"No."
That single word came from Li Laifu's lips, squeezed between folds of fat, without a trace of warmth, like a chunk of ice slamming straight into Wang Xiaoliang's chest.
Wang Xiaoliang froze. He had imagined Li Laifu would question him, make things difficult, or find all sorts of excuses, but he had never expected such a blunt refusal, with no room for negotiation.
Anger shot straight to the top of his head. He clenched his fists, forcing down the urge to challenge him. What gives you the right? Just because you're the boss?
Li Laifu seemed not to notice his changing expression. He lowered his head and went on flicking his abacus beads, but kept talking. "You want to be a boss, and you're still thinking about taking time off?"
He sneered, the sound especially grating in the empty store.
"You think you're a state-owned enterprise employee or a civil servant? Nine to five, eight-hour days, and two days off a week? Let me tell you, Wang, if you want to be a boss, you'd better be prepared to work like a beast of burden. Being a boss means a life of toil, worse than the employees you hire. Where would you find time to rest?"
Wang Xiaoliang could not help arguing, "Don't you take a day off every week?"
"Me?" Li Laifu finally lifted his head from the ledger, a shrewd, mean gleam in his little eyes. "I've been in this business for decades, and I only started giving myself time off this year. What about you? How many days have you been at it?"
That one remark left Wang Xiaoliang utterly speechless.
Seeing Wang Xiaoliang's cheeks puffed out with anger, looking defiant but unable to say a word, Li Laifu softened a little. He was not trying