Chapter 80
“Didn’t we sneak in by climbing over the wall?” Hu Yuying whispered.
Seeing the guilty look on her face, Long Aotian replied with a hint of annoyance, “Stand tall! If you don’t say anything, no one will know we climbed in.”
“Did you see those goods being loaded? Those are this summer’s new styles. If we can get our hands on them, we’ll definitely make a profit.”
“But how are we supposed to get them? Do you think they’ll just give them to us?” Hu Yuying leaned closer to Long Aotian, her only source of comfort in this unfamiliar place.
She instinctively wanted to be nearer to him.
“They will. Usually, the workers set aside some for their relatives.”
“But we’re not their relatives.”
“Duh! If you don’t say anything, how will they know?”
Hu Yuying bit her lip, suppressing a smile. “So we’re pretending to be relatives?” For some reason, she felt a thrill at the thought.
Before long, the workers finished loading the goods, and sure enough, a dozen large packages were left behind.
At that moment, Long Aotian led Hu Yuying over.
“Master Zhao? Master Zhao?”
Long Aotian called out to a few workers.
One of them turned around, puzzled, looking at Long Aotian and Hu Yuying.
As their eyes met, Long Aotian quickly turned his head, avoiding direct eye contact.
But he noticed Hu Yuying was still staring, so he hurriedly pinched her chin, urging her to turn away...
---
“Who are you two?” Master Zhao asked, looking at Long Aotian and Hu Yuying.
“We’re here to check out this summer’s new short sleeves.”
“Oh, they’re right here.” Master Zhao pointed to the large packages on the ground.
Long Aotian skillfully opened one. “Wow, this is this year’s new style! It’s so cool; it’ll feel great to wear in this heat.”
“By the way,” Long Aotian suddenly turned to Hu Yuying, “What did Dad say the price was? I was too busy gaming to pay attention. Was it five or...?”
Caught off guard by the question, Hu Yuying flinched, feeling a bit embarrassed. Luckily, she noticed Long Aotian winking at her, so she stammered, “I think it’s six yuan?” But her voice lacked conviction!
“Your dad said six yuan, right?” Master Zhao chimed in.
“Yeah, yeah, six yuan, that’s right.” Long Aotian repacked the clothes. “Do you have all the sizes?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll take 500 pieces.”
As he spoke, Long Aotian pulled out the money he had withdrawn the night before, counted it out, and handed it to Master Zhao. “Please give this to the factory manager. I’ll just take the goods.”
While moving the items, he joked, “I’ve been so busy with my love life that my dad just told me to learn how to do business myself after the college entrance exam. He wants me to get familiar with it.”
“You’re the child of Old Wang, right?” Master Zhao asked tentatively, knowing that he had a good relationship with Old Wang and had heard that his child wasn’t doing well in school.
“Yeah, otherwise, how would I be here looking for you?”
As Long Aotian spoke, he tied the goods together and slung them over his back, heading out. “Wow, this is heavy. I’ll be on my way now.”
He coughed lightly and nodded at the still-dazed Hu Yuying.
Hu Yuying quickly snapped back to reality, blushing as she stepped forward to help with the load.
“Let’s go, go, go! Don’t look back,” Long Aotian whispered urgently.
---
After climbing over the wall, Hu Yuying sat on the goods, feeling as if she were in a dream, staring at the packages beneath her. It all felt surreal.
She gazed blankly at Long Aotian.
He was panting, brushing off his clothes. When their eyes met, they both froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Long Ge, you’re really something else!”
“Let’s get out of here first and buy tickets at the train station,” Long Aotian said, hoisting the goods onto his shoulder and heading back the way they came.
Hu Yuying walked beside him, wanting to lighten his load. “Long Ge, you’ve already gone far ahead. Why don’t you take a break?”
“Let’s rest up ahead.”
Leaning against the goods, Hu Yuying’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Long Aotian. “Long Ge, why do I feel like this isn’t real?”
Long Aotian flicked her forehead. “Is it real now?”
Hu Yuying looked at him with a pout and nodded. “Yeah, it’s real now.”
“You silly girl.” He ruffled her hair.
Having skipped lunch, they headed straight to the train station.
Once on the train, they finally let out a sigh of relief on their way home.
“Wasn’t that thrilling?” Long Aotian asked, glancing at Hu Yuying.
“Thrilling! Long Ge, it was so exciting! This is my first time doing something like this. You have no idea, my heart was racing the whole time!” Hu Yuying clutched her chest.
“I was almost dying of nerves! Long Ge, you were chatting away with those strangers like it was nothing. I wouldn’t have known what to do!”
“Are we going to do this again after we sell everything?” Hu Yuying asked quietly.
“Next time, we won’t need to climb over the wall. I think we’ll be able to come directly to get the goods.”
Having seen so many items shipped out, it wouldn’t be long before this summer’s new styles flooded the market. By then, they should be able to place orders directly for delivery.
“Oh, okay.” Hu Yuying sighed in relief. Although it was thrilling, if she had to do it again, she’d probably be as scared as a quail, trembling while trying to speak.
“Let’s have some ribs when we get back. I’m a bit hungry.”
Hu Yuying chuckled, “How could I not be hungry? We ran so far carrying all this stuff. I’ll cook for you when we get back. I’ll make that big bone you brought last time, and this time, I’ll stew it too. I want Long Ge to eat his fill!”
A day passed in a flash.
At the train station.
Hu Yuying sat obediently on the goods, waiting patiently.
When she saw Long Aotian riding up on a tricycle, her face lit up with joy.
She stood up and waved excitedly, “Long Ge!”
He parked and loaded the goods.
Hu Yuying sat on the packages. “I’m ready, Long Ge!”
“Let’s go!”
As the tricycle started, the wind tousled her hair but couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
She loved this feeling.
Once home, Hu Yuying helped Long Aotian unload the goods before rushing into the kitchen to cook.
Long Aotian, unable to sit still, sat on the living room floor, tearing open the packages and hanging the clothes on a rack, arranging them by size.
It was a tedious task, but for Long Aotian, it was essential.
Tomorrow, he wanted all the clothes hung up, creating a visual feast for anyone who walked by.
After finishing, Long Aotian stepped into the yard.
He opened the sunshade that Old Han had reinforced with wire for hanging meat.
Long Aotian adjusted the wire to the right height for hanging clothes.
Then he paused.
The day had been rushed, but it would have to do for now.
“Long Ge, wash your hands and get ready for dinner!”
“Okay.”
Long Aotian replied, casually washing his hands at the water pipe before entering the kitchen.
The aroma of the ribs wafted through the air, making him ravenous. He was genuinely hungry today.
“Slow down! I’m not going to steal your food,” Hu Yuying said with a laugh, watching him devour his meal with gusto.
Her heart swelled with happiness; it felt like a unique achievement to know that Long Ge enjoyed her cooking.
After dinner, Long Aotian lay back on the sofa, patting his full belly.
Once Hu Yuying finished cleaning up, she pulled out the money from her hidden pocket. “Long Ge, this is for you.”
Hu Yuying’s thoughts were simple: Long Ge said he was helping her make money.
But she hadn’t contributed any effort or money.
All the risks were on Long Ge’s shoulders.
Though she trusted him, business wasn’t all profit without loss.
If they didn’t make money, she didn’t want Long Ge to suffer too much of a loss. She’d take on half the burden, and she could work over the next couple of months to earn her tuition.
“What’s this for?”
Hu Yuying shyly looked at Long Aotian. “This is all I have.”
Meeting her gaze, Long Aotian seemed to understand her intentions. “Even the smallest mosquito is still meat. Let Long Ge keep this money for you.”
“Okay.” The little money lover watched as her small bills were taken away, feeling a pang of heartache...
Seeing Hu Yuying’s reluctance to part with her money yet still handing it over made him chuckle.
Silly girl, kind-hearted people will always be treated gently by the world...
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