CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 280: THE NITPICKING MANAGER LIU

"Xiao Su, what time is it now? Why are you just arriving? You can’t be so unenthusiastic at work."

Manager Liu, with her hands behind her back, wasn’t too old, yet she carried herself very much like an official.

Su Xiaoxiao thought to herself, isn’t it still five minutes before work starts? Usually, she arrived just on time, and no other leaders said anything. This Manager Liu seemed very particular, and she better be careful in the future.

After all, she was her direct supervisor, so she couldn’t show her displeasure. She smiled politely, "Manager Liu, I’ll make sure to be more careful in the future."

Manager Liu raised her chin, "Alright, hurry up and start work. Take more care in the future."

Su Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief and briskly headed to the food counter.

As soon as she reached the counter, Liu Cuilan motioned with her mouth, "Did Manager Liu talk to you just now?"

Su Xiaoxiao was curious, "Sister Zhang, how did you know?"

Zhang Yulan curled her lips, "It’s obvious without even thinking. You just came, so you don’t know his character. Over time, you’ll understand. He spends every day not doing much of anything but watching to catch us making mistakes."

From Zhang Yulan’s tone, it seemed she really didn’t like Manager Liu.

Just as Su Xiaoxiao wanted to ask more to be cautious in the future, she saw Manager Liu striding over.

"Sister Zhang, Manager Liu is coming over."

She whispered a reminder, and Zhang Yulan quickly returned to her station at the counter.

Just as they stood properly, Manager Liu came over, hands behind his back.

"What time is it now? Whispering like you’re at home on your own couch? You need to have a proper attitude at work..."

It was a barrage of lecturing, his tone making him sound even older than those leaders in their forties and fifties.

After reprimanding the food counter, he leisurely strolled to the other counters.

After he left, Qin Shuang patted her chest and exhaled deeply, "He scared me."

"You’ll get used to it eventually. Just make sure to avoid him when you see him; he’s very particular."

Zhang Yulan, feeling empathetic, kindly advised the two of them.

Su Xiaoxiao thought that she could probably have the sewing machines delivered tomorrow. She planned to ask Zhang Yulan and Qin Shuang to help keep an eye out while she went upstairs to find Manager Wang, while it was still not busy in the morning.

Just as she reached Manager Wang’s office, she bumped into Manager Liu.

Su Xiaoxiao immediately stopped in her tracks, prepared to turn back, worried she’d get scolded again.

Before she could turn around, Manager Liu already saw her, and his face immediately dropped, "Xiao Su, I need to talk to you, loitering during work hours and not staying at your station, what’s this about? Besides, is this office area a place for regular employees to come?"

Su Xiaoxiao cursed her luck inside, just as she was thinking of leaving when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Comrade Xiao Su, you’re just in time, I was looking for you."

Manager Wang walked up, smiling.

Seeing Su Xiaoxiao, Manager Liu also smiled and spoke, "Manager Liu, Comrade Xiao Su is here to see me, don’t misunderstand."

Upon hearing she was here to see Manager Wang, Manager Liu’s attitude immediately changed drastically, "Comrade Xiao Su, you see, it was a misunderstanding, right? Why didn’t you say earlier you were here to see Manager Wang? I thought you were wandering around. Well, I cannot overlook anything, can’t let anything slip by, you’ll understand after we work together for a while, it’s just for work, don’t mind me."

Su Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes inwardly; although it appeared as an apology, behind the words, the blame was still on her for not handling things well.

Oh well, she couldn’t outmaneuver the authority figure.

She could only smile along, "Yes, Manager Liu, you’re right, I’ll certainly be more careful in the future."

Manager Wang timely broke the awkward atmosphere, "Comrade Xiao Su, come, let’s talk in my office."

He said as he headed to the office, and Su Xiaoxiao hurried to follow.

Manager Liu watched them acting secretively, like they didn’t want to talk in front of him, curiously taking two steps forward.

Manager Wang immediately said, "Manager Liu, I’m discussing something personal with Comrade Xiao Su, if you’re busy, go attend to it first."

Manager Wang didn’t have a good impression of Manager Liu, who was self-serving and liked to gossip, otherwise, he wouldn’t have toppled the previous sales manager in just two short years, and taken this position.

Manager Wang, who ascended the ranks based on seniority, especially disliked those who were sycophantic, and normally, the two of them only managed to get along on the surface.

Seeing his gesture of ushering him away, Manager Liu laughed, "Alright, I happen to have things to do, so I’ll be off."

With that, he left with his hands behind his back.

Once Manager Liu left, Manager Wang led Su Xiaoxiao into the office.

As soon as they entered, he eagerly inquired, "Comrade Xiao Su, are the ordered sewing machines arriving soon?"

"Yes, Manager Wang, the sewing machines will be delivered tomorrow."

"That’s great!"

Manager Wang slammed the table with joy, nearly jumping up with excitement.

These past days, visitors to the department store were all inquiring about sewing machines, even distant relatives from his family were asking him.

Rumor has it that a sewing machine goes for as much as two hundred and sixty on the black market.

He was worried, fearing that other department stores would grab the opportunity.

He heard that the First Department Store would also receive a batch of mini sewing machines any day now.

Considering this, he couldn’t help but ask, "Comrade Xiao Su, I heard the First Department Store is also going to start selling mini sewing machines, do you know..."

Su Xiaoxiao immediately understood what he meant and hurriedly reassured him, "Manager Wang, rest assured, my relatives know there’s bad blood between the Second Department Store and the First Department Store, so there’s no way they’d supply them. Even if they have goods, it definitely wouldn’t be the same as what we’re selling."

In this regard, Su Xiaoxiao was very confident; these sewing machines were high-tech from the modern era, far beyond the capabilities of this time. Even if there were counterfeits, they could only mimic the appearance.

"That’s good, that’s good."

Manager Wang was finally completely relieved; the First Department Store had always looked down on them, the Second Department Store, and as the perennial number two, naturally held resentment towards the First Department Store.

But there’s no choice, over the years, the First Department Store’s performance had always overshadowed theirs.

However, with this year’s mini electric sewing machines, perhaps they, the Second Department Store could seize the top position.

After arranging a delivery time for tomorrow with Manager Wang, Su Xiaoxiao hurried back to the food counter.

As soon as she returned, she encountered Manager Liu.

Manager Liu saw her, and for some reason, his face carried a smile, "Xiao Su, what did Manager Wang want with you just now?"

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but frown; Manager Wang had said it was personal, yet Manager Liu kept asking, as nosy as a gossiping woman?

"Sorry, Manager Liu, it’s a personal matter between Manager Wang and me, I can’t tell you."

Su Xiaoxiao said as she bypassed him, entering the counter she was responsible for.

Manager Liu hit a wall, his expression somewhat displeased, as he left with a blackened face.

After he left, Zhang Yulan quietly moved closer to her, "Xiaoxiao, be careful in the future. This Manager Liu isn’t very magnanimous. You might land yourself in trouble without giving him face."

"As long as I don’t make mistakes, can he fire me directly?"

Zhang Yulan saw her indifferent attitude, looked around seeing no one was near, and leaned closer, "Let me tell you..."