Chapter 32: Supply and Marketing Cooperative

He Xiuli had helped her so much; she had to give some benefits in return.

Besides, Wen Nian still needed to rely on the He family’s status.

The reason she chose to cooperate with her back then was partly because He Xiuli was kind-hearted and straightforward.

The other reason was the He family’s background.

Once her business got going, it would surely draw envy from many.

She couldn’t rely on just the Lu family.

You can’t put all your eggs in one basket.

So she added another layer of protection—the He family’s military background was also strong.

If she wanted this business to last long-term, they had to maintain a win-win in terms of benefits.

Moreover, she still planned to go to Shanghai later, and she might need the He family’s help then.

Giving up three percent of the profits was definitely worth it.

The supply and marketing cooperative was at its busiest in the morning.

Inside, crowds pressed close together, noise filling the air—especially at the counters for rice, flour, grains, and oil.

Men and women alike, pressed tight against each other, all pushing forward with all their strength.

No one cared about personal space at times like this.

It was all about strength and speed.

Fast hands got the goods; slow ones got nothing.

In the 1980s, it was still a planned economy; all goods were supplied in limited quantities.

Those who came even a little late, no matter how much money or ration coupons they had, often couldn’t buy what they wanted.

People with thin skins or who felt shy to push forward could only pick from what others left behind.

Wen Nian clicked her tongue. Luckily, the Lu family had dedicated people delivering vegetables every day.

If she had to fight with these young wives and older women every day, she probably wouldn’t even get a scrap of leftover vegetable.

A commotion broke out ahead—a fight between two middle-aged women over a chunk of fatty pork.

The crowd shifted, and Wen Nian was pushed a little.

She quickly stepped back; she really wasn’t used to such scenes.

“Nian Nian, you’re here!”

At the pastry counter, which wasn’t busy yet, He Xiuli spotted her and called out with a big smile.

“Wait a moment, I’ll come right after I finish wrapping these.”

He Xiuli busily stacked peach cookies in piles, wrapped them with greaseproof paper, and tied them with twine.

Wen Nian watched, impressed by the skill—she wondered how many peach cookies she must have wrapped to get this good.

There weren’t many customers at the pastry counter at this time.

In this era, snacks were considered luxury items; outside of holidays or festivals, few bought them.

Even when people bought them, most were for gifts.

Of course, a few bought them to satisfy children’s cravings.

He Xiuli handed her a big bag of pastries, gave a quick word to the other clerk, and then pulled Wen Nian away.

She had already turned into a formal employee, so slacking off a little at work wasn’t a big deal, and no one said anything.

“These are newly developed pastries; the appearance isn’t very good, so they need to be sold off. I just threw some in casually—you can take them home as snacks.”

She hadn’t eaten Wen Nian’s pastries a few times.

Whenever she came to the Lu family to pick up goods, Wen Nian would offer her homemade pastries.

The delicate appearance was something she had never seen before, and the taste lingered deliciously in the mouth, unforgettable.

Far from the rough pastries in the supply and marketing cooperative.

Among friends, gift exchanges kept the relationship long-lasting.

Wen Nian looked at the beautifully packaged pastries in her arms and didn’t refuse.

She smiled knowingly and accepted them.

“Thanks.”

“Come on, I’ll take you to see my second sister. She shouldn’t be busy right now.”

He Xiuli warmly hugged Wen Nian and went upstairs.

The supply and marketing cooperative had two clothing counters in total.

The one on the first floor was the most popular.

Though the clothes were average in quality and style, the prices were affordable, so it had the most buyers.

The second-floor counter was the boutique, with newer styles and much better quality.

Many of the clothes came from Shanghai and Yangcheng.

One piece of clothing could cost an ordinary person about a month’s wages.

When He Xiuli pulled her upstairs, there was hardly anyone around.

It was Wen Nian’s first time on the second floor, and her eyes swept the place curiously.

Besides high-end women’s clothing, there were also watches, radios, sewing machines, bicycles, and more.

All of them were considered luxury items in this era.

No wonder it was so empty upstairs.

“Second Sis! Second Sis!”

He Xiuli pulled her straight to the counter facing the stairway, shouting at the top of her lungs.

Two girls behind the counter were chatting and munching on sunflower seeds. When they heard He Xiuli’s voice, they both looked up.

“You little rascal, what are you yelling for?”

One of the girls with big eyes and an oval face stood up and playfully tapped He Xiuli on the forehead, sounding annoyed.

He Xiuli didn’t mind at all. She leaned in close to the fair-skinned girl’s ear and grinned.

“Second Sis, where’s the stuff I asked you to hold onto? Quick, bring it out!”

He Meilan’s gaze fell on Wen Nian. This delicate and radiant girl must be the adopted daughter the Lu family took in.

“You must be Nian Nian? My third sister talks about you all the time. Glad to finally meet you in person.”

He Meilan looked at her with envy. Just look at that skin—smooth and flawless, like a puff of air could burst it.

She’d heard that Wen Nian’s skincare recipes were handed down through her family.

At first, she didn’t think much of it.

A country girl—what kind of skills could she possibly have?

But then she watched with her own eyes as her third sister’s dull and rough complexion gradually turned fair and delicate.

Only then did she regret not taking it seriously.

Among the three He sisters, she had always been the most striking.

But within just a month or two of using the products, her youngest sister underwent a complete transformation.

The change was so drastic, it was like she had become a different person.

She was now more sought after on the matchmaking scene than herself.

If she’d known the effect would be so good, she would’ve used it immediately when her sister offered it to her.

She wasn’t sure if it was because she started using it too late, but she always felt the results weren’t quite as good as her younger sister’s.

Wen Nian smiled and nodded politely.

He Xiuli had gotten fabric for her from her second sister many times.

Although the transactions were all proper, with money and ration tickets exchanged, the really good fabric had long been reserved by others. Even with money, it was nearly impossible to get.

It was all thanks to He Xiuli and her connections.

He Meilan enthusiastically pulled out the prepared fabric, all in soft, elegant shades.

Solid colors were perfect for making nightgowns and sleepwear, and the embossed ones were good for outerwear—either skirts or tops.

The fabric looked high-end at a glance.

Wen Nian touched it—soft, light, and silky smooth.

She immediately had ideas in mind.

“These fabrics are from the Guangzhou area. They say it’s mulberry silk. These are the last few pieces, and I saved them all for you,” He Meilan whispered beside Wen Nian’s ear.

Several people had already come asking for these few pieces of fabric, but she turned them all away.

Once her younger sister said Wen Nian wanted them, she set them aside without hesitation.

As for how a little maid could afford such expensive material—that wasn’t her concern.

Her sister had already told them that Wen Nian had entrusted her with the skincare business as an exclusive agent.

In just a few days, her sister had made as much as He Meilan earned in a whole month.

The He family wasn’t hurting for money, but no one ever thinks they have too much.

Besides, this business not only made money but also helped them look better—why not go for it?

“Thank you, Meilan-jie.”

Wen Nian was thrilled and thanked her with genuine joy.

In this era, most fabric was coarse. The nicer stuff was made from polyester-cotton blends, but she didn’t like any of it.

Those materials weren’t breathable and chafed the skin.

Clothes made from mulberry silk were soft, breathable, and skin-friendly—pure comfort.

She never expected she could actually buy something like that here.