The Door of Rebirth: Part 02
Although it was already mid-June, Xiao Ming still wore khaki trousers, a pale yellow shirt underneath, and a light green jacket. His clothes were all wrinkled and, combined with his dark complexion, gave him a distinctly rustic appearance.
Just as the girl was about to ask him something, Xiao Ming handed over the completed application form.
“You must have seen the pay; it’s posted outside. Generally, it’s around two thousand yuan a month, with meals and lodging included…”
“Come on, let’s put your luggage in the dorm first.”
Xiao Ming kept his head down, following quietly. Hearing that meals and lodging were included eased the weight in his heart somewhat, and the tight grip on his luggage relaxed a little.
Then the girl began explaining some of the shop’s rules—working hours, what was expected, what was forbidden here and there. The strictness reminded him of his parents.
When Xiao Ming first received the acceptance letter, only his mother had shown support.
His father was furious when Xiao Ming chose a university so far from home, believing that Xiao Ming was deliberately distancing himself to avoid responsibility.
Recalling this brought a slight dampness to Xiao Ming’s eyes…
“Did Manager Luo just scold you?” Xiao Hong suddenly turned and stopped, glancing at him and then looking behind him.
The question snapped Xiao Ming out of his reverie. He blinked hard, unconsciously wiping the sweat from his forehead to hide the moisture at the corners of his eyes. “Huh!?”
The girl seemed to misunderstand the wetness in his eyes.
“Don’t take it to heart. It’s just that you’re a bit unlucky. Someone was just fired here.”
“Oh, is it that Li fellow?” Xiao Ming nodded toward a partially burned employee photo pinned on the front desk’s background wall.
“Yes, that’s him. Little Li—you’ve got sharp eyes! He broke the front glass door just a few days after starting. The boss scolded the manager for a long time and made him pay to replace it himself.”
“Do you know how much that door cost? Over fifty thousand yuan! My goodness! I couldn’t save that much in five years!”
“Manager Luo made Li share part of the cost, but ever since, whenever the boss shows up, Li disappears. Sometimes he doesn’t show up at the dorm for days, even leaving his luggage behind.”
“Manager Luo felt unlucky too and just fired him, but he still can’t get in touch with him…” Xiao Hong’s cherry-red lips flicked rapidly, like a loaded machine gun rattling nonstop.
Xiao Ming wasn’t sure if he fully understood but kept his head bowed.
A pair of glass doors costing fifty thousand yuan—back home, the village chief’s stainless steel gate only cost a few thousand, and looked far grander. The thought sent a shiver down Xiao Ming’s spine.
He involuntarily replayed the brief moment when he had touched the door, feeling a shadow cast over his mind.
When they reached the dormitory entrance, Xiao Ming suddenly remembered something and asked, “Who is Manager Luo?”
The girl’s lips curved into a smile. “I’m Xiao Hong. Manager Luo is the one who just scolded you—his full name is Luo Junzi.”
Seeing Xiao Ming’s stunned expression, Xiao Hong burst into laughter. “Are you a real fool or just pretending to be one? Ha ha ha, you’re killing me!”
As he watched the girl laugh heartily, Xiao Ming felt a flutter of unease, but regardless of whether she was mocking him, he sensed a warmth—a warmth that could dissolve the loneliness within him.