The manager’s job isn’t just about putting a bell on a cat’s neck.
“Everyone on the first floor, gather around. I told you to organize the books that are in short supply and report to the printing room, right?”
If you receive many benefits, you also have to take criticism. I pointed out the issues from yesterday to the staff.
“I’m sorry! I forgot.”
“The printing room needs to operate all day, so we need to finish the small print volume quickly in the morning. Please avoid mistakes next time.”
“Yes! I’ll remember!”
“I’ve made a list of recommended books, so read it whenever you have time. And you, printing room person. Why didn’t you think to ask why there was no report from the first floor yesterday? Didn’t I tell you to ask?”
“I’m sorry! I thought there were no books in short supply, so I just followed the day plan you gave.”
“I understand you’re busy. But let’s be a bit more thorough. There are some employees who have done printing work before, so I’m not too worried, but quality control needs to be strict. If there are materials in short supply, report before they run out.”
“Yes!”
“Those in charge of organizing should not just stare blankly and do nothing. Pick up trash right away and constantly organize the books. Everyone makes mistakes, but let’s set up procedures to reduce them.”
“I’ll keep that in mind!”
It’s natural to make mistakes in work. But if we can reduce mistakes through criticism, then someone has to be willing to say the annoying things.
“Today, I plan to visit our clients, so focus on your tasks, everyone.”
Busy since morning. After warning the staff, I immediately headed out to the Tea Bookstore.
———
“The cast metal types break too frequently. Isn’t the hardness too soft?”
I stopped by the supplier that provides the lead types used in the printing presses to say a word about the newly delivered types.
“If you keep printing nonstop, what do you expect?! Do you think type casting is easy?! If you’ve got complaints, order elsewhere!”
“They said they’d give me a better price if I went somewhere else.”
“Who do you think you are! Can’t even joke around! I’m putting in the effort to make these!”
“Please take care of it.”
It’s impossible to do lead alloy type casting in the printing room attached to the Tea Bookstore. In a bookshop overflowing with paper, we can’t have someone melting lead next to a café.
When I make a lot of money someday, I should set up a proper printing house.
I left the casting shop and visited another bookstore.
“Do you take printing orders? We can, but what do you think about this price?”
The bookstore owner showed me the interior printing room and proposed a price per book.
“I know all about unit prices, you know?”
“Hey now! This is the price everywhere these days! But if you have a printing room at the Tea Bookstore, why order printing here? Are you possibly publishing three volumes?”
“It’s not that. Business has actually been quite good lately.”
“If you’re publishing The Rise of the Tang Family, let us sell it at our store. I’ll give you a good price per book.”
The price suggested by the bookstore owner was indeed attractive, but it wouldn’t give a big margin compared to the free labor and self-printing.
“I’ll come back another time.”
I asked other bookstores out of a hint of hope, but it was the same everywhere.
In the end, I’ll need to print as many copies of the third volume as possible before the release.
As I moved around the suppliers, the sun was high in the sky.
With hiring staff making things easier, my burden as the manager seems to have increased. I feel like my arms and legs have grown, but I only have one head.
I’m doing less manual work, but now I have twice as many things to keep an eye on.
‘I need someone I can trust to assign important tasks to.’
I need a management position.
Living in the Central Plains as a barbarian brings problems like this. Connections through blood, regional ties, academic ties, and parachutes. I have none of that. No one I can trust.
Since it’s about money, I need someone I can rely on. Someone dependable, competent at work, and quick enough to go to suppliers in my place.
I have someone in mind, but I’m still wondering when to bring it up.
——–
“Manager! Did you come for lunch?”
As I went to settle the bill at the inn where the staff were having their meal, Ha So-so called for me.
“Ha So-so, I didn’t realize it was already lunchtime.”
“Hehe. If you came to eat, join us! Your sister Ha-yeon is over there too.”
Though Ha So-so didn’t directly point, it was easy to find Im Ha-yeon.
It was hard to miss a striking beauty in a black cheongsam.
Did Ha-yeon also know I was here? As soon as our eyes met, she turned her gaze away with a humming sound.
If you weren’t going to say hello, then why were you looking? How picky.
‘It would be nice if Im Ha-yeon worked in management.’
There’s no relationship easier to build trust with than being the daughter of a sworn brother.
I feel like the distance has lessened lately due to my good treatment, but it also feels like she’s keeping her distance, making it hard to figure out.
‘If I keep treating her well and we get closer, I can assign her to an important role.’
What she wants is at the Tea Bookstore, and I need her. Given time, I could probably get her into a management position.
However, her excessive fandom for The Rise of the Tang Family is nice for me as a writer, but it’s a risky factor as a bookstore owner.
Im Ha-yeon, please don’t cause any accidents.
“Manager?”
“Oh! I need to go; work is busy. Enjoy your meal.”
“Don’t you want to share the lunch set…?”
It’s fine. I’m used to eating alone. If I get hungry later, I’ll just enjoy a lonely gourmet meal as Kang Yoon-ho.
I left the inn, ignoring Ha So-so’s disappointed voice.
*
Im Ha-yeon, after avoiding Kang Yoon-ho’s gaze, fell into the thoughts troubling her throughout the day.
‘I really want to see The Rise of the Tang Family volume 3.’
I want to see it. I want to see it so badly. I want to be the first reader to see the third volume.
Why does that man have to tell me that the third volume is in print, making me worry like this? Ha-yeon sighed quietly in frustration.
If only there were some physical distance between me and Yichang, I could endure it.
Why is it just that the printing room door stands in my way? And a locked door at that—doesn’t it seem like a door waiting for me to open it?
Ha-yeon found herself staring at the printing room door several times a day, lost in her thoughts.
‘Even though I know all about the security situation at the Tea Bookstore.’
The Tea Bookstore has excellent security because it’s newly built. Surely, other thieves or intruders would find it hard to break in with the well-secured premises.
Of course, I could.
Ha-yeon drew a mental picture of the Tea Bookstore’s security and its weaknesses.
She didn’t particularly want to think about it, but she couldn’t help it; it seemed that what she learned was very much about thievery.
After much contemplation, Ha-yeon quietly came to a conclusion. Infiltration is possible. Even if asked to sneak in from the outside, it wouldn’t take long to reach the printing room.
Then could I see The Rise of the Tang Family?
‘No! I have to endure it.’
Ha-yeon squeezed her eyes shut at the thought that came to her mind.
If it comes out that a thief broke in, the author Ho Pil could be shocked. To think of him going on strike—it’s a nightmare I’d rather not imagine.
And.
‘… That man trusts me too.’
Ha-yeon recalled the face of the man who asked her to let him know if any suspicious person appeared.
He knows what I’ve learned and what novel I love. Yet he still asked me to inform him if someone suspicious showed up.
Huh? No one dreams of hopping over another’s fence.
Huh? No one dreams of hopping over another’s fence while knowing how to do it.
‘Kang Yoon-ho believed in me.’
He told me he didn’t want to become a thief. The daughter of The Shadowless Thief. The disciple of The Shadowless Thief. Yet he held my wrist with a trusting expression.
Suddenly, a strange tickling feeling arose in Ha-yeon’s chest.
‘Still, if I sneak in at night and just take a look…’
Of course, that tickling feeling quickly faded in front of her huge dilemma.
Should I read quickly and come out? No, how can I read The Rise of the Tang Family in a rush at night? If I want to absorb every word, I need to read it in the room.
Ha-yeon tried to endure it, but the torment she couldn’t bear continued to sway her.
“Sister?”
“Ugh… I really want to read it.”
The third volume of The Rise of the Tang Family. It’s a temptation too great. Ha-yeon felt like she wanted to mess up her neatly arranged hair she had tidied up in the morning.
“Sister?!”
“Yeah?”
As Ha-yeon recognized Ha So-so’s loud call, she barely gathered her thoughts.
“Manager Kang isn’t coming, huh?”
“I figured that would be the case.”
“Yet you were the first to spot it and put down your food.”
Ha So-so looked at Ha-yeon’s chopsticks pushed to one side and spoke.
“… I didn’t want to watch others eat while I waited.”
Ha-yeon replied, pouting her lips, pretending she hadn’t thought about it.
“Is there something bothering you?”
I want to see the third volume of The Rise of the Tang Family. Ha-yeon barely held back the words that wanted to jump out and replied instead.
“It’s hard to talk about.”
Is it a sin to be able to open the door but not open it?
Is reading a book really thievery?
No, even so. There’s no need to betray the trust of the author Ho Pil and that man. No, it doesn’t matter about that man. Ho Pil is the important one. What am I even thinking? Ha-yeon’s head was so confused.
“I guess it’s hard for you to say. Is it maybe something related to Manager Kang?”
Ha So-so squinted her eyes, grinning as if she knew everything.
“Why are you suddenly talking about that guy?”
It was an off-target jab, but it struck painfully. Without realizing, Ha-yeon raised her voice.
“Ah! Right. Hehe.”
“No, it’s not.”
Why is Ha So-so smiling? Even though Ha-yeon denied it, she still felt a sense of defeat at the encouraging tone.
“Then is it something you can talk about with Manager Kang?”
If I say it, will he listen? That’s nonsense. I said I didn’t want to become a thief, but I want to sneak a peek at The Rise of the Tang Family. How could I say that?
“No, it’s not.”
“If it’s Manager Kang, he would listen to you. Just tell him; he’s sure to comply!”
Ha So-so’s smile grew wider.
“I… why would I?”
“Hehe. Don’t you know? Really?”
“What do you mean?”
What on earth is she trying to say?
Ha-yeon listened to Ha So-so’s puzzling words.
“Manager Kang Yoon-ho likes you, Ha-yeon.”
“Whaaaaat?!”
