait a while.
“Okay, no problem.” While waiting, Gu Fan looked around and noticed not only the restaurant but also the whole comrcial plaza wasn’t very busy.
Normally, the comrcial plaza situated right across from the school mainly catered to university students.
Now, during the winter break, all the students had gone ho, leaving petty businesses from the nearby residential area- making the place a bit quiet.
At lunchti, the restaurant wasn’t very busy, and there were only a few servers.
Gu Fan figured out why the restaurant was hiring.
“Okay, the manager is ready for you in her office.
It’s straight ahead.” The front desk clerk gestured towards the office, and Gu Fan thanked them before heading inside, soon reaching the manager’s office door.
Although confident about the interview, Gu Fan still took a mont to adjust his ntal state.
He had previous part-ti job experience and knew that sotis challenging situations could arise.
First, he politely knocked on the door.
At the sound of “co in,” he opened the door and at that very mont, saw a woman feverishly writing on the desk.
“This….” Gu Fan was taken aback.
The female manager appeared to be so engrossed in her calculations, she didn’t even notice him enter.
The atmosphere beca a bit awkward.
“You are here to interview…” As the woman raised her head, her face registered surprise.
She looked at Gu Fan, and Gu Fan looked back at her – both wore expressions of “How co it’s you?”
Gu Fan gave a dry laugh: “If I’m not mistaken, we’ve t before.”
“You’re not mistaken, we have indeed t.” After saying this, the woman manager held up four fingers: “We’ve t three tis before, and this is the fourth.”
“You have a good mory.” Gu Fan laughed.
Indeed, he had encountered this female manager at the ti when he was at the Foreign Culture Museum.
The first ti was when Gu Fan bumped heads with her at the hotel he was staying at, causing a bit of unpleasantness.
The second ti, Gu Fan inadvertently helped the female manager retrieve her designer handbag, which had been stolen by a thief.
The third ti was outside the hotel, where the two of them shared drinks and buried the hatchet.
Gu Fan originally thought he was done with this cold beauty, but it was amazing how fate worked.
Who would have thought they would et again?
Could it really be destiny?
Sister Leng gave a slight smile, motioning for Gu Fan to sit down for a talk.
Of course, she wouldn’t tell Gu Fan that this wasn’t so shitty fate.
She had installed a surveillance system in Gu Fan’s ho and saw that he was looking for a part-ti job, so she imdiately posted the part-ti job.
“What a coincidence, I didn’t know you were working at this restaurant.” Gu Fan of course had no idea he was being manipulated.
He then added, “I’m studying at the university nearby, so I was planning to find a job close to school or closer to ho.”
“Yeah, I didn’t expect it to be such a coincidence.” Sister Leng acted friendly and natural, her inhospitable deanor seeming to have faded.
But inwardly, she scoffed, “Pfft, what a coincidence, that you bumped my head the first ti was a coincidence, the second ti you helped snatch my bag was also a coincidence, but this ti it was all arranged by .”
Gu Fan continued: “I’m here to apply for the job here.
I can assure you that I will work here for a long-term.
I wonder if you have any requirents?”
Sister Leng nodded: “We had hired several students from your school before, but after the winter vacation, they all quit one by one.
We are understaffed right now and need people who are willing to work long-term like you said.
I don’t want to go through the trouble of constantly recruiting and training new people, only for them to take off as soon as they beco competent.
Do you understand what I an?”
Gu Fan nodded repeatedly: “I understand.
I was looking for a job near the school or my ho so I could ensure long-term work.
Also, I have worked in other restaurants before, with a little bit of training I can start working.”
“Alright, I trust you.
The work schedules will generally be arranged according to attendance.
We provide als during shifts, and the daily wage is 150 yuan.
Do you have any other questions?” After saying this, Sister Leng watched intently at Gu Fan’s expression, gauging whether the proposed salary t his expectations.
Gu Fan readily agreed.
It was exactly what he was hoping for.
His commuting expenses were covered by a bicycle, and the provision of als ant that the cost of eating out was also saved.
Sister Leng then asked another question: “Okay, when can you start working?”
“I can start anyti.” As soon as Gu Fan finished speaking, he saw Sister Leng laughing: “Then start today.
We’re short-staffed, and I’ve been scrambling to find people.
What a coincidence that I found you.
Hurry up, change into your uniform and start your shift.”
“Uh…
okay.” Gu Fan hadn’t expected to start the interview and job right away.
This was really fast.
And so, Gu Fan embarked on his new job.
With the help of the supervisor, he got his uniform and started familiarizing himself with the whole work process.
Because they were short of staff, in addition to serving tea, clearing tables, he even had to wash dishes.
“It’s fine as long as I get paid.” Gu Fan didn’t mind.
He had heard from his parents how hard it was for adults to earn money.
He was ntally prepared and didn’t want his parents to think he couldn’t handle hard work.
There weren’t many custors during the day, so Gu Fan used this free ti to familiarize himself with everything here, including the nas of the dishes and his colleagues.
When it was dinner ti, the number of custors obviously increased.
Gu Fan was busier, but he worked patiently.
Even if there were minor problems, he could handle them properly.
The day’s work ended quickly.
Gu Fan was more or less familiar with the process.
With his keen sight and quick hands, he displayed amazing adaptability on his first day, causing Sister Leng to look at him in a new light.
After cleaning up and tidying everything, the shop closed.
Gu Fan picked up his bag and said to Sister Leng: “Okay, manager, I’m off work.
I’ll go first.”
“Alright, be careful on your way.” Sister Leng waved to Gu Fan with a smile.
As Gu Fan turned to leave, Sister Leng’s expression changed slightly.
She looked at Gu Fan’s backpack, her eyes narrowing with a hint of coldness.
A person by the side couldn’t help but ask: “Sister Leng, I’m a bit confused.
Why did you bring this kid to us?”
“Because the blueprint is on him.
He either leaves it at ho or carries it with him in his bag.
You understand what I an?” After Sister Leng finished speaking, the others also understood.
Sister Leng wanted Gu Fan to move under her gaze, mastering Gu Fan’s movents was to control the movent of the blueprint.
Sister Leng didn’t want to snatch the blueprint right away, in case it alard Gu Fan and exposed her.
But to react to any situation at any ti, she needed to be able to get the blueprint from Gu Fan at the first instance.
Of course, Gu Fan thought he had run into a benefactor who gave him an ideal part-ti job.
He was grateful to Sister Leng and felt that although Sister Leng appeared cold and ruthless on the surface, she was kind-hearted inside.
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