Chen Lishu continued to do the same, visiting several more supply and marketing cooperatives until she had covered most of the town. Then she bought rubber bands to go home.
At home, Zhang Qin and Gu Xingping were waiting anxiously, as their future livelihood depended on this.
When they saw her return in the afternoon with a beaming face, they knew the matter had been settled.
"Five hundred orders. We'll be busy from now on," Chen Lishu said, taking off her scarf and eagerly sharing the joy with the two of them.
"Five hundred? Oh my goodness!" Zhang Qin exclaimed, feeling her mind could hardly keep up.
Since they had promised to deliver before the New Year, and there were less than a week left, the time was tight and the task was heavy. Li Xiulan also came to help when she heard about it.
The family was working with great enthusiasm. At first, Liu Yuemin was sulking, thinking that they wouldn't share good things with her and that Chen Lishu would never ask for her help.
However, as soon as she heard that they would be distributing wages, she couldn't sit still any longer.
"Third sister-in-law, this three cents is too little. You earn so much yourself, and you keep talking about family, is this how you treat family?" Liu Yuemin complained while working.
Chen Lishu looked up at Zhang Qin and the others, then said, "The costs are all mine, and the risks are all mine. It's because we're family that I didn't look for outside help. If you think the money distributed is too little, sister-in-law, you can be in charge of the costs for the next trip to town to buy goods."
Liu Yuemin immediately objected, "Why should I pay? What if we lose money?"
Chen Lishu sneered and didn't reply, but her meaning was clear: "You can't have all the good things, can you?"
"If you can do it, do it. If not, go back to your room and coax the children. No one is forcing you to come and earn this money," Li Xiulan said, glaring at her with a frown.
Coaxing children at home wouldn't earn any money. Seeing her mother-in-law's attitude, Liu Yuemin dared not speak again.
The family worked against time and finally finished all five hundred hair accessories on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month.
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Chen Lishu got up early, tidied herself up, and took the five hundred hair accessories to town.
As agreed, she sold them for fifteen cents each, totaling seventy-five yuan. After delivering the goods to the last supply and marketing cooperative and walking not far, a man behind her suddenly called out tentatively, "Comrade Chen Lishu?"
Upon hearing the voice, Chen Lishu's body stiffened uncontrollably.
This voice belonged to none other than Lu Chengming, the scumbag she married in her previous life.
Not wanting any further entanglement, Chen Lishu pretended not to hear and quickened her pace.
"Comrade Chen Lishu, Lishu!" Lu Chengming was not sure at first, but seeing her walking so fast, he immediately hurried to catch up.
"Lishu is also something you can call?" Chen Lishu stopped abruptly, her gaze towards him as cold as ice picks.
"I, I was just in a hurry," Lu Chengming explained hesitantly, intimidated by her gaze.
"What is it? If there's nothing, I'll be going."
Lu Chengming was initially bewildered by her icy attitude. Then, as if remembering something, he said with a hurt expression, "I told your father I wanted to marry you, why didn't you agree?"
Chen Lishu sneered, "Why should I agree? Or do you think a hundred yuan is enough to buy me and boss me around?"
In her previous life, because she only received a hundred yuan in betrothal gifts and no dowry, Lu Chengming would always mock and taunt her during every argument. He would call her cheap, just a hired maid bought for a hundred yuan.
His thoughts being exposed, Lu Chengming froze for a moment, then quickly regained his composure and asked with a frown, "Lishu, did someone tell you something, causing you to misunderstand me?"
Having lived together for nearly ten years, Chen Lishu knew this expression of his too well. He always put on an innocent act of being misunderstood when he had a guilty conscience.
Lu Chengming was not unattractive. On the contrary, he had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a tall stature, fitting the current aesthetic standards for men.
However, seeing his affectation now, Chen Lishu felt no trace of the blushing and heart palpitations she had felt upon first meeting him in her previous life. All that remained was disgust and deep aversion.
"Do I need to hear from others? Isn't this what you think in your heart?"
Before he could speak, Chen Lishu quickly continued, "Also, please call me Comrade Chen Lishu! I don't want to be involved in your mess with Zhao Hong. I am already married. If you dare to pester me again, I will report you."
Lu Chengming was startled when she mentioned Zhao Hong. He had been so discreet, how did she know? "Lishu, let me explain..."
"This is the last time I'm saying it. Please call me Comrade Chen Lishu," Chen Lishu emphasized again with a cold face.
"Zhao Hong and I are both misunderstandings. I've submitted a report to return to the city, and I wanted to discuss our matter with my family. And also use my connections to arrange for a medical retirement, so you can return to the provincial capital with me."
"I am already married."
Chen Lishu lowered her eyes slightly. Lu Chengming couldn't see what she was thinking and, thinking she had finally been moved by the mention of the provincial capital, happily replied, "It doesn't matter, I won't dislike you. Besides, everyone says Gu Xingdong died outside. You haven't consummated your marriage with him, ah—"
Lu Chengming's words were cut short as he felt a pain in his face. He cried out in pain, clutching his eyes.
Chen Lishu calmly withdrew her fist, lifted her eyelids, and glanced at him. She couldn't help but curse, "You f\*\*king don't dislike me. I find you disgusting."
"You, you actually dared to hit me?" Lu Chengming's once handsome face turned ferocious.
Chen Lishu sneered inwardly, realizing he was finally showing his true colors.
Before he could retaliate, she provocatively raised her eyebrows and said, "What if I shout now that someone is harassing me, what will happen to you?"
Lu Chengming was completely stunned, having never seen Chen Lishu like this before.
After punching Lu Chengming, Chen Lishu felt better than ever. She almost hummed as she left.
However, she didn't notice Lu Chengming behind her, his gaze almost piercing holes into her back out of sheer humiliation.
With the money earned, Chen Lishu went to the food store. As the New Year was approaching, the store had many varieties of goods. They had even introduced special commodities that didn't require ration coupons, but were priced higher.
Since she didn't have coupons, Chen Lishu didn't mind the extra cost.
She bought two catties of braised pork head, which cost three yuan. One catty was for her family, and the other was for her maternal home on the second day of the New Year. With many children in both families, she also bought two catties of hard candy, costing two yuan. Popular items like White Rabbit toffee were simply not available to her; they were already sold out.
These two items alone cost five yuan. Thinking about it, Chen Lishu didn't dare to buy anything else. She took the two items and headed home.