The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Zhou Qiqi woke up.
My whole body felt like it was falling apart; my lower back ached terribly, and my arms and legs felt weak and I couldn't lift them.
She glanced to her side, but Shen Huaichuan was nowhere to be seen.
This man is like a perpetual motion machine, busy all day in the army and still keeping her up most of the night, leaving her too lazy to even lift a finger.
What's even more infuriating is that they can still get up in the morning, run several laps around the track, and then conveniently stop by the cafeteria to get breakfast on their way back.
After finishing her meal, while Shen Huaichuan was washing his lunchbox, she angrily pinched the soft flesh on his side, but her fingertips were weak and powerless, making it seem more like she was being coquettish.
Shen Huaichuan chuckled softly, grabbed her wrist with his other hand, and pulled her into his arms.
His warm breath brushed against her earlobe, and just as his lips were about to touch hers, Zhou Qiqi quickly turned her head away, her voice tinged with reproach.
"Stop fooling around! Zhouzhou is still outside!"
Shen Huaichuan knew she was shy, so he stopped teasing her and simply placed a kiss on her smooth forehead.
"Ride your bike slowly and be careful."
Zhou Qiqi changed into clothes suitable for driving, hopped on her "brand new" Phoenix bicycle, and headed into the city, her destination naturally the clothing wholesale market.
As soon as you turn into the street where the market is located, you are greeted by a cacophony of voices and the heat of haggling.
Zhou Qiqi found Li Ping's stall in the middle, familiar with the place.
The stall wasn't large, but it was packed full of goods, a dazzling array.
The clothes hanging in the most conspicuous position were the styles that the First Garment Factory was now transforming. The novel designs and solid materials attracted many merchants who wanted to buy the goods to inquire about the prices.
The proprietress, Li Ping, was calling out to customers at the top of her lungs, "There are only three of these left! Hurry up and get your invoices!"
When he saw Zhou Qiqi come in, his eyes lit up as if he had seen a savior.
"Qiqi, you've come at the right time! Quickly, help me introduce these styles! You're most familiar with these!"
Zhou Qiqi smiled and agreed, neatly parked the car in the backyard, rolled up her sleeves, and joined the "battle".
She was articulate and knew the styles and fabrics of these items very well, quickly helping Li Ping close several deals.
In a brief lull in her busyness, her gaze involuntarily fell upon another busy figure in the stall.
Zhao Damei deftly organized, packed, and issued invoices, her face beaming with a bright smile. She answered the vendors' questions politely and even tirelessly helped them carry their packages to the street corner.
Her simple and down-to-earth nature made her seem particularly reliable in the noisy market, and many regular customers recognized her.
"Sister Mei seems to be doing a good job!"
While pouring water, Zhou Qiqi sincerely sighed to Li Ping.
Li Ping gulped down half a cup, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and smiled, revealing two rows of white teeth.
"Don't pretend, she's doing a great job! Since she came, my stall has become much better. She's quick-witted, efficient, and honest. Customers love her, especially the women."
She paused, then lowered her voice, "Qiqi, you have such a sharp eye! You recommended such a great helper to me!"
As noon approached, the surging crowds finally subsided slightly, allowing Zhou Qiqi and Zhao Damei to catch their breath and rest on small stools behind the stall.
Zhou Qiqi then recounted the whole story of how Wang Dasao and her mother-in-law had come to their door yesterday.
"Grandma Wang looked really anxious, and Sister-in-law Wang seemed quite regretful."
Zhou Qiqi spoke with certainty, her tone carrying a hint of pride for Zhao Damei.
"They treated you so badly back then, and now they remember how good you were! They want you to go back? How wishful thinking! You're doing just fine working for Sister Ping now, why would you want to go back and suffer that kind of treatment!"
After she finished speaking, she waited for Zhao Damei to agree.
However, Zhao Damei listened quietly, unconsciously tidying up the loose threads on her clothes, while her gaze drifted towards the bustling street outside the stall, as if she were thinking about something.
After a moment, Zhao Damei raised her head, smiled, and gently shook her head.
"Qiqi, thank you for thinking of me and for making me feel so much better, but..."
She paused, her voice soft but clear, "I actually...really want to go back to selling flowers."
"ah?"
Zhou Qiqi was completely stunned, her eyes wide open, utterly taken aback.
"Sister Mei, what did you say? Go back? Why? Isn't it fine here?"
She could hardly believe her ears.
Zhao Damei smiled somewhat shyly, but her eyes sparkled.
"Qiqi, I know this place is good, and Sister Li Ping treats me well, but..."
She tugged at the hem of her clothes.
“I’ve been working in the fields since I was a child, and I’m used to farming. Later, when I started tending to flowers and plants, watching them grow from seedlings to flowers, I felt very at ease and comfortable. The principle is the same for crops and flowers. Watering, fertilizing, and sunbathing, watching them change day by day, I don’t know why, but I just feel very good.”
She paused, her tone becoming more serious.
"Moreover, Sister-in-law Wang, like me, also loves crops and flowers. Seeing those flowers about to be ruined, I felt really bad."
Looking at the gleam in Zhao Damei's eyes, Zhou Qiqi was momentarily speechless.
She suddenly understood the meaning behind Shen Huaichuan's words last night.
Sister Da Mei may look honest, but she has her own ideas deep down. Otherwise, she wouldn't have ignored her family's objections and gritted her teeth to take over the donkey cart and her confused father-in-law after her husband died.
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