kvmb Chapter 43 Superficial
Chapter 43 Superficial
The fireworks company successfully secured the order from Mrs. Yu's family. Just like in a TV drama, on the golf course, Mr. Yu readily agreed to the plan without even looking at it.
Gu Jia was very happy, while Xu Huanshan was being pretentious, feeling that art had been defiled.
The fireworks company received new orders, and they were even larger in scale, so the company started operating again. After firing Li Ke, they needed to hire an office clerk.
Wang Manni originally didn't want to come to this fireworks company. She was framed for illegally redeeming points, and without Zhong Xiaoqin's mediation at the property management company, they didn't give her any face and didn't investigate the person who did it. Headquarters didn't investigate further and simply fired her. Wang Manni thought she could continue working at other luxury stores, but she didn't expect that the news of her dismissal for redeeming points would spread. The luxury goods industry in Shanghai isn't small, but it's not huge either. Wang Manni frequently contacted sales staff at other brands to exchange customer or store resource information. Other brands' HR departments didn't want to use a salesperson with a bad track record, which would damage their image in the boss's eyes. This led to Wang Manni's job search being unsuccessful. She happened to see a job posting for a sales assistant at the fireworks company, with the option to later transfer to a sales position. Believing herself to be more hardworking and have a better attitude than others, Wang Manni, despite being unfamiliar with the fireworks market, still submitted her resume to try and find a job. After all, rent wouldn't wait; she needed to earn money first. If she wasn't satisfied, she could work while looking for another job. "Riding a donkey while looking for a horse"—that's what everyone does.
The interview went smoothly. HR had a preliminary understanding of Wang Manni's situation and believed she was a good fit for the sales department—provided she didn't mention she had been fired. After the HR interview, the department manager needed to review it, essentially a second interview. To save time, interviewees were usually asked to wait in a small meeting room while the department manager finished their work and conducted the interview. But today, the department manager was on leave, so Xu Huanshan had to conduct the interview in person.
When Xu Huanshan saw Wang Manni, he was momentarily stunned by her beauty. Thinking of Li Ke, who had been fired by Gu Jia, he immediately decided to keep Wang Manni to put Gu Jia in her place. Then, Xu Huanshan casually asked Wang Manni a few questions and announced on the spot that she was hired.
To Xu Huanshan's disappointment, Gu Jia didn't come to the company for a long time and was unaware that there was a new person in the company, Wang Manni, whom Xu Huanshan had kept to spite Gu Jia.
During this period, Gu Jia focused all her energy on the wives' circle.
"I've brought a new friend for everyone, this is Gu Jia." Mrs. Wang introduced Gu Jia to the ladies with a smile.
Gu Jia smiled and greeted everyone, "Hello everyone."
No one paid any attention to Gu Jia. All the wives turned back to their own fabric crafts, and even Mrs. Yu just smiled and nodded at Gu Jia without saying anything.
"Mrs. Wang, you really have a way with yourself. You're improving slowly, and you even bring someone along to take the fall!" It was Mrs. Li's follower, a Mrs. So-and-so without a surname, who made a sarcastic remark about Mrs. Wang.
Mrs. Wang's face immediately darkened.
"Don't be angry, I was just joking with you."
Mrs. Wang pretended to be nonchalant, saying, "It's nothing." In her heart, she cursed the man's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Mrs. Wang had already given a general overview of the other ladies, and as they chatted, Gu Jia gradually pieced together their names.
Then, in what seemed like casual conversation, they apparently struck a deal on Mrs. Ma selling hygiene products and tableware to Mrs. Yu's amusement park, and on Mrs. Liu selling medical supplies to Mrs. Yu's family.
Moreover, despite Mrs. Wang's wealth, she was openly and subtly mocked by Mrs. Liu, who called her a nouveau riche. Under Mrs. Li's leadership, Mrs. Liu launched a psychological attack on Mrs. Wang, commonly known as PUA.
In other words, Mrs. Wang started the business with Wang Qinglin when they were penniless, and she contributed significantly to the Wang family's success. Compared to Gu Jia, Mrs. Wang's only disadvantage was her lack of education. Her success wasn't solely due to luck. She possesses a clear mind, can quickly discern the cause and effect of events, and is flexible and adaptable, understanding that dignity is earned, not begged for. She is a rare example of worldly wisdom.
Gu Jia witnessed firsthand how "business" is conducted. She had already learned the "correct way to conduct business" from Mrs. Wang bringing Mrs. Yu to her home last time, and this gathering of wives further solidified her determination to join the wives' circle.
However, when the party ended and everyone stood together to take pictures, Gu Jia felt guilty because the bag she brought was too cheap and hid it behind her back.
On the way back, Gu Jia was browsing her WeChat Moments when she saw the last group photo of the wives. Gu Jia was cropped out of the photo, and not even a single hair of hers was in the picture.
After much deliberation, Gu Jia decided she needed to buy a nicer bag, one that couldn't be inferior to those in her social circle of wives. Without hesitation, she went straight to the shopping street, but after browsing several shops, she found nothing suitable. The next day, she went to other shopping districts, but still couldn't find a suitable bag. Even calling her friends didn't yield any results.
Helpless, Gu Jia could only seek comfort from Zhong Xiaoqin. The two chatted over lunch. Gu Jia showed Zhong Xiaoqin her spoils: "Xiaoqin, look, this is Mu Zi's mother's WeChat Moments. She transferred schools." Gu Jia felt extremely satisfied having beaten Mu Zi's mother black and blue and forced her to drop out and transfer schools!
Zhong Xiaoqin was a bit out of energy, feeling listless and weak in her voice, "It still has to be you, Gu Gu."
"Xiaoqin, what's wrong? You look like you haven't woken up yet!"
Zhong Xiaoqin blushed slightly. "It's nothing, nothing. I just stayed up a little late watching TV last night."
Gu Jia knew, of course, that Zhong Xiaoqin would stutter when she lied, but the perceptive Gu Jia didn't choose to expose the blushing Zhong Xiaoqin. Since Zhong Xiaoqin was unwilling to talk about it, there must be a reason why she couldn't say.
He immediately changed the subject, "I need a nice bag, do you have any recommendations?"
"How much does the bag cost? Can't you buy it in the store? You actually need to find someone to buy it for you!" Zhong Xiaoqin was a little shocked. Hearing this, she was no longer sleepy. She had never thought that buying a bag would require asking someone for help or using connections!
Gu Jia told Zhong Xiaoqin everything she had seen and heard in the wives' circle, including how Gu Jia was cropped out of the final photo. Zhong Xiaoqin was bewildered but impressed; could a bag really be so particular?
Although Zhong Xiaoqin is now with Chen Yu and can be considered wealthy, she has a good upbringing and has never liked comparing herself to others or being materialistic. After being with Chen Yu, she was influenced by him and her consumption philosophy is based on need and quantity, pursuing what is suitable rather than blindly following trends.
Zhong Xiaoqin thinks that the wives' circle's practice of comparing handbags is superficial.