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Chapter 620: Chapter 620: Dealing with Xue Yumei
As the New Year dawned, Si Chen, whom Tong Yao had been yearning for day and night, finally returned to Kyoto.
Due to the plan from E Country, the milk tea shop downstairs was already renovated, and Tong Yao did not even have the time to get Guo Miaomiao over.
She’s still learning from Deng Wenwen.
After more than half a month of studying, Miaomiao could confidently manage the accounts and prepare the milk tea. Her self-confidence had significantly increased, her eyes filled with brightness, and she loved to smile.
Every time she saw Tong Yao, she joyfully called her "Sister Yaoyao". Tong Yao was also fond of her.
After Si Chen’s return, Tong Yao initially arranged Miaomiao to work in the milk tea shop downstairs. After all, she was almost an adult, and it was not appropriate to always stay at Wenwen’s place. Once Miaomiao was settled, Guo Jinnian could feel at ease.
She had been so busy that she hadn’t had a chance to check the accounts for the milk tea shop in the mall. Now that Si Chen was back, Tong Yao wasn’t as busy, so she asked him to accompany her to the milk tea shop in the mall.
As they arrived at the entrance of the milk tea shop, Tong Yao noticed that the neighboring shop was being renovated. She found it strange. The space used to be Shi Yan’s shop. After Shi Yan’s death, his family could not afford to pay the workers’ wages and so did not take over the shop. Locals found the shop unlucky, so no one rented it out. The shop had remained vacant until now, so it was surprising that it was being leased out again.
Tong Yao was curious, the shop space was not big. Apart from a small milk tea shop, it wasn’t enough for any other businesses.
Noticing Tong Yao in silent contemplation, Si Chen Arch raised his eyebrows and inquired, "What’s up?"
Tong Yao wondered out loud, "The shop across the road is suddenly rented out. What do you think they’ll open?"
Si Chen looked for a moment before calmly saying, "The counter hasn’t been torn down. They don’t seem to be planning to change the layout. It’s probably still a milk tea shop."
Tong Yao blinked her eyes mischievously, "Wait here, I will go ask.".
As she said that, she crossed the road to the other side, where two workers were pulling down the shop sign. She sweetly asked, "Mate, may I ask what the shop will be used for?"
The man who was working there did not expect such a beautiful and petite girl to ask him that question. He replied somewhat bewildered, "It’s going to be a milk tea shop."
Tong Yao didn’t expect it to be a milk tea shop. She flashed a "Thank you" at the man then returned to Si Chen’s side and quipped, "You were right. It’s being rented for a milk tea shop."
Si Chen nodded, "Considering the current developments in Kyoto, there will be more and more beverage shops in the future."
Tong Yao knew Si Chen was right. Going into the 21st Century there will be beverage shops everywhere.
As they entered the milk tea shop, they found it empty since it was almost lunchtime. Xue Yumei was in the middle of instructing the staff whilst sitting behind the counter and cracking sunflower seeds.
"Both of you, work efficiently. Don’t think that just because the boss visited once, we have backup now. The boss only said a few comforting words. She’s not usually at the shop, it’s me who’s in charge. The boss said last time she’d check the accounts. How long has it been, and has she come? She’s busy and doesn’t have the time to manage..."
"Who says I don’t have time to manage?" Tong Yao interrupted Xue Yumei’s words.
Xue Yumei jumped in fright as she heard Tong Yao’s voice. She got up from her chair hurriedly, her face flushed with surprise. Realizing the sunflower seeds were still on the table, she quickly covered them with a ledger.
Tong Yao, noticing her little maneuver, frowned and said, "Didn’t I mention that cracking sunflower seeds in the shop is not allowed? Have you forgotten?"
Xue Yumei retorted defiantly, somewhat guilty, "Boss, it’s not busy now. As long as we don’t scatter the shell in the milk tea cups, what’s the big deal? Aren’t you too strict?"
Tong Yao tightened her face and said, "I hired you to work, not to crack sunflower seeds. Every second you’re here in the shop, I’m paying for your time. Do you think it’s okay for you to be cracking sunflower seeds in the shop?"
Xue Yumei kept quiet, her face full of resentment. How unlucky! Just as she was talking about Tong Yao, Tong Yao showed up.
Did not she open up a breeding farm elsewhere?
Why does she always check on the milk tea shop?
Thinking that Tong Yao might be there to audit the accounts, she took the initiative to bring out the account book to change the topic, "Boss, are you here to check the accounts? I’ve already prepared the account book, you can take a look."
Xue Yumei hoped that Tong Yao would finish the accounts soon and then leave.
Tong Yao handed the account book to Si Chen, "Ahchen, you check it! Seeing the account book gives me a headache."
Si Chen nodded, pulled out a chair next to him and said, "Take a rest first."
Tong Yao nodded and sloppily sat down on a chair in the shop. Si Chen placed the account book on the table, then went to fetch a roasted sweet potato from the door and peeled it for Tong Yao, only thereafter did he flip open the account book.
Seeing this, Xue Yumei grimaced. They had been married for several years and still did not have a child, yet they were flaunting their love. She wondered if they were not afraid of being ridiculed. Tong Yao wore loose clothing, and since she was thin, it was not obvious that she was pregnant. Judging from her outer appearance, one couldn’t tell she was with child, hence Xue Yumei was not aware that Tong Yao was pregnant.
Si Chen compared the accounts for the last two months with the previous months. His eyebrows creased slightly. "Why is the income for the past two months so much different from the previous ones?"
Xue Yumei was ready with the excuse she had prepared beforehand. "There are fewer people drinking milk tea in winter."
After a moment of silence, Si Chen continued to ask, "How many cups are booked this month?"
The shop’s cups are customized. Different price milk teas use different cups. The cups used in winter and summer are also different. Generally, Tong Yao checks the accounts based on the quantity of the cups.
If there are unusual circumstances that consume cups, Xue Yumei separately keeps a record.
Xue Yumei evaded guiltily, "It’s written in the account book. I don’t quite remember."
Si Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the table as if contemplating something. Xue Yumei was feeling guilty and was afraid that Si Chen would detect any anomalies.
To distract from her nervous guilt, she looked at Tong Yao, "Boss, didn’t you say last time that you wanted to arrange for your sister to come here? Why hasn’t she shown up yet?"
Tong Yao swallowed a bite of the sweet potato then said leisurely, "I opened another branch and had her go there."
Xue Yumei was relieved. Now that Miaomiao wouldn’t come, she could continue to do things her way in the shop without worrying about someone else threatening her position.
Just as she completed her thought, Si Chen asked again, "Given the slump in business, how did the cups customized at the end of September run out before the end of October?"
Xue Yumei had not expected Si Chen to check on the cups customized in September and was momentarily speechless. Si Chen only glanced at her before continuing, "Where are the invoices for the customized cups from October to December?"
Xue Yumei clutched the edge of her clothes, pretending to be calm, "The invoices were lost by accident. But I have a habit of keeping track in the account book. It’s all written in the account book, on the back."
