Yang Lili was stunned. "I finally got into university and have been studying for so long, and you want me to go back to my hometown?"
She had persisted and worked hard for two years, enduring so much suffering just to get into this university. How could she give up halfway?
The man had come with a mission. His wife had been studying in the city for so long, and the village had long been gossiping that their relationship wouldn't last. Their gap was widening. If they didn't have a child soon to tie her down, who knew if she would still be his wife after graduation?
"Either give me a son, or go back to the hometown. You choose!" The man became stubborn. "Otherwise, we're done with this marriage."
Yang Lili's eyes immediately turned red. "Tong Guoping, are you forcing me?"
"You should know our family's situation. Your husband and child have been living frugally just to support your studies. I think you've gotten too proud of yourself." If he stopped giving money, how would she continue her studies?
Yang Lili was instantly filled with grievance and her eyes welled up with tears.
...
Elsewhere, Sun Ling and Er Biao had just come out of the cinema after watching a movie.
"Ling'er, let me walk you home." Wang Er Biao looked at the dark street, then turned to reach for Sun Ling's hand, but she subtly dodged it.
The disappointment in Wang Er Biao's eyes flashed and he awkwardly withdrew his hand.
Sun Ling saw it and sneered in her heart.
Just a petty gangster, and he thought he could pursue her? She was just bored and looking for someone to pass the time with. He actually took himself seriously.
"Er Biao, my cousin said that 'Shu Se' clothing store has been doing very well recently, especially their cashmere sweaters. Even foreigners are buying them."
Er Biao shrugged and sighed helplessly. "Ah, whether they do well or not has nothing to do with me. Their background is too big. I've only been out for a few days, and I just want to have a peaceful New Year."
Through the streetlights behind them, Sun Ling looked at his oversized navy blue work uniform and his hair slicked back with oil, shimmering with a disgusting greasiness under the light. She immediately felt a surge of annoyance. "I can go back myself, you don't need to send me."
"How can that be? It's so late, and you're a girl. The roads aren't safe at night. Someone was robbed at our alley entrance a couple of days ago."
Seeing her walk ahead without looking back after speaking, Er Biao quickly quickened his pace to catch up.
"Aren't there streetlights? It's not that far, what could happen? I've noticed you're like a stubborn stain, so wishy-washy, not like a man at all."
Hearing her tone change, Er Biao sensitively realized she might be angry.
"Are you angry?"
"It's none of your business."
"Why?"
"No reason!"
"Is there something I did wrong? Tell me, as long as you're not angry, I'll do whatever you ask."
Sun Ling's eyes darted around. She stopped and turned back. "Really?"
Er Biao was taken aback. "What's really?"
"You're willing to do whatever I ask you to do?"
"Really, truer than true gold."
"Then, are you daring enough to steal clothes from the 'Shu Se' clothing store?"
"Why steal clothes? They're not edible or drinkable." Ever since he saw Chen Li Shu knew even the deputy director of the Municipal Bureau when he was in the police station last time, not only did he get into trouble, but he even implicated Brother Liu and got him disciplined. Er Biao never wanted to have anything to do with them again.
Although they were ruffians and often got into fights, they rarely engaged in petty theft.
"That b*tch caused you to go to the detention center. Don't you want revenge? Are you even a man? Forget it, I must have been blind to consider you a friend. Let's pretend we don't know each other anymore."
Sun Ling said irritably and turned to walk away quickly.
"Ling'er, what are you doing?" Er Biao panicked when he saw she was about to cut ties with him completely.
"Fine, tell me what to do, and I'll do it!" To prove he was a man, Er Biao impulsively agreed.
...
There were no classes that afternoon. Wang Aixiang was tending to the shop, while Chen Li Shu and Liang Chunsheng went to the textile factory to pick up some fabric.
"A clothing factory had previously ordered a batch of work clothes made from poplin. They said they needed them for their employees, but the year-end payment wasn't good, so the matter was put on hold. They called a while ago to cancel the order. I thought it was a rare opportunity, so I saved it for you," Li Zhengxing said excitedly when he saw Chen Li Shu enter.
"Thank you so much, Brother Li," Chen Li Shu said, taking out two cashmere sweaters. "These are new arrivals at the store. They're great for warmth in the cold weather. I brought one for you and one for your wife."
"You shouldn't have." Li Zhengxing knew about these cashmere sweaters. They cost at least sixty or seventy yuan in department stores. Even if Chen Li Shu sold them herself, the price wouldn't be cheap, and she brought two at once.
Chen Li Shu smiled. "Don't we have this convenience ourselves?"
After chatting for a while longer, Chen Li Shu went to the finance department to pay with the invoice from Li Zhengxing.
The factory that ordered the work clothes was a large one with over a thousand employees. They had over a hundred bolts of poplin alone, plus twenty bolts of khaki. Transporting so much fabric would be a hassle. Besides, Zhou Bin's truck would also need to carry goods, so it couldn't fit everything. Chen Li Shu paid a hundred yuan for shipping. Apart from keeping a few bolts of poplin for herself, she had the factory drive the rest to the town.
Liang Chunsheng had never seen anyone buy so much fabric at once. The back of the truck was full. How many clothes would be made from this?
It wasn't until they were leaving the textile factory that Liang Chunsheng came back to his senses.
"The sales of cashmere sweaters are still not picking up. I want to send you up north for a trip in the next few days."
Chen Li Shu had heard others talk before about how China's light industry was underdeveloped. In a few more years or a decade, those who became traders in the north would all make a fortune.
Since the ten years of turmoil ended, Sino-Soviet relations had slightly eased. She didn't know the exact situation now, but it was necessary to send Liang Chunsheng to explore the market. Compared to the southern market, and due to geographical reasons, the north would be easier to operate in.
Located in the northernmost part of the country, winters there are cold and long, so there should be a market for cashmere sweaters.
"It doesn't matter if they sell or not. You can explore the market first."
After all, it would still take several years for the country's door to truly open up and develop. She was not in a hurry.
"Okay, I'll book my train ticket tomorrow," Liang Chunsheng agreed readily. After all, he was now responsible for the market development of cashmere sweaters, and he could only make money by going out.
They stored the fabric in a rented warehouse. Chen Li Shu then called Lin Qi, informing him about the upcoming arrival of the fabric and to prepare to receive it in advance.
"Tell Aunt Yuan that this batch of poplin will all be made into bell-bottom pants."
With the 1980s approaching, bell-bottom pants would become all the rage, and there would be no shortage of sales then.