Chapter 9: I’ll Help You

Shen Hongxing and her companions returned to their lodgings.  Xu Shuangshuang and the others, following Shen Hongxing’s instructions, gathered a measuring tape, chalk, some old clothes, and a sewing kit.

In her past life, after Lu Ping’an went into business, life was better while her two grandfathers were alive. After their deaths, her in-laws ignored her and her children. 

Shen’s father and mother never cared either. At her most desperate, she worked as a temporary worker in a factory while pregnant. 

Luckily, she later met Master Lin, a tailor, who took her on. She learned quickly, mastering cutting and sewing in under six months, and the tailor shop thrived.  Unfortunately, it didn’t last. Around 1995, the influx of foreign goods swept the country, and old-fashioned tailor shops began to close.  To make a living, she had to work in a hosiery factory in Haicheng.

Lu Ping’an never knew she could sew until his death.

After taking measurements for Xu Shuangshuang and the others, Shen Hongxing chose some light-colored clothes and began marking them with chalk. Soon, she picked up scissors and started cutting.

“Sister Shuang, what’s the boss doing?” Chen Jiayi curiously peered at Shen Hongxing’s work, wanting to help but unable to.

Xu Shuangshuang shook her head.  “I don’t know! But I know the boss has a plan!”

Without a sewing machine, Shen Hongxing sewed by hand, skipping dinner. Xu Shuangshuang wanted to keep her company, but she’d been up late and had woken up early, and was now overcome with sleep. She drifted off.

“Shuangshuang, Jiayi, Hongxia, wake up!”  Shen Hongxing’s voice roused them from their slumber.

Xu Shuangshuang woke first. It was 10 pm. Shen Hongxing displayed three different cheongsams. “These are the cheongsams you’ll wear for the fashion show tomorrow!”

“Fashion show?” Chen Jiayi was puzzled.

Shen Hongxing explained. “Tomorrow morning, you’ll put on these cheongsams. I’ll do your makeup and styling. When the cinema is crowded, you’ll walk as I’ll teach you, and I guarantee our shawls will sell out.”

In her past life, her daughter with Lu Ping’an, Lu Ning, was a fashion designer.  Whenever she designed new products, Lu Ning would hire well-known models for fashion shows…

She could easily replicate it.

Xu Shuangshuang hadn’t really heard what she was saying; she was captivated by the cheongsams.

“Wow!” Xu Shuangshuang excitedly ran over and gently touched them. Cao Hongxia also picked one up and held it against herself.  “Boss, you’re amazing! You can even make cheongsams?”

Chen Jiayi was utterly impressed.  “Boss, you’re the most amazing, capable girl I’ve ever met!”

Shen Hongxing was also satisfied with her work.  Thankfully, after her rebirth, she hadn’t forgotten her skills.

“You’ll wear these cheongsams and be models tomorrow!” She’d seen Lu Ning organize fashion shows many times in her past life.  Tomorrow, she would do the same a shawl fashion show.  It was the 1980s; Xu Shuangshuang and the others had no idea what a model was.

That was normal. And it was just a shawl sale; she wasn’t making them professional models, nor did she have the expertise.  A model’s walk is crucial; the movements must be fluid, otherwise, it looks awkward.  Luckily, Xu Shuangshuang and the others were intelligent, with good posture and features.  Within two hours, they had the basics down.  Finally exhausted, the four of them fell asleep.

They woke to the break of dawn. Shen Hongxing roused them.  In her past life, to please Lu Ping’an and his father, she’d learned makeup and styling. Xu Shuangshuang and the others usually wore dramatic eyeliner, but under Shen Hongxing’s skillful touch, they looked like different people stylish and chic. They couldn’t believe how good they looked.

Everything ready, the four of them headed towards the county.

At the government compound, Lu Jiaoyang was about to leave without breakfast. Lu Ping’an’s father, Lu Jiaoyang’s older brother, quickly grabbed four eggs and four buns and pressed them into his hands, looking like a proud father.

“Jiaoyang, no matter how busy you are, eat on time. Otherwise, you’ll get a stomach ache!” He had been jealous of, and worried about, his younger brother, 18 years his junior, but mostly proud.

“Thank you, Brother!” Lu Jiaoyang accepted the food and got into car…

The car pulled up.  The driver saw Shen Hongxing and her companions.  “Chief, it’s those girls from yesterday!”

Lu Jiaoyang glanced out the window. It was them. His expression tightened.  Was she going to the county again to sell shawls?

He ordered the driver, “Pick them up!”

“Yes, Chief!”

The car stopped in front of Shen Hongxing and her companions. Shen Hongxing blinked.  What a coincidence, running into Lu Jiaoyang again.

The driver rolled down the window.  “Miss Shen, the Chief wants you to get in.”

Shen Hongxing smiled and refused.  “No need. We’ll take the bus…”

“Get in!”

The deep voice of the man came from inside the car.

Shen Hongxing had no choice but to get in with Xu Shuangshuang and the others. There were two rows of seats. Xu Shuangshuang and her friends sat in one row, leaving Shen Hongxing to sit next to Lu Jiaoyang.

Lu Jiaoyang noticed their outfits.  “What’s with…”

Shen Hongxing explained.  “I’m planning to have them be my models for a street fashion show today.”

Suddenly, the car turned sharply.  Without warning, Shen Hongxing fell into Lu Jiaoyang’s arms.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt?”  His warm breath brushed against her.

Her face flushed.

“Whoa… Boss…” Xu Shuangshuang and the others were shocked.  That was the Chief, and their boss had just fallen into his arms!

Shen Hongxing quickly pulled away and sat back down.  The atmosphere became awkward.

After a long silence, Lu Jiaoyang broke the ice.  “Are you sure you want to cancel your wedding with Ping’an?”

Shen Hongxing nodded. “Yes!”

He pressed further.  “Why? Didn’t you like him before? Why the sudden change?”

Shen Hongxing said, “He can’t give me happiness, so I don’t want him.”

Lu Jiaoyang asked, “And moving out of the wool textile factory?”

“They don’t like me anyway. I’d only be in their way.”

Lu Jiaoyang finally understood why she’d applied to join the army. She wanted to leave them all. He nodded and promised, “…

No matter what you decide, I’ll help you!