Chapter 206: Snagged a Cashier

Chapter 206: Snagging a Cashier

On the other end, Dr. Fu, who'd been hung up on, let out an involuntary laugh as he stared at the landline in his hand.

What kind of situations hadn't he seen before? Yet here he was, getting all flustered like some kid over Su He's phone call.

Just then, the office door swung open.

"Deputy Director, we've got a critical case. The director says you need to take this one," a nurse rushed to tell Fu Tinghua.

If even the director was involved and calling for him personally, this patient must be in bad shape—and they must be somebody important.

Fu Tinghua dropped the phone immediately and followed the nurse to the ER.

When the director saw him, he looked like he'd seen the cavalry arrive.

"Ting Hua, pull out all the stops to save this one," the director said with weight in his words.

"I'll do my best."

Then he disappeared into the operating room.

By noon, Su He started waiting, but Fu Tinghua still hadn't returned.

"Working overtime today, is he? Still not back," Su Shiming teased, watching his daughter stare out like some old-school waiting wife.

"Must be an emergency surgery," Su He wrinkled her brow.

Surgeries could take hours. Dr. Fu hadn't eaten—was he gonna wreck his stomach?

"Sweetie, you're gonna be slammed here for a while," Su Shiming said proudly, eyeing his daughter's professional-looking shop setup.

His girl was sharp—takes after her old man.

"Yeah, Dad. You free these days? How about you run the register for me? I'll pay you."

Su He had been planning to hire help, but for cashier work, she needed someone educated, quick with numbers, and above all, trustworthy.

Su Shiming and Wen Qing would move heaven and earth for her—no question about their reliability.

Fu Yanju was dependable too, but she didn't have much schooling and her math skills weren't up to snuff.

Hearing his daughter—who used to just hit him up for cash—now offering to pay him, Su Shiming bit back a grin and asked deadpan, "Oh? What's the salary?"

Su He calculated yesterday's takings and the shop's traffic, then said, "Fifty bucks a month. Sound good?"

The Fu family dividends alone paid fifty per household each time. Paying her dad fifty monthly wasn't out of line.

Besides, these days a cashier was basically like a shop manager back in ancient times.

This wasn't like later years where you couldn't swing a cat without hitting a college grad. Someone like Su Shiming—educated, good with numbers, and 100% in her corner—was rare. She'd have paid him more if she could.

But since she was just starting out and strapped, she had to shortchange her old man for now.

"Fifty? You can swing that?" Su Shiming raised an eyebrow.

"Hell yes I can! You're selling your daughter short."

Su Shiming: "......"

"Alright, kiddo, just pulling your leg. Your mom and I don’t spend much anyway. No need for wages—I’ll just come help you out," Su Shiming said with a smile.

"No way. You’re my dad, and I can’t let you get shortchanged. It’s settled then."

Su He would never exploit those who treated her well. For every kindness shown to her, she wanted to repay it a hundredfold.

"Our girl has really grown up."

Su Shiming could clearly see his daughter wanted to show filial piety, and he was beaming.

But as if remembering something, he asked, "If you pay me like this, will your in-laws be unhappy later?"

Su He looked puzzled. "Why should they care? This shop is mine. Only the durian business is a partnership with them."

Seeing his daughter so level-headed and not overly concerned about her in-laws, Su Shiming felt somewhat reassured.

He’d worried she might always put others first and run herself ragged.

"Alright, then what’s my schedule?" Su Shiming asked.

"What time works best for you?" Su He countered.

Su Shiming: "......"

"Wait, you’re the boss paying the salary—I should follow your lead," Su Shiming was quick to defer.

"But you’re also my dad. Your health comes first."

Hearing this, Su Shiming felt a lump in his throat.

Getting misty-eyed at his age was downright embarrassing.

But he truly hadn’t expected their girl to become so thoughtful, even saying his health was her priority.

After all those lean years, he was finally reaping the rewards.

"Your dad’s used to waking early. How about I open the shop mornings? I need my siesta, so I can’t mind the store all day—you’ll take over at noon. But I can come back after. Guess the old family bike will be useful again."

Since his daughter wanted to do right by her old man, he’d take her up on it.

His health couldn’t handle too much strain, so he’d be honest—no point falling ill and worrying his family.

The notion brought a quiet chuckle.

"Okay, then your shifts will be 8 AM to noon and 4 PM to 6 PM. Work for you, Pop?" Su He asked.

The casual "Work for you, Pop?" hit Su Shiming right in the feels.

"Won’t those hours be too short?"

That didn’t sit right—4 PM to 6 PM? Shouldn’t he come by 2 or 3?

"Not at all. Mostly I need you to cover afternoons so I can do the cooking. Someone’s got to make dinner, right? The shop’s still new, and customers can’t find things yet, so Ting Hua’s sister can’t leave. That means I handle the kitchen."

If not for needing someone to cook, Su He wouldn’t have asked him to come afternoons at all.

"Fine, then should I come at 3?" Su Shiming pressed.

"Three or four’s fine—whatever suits you," Su He said brightly.

Then father and daughter shared a look and laughed together.

[chuckling] "No sweat. I’ll help from now on. When I’m free, I’ll tally up so you won’t stay late doing the books," Su Shiming said with affection.

"Deal. But I’ll say it again—your health comes first."