Chapter 30: I Have a Friend

The couple had just placed their dinner on the table when their three children returned from school, accompanied by their neighbor, Grandma Yu.

Grandma Yu showed Lin Qingyue the sample garment she had made: “Xiao Lu’s wife, take a look. Is this the effect you envisioned from your drawing?”

Lin Qingyue was surprised: “Grandma Yu, you’re incredibly fast! It’s only been half a day.”

“An old woman like me has nothing better to do at home,” Grandma Yu replied.

“Grandma Yu used to be a master embroiderer. Needlework is child’s play for her,” Lu Siyi added from the side.

“Wow, Grandma Yu, why didn’t you ever mention this?” Lin Qingyue stared at the elderly woman in astonishment. She was truly a hidden gem.

Grandma Yu smiled modestly: “My son and daughter-in-law said needlework is bad for the eyes, so they wouldn’t let me do it.”

She sighed heavily: “In my whole life, needlework is what I’ve been best at.”

Looking at her, the old woman said contentedly: “Thank you, Xiao Lu’s wife.”

Lin Qingyue was slightly taken aback: “Thank me for what?”

“Grandma Yu is thanking you for letting her know she can still contribute,” the old woman’s smile was as warm and comforting as the golden sunlight.

“Grandma Yu, why don’t you stay for dinner?” Lu Siyi offered.

Grandma Yu quickly waved her hands: “No, no, my daughter-in-law will be off work soon, and my son too. I should go home and cook.”

Lin Qingyue examined the garment in her hands, exclaiming: “Grandma Yu’s craftsmanship is truly excellent. Look at the hemming; it’s as neat as if it were done by a factory machine.”

“Even if Grandma Yu is capable, it’s probably unrealistic for her to make all the clothes you need alone,” Lu Siyi pointed out.

The three children curiously examined the garment in Lin Qingyue’s hands.

“Mom, are you really going to sell clothes?” Lu Yiming blinked, looking at her seriously, seemingly wanting to dissuade her but unsure how to express it.

“Of course! I can’t put the burden of supporting our family solely on your dad’s shoulders,” she patted her children’s heads. “So, you’ll also need to learn to share the housework and help us with what you can.”

“Like sweeping, washing dishes, and learning to wash your own clothes.”

“You’re finally revealing your true nature—you’re going to abuse us!” Lu Yicheng’s cheeks puffed up, his eyes looking resentfully at Lin Qingyue.

“How is this abuse? This is cultivating your independence from a young age!” Lin Qingyue turned to Lu Siyi, asking: “Lu Siyi, what do you think? Give your opinion.”

“She’s right.” Lu Siyi naturally sided with his wife.

“It’s outrageous! We’re still eight-year-old kids!” Lu Yicheng dramatically cried out to the heavens.

Lin Qingyue couldn’t help but pinch his cheek, smiling: “So what if you’re eight? You have hands and feet. Besides, it’s just simple chores. Your dad and I will handle the difficult tasks.”

After a moment’s thought, she added: “The difficult tasks… we’ll leave those for when you grow up.”

“…”

Lu Yicheng felt utterly defeated. This was definitely abuse, but he couldn’t pinpoint how he was being abused. Lin Qingyue never deprived him of food or anything else; she was even quite good to him.

This was definitely mental abuse! That’s it!

Lu Siyi gave him a warning glare, and Lu Yicheng felt the threat of standing at attention. He mumbled: “Dad, don’t worry, I’ll be obedient.”

Lin Qingyue burst into laughter. Lu Yicheng was most afraid of Lu Siyi, after all.

The next day, Lin Qingyue got up early, boarded a bus, and went to look for a textile factory. Lu Siyi’s words had given her much food for thought.

She couldn’t rely solely on manual labor; if she received large orders, manual labor wouldn’t be enough.

Lin Qingyue got off the bus; the textile factory was still some distance away, so she decided to walk.

Manufacturing plants were concentrated in the development zone, which, in this era, was sparsely populated. Even the wide roads had almost no cars passing by.

It was vastly different from the development zone she remembered, which was surrounded by various small shops, where workers could stroll along the streets after work.

The current development zone was truly underdeveloped. Lin Qingyue sighed again; this was an era full of opportunities.

Lin Qingyue arrived at the Fanghua Textile Factory and greeted the gatekeeper enthusiastically: “Hello, sir, I’m here to discuss a collaboration with the factory.”

“What’s your name?”

“Lin Qingyue.”

The gatekeeper searched the appointment book several times but couldn’t find the name. He asked: “Comrade, do you have an appointment?”

“Ah?” Lin Qingyue’s eyes widened. Did you need an appointment to enter a factory in this era?

“I don’t have an appointment, I’m really sorry, this is my first time here,” Lin Qingyue said apologetically.

“Then do you have a letter of introduction?”

Lin Qingyue shook her head: “I don’t have one either.”

“Comrade, I’m sorry, but I can’t let you in,” the gatekeeper flatly refused.

Disappointed, she left, muttering to herself: “What’s going on? Negotiating a collaboration is harder than seeing the emperor!”

“Lin Qingyue! Come on, you can do it!” Lin Qingyue encouraged herself, determined to persevere.

That evening, Lu Siyi returned home and found Lin Qingyue sitting dejectedly on the sofa, legs crossed, looking completely downcast.

He didn’t need to ask; she had clearly suffered a setback.

“So, you can’t just see the factory manager whenever you want?” Lin Qingyue sighed in frustration, her legs aching from a fruitless day of searching for a willing collaborator.

“The factories you visited handle business with state-owned enterprises,” Lu Siyi said softly, sitting beside her and gently massaging her legs.

The warm, dry touch eased her aching legs as she leaned against the sofa.

“It’s so difficult!” she sighed. “Will my business fail before it even gets started?”

Lin Qingyue had made several contingency plans but never expected to be stopped at the gate.

“The great undertaking was left unfinished, and the emperor died halfway through!”

Lu Siyi’s eyes flickered: “You could focus on smaller factories.”

“That’s easy for you to say. I tried both big and small, and I couldn’t even get past the factory gate,” Lin Qingyue reflected on whether her preparations had been inadequate.

Lu Siyi frowned, a person suddenly popping into his mind: “I have a friend who’s in the textile business. Should I introduce you to him?”