Qi Fenglian returned to her hometown, Cheng Su had no choice but to help out in the fast food restaurant at the train station, leaving early and coming back late every day, barely seen during daylight hours. Chunhua and the others were all very puzzled, wasn’t she supposed to be secluding herself to study and prepare for the university entrance exams?
Cheng Su was left without options; even though there was Shi Ling at the store, handling the cash and general management still required someone’s oversight.
In the past, they had thought Qi Fenglian alone could handle everything, but now it became clear that just one supervisor wasn’t enough. Once someone took leave or needed to rest, they would be hamstrung.
Cheng Su quietly observed the several employees in the store; Shi Ling was the newcomer, eager to establish a solid footing, hence, exceptionally hardworking, volunteering for all sorts of tasks.
Xiaoying was nimble, most adept at reading expressions and situations, with a quick mind.
As for Jin Zhi, she was more reserved, but also quite thoughtful.
All were quite decent people, but to pick one that could be trusted to temporarily handle the cash and take charge, careful scrutiny was still necessary.
"Xiaohua, time to start learning your letters." Cheng Su shifted her gaze and called out to Xiaohua, who sat obediently by her side.
Zhang Jisheng hadn’t been going to the train station fast food restaurant to have dinner lately. Why? Because Cheng Su was there, he felt awkward and uncomfortable, so he dined out instead.
Eating at the fast food restaurant didn’t cost much, but just looking at Cheng Su made him lose his appetite, so why bother?
That evening, the foreman, Dazhi, treated everyone to dinner at a restaurant. After a few drinks, the talk turned crude.
After leaving the restaurant, Zhang Jisheng’s coworkers draped an arm over his shoulder and jocularly patted his hand, saying, "Brother Zhang, your wife hasn’t been home these past few days, right?"
Zhang Jisheng belched from the alcohol and replied, "The kid was sick, so she went back home."
"Hehe, it must get pretty lonely at night, eh?" The coworker laughed suggestively.
Whether it was the alcohol or something else, Zhang Jisheng’s face tinted red, and he stammered, "We’re an old married couple, we already have two kids, what’s there to be lonely about? Isn’t it just all the same?"
"Nonsense, you’re in the prime of your life now!" The man chuckled slyly, leaned closer, and said, "Brother Zhang, do you want to come and relax a bit with us?"
Zhang Jisheng was taken aback, somewhat confused.
"We’re going to the back alley; it’s cheap, there are ones that cost just a few yuan."
Giving such a clear hint, Zhang Jisheng was no stranger to such people.
In every city, there are always some back alleys where transactions are conducted. Sometimes, as Zhang Jisheng walked home from work at night and passed by some alleys, he would also see some stylishly-dressed, sexy women standing in the lane, beckoning to the passing men.
Zhang Jisheng would always hurry past, afraid that the scandalous Goblins would ensnare his soul, while Qi Fenglian had repeatedly warned him, saying those people were dirty.
Thus, Zhang Jisheng had never been to any back alley; in other words, he’d never frequented prostitutes.
But in the construction crew, they were all men, and moreover, men who were far from home with wives waiting back in their hometowns. Couples like Jisheng and his wife, both working in the same place, were rare.
A man’s vigor is strong; when they start missing women, it was only natural to head to the back alleys.
Zhang Jisheng blushed and, catching sight of Cheng Su’s uncle following not far behind, shook his head even more vehemently, saying, "No, no, I won’t go."
"Oh come on, what’s there to be afraid of? I’ll take you for a bit of fun; they’re better than the old lady at home." The coworker grinned mischievously.
"Really, I won’t go, I’m leaving first." Zhang Jisheng waved his hand dismissively and walked away briskly.
Laughter erupted from the crowd behind him.
That night, Zhang Jisheng dreamt all night of those little Goblins wearing tank tops.