"I understand. It's because of Master Xu's matter that we missed a cycle. We'll be back to normal once we catch up. These are the seasonal patterns we're making now. Once we've filled the market, we'll add some best-selling items. Next up is the design of autumn and winter clothing."

"Autumn is short in our city, so there's really no need for such a lot of autumn clothes," Wang Lingling said dismissively.

"We can't just focus on one city; we'll have to expand outwards sooner or later," Qin Xiaoyu said with a smile.

"Xiaoyu, I think Tang Wenwen's counter in the provincial capital is doing quite well. Should we open a few more in other places?"

"That's only a matter of time. We just need to send them out and train our own people. We'll need to train talent from the clothing factory's sales department. You all need to keep an eye out for them. If you find anyone suitable, recommend them and have them take turns going to the provincial capital for training." Qin Xiaoyu's goal is no longer limited to one city. To make big money, she has to go out and explore. Although some people are coming from other cities to buy goods, they are a minority. They can't earn as much as she can by opening up sales herself.

"Xiaoyue, take some time to go home. Da Da has caught a cold, go see him," Qin Xiaoyu reminded Zhou Yue.

"You caught a cold? Then I'll go back right away." Zhou Yue is much more sensible now.

"This flu season is really bad, I caught it too." Xie Lanhua also had a runny nose and watery eyes, and she had a fever last night.

"Aunt Xie, you should go back now. I'll take care of things at the factory."

Qin Xiaoyu called Qi Si again and briefly explained the situation regarding Deng Jianyan's family.

"This is a big deal. There's still no news from them?" Qi Si was a man of honor. He already felt bad about punching Deng Jianyan, and when he heard that something had happened to his family, he became even more anxious.

"It's hard to contact the farm, and I can't get through on the phone. I was wondering if you could send someone over to see if there's anything we can help with." Qin Xiaoyu was getting impatient.

"Your brother will handle who we send, don't worry, he'll take care of everything!" Qi Si assured her, and Qin Xiaoyu felt half relieved.

Actually, she wanted Qi Si to go from the beginning, but she was afraid that he would be reluctant to leave the child and refuse to go. Now that he has said it himself, that's for the best.

Father and daughter are always of one mind, and Zhou Yue rushed home. A short while later, she received a call; it turned out Commander Zhou still had a low-grade fever, the doctor had examined him and found murmurs in his lungs, suspecting a lung infection, and demanded immediate hospitalization.

Qin Xiaoyu panicked and called Factory Director Fei over to take over the shift. She grabbed her car keys and went downstairs.

"Are you Qin Xiaoyu?" Several people in police uniforms walked in and blocked her at the bottom of the stairs.

"It's me." Qin Xiaoyu was startled and realized something was wrong.

"Come with us." The leading man swiftly handcuffed Qin Xiaoyu's hands, and the two men, one on each side, carried her out.

"What's going on with you guys?" Qin Xiaoyu exclaimed in surprise.

"Shut up! If you keep talking, we'll get rough!" The man was quite arrogant.

A dozen minutes later, Qin Xiaoyu was taken into the interrogation room of the branch office.

She already roughly knew that her crime was speculation and profiteering.

Qin Xiaoyu quickly searched her mind for information about the crime of speculation and profiteering, but found nothing. She knew too little and could only take things one step at a time.

What worries her most is that Qi Si is no longer here, and she is now fighting alone.

She was interrogated by a male and a female police officer, one surnamed Zhang and the other surnamed Wang.

"Qin Xiaoyu, you must truthfully confess your crimes and reveal how you illegally accumulated wealth through speculation and profiteering in order to receive leniency!" Officer Wang retorted sharply.

“I have not engaged in speculation or profiteering. All my business operations are conducted in accordance with national policies, and you can check them. Hengchang’s invoices are all legal, and the accounts are clear.”

Qin Xiaoyu said calmly and confidently that after she was brought in, she was pressed down into a chair without being handcuffed, which made her wrists hurt and very uncomfortable.

"Don't try to be clever. We have everything you do under our control, and we already have the evidence!" Officer Zhang slammed his fist on the table and roared.

"If you have evidence, then show it. Why are you asking me?" Qin Xiaoyu wanted to cooperate, but she didn't know where to start. The more she said, the more mistakes she would make. It would be better to let them produce evidence so that she could deal with them more effectively.

"Fine, you're still being stubborn. You won't shed a tear until you see the coffin!" Officer Wang sneered, took out a stack of papers from the file folder, and pulled out one.

"On January 6, 1985, you received a batch of color TVs, including Hitachi and Toshiba brands. Is that true?"

"Yes," Qin Xiaoyu replied calmly.

"Did you know that the invoices for this batch of goods were forged?" Officer Wang said coldly.

Qin Xiaoyu felt a chill run down her spine, and cold sweat instantly broke out. A forged invoice? That was quite possible. If it were true, the amount would be enormous, and she was likely in serious trouble.

"When we purchased the goods, the supplier guaranteed that all the invoices were genuine, and that the invoices were issued along with the television sets. You can go and get proof of that." Qin Xiaoyu was a little flustered.

"Of course we've collected evidence and proven it's fake, that's why we arrested you. Don't try to get away with it!"

"But this invoice has no anti-counterfeiting features and no serial number. How am I supposed to know if it's real or fake?" Qin Xiaoyu argued.

"If you can't be sure if it's real or fake, you can choose not to buy this batch of goods. Why are you still selling it?" Officer Wang found a breakthrough.

"If the invoice is fake, I'll accept the penalty. We can recall all the color TVs, and I'll compensate for the losses." Qin Xiaoyu tried hard to think of a remedy. Getting herself out of trouble was the most important thing right now; everything else was secondary. Money could be earned again.

"You've already broken the law. Accept the punishment? Do you think this is a vegetable market? You're still trying to bargain? People like you who despise the law deserve a heavy sentence!" Officer Wang gritted his teeth in anger.

"I need to find a lawyer!" Qin Xiaoyu said hurriedly; she couldn't give anyone more ammunition against her.

"Why would you need a lawyer? Just stay put!" Officer Wang flatly refused.

"I am a citizen and have the right to hire a lawyer!" Qin Xiaoyu persisted. The door opened, and two police officers came in, grabbed her, and carried her out.

She struggled, and was put into the police car again. When they arrived, she realized she was being taken to a detention center.

The detention center's walls are very high, and they slope slightly inwards, supposedly to make it difficult for people inside to climb over. Guard posts stand at each of the four corners, manned by armed guards.

Qin Xiaoyu was escorted through layer after layer of iron gates, finally arriving at the innermost women's detention center.

Two policewomen took her in and led her into the innermost room.

"Go inside and take off all your clothes!" one policewoman said coldly, then turned to another policewoman and said, "Xiao Wen, bring me your uniform."

Qin Xiaoyu glanced at them but didn't move.

"I'm talking to you, take off your clothes! I'm checking!" The policewoman came over and shoved Qin Xiaoyu.

Qin Xiaoyu stumbled, and the clinking of the handcuffs startled her awake.