When they came back to the office area, Jiang Youyou was told that she wouldn’t begin as an administrative clerk, but as a receptionist first. Zhao Huixin began to explain the simplest requirements in her words. “You haven’t done such work before, I suppose I should tell you something first. Will you take some notes, please?”
Jiang Youyou quickly took out a notebook and settled down to listen to Zhao and took notes.
“You must make sure that every visitor can know clearly the position of any office of the company he wants to know when he comes in from the elevator entrance. The surface of your desk must be kept clean and tidy at any time. I’ve put the clock and calendar into the drawer of your desk. Moreover, the dress you wear must be neat and tidy. You didn’t iron your clothes today, so they are a little wrinkled. It’ll be terrible to have the GM assistant Huang Yu to see you in this way.”
Jiang Youyou stuck her tongue out and wondered if it would be that strict in Xu Nuo’s office.
“In the corridor, you have to walk aside two or three steps ahead of the visitor; when the visitor walks right in the middle of the corridor, you must walk at one side. Look back occasionally to make sure that the visitor is after you. When turning around the corner, say ‘coming this way, please.’ to the visitor.” Zhao Huixin showed Jiang Youyou around to be familiar with each office, and when they went outside the office of the general manager, they saw the door was left slightly open. “Knock at the door first before going in, at any time, even if the door is open. Do remember this and never forget it.”
Jiang Youyou glimpsed into the office out of curiosity. The handsome man she met in the staff canteen was in the office, with his back to her, perhaps he was changing his clothes. It was rather strange why he should leave the door open when changing clothes. He had beautiful limes of muscles on his back. Jiang Youyou swallowed, completely missed what Zhao Huixin said.
“Let the visitor go first when going upstairs, because people usually think higher position represents one’s nobleness. Don’t walk side by side with the visitor when going up or downstairs. When going upstairs, you should be on the right side and when going downstairs, on the left. Do you understand?”
The company occupied three whole stories of the office building. Jiang Youyou walked side by side with Zhao Huixin who shook her head, “Well, let’s take the elevator. Could you give your full attention to what I’m saying?”
Jiang Youyou then came back to her senses, and she went on taking notes in the elevator. “First, you should press the elevator’s button and tell the visitor on which floor his destination is. If there are more than one visitors, or there are other staff in our company who also take the elevator, you must enter the elevator first and stand in one corner, press the open button to lead the visitor in, then let our staff in. That is to say, show your respect by letting the visitor in first. But when you go out of the elevator, the order is just reversed. Press the button and let the visitor out first. If your boss is also in, then you must let your boss out ahead of you.”
“Should there be so many convention?” Jiang Youyou stuck her tongue out. “Eh, thank you very much, Sis Zhao.” So there should be so many regulations to be complied with when one started the work from the lowest level. Jiang Youyou had thought she could sit at the office desk from the very beginning instead of standing behind the reception desk like a fool, greeting unknown people, saying “welcome to our company” and “what can I do for you?” and so on.
Jiang Youyou saw a transparent glass vase on her new desk, with several Devil’s Ivy plants. Looking around, she saw a shadow flashed past the washbasin and she got to know who he was. Though not so handsome, he was good at pleasing girls.
Zhao Huixin had to hand over all her work at hand before quitting her job, so she couldn’t leave the company at the moment. There was one-week entry training course for new staff.
The trainer for the first class turned out to be the GM assistant. The October newcomers gathered together to attend the class. About twenty or so. Jiang Youyou sat with Xu Nuo again.
The first class was about courtesy and etiquette. It was obvious that Huang Yu had had a haircut today. She was about thirty-five or six years old, looking aggressive as the devil wearing Prada and her high heels set off her erect posture.
“Today we require every of you to grasp reception techniques, service etiquette, clothing etiquette and appearance etiquette. Now every of you, would you please switch your phone to mute mode.” She said in a calm voice with majesty.
Jiang Youyou turned off her phone directly and took out a notebook and a pen and listened attentively. Anyhow, this was her first full job since she graduated from the college and she must cherish and take great care of it.
“If you wear the wrong clothes, no one will tell you; if you don’t know how to put outfit together, no one will tell you; if your hair is out of order, no one will tell you; your nasal hair sticks out, no one will tell you; but, everyone will catch it in the eyes and keep it in his mind and, such trifling matters are defaming you! Whether you dress successfully or not determines whether you are treated in a friendly or a hostile way on various social occasions. Even when you go shopping in a store, your proper dressing can gain you better service. However, the subtle function of dress code is often overlooked. When one delegation was visiting a big bank in London, one of the delegates was blocked by the entrance guard who mistook him as a refugee worming his way into the line because he wore sportswear and sneakers. Although the interpreter explained to the guard again and again, he didn’t allow him to enter the bank. In financial industry in Britain and the US, even a cleaner can’t dress casually when going to work and the bank entrance guard should wear suits and leather shoes during work hours, let alone the senior staff?” Huang Yu talked with ease and confidence, as if no one else had read the book “Your image is worthy of million dollars”.
Xu Nuo had seen the author of the book while she was in Canada, and she knew the book like the back of her hand. Moreover, she had a signed genuine copy of the book. So she felt a bit boring. If she had to listen to such lectures all this week, she’d rather go out for a spin with Bai Zhehan. Heaven knew how he could be so busy!
It was her father’s intention for her to apply for the job in this company. She must get the job, by fair means or foul, her father said. What could she do in the company? Listen to the old woman chattering about a book she had already read? Xu Nuo turned to look at Jiang Youyou. This country bumpkin was taking note seriously. What was the use of taking down these notes? She even couldn’t afford most of the haute couture mentioned in the book.
Yet Jiang Youyou listened with keen pleasure. She considered Huang Yu as a goddess virtually. When could she herself go up to that high position, being superior enough to be awe-inspiring and influential?
After the first class, they had a test. Jiang Youyou took the second place, and Xu Nuo was the Number One. How could she make it? She was just staring blankly and how was it possible that she took the first place? She might achieve this more by luck than judgment.
One afternoon passed. When it was time to get off work, Huang Yu went to Jiang Youyou’s desk and gave her some meaningful remarks. “I hope you must make every effort to do well and everything will go better for you. After the work you can go shopping and buy some clothes so that you can dress yourself up in a proper way. Don’t wear that Ports dress of yours in the work hour. Thanks. I have said I don’t like that brand.”
Xu Nuo’s car was waiting downstairs of the company, “Will you go with us for the dinner?”
Jiang Youyou didn’t want to watch Bai Zhehan and Xu Nuo billing and cooing. She thought she’d better go shopping all by herself, picking up some clothes according to Hunag Yu’s instructions.
There were also some benefits to be alone. She could go anywhere she wanted to, eat anything she wanted to and go back home at any time as she liked , so long as she had enough money in her purse.
According to the instructions of her idol Huang Yu, Jiang Youyou bought khaki pants and woman’s suit jackets of good quality. She seated herself with ease on the sofa in the café of the shopping mall with big and small bags.
Wasn’t it Zhao Huixin?
Bags of milk powder were carried by a man beside her, who wore a pair of sunglasses even on a day without the sun. He was really a considerate man.
She was unwilling to greet them, so she watched them flashing past from the shop window. And Jiang Youyou smelt a flavor of happiness.
In the future her husband would also do such things like him, accompanying her shopping in the mall when she was pregnant. Carrying the mild powder bags for her and taking care of her. Even if it was at midnight he would go out to buy blueberry tart she liked for her.
To dream was a happy thing and one didn’t need to have any money to fall in love with a man who even didn’t realize her love at all. It would also be good for her to stay alone without thinking about anything, Jiang Youyou thought.