Lin Wan noticed her brotherâs intention and quickly suggested Li Congnan and Lin Yinghui go to her house to install a television.
Her family rarely had visitors, so Lin Wan placed the television in the inner room. On Sundays, they could watch TV at home.
She had late evening classes, so when she returned, the broadcast would likely be over.
While her brother and Brother Congnan were fiddling with the TV, Lin Wan put Little Star on the bed, as the cradle was no longer safe. The kid was now big enough to roll over and crawl; once, she had fallen out of it. Since then, Lin Wan hadnât let her use the cradle.
After arranging the child, Lin Wan helped Wang Yueâe measure the size "Sister-in-law, what style do you like?"
"Anything is fine. Iâve heard from Congnan that you specialize in designing, and all the clothes you make are particularly beautiful. The clothes Iâm wearing now were bought by Congnan from you, and I adore them."
"I never realized Brother Congnan could be so caring, always acting so carefree. Youâll have great fortune with him in the future, Sister-in-law Yueâe."
Lin Wanâs compliment made Wang Yueâe blush with shyness. "Thereâs no great fortune, as long as he lives properly after marriage, thatâs enough. I donât wish for big wealth."
Lin Wan raised her eyebrow, suddenly feeling admiration for Wang Yueâe. "Sister-in-law, what you said is quite wise."
Isnât finding a man just finding someone to rely on and live harmoniously together?
No one expected Wang Yueâe, so young, to see things so clearly.
If only in her past life Lin Wan had understood as clearly, she wouldnât have lived so miserably.
Yesterday, a washing machine came home, and today, two big color TVs.
Liang Hongmei was absolutely delighted.
"Aunt Qin Xiuâs family just has a TV, Iâve been to her place, and the stories inside are fascinating. But her TV is black and white, where did you get a color one? Itâs much bigger than hers."
"Cong Nan has a friend who went overseas recently and brought it back on a cargo ship." Lin Yinghui laughed, then glanced at his sister beside him, not daring to mention the TVâs price to Liang Hongmei.
Lin Wan, on the other hand, was completely calm.
"How much did it cost? Aunt Qin said her TV was over three hundred. I was thinking of asking you to get me one as well. Now you quietly brought it back."
"Mom, such a big color TV, how could Aunt Qinâs small black-and-white compare? Didnât Brother say it was smuggled back by Congnanâs friend from overseas, and for a friend, he gave a favorable price, just 500 bucks per unit."
Liang Hongmei was surprised, "500 bucks? Thatâs not expensive, much more economical than Aunt Qinâs."
"But, Mom, this must not be spoken outside, Congnanâs friend smuggled it back. If people know, heâll be caught. Mom, donât flaunt the TV outside. Even if someone sees it, if people ask, the price to say is..." Lin Wan fooling her mom.
"4...400?"
Lin Wan shook her head, "No."
"4000?"
"Yes, any inquiries from now should say itâs over four thousand."
"Thatâs too expensive, worth a house, whoâd believe it?" Liang Hongmei was shocked.
"Mom, outside, this kind of 28-inch big color TV is indeed priced at that. Donât believe, just ask my brother." Lin Wan spoke, and Liang Hongmei glanced at her son, who just slightly nodded. "Mom, thatâs the price."
"Heavens, such an expensive thing, only fools would buy it. Fine, Mom understands," Liang Hongmeiâs view made Lin Wan feel choked. Yes, she bought two of them, was she not the ultimate fool as her mom said?
Nearby, Lin Yinghui secretly gave Lin Wan a thumbs up, gloating
Which earned Lin Wan a glare.
With the TV, Lin Wan during the day stayed at home with Shi Lan watching dramas, and occasionally took some work.
When accepting orders, Lin Wan inspected them one by one; defective ones needed rework, and badly flawed ones would reduce the cost.
However, the people working for her were recommended by friends, all meticulous.
Occasionally there were a few reworks, but poorly done ones were rare.
But today, when she came across clothes from Liang Weixiang and her daughter, two pieces were poorly done, stitching marks were especially noticeable, even rework couldnât fix them.
"Aunt, these two are no good, with a cost of two per piece. If you give it to me, I can deduct half; if you take them back, without the tags, I will deduct four."
"What? Deduct four bucks? My work for a day with Dan Dan just vanishes, isnât this a scam?" "Aunt, if you had been a little more careful, I wouldnât deduct anything. You tell me, these clothes as finished products should be sold for money, or are ruined for value?"
Lin Wanâs words left Liang Weixiang speechless. When settling accounts, her and her daughterâs efforts for two days were cut by more than half, just taking a single buck.
"Why only a buck? Shouldnât it be five bucks?" Zhang Dandan got anxious seeing her mom return with so little money, after all, it was her hard work for two days.
"You accuse me, wasnât it you, doing clothes without skill, crooked seams, so apparent, even undone had pricks, unworkable for rework. What can I do?"
"Itâs my first time using the sewing machine, who knew it seems simple, but tricky in practice. It shouldnât have deducted that much."
"Without clothes, itâs two bucks; with, itâs four." Liang Weixiang glared at her daughter, thinking her brain was like a pigâs.
"Why would I want clothes like this, Iâm never wearing them" She insisted she would only wear good ones.
"Being stubborn... this is not broken nor short, just stitches are off. Selling cheaper, definitely some would buy."
Liang Weixiangâs words triggered Zhang Dandan to flip from bed, "Mom, thereâs sense in this. The same design, cousin sells for six bucks a piece outside, if we sell for five, surely some will buy."
"Exactly why I brought them back."
"Fine, tomorrow, Iâll try selling outside, to see anyone wants."
Lin Wan had no idea that her refusal to take back the clothes resulted in big troubles later.
Ye Qing had been quite gloomy lately, feeling oppressed at work by Lin Yinghui, causing her frustration.
Seeing the supervisor treat Lin Yinghui with flattering words and smiles triggered her resentment, she hadnât been the supervisorâs favorite, but was the second-most important.
Now, upon returning for days, not a single task was given to her by the supervisor.
Luckily, Mei Langchi called today, saying heâd visit her and the kid after being busy.
This news dispelled her sour mood instantly. With Mei Langchi present, her elder brother Yinghuiâs government position would be short-lived.
Her sister stole her beloved, and now her elder brother stood in her way too. They were no good siblings at all. "Hey officer, isnât this Wanyi, you know it, all sold clothes are hers, look at the designs, the fabric, same as hers, at the mall four bucks a piece, I sell for three. Sold seven or eight today, at five each, now thereâs only two left. You look fit, very suitable." Ye Qing, while walking past a corner near their house saw Zhang Dandan selling two clothes
The designs were recognizable as Lin Wanâs products. This Zhang Dandan, wasnât she the woman who came for coal exchange, who else?
Today truly wasnât lucky, not a pleasant day at all.
This place was her usual spot for selling previously, but now, having a child and quitting, presented Zhang Dandan the opportunity.
This neighbor, truly born to counteract with her.
Listening to Yang Erniâs words, Lin Wanâs business was quite thriving. They both studied design, but she wasnât far inferior.
Ye Qing gave Zhang Dandan a glance from afar, turned and headed home.
"Mom, now weatherâs good, casually going out with the kid doesnât feel stifling, itâs frustrating to stay indoors,"
"With Hua Hua here, it doesnât feel solitary, mainly momâs unfamiliar here, fear of losing way," Qiu Hualan stayed at her daughterâs place for days, well-fed, dressed well, feeling great.
Compared to home life serving a whole family and working in the fields, staying with her daughter was better in countless ways
"Mom, after this week, during my break, Iâll take you around here, spend time and familiarize. Mei Langchi called today, said heâd visit me and the baby soon, I mentioned you are here to him. When he comes, Iâll ask for a TV for you. Then with Hua Hua, staying in wonât be dull,"
"TV? The head box with moving people?" Qiu Hualan first heard about TV during a train ride.
She never left her county her entire life, never seen the TV.
"Yes, thatâs TV, lots of fascinating stories inside daily."