Chapter 44 You're Pregnant?

"Mom, please come over. Actually, there's something else we haven't had a chance to tell you yet. I went to the hospital for a checkup yesterday, and I'm pregnant!"

Qin Guifang gently tugged at Zhou Shufen's sleeve.

He couldn't hide the smile on his face.

"What?"

Zhou Shufen was extremely excited.

"Are you pregnant? How many months along? When did you find out? What did the doctor say? Are you feeling unwell? Pregnancy is something you can't be careless about. You have to take good care of yourself. Someone has to watch over your eating, drinking, and toileting. Fruits have to be cut and stored properly so your stomach doesn't get cold. You can't walk too fast, and someone has to help you get up at night."

"With you by my side, I feel much more at ease."

This was Qin Guifang's first pregnancy, and she had no experience. Although she was happy, she was also a little nervous.

Now that her mother is with her, her anxiety has gradually subsided.

"Don't worry, Mom will take good care of you. If there's anything you need, just leave it to Mom."

Zhou Shufen held her hand, her tone firm.

Suddenly he frowned again.

"Should we hold off on things at the shop for now? Your health is precious right now, running around to both places is too tiring, and if something goes wrong, it will be too late to regret it."

A few days ago, she heard that her neighbor's wife had a miscarriage because she was busy with her business, which made her even more anxious.

"It's alright."

Qin Guifang smiled.

She was indeed tired, but in good spirits.

She knew her mother-in-law meant well, but she didn't want to be idle.

“That shop is the result of our hard work together. I’m only just started getting pregnant, and my body can still handle it. If I stay at home all day, I’ll get sick from boredom. I just go to the shop to do some light work and get some exercise, which is actually good for me.”

That's not entirely unreasonable.

Pregnant women need to be careful.

Hearing these arrangements, Zhou Shufen felt a little relieved.

"Okay, but you have to promise me you won't push yourself too hard, and you'll rest when you're tired."

She took a shawl out of the closet and told her daughter-in-law to remember to wear it when it gets cold.

The family gathered together to discuss the good news.

On the other hand, Zhou Haiwei and his wife were not having such a comfortable life.

Li Qiaodi has recently been feeling that Zhou Haiwei is having affairs with other women.

They interrogated him all day about where he had gone and who he had met.

She gave me the cold shoulder for days after I came home late from work once.

As soon as Zhou Haiwei entered, Li Qiaodi's face fell.

Zhou Haiwei was already furious, and seeing her attitude, he couldn't help but yell out.

This shout completely enraged Li Qiaodi.

She suddenly stood up.

He smashed the bowl he had just washed on the ground.

"You think it's my fault? What good are you? Our family isn't well-off to begin with. Every month, I send money to your mother as soon as I get my salary, while my wife and kids are struggling to make ends meet. And you still feel at ease? I'm so unlucky to have been born into this family!"

“What can I do? She’s my own mother. She didn’t put a single penny into my pocket to support my education. Now she’s old and sick. If I don’t take care of her, who will? Besides, I don’t give her much, only five hundred yuan a month. How many years can that last?”

Zhou Haiwei sat in the chair, repeating it in a low voice.

"I can't just stand by and do nothing about her."

"This can't go on! We have to think of something!"

Li Qiaodi plopped down next to him.

She lowered her voice.

“We need to work together, we can’t keep letting them control us. You’re so devoted to your mother, and what’s the result? Your mother lives a good life, but we live like beggars. She runs a shop and makes money, you put in the effort and the money, but we don’t get any of the benefits. That’s not fair!”

What do you suggest we do?

Zhou Haiwei's eyes were blank.

"Don't you still have a batch of fabric sitting on top? That's extra from the last order, just taking up space and money. Your mom can run a clothing store and make money with her skills, why can't we?"

Li Qiaodi grabbed Zhou Haiwei's wrist.

“That batch of fabric is still usable. As long as we find someone who knows how to cut it and come up with some new styles, we can open a shop too. We don’t aim to grow big, just to take some of her business first.”

Zhou Shufen's business was thriving, and she had long been envious.

She and Zhou Haiwei lived a very frugal life, and Zhou Shufen never offered to help them out.

If I can't get any benefits, then I'll do it myself!

"What you said makes sense."

Zhou Haiwei nodded, his eyes beginning to light up.

That batch of fabric is indeed still usable.

Moreover, he knew several tailors with excellent skills.

As long as the price is agreed upon, it's not impossible to succeed.

"Of course! Your mom's shop is doing well, and there are plenty of people who are envious. Why should she be able to do all the work by herself? As long as we find a reliable partner, get good styles, open a new shop, and steal her customers, lower the prices, and provide better service, we don't have to worry about not succeeding."

Li Qiaodi's tone was harsh, and her eyes were fierce as well.

"Okay! I'll listen to you this time. Let's find someone to discuss cooperation right away."

Zhou Haiwei gritted his teeth and agreed, slamming his fist on the table.

After finishing their meal and getting dressed, the two went out.

Since Zhou Shufen opened her shop, the business of several nearby wholesalers has been almost entirely taken away.

Those bosses were furious, but there was nothing they could do.

Just then, Zhou Haiwei approached a business owner.

The two met in a private room at the teahouse.

The boss was initially hesitant.

But after hearing Zhou Haiwei's specific proposal and profit sharing, their attitude quickly changed.

“There are a few empty rooms next to his shop. I can rent them and you two can open a shop there.”

Jiang Peng has been in the wholesale business for many years, so he has no worries about money.

"Great job, Boss Jiang. With your backing, we're sure to make a name for ourselves."

Li Qiaodi had a big smile on her face.

"Okay, I'll take care of the goods and processing. You guys open the store as soon as possible."

Jiang Peng nodded in agreement.

He has already contacted suppliers and can get goods at 10% lower than the market price.

We also have long-term cooperation with familiar factories in terms of processing.

It was inconvenient for him to come forward.

Those bosses who regularly buy from them all know a few of them.

Zhou Shufen was also very well-informed.

The safest approach now is to have Li Qiaodi and Zhou Haiwei take the lead.

"Don't worry, whatever she sells, we'll sell the same thing. I really don't believe we can't outcompete her little shabby shop!"

Li Qiaodi spoke with a firm tone.

She had already found out the main products in Zhou Shufen's shop.

They're prepared to start a price war right from the beginning.

With Li Qiaodi and Jiang Peng shaking hands, the cooperation was officially finalized.

The next step is the execution phase.

They simply painted the walls, put up shelves, and changed the storefront sign.

The first batch of goods has already been delivered to the warehouse.

The new store opened in less than a month.

Neighbors stopped to watch.

Some people went into the store, glanced at the prices, and whispered among themselves.

"A new store has opened over there."

Hearing the noise, Qin Guifang peeked out.

I recognized that familiar figure at a glance.

A sense of unease welled up inside her.

"Mom, isn't that my sister-in-law?"

"How come I've never heard of her planning to open a shop?"

Zhou Shufen sneered.

"What good intentions could she possibly have? She's definitely up to no good."

Li Qiaodi has never let her down.

On the opening day, they took the exact same clothes as those in her store.

Those clothes were the most popular styles this year, and Zhou Shufen had hoped to use them to open up the market.

Li Qiaodi's current pricing is even lower than its cost.

They were clearly there to sabotage her business.

The shop owners who wanted to buy the goods were immediately tempted by the price.

They all knew this stuff wasn't cheap.

However, the prices listed in Li Qiaodi's shop were almost half of the purchase price.