TPW – Chapter 88

“Eat up, eat some vegetables too—have more, don’t be shy!”

“Mhm, I know. Stop playing host, though. If someone didn’t know better, they’d think you were the one hosting.”

The two bickered in perfect sync, drawing hearty laughter from everyone around.

After the laughter died down, the living room fell quiet for a beat—then Yu Fan asked:

“An’an, sweetheart, I heard you started school this semester. So, what do you think—do you like kindergarten better than home?”

The little one perked up at the sound of his name, turning his attention from the TV. After swallowing a mouthful of food, he shook his head and replied, “Nope. Home is more fun.”

Yu Fan chuckled and continued, “But your teacher plays games with you, right? And there are so many kids at kindergarten—it must be fun!”

Unlike elementary school, where you actually have to study, kindergarten is all about having fun.

She really wished she could go back to those days—carefree, worry-free, no stress. Sure, she didn’t have the same comfortable life An’an had now, but she was happy. Back then, she lived like a little rascal, without a care in the world. Life was exhilarating.

Speaking of which, Qiao An suddenly piped up.

“Yeah, the teacher teaches us games—like ‘Eagle Catches the Chicks’ and ‘One, Two, Three, Wooden Man.’ We also sing songs and dance, and the teacher tells us stories too.” Thinking about it, kindergarten wasn’t all that bad after all.

“Oh? Let’s hear one!” Yu Fan teased.

But to her surprise, the little guy shook his head and glanced toward the TV. “Can’t. You’re not supposed to talk too much during meals—it’s bad.”

Especially when there are guests—mealtime should be quiet and orderly.

Well, no need to guess who taught him that.

These two really nailed it. They’ve raised a child who’s obedient and well-mannered—it’s almost a shame if he doesn’t join the army someday.

As he finished speaking, Qiao An’s eyes drifted eagerly back to the TV.

On screen, two squirrels got bonked on the head by falling pinecones. Wincing in pain, they scampered away, only to crash headfirst into Donald Duck, who was happily humming to himself. The duck was sent flying, legs in the air, quacking furiously. The kids watching all burst into laughter, clutching their bellies.

After teasing Qiao An for a bit, the conversation shifted toward Li Hongjun and his girlfriend. But the girl was just too shy—after saying a few words, her face turned crimson, and she ducked her head lower than an ostrich.

With a sigh, Yu Fan gave up and switched the topic to business.

She hadn’t forgotten why she came to Qiao Lu’s place—it wasn’t just for dinner.

“Right, Qiao Lu—Li Hongjun said you wanted to work with me. What’s that about?”

“Oh yeah, about that.” Qiao Lu smiled after swallowing a piece of sweet and sour pork. “Didn’t you complain a few days ago that business at your shop was slow? Well, we’ve come up with a plan to help you out.”

Yu Fan paused mid-bite, her throat tightening with surprise. “You actually thought of a solution for me?! I was just venting—I didn’t expect you to take it seriously!”

Qiao Lu chuckled and gestured toward her husband. “It was Haizhou who came up with the idea. I just think it’s a good one.”

“What is it? Come on, spill!” Yu Fan glanced at Xu Haizhou, urging them on.

“Here’s the deal.” Qiao Lu stood up and retrieved a design sketch she had spent all of yesterday working on from beside the sewing machine. “This is a new fall dress I’m planning to release. Don’t let the colder weather fool you—the fabric is thick, and the dress is long, so it won’t be chilly at all. The waistline has been specially designed to pair perfectly with your silk scarves as belts. I’ve settled on three base colors. Each one can be matched with two different silk colors—one warm, one cool. Customers can choose whichever suits their style.”

The silk wasn’t essential—but it elevated the dress, adding a touch of elegance and luxury.

No wonder silk is a must-buy for foreign tourists in China—it’s a gem passed down by our ancestors.

With that added sense of luxury, the dress’s original price point of 20 yuan could easily be bumped up a tier—30, 40, even 50 wouldn’t be unreasonable.

Of course, considering the spending habits of people in Lian City, it was best to keep it under 35 yuan. No matter how good something is, if it’s too expensive, it won’t sell.

Yu Fan gripped the sketches with excitement, looking them over repeatedly, reluctant to let go. “You’re saying… we team up?!”

Oh my god, what a fantastic idea! If Xu Haizhou’s business teamed up with hers, she’d make a killing!

“If it sells well, it could bring a lot of foot traffic to your shop.” Then Qiao Lu added, as if remembering something, “By the way, if your budget allows, I’d suggest finding a gift box manufacturer to make some boxes for you. About this big—square or rectangular is fine. Print some pretty designs on them, and market them as gift sets. Take the high-end route—you can price them higher too.”

Qiao Lu passed over a prepared illustration. “I painted this watercolor last year when I was bored. It’s a mashup of flowers and plants—if you don’t mind, you could try using it as the printed pattern on the gift box.”

Everyone leaned in to look at her painting. Xu Haizhou joined them.

He’d seen that painting last year—Qiao An had loved it and wanted to hang it on the wall. But Qiao Lu had said that watercolors fade easily in the light, so she ended up sealing it in a box for safekeeping.

“A person needs the right outfit, just like a horse needs a proper saddle. Your silk is great—look at me. You all say I’m good-looking, right? But when I wear makeup, don’t you think I look even better?”

Everyone nodded in agreement—even Zou Yinghua gave a small, subtle nod.

Qiao An, at some point, had started listening in, and his clear little voice chimed in: “Mommy’s pretty. Pretty with makeup, pretty without makeup—Mommy’s always pretty.”

Smiling at that, Qiao Lu continued, “Even good wine needs advertising if it’s hidden in a back alley. No matter how nice our dresses are, we need marketing to get the word out. If you really want to make money, follow our lead—get proactive. Don’t just lie around all day waiting for customers to come to you.”

Yu Fan gave an awkward smile and said, “The dress is really beautiful… I’ve never seen anyone wear skirts in autumn—this will definitely be a big hit, right?”

To be honest, what Qiao Lu said made her feel a bit guilty. She really had been slacking off before, thinking that making four or five yuan a day was already better than working in a factory, so she got cocky. She thought she didn’t have to work hard—just set up a stall and wait for customers to come on their own. How easy that was.

Her stomach was full, sure, but look at diligent people like Xu Haizhou and his wife—how long had they been doing this? And now they had a TV, a radio, even a house… It was impossible not to feel envious.

Yu Fan said, “But are you really giving this to me? Isn’t that a bit much? After all, you drew it…”

Qiao Lu replied, “What’s the big deal? Didn’t we agree to work together? I do have a condition, though.”

Yu Fan immediately sat up straight. “What condition? Just say it, Qiao Lu. I can definitely manage it!”

Qiao Lu asked, “How much stock do you have in your shop? I’m planning to make fifty dresses to start. Haizhou and I are a bit tight on cash recently. If your silk could be a bit cheaper…”

Silk was hard to source. It required high production standards, and in Lian, only state-run units produced silk. Without connections, it was impossible to know where to get it. The fact that Yu Fan could sell it meant she had access. She was undoubtedly the best choice.

So really, Xu Haizhou and his wife weren’t helping her entirely for free. Among adults, no cooperation is purely altruistic—there’s always some expectation of return.

“Oh, that’s your condition? No problem—absolutely no problem! I’ll give it to you at wholesale factory price!” Yu Fan waved her hand grandly.

At that, not just Qiao Lu and Li Hongjun laughed—even Xu Haizhou chuckled. “No need for that. Just give it to us a bit below market price—that’s good enough. Everyone should earn something, or how could we ask you to work with us again next time?”

Yu Fan smiled at him. “Alright, then I’ll give it to you at 50% off the market price. Half-profit is enough for me!”

“Great, it’s settled then.” Qiao Lu raised her glass of juice and said, “Cheers!”

“Cheers! To our collaboration!”

“To getting rich!”

From the very first day she met Xu Haizhou and his wife, Yu Fan had felt like there was some kind of halo over them—something no one else had.

Aside from being smart, they seemed to have better luck than everyone else. As long as you were associated with them, making money just seemed so easy.

It wasn’t an illusion—definitely not.

Just think, when they first came to Baiyun Street, they set up shop in the worst spot at the end of an alley, and somehow they turned that dump into the most popular spot in the area. Sure, part of it was savvy marketing, but luck had to be a factor too, right?

The more Yu Fan thought about it, the more convinced she became—she needed to cling tightly to this golden opportunity!

Just a few days ago, she had been planning to save up money to find a boyfriend. But now… forget it. Making money was more important! She couldn’t afford to fall into the trap of romance and relationships.

“I still have a bit of savings. If it’s not enough, I’ll borrow some from a friend. Tomorrow I’ll go talk to the gift box manufacturer to make some packaging—let’s do a small batch first and test the waters. If it sells well, I’ll place a bigger order right away!”

“Sounds good. Let’s eat first. We can talk more after.”

After dinner, the four of them were deep in conversation about business. Zou Yinghua, an office worker, couldn’t understand what they were saying. Bored, she ended up watching cartoons with the kids.

Even though her family was pretty well-off, they couldn’t afford a TV. Mickey Mouse might be a cartoon, but the story was really fun. She was completely engrossed, so much so that she didn’t hear Li Hongjun calling her.

“Yinghua, stop watching—we’re going home!”

“Huh? Oh!” She quickly straightened her clothes and got up. Just before leaving, she glanced at the TV—it wasn’t even over yet.

Turning around, she smiled and asked, “Are you guys done talking?”

“Yeah, it’s already dark. If you don’t go now, your parents will start worrying.”

Zou Yinghua gave a shy smile and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She stepped forward and took his arm. “They won’t. I told them I was going out with Huihui—she’s a female friend of mine.”

“Oh, alright. Let’s go, I’ll walk you home.”

As he led Zou Yinghua outside, Qiao Lu called out to Xu Haizhou to wash the dishes, then quickly chased after them. “Hongjun, don’t just focus on walking your girlfriend home! The task of getting both these ladies home safely is on you—make sure they all get back in one piece!”

Even if Qiao Lu hadn’t said anything, Li Hongjun had planned to do exactly that.

It was already 7:30 and completely dark. It wasn’t safe for women to walk home alone. He had just been struggling to find a way to offer without sounding too obvious.

Yu Fan had brought her bicycle, so after dropping Zou Yinghua off at her door, Li Hongjun turned around to escort Yu Fan home.

The two rode side by side in silence. The bleak autumn wind howled past their ears, carrying a chill that made their skin prickle.

Occasionally, a dog barked somewhere outside the alley, then everything fell eerily silent.

“Why are you so quiet today?” Yu Fan couldn’t help asking.

Li Hongjun unconsciously sped up and replied casually, “What, you prefer me loud and annoying?”

Yu Fan caught up with a few quick pedals. “Not really… it’s just that when you don’t talk, being around you feels kind of unnatural.”

A faint smile curled at his lips. He glanced at her, then quickly looked away. “So you prefer the chatty version of me.”

Yu Fan gripped her handlebars tightly, then lifted one foot and kicked at him playfully. “Shut up! I don’t like you!”

She already had a boyfriend—what was he saying, liking or not liking him? If someone overheard, it’d totally be a misunderstanding.

Li Hongjun let out a soft laugh, swallowing the faint bitterness in his throat.

Working with Yu Fan for the first time meant the prep work doubled compared to before.

Qiao Lu had been making frequent trips to Baiyun Street lately. She was extremely glad she’d sent her kid to kindergarten back in September—otherwise, tagging along with them every day would’ve turned the bike’s rear seat into a torture device for the poor kid’s backside!

Half a month later, once all the stock was ready, they officially launched sales!

Still the same routine, the familiar formula—Li Hongjun’s loud voice paired with Xu Haizhou’s warm, breeze-like smile.

“New autumn arrivals! Everyone, don’t miss it as you pass by—come take a look! Come see! Trying on is free! Free of charge!”

Regular customers on Baiyun Street all knew that Purple Dragonfly updated their stock from time to time. The newly arrived custom pieces were the store’s signature treasures. Though pricey, they were indeed beautiful and high-quality.

If you thought they were too expensive, the store also carried popular styles commonly seen on the market. It was said they were sourced from the Special Economic Zone—if you couldn’t afford the custom pieces, surely you could afford the market styles?

“New arrivals again? The boss lady modeling them herself?” An old customer came in that morning. Li Hongjun recognized her immediately.

“Hey! Comrade Yan! Haven’t seen you shopping for clothes in a while.”

“Hello, feel free to try anything you like.” Qiao Lu offered a faint smile, flashing her signature grin.

“You haven’t changed a bit—still as sharp-tongued as ever.” Yan Guizhi was a 37-year-old woman, wife of Director Qin from the neighborhood committee. Wealthy and idle, she was a regular at Purple Dragonfly.

“New arrivals again? And it’s already getting cold—you’re still selling dresses?” Though she said this, her eyes were glued to Qiao Lu, unable to look away.

The dress had long sleeves and fell to about two inches above the ankles. The material was thick—three layers, in fact! There were detachable ruffles around the collar for easy washing. At the waist was a plain silk sash with printed patterns—very unique. Yan Guizhi had never seen anything like it.

Interest sparked in her eyes as she ran her fingers over the embroidered cuffs. Li Hongjun cheerfully asked:

“So, want to try our boss lady’s new design? It’s the autumn version—definitely won’t feel cold. And if you’re still worried, we’ve also got these—they’re called leggings. They’ll make your legs look super slim.”

As he spoke, Xu Haizhou took down a pair of leggings and handed them over.

Yan Guizhi took them, rubbing the fabric thoughtfully, curiosity and surprise flashing across her eyes.

“These are so slim-fitting… and quite thick.”

“Comrade, look—this is how they look when worn.”

Qiao Lu gently lifted her skirt, revealing her calves wrapped in sleek black leggings. Not only did they catch Yan Guizhi’s attention, but they also drew in many passersby, all gathering to look.

Today’s product launch had brought leggings into the public eye ahead of their time.

Historically, tight leggings with stirrups wouldn’t become a national trend until the 1990s.

Given the context of the times, Qiao Lu explained, “If you’re hesitant about wearing fitted pants, the long skirt covers it anyway—you can’t really tell.”

She dropped the skirt and spun around a few times. Only her long legs were visible—just a hint of her calves showed, and the “embarrassing” parts were well concealed. It was acceptable.

“This is so new. Never seen pants like this before. Are they free with the dress?” Purple Dragonfly was known for giving freebies, so longtime customers naturally asked.

Qiao Lu smiled and shook her head. “No, these pants are part of a bundle deal. If you buy the dress, you can get the leggings for just eight yuan. But if you want to buy the leggings alone, they’re fifteen yuan.”

After this long explanation, everyone’s heads were spinning.

They processed it in their minds before responding, “Oh, a bundle deal! So you get the pants at a discount only if you buy the dress. Never heard of that before.”

“Want to try it on?”

Qiao Lu wore light makeup today, looking lively and spirited. The dress made her figure look tall and slender—unlike the typical bulky autumn jackets, which had no feminine charm at all.

The women watching were all tempted.

Yan Guizhi spoke up first: “Give me a medium, I’ll try it.”

“Got it. Hongjun, help the customer with her size.”

“On it!”

After helping her pick a size and leading her to the fitting room, Li Hongjun waited outside for her to change. Meanwhile, Xu Haizhou brought in two more women, who rushed into the other fitting rooms.

“Business is good today.” Yan Guizhi laughed, watching the two young girls hurry in.

“Yep, these dresses are hot items. Before you came, we already sold five or six. You know we don’t stock much each time—if you like it, don’t hesitate, or you’ll miss out.”

Li Hongjun was lying. Yan Guizhi was actually the first to try the dresses—they hadn’t sold a single one before her. They were waiting for her to break the zero-sales streak.

Yan Guizhi stood before the full-length mirror in the store, playing with the silk sash around her waist. “Is this sash included?”

Li Hongjun shook his head and smiled. “The silk sash was matched by our boss lady herself. It’s not for sale.”

“What? Not for sale?” She removed the sash and looked in the mirror again, pouting. “It doesn’t look as good without it—feels like a totally different vibe.”

Bingo. Li Hongjun seized the opportunity.

“Ma’am, it’s not that we don’t want to sell it—it’s just that silk is hard to source. But if you really like it, look over there—there’s a silk store. Our boss lady got it from there. She’s friends with the owner. If you bring our dress there, you’ll get two yuan off. Tons of styles to choose from. Go now or all the pretty ones will be gone!”

What? Two yuan off? And plenty of styles to pick from?

“Really?”

“Absolutely. The boss lady arranged it all in advance,” he whispered mysteriously. “Just for our loyal customers at Purple Dragonfly. She’s even covering the discount herself!”

Wow—how generous.

“Alright, I’ll go take a look.”

Smiling slightly, Li Hongjun exchanged a glance with Yu Fan.

After making eye contact, Yu Fan stepped up to assist the customer. As she guided her through the options, she casually placed a gift box in front of her, subtly promoting it.

The gift boxes contained carefully selected high-quality goods. Whether in design or fabric, they were far better than the loose silk pieces scattered on street stalls.

By the end of the morning, most customers left with individual silk pieces, while a few wealthier ones splurged on gift boxes—doubling the profit margin.

Li Hongjun and his team were swamped. Yu Fan’s hands were sore from counting money.

By noon, a few scattered shoppers were still wandering the street. Yu Fan closed her stall and rushed over to Qiao Lu’s like a chirping sparrow.

“Here! This is the day’s earnings. I’ve already taken out my share—this is yours.” She handed over a wad of bills like presenting a treasure.

Qiao Lu took it and counted twice.

“Sixty-four. Not bad.” She teased with a look.

Yu Fan was thrilled and touched. “We sold 15 silk sashes to go with your skirts today! And my boxed silk sets—three people bought them! Each one made me 18 yuan in pure profit! I had no idea Lian had this many rich folks!”

Qiao Lu chuckled and slipped the money into Xu Haizhou’s waist pouch. “Never underestimate them. The rich know how to hide it.”

“Wow, I never knew… business was this easy. What was I even doing before…” She felt like she’d lost millions!

“I’m gonna hustle hard and make money—I’m done being a slacker!” Yu Fan vowed.

Li Hongjun joked with her, and the two started bickering again—on and on, nonstop.

For lunch, they ate at a nearby small restaurant. The food was decent, and the freshly made pan-fried buns were especially good. Qiao Lu even packed a portion to bring home, planning to reheat them for her son in the evening.

Around 2:30 in the afternoon, Qiao Lu and Xu Haizhou were organizing goods in the store. Li Hongjun was outside drawing in customers when he suddenly ran in, barely containing his excitement:

“Haizhou! Sis-in-law! Quick, look—there’s a foreigner at the door!”