Chapter 109

After returning to the village, Zhou Jiani fed the two mules, said hello to Uncle Zhang who was in charge of the livestock, and prepared to go home.

Halfway through the walk, he thought for a moment and then headed towards Zhao Mei's house.

Didn't she get some pieces of floral cloth from a textile factory in the provincial capital last time? The colors and patterns would look beautiful even in the future. She kept some scraps of cloth, hoping that Zhao Mei would make her some hairbands with slightly more complicated craftsmanship and sell them in the group.

If it can really be made and there is no problem with the craftsmanship, she can charge three or five dollars for it.

When I turned out of the alley, there were a few sisters-in-law and aunts in front of me, talking as they walked.

The daughter-in-law in the green headscarf sighed, "They're going to change the hairband style again. I just learned the last one, and now they've changed it again. I'll have to spend a lot of time learning it again."

The man next to her, wearing an old blue cotton jacket with white flowers, said, "Yeah, I think the one without the flowers would be nice."

A sister-in-law wearing a cotton hat on the far left said, "It's always new. Comrade Zhou changes the style from time to time just to get people to buy our products."

The green-headed scarf said, "Aren't there a lot of supply and marketing cooperatives in the city? If this one doesn't work, try another one. Comrade Zhou is always out and about, so why not ask around at a few more stores?"

The sister-in-law in the cotton hat said, "They are all state-owned enterprises. We can just go there and ask them. Don't say that. Comrade Zhou doesn't belong to us. Now he is helping us make money and is taking so much trouble to find ways for us..."

The man in the blue cotton-padded jacket with white flowers nudged her with his elbow, lowering his voice deliberately, with a look of "only you don't know," and said, "I think the other company is trying to undercut Zhou Jiani's prices, and she can't profit from it. If she can't profit, she won't bother asking us."

The aunt, who had been silent the whole time, said, "I heard others say the same thing..."

The green-headed scarf also echoed: "I think so too. If the price is too low, she won't give it to others. If the price is not too low, she can make a profit. But if we send it to others and they try to make it themselves, she will come back and give us problems. One thing today, another thing tomorrow..."

"That's really hard for you!"

A clear voice came from behind. The wives turned around hurriedly and saw Zhou Jiani with a smile on her face.

But they usually saw her smiling like this, but why did her smile today make them feel so uneasy?

Zhou Jiani's smile didn't reach her eyes. She said, "There won't be any new ideas from now on. The city department store has already helped you roll out the business. You can discuss and arrange the amount of orders they place. Don't let me handle it from now on."

The hair bands that she sells in the group now are the best ones she can pick out in terms of craftsmanship, and they are also the products of a few people, including Zhao Mei, a man named Sheng Changhai in the village, and his wife, as well as an aunt and a grandmother who can embroider.

Others are just doing this to make a living by posting on social media, and they really don't make any profit from the price difference when distributing the products. In this case, I won't drag so many people along.

"Oh, Comrade Zhou, we were just joking, don't take it seriously..." Zhang Mingshan's wife Qiao Meiling didn't expect that Zhou Jiani had heard it, so she hurriedly explained.

Being caught red-handed, everyone's face flushed and their backs were covered in sweat even in the cold weather.

Zhou Jiani, the cuckolded girl, couldn't quite place her name. She only vaguely remembered her husband's surname was Gu. She let out an exaggerated "hmm" and said with a smile, "It's nothing. Even if you profited, it's what you deserve. There's nothing shameful about it. Don't be angry with us."

The sister-in-law wearing the cotton hat knew that something was wrong at first glance. She wanted to smooth things over but she couldn't. She was angry just by listening to what these people said, not to mention Comrade Zhou.

I feel a bit unlucky at the moment. How come I happened to walk with them?

Zhou Jiani was still smiling, but anyone could tell she was in a bad mood. She said, "It's okay. I'm just too busy to worry about it. When you go to the provincial capital, you can ask around and see who's offering the highest price and who's offering the lowest. You can also calculate how much profit I can make from selling something for a few cents."

"No, no, no, Comrade Zhou, we were just talking nonsense, don't bother with us..."

"I still have to be careful, otherwise if this kind of talk gets around too much, it'll affect my reputation." Zhou Jiani said with a smile, "Accountant Liu has account books. No matter whether it's the supply and marketing cooperative or the department store, they issue invoices for the amount of goods received and the price charged. They stamp them with a big red stamp, so they can't be faked. I go out to negotiate business and build relationships, and if I give out extra goods, I either pay for it myself or the village will make up for it. But the money I give you is counted one by one. If anyone has any doubts, go to the accountant and check."

After saying that, Zhou Jiani turned around and left, going to Zhao Mei's house from another alley.

She still needs to make money, but she plans to change her approach.

The shed next to Zhao Mei's house has been reinforced and is now used as a workshop. She teaches those who come to learn new things in the shed.

Zhang Kaishan still needs to rest, and Zhang Huihui also needs to do homework, so it is not appropriate for them to squeeze into the room.

After a long time, whenever Zhao Mei heard any noise outside the door, she would come out and go into the shed.

When he saw it was Zhou Jiani today, he smiled and let her in. There was a stove in the house, which was warmer than the shed. He said, "Are you back from sending someone off? Come in and warm up."

Zhou Jiani pointed to the shed and said, "Sister-in-law, come over here. Let's talk privately."

Zhang Kaishan came out to greet them: "Jia Ni is here, go talk to your sister-in-law inside, Hui Hui and I will go out for a walk."

It's quite cool in the shed. If more people sit together, it can feel a little warm. But if there are fewer people, it's too cold.

Zhou Jiani said, "Brother Zhang, please don't make any more trouble. I'll just say a few words and then leave. Go back to your room and rest."

Zhao Mei: "He's fine. He goes out for a walk every day. The doctor also said that he just needs to move around a little and wear warm clothes."

Zhang Kaishan's condition is getting better day by day. He is now willing to go out and meet more people.

Zhang Huihui ran out, hugged her father's arm, and said to Zhou Jiani, "Sister Jiani, I go for a walk with my dad every day."

Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Okay, come back quickly after your stroll. I'll be leaving in a few minutes."

Zhang Kaishan put on a scarf and went out with his daughter.

After entering the house, Zhou Jiani told Zhao Mei what she had just heard. Zhao Mei's face immediately turned pale with anger. She said, "Who said that? How can you be so ungrateful! You were muttering nonsense behind my back, why didn't you come to me and tell me..."

Zhou Jiani waved her hand, using this as an excuse to separate the two. "It doesn't matter who owns it or not. Since someone said that, there must be many people who share this idea. They want to make money, but they find it troublesome and are speculating behind people's backs. I really can't manage so many people, and I don't want to. In the future, I won't offer new styles to them. Let's work together first. We'll select the materials and design the styles to be more fashionable. You make them, and I'll take them out to find new markets. If we don't go through the supply and marketing cooperatives, we'll go private. The price will be higher than ordinary hairbands..."

She can still issue a certificate for self-production and self-sales, but of course, she basically doesn't need to use it.

She was also afraid of being too conspicuous, otherwise she would have paid for a sewing machine and installed it here at Zhao Mei's place, and the efficiency would definitely have been different.

By then, we won’t just be making hairbands, there will be so much more we can do with fabrics.

But it’s not possible now. Take a deep breath and endure for a few more years.

Zhao Mei said with a sense of indignation, "Okay!" Let those people regret it.

After going out, Zhao Mei also gained some experience. People who earn wages in big cities are more generous when buying things than them. Only after going out did she realize how high the sky is outside.

Jiani often goes out, and her rules of speaking and doing things are even better than hers. She can negotiate her things into department stores and Friendship Stores. No matter what channel she chooses, if she says it's okay, it's okay.

I don’t know what those people in the village were thinking, they were muttering this behind my back.

After talking with Zhao Mei, Zhou Jiani returned home. As soon as she entered the house, Yu Wanxia said, "Jiani, what happened? A few sisters-in-law came to look for you just now. I said you didn't come back, and they pulled me aside and talked for a while. They guessed that you went to the captain's house and left..."

Yu Wanxia scratched her head and said, "What misunderstanding? This and that? I don't understand. What's going on?"

Zhou Jiani sighed, "Nothing much. They just dislike the variety and think I'm profiting from it. They also think I'm not putting enough effort into it. From now on, I'll just stick to the city department store for posting on social media. They'll just go through a few of the previous styles and keep the business going for a while. I don't care about anything else..."

Yu Wanxia was completely speechless.

On the other side, Zhang Bao angrily threw down his chopsticks and pointed at Qiao Meiling and the others, saying, "Are you guys just bored? You've only earned a few bucks and you're already burning out like this? Collecting rags is a relationship you've earned, and shipping is a favor. Xiao Zhou has done everything he can to help you earn some money to supplement your family income, and yet you're gossiping about it behind my back."

Qiao Meiling and the others were filled with regret, almost crying, saying, "We didn't expect it to be so perfect..."

"Isn't this just perfect?" Zhang Baosheng raised his hand and nodded, saying, "Go, go, go, everyone get out."

Qiao Meiling and the others came to find Zhang Baosheng because they went to Zhou Jiani's house and found that she was not there. They thought she had come to complain to the captain, but it turned out that she didn't come at all.

Zhang Baosheng made it clear that he would not get involved in this matter and let them apologize to Comrade Xiao Zhou themselves.

The few of them returned and this time met Zhou Jiani. Zhou Jiani was very good at Tai Chi and smiled to show that she wasn't angry, but she was really busy researching new styles of knitwear and really didn't have time for the hairbands. She also seriously gave them some advice: "I'm really busy lately. Hairbands are just a side job. My main focus is still on knitwear. The factory is preparing for next year's Canton Fair and has set up a special research team to develop new styles. How about this, you can nominate someone, ask the team leader to write a letter of introduction, and then go around here, or go to the city or provincial capital, and open up a special sales channel."

As he spoke, he sent them out.

Back in the house, Yu Wanxia was still muttering and cursing, calling them ungrateful wolves for ruining her happy way of earning pocket money.

Zhou Jiani chuckled and said, "If you want to make money, do you have to follow them and make hair bands?"

Yu Wanxia: "What do you mean? You're only bringing my goods? Do you want those two or three others?" She wasn't that fast at making hairbands.

"Can you knit?"

Yu Wanxia nodded.

"How's your level?"

"I think I'm doing OK. I have some yarn here. How about I knit you a pair of socks?"

Zhou Jiani perked up: "Stop knitting socks. Let me see how many threads there are and what colors they are..."

On the other side, when Qiao Meiling was almost home, she ran into Zhang Mingshan who came out to look for her. Zhang Mingshan frowned and said, "Where have you been? It's so late and you didn't come back to cook or tell me."

Qiao Meiling cried out of grievance, frightening Zhang Mingshan. He kept asking questions. After they got home, Qiao Meiling finally mumbled something and said, "Maybe if we say something, she'll be embarrassed and get angry with us."

He added, "Let her make some money, we just said a few words behind her back, and we didn't say anything openly, but she's acting so arrogantly."

It wasn't them who said that. Several people in the village were grumbling, speculating that the social media platform wasn't gaining traction because the companies were pushing prices so hard. She didn't have any profit, so she wasn't interested, which was why she only had a few outlets. She said she kept changing her styles because they were looking for others to try their hand at hers, and if she didn't change them, they wouldn't buy her. So why didn't she make more money and open up more supply and marketing cooperatives?

Zhang Mingshan was so angry that he called her stupid and said, "People are whispering about it, and they're also talking about it on the street? You're the only one who can say it, right?"

Qiao Meiling: "Who would have thought that she would run into it..."

Several people were also a little angry that Zhou Jiani was not listening. Although she spoke nicely, they could tell that she wanted to give up.

She pondered what Zhou Jiani had said in her mind, and angrily said to her husband, "Go out and find it yourself..."

"Why are you getting more and more excited? You're really taking advantage without even realizing it," Zhang Mingshan said angrily. "You're just riding on the factory's cargo, not counting your shipping fees or their hard work. You're just making a profit for nothing. Go out and find it yourself, and you'll pay for the car fare."

Qiao Meiling was dumbfounded.

Zhang Mingshan was about to go out, and Qiao Meiling asked him what he was going to do.

"What are you doing? You silly old women have offended so many people." Zhang Mingshan said, "Tomorrow, when those other people who make hair circles find out that you ruined this thing for them, what will you do? Won't they curse you behind your back?"

Then he said angrily, "I'll go talk to the captain. Really, you're just following those guys and gossiping about your wife."

Zhang Baosheng clearly didn't want to get involved and said, "If there's demand, do it. If there's no demand, just take a break. This will save you from all the hassles."

The next day, everyone who knew about this was shocked. They gritted their teeth and cursed Qiao Meiling and Zhao Xiufen, while going to visit the injured Zhou Jiani.

After hearing this, Liu Tong took out his notebook and all the receipts and said, "Thank goodness Comrade Zhou asked me to keep the accounts from the beginning. He was just worried that something might go wrong, and it turned out to be a problem."

He used a loudspeaker to announce that those who made the hair circles should go to the village committee to reconcile accounts and look at the receipts. Who would have the nerve to go?

Zhou Jiani was busy at the factory all day and had no time to gossip.

Many people came to her house that night. She smiled and said, "What are you doing? Aren't the orders from the city department store stable? As long as you work hard and ensure good quality, you can still make some money."

Yu Wanxia said, "Alright, all the aunts and sisters-in-law, please go back. Jiani is a cadre at the knitting factory, not someone who helps you sell hair bands. Who wouldn't be disheartened to hear that someone is saying something about her for helping? Who has the ability to run the business themselves? There's more than one supply and marketing cooperative in the county, and there are also supply and marketing cooperatives in the surrounding brigades. Let those who accuse Jiani of profiteering go and make some money themselves."

Some people feel guilty, some feel wronged, and hate those who gossip.

In fact, several people had whispered about what Qiao Meiling said to Zhao Xiufen in private. Some said it, some listened, some stopped it, and some believed it, but no one said anything openly. They thought that Zhou Jiani should just make some money and not work in vain, but they agreed with this statement in their hearts.

As a result, when Liu Tong asked them to look at the list today, no one showed up. They guessed that their guesses might have been inaccurate, and they felt a little embarrassed, so they quickly said something nice.

Someone even went to Zhao Mei, hoping she would mediate. Zhao Mei said, "I feel so bad for Jiani when I hear that. She has no obligation to continue to take on this responsibility. But Jiani helped run the city's line. Instead of trying to find the solution like this, you should focus on improving your skills and securing the city department store order."

"From now on, you can re-determine who will receive and who will deliver the goods. However, you have to share the transportation costs. If the delivery goes wrong and you are delayed there and can't return at night, you have to share the accommodation costs as well."

After hearing what Zhao Mei said, many people realized that there was also the bus fare. They usually didn't have to pay for the bus fare. They only had the cost of the rags and thread, plus the cost of the bus fare. Many people were so frustrated that their eyes turned red on the spot.

Several people started to curse at people by name, calling out the names of several others who were gossiping except Qiao Meiling.

On the other side, Qiu Zeming also left the station.

"Zeming, here!" A young man waved at him, and Qiu Zeming went over: "Cousin!"

Ge Junhui looked him up and down. "Well, you look good. I heard you were experimenting with the plastic greenhouse. How's that going?"

He tilted his head and gestured to the side: "Get in the car!"

After getting in the car, Qiu Zeming continued the topic: "With the guidance of professionals, the first phase was successful, the second phase also had a good germination rate, and the third phase is under construction..."

Ge Junhui exclaimed, "How many acres of land did you acquire?" As he spoke, he started a fire.

It's both the first and second phases.

"Phase one and two cover three and a half acres, and the third phase is going to cover five acres."

The car stalled and swayed in place. Ge Junhui tilted his head speechlessly: "What a huge project!"

Qiu Zeming glanced at him and said, "Don't be sarcastic. You won't know how difficult it is unless you actually try it." He added, "Forget it. There's no point in talking to someone like you who can't even tell the difference between wheat seedlings and leeks."

Ge Junhui tutted and said, "Okay, I'm talking too much!"

As the car was on the road, Ge Junhui suddenly said, "Hey, I heard you got a women's military coat. Who is it for?"

As expected, he couldn't hide it. Qiu Zeming smiled unconsciously and said very formally: "I did it for my girlfriend!"

The corners of his mouth curved wider as he savored the word "object". Hmm, these two words were really nice.

He is in a relationship now.

Ge Junhui almost stopped on the road with a sudden brake, turned his head and asked with wide eyes: "Your partner?"

"Concentrate on driving and watch the road carefully. I'm in a relationship. My partner will be heartbroken if I get scratched." Qiu Zeming said with a raised lip.

Ge Junhui digested it for a long time before asking again: "Which girl is there who can win you over?"

Everyone in the family was paying attention to this matter, and some even guessed that it was Bai Haoyang's fault, saying that Bai Haoyang's cousin had also gone down there, and it might not have been Qiu Zeming who wanted it, but Bai Haoyang had used Qiu Zeming's connections to help his sister get it.

"This is really..." Ge Junhui shook his head repeatedly, "This is really a bolt from the blue!"

Qiu Zeming couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth, and continued to curl them up, saying, "I'm going to be nineteen soon, and it's time to find a partner."

Ge Junhui still felt it was a dream. After pondering for a long time, he tentatively said, "You, you are... you don't want to marry the girl you are dating right away, do you? If you get married, it will be difficult for you to come back."

What he actually wanted to ask was, was this just a joke or was it serious?

Qiu Zeming glanced at him and said, "What are you thinking about?"

Ge Junhui exhaled. It seemed that they were not serious and were probably just joking. However, he felt that this was not a good idea either. Just as he was about to give them some advice, he heard Qiu Zeming's dull tone: "My partner will definitely not agree to get married now."

Comrade Xiao Zhou is a man who is ready to start a career.

Ge Junhui: ...

Arriving at the gate of the compound, Ge Junhui said, "I'm not going in. Let's have hot pot tonight."

Qiu Zeming: "Let's have roast duck. My girlfriend made lamb spine hotpot a while ago and we just had it."

He wasn't showing off intentionally, he just thought the three words "my partner" were wonderful.

Ge Junhui was too lazy to pay attention to him and drove away with his foot on the accelerator.

Qiu Zeming took his luggage and went in. When he got home, he opened the door and walked into the house. A young man with eyebrows and eyes that looked somewhat similar to his stood up and said, "Zeming is back."

Qiu Zeming nodded: "Brother." Then he said, "Is your arm okay?"

Qiu Zexun moved his clumsy arm and said with a wry smile, "It takes a hundred days for a broken bone to heal. It's getting better, but not completely."

"Just take care of it slowly." Qiu Zeming continued, "Getting married before the New Year?"

Qiu Zexun laughed and said, "Yes, it has been postponed for so long. We have to get married before the New Year. Dad and Grandpa are urging us to do so."

"Congratulations, big brother. However, I have used my family leave this year and may not be able to come back by the end of the year. I wish you a happy wedding in advance."

There was a noise coming from the study. Qiu Zeming put down his luggage and went over: "Grandpa!"

"Are you back?"

Qiu Zeming entered the study.

Qiu Zexun watched the study door close, withdrew his gaze, and sat back on the sofa.

In the study, Qiu Hongzhen looked him up and down and said with a smile, "Not bad, you look energetic and spirited, haha." He then asked, "How many days can you stay this time?"

Qiu Zeming said respectfully, "I have some things to take care of. I'll go back after I'm done."

Qiu Hongzhen nodded. "I heard you're in charge of the plastic greenhouse experiment. I've been following it a bit, and I've heard it's been going on for several years now, with promising results in some areas. It might even be rolled out nationwide. You guys are quite creative, right? How did you come up with this experiment?"

Qiu Zeming was just worried about not having the right words to say, but when he heard his grandfather ask, he said, "It was mainly my partner who brought it up, and I was just there to help."

Qiu Hongzhen shocked his grandson so much that he was silent for a moment before he confirmed, "Your partner?"

Qiu Zeming nodded.

Qiu Hongzhen: "So, that women's military coat..."

"I made it for my girlfriend." Qiu Zeming thought for a moment and added, "But we weren't together at the time. I exchanged her for one of her finest blankets."

Qiu Hongzhen perked up, laughed twice, and said, "Come on, tell me more. Where is the girl? How old is she? Why didn't you bring her back to meet me?"

Qiu Zeming: There were two mules that were getting in the way...

"After the New Year," he said. "My future father-in-law and mother-in-law are from Qiyang. They both work at the Second Textile Mill. They're really nice people. They have a kind grandmother and a pair of lovely brothers-in-law. My girlfriend is really smart and clever. She..."

Qiu Hongzhen's mouth twitched, and he found a suitable moment to stop and ask about the development of the Qianjin Brigade.

Qiu Zeming started by buying plastic sheeting and said with a smile, "I was on a business trip with my girlfriend at the time..."

He talked about the development process from a weaving workshop to a weaving factory, how the products were sold in department stores and Friendship Stores, and also about the experimental process of the plastic greenhouse... Qiu Hongzhen was very happy to listen, but the three words "my partner" appeared too frequently.

In the end, Qiu Hongzhen could only breathe heavily and said unhappily, "How did your partner, who is so capable, choose you?"

Coming out of the study, Qiu Zeming said hello to the older brother on the sofa and went to the side to make a phone call to the forward brigade. He was disappointed that his girlfriend didn't answer the phone, but it was freezing cold, and he didn't want her to answer the call specifically. So he said to Liu Tong, "Then please tell Accountant Liu to tell Comrade Xiao Zhou that I've arrived."

Liu Tong hung up the phone, still wondering why he had to tell Comrade Xiao Zhou specifically. He mumbled a few words and continued writing.

Qiu Zeming hung up the phone and called the military hospital to report to his mother, Comrade Du Yunxin.

Du Yunxin heard her son was back and asked happily, "What time did you get home? You must be exhausted from the journey. I asked Aunt Zhao to go buy some ribs. Has Aunt Zhao returned yet?"

Qiu Zeming: "Mom, how did you know I have a partner?"

Du Yunxin: ...

Before she could react, she heard her son say, "Okay, let's talk in detail when we meet. It's hard to explain how good my partner is over the phone."

Just hung up the phone.

Ms. Du Yunxin looked confused. What did she ask just now?

After a moment, her eyes widened. Her son has a girlfriend?

In the evening, Ge Junhui came to pick up Qiu Zeming to go out for dinner. After getting in the car and driving for a while, snowflakes suddenly started falling. Ge Junhui was just about to say what a terrible weather it was, it was snowing again.

Then I heard my cousin next to me say, "Why is it snowing? I wonder if it's snowing in Zhengfeng City. My boyfriend has to go deliver something in a couple of days, so today... he's going to be delayed again."

"If you keep referring to your partner, I'll kick you!"

Qiu Zeming looked over and said, "You don't have a partner, you don't understand."

Ge Junhui: ...