Chapter 24

Lin Qingping, upon hearing this, immediately snatched the telegram from Liu Fen’s hand. The content of the telegram was simple: it stated that the home visit had been approved and that she was to visit the Military Unit in half a month.

Around the same time, a letter arrived, addressed to Liu Fen and Gu Dafu. Liu Fen and Gu Dafu, not being very literate, needed Lin Qingping to read it to them.

Lin Qingping guessed that the letter contained information about her Second Sister, so after everyone had settled down, she went to find Liu Fen and Gu Dafu to read the contents of the letter to them. 

This matter was indeed not quite in accordance with the rules, but the Gu Family had always been governed by Gu Juncheng’s word.

Since the son had said so, there was nothing Liu Fen could do, even if she was reluctant.

Moreover, Liu Fen had a good quality: either she would not agree at all, or if she agreed, she would not treat anyone unfairly.

Lin Qingping was still at ease about this; in her past life, no matter how reckless she had been, Liu Fen had never been harsh on her. 

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Over the next ten days, the entire family worked tirelessly to clear out the inventory. In the end, they managed to finish altering all the clothes before the agreed-upon time.

Upon checking the count, it turned out that there were indeed not 300 pieces, but only 280. Lin Qingping had hired the same carriage, and at the agreed time, she transported all the clothes to the train station.

To her surprise, it was Xiang Hongying who personally came with people to collect the goods. 

After looking at the styles and counting the number of items, Xiang Hongying didn’t comment on whether they were good or bad. She simply paid according to the quantity, and the cooperation was considered complete.

Lin Qingping returned to Gujia Village once again, carrying a large bag of money. Looking at the place that had once been piled high with clothes, now empty, the entire family felt a mix of emotions—joy, excitement, disbelief, and a complex feeling that was hard to describe.

Next came the traditional activity after each clearing of goods—counting the money. Lin Qingping gathered the money from the previous two times and counted it again.

She discovered that the total amounted to over 4900 yuan, just a little short of 5000. 

“Goodness!” Gu Youlian had never seen so much money in her life. The Gu Family’s condition was already considered one of the best in the village. But she also felt it was a pity. “If we sold it ourselves, wouldn’t we make more? We gave away three yuan to them—there’s still seven or eight hundred in it!” 

Lin Qingping, however, smiled and said: “The seven or eight hundred we gave away will bring us even more in return.” 

Gu Youlian didn’t quite understand her words and assumed Lin Qingping intended to continue making clothes. Lin Qingping began to distribute the money. She took out 1000 yuan and gave it to Gu Youlian and Du Gen. This time, both Gu Youlian and Du Gen were shocked. 

“What’s this for?” they asked in unison. 

“You’ve worked hard!” Lin Qingping said. 

Over the past twenty days, she had seen clearly how the Gu Family members had worked alongside her without rest. 

“But… isn’t that supposed to be the case? How can I take the money?” Both Gu Youlian and Du Gen truly hadn’t thought about taking any money from Lin Qingping.

They had only intended to help. In their minds, it was normal for siblings to assist one another—wasn’t that what they did during busy farming seasons?

Moreover, Lin Qingping had taken such great risks, risks that had been indirectly caused by the two of them. They felt deeply guilty and regretful, determined to help Lin Qingping get through this difficult situation no matter what.

Lin Qingping smiled again and took out another 500 yuan, giving it to Liu Fen. Liu Fen was greatly startled. 

“What do you want my money for?” Liu Fen had never even considered taking money from her son and daughter-in-law! She refused to accept it. 

Lin Qingping knew that the Gu Family members were sincere and hardworking, but she hadn’t anticipated that giving them money would be so difficult.

She earnestly tried to persuade them: “Mother, Elder Sister, you absolutely have to accept this money. If you don’t, how will we be able to do anything big together in the future? If you don’t take it, I won’t involve you in anything I do!” 

After much back and forth, Lin Qingping finally convinced Liu Fen and Gu Youlian to accept the money. 

Gu Youlian, full of anticipation, asked: “We’re still going to do big things?” 

“Of course!” Lin Qingping replied, then continued distributing the money. She took out another 500 yuan and gave it to Second Sister. 

Since the Gu Family mother and daughter had already received their share, they didn’t have any objections to giving 500 yuan to Lin Qingping’s Second Sister. She too had worked hard during this time. 

Finally, Lin Qingping took out five ten-yuan bills and gave them to Zhiyuan. “Our Zhiyuan also worked hard. She modeled for two days and helped sell quite a few clothes!” 

Zhiyuan was the most straightforward and didn’t hesitate at all. She accepted the money without any objection. 

Lin Qingping then took out 25 yuan and gave it to Xiao Mai. “Our Xiao Mai also worked for a day. Everyone has worked so hard!” 

Xiao Mai, however, didn’t dare to accept it. She turned to look at her parents.

“Don’t look at your parents, listen to your aunt! Your parents have to listen to me too!” Lin Qingping said.

Gu Youlian laughed when she heard that and spoke up: “If your aunt is giving it to you, just take it.”

Once the money was distributed, it was only natural that everyone started thinking about the next step. Gu Youlian was the most eager. She asked excitedly: “When will we go buy more cheap clothes to bring back and alter?”

“We’re not altering anymore.” Lin Qingping replied with a smile.

This statement shocked everyone.

“Why?” they all asked in unison.

“How can we keep working like this day and night? Won’t we burn out?” Lin Qingping smiled at Gu Youlian and said: “Don’t you want to take care of your own home? Why keep sewing clothes at my place every day?”

Over the past twenty days, Gu Youlian had really settled in at her maternal family, almost as if she were living there full-time, determined to work nonstop, even if it meant staying awake 24 hours a day.

“And you.” Lin Qingping turned to Second Sister: “Do you not understand what I expect from you? If you’re sewing clothes every day, when do you have time to study?”

The reasoning was sound, but wasn’t the plan to keep doing big things together? Gu Youlian was anxious. “Then how will we earn back the seven or eight hundred yuan we gave away?”

She added: “I have plenty of strength, I’m not afraid of being tired!”

“Elder Sister!” Lin Qingping said: “So-called big things aren’t something we can do in a family workshop. They require the help of many, many people.” 

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“Should I go find more people then?” Gu Youlian, not understanding Lin Qingping’s train of thought, asked. 

Lin Qingping couldn’t help but laugh. “Everyone, don’t rush. Good things are ahead! Right now, I’m going for a home visit. You all should take a few days to rest. If anything happens, or if anyone comes knocking, we’ll deal with it after I come back. Also, we must keep our wealth hidden. Don’t go flaunting how much we’ve earned outside.”

As long as Lin Qingping said it, no one disagreed. Besides, Lin Qingping going to visit Gu Juncheng was a big deal.

Whether it was as a mother or an elder sister, they all hoped for Gu Juncheng to have a child soon, as he was not getting any younger. After more than twenty days of intense effort, the Gu Family finally entered a brief period of calm. 

Exhausted from the past days, Lin Qingping lay in bed, but sleep eluded her. She was about to go for the home visit and see her husband, the man who had married her but avoided her, the one who was as dense as wood and couldn’t seem to understand anything…

“Sis.” Second Sister, also unable to sleep, leaned in. “This, for you.” She handed over the 500 yuan.

Second Sister, just like Liu Fen and Gu Youlian, had never thought about taking money from her sister. But now, in front of the Gu Family, she had obediently accepted it, and now she quietly returned the money to Lin Qingping.

Lin Qingping, of course, wouldn’t take it back. “I still owe you 500 yuan…” Second Sister mentioned the 500 yuan that had helped her leave home.

“Don’t talk about that. You’re my own sister. I gave dividends to outsiders; how could I not give them to my own sister?” Lin Qingping once again reminded her to focus on studying, describing the beautiful future and the world outside. “Before I go to the Military Unit, I’ll take you to change your name—Lin Qingyun, no more ‘three dots of water.’ You must rise straight to the clouds!” ^[1]“Qingyun” translates to something like “clear cloud” or “rising clouds,” symbolizing ambition, elevation, and an ascendant journey. The phrase “no more … Continue reading