Chen Baohua's eyes suddenly reddened, and he held back his tears!
"Xiao Liu, what's wrong with you! You're crying because you're so moved?" Chen Xihua didn't expect Chen Xiao Liu to be so sentimental!
"Fifth sister, you're so good!" Chen Baohua suddenly hugged his fifth sister's waist and buried his head in her arms, not wanting his sisters to see his current loss of composure!
In fact, as Chen Baohua grew up, he began to have a feeling that he couldn't quite explain, that was, there was a distance between him and his five older sisters!
Besides his two older cousins, he was the only one in his family who received his grandparents' affection, and he used to be very happy and proud of it.
At home, his parents doted on him the most, indulging his every whim. His sisters were also good to him, but their kindness was different from his mother's unconditional love; it seemed their kindness towards him was merely a matter of habit.
Just like when students play games at school, some good students form a circle and play by themselves, and other students can't join in.
The same goes for his older sisters. Except for his fifth sister, the other four sisters would always go along with him, but he just felt that his sisters didn't really want to play with him. So sometimes he was afraid that his sisters would leave him behind and not like him as their younger brother!
So when he heard his fifth sister say that she would include him too, and that the sisters were willing to help him make money, he suddenly felt a little wronged and sad. The sisters hadn't excluded him!
After a long while, Chen Baohua awkwardly raised his head and found that his fifth sister was looking at him with a teasing look, and his second and third sisters were also making fun of him!
"Xiaobao, why are you crying? Is something hurting?" The eldest sister, Chen Chunhua, asked her younger brother anxiously, worried that something was wrong.
"No, big sister, I'm happy! I'm excited!" Chen Baohua said a little shyly.
Chen Xihua could roughly guess Chen Xiaoliu's thoughts. In the current family, because of her influence, the older sisters would not unconditionally indulge Chen Xiaoliu. He was indeed a little pitiful. He hadn't done anything wrong, but because of Li Yumei's doting, there was a stark contrast. On the surface, the older sisters doted on Chen Xiaoliu, but in reality, they probably wanted to distance themselves and had a grudge in their hearts. It was a very contradictory feeling.
In the original book, although the Chen sisters are both "brother-supporting demons," some of them may actually hate and resent Chen Baohua, but they just don't dare to say it out loud!
Fortunately, Chen Baohua has not been spoiled into being annoying by Li Yumei. The relationship between Chen Baohua and his sisters is still quite harmonious and loving!
Chen Xihua patted Chen Xiaoliu's head, "You're almost in fourth grade and still crying. Of course we'll include you, because you're our favorite little brother! I'm most biased towards you!" Chen Xiaoliu is actually a sensitive little boy!
"That's right, Chen Xiaoliu, aren't you ashamed? A man shouldn't be crying!" Chen Jinhua wasn't so observant and even looked down on him!
"Xiao Bao is just happy!" Chen Xiuhua had guessed it too!
Although Chen Baohua was embarrassed, he was mostly happy and didn't care that his sisters were laughing at him!
“Alright, Fifth Sister, you can continue. You just mentioned registering a trademark. I’ll go ask about it tomorrow. It should be at the Industry and Commerce Bureau, right? That’s where Dad registered his sole proprietorship. Are we really going to open a small workshop? What’s the process? What do we need to do?” As the eldest sister, Chen Chunhua felt she should take the lead and not rely on her fifth sister for everything, especially since she was already an adult!
"We all have to go to school and don't have time, so we need to find a trustworthy and capable person to manage everything for us!" Chen Xihua explained her plan. "I've been thinking about hiring a manager, like Sister Xiaolan, but I don't know if she's up to the task!"
Zhang Xiaolan is not decisive or confident enough, but she is hardworking, kind, and eager to learn.
"Fifth sister, why don't we go visit Sister Xiaolan tomorrow? Zhang Weibing joined the army at the beginning of the year. He came to me and asked me to look after his sister and grandfather because he was worried they would be bullied at home!" The second sister, Chen Jinhua, suddenly suggested.
"Okay, let's go to her house tomorrow!" Chen Xihua thought it was a good idea. Going to Sister Xiaolan's house would be a good way to get a more direct understanding of Sister Xiaolan's character!
"By the way, big sister, could you go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau tomorrow and ask if we can register a company directly with 70,000 yuan in start-up capital?"
"Register a company? Fifth sister, didn't you say you wanted to open a small workshop?" Although Chen Chunhua didn't quite understand the difference between a sole proprietorship and a company, she knew from the name that a company must be very powerful. She hesitated, thinking, "Didn't you say we'd take it one step at a time?"
"Big sister, companies also grow from small beginnings. If possible, let's register it as a company, 5+1 Apparel Co., Ltd., with a business scope including but not limited to the production, processing, wholesale, and retail of men's and women's clothing, shoes, hats, bags, and accessories..."
"Wait, so many?" Chen Chunhua couldn't remember them all at once!
"Big sister, why don't you go and find out the details tomorrow, and then I'll go with you to register the day after tomorrow!" Chen Xihua thought it would be more reassuring for her to go alone. Her older sister wasn't very clear about these things at the company, so she could also clarify the shareholding ratio of the siblings while she was there!
"Alright, I'll go ask tomorrow!" Chen Chunhua nodded gently. With her fifth sister by her side, she felt more at ease.
"Fifth Sister, what can I do?" Chen Xiuhua also wanted to help, but it seemed like there was nothing for her to do!
"Yes, Xiao Wu, I can help too!" Chen Meihua was a little excited. Starting a company? Wouldn't that be even more impressive than her father's pastry shop? Some of her classmates only had families with a little money and shops, but now they were going to start their own companies!
"Fifth sister, me too!" Chen Baohua was always the last to speak, waiting until all his sisters had finished before he was allowed to speak.
"You can think about what clothes you like to wear. Also, if you have any new ideas, you can design some bag styles. We will continue to knit wool bags in the future, but we won't make them in large quantities. We'll make one or two styles from time to time during winter and summer vacations when we have free time!"
Third sister loves beauty, so she'll probably have some unique ideas! Fourth sister is very clever; she understands things very quickly and can even apply them comprehensively!
"Okay, okay, I know, I like pretty things. Let me think. There's a girl in my class who studied in the provincial capital before, and she only came back to take the high school entrance exam in her final year of junior high. Her clothes are so pretty!" Chen Meihua was delighted when she heard that she could think of some pretty clothes and bags!
"The high school entrance exam? By the way, Third Sister, your high school entrance exam results should be out soon!" Chen Xihua was a little worried that she wouldn't get into a high school in Jiang City, and Li Yumei would definitely not let her continue her studies.
"Yes, it should be the day after tomorrow!" Chen Meihua was also uneasy when she heard the results of the high school entrance examination. If she didn't pass, she would be the only one who couldn't go to school.
The next morning, sisters Chen Xihua and Chen Jinhua rode their bicycles to Zhangjia Village in the suburbs.
Chen Chunhua was also preparing to go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau, and Chen Xiuhua said she wanted to go with her older sister.
"Second sister, how much further?" After leaving the textile factory in the western district of the county and reaching the open space in the suburbs where Chen Jinhua and her friends often practiced martial arts, Chen Xihua couldn't help but ask as they turned a corner and were about to enter an intersection!
"It takes about fifteen minutes by bicycle!" Chen Jinhua had only been here once before, at the beginning of the year, before Zhang Weibing went to join the army, he took her to see the area near his home so that she would know where his home was and pay attention to the life of his sister and grandfather at home.
After riding for about fifteen minutes, covering a distance of three or four kilometers, I arrived at the entrance of Zhangjia Village. There were over a hundred households, making it a fairly large village. On both sides of the road were rice paddies, which were almost ripe for harvest, turning the fields a golden yellow.
On the way, they encountered several villagers from Zhangjia Village. Upon seeing two young, unfamiliar girls riding bicycles into the village, they discussed in confusion, "Whose daughters are these? We've never seen them before!"
"It seems to be Zhang Weibing's classmate, the older one. I've met him once before."
"Looking for a male classmate? How old is he! Are they dating? That's so bold, and Zhang Weibing has already joined the army!"
"What era are we living in now? It's perfectly normal for classmates to meet up or ask each other for help!"
"That's right, my daughter is in the second year of junior high school in the county. The day before yesterday, she went on a spring outing with some classmates, both boys and girls. There's nothing else going on now!"
"That's true..."
Ignoring the various comments from passersby, Chen Xihua and her sister quickly arrived at Zhang Weibing's house, located in front of a house further inside Zhangjia Village. The house was a single-story building with gray brick walls and three rooms. There was also a small mud house built on the left side of the yard, with a black chimney on the roof, which was probably the kitchen.
Just then, the courtyard gate opened, and an old woman's voice could be heard speaking.
"Brother-in-law, I'm not trying to be mean, but your Xiaolan is already twenty-one. It's time for her to get married!"
“I have a cousin on my mother’s side. He’s 22 years old this year. His family is well-off, and he’s a perfect match for Xiaolan!”
"Third brother's family, our Xiao Lan can talk about other people, but your brain-dead grand-nephew is not suitable!" A somewhat deep old man said directly!
"Da Shi is just not very agile, but he's not stupid. Besides, his family is rich. My nephew runs a transport business in the county and Jiang City. He's made a lot of money and built a three-story house! They're living such good lives!" The old lady's voice was full of envy and pride. Her nephew and grandnephew's family were rich.
"Third Grandma, I don't plan to get married yet. Xiaobing isn't home, and I still have to take care of Grandpa!" A clear female voice rang out, soft but firm.
“Xiao Lan, you’re not young anymore, and you’re a girl without a father. Your mother has remarried. You’ve found such a good family, so you have to hurry, or you’ll miss out. Your grandfather is still very healthy, and Wangjia Village isn’t far from our Zhangjia Village. You can come back to see your grandfather anytime!” The third grandmother kept persuading her, her tone still looking down on Zhang Xiao Lan.
"Third brother's wife, if you're just visiting, I welcome you. But if you're here to spout nonsense, then go back to your own home. My son died in the army, a very honorable death. Why can't my granddaughter find a good husband?" The old man's voice suddenly became agitated and stern.
"Fine, fine, I'm leaving. Let's see what kind of good family your Xiaolan can find!" Third Grandma walked out of the courtyard gate with a bad mood. She was still a little afraid of her brother-in-law, who had been the village chief.
Just then, they saw the Chen sisters, Xihua and Chen Xihua, standing at the door, looking a little embarrassed from eavesdropping, and their expressions turned even worse.
"Pah! They look down on Da Shi, thinking they're some kind of celestial being!"
After the old lady called Third Grandma had walked away, Chen Xihua and the other woman went inside. "Sister Xiaolan, you're home!"
"Little Fifth Sister, Chen Jinhua, what brings you here?" Zhang Xiaolan's slightly unhappy face immediately softened into a warm and welcoming one when she saw Chen Xihua and her sister, though she was still a little shy.
"This must be Grandpa Zhang. Hello, Grandpa Zhang. We are Xiaolan's friends. We're here to see her about something!" Chen Xihua greeted him with a smile, appearing poised and confident.
Grandpa Zhang was a tall, thin man in his sixties who looked very energetic and upright. His eyes were sharp when he looked at people, scrutinizing the Chen Xihua sisters.
"Grandpa Zhang, my name is Chen Xihua, you can call me Xiao Wu. This is my second sister, Chen Jinhua. She was Zhang Weibing's classmate!" Ignoring Grandpa Zhang's scrutiny, Chen Xihua introduced herself with a generous and natural smile, unhurried.
"Hello, Grandpa Zhang!" Chen Jinhua stood up straight and greeted him somewhat awkwardly. She wasn't as confident and outgoing as her fifth sister, who could talk fluently and communicate naturally with people. Her fifth sister seemed to have mentioned Xiaoshe Niu.
"Good, very good. Little Fifth Miss and Second Miss Chen, come in and sit in the main room. Little Lan, come and greet your little friends!" Grandpa Zhang stared for a while, then suddenly smiled kindly.
This little girl is quite something. At twelve or thirteen, she has clear, pure, and bright eyes. She looks at people with sincerity and a smile, and she remains steadfast and unwavering even when faced with my sharp scrutiny.
He himself had served as village chief for over a decade and still held considerable authority, yet she wasn't afraid of him at all, suggesting he was an open and resolute person.
The older girl, Chen Er, was a little nervous, but she didn't look around or flinch, which showed she was a good girl.
He had heard from his granddaughter that she had earned several hundred yuan by learning to make yarn bags from a few girls, so he wanted to get to know them!
Seeing Grandpa Zhang's serious face quickly become kind and approachable, Chen Jinhua secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although she was usually carefree and not afraid to fight, she would reflexively become reserved in front of teachers and elders.
"Sister Xiaolan, what have you been busy with at home lately?" The Chen sisters had already entered the main room and sat down.
The Zhang family's courtyard and house were clean and tidy, and even the two very worn-out pairs of canvas shoes at the door were cleaned and neatly arranged.
Chen Xihua noticed that Zhang Xiaolan was standing next to Grandpa Zhang, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. She didn't quite understand what she meant and was about to ask.
“Jinhua, Xiaowu, why don’t you come inside with me to talk?” Zhang Xiaolan tugged at the hem of her shirt, actually afraid that the Chen sisters would feel uncomfortable, because she knew that her grandfather could be quite serious at times, and many of her classmates were afraid to come to her house when they were in school.
"No need. I was looking for Sister Xiaolan today, and Grandpa Zhang happened to be here. I hope he can give us some valuable advice!" Chen Xihua suddenly realized what Sister Xiaolan meant. Actually, she wasn't afraid of Grandpa Zhang. She had heard that he used to be the village chief, and he was quite fierce and a bit rigid when he wasn't speaking. Even now, he still retained some of his authority.
"Oh, Miss Wu, is there anything that requires advice from this old man?" Grandpa Zhang was fanning himself in his recliner when he heard Chen Xihua's words. His eyes lit up with surprise and interest.
It's been a long time since anyone has asked him for advice or suggestions, let alone offered him valuable advice.
When he was the village head, it was during the period when educated youth went to the countryside, and later when the college entrance examination was reinstated and people returned to the city, and then during the reform and opening up, he was re-elected. At that time, he was full of energy, busy but fulfilled and accomplished. He went to the county to attend meetings and also went to Jiang City. He had to handle many things every day to serve the village. He was conscientious and dedicated to his duties and had a clear conscience.
Back then, villagers and educated youth would consult him about anything. Later, he contracted land and hillsides, engaged in animal husbandry and planting, and so on. Now he's old, and the younger generation has gone out into the world and seen the outside world, so few people remember this old man anymore.
“Yes, look at what you’re saying. Grandpa Zhang, you’re very experienced. I heard you were even a village chief. You must have more knowledge than us. We’ll have to ask you for help later. Please give us some pointers.” Chen Xihua immediately turned to the side, looking at Grandpa Zhang with a fawning and sincere expression.
"Then I'll listen to what important things you young ladies could have to say!" Grandpa Zhang was even more pleased with this fifth young lady. He didn't think it was some kind of little secret between girls, but rather that this fifth young lady must really have something to tell his granddaughter.
"Sister Xiaolan, I'm thinking of opening a small workshop to make clothes for young people. I heard that you learned from a tailor. I wonder how good your skills are in this area?" Chen Xihua didn't directly ask for her help.
"I've only been studying for a little over two years. Oh, right, the clothes design you drew last time, I made a set for my younger brother and myself. The villagers saw it and liked it, so I made two sets for two girls in the village who are in junior high school. I charged a few yuan for the workmanship. I'll give you the money now."
Zhang Xiaolan felt a little embarrassed. The sewing machine that Xiao Wu bought was left at her house for her to use as she pleased. She not only made clothes for herself based on the designs she created, but also made clothes for others to earn money.
"No need, it's alright. I told your brother that I just wanted to see if you could make it. Use whatever you like. How was the result? It's the one you're wearing, right?"
Chen Xihua recognized her clothes; they combined the most popular clothing styles in the port city. Although Xiao Lan's clothes were white, her pants were straight-legged and slightly fitted at the waist, and she wasn't wearing a brightly colored floral shirt, they were still more in line with what people in the county town wore these days.
"Yes!" Zhang Xiaolan felt a little awkward when she noticed that Chen's younger sister and grandfather were suddenly looking her up and down, and her face began to burn.
"Actually, I studied cutting before, and I haven't really learned how to sew. I've only learned how to use a sewing machine."
"Little Miss Wu, let me interject a bit: old-fashioned sewing machines and small workshops can't make many clothes. Now, in Guangdong Province, there are large garment factories with entire production lines producing in batches!" Grandpa Zhang raised the most direct question: production volume.
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