Chen Lishu did not go to the small courtyard but directly to Yuan Lihua's home.
When she arrived, Yuan Lihua was cutting fabric for bell-bottom pants. She had few hobbies, except for tending to plants and cutting clothes.
The weather outside was freezing. Due to a lack of coal coupons, Lin Qi specially asked someone to buy two loads of honeycomb briquettes at a slightly higher price. After igniting them with firewood and adding a little briquette, the indoor temperature could be maintained for a long time.
"Lishu, you're back?" Yuan Lihua saw her enter, put down the scissors in her hand, and greeted her with a smile.
"I arrived yesterday." Chen Lishu smiled and put down the bag in her hand. Seeing that her complexion was good and she seemed to have gained a little weight compared to last year, Chen Lishu knew Lin Qi was taking good care of her and felt relieved.
"Aunt Yuan, these are cashmere and wool fabrics I brought back from the provincial capital. Can you see if you can help me make a few coats?" Da Feng Novel Network
As Chen Lishu spoke, she opened the bag and took out the items.
Yuan Lihua did not expect Chen Lishu to be able to get mink fur. After taking it and looking at it closely, she looked up and said to Chen Lishu, "Is this male mink fur?"
"Aunt Yuan, you also understand fur?"
"I came into contact with some when I made clothes for wealthy families in the past."
Yuan Lihua pointed to the fur in her hand and showed Chen Lishu, "The simplest way to distinguish between male and female mink fur is by weight. Female minks are smaller, softer, and lighter, while male minks are larger and heavier. Secondly, their appearance is also different..."
As she explained, Chen Lishu truly gained a deeper understanding of fur. As the saying goes, an outsider watches the fun, while an insider watches the skill. Before, she only thought that fur with luster was good material, but she didn't expect there to be so much knowledge involved.
Chen Lishu asked worriedly, "Did I buy this fur at a loss? Is it still suitable for making coat collars?"
Yuan Lihua smiled, "You didn't lose money at this price. Besides, there isn't much difference between the two types of fur. It's just that generally, male mink pelts are more suitable for men's wear. However, it's fine for making fur collars."
Hearing Yuan Lihua's words, Chen Lishu finally felt relieved. "Originally, I only planned to make women's coats. Otherwise, let's make one of each, men's and women's." Then she could display them in the store, and if customers liked the style, they could also place custom orders.
Next, Chen Lishu and Yuan Lihua discussed the styles of the coats. The cashmere fabric she bought this time was pure black. The women's coats would be long, with a cinched waist and a hood, while the men's coats would be mid-length with a detachable fur collar.
After leaving Yuan Lihua's house, Chen Lishu decided to check on the two shops.
...
In the clothing store, Li Fang was sitting behind the counter knitting a sweater. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she subconsciously raised her eyelids. When she saw that it was Zhao Deyou, her new boyfriend, her face instantly lit up with a smile.
"Why do you have time to come over today?"
"Today is the weekend, have you forgotten? My mom made chicken soup, so she insisted I bring it to you."
Li Fang put down her needlework and happily walked out from behind the counter, "If you hadn't said anything, I really wouldn't have remembered it was the weekend. We don't have days off, so we don't keep track of the days."
"I say, whether you do this job or not is really meaningless. Why don't you quit, and I'll find you a job in the factory."
"How can a factory job pay as well as working here? I just sell goods every day without putting in much effort, and my monthly salary is equivalent to two or three months of others' wages."
"What's the point of earning more? You're not a formal employee. I'm telling you, you're good in every way, except that my parents are not very satisfied with your job."
Li Fang's hand, which was reaching for the chicken soup, paused.
Zhao Deyou quickly changed the subject, "It was too late after the movie yesterday. You must not have rested well. I see you have dark circles under your eyes. Why don't you go back and sleep after drinking the soup?"
"Who will watch the store if I go back?"
"I'll watch it for you. There aren't many people in the store right now. Besides, didn't you say that the person named Lin doesn't usually come around at noon?"
Li Fang was a little tempted, "But what if a customer comes and you don't know the price?"
"I know the approximate prices. Don't worry. If worst comes to worst, I'll just ask them to come back later. Besides, the store isn't lacking those three or two customers."
Li Fang hesitated for a moment and finally agreed.
...
Yuan Lihua lived quite close to the department store, so Chen Lishu went to the lingerie store first.
"Hello, welcome! Our store's lingerie styles..." Zhang Li was organizing lingerie and subconsciously spoke when she heard the door open. When she looked up and saw Chen Lishu entering, her eyes were instantly filled with surprise.
"Sister Chen, when did you get back?"
"I got back yesterday. I just happened to be passing by." As Chen Lishu spoke, she looked at the lingerie hanging on the shelves. Behind a row of cotton underwear, two lace bras were displayed. These were her new designs for the year, but the acceptance level was limited, and their sales were only average compared to cotton underwear.
Zhang Li followed her gaze and said after thinking for a moment, "Not many people buy them in winter. At most, we sell over ten pieces a day."
Chen Lishu nodded without saying anything.
Not long after, two customers entered the store. Judging by their appearance, they seemed to be a mother and daughter. Zhang Li quickly greeted them with a smile.
The woman was buying underwear for her daughter. While Zhang Li was introducing the underwear to the girl, Chen Lishu noticed that the woman's gaze kept sweeping towards the lace lingerie hanging in the back, but for some reason, perhaps shyness, she hadn't dared to inquire.
"Madam, this bra is specifically designed for women who have fully developed and have full figures. Its cups can provide excellent support to your bust and prevent sagging. The style is beautiful and the price is not expensive, only three yuan and fifty cents. We have a fitting room here, and you can try it on to feel the effect."
The woman waved her hands repeatedly, "The lace on this looks gaudy, and these two bowl-sized pieces of fabric are too revealing. It doesn't look like something a decent person would wear. If I wear it, won't I be gossiped about mercilessly?"
"How could others see what you wear inside?"
Chen Lishu wasn't angry. Instead, she smiled and lowered her voice, "Couples also need novelty. Besides, the bust is very important for women. Wearing a tight bra for a long time can be harmful to your health, easily causing shortness of breath or dizziness due to poor blood circulation. Especially if it sags, think about how bad it would look even to yourself."
The woman was a little stunned. She was indeed quite well-endowed, and wearing a tight bra for a long time made her breathless. But if she didn't wear one, ordinary tank tops were useless, and she felt self-conscious when she walked.
The woman couldn't help but feel tempted, "Then how about I try it on?"
Chen Lishu selected a bra with a slightly larger cup size from a few pieces and handed it to the woman with a smile.
The woman tried it on in the fitting room and found that the effect was surprisingly good. When paying, besides her daughter's underwear, she also took one for herself.