Seeing Chen Lishu nod, Liu Yuemin cried out in distress, "You say Zhao Hong isn't mentally well, but I think your brain is..."
Before she could finish, Chen Lishu's gaze froze her in place.
"It's better if second sister comments less on my affairs."
Liu Yuemin pouted resentfully, "So many clothes donated to outsiders could have been donated to me."
Chen Lishu changed the subject, "I've inquired about houses. I found one that seems quite suitable, right behind the wet market. It takes less than five minutes to walk there. Although it's a shared courtyard with others, it's cheap at eight yuan a month. Plus, I think having a yard will be convenient for parking the car."
Liu Yuemin frowned, "Shared and eight yuan? That's too expensive!"
"Lishu is so busy, not only helping you rent a shop but also looking for houses. If you think it's too expensive, go find one yourself," Li Xiulan reprimanded with a frown.
Gu Xingmin quickly interjected, "Tomorrow, Yuemin and I will go take a look. If it's suitable, we'll settle it."
Now that the three children were in school, besides tidying the shop, they had to travel back and forth to pick them up. It would be better to move sooner so he wouldn't have to go through the trouble.
As the family was talking, they suddenly heard a knock on the door. Zhao Qiuyue quickly went to open it and found a man around forty years old.
"I'm looking for Chen Lishu." Without waiting for Zhao Qiuyue to invite him in, Fu Hongxin walked straight into the room, his gaze sweeping around before finally landing on a figure on the sofa.
Chen Lishu was not surprised by his arrival. She handed Xiao Chengzi, whom she was holding, to Li Xiulan, stood up, and said lightly, "If you have something to discuss, let's go to the study."
Soon, Fu Hongxin followed her upstairs into the study.
Fu Hongxin began, "I'll be direct. I don't know what you want."
Chen Lishu chuckled, "Manager Fu, what do you mean? I don't think I've done anything."
Fu Hongxin looked up, re-examining the woman before him. He realized he had never truly looked at her before.
He had always thought Chen Lishu was just a small self-employed businesswoman. As a factory manager, many people sought his help. He didn't consider her a partner but rather someone who was begging the factory to produce for her. Even if he suffered a loss, what could a weak, small self-employed person do, or dare to do?
But he was wrong. He had underestimated the woman's ruthless decisiveness.
Five thousand pieces of clothing, she just donated them.
It caught him completely off guard.
But Fu Hongxin believed he still had a chance to turn things around.
"Consider this a favor I owe you. In the future, when you cooperate with the factory, I guarantee you the lowest prices."
Chen Lishu couldn't help but laugh upon hearing his words, "Manager Fu, favors aren't owed like this. Once unfaithful, never trusted again. I will absolutely not cooperate with the Guomian Factory as long as you are there."
Fu Hongxin's expression instantly turned ugly. However, he was no longer in a position of control. Judging by Chen Lishu's attitude, if she didn't get some benefit, she wouldn't agree to let him sell them.
The problem was tricky precisely because the t-shirts had words printed on them. If they were other styles, there were plenty of similar ones, and who would bother to quibble over them?
Fu Hongxin gritted his teeth, "Now that you've gained fame, I'll compensate you for the lost five thousand t-shirts. This is the greatest concession I can make. This way, you get both fame and fortune."
Losing five thousand pieces at least allowed him to retain his principal. Most importantly, if this batch of t-shirts couldn't be sold smoothly, he would have to compensate for all the losses.
Chen Lishu's attitude was firm, "Manager Fu, I've already stated in front of all the television viewers that this batch of t-shirts was designed for disaster areas and young volunteers supporting education, with no intention of profit. If anyone copies them, I will pursue legal responsibility. Words spoken are like water spilled; I am a person of integrity and cannot go back on my word."
The last sentence was clearly directed at Fu Hongxin.
Fu Hongxin narrowed his eyes, "There's a saying called knowing when to stop. I've shown my utmost sincerity, even making no profit..."
"Whether you make a profit or a loss has nothing to do with me," Chen Lishu interrupted him sternly. "If you came to me for this matter, I can tell you clearly: I refuse. No amount of money matters. Since you chose to do this back then, you should bear the corresponding consequences. We are not three-year-old children. If I hadn't donated these clothes, would Fu Hongxin have shown me any mercy?"
The answer was obvious.
Fu Hongxin, who had some confidence earlier, began to panic upon hearing her words.
"I ordered a total of twenty thousand pieces this time. If you don't agree, I'll lose a lot. How about this, perhaps my offer isn't enough? You can name your terms. I am the factory manager. Whatever you want to process, I can sign a contract with you now. The price is negotiable."
Seeing his anxious demeanor, Chen Lishu felt bored. She really couldn't understand why she was wasting her time with him.
"I have other things to attend to, so I won't see you out."
When had a factory manager ever been treated like this? Fu Hongxin looked at her, his face flushing and paling. Finally, he threw his hand up and, with a cold face, left the study.
After leaving Chen Lishu's house and returning home, Fu Hongxin heard his wife say that the factory had called, urging him to return immediately.
For the past two days, he had made excuses to get out to pursue the t-shirt business. Previously, the factory had never inquired or called to rush him.
Fu Hongxin suddenly had a bad premonition.
As expected, as soon as he arrived at the factory, he was called to the conference room.
Several factory leaders were present, all looking at him sternly.
Feng Wenyou pointed to an empty seat opposite the conference table, "Sit down and let's talk."
Seeing this lineup, Fu Hongxin's heart tightened, but he forced a calm demeanor and sat down as instructed.
"I don't know..."
Before he could even start, Feng Wenyou interrupted him, "We called you here because there's something we need to tell you. I've investigated the matter of the factory's t-shirt style leakage."
Fu Hongxin swallowed with difficulty, "Secretary, I..."
Feng Wenyou waved his hand, signaling him to let him finish.
"Comrade Fu Hongxin, you have worked in the factory for eighteen years and served as manager for eight years. During this period... after a decision by the factory office leadership, you will not be held legally responsible. However, your mistakes will be recorded in your file, and you will be dismissed from your position."
Fu Hongxin's face instantly turned ashen.
To have it recorded in his file, what was the difference between that and a death sentence? With this stain, he would basically be cut off from any future job.
The factory's swift and decisive punishment was both to give Chen Lishu a satisfactory answer and to make an example of him.
As the factory secretary, Feng Wenyou had to consider the development of the entire factory and the welfare of over seven hundred employees.