Lu Chengming leaned closer and said a few words in a low voice. Zhao Hong's face immediately showed panic. "How can this be? Don't you know what kind of person Jin Kun is? If he finds out..."
Lu Chengming reached out and gripped her shoulders, looking directly into her eyes with an unprecedented seriousness. "Don't you want to live a good life with me? I heard the south is so much better than here. As long as we have money, we can start over. I'm willing to give up my current stable job for you, isn't that proof of my determination?"
Zhao Hong still shook her head in fear. "After I divorce him, we can still be together. Why do we have to do this?"
A hint of madness flashed in Lu Chengming's eyes. "Your shop was opened with Jin Kun's money, wasn't it? And you said he's ruthless. If you ask for a divorce, it's uncertain if he'll agree, and will he let you take a single cent?"
His son wasn't his own biological child anymore, and with his physical condition, he wouldn't be able to have children in the future. There was also oppression from his superiors at the factory. Being a boiler worker wasn't worth it. As long as he had money, enough money, he could leave this place and live a carefree life.
Zhao Hong hesitated. Lu Chengming had a point. Would Jin Kun agree to her divorce? What if Jin Kun didn't agree, or in a fit of anger, did something to her...
"You also said Jin Kun is not easily fooled. Paper can't wrap fire. If you divorce him and come with me, won't he know you've been cheating on him?" Seeing her indecisive, Lu Chengming delivered a powerful blow.
Lu Chengming's last sentence was the final straw that broke Zhao Hong's defenses.
That's right, Jin Kun had already warned her. If she proposed divorce now, Jin Kun would definitely suspect it was because of Lu Chengming. Then, the two of them would not have a good life. If she didn't divorce, and Jin Kun found out about her betrayal, she and Lu Chengming would likely face death. It was better to take a gamble.
"Swear you'll never let me down and will be good to me forever."
Seeing that she had finally relented, a hint of joy appeared in Lu Chengming's eyes. "Okay, I swear."
...
As the first rays of dawn streamed into the room, Li Yuanchao was already awake, meticulously combing his hair in front of the mirror.
Today was the day he was going to apply for his individual business license.
In a few days, the commercial street would reopen. He seized the opportunity and spent five hundred yuan to rent a stall, specializing in wholesale clothing. Although the stall was small, only a few square meters, he was confident it would make money.
"A'Chao, time for breakfast." Mother Li's voice came from outside. Li Yuanchao cast one last look at his reflection in the mirror, his attire neat, his hair slicked back with pomade. He nodded in satisfaction again, grabbed his briefcase, and turned to leave the room.
"I still say you shouldn't be doing this. It's better to have your brother-in-law find you a proper job at the factory." Mother Li, knowing he was going to apply for the license today, couldn't help but nag him again.
"Such a small shop, what if you lose money?"
"How could that happen? Those 'ghosts' who used to sell things could make money. Mine is a proper shop. Besides, there are over two thousand merchants on the street. Are they fools to rush into something that loses money?"
Li Yuanchao hurriedly drank a few mouthfuls of congee and got up, grabbing his briefcase and heading downstairs. With so many people, he had to hurry to get a good spot for good luck.
Upon arriving at the service hall, many people were already queuing. Despite the crowd, everyone had a smile on their faces.
After inquiring, Li Yuanchao joined the end of a queue.
With his brother-in-law's connections, he had already rented a place and hired a few female workers for the clothing business. Styles were also easy to come by; being close to Hong Kong, there would be no shortage of fashionable designs.
As for sales, Li Yuanchao suddenly thought of Chen Lishu. He could ask about her situation first.
That day, after Chen Lishu came home from class, she was told by Zhao Qiuyue that someone from the south had called for her. Because of the accent, she hadn't heard clearly what was said, only that the person's surname was Li and he was looking for Chen Lishu.
Someone from the south named Li. She only knew one person like that, so it must be Li Yuanchao.
When she went downstairs to return the call, she was informed that Li Yuanchao was not available. It wasn't until evening that Li Yuanchao called her back.
Chen Lishu was very happy to learn that Yangcheng had opened the country's first wholesale clothing market.
Although the state had granted more autonomy to state-owned enterprises, individual market share was still minimal, and hiring employees was not allowed. To open a clothing factory, it had to be a foreign-funded joint venture or a township enterprise.
Now that there was a wholesale clothing market, it was a godsend for individual businesses.
"I'm also keeping up with the times and have rented a stall. You're my first customer, so there will definitely be a discount on the price. Styles? Don't worry, we'll sell whatever is popular in Hong Kong..."
Listening to Li Yuanchao describe the situation in Yangcheng, Chen Lishu felt a surge of excitement.
She had learned about the street's prosperity on television before. It was the earliest wholesale distribution center for clothing and handicrafts in the country. It was said that many foreigners even made special trips there to source goods.
Chen Lishu first placed an order with Li Yuanchao for three hundred pieces of autumn clothing, which were expected to arrive in about ten days. After hanging up the phone, Chen Lishu went upstairs.
...
After making arrangements with Zhao Hong, the two began to act separately.
Lu Chengming went to work as usual and then returned home as if nothing had happened. Lin Xiaohui waited for him anxiously for a long time. Seeing him finally return, she hurried to explain. But Lu Chengming was no longer bothered by these things.
Lin Xiaohui spent a sleepless night, even preparing a long list of excuses. To her surprise, Lu Chengming's expression was unchanged when he returned, and he didn't mention the child at all.
"Chengming, it was wrong of me to deceive you. I originally thought we'd have more children after marriage, but with your situation, I had no choice."
Lin Xiaohui looked at his expression and said cautiously, "But isn't it good to have Yangyang? Since we're destined not to have children in this lifetime, let's treat him as our own. Look at Chen Lishu, didn't she and her husband adopt a child, and they're doing well now?"
To be honest, after discovering the truth, Lin Xiaohui felt a sense of relief. She no longer had to fear Lu Chengming finding out and live in anxiety.
She spoke to herself while Lu Chengming lay on the bed expressionlessly, not saying a word or even giving her a glance.
It didn't matter if Lu Chengming didn't speak. As long as he didn't get angry and ask for a divorce, he would eventually accept it.
Lin Xiaohui thought this way and then fell silent. The child was asleep after taking medicine. She quietly got up to cook.