He simply picked up all the packages and put them on the small table in the middle of the recliner: "Now that you're going to work, you can't make do with a lot of things anymore. I had Sun Zhou pick out a few things for you, take a look."
Xu Ningyan opened her eyes and was immediately stunned by the two hair clips.
I can't imagine what I would look like with my blond hair, a big red bow on one side and a big green flower hair clip on the other.
Looking to the side, there was a woman's watch and two pieces of clothing.
I picked up the watch and tried it on; the strap was a bit too long.
However, the excess parts of this watch strap can be removed.
Gu Zhiyuan took it, went inside to get a small awl, quickly removed two sections, then held up the watch and gestured for Xu Ningyan to reach out. He gently placed the watch on her wrist, fastened the strap, and tried it on to check the size.
Warm fingers touched Xu Ningyan's wrist, and when their skin touched, both of them were startled.
Xu Ningyan was in tears. What did she do to deserve such a big shot wearing a watch on her wrist?
Gu Zhiyuan felt that the skin he touched was smooth and cool, but seemed a little colder than the temperature of his own fingers, and he couldn't help but frown.
I quickly came to my senses and saw that the watch was actually a bit too big after removing two links, so I took it off again and planned to remove another section.
But in my heart I couldn't help thinking that she was still too thin. It seemed that I had to work hard to fatten her up a bit.
Otherwise, if you're too thin, your body temperature will be slightly lower than normal.
Xu Ningyan, unaware of Gu Zhiyuan's plans, was looking through two Dacron shirts with great interest.
This type of material was rarely used in later generations, mainly because it was not breathable when worn.
However, the advantage of this material is that it has vibrant colors, does not fade, and is durable.
In this day and age, owning a Dacron shirt makes you the most stylish person in the crowd.
She suddenly has two of them; I wonder how many people will envy her if word gets out!
It really feels so good to have found the right powerful backer!
Gu Zhiyuan had already adjusted the watch strap and handed it to Xu Ningyan. She put it on, and it fit perfectly. She couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
Just as he was about to say something, the captain came to call Xu Ningyan to check the finished hair ties.
Xu Ningyan knew this was important business, so he didn't refuse and got up to follow the captain to the brigade headquarters.
There were already more than a dozen women sitting inside waiting, chatting idly while their hands were busy making a few more dishes.
A group of men had gathered outside to watch the spectacle. They were saying things like, "Do city people really want these things?" But deep down, they were still hoping for some income.
When Xu Ningyan came in, the women all surrounded her: "Siya, quickly help your auntie take a look, is what we did right?"
"Siya, let your sister-in-law take a look, is this color scheme okay?"
"Fourth Sister—"
...
Xu Ningyan patiently reviewed each of them one by one. She praised those who did well and pointed out those who did not do well, explaining her reasoning in a logical and well-founded manner. Although the dozen or so women did not say it, they were convinced in their hearts.
With the brigade leader and the party secretary standing by, the women, no matter what they thought in their hearts, all had smiles on their faces.
The shortcomings of everyone were pointed out, mostly related to color matching.
Xu Ningyan took out the remaining scraps of cloth from the brigade headquarters and showed everyone how to match several colors. She also explained the taboos associated with certain color combinations. Seeing that everyone remembered them, she didn't say anything more.
I just want to say that I trust all my aunts, sisters-in-law and older sisters, and I hope everyone will put their hearts into it and try to finish making and selling the products before the Dragon Boat Festival.
They also discussed with the brigade leader and the party secretary that if they could collect some zongzi leaves before the Dragon Boat Festival, they could take them to the county town to sell, which would bring in some income.
This made not only the women's eyes light up, but also the brigade leader and the branch secretary's eyes light up.
Can you really sell zongzi leaves?
Xu Ningyan laughed: "Don't be fooled by the fact that people in this county town eat government-supplied grain; you still have to pay for everything! Unlike in our rural areas, where we can get whatever we want from the mountains, the water, our own fields, and our vegetable gardens. These bamboo leaves don't grow in the city, so why can't they sell them?"
Everyone thought it made sense and got excited.
Especially the men, who used to be the women's job of making hair ties, could only watch from the sidelines.
I felt really bad, like I'd been outdone.
Now it's their turn to pick the bamboo leaves! They were all yelling excitedly, eager to start picking right away, but Xu Ningyan stopped them.
Let them first find out which places have good zongzi leaves, and then pick them the day before she goes to the county town to deliver the goods, so that they can be sold the next day.
The men scattered and searched the entire ravine.
The entire Unity Brigade is like they've been injected with chicken blood; everyone's been full of energy lately.
After finishing work and going home, they don't even rest.
The women put all their effort into making hair ties, while the men checked on the growth of the zongzi leaves every day.
After four or five days, all one thousand hair ties were finally finished. There were still some scraps of fabric left, but they were all the dark-colored and unattractive ones that had been picked out.
However, these won't go to waste; everyone got some, which was perfect for pasting shoe soles at home.
Xu Ningyan inspected the hair ties; the stitches were fine and very secure.
Some of them showed some clever design, aligning the patterns on the scraps of fabric. A dozen or so even had extra stitches sewn onto the hair ties, tying the extra fabric strips into bows with two ribbons fluttering below, making them particularly eye-catching.
Xu Ningyan picked out about ten of these.
I asked around and found out it was made by a female educated youth named Chen Fangfang who had married into the production team.
Xu Ningyan praised Chen Fangfang highly.
Zhong Fangfang was a slender woman in her early twenties, unlike the robust women in the countryside. She had delicate features and looked very refined, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.
Hearing Xu Ningyan's praise, her mother-in-law, who had been worried that Chen Fangfang's mistake would implicate her, immediately beamed and boasted to the people around her: "I'm not saying this to brag, but my second daughter-in-law is definitely a city educated youth, much better than us country women! Even when it comes to these little things, she's better than others—"
Someone immediately contradicted him: "Come on! Who was it that just now was glaring at your second son's wife, saying she was a witch and that if she did something bad, she wouldn't be spared?"
Xu Ningyan frowned, only then remembering that there was such a person in the book, and that person was a ruthless character!
She later became the financial director of Lu Kai's group company and was one of Lu Kai's right-hand women.
Despite her later success and illustrious career, she had a tragic life. Before her parents were sent to the May Seventh Cadre School, they tried every means to send her to the countryside as an educated youth.
She married Xu Erchun from the production team to save her life.
Xu Erchun was the second son in his family and was not favored. Since his eldest and third sons had all gotten married, no one was going to find him a wife.
Chen Fangfang married Xu Erchun without asking for a bride price or dowry; the two were essentially living together as partners.
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