Mao Guangyu, carrying a bottle of Moutai, chuckled and said, "What book are you reading so intently? You must be very busy. I haven't seen you in a long time, so I had to come over for a meal."
Secretary Zhao chuckled, put down the manuscript, and welcomed the person in.
Mao Guangyu brought Mao Xia with him, so it was a family gathering. Secretary Zhao's son went to play basketball with his classmates and refused to come back.
Secretary Zhao looked at Mao Xia and said, "It's better to have a daughter. My brat is impossible to get back home, no matter how much we beg him."
Mao Guangyu naturally didn't think his daughter was better. He had a son who was smart and cute. Although his son was raised by someone else, they were still blood relatives and he was much more reliable than his daughter.
"What's so good about daughters? Daughters are outgoing and always think about their future partners. Sons are much more loyal to their parents."
Zhou Fangchun didn't think much of it. She only had one daughter, Mao Xia. Mao Guangyu's words were meant to elevate Secretary Zhao and praise his children; it was an important part of their social interaction.
You can't expect Mao Guangyu to say how great his daughter is and how terrible his son is, can you? Secretary Zhao's complaints weren't really meant to criticize his son.
Mao Xia, however, understood the unspoken meaning: the truth is always told in the form of a lie. Mao Guangyu loves his son, and Mao Xia is competitive and ambitious, hoping that Mao Guangyu will notice her.
She was better than the boys in academics, had outstanding looks, and could sing and recite poems. Mao Guangyu's colleagues and superiors all praised her. Mao Xia was enough to make Mao Guangyu proud, but in Mao Guangyu's heart, she was still not as important as his son.
Zhou Fangchun laughed and said, "What famous author's manuscript is making you so happy?"
Secretary Zhao casually remarked, "He's not a famous writer, just a student from Dezhong who writes in his spare time. He's never even been to Hong Kong, yet he set the story in Hong Kong and wrote it quite convincingly."
"What a coincidence! My son Mao Xia is also a student at Dezhong High School. Maybe everyone knows him."
Secretary Zhao didn't think much of it. Chu Xiang's name wasn't as common as names like "Huilan," "Xiaofang," or "Meifeng." Chu Xiang's name was quite unique, and it was written on the cover. Secretary Zhao remembered it clearly, thinking that even if they were from the same school, they might not recognize it.
Secretary Zhao had no concept of privacy and spoke off the cuff. When Zhou Fangchun heard the name "Chu Xiang," she was stunned for a moment, thinking she had misheard.
"Who are you talking about? Chu Xiang?"
Secretary Zhao picked up a glass of wine. "What? You know this classmate?"
Zhou Fangchun smiled, unsure how to begin. She had no grudge against Chu Xiang, and if Shu Hui's character was flawed, leading to her divorce from Zhou Jian'an, that had nothing to do with Chu Xiang.
To say that Chu Xiang is disrespectful to elders and arrogant has nothing to do with the kind of works she writes. Secretary Zhao may not buy into that. If he finds out about her relationship with Chu Xiang, he will definitely think that she is spreading rumors and is likely to make things worse.
Mao Guangyu and Mao Xia both noticed Zhou Fangchun's dilemma. While the adults were drinking, Mao Xia pretended to be bored and asked to borrow Secretary Zhao's book. Secretary Zhao praised her for her love of learning.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mao Xia slipped into the study and found Chu Xiang's manuscript.
The more she looked, the angrier she became. Chu Yu and Chu Xiang were both from the countryside. Chu Yu ranked first in Deyang, while Chu Xiang did not do well in school but loved writing.
They suppressed Chu Yu, naturally not wanting Chu Xiang to stand out. Mao Xia flipped through the manuscript and was surprised to find that Chu Xiang was capable of such a feat. If the book were to be published, it would be a huge hit, making it even more difficult for them to deal with Chu Yu.
Chu Yu was unaware that Chu Xiang's manuscript had been targeted.
These days, Chu Yu, Shu Lan, and Shen Zhuyu have drawn a lot of design drawings, which are piled up to half a meter high, but whether they can be made depends on the fabric.
Chu Yu planned to take Shu Lan to Guangzhou to wholesale fabrics and have her check out the clothing market there.
People in the clothing industry need to understand fashion trends, buy clothes from various countries, and broaden their horizons in order to diversify their designs.
Guangzhou's clothing is at the forefront of fashion, and there are many Hong Kong goods coming here, so taking Shulan to Guangzhou is necessary.
"Why don't you come with us?" Chu Yu said to Shen Zhuyu.
Shen Zhuyu waved her hand. She had no worries about Chu Yu. The wholesale price of fabric was transparent, and she had already checked it out last time. She wasn't afraid that the two sisters would team up to kick her out.
"The mandarin business is booming, and there's a lot of cash shortage every day, so I'd better stay home and keep an eye on things."
Chu Yu nodded and bought sleeper tickets to Guangzhou in advance. The two sisters traveled light, carrying only two cans of food and two packs of instant noodles.
This was Shulan's first time traveling far from home. Her master had gone on a business trip to Guangzhou and told them upon his return that Guangzhou's prosperity was incomparable to Deyang.
Guangzhou has a tradition of having morning tea. Locals speak Cantonese. The temperature is higher than inland all year round. Summer is like a giant steamer, while winter is the most comfortable time.
Shulan had no idea about the temperature in Guangzhou, so she brought several long-sleeved shirts, all of which she designed and made herself.
Bucktooth Hu came to pick them up at the train station. He saw the two sisters from afar. They were both outstanding in appearance and dressed fashionably. They were no less attractive than female celebrities. Anyone who wasn't blind would notice them at a glance.
Shulan's shirt was quite unique, with an unusual Peter Pan collar design, which made Bucktooth Hu take a few extra glances.
"Boss Zhou, I've finally waited for you. Please don't stand on ceremony this time, let me treat you well."
Most of Mandarin's clothing came from Bucktooth Hu's stall. At first, Chu Yu also used other vendors' goods, but later she found that Bucktooth Hu's goods were of good quality and had good designs. Although the prices were high, they could still be sold at high prices.
She has purchased over 100,000 yuan worth of goods from Baoya Hu. Baoya Hu's goods sell quickly, and this year she rented two more stalls, making her business even better than last year.
Chu Yu smiled. It had been several months since she had been to Guangzhou. In March, summer clothes were already on the market in Guangzhou. Chu Yu was about to take the college entrance examination, and it would be impossible for her to come to Guangzhou before the exam was over. She planned to stock up on more goods.
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