Busy work made the time pass surprisingly quickly.
The supermarket's business was clearly growing steadily, showing an unmistakable upward trend. Nearby residents, workers, and people out enjoying themselves seemed to have grown used to this convenience supermarket that stayed open twenty-four hours a day.
And this was before the newly built housing developments had all been handed over, or the university students had started their term.
Wang Xiaoliang gradually adjusted to the intense pace of work here, too. He had also gotten to know his coworkers at the store.
Of them, the person he dealt with most was still Sister Li.
Work at the supermarket involved all sorts of tasks: stocking shelves, running the register, cleaning, and checking products nearing their expiry dates. There was always more to do. As long as you wanted to work, you would never be idle. With his usual earnestness, Wang Xiaoliang would straighten the shelves whenever there was nobody at the register, mop the floor once the shelves were tidy, and refill the drinks in the cooler once the floor was clean.
Sister Li noticed all his hard work.
This shrewd-looking woman did not say much, but she occasionally gave him a few pointers.
"Xiaoliang, put that brand of yogurt right at the front. It expires next week."
"That price tag's crooked. Straighten it. The boss will yell if he sees it."
"Always close the cooler door behind you. Letting the cold air out wastes electricity."
These were all lessons learned from experience, and Wang Xiaoliang took every one to heart.
That afternoon, there were not many customers in the store. Wang Xiaoliang had just finished filling a cooler with bottled water and straightened up to pound his lower back. Sister Li was behind the register, checking the day's accounts with a calculator.
"Sister