Ji Xia gently pressed her fingers to her lips, staring at the alluring woman in the mirror. Recalling the passionate and urgent kiss tonight, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
In her past life, she lived a life of widowhood because of a scumbag. In this life, how could she possibly be as conventional and unromantic as before?
She winked at her reflection in the mirror, went back to the kitchen to boil water for a shower, then returned to her room, checked off her daily study plan, and opened her books.
She has already registered to repeat a year of high school; she should focus on her studies now.
As for the small workshop, with Chen Jing there, she didn't need to worry too much about business or management, because he did it better than she did.
What she needs most is to improve herself and become a truly talented designer as soon as possible. Relying on stealing other people's designs from her past life is not a sustainable path.
...
The next morning, Chen Jing took Ji Xia to work at the supply and marketing cooperative, and then rode his bicycle back to his hometown in the brigade.
As soon as he returned to the brigade, he saw someone waving at him from the fields: "Brother Jing, you're back—"
Chen Jing looked up and saw Hou Fangzheng carrying two buckets of water, swaying as he walked along the ridge of the field. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Hou Fangzheng.
He pushed off with his long legs and stopped beside Hou Fang, asking suspiciously, "What? Is there no water in the field? Have you seen my mother and father?"
"The brigade leader is over there. It hasn't rained in a long time. They just finished planting the late rice, and the fields are very dry!"
Hou Fang wiped his sweat from his brow as he spoke, and chuckled, "Brother Jing, I heard you've made a fortune out there? Is that true? Any chores you can do for your little brother? I can't take it anymore carrying water every day."
Chen Jing spat out, clearly not interested in a good laugh: "We're getting ready for the autumn harvest. Do you think I'd dare take you out? My dad would kill me with a machete."
"If the autumn harvest doesn't work out, how about after the autumn harvest? Brother Jing, please, I want to make money, I really need it right now."
"Need money? Who doesn't need money? Are you in debt from gambling or what? Monkey, I'm warning you, don't go down the wrong path—"
Chen Jing glanced at Hou Fang suspiciously, only to see Hou Fang scratching his hair somewhat awkwardly, revealing a simple, honest smile.
"No, I didn't gamble or go astray. Qiuqin agreed to marry me, but she wants a dowry of two hundred. Brother Jing, can you help me think of a way? I really need to find a job."
Upon hearing about the bride price, Chen Jing patted him on the shoulder and said, "Okay, I understand. I'll think of a way to help you after the autumn harvest."
It will be at least two months after the autumn harvest. If there are many orders by then, we might expand the workshop, and we may need male workers.
Upon hearing this, Hou Fang was extremely grateful and happily carried the water away.
Chen Jing suddenly called out to him, "By the way, your younger sister, Xiaolian, seems to know how to sew, right?"
"Yes, she makes clothes and shoes very well. Her stitches are very solid and dense."
"Alright, I got it. I'll look for you siblings when I have the chance."
Chen Jing nodded, waved Hou Fang away, and turned to Ji Xia to discuss whether to send some of the jewelry that Qiu Yu and Zhang Hong had made to Hou Xiaolian so she could make some when she had time.
Hou Fang's parents died early, and the two siblings were raised by their elderly grandmother.
The family of three was dirt poor, with no enough food or clothing. Chen Jing felt sorry for them, so he would occasionally take them to the black market to earn a little money.
Hou Fang is now eighteen, so it's not surprising that he's eager to earn money for the bride price.
Grandma Chen was feeding the chickens at home when she saw her son return, and her face lit up with joy.
"You're back? Have you eaten? I'll cook you a bowl of noodles."
"No need, Mother, I ate what I came back with."
As Chen Jing spoke, he handed over a pound of wife cakes, grinning as he said, "Your future daughter-in-law asked me to bring these to you. She heard you like them, so she specially bought a pound last night and asked me to bring them back for you."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Chen was both surprised and delighted. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron before excitedly accepting the wife cake: "Did Xia buy this?"
"Of course, he specifically told me early this morning that I must hand it over to you."
Chen Jing chuckled as he spoke, then suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "Isn't my taste good? You couldn't find such a wonderful wife even with a lantern."
If Ji Xia knew that Chen Jing was giving her such positive reviews behind her back, she would definitely be filled with mixed emotions.
Lin Haodong would only keep using manipulative tactics on her, suggesting that she buy more nice things for Lin's mother to appease her and make her mother-in-law happy.
Chen Jing, however, would secretly give Ji Xia positive reviews to make her parents like her.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Chen happily accepted the gift and said, "Last year, I saw her often buying food and drinks for Lin Haodong's mother, and I envied her. Now it's finally my turn."
Chen Jing chuckled: "Aunt Lin only has the chance to enjoy this for a year, but you have the chance to enjoy a lifetime of good fortune."
Hearing this, Aunt Chen was even happier, but seeing her son's nonchalant expression, she gave him a disapproving glare.
"You know how good she is, but you don't know how to behave properly. The autumn harvest is coming soon, and the brigade is busy. You still don't go home for three to five days at a time. Aren't you afraid that Ji Xia's parents will look down on you?"
"Mom, you know what Uncle Ji and Aunt Ji are thinking. I just need to be good to Xia."
He looked around as he spoke, then deliberately lowered his voice: "Who said I don't work? Xia is in a partnership with someone to make clothes, and I've been helping with deliveries and buying goods these past few days. I'm busy!"
"Really? She's still doing it? I heard she was sued." Hearing that Ji Xia's side jobs hadn't stopped, she asked a few more questions out of concern.
Chen Jing laughed and said, "No, we do it secretly, and we sell the finished products far away. Don't tell anyone, especially not your sister-in-law."
After his mother agreed, he asked, "Mother, didn't I ask you to find a matchmaker last time? Are you ready?"
"We've already called Li, the famous matchmaker in the commune, and she's just waiting for you to come back and discuss it!"
When getting engaged, both the man and woman should sit down together, and they should also discuss beforehand what kind of betrothal gifts they want.
Chen Jing chuckled and said, "Xia has already agreed. She told me that the bride price should be based on the standard my elder brother used to pay when he married my sister-in-law, to be fair and avoid making my sister-in-law feel uncomfortable and putting you in a difficult position."
Hearing this, Chen's mother was even more pleased, as the bride price had risen sharply in the past two years, already higher than in previous years.
Ji Xia has a job and is the only daughter of Party Secretary Ji. She is worried about what standard of bride price to use.
Captain Chen has three sons. The eldest son is honest, hardworking, and capable, and with the captain as his father, he has no worries about finding a wife.
The fourth brother is only seventeen years old. He joined the army at the end of last year. With Ji Yuanjun looking after him in the army, he has a promising future and is not too worried about getting married.
Only Chen Jing was neither good nor bad. He was mischievous since childhood, and when he grew up, he was only hardworking and lazy. He loved to scheme and was arrested for speculation a couple of years ago, but it was Secretary Ji who helped him get out of trouble.
Aunt Chen was worried that her son would have trouble finding a wife, but now look what happened, he's managed to snatch Lin Haodong's fiancée back.
Others may not know, but she had heard from her husband that Lin Haodong's unfortunate arrest was caused by her son's sabotage.
The mother and son were discussing the bride price when Sister-in-law Chen returned carrying her child on her back and a bucket of clean clothes.
Hearing the mother and son discussing the bride price of two sewing machines, he felt a pang of anxiety and feigned concern, saying, "Two sewing machines? What family asks for two sewing machines as a bride price? Third son, you don't earn many work points all year round, where will you get the money to buy a sewing machine?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
