A 'fake collar' required less than two feet of cloth. Unlike the currently popular floral qilin, plain colored fabric was cheaper and allowed for a discount on cloth coupons.
The cost of one 'fake collar' was conservatively estimated at less than two yuan. Without coupons, she could sell them for three or four yuan, nearly doubling her profit.
The next day, Chen Lishu took the two sets of clothes and one pair of shoes that Li Xiulan had tidied for Gu Xingye to the supply and marketing cooperative. She learned that Gu Xingye was out on a delivery run. After inquiring about Zhou Bin, she found he was also absent. Chen Lishu had no choice but to entrust the items to the gatekeeper, asking him to give them to Gu Xingye upon his return.
After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, Chen Lishu proceeded to the department store. First, she bought a few handkerchiefs for Zhang Qin, then went to the fabric section to purchase cloth.
She intended to visit Gu Xingdong and wanted to present herself nicely, so she decided to make a new outfit for herself.
After carefully surveying the options, she settled on a black cotton-linen fabric. At this time, qilin fabric was becoming popular. Cotton-linen, prone to wrinkles and rough against the skin, couldn't compete with qilin in sales, with a ratio of about three to seven.
However, Chen Lishu found cotton-linen superior to qilin. It was breathable and absorbent, and cheaper. At one yuan per foot, one meter of fabric required only one foot of cloth coupon. Chen Lishu bought two meters directly, and then another two feet of pure white cotton cloth, planning to make undergarments. In those days, people were conservative; chests were bound with cloth, and a flat chest was considered attractive. Clothes and pants were generally made loose. Years earlier, people would measure pant legs with wine bottles; if a pant leg couldn't fit a wine bottle, it was considered narrow-cut and subject to public criticism.
After buying what she wanted, Chen Lishu went to select the fabric for the 'fake collars.' With limited color choices, she eventually picked white, blue, and beige. The price was the same as the cotton-linen fabric, one yuan per foot, with one foot of cloth coupon per meter of fabric.
Chen Lishu used her remaining thirteen feet of cloth coupons to buy all the fabric. After paying, she spent another yuan on a pile of organic glass buttons at another counter, then headed home with her purchases.
Once home, she put away her things, then went to gather pig feed for the pigs and chickens. She also prepared dinner, and by then, the Gu family members had returned from work.
After dinner, Chen Lishu delivered the handkerchiefs to Zhang Qin and informed Li Xiulan about Gu Xingye's situation before returning to her own room.
She first took out the fabric she had prepared for undergarments and, following the style of a modern bra, cut and quickly sewed two pieces.
Next, she took the black cotton-linen fabric and, in the style of later fashion, cut it into a seven-tenths culotte style. She sewed elastic bands on both sides of the waist and added drawstrings to tie into a bow at the front. The design was simple and elegant, perfectly matching her previously made apricot-yellow short-sleeved top.
Since she needed to carry changing clothes due to the heat, Chen Lishu used the remaining fabric to make a pair of straight-leg nine-tenths pants. After finishing, she tried them on. They weren't ostentatious and the overall effect was pleasing.
As she didn't have to go to work, she spent the next three days using up all the fabric intended for 'fake collars,' making a total of twenty-four pieces. The cost was less than two yuan, and Chen Lishu priced them at three yuan fifty each.
Early one morning, she took the finished 'fake collars' to town. Her initial intention was to ask Zhou Bin if he wanted to purchase them. However, she reconsidered, realizing she needed to gauge market feedback before deciding whether to continue this business. Thus, she chose to stake out the residential area of the sugar factory.
Soon, two young, attractive girls emerged. Chen Lishu seized the opportunity, approached them, and lowered her voice, asking, "Comrades, would you like to take a look at some clothes I have?"
Upon hearing about selling clothes, a novel idea, the two girls exchanged glances and pulled Chen Lishu back with them.
"It's not convenient to talk here. My home is just ahead, not far. Let's go to my place to discuss it," one of the girls said. Bringing her back to their home would allow them to choose items more carefully.
"Why are you back already? Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Hearing the door open, a woman emerged from the kitchen, paused briefly upon seeing her daughter bring back a stranger.
"Mom, we just met her outside the residential area. This comrade is selling clothes."
Selling clothes? The woman's eyes lit up. "What's your name, comrade? What kind of clothes do you sell? How much are they?"
Fearing any misunderstanding, Chen Lishu quickly put down her bag, opened it, and said, "What I have isn't exactly clothing, but rather cleverly made 'fake collars.' They don't require coupons and sell for four yuan each."
As the words left her mouth, Chen Lishu added fifty cents to the price. After all, she needed to leave room for negotiation. If she started at three yuan fifty, they would surely haggle.
The woman and the two girls looked at what she had taken out with great curiosity. They had never imagined shirts could be made this way. However, upon hearing the price, they all frowned slightly.
"To sell just a piece of cloth for four yuan is too expensive." The woman had already picked up a 'fake collar' and was holding it up against herself. She had chosen a blue one with a pointed collar. Since it was hot, everyone was wearing short sleeves, so it wasn't very noticeable. She went back inside to get a jacket. Once she put it on, only the top two buttons were visible. If no one took off their jacket, no one would realize it was only a partial collar.
The other two young women also exclaimed in wonder. Seeing their expressions, Chen Lishu knew they were interested. She then stated, "These don't require cloth coupons. Although they're a bit expensive, they include labor costs, and I'm taking a risk coming all this way."
"We'll buy three. Can you give us a discount?" the girl who had brought her back said.
Chen Lishu showed a hint of hesitation, then as if making a difficult decision, said, "Since you're buying several, let's call it a friendship price, three yuan fifty. But please don't tell anyone else that I sold them to you for three yuan fifty."
The group immediately nodded profusely. Hearing this, the woman felt it was a rare opportunity and went to the kitchen to pour her a glass of water. "Comrade, please have a seat and rest for a moment."
Before Chen Lishu could thank her, the woman turned and went out. Soon, she returned with four or five other people.
"These are all my neighbors. Feel free to look, and give them all the price of three yuan fifty."
Chen Lishu smiled and nodded. "Alright, everyone pick as you please."
Soon, more than half of her 'fake collars' were claimed. Although the price was a bit high, the advantage was that they didn't require coupons. For families with many children, nothing could be more cost-effective.
Leaving the sugar factory residential area, Chen Lishu went to two other residential communities, and before long, all the 'fake collars' she had were sold. She now had eighty-four yuan in hand.
After deducting the forty yuan cost, in just three days, she had earned forty-four yuan.
When she returned home that evening, Gu Xingdong's letter had arrived. He was very happy to learn that she was going to visit her relatives and asked her to leave immediately upon receiving the letter. He promised to meet her at the station.