Chapter 89: Chapter 88

Ling Chengyan picked up the kettle to pour water for the three, then looked up at Da Xiong and said, “I can’t make the decision for you on this matter.”

Da Xiong got anxious and said, “Sister Yan…”

Ling Chengyan raised her eyes and looked over, and Da Xiong’s words got stuck in his throat.

“Although temporary work doesn’t pay much, it’s stable and there might be a chance to become permanent. San and Gou make money easily, but you can’t say when they might get caught for speculation and profiteering… You can’t just look at the good side of things; you have to consider multiple aspects… Besides, you’re different from those two; they have siblings at home… Have you thought about what would happen to Xiao Xi if you got caught?”

Da Xiong opened his mouth, then drooped his head in dismay.

He really wasn’t thinking comprehensively, he was just looking at how Gou and his friend were making money.

Ling Chengyan didn’t say anything more. A person lives only once, and many things require choices; no one can take care of someone else for a lifetime. In the end, you have to make your own decisions.

Liu San began to report on the sales of scarves: “…Our scarves were selling well initially, but a few days ago, two people who were supposed to come get inventory didn’t. We found out that a new place in Licheng County started wholesaling scarves.”

Gou added: “His scarves aren’t as thick as ours, and the material isn’t as rich and fine, but his price is lower, a dollar cheaper than ours. Some people with a less discerning eye go for the cheaper option and buy from him…”

Ling Chengyan’s face remained calm as she said, “Money can tempt people, that’s inevitable.”

“But…” Liu San was a bit impatient and wanted to say more, but Gou stopped him.

Ling Chengyan glanced at them and spoke calmly again: “We can’t stop people from following trends, but we can keep finding newer and better things to sell.”

As she spoke, she stood up, went inside, and brought out a sewing basket, not filled with ordinary needles and thread but with bright-colored yarn and a half-finished handmade scarf.

Ling Chengyan picked up the nearly finished scarf and draped it loosely around her neck: “I got a batch of yarn. You can take it back and try selling it.”

“Yarn?!” The three of them lit up, even the disheartened Da Xiong perked up.

This yarn could be used not just for scarves and hats but also sweaters and pants, genuine essential goods. High-quality yarn in supply and department stores required Industrial Coupons and was limited in quantity. Ordinary city folks needed to save up a long time to weave a sweater.

If there’s yarn that doesn’t require coupons, it would be snatched up like crazy; scarves wouldn’t even be a concern anymore.

Ling Chengyan said casually: “Previously, our scarves were followed by others. Yarn might not escape being copied either. Our first task is to act quickly, ahead of others; the second is to offer something different. I have a book here; take it back to Xiao Xi, that girl is clever and crafty, let her learn more knitting patterns. Anyone who buys our yarn, we offer to teach the patterns…”

After explaining everything, Ling Chengyan jokingly added: “Xiao Xi is young, so you can’t cheat her. Pay her the salary she deserves, share the profits she deserves.”

Liu San glanced at Gou, who was grinning beside him, and said with a pout, “Don’t worry, Sister Yan, we won’t shortchange Xiao Xi.”

Even if he wanted to shortchange her, someone else wouldn’t agree!

Da Xiong slowly widened his eyes and suddenly blurted out, “Sister Yan, if Xiao Xi is arranged for, can I quit my job and join you all?”

Ling Chengyan’s eyes curved, surfacing a faint smile: “You decide for yourself.”

Da Xiong quickly nodded: “Mm-hmm, I need to go back and discuss with Xiao Xi. Xiao Xi has more ideas than me.”

The three were eager to return to sell the yarn, and Ling Chengyan’s invitation to stay for a meal was politely declined by them. Carrying a few big bags of yarn, they hurried back.

After sending off the three, Ling Chengyan took out the accounts and profits they brought and did a check.

Many actions within the team were done discreetly; ordinary people couldn’t see it, but she understood that a big move was coming.

Since being specially recruited, Ling Chengyan had been prepared from the start. Liu San and the others’ business was becoming regularized. Next was to bring one person out to liaise and open up new supply channels, while the other two handled sales and maintenance.

After some observation, she had essentially determined the division of roles among the three.

At the moment, she was a bit anxious because the letters sent to the district and the ones Liu San and Gou sent to the county seemed like stones thrown into the sea, with no response for more than half a month.

If she had a task and needed to leave, with only Xiao Yu and the two little ones at home… she was genuinely worried.

Unbeknownst to her, she already considered Xiao Xing, Shi Tou, and Xiao Yu as family here.

As she pondered whether to do something more, she suddenly received a call from Zhang Hanchao.

Once connected, Zhang Hanchao’s jubilant voice came through, congratulating her: “Congratulations, Comrade Ling Chengyan, on officially being promoted! This promotion speed must have set a new record, right!”

Ling Chengyan smiled: “Thanks to the captain’s support.”

If it weren’t for Zhang Hanchao’s ’sharp eye’ back then, Ling Chengyan might not even have gotten into the militia training at the commune, let alone enlist and get promoted.

Zhang Hanchao’s joyful laughter flowed through, “It’s your own capability; I didn’t really help much… And as it turns out, some people were too selfish, calculating endlessly, but it all amounted to nothing.”

Ling Chengyan slightly raised an eyebrow, just smiling without saying more.

As expected, Zhang Hanchao changed the subject and said, “Alright, I won’t say much more; I’m going to receive the persecuted Director Chen Wenxuan now.”

Ling Chengyan laughed silently and said, “When are you coming to the district, Captain? I’ll treat you to a drink.”

“Hahaha, alright, it’s a deal!” Zhang Hanchao laughed and hung up the phone.

Ling Chengyan, clearly in high spirits too, hung up and walked out. The smile on her face aroused the curiosity of Wu Yushu, the instructor at the Automobile Company: “Comrade Chengyan, is there some good news?”

Ling Chengyan smiled: “Yes, sort of. Captain Zhang solved a wrongful case.”

After speaking, Ling Chengyan returned to the company, leaving Lian Changjiang and Instructor Wu Yushu looking at each other. After a moment, they both realized one possibility: Could it be the case they were thinking of?

Their curiosity didn’t last long. That afternoon, a Jeep drove into the family courtyard.

The car didn’t go to any of the leaders’ homes but stopped at the recently legendary female platoon leader Ling Chengyan’s door.

A young man with a handsome face and a gentle temperament got out of the car, and soon everyone knew: the husband of Ling Chengyan, who was exceptionally enlisted and promoted to platoon leader, and rumored to have been sent to the farm for mistakes, had returned.

The news spread rapidly; by the time Ling Chengyan came back after a ride, almost everyone in the compound knew: Ling Chengyan’s husband’s case was vindicated, and he was cleared and returned.

As soon as Ling Chengyan’s car came to a stop, Zhang Wanxiang and Wu Qingyun rushed up.

“Platoon Leader, Brother Si is back; you didn’t know, right?” Zhang Wanxiang rushed forward to deliver the happy news.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep