"Today I went to town and found out that someone was using my name to take goods from the clothing factory and made a lot of hair flowers to send to the supply and marketing cooperative. If I hadn't lowered the price to sell them in the end, I might have been stuck with so many hair flowers."
"What? This happened? Who is so lacking in morals and shameless to do this? If they can't do it themselves, why do they have to ruin our business?" Li Xiulan exploded upon hearing this.
"Third sister-in-law, what should we do then? Can we not make hair flowers anymore? Why are people so shameless? Why do they have to compete with us for business?" Zhang Qin was so anxious that tears were about to stream down her face. Was it easy for her to earn money? Gu Shoufu, who had not spoken yet, seemed to understand something and looked at Chen Lishu thoughtfully, "Does the third daughter-in-law have any ideas?"
Chen Lishu pursed her lips, "That person claimed to be my sister-in-law. And they even knew about Xingdong's letter."
Without naming names, she simply stated what she had heard and seen. Then she turned her head to look at Gu Xingye. The latter, receiving her gaze, nodded, "The situation is just as the third sister-in-law said."
"Third sister-in-law, what do you mean? Are you suspecting me and eldest sister-in-law? Everyone can see that both eldest sister-in-law and I have been working in the team during this time. How could we have gone to town?" Liu Yuemin threw her clothes down, refusing to back down.
"I didn't say it was anyone, why are you so agitated, second sister-in-law?"
Chen Lishu frowned, walked to the kang, picked up the scattered clothes, and put them back into the bag one by one.
"You mean to say it was me without naming me. You think only you are allowed to make hair flowers and no one else?" I'm your second sister-in-law, and if you don't apologize to me today, this matter won't end!"
No one spoke, but Liu Yuemin was relentless. She stepped forward, snatched the clothes from Chen Lishu's hands, and threw them on the ground. She even tried to step on them.
"Try stepping on them!"
Chen Lishu's eyes shot out like arrows. Liu Yuemin's raised foot froze. "I, what can you do if I step on them?"
Chen Lishu did not stop her, but said with a cold voice, "Whichever foot you step with, I'll chop it off for you."
"Third sister-in-law, what's your attitude? You've only been in the family for a few days, and you've become so bold? Come on, chop one off and let me see!" Gu Xingmin couldn't stand it and immediately came forward to protect his wife, looking at Chen Lishu angrily.
"Enough!"
Gu Shoufu rebuked with a dark face, "Second daughter-in-law, pick up the clothes."
"Dad, she suspected me first, why should I..."
"If you don't pick them up, get out and go back to your parents' home!"
Gu Shoufu had never spoken harshly to his two daughters-in-law in the many years they had been married. It seemed he was truly angry this time.
Although unwilling, Liu Yuemin still bent down, picked up the clothes from the ground, and threw them back onto the kang.
"Second, apologize to the third sister-in-law!"
Gu Xingmin couldn't stand it and pointed at Chen Lishu, saying, "Dad, she had that attitude and was about to draw a knife. If I don't teach her a lesson, she'll turn the world upside down."
"Who is going to turn the world upside down? With me and your dad here, what is your attitude? Are you still a man? You're useless. We're family, and you're taking a few angry words seriously? You're over twenty, have you lost your mind!"
Li Xiulan, seeing her husband's face as dark as if it could drip water, immediately rushed forward and slapped away her second son's hand that was pointing.
Gu Shoufu: "If you don't apologize, then take your wife and children and get out. Our Gu family doesn't have men who throw tantrums at women. Moreover, that's our third daughter-in-law."
Seeing that his father was truly angry this time, Gu Xingmin dared not talk back. He glanced at Chen Lishu and reluctantly said, "It was my fault, third sister-in-law, please don't take it to heart."
Chen Lishu lowered her eyelids and nodded after a pause.
"Family should act like family. Today's matter ends here, and no one should dwell on it."
Gu Shoufu said, glancing at the people standing on the ground, "From now on, if anyone dares to gossip about family matters outside, and I find out, they will be kicked out immediately. Our Gu family doesn't want people who are ungrateful."
Liu Yuemin's body trembled involuntarily at the last sentence.
After Gu Shoufu finished speaking, everyone became quiet. There was a moment of silence in the room. Chen Lishu stepped forward, packed all the scattered clothes, took the bag containing the fabric scraps, and silently returned to her room.
Not long after entering the room, there was a knock on the door. When she opened it, she saw Li Xiulan.
"Mom, why are you here?"
Li Xiulan closed the door and took out twenty yuan from her pocket, "Your dad sent me to give this to you."
Seeing the money, Chen Lishu understood. Gu Shoufu and his wife had already guessed. However, for the sake of family harmony, they had to suppress the matter.
"Mom, I don't want this money. Please take it back. Actually, even if it wasn't second sister-in-law, others would have done it eventually. It was only a matter of time before the prices were lowered."
Li Xiulan felt even worse upon hearing her words. It was her third daughter-in-law's good fortune to be so sensible.
"No matter who did it, you were wronged in this matter. Your dad said, this is the only time. Next time if they, the couple, make the same mistake, you don't have to say anything, he will break their legs."
Chen Lishu resolutely pushed the money back to Li Xiulan and then pursed her lips and said, "Mom, I will continue to do this business. However, I can no longer work with second sister-in-law. I'm telling you this in advance. Please don't take it to heart."
Li Xiulan was stunned for a moment and then sighed slowly, "Blisters on your feet are from walking yourself. How can I blame you?"
Although she said that, she still felt a bit down. Returning to the main room, she told Gu Shoufu what Chen Lishu had said. Gu Shoufu only nodded and said nothing.
After Chen Lishu sent Li Xiulan away, she took out all the clothes from the bag and carefully examined them. In addition to a few with holes from being torn, several patterned clothes and skirts had variations in fabric color due to dyeing technology issues. The pants had minor problems, ranging from skipped stitches to inconsistent leg lengths or widths.
Chen Lishu picked up a light blue jacket. The fabric was firm, and the style was somewhat like a modern short windbreaker. However, there was a fist-sized dark mark on the collar near the chest, which ruined the overall effect.
After carefully examining it for a long time, Chen Lishu got up and turned out all the fabric scraps from the bag. She found a few pieces of brightly colored plain fabric, pieced them together, and quickly sewed a beautiful brooch. Then she placed it on top to compare, and took a look from afar. Thinking it was good, she meticulously sewed it on.
Time passed slowly, and it was soon time to prepare dinner. Chen Lishu stretched her stiff neck and got up. Just as she opened the door to start cooking, Gu Xingping, who had just returned from school and heard the news, rushed over with a tense expression.