Gu Xingdong glanced in the direction of Li Xiulan and the others nearby, leaned closer, and whispered something. Chen Lishu’s ears turned red at a visible speed.
“Seriously, ask Lin Qi to keep an eye out. The factory needs to purchase two more trucks.”
Gu Xingdong said with a straight face, “What I just said was also serious.”
Chen Lishu hummed and looked up, “Forget it, it’s the same if I say it myself.”
Gu Xingdong: “……”
“Don’t be like that. Don’t trouble two masters for one thing. Why are you being polite to your man? Besides, my suggestion won’t cost you anything. You just lie there, and I’ll handle the rest.”
Chen Lishu glared at him, asking what he meant by no loss.
Every time they finished, it was late at night, and she had a lot to do during the day. How could she possibly indulge his nonsense?
“If you keep babbling, I’ll move to the children’s room to sleep.”
Gu Xingdong choked, then quickly mumbled, “You can go wherever you want, I’ll go wherever you go.”
Chen Lishu didn’t hear what he said clearly. She glanced at the three children and got up to wash fruit in the kitchen.
For the next few days, Chen Lishu went out early and returned late.
With Xiao Li, a professional, things were different. The factory’s planning map was completed in no time.
Getting things done was not as complicated as it would be later. With the intervention of people above, Chen Lishu submitted the design drawings and necessary related documents to the planning department. Within two days, the approval procedures were completed.
With the permission of the planning department, preparations could be made to arrange for workers to start construction.
Gu Xingdong had three projects on hand and couldn’t spare manpower. He found another construction team and assigned Wang Kuo to the site. In addition, Xiao Li and Wang Dazhu were also there, so Chen Lishu was completely relieved of managing the on-site matters.
As the newspapers published the news, nearby villagers also came to inquire about the situation, and a batch of employees was recruited successively.
While the factory was under construction, Chen Lishu arranged for technical personnel to study at the National Cotton Mill and, at the same time, busied herself with applying for loans.
All the money she had on hand was used to pay for materials and labor costs. Later, there would be equipment and raw materials, which were the major expenses.
With the business license, Chen Lishu mortgaged her property and obtained a loan of 500,000 yuan from the bank.
Besides sewing machines, there were also embroidery machines, pattern-making equipment, and so on. Sewing machines were easy to handle, but other items involving electronic products basically had to be imported. Feng Wenyu and Han Shenglin couldn't help much with this.
After much deliberation, Chen Lishu called Nan Haitao.
Although he was in the county town, his connections were quite extensive, and he might know someone in this field.
“You’re planning to build a factory?” Nan Haitao was quite surprised when he heard that Chen Lishu was going to build a factory.
“You didn’t mention it last time you came back.”
Chen Lishu smiled, “Weren’t you busy getting married? I’ve actually had the idea of building a factory for a long time, but I only made up my mind recently. However, when it came down to it, I realized I had underestimated things. There are so many tasks, and I can’t get a handle on them. By the way, how is your job? Would you consider joining me and becoming a shareholder?”
Chen Lishu didn’t treat Nan Haitao as an outsider, and her words were not casual. Nan Haitao was the manager of the department store. Besides his work experience, his interpersonal skills were seasoned and methodical. If he joined, it would undoubtedly lead to twice the results with half the effort.
However, hearing the brief silence on the other end of the phone, Chen Lishu regretted it a little. He was doing well as a manager and had only recently gotten married. He must have been crazy to give up his good life to help her with this venture.
If it succeeded, everything would be fine. If it failed, her guilt would be immense.
“I was just saying it casually. Your job is stable, and you earn a good salary. I’m just starting out, and everything is still uncertain. It’s best not to…”
Nan Haitao: “Your proposal is a bit sudden. I need to think about it.”
“You really plan to join?” Now it was Chen Lishu’s turn to be surprised.
Nan Haitao twitched the corner of his mouth, “I suddenly had an urge to move, but it might be gone tomorrow.”
Chen Lishu relaxed slightly, and they then discussed the equipment.
“I can speak a few words to the sewing machine manufacturers, but other equipment might be difficult. It involves electronic equipment, which still needs to be imported from abroad.”
Since it required imports, Nan Haitao couldn’t help much.
However, it was good that the sewing machine issue had a lead, and it wasn’t a wasted trip.
“I’ll contact you again when I have specific news in a couple of days.”
After hanging up the phone, Nan Haitao called a friend he knew.
From there, he got another person’s phone number. The latter was a leader at a sewing machine factory. Since they had mutual friends, things became much easier.
However, a definite answer would only be given after the other party reported back.
After listening to the other party hang up, Nan Haitao took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.
His current job was indeed enviable in the eyes of outsiders. He had married a virtuous wife, his career was successful, and his family was happy.
But he always felt something was missing.
Occasionally, he would ask himself, was a life that could be seen at a glance truly what he wanted?
Nan Haitao took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, a soft Zhonghua.
At his position, he didn’t have to buy his own cigarettes or alcohol; many people eagerly sent them to him.
After taking out a lighter and lighting the cigarette, he took a deep puff…
After hanging up with Nan Haitao, holding onto a sliver of hope, Chen Lishu went to the Provincial Medical University.
Unfortunately, He Ziyu was out and not at the university.
Thinking it would be a wasted trip if she left, Chen Lishu changed her path and went to Xu Ning’s dormitory.
Two girls were talking in the dormitory. When they heard she was looking for Xu Ning, they replied, “She hasn’t returned since lunch. She’s usually either in the library or the laboratory. Perhaps you could check those two places.”
Since she had nothing urgent, Chen Lishu thanked the girls and prepared to leave.
Just as she was going downstairs, she happened to meet Xu Ning entering the building, and they ran into each other.
The latter was holding two books, and the covers indicated they were professional textbooks.
“Someone in the dorm said you weren’t here, and I thought I wouldn’t see you today, so I was just about to go back.”
Xu Ning: “I don’t have class this afternoon, so I went to the library to find some books to read.”
Saying that, Xu Ning pulled her to a flower bed behind the dormitory building, where there was a pavilion.
“Why do you have time to come today?”
Chen Lishu: “I came to see your Professor He, but he’s not here.”
“He’s probably at a medical seminar,” Xu Ning said. “We have his class tomorrow, so I can help you pass on a message.”
Chen Lishu agreed and then asked, “How is Auntie recently?”
A smile appeared on Xu Ning’s face, and a spark lit up in her previously subdued eyes. “Thanks to Professor He, he helped introduce a top psychiatrist. This treatment was very effective. My mother’s condition has not only been controlled, but when she’s feeling well occasionally, she can even help out at home.”
Chen Lishu was genuinely happy for her. Otherwise, with the entire family’s burden resting solely on her shoulders, she truly feared that this frail and shy girl might not be able to bear it one day.