Chapter 133: A Manager's Burden
The logo hanging above the small shop depicted a stylized open book, pages turning into waves crashing against a weathered rock. Shihui Bookstore. The name, meaning something like 'Time-Worn Stone' or perhaps 'History Washed Ashore', felt appropriate, if a bit melancholic. 'Xiaoyuan's design choice,' Xiu presumed; he hadn't been involved in the branding specifics, trusting her judgment as long as it wasn't too outrageous.
The store itself was smaller than the chain bookstores, occupying a modest storefront. The interior decoration, visible through the front window, aimed for a youthful, perhaps slightly alternative vibe – metal bookshelves arranged to divide the space, exposed brick walls lined with more shelves displaying a scattered selection of books.
A simple flat-topped counter near the door served as the main display area, currently featuring a few worn-looking older volumes under a handwritten 'Low Price Bargains!' sign. At the actual front desk, tucked into a corner near the entrance, sat a young man, idly scrolling through his phone.
Compared to the bustling Pokémon Center or even the moderately busy Ōto Bookstore branch, this place felt… deserted. Xiu stood outside for several minutes, observing. Not a single customer entered or left. Of course, this wasn't a prime commercial street; foot traffic was naturally lower here. But its proximity to Viridian City's main Trainer school and several technical colleges was deliberate – the strategic reason for choosing this seemingly out-of-the-way location.
Xiu finally pushed the door open and stepped inside. A small bell chimed overhead. The young man at the desk glanced up briefly, registered Xiu, then immediately lowered his head back to his phone, offering no greeting, no acknowledgement.
Xiu frowned slightly, immediately sensing something was off. The atmosphere felt… stagnant. Neglected. It wasn't just quiet; it felt dead. He began browsing the shelves. The layout seemed haphazard.
'And the inventory…' it confirmed his unease. Only about thirty percent of the books seemed to be genuinely old, second-hand stock. The rest? Clearly the pirated editions produced by their own hidden printing press back near Fuchsia City.
But they were poorly organized, mixed in randomly with the legitimate used books, categories unclear, spines dusty. Prices marked inside the covers seemed inconsistent, varying wildly from what he knew their agreed-upon pricing strategy was.
The entire presentation felt unprofessional, chaotic. This wasn't the discreet, well-organized front operation he'd envisioned.
'What happened here?' This sloppy execution was completely different from the meticulous standards Xiaoyuan usually maintained.
"Excuse me," Xiu said, deliberately adopting the tone of a slightly dissatisfied customer, "these shelves are a complete mess. How is anyone supposed to find anything?" He kept his voice level, just loud enough to be heard over the clerk's phone game.
The young man didn't even look up. "It is what it is," he mumbled dismissively. "See something you want, buy it. Don't? Leave."
Xiu's eyebrows shot up. He walked directly over to the front desk, leaned forward slightly, and knocked sharply on the countertop. "Excuse me?" he repeated, his voice hardening now, dropping the customer facade entirely.
"Is that any way to run a business? Books disorganized, shelves dusty, ignoring potential customers?" He injected deliberate authority into his tone. "I want to speak to the manager. Now. Get your boss out here."
The young man finally looked up, startled by Xiu's sudden shift in demeanor. He met Xiu's cold stare, then smirked insolently. "I am the boss," he sneered. "Got a problem with that?"
Xiu stared back at him, a flicker of amusement mixing with his growing annoyance. 'This kid? The manager? Xiaoyuan put him in charge?' He shook his head slowly, a pitying smile touching his lips. "If you're the boss," he said quietly, devastatingly, "then it's no wonder this place looks like it's about to go bankrupt."
Without waiting for a reply, Xiu turned and walked out of the bookstore, leaving the young man sputtering indignantly behind the counter. As Xiu reached the door, he heard the clerk mutter under his breath, loud enough to be heard, "Cocky bastard… hope you get jumped walking around like that…"
Xiu paused at the door, his eyes narrowing slightly. He didn't turn back, didn't react outwardly, but filed the hostile comment away. 'This branch… has serious problems.'
He understood immediately what had likely happened. Xiaoyuan, overwhelmed by the rapid expansion and the difficulties of remote management in this era of limited communication technology, had likely delegated too much responsibility too quickly.
She was smart, capable, yes— but lacked real-world management experience, lacked the cynicism needed to anticipate employee negligence and/or potential sabotage, lacked the 'street smarts' to control potentially unruly subordinates from afar.
Managing one hidden factory was one thing; overseeing multiple retail fronts across different cities, each staffed by strangers? It was a recipe for exactly this kind of breakdown in standards and discipline.
'Taking too big a step, too fast,' Xiu sighed inwardly. 'It's my fault too.'
He walked away from the bookstore, his earlier plans of exploring Viridian City forgotten. He headed directly back towards the Pokémon Center, his mind already formulating solutions.
— — —
Back in the relative privacy of his room at the Pokémon Center, Xiu immediately logged onto the computer terminal, initiating a secure video call.
After a brief connecting tone, Xiaoyuan's face appeared on the screen. She looked tired, stressed, but also more mature, more professional than when he'd first met her months ago. The responsibility, however burdensome, had clearly forged her.
"Xiu?" she asked immediately, skipping pleasantries. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?" Her tone held an edge of weary anxiety.
"Everything's fine on my end," Xiu replied calmly. "Can't say the same for your Viridian City branch, though." He decided directness was best.
Xiaoyuan winced. "What happened?"
Xiu recounted his visit – the deserted store, the unprofessional clerk, the disorganized inventory, the inconsistent pricing, the clerk's hostile attitude. He didn't soften the criticism.
As Xiu detailed the problems, Xiaoyuan's expression grew increasingly dismayed, then embarrassed, then frustrated. "That employee…" she explained haltingly, "the one running the Viridian store… he was one of the best performers recruited after you left. Seemed reliable, capable…" Her voice trailed off, clearly realizing her judgment had been flawed.
Xiu understood immediately. A capable salesperson didn't necessarily make a capable manager, especially unsupervised. "It's not entirely your fault, Xiaoyuan," he reassured her gently. "Rapid expansion always brings challenges. Especially with remote management."
They spent the next hour discussing the Viridian City situation, analyzing the specific failures, brainstorming solutions. Inventory control systems, standardized pricing protocols, surprise spot-checks by trusted 'shoppers', better vetting for managerial roles… Xiu drew upon his past life's corporate experience, adapting business management principles to their unique, illicit context.
Xiaoyuan listened intently, taking notes, asking sharp, insightful questions. Her initial defensiveness faded, replaced by focused problem-solving. She readily admitted her oversight, her lack of experience in managing personnel remotely.
"The bookstore," Xiu finally reiterated, summarizing their revised strategy, "is primarily a front. Its profitability is secondary to its function as a discreet distribution channel and a means of gathering market intelligence. Don't sacrifice security for short-term sales figures. Separate the piracy completely. Keep the supply chain anonymous."
"I understand," Xiaoyuan nodded, her confidence returning. "I'll implement these changes immediately. The employee in Viridian… he'll be dealt with."
"Good," Xiu approved. He saw the determination in her eyes. She was learning, adapting. He offered a few words of genuine praise for her overall success in managing the core operation, the significant profits generated despite the Virdian hiccup. Flattery, as he knew, was a necessary tool for maintaining morale, especially when delivering criticism.
Xiaoyuan blushed slightly at the praise, her earlier frustration seemingly forgotten. "It's… it's just following your instructions," she mumbled modestly.
"Executing instructions effectively under pressure is a skill in itself," Xiu countered smoothly. "You've done well." He paused and Xiaoyuan took this opportunity to ask, her tone shifting slightly, "So… when are you coming back?" The question held a hint of hopeful longing beneath the business-like facade.
Xiu deftly sidestepped the question. "This personnel issue in Viridian needs immediate attention," he stated firmly, maintaining professional distance. "Who exactly is the employee in charge there? Give me his contact details, his recruitment file. I'll handle his… termination… remotely."
Seeing Xiu shift back into 'operational mode', Xiaoyuan suppressed her personal feelings and quickly relayed the necessary information via secure chat.
As soon as Xiu received the data, he abruptly ended the call. "Alright, gotta go handle this now. We'll talk again soon. Stay safe." He disconnected before Xiaoyuan could respond further.
Xiaoyuan stared at the blank screen for a long moment, a familiar surge of frustration rising. 'He always does that!' Cutting her off, keeping her at arm's length… "Xiu!!!" she yelled impotently at the unresponsive computer.