Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 75 Interviewing New Employees

In the North China Strong Market, Old Zhang craned his neck to stare at the beautiful woman who followed the stray yellow cat into the stall, his eyes practically glued to her.

His wife followed his gaze and immediately swung a feather duster at him, yelling, "You old man, what are you looking at?!"

Old Zhang shrank his neck and stammered, "Without me, I didn't see anything."

"You still say you didn't look!" His wife raised her hand and hit him on the back with a feather duster. The two of them immediately started wrestling, pushing and shoving each other while cursing.

Chen Mo was turning the key to the roller shutter when he heard a commotion in the distance. He glanced back and saw that it was Old Zhang and his wife flirting. He shook his head and paid no more attention.

This couple is considered the "model couple" at the stall. They fight every few days, but they never actually separate.

As he opened the roller shutter door of Orange Technology, he called Lin Junfeng of the patent agency.

"Mr. Lin! Yes, it's the patent information on the details of deeply customized Android system UI optimization. I've sent it to you via same-city express. Just go through the process as soon as possible. Cost is not a problem."

Just as Chen Mo hung up the phone, something furry brushed against his trouser leg. Looking down, he saw a little yellow cat teasing him with its tail and meowing at him.

"Why are you here again!"

Chen Mo smiled, squatted down, and stroked its head. When he looked up, he saw a woman with a bare face standing at the door.

She lowered her eyes and smiled gently, her fingertips lightly tapping the job posting. Her shoulder blades rose and fell gently beneath her long-sleeved shirt: "Hello! I'm here to apply for the shipping clerk position."

Chen Mo was taken aback. Although the woman in front of him was dressed simply and without makeup, she exuded an indescribable air about her, like a lady from a wealthy family.

Could it be the landlady?

Chen Mo knew that the demolition of urban villages near Shenzhen in later years could make many people rich, and he would look for work to pass the time.

Then look at the little yellow cat that had circled around behind her, now obediently rubbing against her trouser leg.

Gong Yun was also looking at the small workshop in front of her: a space of less than 20 square meters, a long table, two chairs, a small safe in one corner with two boxes of mineral water on it, and some cardboard boxes containing electronic components piled up on the other side. It was simple but relatively tidy.

"Come in!" Chen Mo greeted her politely, pointing to his chair: "Sit here, I'll get you a bottle of water."

As he spoke, he took a bottle of mineral water from the safe and handed it over, then sat down in Zhao Tiezhu's chair.

Gong Yun sat down, took out her ID card from the faded canvas bag, and pushed it across the table.

"Hello! My name is Gong Yun, and I'm 32 years old!"

She had neatly trimmed nails, with round, clean, white lunulae and delicate, soft fingertips, clearly indicating that she was not someone who worked the land year-round.

Chen Mo took the ID card, scanned it, rubbed his hands together, and raised an eyebrow to ask a question.

"Miss Gong! I am Chen Mo, the owner of this small workshop. Your name should be associated with the guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither), so why did you decide to become a shipping clerk?"

"Mr. Chen, you flatter me. You used to be protected like a caged bird, but now that the cage has collapsed, you have to learn to find your own food, right?"

She lowered her eyes and fiddled with the cat's ears, her fingertips tracing the flea scars behind the little yellow cat's ears: "Even ants try to survive, look at this kitten, so thin it's skin and bones, isn't it trying its best to live?"

Before she could finish speaking, the little yellow cat suddenly jumped onto her lap and hooked its paws onto the hem of her shirt.

Gong Yun noticed Chen Mo's concerns and raised one of her delicate hands, palm up, placing it on the table. "Mr. Chen! I may not have ever moved cardboard boxes with these hands, but I can do accounting and recognize people. You're hiring a shipping clerk, not a construction worker. Surely I can learn to hand over a document to a customer, count a deposit, and handle warehousing and shipping?"

Gong Yun chuckled softly and reached out to smooth Xiao Huang's ruffled tail.

"Besides, rather than going back to my hometown and being questioned by my aunts and uncles about 'why haven't you found a man to marry yet,' I'd rather stay here and listen to the lively arguments between couples outside. At least I don't have to pretend I don't understand that nonsense like 'it's better for a woman to marry well than to work hard.'"

When she looked up, her eyes were clear, and a gentle smile played on her lips as she looked directly at Chen Mo. Her fingertips were still gently stroking the little yellow cat's fur, her posture relaxed yet revealing a deep sense of determination.

It's a kind of composure that doesn't mind being observed.

The morning light slanted in through the gap in the roller shutter door, weaving golden threads on the collar of her plain shirt, which added a touch of tranquility to the cramped little workshop.

"Alright then! As long as you can hold on!" Chen Mo nodded and continued, "We're still a small workshop, so we don't have many rules yet. You're a little older than me, so I'll call you Sister Gong, okay?"

Gong Yun nodded with a light laugh: "President Chen, you can call me whatever you like!"

Chen Mo waved his hand, and the two continued discussing salary.

"The internship is three months, and the normal salary is 2000. The other assembly worker and I are both men, and we live in rented rooms, which is inconvenient for you, Sister Gong. I'll give you an extra 700 yuan housing allowance. Is that okay with you?"

Gong Yun didn't reply, but suddenly picked up the little yellow cat at her feet: "President Chen! Can I adopt it?"

Chen Mo was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled: "You're not fighting for your salary, but you're concerned about cats. Of course you can, that's your prerogative."

Gong Yun gently stroked the little yellow cat's tail with her fingertips: "Thank you, Mr. Chen, for taking us in."

"No, no, it's not that bad." Chen Mo was a little embarrassed: "With your looks, Sister Gong, it wouldn't be difficult for you to find a job. I don't understand why you thought of coming here?"

Gong Yun lowered her eyes and smiled lightly: "President Chen, you flatter me. I just want to find a stable place to work right now!"

"Our company makes mobile phones, and sales are booming these days. We're at our busiest. How about you start today, and we'll complete the paperwork later? Your salary will be paid on a monthly basis. Is that alright?"

Gong Yun nodded, indicating that there was no problem.

Chen Mo showed her an order form and then said, "These next few days, you'll mainly be responsible for receiving the goods from the OEM factory and putting them into inventory, and then shipping them to the wholesalers who have paid the deposit receipts."

"It's your first day, I'll show you around, don't worry!"

Gong Yun smiled faintly: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Chen. I'm fine with it."

“Okay! You sit here for a while. If any wholesalers come, tell them that you guarantee delivery before midnight tonight.”

Chen Mo stood up: "I'm going out for a bit and will bring back lunch. Do you have any dietary restrictions?"

Gong Yun put down the little yellow cat and nodded: "I'm fine with whatever I eat, Mr. Chen can just buy whatever you want."

Chen Mo stepped out of the roller shutter door. The little yellow cat jumped onto the long table. Gong Yun sat on a chair, her gaze sweeping over the simple workshop. Her fingertips gently caressed the mineral water bottle. Watching Chen Mo's retreating figure, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

In the distance, the Zhang couple were still bickering. Sunlight streamed through the market's roof, falling on Gong Yun and adding a touch of everyday life to the woman.

(End of this chapter)