The textile factory's clothes were selling better than anyone expected at the department store. Even the manager there approached Director Zhang more than once, hesitantly, seemingly wanting to renegotiate the partnership. But Director Zhang wouldn't agree.
We have to sell these three months' worth of goods according to the previous contract, and we can talk about the rest later.
There were other department store supply and marketing stations in the city. Because the first shot was hit hard enough, they had no trouble selling the fabrics afterward. They sourced different materials, but all accepted the prices offered by the textile factory.
However, the main task was to source ready-made garments, so Director Zhang had to quickly find people to make them. This kept him very busy. Fortunately, it was winter, so most people had time and were happy to earn some extra money.
The days at the textile factory were just a repetitive cycle. Now that it was snowing, Liu Jiandong didn't go to school, so every morning his mother would kick him out of bed early and take An'an home from the textile factory gate.
The technology department doesn't have new R&D tasks every day; most of the time, they're focused on production.
Since their private conversation at Guan Lian's house, she had grown much closer to Song Qing. Although Song Qing was younger than her, he was unusually easy for her to get along with.
She won't pry unless you bring it up; she's very tactful, and Guan Lian really enjoys chatting with her.
Since sending the letter home, Guan Lian has been anxiously waiting for it every day. Recently, it has been snowing, and the postman only delivers the letter every few days.
Even if she was anxious, she couldn't go to the post office to inquire. Seeing this, Song Qing comforted her.
"Sister Guan, don't worry too much, he will come."
“Sigh, actually this child has always been very attached to me since he was little. It was because I said he was too harsh when we were getting a divorce that I probably hurt him.”
"No, he will understand your good intentions. How can you take what he says in that situation seriously?"
Guan Lian could only smile wryly. As soon as she was assigned to the dormitory, she got a double bed. Before her eldest son arrived, the upper bunk was used to store miscellaneous items. Now, in order to welcome him, Guan Lian specially cleaned it up.
However, she found it strange that her youngest son had been unusually quiet at home these past few days, often spacing out.
Sometimes she would call him several times but he wouldn't respond. However, she had been preoccupied with her eldest son's affairs lately and hadn't had time to ask him about it. Perhaps he wasn't adjusting well to school.
Since the weather turned cold, Song Qing wanted to stay on the kang (a heated brick bed) every day, but unfortunately, they had to go to work.
An'an is like a little furnace. As long as something outside attracts her attention, she can get up on time every morning. If her mother doesn't want to get up, she asks her father to dress her.
I don't know where they get the energy, they're always jumping around.
She no longer goes to the preschool, but goes to work with her aunt and mother every day. As soon as they arrive at the textile factory gate, they can see her dejected uncle leaning against the wall, looking at them with a resentful expression.
Song Qing had complained to Lu Yang more than once that her daughter had been too much of a handful lately. Even though Jian Dong was finally off school, he couldn't get a good night's sleep.
They had no choice. An'an wanted to go, and Aunt Tian doted on her. Only Liu Jiandong, that unlucky kid, could only be secretly given pocket money.
"Jiandong, why don't you let her sleep with Auntie San tonight and not send her back? Otherwise we'll have to go again tomorrow."
An'an was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat and a scarf wrapped around her head. All that could be seen was her pair of bright, watery eyes. She winked at her uncle.
"OK"
His voice was muffled by the thick clothing, so he could only nod emphatically.
Liu Jiandong was naturally delighted. His cousin-in-law had even given him 5 yuan last time, otherwise he would never have come to pick her up every day.
The two groups met as if making a rendezvous. Liu Jiandong took the person from them, nodded, and led An'an into the village. An'an, like a wrapped-up rice dumpling, clumsily followed her uncle.
The two women watched his retreating figure, shaking their heads with smiles.
The temperature inside the workshop was higher than outside. As soon as Song Qing entered, she was about to take off her thick coat when Director Zhang hurriedly came over to call her.
"Don't take your clothes off yet. You're very familiar with the department store area. I need you to do something for them."
There wasn't anything urgent in the technical department right now, and Song Qing was familiar with the department store and the stalls there, so Director Zhang asked her to help without hesitation.
She could only silently button the buttons back up.
Director Zhang chuckled at her defiant look, "Alright, it's not that cold outside. The temperature inside the department store is about the same as in our factory. There are also cars to take you there."
Song Qing pulled her clothes tighter and gave an embarrassed smile.
"You, you lose all your energy as soon as it gets cold."
He pulled her into his office, handed her the documents, and gave her some instructions. Just then, the car was about to arrive, so Song Qing took her things and walked to the entrance of the textile factory.
"Wait a moment!"
Song Qing, wrapped in a scarf, turned around and was surprised for a moment when she saw the person who had come in. "Sister Guan?"
Guan Lian had just come out of her office when she received a call from home saying that her eldest son had left a few days ago and should arrive today. She was surprised for a while, not expecting that he had already left.
“Your dad got your factory’s phone number wrong. He’s completely useless. I don’t know what he’s thinking all day.”
After complaining about her husband for a while, Guan Lian's mother quickly cleared her throat.
"They've already discovered that A-Liang is missing. We barely managed to evade them and find your former boss to get his phone number. By the time you receive this letter, the child will probably have already arrived."
"It's a train ticket for noon today. It's snowing now, so I don't know if it will be delayed. Please send someone to pick him up as soon as possible."
Guan Lian didn't even have time to worry about whether her parents would be affected. She hurriedly hung up the phone and ran out. Knowing that Song Qing was going to the city at that time, she wanted to hitch a ride with him.
"Perfect timing, just in time to get on the bus. Luckily, the bus hasn't left yet."
Song Qing hadn't expected it to be such a coincidence that he first took Guan Lian to the train station.
"Sister Guan, please wait here. I have something to do at the department store. I'll come back to find you when I'm done."
"OK"
At this moment, Guan Lian didn't care about whether it was troublesome or not, and hurriedly ran downstairs after pushing open the door.
It was cold outside, but the train station was a bit warm. After looking around and not finding anyone, I sat down on a bench to wait.
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