Chen Lishu left her contact number at the alleyway’s telephone booth for Manager Fu since her home didn't have a phone installed yet.
After leaving the national cotton mill, Chen Lishu checked the time and realized it was already past one o’clock. A sense of urgency washed over her. She had left at just past eight. By the time she got back, the children would surely be hungry.
As expected, when she rushed home and pushed open the door, she was met with the sounds of her two little ones crying their lungs out.
“You’re finally back! These two kids have such tempers. Li Xiulan and I prepared formula for them, but they wouldn’t drink a single drop.” Li Xiulan and Zhao Qiuyue, each holding a child, were already sweating profusely. Seeing her return, they let out a collective sigh of relief.
“I’m here, Mommy’s here.” Chen Lishu first took off her coat, washed her hands, and then came over to take the children into her arms. Famished, Little Bai eagerly opened his small mouth and nuzzled into Chen Lishu’s embrace as soon as she picked him up. After feeding one thoroughly, she shifted to hold Little Chengzi. Perhaps exhausted from crying, the two children fell asleep not long after finishing their meal.
Just as Chen Lishu and Zhao Qiuyue finished settling the children upstairs, guests arrived downstairs.
“Aunt Sun?” Seeing Sun Yongmei arrive, Chen Lishu greeted her with a smile, “Please, come in.”
“Are the two children upstairs?” Sun Yongmei had visited once when Chen Lishu was discharged from confinement. She found the children particularly endearing and had been thinking of them since.
Chen Lishu nodded with a smile, “I got back a bit late. These two little rascals were crying like a duet, and it drove me mad. They’ve finally fallen asleep, and now I can have some peace.”
“You’re so blessed to have both a boy and a girl! Our two unfilial ones… we don’t even know where our daughters-in-law are now.”
“Men should focus on their careers. Besides, many people get married in their mid-twenties now. Good food is worth waiting for, and so is a good marriage.”
Sun Yongmei chuckled, “Your Uncle Chen says the same thing. You have no idea how much I envied you when I saw your two little ones. I’ve never seen such adorable children.”
After a few more pleasantries, Sun Yongmei suddenly asked, “Lin Ying mentioned that you have a master craftsman whose skills are excellent. Can they make wedding dresses?” Lin Ying was Han Shengquan’s wife, and they were all quite close privately.
“Are there any specific requirements?”
“It’s for my nephew’s wedding. The bride’s family is quite particular, and they weren’t satisfied with several places they inquired at. I’m not entirely sure of the specific requirements, but they suddenly asked me, so I thought I’d ask you.”
Chen Lishu suggested, “Why don’t you arrange for us to meet when they have time? That way, we can communicate better. What do you think?”
“Alright, I’ll speak with them when I get back and let you know the specific time.”
Not long after Sun Yongmei left, someone called from the telephone booth at the street corner, saying there was a call for her. Chen Lishu went there shortly after, and the person on the other end was Manager Fu, asking her to come in tomorrow for further discussion.
After hanging up and returning home, Gu Xingdong also arrived back from work.
“Xingdong, I want to install a telephone at home. It’s really inconvenient without one.” The government had opened up telephone installation policies to ordinary citizens this year, but the installation cost was quite high – a landline could cost nearly a thousand yuan, not including call charges. However, Chen Lishu felt that installing one was very necessary; at least they could be contacted immediately in case of emergencies.
“Okay, I’ll go to the post and telecommunications bureau tomorrow to inquire about the situation.”
Seeing his prompt agreement, Chen Lishu leaned in and kissed his cheek, her eyes sparkling as she said, “Honey, you’re so good.”
Gu Xingdong was taken aback for a moment, then pulled her into his arms. “Your praise is a bit too perfunctory.” As he spoke, he quickly lowered his head and kissed her lips, then looked up with lingering desire. “Next time, come with this standard.”
Chen Lishu was stunned. She had intended to tease Gu Xingdong, but he had gained the upper hand, making her feel a little indignant. She stood up, bracing one knee beside Gu Xingdong, and reached out to cup the back of his head, leaning forward. After imprinting her lips on his, she straightened slightly and breathed out, “Is this okay?”
Gu Xingdong gazed into her alluring eyes, his dark pupils constricting, and his breathing quickened.
“I think I just heard Mom calling me.” Knowing the situation was about to escalate, Chen Lishu quickly made her escape. Watching her hasty retreat, Gu Xingdong shook his head, a mixture of helplessness and amusement on his face. He turned to the two children in the crib and said, “Look, isn’t your mommy like a little vixen, all bark and no bite?”
Little Chengzi was sucking his fist. Hearing his question, he gave two very cooperative “ah ah” sounds. Gu Xingdong was delighted and mischievously pulled out the fist he was about to put in his mouth. After repeating this a few times, Little Chengzi’s face turned red, and he “ah ah” shouted at Gu Xingdong in protest. Little Bai, meanwhile, turned his head and quietly watched the spectacle.
For dinner, Zhao Qiuyue made pancakes, and Chen Lishu stewed yam and pork rib soup. The family sat together, chatting occasionally, enjoying a warm dinner.
The next day, Gu Xingdong first visited his company to check on things before heading to the post and telecommunications bureau. After finishing her class, Chen Lishu went directly to the national cotton mill. This time, Manager Fu was accompanied by the factory’s Party Secretary, indicating the importance they placed on the matter Chen Lishu had raised. It wasn’t surprising, given the two thousand cotton jackets – an order comparable to that of a large factory. This was undoubtedly the factory’s top order for the year.
“Manager Fu had mentioned this matter to several factory leaders. We were wondering, Comrade Chen, what would be the price if you were to sell these clothing designs? And what are the other cooperation methods?”
“If you buy it out outright, it’s five hundred yuan. Or, you can give me a one-yuan commission for every additional piece of clothing sold.”
Manager Fu and the Party Secretary paused, “Isn’t the price too high for just one piece of clothing?”
Chen Lishu smiled, “You should be aware of the situation last year. Moreover, whoever gains the first-mover advantage wins the market. Besides my two thousand pieces, you will be among the earliest to sell, and it’s right before the New Year. I don’t think the profits will be poor.”
Last year, after Chen Lishu’s involvement, the factory did make a small profit, leaving Manager Fu and the Party Secretary speechless.
“If sales are not good…”
Chen Lishu replied, “That’s why I’ve provided two options.” Most business ventures involve an element of gamble. Sometimes it’s luck, but it also depends on personal courage. If one is too timid, they can only watch others succeed.
“Then let’s go with the commission, one yuan per piece,” the factory’s Party Secretary decided. Based on last year’s situation, the factory had later accepted two more orders for custom-made cotton jackets similar to those sold in Chen Lishu’s shop, totaling only three hundred pieces. The situation this year was estimated to be similar, so signing a commission agreement was the safer bet.