CHAPTER 568: CHAPTER 568: RESPECT FROM A DISTANCE

Qi Fenglian had no idea that everyone was on guard against her. After she officially started her probationary period at Joy Soon Loy, she was willing to do anything. Whenever she didn’t understand something, she would ask, and the others would explain to her. Still, she constantly felt that their warmth was lacking, although she couldn’t quite understand why.

Why did she feel this way? When they were chatting during their downtime, and she joined in, the enthusiasm seemed to fade away, leaving an awkward atmosphere.

Once or twice, Qi Fenglian didn’t mind, but after three or four times, she began to sense that something was off. So, she privately pulled aside Qiulan to ask whether she had done something wrong, as it seemed like everyone didn’t really like her.

Uh, Qiulan felt somewhat awkward. How could she explain this?

After all, she had been at the job for a decent length of time and knew how to phrase things. She vaguely responded, "You’ve just arrived, so perhaps everyone isn’t familiar with you yet, and that’s why they don’t have much to say?" She paused and then added in a joking tone: "Sister Lian, you are Elder Sister Su’s elder sister. They’re probably worried they won’t do a good job, and you’ll report them to Sister Su!"

Qi Fenglian was no fool. After a moment’s thought, she understood that the unfamiliarity excuse was just politeness, and the latter was the truth. They were wary of her!

Qi Fenglian laughed it off: "We’re all colleagues here, and I’m just someone working on behalf of others. How could I do such a thing!"

But no matter what she said, everyone still had their reservations. Qi Fenglian felt helpless, and alongside this helplessness, there was a subtle sense of loss and hurt.

Whether during her single days or after she got married, she was known for her good temperament. In both villages, there were few who didn’t speak well of her, but here, it felt as though she wasn’t well-received, which naturally made her feel dejected.

Cheng Su quickly noticed the change in Qi Fenglian’s mood. It had only been a few days, but there seemed to be less of a smile on her face. Maybe she was homesick, missing her family and her child?

She mentioned this to Qi Taiguo, who replied, "You’re both women, and it’s easier to talk about your feelings. Why don’t you ask her?"

Cheng Su found the right moment and asked earnestly, "Are you missing Baobao and the others?"

Qi Fenglian shook her head, hesitating to speak.

Cheng Su was puzzled. Could there be something she couldn’t talk about?

After pressing her further, Qi Fenglian finally opened up haltingly about the attitude of the restaurant staff towards her.

"To say they’re cold isn’t quite right, but they just don’t seem warm towards me. When everyone looks at me, it feels like, um, how do you say it... Oh, right," Qi Fenglian slapped her forehead, "they keep me at arm’s length, afraid I’ll stab them in the back."

She revealed a bitter smile she spoke.

Cheng Su hadn’t expected this; she had been busy planning the new fast food restaurant and guiding Qi Fenglian, not paying much attention to the staff’s emotions.

She hadn’t anticipated this turn of events.

After a moment of thought, she said, "Elder Sister, this is human nature. It’s normal for people to be cautious since you have an additional relationship with both the employees and the boss. So, some go through training in family businesses without revealing their identities, just to establish good relationships with the staff."

"But you shouldn’t take it too much to heart. Just focus on doing your job well. When you’re right, over time people will come to understand your character and your boundaries. As long as you hold the moral high ground, who can fault you?" Cheng Su added, "Elder Sister, this is just a minor setback. In the service industry, you meet customers of all sorts. If you can’t get past these small emotions, these minor setbacks, and take everything too seriously, how will you manage later? Remember, a little hardship is motivation."

Upon hearing this, Qi Fenglian pondered thoughtfully.