The two visited several building material companies, manufacturers, and the materials bureau. The prices from the bureau and manufacturers would naturally differ, as the bureau's primary role was macro-control.
Chen Lishu, along with Gu Xingye, first finalized the main materials, such as cement and stone. Gu Xingye would then handle the rest himself.
The renovation of the four-story market required over forty thousand yuan for preliminary material orders alone, consuming almost all of Chen Lishu's earnings for the year.
The promissory note for the money borrowed from Nan Haitao stipulated a one-year repayment period. With two months remaining, Chen Lishu wasn't overly concerned.
Once the renovation was complete and the project handed over on schedule, the funds from the Provincial Construction Engineering department would arrive, allowing her to repay the loan as agreed.
The village's mountain land had yielded some income this year, though not much, only a few thousand yuan in total. Taking steps too large or too quickly could lead to problems, and she didn't have much extra energy. Therefore, Chen Lishu didn't invest further, opting to expand slowly with the money she had recovered.
The clothing store continued to generate daily cash flow, managing to stay afloat for the time being.
As November arrived and the weather grew progressively colder, the sales of polyester-cotton blends weren't performing well. Chen Lishu instructed Liang Chunsheng to halt fabric processing and focus entirely on cashmere sweaters.
This year, Chen Lishu acquired another two thousand cashmere sweaters from the wool mill. Having collaborated for a year and with her limited capital, after negotiation with the wool mill, she agreed to an initial payment of thirty percent, with the remaining seventy percent to be paid in a single installment a month later.
Last year, the cashmere sweaters had sold well in the Su Nation. As soon as the weather turned cold this year, Sun Wu called to pre-order two hundred pieces.
The cashmere sweaters were of good quality, and given the proximity, her pricing wasn't high. A department store in the neighboring province had also placed an order for two hundred pieces early on.
Selling some in her own store and having Liang Chunsheng market the rest would easily move the two thousand pieces.
Chen Lishu's current concern was the limited variety of clothing in her store. With November upon them and snow expected soon, Li Yuanchao's location in Yangcheng, in the south, meant their winter clothing was unsuitable for the harsh winters here. Furthermore, the long distance and high shipping costs made it uneconomical.
For the past couple of days, Chen Lishu had been contemplating this issue. Perhaps it was time to visit the National Cotton Mill again. If she wanted to purchase cotton-padded clothes in bulk, the National Cotton Mill remained her only hope.
"Sigh!" lost in thought, another sigh emanated from beside her. Chen Lishu turned her head, "What's wrong? You've been sighing since morning?"
Zhang Xue, feeling dejected, traced patterns on the table. "You've sighed several times already."
Chen Lishu: "..." Had she heard it too late?
"Li Weimin proposed to me."
Chen Lishu nearly dropped her jaw. "How long have you known each other?"
"Love doesn't depend on how long you've known each other. Some people know each other for ten or eight years, only to remain friends in the end. Besides, we've been dating for over a month, and it's time to put this on the agenda."
Zhang Xue added, "Didn't that great man say that any relationship that doesn't aim for marriage is a waste of time?"
Chen Lishu asked, puzzled, "Then why are you sighing?"
Zhang Xue rested her head on her arm and mumbled, "Li Weimin said all these things. I haven't made up my mind yet."
Chen Lishu pursed her lips, not realizing Li Weimin was such a man of action.
"Do you think all soldiers are this efficient?"
Chen Lishu asked, "What are your thoughts?"
Zhang Xue sat up straight immediately. "Of course, I'm willing!"
"If it's mutual affection, what's there to worry about?"
Zhang Xue slumped back, looking gloomy. "You don't know, I'm an only child. My parents have always hoped I would return to our hometown after graduation. Sigh, I don't even know how to tell them."
Chen Lishu was perplexed. "What's the big deal? Once you have a job, you can bring them to live with you."
"I don't know what the job situation will be, or if the unit will assign housing. Li Weimin said he'll submit a report first. With his current rank, the army can assign housing. But my parents might not agree."
Although Zhang Xue's family wasn't the wealthiest, they were definitely well-off. Both her parents worked, and they had only one daughter. Furthermore, Zhang Xue was a university student. If she returned to her hometown, her job prospects and treatment would be excellent, and finding a partner would be even easier.
Li Weimin, though currently a deputy battalion commander, which sounded good, was still young. If he didn't get promoted in a few years, he would inevitably have to retire from the military.
Chen Lishu suddenly remembered that the country had been streamlining its military forces for years, especially with the upcoming massive downsizing. From the army and division levels down to individual soldiers, a large number of people would be discharged.
It was still somewhat manageable now, as the military would recommend jobs, but most were contract positions, and often returned to their native places. If they refused, they would have to find work themselves. In a few more years, even job recommendations might cease, leaving them to fend for themselves.
This alone would be enough for the Zhang family to object.
Although Zhang Xue was usually forthright, she thought things through just as much as anyone else. She genuinely liked Li Weimin and wanted to be with him. Initially, their relationship began with enthusiasm, but now, she considered the future challenges.
After some thought, Chen Lishu offered a suggestion. "Although unit-assigned housing is good, I think buying a house separately is better. Even if you don't live in it, you can rent it out for income, or hold onto it for appreciation. After all, money is static, and with continuous salary increases and economic liberalization, money deposited in banks not only fails to appreciate but actually depreciates."
"Buying a house?" Zhang Xue was clearly taken aback by Chen Lishu's words. She had never considered this possibility.
Not to mention her, most people at this time relied on their work units to resolve their housing issues, and had no concept of property speculation.
Chen Lishu nodded. "You can discuss it with Li Weimin. I'm just offering a suggestion."
"No, no, no, you are the god of wealth. I must listen to you. When he visits next time, I'll tell him." Zhang Xue was well aware of Chen Lishu's capabilities. If she said buying property could make money, it surely could.
Besides, if Li Weimin could buy a house in the provincial capital, it would signify his resolve to stay in the province, which was a plus point. Perhaps her parents would then agree to their union.
The more Zhang Xue thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed. Her worries subsided, and a smile bloomed on her face as she looked at Chen Lishu. "Thank goodness I have you."
There were no classes in the afternoon, so Chen Lishu decided to visit the National Cotton Mill again.
She had initially expected to be rejected again this year, as in the past. Chen Lishu had even prepared several talking points, willing to accept a higher cost if necessary, as making a profit through high volume sales was still profitable.
To her surprise, upon entering the leader's office and starting to discuss her desire to purchase cotton-padded clothes, the leader immediately stood up enthusiastically, gestured towards the chair opposite his desk, and said, "Please, have a seat. Let's discuss it properly."