“I…”
Jiang Yuwei wanted to say she didn’t know, but looking at Chen Lishu’s increasingly cold gaze, she had no doubt about the consequences if she said the wrong thing.
Although unwilling, she eventually changed her tune: “They are just ordinary friends. I believe the newspaper incident was just a coincidence.”
Sun Ling looked at Jiang Yuwei in disbelief: “Yuwei, why are you defending Chen Lishu?”
“I’m not defending her. Sun Ling, let’s just let this go. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” Jiang Yuwei said and turned back to her seat.
“Yuwei might be easy to bully, but I’m not. Chen Lishu, you’d better be careful.” Sun Ling glared at Chen Lishu before turning and leaving with Jiang Yuwei.
Yang Lili looked at Sun Ling, then at Chen Lishu, wanting to say something but hesitating. In the end, she also silently returned to her seat.
…
Lin Qi was very efficient. Within a week, he had found two shops. Chen Lishu went to take a look when she had no classes.
One was next to a newly opened barbershop. The space was quite spacious, but the location was a bit inconspicuous, right at the corner of the street. If one didn’t look specifically, it was easily overlooked.
The other location was on the commercial street, opposite the Yimin Store. The location was good, but the owner wanted to rent out both floors to get more money. The total area of the two floors was over a hundred square meters, and the price was not cheap, costing thirty yuan a month.
“The two shops next to it were rented out long ago. Most people do small businesses and don’t need such a large space. Plus, the price is high, so it has never been rented out. I inquired, and the two shops next to it were rented out for fifteen yuan a month,” Lin Qi explained.
Since the opening of individual businesses, rents on the commercial street had also increased.
“Let’s offer twenty-five. If they agree, we’ll rent it. If not, we’ll take the first one.” She didn’t have many clothing designs for now, so the second floor could temporarily serve as a warehouse and a place to live. When her business grew, she could sell clothing on both floors.
Few people could rent such a large space, and after two days of consideration, the owner agreed to the price of twenty-five yuan, but required the rent to be paid for a year in advance. They signed a three-year lease, and Chen Lishu paid the owner three hundred yuan upfront.
After paying the rent, Chen Lishu had less than a hundred yuan left. All her money was tied up in inventory, and that was from the money she earned selling swimwear.
Next, there would be expenses for renovation materials and labor. Miscellaneous expenses would add up to at least four to five hundred yuan. She needed to find a way to recoup some of her capital.
After renting the place, Chen Lishu called Gu Xingye and Zhou Bin.
She called Gu Xingye to help her find people to do the renovation, and Zhou Bin to discuss cooperation.
“More and more people are opening shops in the provincial capital. I think this is an opportunity. I’ll provide the labor, you provide the renovation materials, and we’ll split the profits fifty-fifty. What do you think?”
Since cooperating with Chen Lishu, Zhou Bin had never lost money. Any business she took an interest in was bound to be profitable. Coupled with the fact that Zhou Bin had traveled to several places with the truck recently, he had indeed seen many small stores opening up. Therefore, he readily agreed and said he would take leave in the next two days to go to the provincial capital for a meeting.
After hanging up, Chen Lishu stood there for a moment and then went to Wang Aixiang’s house.
These past few days, Wang Aixiang had found another sister-in-law from the same courtyard to help make swimwear. The sales were also good, with over a hundred pieces sold in just a few days.
“Aixiang jie, how much fabric do we have left?”
“Besides the more than six bolts of bubble crepe, there are ten bolts of pure cotton cloth that we didn’t have time to transport last time.”
Pure cotton cloth was hard to come by and very suitable for making intimate apparel and children’s clothes. Even with cloth coupons in the stores, it cost one yuan per foot, and wholesale was at least 1.2 yuan. Selling five bolts first would alleviate the cash flow problem.
So, Chen Lishu said, “Contact the agents later and see if they can take the goods. Let’s sell half of that batch of cotton cloth for now.”
“Meizi, are you short of money? If not, I have a few hundred yuan here. It’s not much, but you can use it first.”
Wang Aixiang had elderly parents and young children, and all her money was kept for emergencies. Chen Lishu would never take it, but she still smiled and said, “I can manage for now. If I really run into trouble, I will definitely tell you.”
…
At the Gu family’s house, everyone was very happy when they heard that Chen Lishu wanted Gu Xingye to find people to work in the provincial capital.
“It’s just the slack farming season. Everyone can spare some time,” Gu Shoufou said, looking at Gu Xingye: “Did your third sister-in-law mention how many people she needs?”
“She said it’s not like building a house, but we’ll need at least five or six people, preferably with a professional bricklayer and carpenter.”
Most rural people were amateurs at building houses. They could assist others, but to cut materials, they needed someone who specialized in this.
“Did she say how much they would be paid?” Liu Yuemin, holding her infant daughter, asked eagerly.
Her main concern was the payment. Last time, they were paid thirty yuan for half a month’s work at the purchasing station’s factory building. This time, they would be leaving their homes and families to go to the provincial capital, so in her opinion, it shouldn’t be less than that.
“Third sister-in-law didn’t specify. She said we’ll discuss it based on the workload when we get there. There should be a lot of shop renovation work in the provincial capital now.”
Anything Chen Lishu suggested was a profitable venture. Regardless of what others thought, Gu Xingye had faith in Chen Lishu.
Liu Yuemin pouted: “Don’t people always discuss prices before working? Won’t third sister-in-law let everyone work for free?”
Gu Xingye frowned: “Third sister-in-law said we’ll discuss the price based on the workload when we get there. Besides, even if they don’t pay us, we’re all family. Helping to decorate a shop isn’t something we should do?”
“Even brothers have to settle accounts clearly. Leaving wives and children at home, and the work points from the production team. Even if it’s the slack season, if there’s work, shouldn’t we do it? Isn’t that also money?”
Li Xiulan frowned at her words: “Second daughter-in-law, your third brother’s wife didn’t specifically ask for the second son to go. If you’re unwilling, you don’t have to go. You have your own legs, no one is forcing you.”
“Mom, that’s not how it works. What if it’s profitable? If Xingmin doesn’t go, won’t that be a big loss?”
Whether to go or not, she had her own twisted logic.
Li Xiulan, too lazy to bother with her, turned to Gu Xingye and said, “Did your third sister-in-law say when you should go?”
“She said we can go in the next two days after finding people. They have accommodation there.”
Gu Shoufou nodded upon hearing this. Having accommodation would be much more convenient.