"Got some fabric from a friend. How about you?"
Wang Aixiang, assuming she was in the same business of trading used goods, didn't pay much attention. "I'm about the same. I collect old clothes from others and mail them to my relatives in the countryside. You know, the countryside isn't particular about such things, so I can make a bit of a profit."
City dwellers earned wages and had more fabric coupons than those in rural areas. They were also more particular about clothing. Many old clothes that were no longer worn had only one or two patches, and some were even in perfect condition. It was different in the countryside, where clothes might have patches upon patches. Now, for one or two yuan, one could buy a set of clothes that were six or seven tenths new, and most people were willing to buy them.
Chen Lishu nodded, feeling a touch of admiration. At this time, anyone with a flexible mind seemed capable of earning money.
"Miss, what about these goods? Where should I take them for you?" The tricycle driver, having rested enough and seeing that time was getting late, looked back and asked.
Chen Lishu was momentarily taken aback by his question. She had only been focused on escaping and had just remembered the tricky problem that awaited her.
The road to the post office was definitely out. Taking them back to the military dependents' compound was also not an option. Chen Lishu stared at the pile of fabric on the cart, feeling a bit stumped. She wondered if it was possible to rent a place now.
As Chen Lishu pondered what to do, she glanced sideways at Wang Aixiang and her eyes lit up. She moved a couple of steps closer and asked, "Comrade, are you a local?"
Wang Aixiang nodded. "My name is Wang Aixiang. You don't need to be so formal; just call me by my name."
Chen Lishu followed her suggestion gracefully. "Sister Aixiang, how much do you earn a month selling old clothes?"
Wang Aixiang shook her head. "I haven't calculated it precisely. When business is good, it's over twenty yuan; when it's not, it's around ten yuan." After all, she had to share with her relatives, and the profit from used clothes was not high to begin with.
"I have a job for you now. It's a fixed thirty yuan a month, with a trial period of twenty-five for the first month. Do you want to do it?"
"What kind of job?" Wang Aixiang was tempted, but she didn't rush to accept.
Ever since her husband died, she had approached the factory and the neighborhood committee many times, but she couldn't secure a job. With an elderly person and a child at home, she wouldn't have been forced into this speculative and profiteering business.
Now, with Chen Lishu, an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl, offering her employment, Wang Aixiang couldn't help but feel a bit suspicious. Such a windfall falling from the sky wasn't so easy to accept.
"I have this batch of fabric and nowhere to put it. You first help me settle it. As for whether I'll find a car to take it away later or have you continue to sell the fabric for me, you'll be notified then."
Just a pile of rags needed someone to be hired specifically to sell them? Wang Aixiang thought either Chen Lishu was crazy or she had too much money to spend.
"Okay, I'll do it." Hearing that it was such a simple task that could earn her several tens of yuan a month, which was comparable to a factory worker's salary, she agreed without hesitation.
"Follow me."
To store the fabric, Wang Aixiang got up and led Chen Lishu and the tricycle driver back to her home.
She lived in the factory compound. Most people were at work at this time, with only the elderly and children sunning themselves in the yard.
"Aixiang is back?" An elderly aunt greeted them with a smile, her gaze lingering on Chen Lishu as she inquired curiously, "Do you have a guest at home?"
"Yes," Wang Aixiang replied, gesturing for the tricycle driver to carry the items inside.
These old ladies, who were so idle they might grow lice, loved to pry. If she showed a little too much enthusiasm, they would surely start asking questions. Wang Aixiang decided to give them no opportunity to do so.
Soon, all four large bags of fabric were placed inside the house. Chen Lishu paid the tricycle driver thirteen yuan.
"Thank you for your hard work today, driver. Here's an extra yuan for you to buy some meat on your way home," Chen Lishu said with a smile.
The tricycle driver, not expecting this bonus, was overjoyed. After collecting the money, he bid farewell to Chen Lishu and left.
"Sister Aixiang, do you have paper and pen at home? We need to sign an employment agreement, and also write a receipt. This way, both of us can be at ease, don't you think?"
'How formal,' Wang Aixiang thought with a slight curl of her lip, but she turned and went back inside to get her child's paper and pen.
Chen Lishu first drafted an employment agreement, stipulating a one-month trial period. If her performance was satisfactory, a one-year contract would be signed, with future arrangements to be determined based on the circumstances.
Additionally, regarding her fabric, since she was not familiar with Wang Aixiang yet, entrusting all the fabric to her was a gamble. However, Wang Aixiang still needed to write her a receipt.
After everything was settled, Chen Lishu had the chance to look around Wang Aixiang's home.
It was an old single-story house, a two-bedroom apartment of over forty square meters. There weren't many furnishings, and most of the furniture was old. It was evident that the family's conditions weren't very good.
"Sister Aixiang, I'll be heading back now. Please try to have someone at home these past few days. If anything comes up, I'll come and notify you in advance."
Seeing her leave, Wang Aixiang walked her to the main entrance before returning. Back home, she eagerly opened the nylon bags on the ground. The moment she saw they were all filled with fresh "Qixiang" (a type of synthetic fabric), her mind went blank.
Chen Lishu emerged from Wang's house and glanced at her watch. It was past two o'clock. Thinking that Zhou Bin should be at his workplace, she first found a phone booth and called him.
"Hello, Brother Zhou, it's Chen Lishu."
Zhou Bin hadn't expected her to call, but he was pleasantly surprised after not having been in touch for a while. He asked with a smile, "How are your studies going, little sister?"
"It's going well," Chen Lishu chatted with him about her recent situation before asking, "Brother Zhou, are there any vehicles coming to the provincial capital from your unit recently?"
At this time, cars were scarce, roads were poor, and the transportation industry was not well-developed. She could only rely on units like Zhou Bin's, which often traveled outside, such as the Material Supply Bureau.
Upon hearing her question, Zhou Bin immediately understood. "Little sister, do you have something to transport?"
"Yes."
"There's a trip next week. Let me see if I can apply to go along. Where should I find you when I arrive?"
"You can come directly to the school," Chen Lishu told Zhou Bin her department and class before hanging up the phone.
By the time Chen Lishu returned to the dormitory, it was past four in the afternoon.
"I thought you'd be going directly to the classroom tomorrow morning," Zhang Xue said, seeing her return, and immediately got off her bed.
There were eight people in their dormitory. She had already fallen out with Jiang Yuwei and Sun Ling. Li Hexin was in a very affectionate phase with her boyfriend, and the other two were a pair. With Chen Lishu absent, she only occasionally chatted with Yang Lili.
"I came back early today since there wasn't much else to do," Chen Lishu said, bending down to retrieve her lunchbox from under the bed. "I'm hungry. Do you want to go eat?"
"Yes," Zhang Xue replied and also went to get her lunchbox.
"I'll go too." Yang Lili, who had been reading, heard them both decide to go and quickly put down her book. She went to get her lunchbox as well. The three of them ate together, each ordering one dish and sharing with each other so they could try three different dishes.
"Have you guys heard? The school is encouraging students with good academic performance. In the final exams, those with excellent grades will receive scholarships. The first prize is over seventy yuan, and even the third prize is more than twenty yuan," Yang Lili said excitedly.