"Of course!" Yu Xiaomin said, "If you have fabric and want to make clothes, just give it to me. Tell me what style you want, and I promise I can make it beautiful for you."
Originally, she didn’t want to live at the educated youth spot, but Xu Qinghuan invited her to stay over, and she couldn’t resist the temptation.
Who knew that after living together, she almost always took advantage of them at every meal.
Yu Xiaomin didn’t like taking advantage of others, no matter how good the friends are, if they’re ungrateful, it won’t last long.
Every day after work, she rushed to do the house chores, fetching firewood from the mountain, filling the water tank, she was always busy, and even rushed to cook meals.
This made her feel a bit relieved, though to completely be at ease was unlikely.
Just then Qiao Xinyu came out, "You’re only finding out now? Xiaomin is really skilled at making clothes. She said she learned from an old tailor, whose ancestors used to make clothes for the palace. The embroidered qipaos they made were so gorgeous."
But nowadays, it’s risky to reveal these things.
Xu Qinghuan was utterly amazed, "Xiaomin, you say you’re holding a golden bowl but have nothing to eat, what is this? How about I buy a sewing machine, and the three of us partner up, trade for some grains, what do you say?"
Qiao Xinyu immediately caught on to Xu Qinghuan’s idea, she also noticed how humbly Yu Xiaomin lived with them.
Yu Xiaomin was startled and quickly looked outside, "What nonsense are you talking about, isn’t this speculation and profiteering?"
She feared Xu Qinghuan’s words getting overheard, then being dragged off to forced labor reform.
Qiao Xinyu, being daring, was unfazed, "What are you afraid of, as long as no one knows, it’s fine. However, I do have an idea."
Xu Qinghuan could tell what she was thinking, "If you want to start a garment processing factory, I can help with clothing design, but you must think clearly, the source of fabric is a major issue."
Given the current limited productivity, industrial products, in particular, were in short supply, otherwise, why bother with ration tickets.
That’s also the reason planned economy existed.
Qiao Xinyu considered herself clever, she scrunched her cute little nose, "I’m going to do it anyway, I’m tired of farming, I’m about to die from it. If we start a factory, I wouldn’t have to farm and I might even get a chance to stroll in the city.
Huanhuan, it’s settled, you’re in charge of design, Xiaomin, if I get any fabric, you’ll handle the sewing."
Xu Qinghuan truly admired her friend. To express her support, she said, "Alright, I’ll handle the first investment, I’ll buy this sewing machine first. If you manage to find a way, consider me a shareholder. If not, at least a small setup could improve our lives."
At the very least, provide Yu Xiaomin with a platform to earn money.
"Alright, it’s a deal!" Qiao Xinyu exclaimed, "I’m telling you, I once heard my dad say some fabrics in their factory sell well, while others don’t, and although there are many textile mills in Shen City, ticket quota is limited, it’s not as everyone thought, with factories doing so well."
Simply put, due to transportation issues, resource circulation isn’t great now, leading to uneven economic development across areas, with significant constraints.
Xu Qinghuan thought her friend was a true talent, she supported her wholeheartedly.
There were just over three years until the resumption of the college entrance exam in ’77, enough time for them to accomplish something in the countryside.
She wanted to be content with idleness, but since her friend was ambitious, she naturally needed to follow and help charge forward!
Yu Xiaomin was still in a daze, how within a few words, they planned such a significant venture early in the morning.
She dizzily followed Xu Qinghuan out, walked a bit, and seeing the educated youth spot, snapped back to reality, "Oh, you’re going to the city, why follow you? I still have things to do."
Recently, Xu Qinghuan went to the mountains daily to dig herbs, pick wild fruits, nuts, mushrooms, she also wanted to pick some to improve life.
Chestnuts could be used as staple food, storing them for winter couldn’t be better.
She turned around and ran back home.
Xu Qinghuan and Qiao Xinyu laughed, after laughing, as she looked up, she saw Jiang Xingye sitting on a tractor not far away, looking over.
At the sight of him, Xu Qinghuan’s heart suddenly ached, Jiang Xingye seemed unable to look at her.
She knew well it was for his madness yesterday evening, he used his fierceness to protect himself from the world’s malice, but to him, this fierceness felt disgraceful.
His gaze quickly withdrew from her, as if his silent gaze was just her illusion.
Beyond love at first sight, a person’s affection for the opposite sex often stems from other feelings, like sympathy, curiosity, admiration, or pity.
Xu Qinghuan understood clearly, her feelings for Jiang Xingye involved many of these elements.
He had a tragic youth, which Xu Qinghuan deeply sympathized with.
He was the future wealthiest man, destined to carve out a brilliant future, she was endlessly curious.
He held strong feelings for her, no matter how well he hid them, she could sense some, his inferiority could evoke her pity.
Slowly intertwining over time, someday, waking up to a different emotion, like love.
But Xu Qinghuan wasn’t afraid.
In this life, free of attachments, she just wanted to go with the flow.
"Huanhuan, what are you thinking about?" Qiao Xinyu noticed Xu Qinghuan’s sudden silence, a bit worried, asked.
"Nothing!" Xu Qinghuan snapped back, "Oh, Xiaoyu, if you call home, have Auntie help me with something."
Xu Qinghuan whispered a few words, Qiao Xinyu was stunned for a while, nodded, "Okay, I got it, I’ll have my mom handle it."
Seeing several aunties with baskets coming over, Xu Qinghuan quickly pulled Qiao Xinyu, "Hurry, let’s get a good spot."
The two hurriedly ran to the tractor carrying baskets, when they got closer, scrambled to climb up, settling near the driver’s seat.
A familiar, elegant fragrance entered his nostrils, Jiang Xingye aware of her sitting right behind, so close, his entire body tensed, heartbeats erratic.
Soon, Chen Dewen and two others came, asked Qiao Xinyu, "Going to the county?"
Qiao Xinyu nodded, the three sat opposite the two of them.
"Xingye, going to the county?" an old lady asked.
Jiang Xingye replied indifferently with a "hmm," glanced back with a cold face, "I’m picking up those poisoned educated youths, coming back, there won’t be enough space, so don’t pile in with so many people."
Hu E’s gaze swept over Xu Qinghuan, smiling, "Xu Zhiqing, are you going to the commune or the county?"
Seeing Xu Zhiqing going to the county, she wondered if Jiang Xiaowu would leave her there.
Xu Qinghuan knew her intent and smiled back, "Going to the county, if there’s no space on the tractor, I’ll take the bus back. Auntie, you’re selling eggs, right? You’ll have money to take the bus back, won’t you?"
That bus ticket alone topped the price of an egg.
All year round, not willing to eat an egg, where’s the extra money for a bus.
Hu E, stung with anger, asked, "Xu Zhiqing, I heard when you went to the countryside, your fiancé’s family gave you five hundred yuan, is that true or false?"
The word fiancé, like a sword, pierced Jiang Xingye’s heart.
No one saw his face, at that moment, ashen.