Xiao Yi Xian, Store Clerk, Joins the Fray

Xiao Yi Xian arrived at the Xiao Clan marketplace. Looking at the people constantly passing by, she could not help recalling her life in Qingshan Town.

Every day, she treated the injured townsfolk. When she had time, she would gather herbs near the Monster Mountain Range. Day after day, her life had been like that.

Yet because of her constitution, she was often tormented by the Calamity Poison Body.

But things were different now. Ever since returning to Myriad Medicine Hall from Ruyi Zhai, she had thought about it for a long time before finally deciding to come to Ruyi Zhai and become a clerk. Perhaps she could change herself here and cure her Calamity Poison Body.

Even if she could not cure her Calamity Poison Body, she would be satisfied if it could merely be suppressed for a while.

Her beautiful eyes turned toward Ruyi Zhai, and her gaze seemed to grow ever firmer.

Walking lightly beneath the setting sun, the faint aura she exuded drew many lingering glances.

Xiao Cheng had just seen off a group of Xiao Family Disciples who had come to buy Small Fried Dough Twists, and his mood had improved considerably.

He had not expected the Small Fried Dough Twist mission to be halfway complete after just one afternoon. The world of foodies really was terrifying.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll get up early and make the pastries. Then, close to noon, I'll bring a Cream Cake to visit the Xiao Clan."

At that moment, Xiao Yi Xian walked in, startling Xiao Cheng.

"Xiao Yi Xian, what are you doing here?"

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian enter his shop carrying a bundle, he had no idea what she intended to do.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yi Xian parted her red lips and spoke.

"Shopkeeper, may I work here? I don't need wages. I only want to suppress my illness here."

Xiao Cheng naturally knew what illness Xiao Yi Xian was referring to. Still, he had not expected her to want to become a clerk at Ruyi Zhai.

The suggestion surprised him somewhat, but on further thought, it seemed Ruyi Zhai really should recruit a clerk.

After all, he could not stay in the shop forever, nor could he never leave.

Besides, he might open branch stores elsewhere in the future. Without someone trustworthy to watch over things, he really would not feel at ease.

"Xiao Yi Xian, do you really want to work here as a clerk?"

After considering it, Xiao Cheng looked at her and asked.

"Mm."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded.

"Then I'll take you on as my beautiful clerk. I don't really understand wages and benefits, so I'll provide you with pastries every day as a perk. As for where you'll stay, you can live upstairs."

Aside from his own resting room, the second floor of Ruyi Zhai had many other rooms. They had likely been deliberately provided by the system during the shop's renovation for future clerks, and now they finally came in handy.

Xiao Yi Xian smiled faintly.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper."

"No need to be so polite. You can call me Xiao Cheng, or Brother Xiao. Don't be so distant."

His familiar tone immediately made Xiao Yi Xian feel warm inside. She could not help giving Xiao Cheng a radiant smile that nearly made him lose his composure.

Xiao Yi Xian is quite the temptress too. I almost couldn't hold out.

Xiao Cheng thought to himself.

He brought Xiao Yi Xian to a room and briefly introduced it to her, along with a few things she needed to keep in mind. Only then did he take her downstairs and explain her daily duties.

"Your job is to sell the pastries I bring out here at this Glass Counter. If you get tired, there are chairs over there for you to sit and rest."

"Oh, I understand."

Xiao Cheng then told her that she had to smile when greeting customers. After that, he explained the pastry prices and reminded Xiao Yi Xian about the discounted prices for the cooperation with the Xiao Clan, so she would not be caught unaware when it came time to offer discounts.

"I understand, but Shopkeeper, can these... these prices really sell?"

Xiao Yi Xian was truly a little shocked. When she had come last time, she had not paid much attention to what was written on the wooden board, only asking briefly about the pastries.

Now that she carefully read its contents, she was genuinely stunned.

Honeyed Shortbread cost one hundred Gold Coins per jin, while Cream Cake could only be reserved for one thousand Gold Coins.

Those prices truly frightened Xiao Yi Xian.

However, seeing Xiao Yi Xian's expression and hearing her question, Xiao Cheng could not help smiling.

"Don't be so surprised. You'll get used to it eventually. As for whether they can sell, you'll understand."

"Oh."

Xiao Yi Xian did not ask further. She nodded and let the matter pass.

Seeing that it was getting late and the sky had darkened, Xiao Cheng said to Xiao Yi Xian, "Today was just to familiarize you with your work. Tomorrow at noon, I'm going to visit the Xiao Clan, so I'll have to trouble you to sell pastries in the shop for me."

"I understand. It's no trouble. It's what I should do."

Xiao Cheng chatted briefly with Xiao Yi Xian before going upstairs, while Xiao Yi Xian returned to her room to rest as well.

In his upstairs room, Xiao Cheng suddenly remembered that clerks were supposed to have benefits, weren't they?

He asked Xiao Dian in his mind.

"Xiao Dian, I've recruited a new clerk. Fine, there's no reward, but at least give her some benefits. Clerk uniforms, protective measures, that sort of thing. There should be something, right?"

Host, please do not worry. Xiao Yi Xian's personal information has already been entered into the system, and she is under the system's protection. Her clerk uniform is currently being made. Please wait patiently.

"That's more like it. By the way, can I choose the style of the clerk uniform?"

No. The system retains final interpretation rights regarding clerk uniforms, so the system will choose it.

"Heh heh."

He understood this system's personality perfectly, so he simply went to sleep.

Early the next morning, Xiao Yi Xian got up early and began cleaning the shop.

Xiao Cheng came downstairs yawning. Seeing Xiao Yi Xian busily cleaning the shop, he was somewhat stunned.

"Xiao Yi Xian, you actually don't need to clean. There's someone specifically responsible for cleaning the shop."

"Oh, then Shopkeeper, why didn't I know about them?"

"Cough, cough. That cleaner works while you're resting, so it's normal that you don't know."

In truth, there was no cleaner at all. The shop was cleaned by the system.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded, then asked again.

"But cleaning should make noise. Why couldn't I hear anything?"

"The rooms are well soundproofed, so you couldn't hear it. By the way, did you sleep well last night?"

Xiao Cheng quickly changed the subject.

"Shopkeeper, I slept very comfortably. I slept very well."

Xiao Yi Xian gave him a sweet smile.

"Then go open the shop doors. I'll go make pastries in the kitchen. I need to visit the Xiao Clan later."

"Alright, Shopkeeper."

He made a batch of Peach Pastry and Peanut Candy in the kitchen. There were still some Small Fried Dough Twists left, so there was no need to replenish them.

But the Honeyed Shortbread needed restocking.

Over half an hour later, all the pastries had been arranged.

When Xiao Yi Xian saw the wide variety of pastries, her eyes lit up, and she swallowed.

Seeing her look like a little gluttonous cat, Xiao Cheng did not know whether to laugh or cry. He said, "If you want to eat, just eat. Just restrain yourself a little. You're a clerk in my shop, so it's fine to have some."

"Mm-hmm."

Hearing Xiao Cheng's words, Xiao Yi Xian stretched out her fair little hand and picked up a small Small Fried Dough Twist. Unsure whether it was sweet or savory, she took a bite and chewed with crisp crunches.

"It's really so delicious."

After Xiao Yi Xian had tasted every pastry beneath the Glass Covers, she was satisfied.

To Xiao Cheng's surprise, she actually liked Peanut Candy.

Looks like she's a foodie too. I wonder if having such a foodie clerk is good or bad.

Thinking this, Xiao Cheng told Xiao Yi Xian to sell pastries here, then went to tidy up the kitchen. He still had to visit the Xiao Clan later.