Today is Thursday, and there's a bit of a breeze, so the weather isn't great, but the clothing wholesale market is still bustling with people.
Since the policy was relaxed, ordinary people have had enough to eat and drink, have some spare money in their pockets, and have begun to pay attention to improving their appearance and want to look more presentable.
Buying new clothes is the most direct and quickest way.
Although a piece of clothing is not cheap, clothes in this era are durable. Buying a new one can last for several years.
Moreover, wearing new clothes immediately tells people that your family is doing well.
Therefore, the clothing business is becoming more and more popular.
Zhou Qiqi squeezed past the wholesalers carrying sacks and arrived at Li Ping's stall. Li Ping was standing on tiptoe, stacking goods onto the shelf, so Zhou Qiqi had to ask her to wait on the side.
After a while, when her man came over, she finally had time to call Zhou Qiqi to the back to talk.
Her throat was so dry it was practically burning. While listening to Zhou Qiqi talk, she drank half a cup of cold water by herself before finally speaking.
"Guoqiang told me about this."
Zhou Qiqi knew she was busy, so she spoke frankly and directly.
"Then I won't waste any more words. Sister Ping, you know all the bosses around here. Do you know any companies that need staff? Help me find a good one. My sister is quick and efficient, and I guarantee she won't let you down."
Li Ping wiped her face, the smile lines at the corners of her eyes revealing the shrewdness of a businesswoman.
"Since he's so capable, why let someone else have the job? He can just work for me, right?"
"You're short-staffed too?"
Upon hearing Zhou Qiqi's question, Li Ping patted the stack of cardboard boxes that reached waist height.
"Of course I need help! I'm the only one working on this, and my husband comes to help when he's off work. I'm exhausted. I've been looking for someone to lend a hand. When I first met you, I even thought of asking you to come and help me!"
Zhou Qiqi raised an eyebrow. "You thought highly of me so early on?"
Li Ping smiled and said, "Of course!"
Zhou Qiqi covered her mouth and laughed.
"How come I remember, Sister Ping, the second time you saw me, you were worried I was here to return goods, and your tone wasn't very nice?"
Li Ping looked completely bewildered. "Is that so? I don't remember! You must be too forgetful and have misremembered!"
Zhou Qiqi put her arm around her shoulder and said, "Okay, okay, I misremembered. I need your help today, Sister Ping, to give me a chance."
Li Ping also took Zhou Qiqi's arm and patted her hand.
"No problem! Bring them over first thing tomorrow morning!"
But as soon as she finished speaking, her expression turned serious.
"Let me be clear from the start, I'm giving you a chance to save face. Whether it works out or not depends on her performance tomorrow. Even if she stays, she'll have to try for a week or two. If she doesn't do well, we'll fire her and only pay her trial period wages."
Zhou Qiqi smiled calmly.
"Probation period? No problem! Business is business, personal is personal. Don't worry about saving face for me. I didn't expect Sister Ping to understand this!"
Seeing Zhou Qiqi's attitude, Li Ping smiled again.
"Yes, yes, that's the word! I learned it from those Hong Kong people when I went to Guangzhou last time! I couldn't remember how to say it right away, I didn't expect you to know it too!"
The two chatted for a few more minutes, and seeing that there were many customers coming to wholesale clothes ahead, Zhou Qiqi quickly left.
The next morning, she took Zhao Damei there.
Li Ping glanced at him a few times and was quite satisfied. "He looks energetic and is dressed quite decently. Not bad!"
Zhao Damei was wearing the same outfit that Granny Wang and the others had seen, but it gave off a completely different feeling to different people.
Granny Wang and her group were only envious of others making money.
But Li Ping felt that when selling goods outside, one should dress in brand new clothes to give people a good impression. Being willing to wear new clothes is to save face for oneself and to respect one's job.
After making arrangements for Zhao Damei, Zhou Qiqi boarded the purchasing vehicle just in time and returned to the military dependents' area.
As I walked out onto the street, I noticed the weather was a bit chilly and I was worried it would rain. I wondered if I should make some noodle soup for lunch, something warm and comforting to eat with the soup and the main dish.
Lost in thought, I didn't notice a man covered in sweat blocking my way.
"Excuse me, comrade, could I trouble you for a moment?"
The man looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, about two or three years older than Shen Huaichuan. Although his features weren't as regular as Shen Huaichuan's, he seemed kind and had a proper posture, so he didn't look like a bad person.
Zhou Qiqi smiled politely.
"Sure, tell me, is there anything I can help you with?"
The man smiled politely.
"Here's the thing, I came to find my family. The security guard gave me directions, but I rushed to the restroom and now I'm a bit disoriented."
Zhou Qiqi thought the other party was also a military family member, so her attitude became even better.
"This military dependents' area is big and a bit hard to find your way. Where are you going? Do you have a specific location? If I know, I'll tell you. If not, I'll go ask around for you."
The man nodded hastily.
"Yes, yes, yes! I have the exact location! You definitely know it! The place I'm going to is the clinic in our military dependents' area!"
"Health clinic..."
Zhou Qiqi was taken aback. "You're here to see Lin Yao?"
After all, Lin Yao and Xu Shu's family live there now, and Zhou Qiqi knows all of Xu's relatives, so this person can only be looking for Lin Yao.
The man's smile widened. "Yes, yes, you know my sister? I'm her brother, my name is Lin Yan, hello, hello!"
Zhou Qiqi didn't answer his question, but pointed in a direction and said politely.
"The clinic is over there. Just follow this road. It's a separate courtyard with a sign at the entrance. You'll see it when you get there."
Zhou Qiqi's attitude suddenly changed from warm and friendly to cold and indifferent, with a hint of disdain.
Lin Yan looked in the direction she pointed, his smile genuine.
"Thank you. My sister is getting married tomorrow in the auditorium of our military dependents' area. If you have time, you are welcome to attend the ceremony! My sister will be working at the clinic of our military dependents' hospital afterward, specializing in serving you military spouses!"
Zhou Qiqi smiled politely at her but didn't answer. Just as she was about to leave, Hu Chunxiao passed by and called out to her. She quickly ran over.
After she left, the smile on Lin Yan's face instantly froze, turning into deep sorrow. He sighed and walked towards the clinic.
He had called Lin Yao before he arrived, and Lin Yao had been waiting at the door. She was overjoyed to see him and greeted him with a smile.
"Brother, you're finally here! Where are Mom and Dad?!"
Lin Yan looked at the Xu family behind him, who were craning their necks, and without replying, he pulled Lin Yao aside with a gloomy expression and scolded her harshly.
"You're incredibly bold! Your parents gave you the household registration book so you and Huaichuan could get your marriage certificate as soon as possible, and now you're suddenly saying you want to marry another man and even get the certificate. What's going on?"
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