385: Eat, drink and chat

“Thank you, Xiao Accountant, I can do it myself,” Liu Xiaolin said politely.

“Why are you calling me Xiao Accountant? Call me Sister Hongmei,” Xiao Hongmei said with a smile.

“Ah? Sister Hongmei? Are you older than me? It looks like I should be older than you,” Liu Xiaolin retorted, “You should call me Hong Meizi, and I’ll call you Xiaolin Ge.”

“What? Look at you, you look like you haven’t even graduated from university, how could you be older than me? I already graduated from university two years ago and have been an accountant at Haizhe Technology for two years,” Xiao Hongmei said, widening her eyes, “Hurry up and call me Sister Hongmei! Did you hear me?”

Liu Xiaolin pondered for a moment. If he hadn’t taken a leave of absence, he would have just graduated now, so Xiao Hongmei should be one or two years older than him.

“Sister Hongmei, Sister Hongmei, you are my good older sister, is that better?” Liu Xiaolin immediately changed his address.

“That’s more like it. From now on, as your older sister, I’ll look out for you,” Xiao Hongmei said while picking out conch meat and eating it in large bites.

“Thank you, Sister Hongmei,” Liu Xiaolin said obediently.

“Minister Cui, you should eat too. Why are you also waiting for me to serve you?” Xiao Hongmei quickly greeted Cui Zhenzhong when she saw he hadn’t started eating.

“I can do it myself. I was just watching you two discuss your seniority, and I forgot to eat,” Cui Zhenzhong said, picking up a piece of salt-baked razor clam with his chopsticks and eating it.

“Sister Hongmei, what are you responsible for in Finance Department?” Liu Xiaolin asked, feigning casualness.

“I’m responsible for issuing invoices, bookkeeping, reimbursements, and so on. Anyway, I’m just a brick in the Finance Department, moved wherever needed,” Xiao Hongmei replied.

“Oh, is issuing invoices very troublesome?” Liu Xiaolin continued to ask.

“What’s troublesome about it? The Sales Department submits an invoice application, then the superior leader signs it. After we confirm that the outbound delivery note and the invoice application match, we can issue the invoice,” Xiao Hongmei said.

“That still sounds quite troublesome. You still need a leader’s signature. What if the leader isn’t in the company, wouldn’t that cause delays?” Liu Xiaolin asked again.

“One good thing about our Haizhe Technology is that we have many General Managers. If this General Manager isn’t available, we find that General Manager to sign. Anyway, the invoices are always issued very promptly,” Xiao Hongmei said, placing a piece of stir-fried squid with sauce on Liu Xiaolin’s plate. “Try this, it’s delicious.”

Liu Xiaolin had just finished the conch meat and hadn’t had time to rest, and the stir-fried squid with sauce was already in front of him. So, he continued to eat.

“Does General Manager Hai also sign?” Liu Xiaolin asked again.

“You know General Manager Hai?” Xiao Hongmei frowned, asking suspiciously, “Why did you suddenly think of asking about him?”

“I read your company’s profile, so of course I know General Manager Hai. Besides, your company’s technology research and development patent is his, so I definitely want to ask about his situation,” Liu Xiaolin said with a smile, “If it weren’t for his technology research and development patent, I wouldn’t have chosen your company’s products.”

“Oh, I see, you’re right. Many customers come because of our General Manager Hai,” Xiao Hongmei said proudly, “General Manager Hai is a ‘Scientific Research Expert’ recognized by the Ministry of Science and Technology; he’s famous nationwide.”

“Exactly, that’s why I was asking if General Manager Hai’s signature is on your invoice application forms,” Liu Xiaolin quickly brought the topic back.

“Our General Manager Hai, like Minister Cui, is dedicated to scientific research, so he never interferes with the affairs of other departments,” Xiao Hongmei said, “Originally, General Manager Xiang always signed, and occasionally General Manager Han signed. Last year, for a few months, I don’t know what happened, but General Manager Cai signed every day.”

“Which two months?” Liu Xiaolin asked eagerly.

“It was during the months General Manager Hai was abroad. General Manager Cai specifically instructed our Finance Department that invoice applications must be signed by him. Signatures from General Manager Han and General Manager Xiang wouldn’t be valid,” Xiao Hongmei said, picking up another skewer of salt-baked prawns and gnawing on it.

“Is General Manager Cai still signing now?” Liu Xiaolin asked.

“No, it was only for those few months that General Manager Cai controlled the invoice application signatures. After General Manager Hai had his accident, he stopped managing the invoice application signatures, and it went back to the original mode: if General Manager Xiang was there, he signed; if General Manager Xiang wasn’t there, General Manager Han signed,” Xiao Hongmei said after finishing a skewer of prawns, as the waiter served a steamed sea bass.

“This fish is especially delicious, eat it while it’s hot!” Xiao Hongmei finished speaking and used the serving chopsticks to give Liu Xiaolin and Cui Zhenzhong each a large piece of fish. “Hurry and eat, it’s incredibly fresh.”

“Mmm, mmm, it really tastes good,” Liu Xiaolin said, eating the fish on his plate.

“Alright, all the dishes are here, and we’ve had something to eat. Let’s have a drink!” Xiao Hongmei was as straightforward as a boy, yet she was so beautiful.

Liu Xiaolin looked at Xiao Hongmei and suddenly felt a different sensation in his heart. When he was with Hong Tongtong, he always coaxed and pampered her. But beside Xiao Hongmei, he felt very comfortable being taken care of by her; he had the illusion that he could act spoiled in front of her.

“Then I’ll toast Sister Hongmei, thank you for gracing us with your presence,” Liu Xiaolin said, raising his glass, “To an older sister more beautiful than a red plum blossom, I’ll drink this first!”

After saying that, he drained the small cup of wine in one gulp, and a warm current instantly flowed from his throat throughout his body.

“Little Liu Comrade’s mouth is really sweet. Well, I won’t be polite, I’ll drink this too,” Xiao Hongmei said, cheerfully draining her glass. “It’s my luck to be able to drink with such a handsome younger brother today.” www.x33xs.com

“What ‘Little Liu Comrade’? That’s too formal! Just call me Xiao Lin younger brother,” Liu Xiaolin’s courage grew after one glass of wine.

“Alright, then I’ll call you Xiao Lin younger brother,” Xiao Hongmei said without any pretense.

“Look at you two! In such a short time, you’re already calling each other older sister and younger brother. I’ve known Hongmei for over two years, and she still calls me Minister Cui,” Cui Zhenzhong said with a smile, “It seems that young and handsome people are more likable.”

“Minister Cui, what are you saying?” Xiao Hongmei’s face turned red. “I’ve always considered you a big brother, alright?”

“Yes, I know, you consider me a big brother, yet you still always call me Minister Cui,” Cui Zhenzhong deliberately acted coy.

“Alright, from today onwards, I’ll call you Cui Dage. Is that okay?” Xiao Hongmei picked up her wine glass. “Cui Dage, I toast you.”

“That’s more like it, Manager Liu, you should join in and have a drink,” Cui Zhenzhong said.

The three of them raised their glasses and drank them dry.

“Where were we just now? Oh, right, all the invoice application forms after General Manager Hai went abroad were signed by General Manager Cai, right? Did you notice any problems? Why did General Manager Cai suddenly start signing them?” Liu Xiaolin continued to ask.

“We, as financial accountants, are the most sensitive people,” Xiao Hongmei said, placing a piece of spicy flying crab on Liu Xiaolin’s plate. “Eat quickly, eat while we talk.”

“Okay, okay, thank you, Sister Hongmei. Sister Hongmei, you eat too,” Liu Xiaolin said, then also helped Xiao Hongmei pick up a piece of spicy flying crab.

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