It was past four o'clock when we returned to the compound from the city.
Jiang Shiyue took a short rest and called Yangyang out, "Yangyang, can I take you to visit some friends?"
Yangyang closed the dictionary without saying a word, turned over and lay on the bed with his stomach stuck on the edge of the bed, and slowly slid down the bed with his legs facing down.
Most beds in the 1970s and 1980s were relatively high, and with layers of mattresses on them, they were a little too high for Yangyang, who had just turned three years old.
Jiang Shiyue was so happy that she just rested her chin on the table and watched the show without helping him.
Yangyang is so mature at such a young age, it’s rare to see such a cute side of him.
Chen Shanhe, who was putting on his clothes and picking up his hat to go to the camp headquarters, glanced at Jiang Shiyue when he heard this.
Visiting?
It's quite fresh to hear this word coming from Jiang Shiyue's mouth.
In the past, when Jiang Shiyue appeared at the entrance of the alley in the staff housing complex, all the households in the alley would close and lock their doors, fearing that she would not even get close to their homes.
After his personality changed drastically recently, Jiang Shiyue took the initiative to visit Wang Yingying and Wang Hong's homes.
Or to alter clothes.
Apart from this, he rarely takes the initiative to interact with the sisters-in-law in the family compound.
Jiang Shiyue cut a plate of watermelon and held it with one hand, holding Yangyang with the other. When she passed by Chen Shanhe, she reminded him to remember to close the door when he went out.
Chen Shanhe nodded in agreement, and after Jiang Shiyue left, he quickly closed the door and followed closely.
Standing at the entrance of the alley, I saw Jiang Shiyue enter Mengmeng's house.
Chen Shanhe raised his eyebrows and turned away.
Mengmeng has a good relationship with Yangyang, and she probably went to deliver some fruit.
I thought Jiang Shiyue really had the time to visit.
Jiang Shiyue certainly didn't come to visit sincerely, but she didn't come just to give him watermelons.
**
"Ask me for help?" Mengmeng's mother pushed the freshly poured sugar water in front of Jiang Shiyue, sat opposite Jiang Shiyue across the square table, surprise written on her face.
Jiang Shiyue nodded and said half-truthfully, "To be precise, it's paid help. I helped the garment factory sell clothes a few days ago, and the factory gave me several hundred sets of work clothes as a thank you gift. I need the sisters-in-law to help me modify these work clothes."
Mengmeng's mother accurately caught the key words, "Sisters-in-law? Who else?"
Jiang Shiyue spread his hands, "That depends on who you can help invite."
"What's the meaning?"
Jiang Shiyue touched the tip of his nose, feeling somewhat helpless. "You know I'm not very popular. If I go alone, there might not be many sisters-in-law willing to help. You are well-known in our family compound for being popular and having good words. The sisters-in-law in the family compound don't have much to do, so they're just sitting around doing nothing. Help me alter my clothes, I'll pay you per piece, I won't ask for your help in vain."
"This..." Mengmeng's mother hesitated. "I can help you without any problem. We all live in the family compound, so why would I ask you for money? But I'm not sure about the other sisters-in-law. You've dealt with Sister-in-law Wang Yingying and Sister-in-law Wang Hong before."
"Sister-in-law, I understand what you mean. I know you sisters-in-law are all honest and simple, and I think it's inappropriate to ask for money for helping others when we all live in the same family compound. But, I have to sell these works after they are finished. It's a business activity, and you should charge for them. Just like when I asked Wang Yingying and Wang Hong to help me before, I should pay them for their labor."
Mengmeng's mother waved her hands repeatedly. "It's different. Before, it was mainly because... people didn't trust you. Sister Wang Hong took the money partly because she wanted to make things difficult for you after you broke her bicycle.
You've changed a lot now. Your sisters-in-law have begun to recognize you.
A few days ago, we were chatting together, and Wang Hong's wife said that you had already returned a new bicycle to their family, so it was inappropriate to ask you for money for the clothes. She wanted to return the money to you. But you are very busy, so it is difficult to see you in the family compound.
Jiang Shiyue was slightly startled, then smiled, "Thank you, sister-in-law. Frankly speaking, I just wanted to give it a try this time. If possible, I might bring more work back for the sisters-in-law to do in the future. Firstly, it will help them to entertain themselves, and secondly, it will also allow them to have some income. So, I really can't just help out for free."
"That's great!" Mengmeng's mother's eyes lit up. "A few days ago, all of us 'idle people' got together and chatted, saying we envied you. You're making so much money now, you can buy whatever you want. If you could help us make money, that would be our dream. How many people do you want? I'll go get them for you."
"What do you mean by bringing or not bringing? We are in a win-win cooperation. You can arrange the number of people. I have to entrust this matter to you. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law are here, and Chen Shanhe and I have to go back to our hometown tomorrow to see them off and take a vacation." Jiang Shiyue was somewhat relieved to see Mengmeng's mother agree.
She has selfish motives.
In the summer of 1978, the regulation of individual businesses in Yincheng became increasingly lax, and some people even secretly set up stalls in the downtown area at night.
However, hiring workers can easily cause trouble.
If you are not careful, you will be labeled as a "capitalist".
Jiang Shiyue remembers that there was a policy called "Seven Ups and Eight Downs" around the 1980s.
This means that a private enterprise can only employ a maximum of seven people. If it employs eight people, it is considered capital behavior and will be very serious if it is discovered.
Cooperating with my sisters-in-law is, firstly, convenient for myself, secondly, it generates income for them, and thirdly, there is absolutely no problem with my "standpoint".
"No problem! Leave it to me!" Mengmeng's mother patted her chest and promised.
Jiang Shiyue wrote down the tutorial and formula for fading work clothes in a notebook and handed it to Mengmeng's mother along with the key to the room where the work clothes were kept. "Sister-in-law, let's go to the warehouse together tomorrow morning. I'll teach you how to fade clothes on the spot."
The step of fading workwear is very important.
Khaki work clothes are easy to deal with, just add a little color. But the main problem is navy blue work clothes, the color is too dark and it looks bad, and it needs to be rinsed with special materials to prevent it from fading.
In fact, the faded color is not the common color of jeans, but it is still better than navy blue.
Jiang Shiyue explained some more details, chatted with Mengmeng's mother for a while, and then took Yangyang home.
Mengmeng was reluctant to leave and insisted on following Yangyang to sleep at Jiang Shiyue's house.
Mengmeng's mother glared at Mengmeng with dismay, "My dear! You are a girl, can you be more reserved?"
Jiang Shiyue smiled, patted Yangyang's head, and said to Mengmeng, "I'm sorry! Little Mengmeng, our bed is not big enough to sleep on. Can you play together tomorrow morning?"
"Why can't we sleep in separate beds?" Meng Meng was confused and dissatisfied. "Both our family and yours have two beds. Mom and Dad and I sleep in one bed, and there's still a small bed left. There are three people in your family too. You and Uncle Chen can sleep in the big bed, and Yangyang and I can sleep in the small bed."
Jiang Shiyue: “…”
The girl made a good arrangement! I'd better not make it next time.
Mengmeng's mother was embarrassed and warned in a low voice: "Mengmeng, don't talk nonsense!"
Everyone in the compound knew that Chen Shanhe and Jiang Shiyue were separated.
Meng Meng pouted and felt aggrieved, "I'm not talking nonsense."
Everything she said was true.
Mengmeng's mother was very embarrassed. She apologized to Jiang Shiyue, "I'm sorry, the child is young and ignorant." Then she covered Mengmeng's mouth and dragged her home.
Yangyang, who had been so quiet that he looked like a wooden man, suddenly moved.
He reached out and took Mengmeng's hand, then turned and dragged her towards his home.
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