Living like a widow? My rough neighbor is coaxing me to have a baby every night.

Chapter 213 Entering the Military Goods Building

Li Xianglian frowned, feeling a wave of disgust wash over her.

These old women do nothing but have an incredible talent for gossiping.

"Sister-in-law, that's a business transaction. I'll sell to whoever pays me. It's Zhao Guangming's business whether he has a lot of money or not. It has nothing to do with whether he's obsessed or not," Li Xianglian said curtly.

"Tsk tsk, look how red your face is. That young master Zhao said he loves seeing your aloofness." Aunt Liu was about to say more when she was interrupted by a loud shout from Xiao Lan, who came out from behind.

"Sister-in-law Liu, did you buy too much soy sauce? Are you just bored out of your mind?"

Xiao Lan stood with her hands on her hips, her eyes gleaming coldly. "That's a legitimate business, stamped by the Industry and Commerce Bureau! If you keep spouting nonsense and ruin Boss Li's reputation, I'll tear your rotten mouth apart!"

Sister Liu shrank back, intimidated by Xiao Lan's fierce demeanor, muttered "What's with the swagger?" and quickly slipped away.

Li Xianglian glanced at Xiao Lan gratefully.

"Sister Lan, these rumors are spreading way too fast."

"What are you afraid of? They're just jealous."

Xiao Lan pulled Li Xianglian back to the courtyard, closed the door, and her smile vanished instantly.

"Xianglian, we need to hurry up and finish the work."

Xiao Lan rummaged through the cupboard and pulled out a large bag of scraps of polyester fabric, dumping them all onto the kang (heated brick bed). "Today, we'll stay home and work hard, trying to make 150 hair ties. Tonight, we'll try our luck at the department store entrance."

Li Xianglian was taken aback: "Sister Lan, isn't business at the movie theater pretty good? Why are you changing locations?"

"Are you stupid?"

Xiao Lan rolled her eyes at her, snip-snip the fabric strips with her scissors. "Although there are a lot of people at the movie theater, they're mostly poor students and young people who don't have much money. It's different at the department store. Those are all rich ladies and wives, and the families of officials. They have money and are willing to spend it."

As Xiao Lan spoke, she didn't stop working.

"Besides, we've already sold to the movie theaters for two days, and we've bought everything that was available. When it comes to business, you have to learn to change locations to harvest your profits. If you cultivate the same land for too long, the soil becomes less fertile, and you have to move on to a more fertile one."

Li Xianglian didn't quite understand what Xiao Lan was saying, but Xiao Lan's words made sense.

"Will anyone be in charge of the department store area?" Li Xianglian asked with some concern.

"Mind your own business."

Xiao Lan curled her lip in disdain. "We have a license, what are we afraid of? Besides, there are so many vendors selling melon seeds and soda outside the department store, and I haven't seen any people from the Industry and Commerce Bureau arresting them. We're doing legitimate business, open and aboveboard."

The two of them got right to work.

Xiao Lan sorted the large pile of scraps of cloth by color: red for red, blue for blue, and floral for floral.

Li Xianglian was in charge of cutting and sewing.

The kang (a heated brick bed) was covered with colorful strips of cloth, and needle and thread flew swiftly between the two people's hands.

"Xianglian, your cooking skills are truly excellent."

Looking at the hair tie that Li Xianglian had made, Xiao Lan said, "If it weren't for your skillful hands, this hair tie wouldn't be able to sell for this price."

Li Xianglian was a little embarrassed by the praise and continued sewing with her head down.

"Sister Lan, how long do you think this business can last?" Li Xianglian suddenly asked.

Xiao Lan paused in her actions and looked up at her.

"What? Scared?"

"It's not fear."

Li Xianglian bit her lip. "I just feel uneasy because this money came too easily. I'm afraid it's just a passing fad that will disappear as soon as it's gone."

Xiao Lan put down her work and lit a cigarette.

"Xianglian, remember this. There are no permanent deals in this world, only permanent vision."

Xiao Lan exhaled a smoke ring. "We can make money making hair ties now because no one in the county is making them yet. After a while, people will definitely follow suit. Then we'll have to switch to something else."

"Change what?"

"Anything is fine with me."

Xiao Lan's gaze drifted to the window. "As long as we can make money, we'll sell anything. Isn't your Qin Rushan a transporter? How many rare and unusual things can he bring back from outside? We'll sell those novelties. If others haven't seen them before, we can sell them at a high price."

Li Xianglian's heart stirred upon hearing this.

Yes, Qin Rushan always manages to bring back some rare items every time he goes out on a trip.

She really liked the face cream he brought back from the provincial capital last time; it was much better than the one sold at the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Sister Lan, you're right."

Li Xianglian picked up her needle and thread again. "Let's do more today and try to boost the business at the department store as well."

The two buried themselves in their work, barely managing to grab a quick bite for lunch.

As the sun climbs from east to west, the shadows in the courtyard change from long to short, and then from short to long again.

By four o'clock in the afternoon, the kang (a heated brick bed) was piled high with finished hair ties.

Including those made by the aunties in the courtyard, Xiao Lan counted them and there were a total of one hundred and sixty.

"That's enough, that's enough."

Xiao Lan stretched, her bones cracking. "If I keep doing this, my hands will be ruined."

Li Xianglian was also exhausted; her fingers were even a little numb.

"Sister Lan, shall we rest for a while and grab something to eat before we go?"

"no."

Xiao Lan glanced at the clock on the wall. "Now is the perfect time to go. The department store closes at 5:30, so going now will allow us to catch the rush hour crowds."

The two tidied up quickly and put the hair ties into two large cloth bags.

Xiao Lan even changed her clothes, wearing a bright red polyester shirt, black flared pants, and white sandals.

"Sister Lan, your outfit..." Li Xianglian stared in a daze.

"If you're going to do business, you have to act like a businessman."

Xiao Lan applied lipstick in front of the mirror. "We're going to a department store. The people there have very discerning eyes. If you're dressed shabbily, they won't even give you a second glance."

Li Xianglian looked down at her floral shirt and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"You're fine the way you are."

Xiao Lan saw through her thoughts, "Your clean and refreshing appearance is actually more appealing. We complement each other perfectly, one vibrant and the other understated."

The two of them, carrying large and small bags, went out the door.

The department store is located in the center of the county town and is the most magnificent building in the entire county.

The three-story cement building has white-painted exterior walls and a red sign with gold lettering hanging at the main entrance.

There were already quite a few vendors setting up stalls on the steps at the entrance.

The shouts of vendors selling melon seeds, popsicles, and candied hawthorns rose and fell.

Xiao Lan has a sharp eye; she immediately spotted an open space on the right side of the steps.

That place is right opposite the entrance to the department store, and people coming and going have to pass through there.

"This is it." Xiao Lan put the cloth bag on the ground, took out the piece of black velvet from it, and quickly spread it on the ground.

Li Xianglian helped arrange the hair ties one by one.

This time they were smarter and placed the ones with sequins and lace trim in the most conspicuous positions.

"Hey, what are you two doing?"