Jiang Weiguo’s eyes flickered at her reaction, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he took out another price list from his drawer and handed it over.
Chen Lishu took it and glanced at it, finding that the prices on this list were two to three yuan cheaper per item than the one she had.
Jiang Weiguo gazed at her face, his expression hinting, "Little Chen, of course, there's a reason for the lower prices."
Chen Lishu looked at his suggestive gaze and felt as disgusted as if she had swallowed a fly.
"Let's go with this one," Chen Lishu said expressionlessly, then pushed back the cheaper price list.
Seeing her action, Jiang Weiguo’s face darkened, feeling she was ungrateful.
The policies had loosened considerably in the past two years, with more and more people seeking his help, and not a small number of women throwing themselves at him. This Chen woman was just a country girl, yet she was acting high and mighty in front of him.
However, since she was willing to pay the higher price, Jiang Weiguo nodded, "Alright, I'll tell the people downstairs, and you can pick up your goods shortly."
"Thank you, Manager Jiang," Chen Lishu said, standing up to leave.
"Little Chen, you're still too young. A woman who doesn't rely on other means and wants to expand her business is simply dreaming."
Jiang Weiguo watched her retreating back and said unwillingly.
Chen Lishu didn't reply, instead blocking out his words behind the door.
Only shallow people saw only sordid matters.
After leaving Jiang Weiguo's office, Chen Lishu first went to the bank to withdraw money, then to the warehouse behind to pick up the goods.
There were forty-two pieces of clothes and pants in total, which she immediately packed and mailed back to the town.
After leaving the post office, she found a phone booth and called the village where Lin Qi was located, informing him of the tracking number and the estimated arrival time.
"The pricing for each piece is around twenty-five yuan. The specific details are included with the goods. Additionally, I'll charge an extra three feet of cloth coupons per piece. Make sure to remember, only cloth coupons, no other coupons."
She was most in need of cloth coupons now.
Lin Qi listened to Chen Lishu's instructions on the phone and earnestly replied, "Sister Chen, I understand. Don't worry, I'll definitely handle this properly."
This was the first important task Chen Lishu had entrusted to him, and he was determined to do it well.
After hanging up, Chen Lishu thought for a moment, then walked to the nearby department store.
She first went to the fabric section and spent ten yuan on a quilt cover, three yuan for a quilt liner, another three yuan and fifty cents for three catties of cotton, and one yuan and twenty cents for pillowcases. She then went to the daily necessities section to buy two tubes of Gudling toothpaste, toothbrushes, and nylon socks. She also went to the stationery section to buy a Panda brand fountain pen. As she was leaving, she saw that they were selling yarn. Thinking that she could knit another pair of wool trousers for Gu Xingdong during the winter with nothing else to do, she bought another three catties of yarn.
After miscellaneous purchases, she had spent nearly a hundred yuan.
Back home, seeing that the time was almost right, Chen Lishu started cooking.
When Gu Xingdong returned, Chen Lishu was busy in the kitchen. To the right of the door, near the corner, ‘Da Wang’ was resting with its front paws tucked in on its designated cotton mat, eyes closed.
Having gotten dusty from training during the day, Gu Xingdong went straight to his room to get clean clothes and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
When he came out again, his short, dark hair was still damp, and his lean waist was faintly visible under a loose, dark gray home wear. He no longer had the seriousness of wearing a military uniform; instead, he exuded a handsome, lazy aura.
Gu Xingdong sauntered over to Chen Lishu, "What did you do at home today?"
Chen Lishu scooped the last stir-fried dish from the wok, "I went to the Wu family in the morning and to the city this afternoon to buy some things."
Seeing her place the dishes on the table, Gu Xingdong turned to set up the dining table.
"Time flies so fast. When Lin Xiaoyue left in the summer, she was just pregnant. Now she's already seven months along," Chen Lishu said, coming out of the kitchen with dishes.
Gu Xingdong carried a stool in each hand to the table, "Six months and twenty-five days."
Chen Lishu paused her hand holding the plates and looked at him, letting out a soft scoff, teasing, "You remember your buddy's wife's pregnancy quite clearly?"
Gu Xingdong was unfazed. He reached out, placed her on a stool, and turned to serve rice, "Old Wu, that annoying guy, talks my ear off all day. It's hard not to remember."
Chen Lishu couldn't help but imagine the scene and pursed her lips, smiling.
"Wei Gang's wife is also pregnant."
"Mm," Gu Xingdong replied, starting to eat his rice.
Thinking of Lin Xiaoyue's words today and the future family planning policies, Chen Lishu leaned closer, asking curiously, "Xingdong, do you prefer a boy or a girl?"
Gu Xingdong replied, "I'll like them all as long as they're born from you."
Chen Lishu pouted, "A man's mouth is a deceitful ghost."
Gu Xingdong suddenly looked up at her and said with a half-smile, "Your man never lies. If I say six times, I definitely mean six, not five."
Chen Lishu's face flushed crimson.
"Family planning is being promoted now. If it becomes a basic national policy in a few years, the controls might become even stricter, and perhaps each family will only be allowed one child."
She thought about the family planning policies in the coming years, especially given Gu Xingdong's identity. At that time, regardless of gender, there would probably only be one.
Gu Xingdong finished his rice in a few bites, "Then let's have one early."
Chen Lishu, caught off guard, felt her body lighten as she was pulled into his arms. She let out a startled gasp.
‘Da Wang,’ who had been sleeping carelessly beside them, was awakened by the sound. It flipped over and sat up on its mat. Seeing the two of them entangled, it yawned as if unsurprised and then slowly lay back down to continue sleeping.
The next day, Chen Lishu was woken by the reveille. Opening her eyes, she turned her head to see Gu Xingdong already up and buckling his belt. She intended to sit up, but a twinge in her waist made her fall back.
Gu Xingdong went over, kissed her hair, and said softly, "It's still early, sleep a little longer."
Chen Lishu looked at his expression with a hint of grievance, "I'm hungry."
Last night, she had been halfway through dinner when a certain crazed person dragged her to bed for a long bout of torment. It was natural to be hungry after such an energy-consuming activity.
"Shall I cook you a couple of eggs in the pot before I leave?" Gu Xingdong adjusted his collar and reached for his outer jacket.
Chen Lishu shook her head, "Dry and unappetizing, I don't want them."
"Then I'll make porridge. I can cook it for you to eat when you wake up."
Chen Lishu was dissatisfied, "It won't keep me full at all. You're just trying to fool me."
Gu Xingdong looked at his watch, "It's almost time. You can only choose one, pick yourself."
Chen Lishu thought for a moment and negotiated, "Can we be more restrained at night in the future?"
"No," Gu Xingdong refused outright. "The more times, the higher the probability of success."
Chen Lishu: "..." She was speechless.
Only after hearing the sound of the door closing outside did Chen Lishu roll over, close her eyes, and fall back asleep.