Su Xiaoqi searched the memories of the original owner, dragging out a fragment from the depths.
Su Dafu, relying on his father being the Su family's steward.
Had always swaggered through the streets.
He had once set his sights on the original owner when she was still begging on the streets.
She remembered one time when no one was around, he dragged her to a hidden spot in a street corner, ripped open her clothes, and almost forced himself on her.
The original owner was also a fierce person, struggling with all her might, biting and kicking, preventing him from succeeding.
Later, with the help of Xiao Ze, she managed to escape.
But Su Dafu was not someone to be trifled with. He turned around and brought officials to the City God Temple to arrest her.
He accused the original owner of robbing him of his money and injuring him.
Su Dafu's neck and face were covered in the original owner's bite marks, and she had no way to explain herself.
It was Xiao Ze who stepped forward, took the blame for her, was arrested by the officials, and imprisoned for half a year.
Until the original owner was taken in by her father, Su Busheng, and brought to the Su residence.
The original owner used this as a condition to secure Xiao Ze's release from prison.
Thinking about it, the original owner back then was considered someone with loyalty and righteousness.
Yet, at some point, her nature changed.
Was she originally that kind of person, or was she corrupted in the grand residence of the Su family?
"You don't want to be thrown in jail, do you?" Su Xiaoqi had an idea in mind.
Xiao Liu nodded vigorously.
Nonsense, who would be stupid enough to want to go there.
It was no place for humans to be.
"Very well, but the deed has been done, and someone must take responsibility for it."
Xiao Liu's small eyes darted around, still not understanding.
Zhao Dayou, however, was sharp. He understood Su Xiaoqi's meaning.
He originally didn't want to help Xiao Liu anymore. The money he had fronted for him before was a punishment for his poor judgment.
This scoundrel had harmed himself and almost severely harmed him too.
Now his respectable and well-paying job was ruined by this brat. He harbored unspeakable hatred for Xiao Liu.
But then he remembered that this was something the boss wanted done.
He could only grit his teeth and tell Xiao Liu that whoever misled him should be the one to bear the responsibility.
"Su Dafu, it was Su Dafu, it was him.
If he hadn't tempted me into gambling, I, I wouldn't have acted so foolishly.
Uncle Dayou, I, I was wrong, I was wrong." Xiao Liu suddenly regretted it, sobbing and crying.
Su Xiaoqi felt no sympathy for his tears.
She fiddled with the abacus, calculating the shop's accounts.
She discovered that Xiao Liu and Su Dafu had swindled five piculs of rice and flour, causing her a loss of nearly ten strings of cash.
This was already a substantial amount, enough to build a house in Zhao Family Village.
Su Xiaoqi said she could let him off, but he had to compensate for her losses.
And someone had to take responsibility for this matter.
If it wasn't him, then it was someone else.
Xiao Liu's hatred for Su Dafu was no less than Su Xiaoqi's.
He immediately agreed, even bowing and scraping, saying that he would cooperate with whatever she wanted him to do.
Su Xiaoqi looked at him instantly turn into a sycophant and gave him a look of disdain.
Then she turned to Zhao Dayou and said sternly, "This matter will be entrusted to you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Dayou knelt down.
He choked out that he had misjudged people and brought in a scourge like Xiao Liu, causing her to suffer losses. He was no longer fit to be the shopkeeper...
"Running away will not solve the problem. Get up. As long as you handle this matter for me properly.
You will still be the shopkeeper of this 'supermarket'." Su Xiaoqi said with great composure.
She wasn't afraid that Xiao Liu would run away. She took the key, unlocked the back door of the shop, and knocked hard.
Granny Wen soon came to open the door.
She was a little surprised to see her.
Su Xiaoqi briefly explained that she had opened the shop but it was not advisable to publicize it, and to say it was opened by her friend.
Granny Wen understood these rules and immediately kept quiet, saying she would not reveal it to anyone.
Su Xiaoqi also took the opportunity to ask her not to tell anyone that she had bought the house, but to say that she had rented it.
Granny Wen nodded to each point.
Only then did Su Xiaoqi feel relieved and called for Xiao Yi.
She brought him to Zhao Dayou.
Su Xiaoqi specifically looked around first. Xiao Liu had already left.
She glanced at Zhao Dayou, who was calculating accounts at the counter.
Seeing Su Xiaoqi's gaze, he explained that Xiao Liu had gone to handle things as agreed with him.
Su Xiaoqi nodded and then asked Xiao Yi if he was willing to come and work in the shop.
The trial period was three hundred wen per month.
After he became proficient, his regular salary would be six hundred wen per month.
Every six months, his salary would be adjusted based on his work performance, and there would be various benefits.
This good?
Xiao Yi couldn't believe his ears.
He subconsciously reached out and then cautiously asked if this was true.
Su Xiaoqi gave him a sideways glance and said he thought so.
If he still felt it was unreal, he might as well slap himself.
Then she indeed heard a crisp "snap."
Xiao Yi slapped himself without holding back, making him wince in pain.
Su Xiaoqi frowned, feeling the pain just looking at Xiao Yi like that.
He was quite decisive.
Su Xiaoqi said solemnly:
"Since you have such determination, then work diligently, and don't make me regret helping you."
Friends are friends, but things that need to be said must be made clear.
Xiao Yi agreed immediately.
Working as a shop assistant was his dream job from before.
He believed that only those with connections or who had studied and could write and calculate could do such work.
Beggars like him, who knew nothing, were only fit to pick up discarded items on the street to eat.
Where did he have the right to work?
But now there was a ready opportunity before him.
It was just a matter of whether he could grasp it.
His answer was naturally affirmative.
However, he worried that he knew nothing and would delay Su Xiaoqi's business.
He hesitantly said, "Can I handle this job?"
Su Xiaoqi smiled: "Don't be afraid to tell you, as long as you do your job well.
In the future, let alone an assistant, you can also become a shopkeeper or a head shopkeeper.
However, you are right to be concerned. You are still a bit strained doing this job now.
When you have free time, you can learn more from Shopkeeper Zhao."
Su Xiaoqi introduced Xiao Yi to Zhao Dayou.
She directly introduced him as her younger brother: "This is Su Yi, please take good care of him, Shopkeeper Zhao."
Zhao Dayou looked at the young but determined boy before him and instantly liked him.
He had no sons, only two daughters, whom he cherished like jewels.
But in the end, he had a slight regret.
Seeing Su Yi now, he couldn't help but regard him as his own junior.
Even though he had come to his side in such circumstances, making him slightly awkward.
But his affection for him surpassed his inner unease.
Overall, the smile that appeared on his face was quite sincere.
He stated that as long as he was willing to learn, he would teach him everything he knew.
Su Xiaoqi narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Zhao Dayou without speaking.
She silently judged how much sincerity and how much pretense was in Zhao Dayou's words.
Xiao Yi did not think as much as Su Xiaoqi.
He felt a little intimidated seeing Zhao Dayou and didn't know how to talk to him at first.
But seeing that he seemed easy to talk to, he gained confidence.
He took the initiative to ask questions and familiarize himself with the shop's operations.
Su Xiaoqi stayed in the shop for a while longer. From a distance, she saw Xiao Liu running over.
She coldly let him in.
Xiao Liu said breathlessly that he had already conversed with Su Dafu according to the story agreed upon with Shopkeeper Zhao.
What should be done next.
"Shopkeeper Zhao, you can discuss it with him." Su Xiaoqi ignored him after listening and pointed to Zhao Dayou before turning to leave.
She gave the impression that she had no intention of participating.
Xiao Liu was a bit confused.
He couldn't understand. The one who said they wanted to deal with Su Dafu was her, yet now she was ignoring him completely.
"The boss has other matters to attend to. Just do as I told you."
Zhao Dayou, having lived for decades longer, saw more clearly than Xiao Liu.
He took it upon himself to handle the matter and quietly pulled Xiao Liu to the back to discuss.
Su Xiaoqi glanced at Xiao Yi, made a gesture for him to keep a close watch, and then slowly strolled towards the backyard.
Now that the curtain had been raised, it was time to watch the show.