"You're not tutoring at home, so what brings you here?" Chen Lishu smiled and gestured for her to sit.
Xu Ning's medical university was a five-year program. In the first two years, with the family's situation, she had to balance caring for her family and attending school, making her feel like a spinning top.
In the past two years, as her younger siblings grew older and people paid more attention to the college entrance examination, she would tutor students during the holidays. In just one holiday, she could earn dozens of yuan, which was a significant contribution to the household expenses.
Due to her busy schedule, the last time they met was when Li Xiulan had surgery, and she had come to visit.
"I asked a friend at the Chinese medicine hospital for a prescription and got some herbs. They are all beneficial for qi and blood, which are good for Auntie's health. Since school is about to start, I hurried to bring them over."
Xu Ning handed the paper package in her hand to Chen Lishu.
Chen Lishu took it and said with a smile, "I won't be polite and say thank you. Don't leave after this, stay and have lunch with us before you go."
"Yes, yes, tell Auntie what you want to eat, and I'll go buy it right away," Li Xiulan said, getting up.
Facing Li Xiulan's enthusiasm, Xu Ning felt a little embarrassed. "Auntie, don't trouble yourself. Just make something simple. I eat anything."
"No trouble, no trouble. There's a vegetable shop at the street corner," Li Xiulan said, already putting on her coat and heading out.
For lunch, Li Xiulan and Zhao Qiuyue made four dishes. After the meal, Xu Ning left.
Gu Xingdong was not present, and the company could not afford to be without him. After the house was renovated, Gu Xingye couldn't return to his hometown to pick up his family. He had to call home and ask Zhang Xiaoju to bring the children herself.
"Let me know which bus you're taking in advance, and I'll pick you up. Don't bring too much luggage with Panpan. When you get here, we'll buy anything you need."
"We have everything ready at home; buying more would be a waste of money. I can ask my elder brother to send it over. You don't need to worry about me; just take good care of the company while third brother is away. Phone calls are so expensive, so I'll hang up now." Zhang Xiaoju said and quickly hung up.
Liu Yuemin had been paying attention to Zhang Xiaoju's movements. Seeing her return, she hurried to ask, "Was that Fourth Brother calling?"
Zhang Xiaoju nodded, "Xingye said the house over there is almost done and asked me to pack up and bring the children over."
Liu Yuemin: "That's perfect. Your second brother and I are also planning to develop there. We can go together then."
Having been sisters-in-law for so long, she knew Chen Lishu too well. After being rejected regarding the shop, if she proposed to live with them again, the petty Chen Lishu would surely get angry. It would be better to wait and go with Zhang Xiaoju. By then, the family would already be there, and she didn't believe Chen Lishu could still kick them out.
Chen Lishu was completely unaware of Liu Yuemin's intentions; she was currently busy with something else.
After the spring semester started and the weather gradually warmed up, it was time to start designing the summer clothing brand.
With the reform and opening up, people's minds became increasingly open, and Chen Lishu wanted to design a cultural shirt with the theme of 'Youth.'
Unlike the late 1980s and 1990s, where slogans like "Leave me alone, I'm annoyed" or "Small business" on Jia Zhixin's clothes in "I Love My Family" expressed self-deprecation or irony, Chen Lishu's designed cultural shirts were more readily accepted by the public at the time.
Having experienced the ten years of turmoil, the sent-down youth movement, and the restoration of the college entrance examination, the four words "Youth without Regrets" better captured the thoughts of young people at that time.
Since printing and dyeing were not available, and the styles were relatively simple, Chen Lishu directly drew the designs and then went to the State Cotton Mill.
The factory attached great importance to her arrival. After these two collaborations, the State Cotton Mill had changed its past decline. It couldn't be said that the situation had been completely reversed, but at least the employees' wages were guaranteed. The factory leaders believed that as long as the cooperation continued, turning losses into profits was within reach.
Therefore, this time, not only Manager Fu Hongxin but also the factory secretary Feng Wenyou received her.
"This is my design draft. The short sleeves will be mainly pure cotton, and the words can be printed." It would be meaningless to increase costs for a mass-market item.
After looking at the draft handed over by Chen Lishu and hearing her words, Secretary Feng looked up and asked, "How many pieces are you planning to order this time?"
"Five thousand pieces."
"How about this? After all, we've been cooperating for such a long time. Your cultural shirt this time is innovative, but the style is indeed ordinary. We'll give you the lowest cost price. What about the subsequent payments..."
Chen Lishu understood. There was no technical difficulty involved, so she was happy to do them a favor. She smiled and said, "Since Secretary Feng has spoken, we'll forget about it this time."
Seeing her readily agree, Secretary Feng was very pleased.
Neither of them noticed that Fu Hongxin's eyes flickered slightly.
Finally, both parties reached an agreement at a processing price of three yuan per piece, with delivery within ten days.
As usual, Chen Lishu paid a deposit of five thousand yuan and then left.
When she got home, the two little ones were sitting neatly in their baby chairs, while Li Xiulan and Zhao Qiuyue were feeding the twins custard with small spoons.
Gu Xingye and Rui Rui were playing chess on the sofa.
Seeing Chen Lishu enter, Gu Xingye acted as if he had found a savior and immediately put away the chess pieces and the chessboard.
"Rui Rui, your mom is back. I need to talk to her about something. We're not playing anymore, okay?"
This child was too clever. He had played chess for over twenty years but couldn't beat a seven or eight-year-old child. He felt utterly humiliated.
Rui Rui, with his all-knowing eyes, didn't expose his fourth uncle's trickery and silently put away the chess pieces and the board.
"Third sister-in-law, Xiaoju is bringing the children tomorrow. There are still many things to buy at home. She's new here and doesn't know the area, so I'll have to trouble you to take her around."
Chen Lishu thought he was looking for her for something important. Upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "Don't worry, I don't have much to do these days anyway."
Thinking about what Zhang Xiaoju had told him, Gu Xingye hesitated and said, "Second brother and second sister-in-law, along with their three children, are also coming this time. From the situation, it seems they plan to stay for a long time."
"Stay for a long time? Where will they live? Have they no brains? The children have started school, so why bring them?"
Before Chen Lishu could speak, Li Xiulan exploded, "Don't they know their own situation? Bringing their whole family over, and Chen Lishu and her husband are so busy, who can manage them?"
Gu Xingye opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing.
He also felt that his second brother and sister-in-law had gone too far. If they truly wanted to develop in the provincial capital, his second brother should have come when he came after the new year. He should have settled all the matters before bringing his wife and children over. What was this situation now?
Anyone could see their intentions.
Li Xiulan asked again, "Fourth, have the couple gotten on the bus yet? If not, tell them not to come. Say it's my word, that they've lived thirty-odd years for nothing."