Xu Ningyan didn't quite understand why Gu Zhiyuan wanted her to inquire about the machinery factory.
However, she was never one to meddle; she simply tried to find out as much as possible.
I couldn't help but wonder if Lu Kai later became successful by relying on the machinery factory.
Gu Zhiyuan later prevented Lu Kai from developing his career in Beijing, which suggests they were in the same industry.
Could it be that this is when the feud between the two began?
Xu Ningyan scratched her head so hard she almost broke it off, but still couldn't figure it out, so she gave up trying to think about it.
This time, I was already quite familiar with the route to the county town.
As soon as Xu Ningyan got off the bus, she noticed that almost half of the young women and wives in the county town were wearing hair ties.
Some designs are obviously the result of someone else's own ideas; the colors aren't vibrant, and the color schemes are a mess.
I also overheard a few young girls complaining: "The hair ties we buy at the department store are so much prettier! The ones we make at home are never as nice! I wonder when they'll have any more in stock! My sister snagged one at the department store and bragged about it for days, it makes me so mad!"
"Besides, we're not short of money, so why not buy the nicer ones from the department store? Why do we have to cobble together something ugly at home that we can't even take out? People will laugh at us!"
...
Xu Ningyan then understood the situation.
When they arrived at the department store, Sister Yang saw her carrying large bags and small packages again, and immediately beamed with joy: "Little Xu, you've finally come! What new things did you bring this time? My niece saw the one you gave me and has been pestering me to buy one every day!"
Xu Ningyan placed the large bag on the table and said with a smile, "That's perfect! The styles this time are nicer than the last time, and there are quite a few suitable for young women. Sister Yang, why don't you pick one first?"
He then opened the bag.
Sister Yang came over for a look and exclaimed in admiration, "This time you've really put together a masterpiece! The little girls will definitely love this style!"
As he spoke, he picked out a pink bow-tie style one and then took out two cents to give to Xu Ningyan.
Before Xu Ningyan could refuse, Sister Yang feigned anger and said, "Take it! Last time you gave me one for free because we're good friends! You can't take it for free this time, or you'll be making a mistake! Put it away quickly!"
Xu Ningyan smiled and accepted it.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a small jar of chicken mushroom oil, handing it to Sister Yang: "Sister, this is oil made from wild mushrooms I picked in my hometown a few days ago. Take some back and try it out. It's the best for mixing with rice or noodles."
When Sister Yang took it, she saw that most of the mushrooms were soaking in oil.
After unscrewing the cap, a strange fragrance wafted out, making me swallow hard: "What is this?"
Xu Ningyan whispered in her ear, "This is oil made from chicken-of-the-woods mushrooms. There are only two bottles, so put them away quickly! Nobody else will have any!"
Sister Yang immediately tightened the bottle cap, quickly stuffed it into her handbag, and said with a smile, "Oh, this is good stuff! Little Xu, then I won't be polite!"
He thought to himself, "I can't keep accepting gifts from young girls like this; I have to reciprocate."
After receiving the termite mushroom oil, Sister Yang readily issued a receipt and bought the remaining 499 hair ties for 18 cents each.
After delivering it to the warehouse, they gave Lin Hong another bottle.
Lin Hong, who loves to eat, couldn't resist picking out a chicken mushroom and chewing it. The aroma filled her mouth, and she didn't even bother to speak, just giving Xu Ningyan a thumbs up.
Xu Ningyan had already planned the time. The next day was Sunday, and Lin Hong was off work. The two of them had arranged to have dinner at her house before they came out.
Dinner was at Li Jian's house; it was noodles with chicken mushroom oil.
Li Jianguo's two sons ate without even lifting their heads.
The boy, who was only half-grown, was at the age where he could eat his father out of house and home. He ate three large bowls by himself and wanted more, but when he found that there was none left in the pot, he still felt unsatisfied. He filled his bowl with noodles, slurped them down, and only then was he willing to put down his bowl.
Li Jianguo couldn't resist eating an extra bowl and quietly loosened his belt a notch.
After the meal, Li Jianguo, holding his large enamel mug, sipped his tea and suggested, "Xiao Yan, I think your Tuanjie Brigade could pick more of these wild mushrooms from the mountains, dry them, and sell them here. That should be quite good."
Xu Ningyan thought for a moment: "Termitomyces mushrooms are delicious, but the yield is low and it all depends on luck. Pine mushrooms are plentiful, but unfortunately the taste is not as good. Wild shiitake mushrooms are easier to find, and these can be stored for a long time after being dried. I'll ask the brigade leader and the others when I get back."
After finishing his work, Li Jianguo took his teacup downstairs for a stroll and chatted with people.
Xu Ningyan then said goodbye and returned to her dormitory.
The dormitory was ventilated this afternoon, and the bedding was all taken out to air.
After closing the door and changing the sheets and blankets in the room, Xu Ningyan took out a pot of orchids.
She's going to visit Lin Hong's house tomorrow, and it wouldn't be right for her to go empty-handed.
If someone sees you carrying something else, it might cause trouble for the Lin family. It would be better to send a pot of orchids. If asked, you can just say it was dug up from the mountains and isn't worth much. No one can find fault with that.
Don't ask Xu Ningyan why he gave her orchids. It's because he saw two pots of orchids in the Lin family's living room. They were lush and green, and looked like they had been carefully tended to.
So cater to their preferences, and it doesn't cost any money!
This perfectly illustrates the saying: get more done with less money, get things done without spending any money, and ideally, spend other people's money to do your own thing.
As expected, Xu Ningyan had already packed up early and was waiting to get off the bus with Lancao in her arms.
Lin Hong was already waiting at the factory gate. When she saw the pot of orchids in her hands, her eyes widened: "What's this?"
Xu Ningyan nudged her with her elbow, and the two walked towards the Lin family's house, laughing and joking. Xu Ningyan then whispered, "I felt bad about going to your house empty-handed last time. This time, your parents are home too, so it wouldn't be right to go empty-handed again, would it? This is some wild orchid I found while picking mushrooms in the hills behind our house. I dug it myself; it's not worth much—"
Lin Hong was very understanding: "That's perfect! My dad loves growing orchids the most, and he takes better care of them than his own parents! He definitely won't accept anything else you give him, but he probably won't be able to refuse this one."
Sure enough, as soon as they entered the Lin family home, they ran into Lin's father, who was pruning orchids. When he turned around and saw the two of them come in, his eyes were glued to the orchids.
He dropped the scissors, walked over in a few steps, and examined the orchid from all angles, muttering to himself, "Strong rhizome...tight base, broad upper and middle section, soft and drooping...bracts rolled inward...good, growing well—"
Seeing that he was struggling to stretch his head, Xu Ningyan casually handed the flowerpot in her hand to Lin's father.
Lin's father also took it into his arms, holding it like a precious treasure, unable to put it down, picking at the leaves and then the soil, completely absorbed in it.
It wasn't until Lin's mother, who came out with a spatula after hearing the commotion, sternly hit him with the spatula before Lin's father came to his senses.
He rubbed his nose sheepishly and said, "Oh dear, this must be Comrade Xu that Xiaohong was talking about! Come in and have a seat."
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