Zhou Liang looked up, "Then when do you plan to consider it?"
"I can still dance, let's talk about it in a few years."
"How many years is 'a few years'? You have to give me a definite answer."
Faced with Zhou Liang's sudden aggressiveness, Zhao Jing stopped speaking.
"I'm almost thirty, and you're twenty-seven this year. Every time we talk about this topic, it's 'wait a moment.' Today, you must give me a definite answer. Or are you not planning to have children with me at all?"
"What are you going crazy about, Zhou Liang? I can't be bothered with you." Zhao Jing got up and went into the room, followed by a heavy door slam.
"Xing Dong, I bought some vegetable seeds today – tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. When you have time, turn over the soil, and I'll have time to plant them next week."
"Just tell me where the seeds are, and I'll plant them all together when I have time," Gu Xing Dong said, finishing the last dumpling on his plate.
Chen Li Shu got up to clear the table, but Gu Xing Dong held her hand down. "You're doing laundry and cooking. You rest, I'll do it."
Chen Li Shu smiled. "I'm not tired, but you worked so hard training during the day."
Gu Xing Dong, holding his bowls and chopsticks, lowered his head, kissed her, and said softly, "Be good, let's save some energy, you still need to feed me tonight."
Chen Li Shu shot him a reproachful glance. "You're never serious all day."
"Why be serious with your own wife? How else would other people's children come about?"
Chen Li Shu couldn't argue with him. "Hurry up and pick up your bowls."
Gu Xing Dong chuckled. "As you command."
Since both of them had to get up early the next day, they turned off the lights and went to bed shortly after dinner.
The next day, Chen Li Shu and Gu Xing Dong got up together. They made themselves something simple to eat and then took the bus back to school.
When Chen Li Shu entered the classroom, she found Jiang Yu Wei and Sun Ling already at their seats. Sun Ling saw her come in and glared at her fiercely with a contorted expression.
Chen Li Shu didn't mind and sat back down at her seat.
"She went back to the dormitory early, probably out of shame. She hasn't mentioned that incident at all," Zhang Xue whispered excitedly when she saw Chen Li Shu approaching.
Chen Li Shu nodded, thinking that it would be strange if she had the face to mention it. It would be best if she acted as if nothing had happened, otherwise, she wouldn't mind helping her recall the events of that day.
Indeed, for the next two days, everyone was peaceful. On Wednesday, the class had no lessons in the afternoon, so Chen Li Shu decided to visit Xu Ning at the medical university.
"How did you know I had no classes this afternoon?" Xu Ning was very happy to see her.
Chen Li Shu pursed her lips and smiled. "I'm all-knowing."
"Have you had lunch? Why don't I take you to our school's cafeteria? The food is quite good," Xu Ning said with a smile.
"It's rare for me to visit, why eat at the cafeteria? Come on, I'll treat you to a meal at a restaurant." Chen Li Shu knew Xu Ning's family background. If they ate in the cafeteria, Xu Ning would probably have to skip dinner.
After speaking, Chen Li Shu, without any preamble, pulled Xu Ning outside.
Girls don't eat much, so they each had a steamed bun and ordered two dishes, one meat and one vegetable. Excluding coupons, Chen Li Shu spent a total of one yuan and two jiao.
"It's rare to have time off, and I want to go to the store to buy some fabric to make a bra. Will you accompany me?"
Chen Li Shu nodded. "Okay."
It was the change of season, and besides herself, she also wanted to make a piece of clothing for Gu Xing Dong. Although he always wore his military uniform, he could change into civilian clothes during his time off.
After leaving the restaurant, the two took a bus together to the commercial street.
It was called a commercial street, but there were not many shops. After getting off the bus, they went directly to the department store. As soon as they entered the store, they heard a salesclerk from a counter shouting from a distance, "Newly arrived Dacron, no coupons needed! Those who want to buy, please get a ticket and queue up first!"
The shout was like a drop of water falling into a pot of hot oil, causing an immediate uproar.
Dacron was a highly sought-after commodity. Because it was brightly colored and durable, it was always in short supply, let alone now when no coupons were needed.
As soon as the salesclerk finished speaking, several people immediately crowded forward.
This was a matter of luck. If you were lucky enough to encounter it, you would buy it smoothly. Otherwise, by the time you heard the news and rushed over, you could only queue at the back, which might take hours. But whether it would still be available when it was your turn was uncertain.
Xu Ning's eyes lit up when she heard the announcement. She turned to Chen Li Shu and said, "Shall we go take a look too?"
Chen Li Shu nodded. "Good."
The two went to get tickets first. By the time they reached the counter, there were already more than a dozen people in front of them.
"1.5 Dacron, 5 feet, 7.5 yuan. Count the money face-to-face, no responsibility after leaving the counter!" the salesclerk announced from behind the counter.
"1.5 yuan per foot? That's more than double the price of plain weave fabric," Xu Ning said, hesitating when she heard the salesclerk's announcement.
Soon, it was their turn. Chen Li Shu spotted a piece of light blue fabric with small floral patterns, which she thought would make a nice skirt. She bought three feet of fabric for a total of four yuan and fifty jiao.
Xu Ning hesitated for a long time and finally gave up. She pulled Chen Li Shu to another counter and bought one foot of plain weave fabric.
Chen Li Shu also bought a piece of plain colored fabric, intending to make a shirt for Gu Xing Dong.
"I heard that the textile factory acquired a new batch of equipment before the New Year, specifically for producing chemical fiber products. If they produce more in the future, will coupons still be needed?" the salesclerk asked Chen Li Shu as she finished cutting her fabric. Looking at the Dacron counter, which was in short supply, she turned to chat with a colleague.
"Probably not?" The colleague she asked was also unsure. "Although chemical fiber products didn't require actual coupon exchange before, they were always collected. And I heard from the manager that this batch of fabric might be experimental, which is why no coupons are needed."
Chen Li Shu listened to their conversation and began to ponder.
She remembered that in her previous life, it was around these years that with the reform and opening up and the large-scale introduction of advanced foreign production equipment, the production of chemical fiber products increased, and later coupons were indeed not needed. Fabric was no longer in short supply, and 'fake collars' gradually disappeared from the historical stage.
Since the textile factory had acquired new equipment, she could acquire some Dacron before the policy was fully implemented, which would definitely bring her a profit.
Just as Chen Li Shu was thinking of going to the textile factory again, she received a letter from Lin Qi.
The corduroy fabric acquired before the New Year had all been made into finished garments. Including her share of underwear sales during this period, the total income was four thousand two hundred and eighty-six yuan. Lin Qi had transferred all of it to her account.
Chen Li Shu didn't rush to reply. After the money arrived, she took the bus to the municipal textile factory on Sunday.
After greeting the doorman at the reception, Chen Li Shu went straight to the factory office.
"Hello, Section Chief Li."
Li Zheng Xing was drinking tea and reading a newspaper. He looked up when she entered and asked with a smile, "Xiao Chen, why do you have time to visit today?"
Chen Li Shu closed the door behind her and then said with a smile, "I heard that the factory has acquired a new batch of equipment."
Li Zheng Xing smiled when he heard her words. "Xiao Chen wants to get some chemical fiber fabric?"
Chen Li Shu nodded. "I wonder if it's convenient for you, Section Chief."
Li Zheng Xing pondered for a moment and said, "The factory is still in the trial production stage, and the 'gap' I have is limited."
Chen Li Shu didn't rush to speak, waiting for him to finish.