"How about eighty cents a yard? Ten bolts to start?"
Every batch of fabric produced had a 2% to 3% "shortage" in his hands, but "de jiao" was a tightly controlled commodity. The quotas given were only 1%.
Eighty cents a yard? That was almost half the price at the store! Since they were so generous, Chen Lishu naturally wouldn't be stingy. She took out the ten "Big Unity" banknotes she had prepared and quietly slipped them under the newspaper on Li Zhengxing's side.
Li Zhengxing glanced at her actions and silently nodded; she was a sensible person.
Many people who had cooperated with him once or twice were sent away by him with excuses. He knew how much profit he could bring to the other party. If they were unwilling to part with even a small fraction of it, it meant they didn't take him seriously at all, and it was better to cut ties early.
Chen Lishu took the order slip she had written, went to pay the money first, and then found a pedicab to help her transport the goods.
This time, she bought two colors of "de jiao": light pink and pea green. Besides making "false collars," they were also a good choice for short-sleeved shirts. As the weather was gradually warming up, sales were definitely not a problem.
She rode in the pedicab all the way to the post office entrance. Chen Lishu asked the driver to wait a moment; she would go in first to complete the procedures, and then he could bring the goods in.
As soon as she reached the entrance, she saw two "Red Armbands" in the lobby, escorting a woman in her twenties. At the woman's feet was a large nylon bag. The woman seemed unwilling and was struggling fiercely, "Why are you confiscating my goods? What's wrong with me mailing some things to my relatives?"
"We've been observing you for a long time. Which relative needs to mail things every few days, and always a large bagful?" a post office staff member said loudly.
Seeing that the situation was not right, Chen Lishu turned her body, intending to leave as if nothing had happened.
"Comrade, what business do you need to attend to?" The staff member who had spoken earlier caught sight of her and quickly called out.
"You're busy, I'm not in a hurry. I'll come back another day." Chen Lishu tried to calm herself, forced a smile at the other person, and continued to walk forward.
"It's alright now, Comrade, you can proceed." The staff member called out enthusiastically.
Chen Lishu pretended not to hear, quickened her pace, and quickly exited the post office doors to the side of the pedicab.
"Miss, are we moving the goods now?" The pedicab driver saw her come out and jumped off the car, ready to lift the bags.
"We're not moving them. Let's go." Chen Lishu lowered her voice to stop his action.
"Why aren't we moving them?" the driver asked, confused.
"Don't ask so many questions. Hurry and ride, let's go somewhere else first."
In just this short delay, the "Red Armbands" inside had reacted. One of them saw her about to leave and chased after her from inside, shouting, "Comrade in front, wait a moment."
Chen Lishu turned her head and saw that the person was actually coming towards her, and her heart almost jumped out of her chest.
If she were caught, not only would all her goods be confiscated, but if she were sent to a "study class" for a few days, or directly charged with speculation and profiteering, it would all be over.
Thinking of this, Chen Lishu hurriedly jumped onto the back of the pedicab and urged the driver, "Driver, hurry, hurry, let's go!"
The pedicab driver was a bit stunned, "Miss, where are we going?"
With the situation so urgent, he was still asking questions. Chen Lishu was anxious, "Just pedal anywhere, as long as you can shake off the person behind us, I'll give you an extra ten yuan."
Upon hearing that she could add money, the driver no longer hesitated. With a burst of strength in his legs, the vehicle shot forward. Due to the inertia, Chen Lishu, unprepared, almost fell off.
"Hey, why are you running!" The "Red Armband" had been unsure and was about to go over to check. Seeing Chen Lishu running away with her vehicle without looking back, he knew she was another speculator, and immediately quickened his pace to chase after them.
...
Wang Aixiang, as usual, was preparing to mail clothes to her relatives in the countryside. Unexpectedly, she was targeted by the post office staff, who even reported her to the "Red Armbands" of the patrol team.
Not only were her goods to be confiscated, but the other party also wanted to take her to a "study class." She was inwardly calling herself unlucky. Looking up, she saw a young, pretty girl enter. She hadn't thought much of it until she heard one of the "Red Armbands" chasing outside. Wang Aixiang knew her chance to escape had arrived.
Taking advantage of everyone's distraction, she fiercely shoved aside the "Red Armband" who was restraining her and bolted outside.
"You made a mistake and you dare to run? Stop right there! If I catch you today, I'll send you to the detention center!" The "Red Armband" reacted angrily, kicking his legs and chasing after her.
Wang Aixiang cursed inwardly, thinking that even if she ran herself to death, she wouldn't be caught. She increased her speed, and besides the curses of the "Red Armbands," all she could hear was the whistling wind.
Following Chen Lishu's instructions, the pedicab driver pedaled forward without stopping. Weaving through turns, Chen Lishu, who was in the back, was thrown around so much that she felt dizzy. Seeing that the road ahead was blocked, both of them were terrified.
Suddenly, a figure darted out from the side. The pedicab driver, without braking, almost collided with the person and the vehicle.
"Turn left, there's a road ahead. Go out and you'll reach a main road intersection." Wang Aixiang narrowly avoided the collision and sped off to the left.
The pedicab driver's movements were faster than his thoughts. With a strong twist of his arm, the back of the car slid in a perfect arc along the ground. Without even pausing, he charged forward.
"Don't, don't let me see you again, or you'll be sorry."
The two "Red Armbands," hands on their hips, panting heavily, looked at the receding figures with resentment and said hatefully.
"Oh my goodness, we finally shook off those two pests."
Seeing that the people behind them had disappeared from sight, Wang Aixiang's legs went weak. She didn't care that the ground was dirty and cold and sat down with a plop.
The pedicab driver, as if exhausted, stopped the car. He had been too nervous just now, and now his calves were trembling. He figured he wouldn't be able to work tomorrow, but at least the customer said she would give him an extra ten yuan, so it wasn't all in vain.
Chen Lishu gripped the handlebars tightly. The bumpy ride made her stomach feel uncomfortable. When she got off the car, her legs went weak, and she almost fell to the ground.
"Thank you so much today. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have been able to escape." Wang Aixiang looked up at Chen Lishu and smiled.
"I also have to thank you for showing me the way." Chen Lishu smiled back. If she hadn't reminded her at that critical moment, they would have been caught.
"By the way, what are you carrying in your cart?" Wang Aixiang asked curiously.