Lu Wanqing arrived at the Luo family's house, returned the bicycle, and took Zhao Xiaolan home.
Elaine Chao had already eaten lunch at the Luo family's house and was looking forward to going home for a nap.
As soon as the two returned to the courtyard gate, they saw Yu Meifeng anxiously waiting for them.
"Wanqing, you're finally back! I brought you an order," Yu Meifeng said eagerly.
After seeing the cheongsam made by Lu Wanqing, she went to the county town to find her husband Huang Ming and tell him what had happened.
Huang Ming visited many tailor shops and garment factories in the county town but couldn't find suitable clothes. After hearing Yu Meifeng's description, he learned that Lu Wanqing's cheongsam was not only fashionable but also embroidered, which immediately piqued his interest.
He said at the time that he would have Lu Wanqing make a sample garment first, and if it was suitable, he would consider purchasing it in bulk and cooperating in the long term.
Of course, as the introducer, Yu Meifeng would inevitably receive a kickback according to the rules.
Yu Meifeng, eager for a kickback, eagerly came over.
However, her tone remained condescending, which made Lu Wanqing very uncomfortable.
Lu Wanqing ignored her, took Zhao Xiaolan's hand, and went into the house on her own. She coaxed Zhao Xiaolan to take a nap, and then went to the kitchen to make herself something to eat.
Undeterred by being turned away, Yu Meifeng followed Wanqing around, saying, "Wanqing, make a sample garment first. If it's suitable, my husband will consider a long-term partnership with you. This is a big deal; you can earn several hundred yuan every month!"
Lu Wanqing smiled and said, "Please step aside. I only earn a few hundred yuan a month now. Do I need you to give me orders?"
She started a fire to cook, cracked an egg for herself, stir-fried some green peppers and pork slices, and took out a bottle of beef sauce from the cupboard. After the rice was cooked, she scooped out a bowl of rice and started eating.
Yu Meifeng was dumbfounded. How could she eat so much by herself?
Her family was quite well-off, and even with her help, they could only afford to eat plain rice occasionally and had no meat at all. But Lu Wanqing's family cupboard was clearly filled with eggs, cured meat, and all kinds of canned goods. Even her home in Dongguan was not this luxurious.
Yu Meifeng immediately felt ashamed of herself. She thought she could outdo Yu Guanghui in showing off. Originally, Yu Guanghui had told her that the richest family in the whole brigade was the Lin family, but she hadn't believed it. Now, she had to admit it!
And then there's Lu Wanqing, she talks such big, yet she earns several hundred a month, she's no less than Lu Wanqing.
She was a college graduate from a working-peasant-soldier family, but after getting married, she lost her major and her job, and could only maintain a decent life by relying on her husband's charity. Compared to her, she was simply insignificant.
But what could she do? In order to get a kickback from her husband, she now had to humble herself and beg him.
"Wanqing, I was wrong before. I looked at people with prejudice, thinking that no one in this remote village could make good clothes. I was too arrogant. Don't hold it against me!" Yu Meifeng's attitude changed completely.
Lu Wanqing found it amusing, raised an eyebrow and said, "I wouldn't dare accept such a compliment. I need to take a nap after lunch, so please leave!"
This is an order to leave!
Yu Meifeng was not annoyed, and said in a good-natured manner, "Then I'll wait until you wake up before I come back."
In all these years she's been away, she hasn't learned any other skills, but she's mastered the art of persistent pestering, feigning compliance while secretly defying authority, and flattery.
Lu Wanqing didn't care about her; as long as she didn't disturb everyone, she wouldn't mind eating shit.
It must be said that Yu Meifeng was quite persistent, waiting outside until Lu Wan woke up.
Seeing Lu Wanqing assigning tasks to Zhao Xiaolan, she craned her neck to look into the studio. When she saw Lu Wanqing hanging up clothes, she hurried over to lend a hand.
When evening came, Lin Xiaocui was out of school and Lin Ye was back from get off work, and she was still waiting for him in the yard!
Lin Ye asked Lu Wanqing what was going on, and Lu Wanqing smiled mysteriously, "She wanted to ask me to make a cheongsam, and I'm hanging it up to dry right now!"
"If you hate her, then don't agree to be with her!"
"Why turn down money? I just wanted to teach her a lesson because she was too arrogant."
Lu Wanqing understood very well that she could still accept this order, but she had to accept it while standing.
Lin Ye affectionately pinched her nose and went into the kitchen to cook.
Lin Xiaocui was doing her homework at the table in the yard when Lu Wanqing chatted with her for a while.
Yu Meifeng seized the opportunity to interject, "Little sister, do you want to work in a factory after graduation? Let me tell you, as long as you convince your sister-in-law, I guarantee you'll get a job in a garment factory."
A fleeting look of delight flashed in Lin Xiaocui's eyes, but seeing that Lu Wanqing ignored her, she coldly said, "Not interested!"
Yu Meifeng showed no sign of stopping and continued, "Little sister, you don't know how fashionable things are in Hong Kong now. Take the wool coat I'm wearing, for example, it comes in all sorts of colors, and each one costs more than a hundred yuan! Take the cheongsams your sister-in-law makes, for instance. Recently, Hong Kong singers have been particularly fond of wearing them, changing one every day without repeating the same one, and each one costs a hundred yuan."
They're rich, they don't care. These days, garment factories in mainland China are scrambling to earn foreign exchange. And you're still not interested!
Lin Xiaocui pursed her lips, not taking it to heart. What did those things have to do with her? At that time, Hong Kong was practically a foreign country, and foreign countries meant capitalism, which was a symbol of corruption and extravagance.
Lu Wanqing understood that, on the eve of the reform and opening up, the commerce of coastal cities had already begun to stir, and it was indeed time to make money.
In their previous lives, Lin Ye and Luo Hao went to Dongguan to start businesses, presumably influenced by the ideas brought back by people like Yu Meifeng.
Those with quick wits made their first fortune in the early stages of reform and opening up.
"Don't you believe me? The wages in Dongguan are much higher than here, and Hong Kong is a completely different world. Many people from the mainland secretly want to go there. I heard that you can set up a stall on the street and shine shoes for people and earn a hundred yuan a day!" Yu Meifeng said even more enthusiastically.
Lu Wanqing couldn't stand it anymore. Wasn't this corrupting Xiao Cui's mind?
She's still in school, so finishing her last semester is the right thing to do. There's no need to think about work so early.
Besides, the college entrance examination will be reinstated in the second half of the year, and everyone will definitely want to go to university then. It's not too late to start thinking about making money after graduating from university.
Thinking of this, Lu Wanqing crossed her arms and said to Yu Meifeng:
"You just want me to make you a cheongsam, right? Fine, I'll agree. But I have two conditions: first, you need to pay me at least forty yuan for this cheongsam; second, your husband must come and inspect it in person."
Yu Meifeng's face immediately darkened, looking impatient and troubled. "Wanqing, you're making things difficult for me. I can grit my teeth and give you forty yuan, but my husband didn't even come to the countryside to see my parents during the New Year. Would he come all this way for a piece of clothing?"
"Then there's nothing we can do." Lu Wanqing shrugged.
After much deliberation, Yu Meifeng had no choice but to agree and even paid a 20 yuan deposit to have the clothes made first.
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