Chen Lishu's gaze swept over the marked lines again, guessing that Jiang Weiguo must have done this a lot.
"Manager Jiang, look at how much I'm taking. Moreover, after this cooperation, we will definitely have more opportunities for cooperation. Could you just process this for me outside of the plan? If the price goes up again, I've traveled all this way just to earn a little bit of hard-earned money."
Jiang Weiguo raised an eyebrow at her words. She actually knew about "planned" and "unplanned." However, her purchases were indeed more generous among the people he cooperated with. If they could establish long-term cooperation, he could push away all the small customers to avoid unnecessary trouble in the future.
Thinking of this, Jiang Weiguo hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement, but still emphasized, "I'm already taking a big risk to help you."
Chen Lishu knew that he said this just to make her remember his kindness, so she said a few more words of gratitude to please him.
Soon, she had chosen the clothes she wanted to buy. She didn't choose the ones that were of particularly good quality and high price. Since the market positioning was for the county town, she only selected those in the middle and lower-middle price range. According to the money she had, Chen Lishu chose a total of one hundred and thirty-seven pieces of clothing.
After selecting the clothes with Jiang Weiguo in the warehouse and watching them being packed, Chen Lishu took her passbook to the bank to withdraw money. The two parties exchanged money for goods, and the transaction was completed happily.
After exchanging a few polite words, Chen Lishu laboriously carried two large bags of clothes out of the back door of the Yimin Store.
It was almost noon, and the weather was hot. After walking for a short while, Chen Lishu's sweat soaked her eyes, and large patches of her back clothes were also wet.
There were no taxis at this time, and not even rickshaws could be found. Chen Lishu's strength was quickly depleted. She had no choice but to stop by the roadside, wipe her sweat, and look around.
Soon, a middle-aged man in his forties approached. Judging by his attire, he was a very ordinary citizen. Chen Lishu called out to him, "Brother, could you please tell me how to get to the post office nearby?"
The man stopped and kindly pointed the way for her: "Follow this road, go through two intersections, turn right, and then walk about two to three hundred meters."
Seeing the man preparing to leave, Chen Lishu showed a hesitant smile: "Brother, I want to mail some things back to my hometown, but the things are too heavy. Could you help me send them to the post office for one yuan?"
The man's gaze fell on the two large woven bags at her feet. Although they looked quite heavy, she was willing to pay one yuan, and thinking that the distance was not too far, he nodded in agreement.
Chen Lishu was very happy when he agreed. They went to the post office together. After Chen Lishu paid him, she communicated with the post office staff, inquiring about the delivery time, which was about four to five days. She wrote down the address of her hometown and then paid the postage.
After leaving the post office, she saw someone selling ice pops on the roadside for five cents each. Chen Lishu bought one directly.
As the cool, sweet ice pop entered her mouth, Chen Lishu couldn't help but sigh comfortably. After finding a shady spot and eating the ice pop, Chen Lishu got into the car back to the camp.
Because she was concerned about the two bags of clothes she had mailed, Chen Lishu decided to leave the next day.
In the evening, when Gu Xingdong heard that she wanted to go back, he didn't say much. Instead, his actions at night were more passionate than usual. Chen Lishu could see his deep reluctance from his movements and eyes.
"I'll come to see you after the military family housing is built." She also felt a little uncomfortable as they were about to part.
"Mm." Gu Xingdong's arm around her tightened unconsciously, and he buried his face in the crook of her neck, his voice sounding muffled.
Although they had only spent a few days together, it felt as if they had been together for a long time.
Despite their reluctance, the parting the next day still arrived. Gu Xingdong personally drove her to the train station.
"Be careful on the road, and call me when you get home."
"Mm." Chen Lishu nodded heavily and waved goodbye to Gu Xingdong as the train slowly began to move.
After another long night of torment, Chen Lishu arrived at the town nearing noon the next day.
She didn't rush home. After getting off the train, the first thing she did was call Gu Xingdong to report her safety.
Presumably, knowing that she should have arrived around this time, Gu Xingdong had been waiting by the phone. As soon as it rang, the call was answered.
After reporting her safety, Chen Lishu went to the Materials Bureau.
Her home was too far from the town. Running back and forth frequently and carrying so many things was not only too conspicuous but also tiring and time-consuming. Therefore, Chen Lishu wanted to rent a house in town, preferably a detached one, so that she could do anything without attracting attention.
Since Zhou Bin was a local, Chen Lishu wanted to ask him to help keep an eye out for any houses for rent.
Before going to the Materials Bureau, Chen Lishu first went to the Food Store to buy some pastries and oil tea powder for Gu Xingye, thinking that he could have something to eat if he was hungry. However, due to the hot weather, the items wouldn't last long, so she only bought one jin of each.
When she arrived at the Materials Bureau, she was surprised to find them both there.
"Sister-in-law, you don't need to buy anything when you come. I'm eating well and living well here. Brother Zhou and everyone else take good care of me."
After not seeing him for a while, Gu Xingye looked darker and sturdier, and his eyes showed that he was much more confident.
"If you can't finish it yourself, you can share it with your colleagues. The weather is hot and your work is strenuous. Remember to drink more water and don't get heatstroke. Here are twenty yuan and one jin of grain coupons. Take them and buy whatever you want to eat when you feel like it. Don't be stingy with your money."
As Chen Lishu spoke, she stuffed him with twenty yuan and a few grain coupons.
"Mom already gave me money when I came, and I'll be getting my salary soon." Gu Xingye felt very embarrassed to take his sister-in-law's money when he was already an adult.
"We'll talk about it when you get your salary. Take it now. Don't you feel at ease with money in your hands?" Chen Lishu put on her sister-in-law's demeanor, and Gu Xingye scratched his head before accepting it.
After talking with Gu Xingye, Chen Lishu smiled apologetically at Zhou Bin: "I came to ask Brother Zhou to help me look for houses for rent in town, preferably a detached one."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing that she wanted to rent a house, Gu Xingye and Zhou Bin asked in unison, "Sister-in-law, why are you renting a house?" "Are you moving to town?"
Chen Lishu replied with a smile, "It's not that I'm moving, but I just think it's inconvenient to come and go because the distance is too far. I want to store some things normally and occasionally stay overnight."
Zhou Bin understood and looked at her, smiling, "You're planning to get serious about this, aren't you?"
Chen Lishu nodded. Thinking about her "fake collar" business, she said to Zhou Bin, "I tried selling them a while ago, and the results were good. Do you want to do it? We've been cooperating for so long. I sell them for three yuan and fifty cents. How about you get them for three yuan?"