“Bought new clothes?” Fu Xiuhuai slowly closed the bedroom door. As he walked into the bedroom, he recalled the department store LOGO style he had glimpsed in a flash and assumed it was women’s clothing Lin Wan had bought before.
Lin Wan’s cheeks held a red flush. The burning temperature climbed. She hurriedly nodded hard, as if only this could express affirmation: “Yes, bought clothes. I put them away.”
The things in the paper box absolutely could not be seen by Fu Xiuhuai. Even she herself was too ashamed to look a second time.
As if guilty of a crime, that night Lin Wan even dreamed that she quietly took the clothes out to throw them away, only to be discovered on the spot. She simply wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into…
When she woke and dawn came, looking at her three wardrobe doors properly closed, Lin Wan resolved to bury it right there. Under her very nose was actually the safest place.
Striving to forget the “terrifying” clothes, Lin Wan ate breakfast at home and went to work, but ran head-on into He Yanni, who was also going out.
That unprecedented shock flashed back again. Before Lin Wan could say anything, she was warmly greeted by He Yanni: “Lin Wan, how was it? Do you like the nightgown? Mm…”
Lin Wan hurriedly covered He Yanni’s mouth and whispered: “Sister Yanni, aren’t you afraid of being heard?”
“There’s no one within a few hundred meters around here.” He Yanni really did seriously look left and right, then laughed at this young person. “Still a young person, what are you shy about? How was it, do you like it? Does your man like it? You can’t buy it in Jiangcheng! I asked a boss in Yue City who sells clothes to bring it back from Hong Kong City! So fashionable!”
Lin Wan: QAQ
She had indeed been badly frightened. As for whether Fu Xiuhuai liked it? He would never see it.
“But your fetus has just stabilized, so take it easy too… mm… aiyo, don’t be shy. It’s like this when you’ve only been married half a year and your skin is still thin. Wait until you’ve been married three years like me and it’ll be different.” He Yanni was covered on the mouth by Lin Wan again, and the two left arm in arm.
Only after the two parted at the villa district entrance did Lin Wan breathe a sigh of relief. This He Yanni really did not show it; she was truly bold in speech and action! She dared to give anything and say anything.
Lin Wan had never experienced it, but she could roughly understand what He Yanni was saying. After all, in the countryside in the past, the older women gathered together and were likewise unrestrained about such things. Lin Wan had vaguely heard some when confused, and after growing up she could understand.
She and Fu Xiuhuai had no relationship at all. As Lin Wan rode her bicycle toward the garment factory, she lowered her head and saw the slightly bulging outline of her abdomen. Her mind again churned with wild thoughts…
The army of 28-inch bicycles rang their bells as they moved forward. When she reached the garment factory gate, Lin Wan tried hard to throw those messy matters to the back of her mind. The first thing she did after entering the factory was find the leaders to report the situation.
Deputy Factory Director Wang Zhilin frowned when he heard Lin Wan bring up another version of Wang Yuanzhong’s life story.
“You’re saying Wang Yuanzhong might be a fake Hong Kong businessman?” Deputy Factory Director Wang, who had repeatedly failed to attract investment, was not very willing to believe this.
Lin Wan nodded: “Yesterday I heard another Hong Kong businessman mention it. Wang Yuanzhong did have family assets in the past, but he went bankrupt more than ten years ago. Even the commercial building he took over was auctioned by the court to someone else. He himself lived by picking through garbage for quite a while.”
To be rigorous, Lin Wan added: “I am not certain whether he has really made his fortune again now, but even other Hong Kong City businessmen have not heard news of him again. He does not look like any wealthy man. Deputy Factory Director Wang, should we be more cautious about attracting investment?”
Wang Zhilin did not much like hearing these words. It was truly not easy to encounter a foreign investor with strength and interest in investing in the garment factory. Who would want to see a beautiful vision turn into foam?
“I don’t think so. I asked people from other factories in Jiangcheng. The man does have some foundation in Hong Kong City. Besides, look at his manner. He is exactly like a big boss.”
Lin Wan knew in her heart that without concrete evidence it was hard to persuade the factory. In the end she could only urge more caution: “Mr. Yang promised to help us inquire about the situation. We can wait for his news. Besides, asking people in Jiangcheng might mean that person was also deceived. It is safer to hear news from Hong Kong City.”
Wang Zhilin did not put on much of a leadership air. He had always known how to recognize and use people well and praised Lin Wan’s professional ability. At this moment he could somewhat listen to a couple of sentences: “Then let’s wait and see. Anyway, Wang Yuanzhong is still in the inspection stage. Recently…”
Mentioning “recently,” Wang Zhilin had a headache: “This person is truly a money-devouring beast. When spending money, he certainly puts on the airs of a big boss.”
Early this morning, he had casually asked Feng Tianjiao about the bills. In just over a week, Wang Yuanzhong’s food, clothing, lodging, and transportation had cost more than eight hundred yuan. He spent money like flowing water!
But in order to attract millions or tens of millions in investment, Wang Zhilin could not say much. Gritting his teeth, he approved the bills and continued to entertain him with good food and drink.
When Lin Wan left the deputy factory director’s office and headed toward the factory office, she ran head-on into Feng Yan, who was late for work.
Feng Yan rushed over in a flurry. Hurrying with her head down, she almost bumped into Lin Wan. When she saw clearly who it was, she suddenly turned and braked to avoid hitting Lin Wan. As a result, with a thud, she had an intimate encounter with the door frame.
“Ouch…” Feng Yan covered her forehead with her hand and cried out in pain.
“Are you all right? Did you hit it hard? Go to the infirmary and get some medicine to rub on it.” Lin Wan had indeed heard the muffled sound of the impact. It was also because Feng Yan was worried about hitting her and made a sharp turn.
“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Feng Yan waved her hand. At the moment she no longer paid attention to Lin Wan and went into the office yawning.
The garment factory’s daily work tasks were not too heavy. Especially for office employees, it was even easier, basically writing reports and organizing briefings with a pen.
Lin Wan had asked for leave this afternoon because she had matters to attend to, so in the morning she hurried to finish her work. As soon as noon arrived, she immediately picked up her bag and left, preparing to go to the Jiangcheng bus station.
Today was the day Lin Wan’s second sister Lin Hong was to report to the Jiangcheng City Steel Plant, a temporary worker position arranged by Fu Xiuhuai through his elder brother Fu Xiutong.
In 1995, more than ten years had passed since reform and opening up, but many people still looked down on going outside to set up stalls to earn money, feeling it was not respectable. They were deeply rooted in believing that jobs inside the system, in state-owned factories, and as teachers were respectable and stable.
So much so that even a temporary worker position at the steel plant made people envious.
Lin Hong set out early this morning and would arrive in Jiangcheng around noon. Lin Wan getting off work to pick her up was just right.
She had originally planned to ride her bicycle over to pick up the person, but at the garment factory entrance Lin Wan saw the familiar black Santana and the familiar license plate number—A0055.
“Uncle Liu, why are you here?” Lin Wan seemed to have some premonition in her heart and needed to confirm.
“Xiuhuai told me to come pick you up and take you to the station to get your second sister.”
Lin Wan had never seen such an attentive-to-everything person. At the moment she had no reason to refuse either. She thanked Uncle Liu and got into the car.
Uncle Liu, Liu Dechao, was sixty years old this year, a retired veteran. At fifteen he had even participated in the War to Resist America and Aid Korea. Later he experienced quite a few campaigns and honorably retired at twenty-five.
After retiring, Liu Dechao did all kinds of work: returned home to farm, went to the city to work. Later, by a twist of fate, he became acquainted with Fu Xiuhuai. With his martial foundation, Liu Dechao became Fu Xiuhuai’s most reassuring helper when encountering bandits and highway robbers while running projects outside. After making his fortune, when Fu Xiuhuai started a large-scale construction company in Jiangcheng, Liu Dechao was also getting older, so he simply became a full-time driver. The salary was not low, and he also gained leisure.
Looking at Uncle Liu, who was burly and did not look like a sixty-year-old at all, Lin Wan could not help being curious: “Uncle Liu, did you learn to drive in the army?”
Uncle Liu’s face creased with smiles. He said boldly: “Learned in the army. I even drove a big jeep. Very stylish. A half-hour spin could make me so happy I could not sleep!”
“Is driving hard to learn?” Lin Wan thought driving was especially cool. She had ridden in Jiangcheng taxi drivers’ cars, in He Yanni’s car, and in cars driven by Fu Xiuhuai and Uncle Liu.
People all said a person’s driving style resembled their temperament.
Uncle Liu drove steadily with some power, giving the feeling that he could shift up and accelerate at any time. It was related to his style of having been a soldier.
Uncle Liu shook his head: “You could definitely learn it easily! You can even test into university. What is there to fear! Although nowadays few women learn to drive, don’t just follow the crowd. Young Fu has the ability to buy a car. Why save money for him? Let me tell you, riding in a car yourself and driving yourself are two different feelings!”
Lin Wan was moved by Uncle Liu’s words, and even somewhat wanted to really hold the steering wheel. But matters had priorities. Right now she still had to pick up second sister first.
The Santana stopped steadily at the Jiangcheng bus station entrance. Lin Wan waited a few minutes and then saw Lin Hong appear, wearing a red sweater and carrying large and small bags of luggage.
“Second sister! Here!”
“Oh my, there’s even a car to pick me up!” Lin Hong was somewhat embarrassed. Only after asking clearly that Fu Xiuhuai had taken the initiative and that she was not causing trouble did she get into the car.
The car drove to the city steel plant. The two girls thanked Uncle Liu and carried their luggage first to report at the factory, confirm the employee dormitory assignment, and receive enamel basins and towels. They first settled in.
Lin Hong had never been to Jiangcheng. Looking at a city several times larger than the countryside and town, curiosity outweighed everything. And the steel plant with thousands of employees was much larger than the sugar factory where she had worked for several years. Even the dormitory was spacious.
The six-person dormitory was piled with all kinds of things. Lin Hong was assigned to the female workers’ dormitory of the steelmaking workshop. At this moment no one was in the dormitory; they were all at work. The sisters simply packed their luggage and went out to eat.
There were many small restaurants on the street near the steel plant. Lin Wan treated and ordered three dishes. Chatting with Lin Hong about the family’s situation, she was surprised to hear that their elder brother really planned to do business and set up a stall.
“Elder brother really wants to set up a stall? What is he preparing to sell?”
Lin Hong had not expected it either. Their elder brother, who had never had much ambition, was going to set up a stall: “He says he will first collect chickens, ducks, fish, and wild vegetables and herbs from the countryside to sell in town.”
“Sounds good actually.” Lin Wan had no objection to setting up a stall. As long as one could earn money, who cared whether it was respectable? “When he later sets up his stall all the way to the city, we’ll go buy from him!”
Lin Hong smiled and agreed: “All right, then I need to earn more money!”
After finishing her errands, Lin Wan returned to the garment factory, just in time with more than an hour left before work. After busying around casually, she could pick up her bag and leave.
But Lin Wan had not expected that in such a short time, the factory would also be unsettled.
At first, the clothing produced by the factory encountered stockpiling again. The workshop director was somewhat angry and bickered with the sales department. It was still fairly civilized, but both sides had considerable seniority, and neither could suppress the other.
Loving to watch excitement was everyone’s nature.
When the factory office people heard the commotion, they all put down their work and went in groups to the sales department, standing not too far and not too close, forming a half-circle with employees from other departments and workshops scattered around. Someone even started handing out sunflower seeds.
Lin Wan had a small handful of sunflower seeds stuffed into her hand by someone unknown. She listened as the workshop director accused the sales department of eating idle rice. Previously, goods had always shipped smoothly, but recently there had been stockpiling for two consecutive months. The sales department director was not idle either and immediately counterattacked, disparaging the workshop’s products as unfashionable and unsellable in department stores. If they could not be sold, of course they were not wanted, and it tired them out too.
Each side had its reasons, and the wife said the wife was right while the mother said the mother was right. In the end, the factory leaders came out to hold the fort. One sentence calmed the flames of war, and the onlookers scattered like birds and beasts.
“I heard our factory used to have employees from supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores chasing us to treat them to meals, begging us to send clothes over to sell.” Qin Fang whispered to Lin Wan. The closeness of being from the same school and similar age showed clearly. “Now fortunes really turn. Our factory has to go persuade other places to accept the clothes. And even then, it’s quite difficult!”