Once, she went to town and saw a girl wearing a skirt with the same pattern. It was so pretty.
"Today, my sister-in-law and I went to the garment factory," Chen Lishu then briefly explained about collecting fabric scraps and her plan to make hair accessories.
"I knew it, like minds think alike. Your third sister-in-law's cleverness, she gets that from me. To even come up with such an idea," Da Feng Novel Network.
Chen Lishu looked at Li Xiulan's beaming face, momentarily stunned.
Shouldn't she have objected or flatly refused when she heard she was making things to sell for money? The others, especially Gu Shoufu, thought their old woman was just boasting.
"Third sister-in-law, this is speculation and profiteering. If you're caught, you'll have to attend a study session," Gu Xingye said with some concern.
"Yes, I think these pieces of fabric can be made into quite a few things. How about I and your mother give you the money, and we'll buy these, and everyone can have a share. We aren't too short of money at home, no need to take such risks," Gu Shoufu suggested.
"I agree with Dad. I think these few pieces are nice, and they're just right..." Liu Yuemin, hearing Gu Shoufu speak, immediately reached out and grabbed the fabric she fancied. However, Chen Lishu unceremoniously pulled it back.
"Dad, Mom, actually, many people in town have been selling things privately for a long time. And as long as I'm careful, I definitely won't be discovered," Chen Lishu saw that Gu Shoufu remained silent, and realized her business would be difficult. Besides, they were all family, and she didn't want to agree openly while secretly doing it and making them unhappy. After thinking for a moment, she said in a low voice, "I was just thinking, since I'm alone in my room, and I don't want to burden Dad, Mom, and my brothers in the future, I want to try to save some more money." Although she said this to persuade Gu Shoufu and his wife, it was the truth. Thinking of her past life, her voice couldn't help but choke up a little.
"You old man," Li Xiulan saw her daughter-in-law like this and immediately complained, hitting Gu Shoufu on the back. Then she comforted Chen Lishu, "Third sister-in-law, go ahead and do it. If anything happens, let them come for me. Mom is here, don't be afraid!" Hearing her words, Chen Lishu's eyes immediately turned red, and she blinked hard to keep the tears from falling.
"Third sister-in-law, what do your hair accessories look like? I like this color. Can you give me one when you're done?" Gu Xingping, seeing her mother agree to her third sister-in-law making hair accessories, happily took out the fabric she had desired for a long time.
"No problem. I'll give you two so you can wear them interchangeably." Gu Xingping felt a little embarrassed when Chen Lishu said that.
"Dad, Mom, this isn't fair. Why should all these fabrics go to third sister-in-law? With so much, shouldn't it be divided equally?" Liu Yuemin was not happy.
"Yes, Mom, you have to be fair," Gu Xingmin also objected.
"How can you two say that? Third sister-in-law paid for it and carried it back herself. Why should it be divided between you two? Where's your shame?" After being scolded by Li Xiulan, the two of them, sulking, took their children and went back to their rooms.
After a tiring day, Chen Lishu and Zhang Qin were also exhausted. The whole family went back to their respective rooms to sleep.
The next day, after breakfast, Chen Lishu returned to her room and first sorted the fifty catties of fabric she had bought. She put the larger pieces together, the smaller ones with bright colors suitable for hair accessories together, and put the rest in bags to be looked at later for what could be made. The larger fabric pieces were enough to make two outfits. After thinking, she divided them into two portions, one for Zhang Qin and one for Li Xiulan.
"I don't feel right about this. I didn't pay anything." Zhang Qin looked at the fabric in her hands with some embarrassment.
Chen Lishu winked at her, "I need to ask big sister-in-law for a favor. If I don't give her something, how can I ask?" Zhang Qin, hearing her say that, then smiled, "Third sister-in-law, tell me."
"I want to make hair accessories and need big sister-in-law's help. I'll give you three cents for each one completed. What do you think?" Then she added, "But I don't know how the business will be. If it's good, I'll increase your pay." Zhang Qin repeatedly waved her hands, "We're family, we don't need to talk about money." Chen Lishu deliberately put on a stern face, "Big sister-in-law, if you don't agree to take money, I don't dare to use you." Zhang Qin knew she wanted to help her and kept it in mind. After a while, she nodded. Seeing that she had agreed, Chen Lishu then went to her mother-in-law Li Xiulan's place.
"Keep it yourself and make an outfit. What's the point of an old woman like me wearing it?" Chen Lishu placed the fabric down and deliberately said, "Mom, do you dislike it because it's scrap fabric and don't want it?" This stance really intimidated Li Xiulan, "Why, why would I dislike it? I'm overjoyed." This was the first time someone had given her fabric to make clothes.
"It's a child's filial piety, accept it," Gu Shoufu said. Li Xiulan had no choice but to accept.
After leaving Li Xiulan, Chen Lishu returned to her room and began making hair accessories. As the method was simple, she quickly made four or five. She examined them carefully and nodded with satisfaction. After dinner, Zhang Qin and Gu Xingping came to her room to help, and they quickly made over twenty. The elastic bands she bought were also used up.
The next day, Chen Lishu got up early and took the more than twenty hair accessories she had made to town. She found two young girls and approached them sneakily. As soon as she spoke, the other party's eyes lit up when they saw the hair accessories in her hand.
"Comrade, how are you selling these?" Chen Lishu smiled, "Two mao each."
Only two mao! The two girls bought four each without a word. With the Lunar New Year approaching, they could also bring one for their sisters-in-law and sisters at home. Eight were sold at once, which gave Chen Lishu more confidence. She didn't rush to sell the rest but thought about it and went to a nearby supply and marketing cooperative.
"Comrade, I have hair accessories here. Can your store sell them on consignment?" Chen Lishu glanced around to make sure no one was watching before carefully showing the hair accessories in her hand to the female clerk, "I sell them for two mao outside. If I put them here, it will be one mao five." The village was too far from town, and selling hair accessories door-to-door also took time. The back and forth travel she felt was not cost-effective, so she came up with this idea. The female clerk's eyes, when she saw the hair accessories in her hand, shone like those of the two girls outside. However, consignment was not a small matter, and she was still hesitant.
"How about I leave these two here with you, and we'll see how it goes later. What do you think, comrade?" This was a good idea. Soon, a woman in her thirties entered the store. The clerk seized the opportunity and took out the hair accessories. As soon as they were revealed, the woman bought them, and she bought two at once. The clerk was a little stunned, "Comrade, do you have any more? I'd like to keep two myself." Chen Lishu smiled, "I didn't bring many this time. Next time, I'll bring more styles and you can pick. I'll give you two for free." That would be wonderful. Seeing that she was straightforward and generous in her dealings, the clerk immediately placed an order for fifty.