Chapter 382: Chapter 380: Maoshan Sorcery?
Liu Jinbao rolled his eyes at them. "You think I’m some kind of idiot? I’m telling you, my guys can swipe the clothes right under their noses in broad daylight, and we can sell them off immediately. That little widow will never even dream that we’re the ones who stole her stuff."
They had already run through it several times. A few days ago, they’d tested it out on a shop with only one clerk, stealing three pieces of clothing. They sold them to Huanhuan’s Fashion at the end of the lower street on Limin Road and made a quick dozen or so yuan.
The little widow’s shop was harder to hit, but her clothes were expensive. They’d gotten over twenty yuan for a single piece yesterday.
’No wonder they say the more beautiful something is, the more venomous it is...’ It was the proprietress of Huanhuan’s Fashion who had told them about this method.
Zhang Yazhen and Huihui heard this but couldn’t figure out what kind of method could get the goods so quietly. They looked at him and said, "Don’t tell me you’ve learned some kind of sorcery?"
"HONK... HONK..." Upon hearing this, Liu Jinbao pointed at the two of them and laughed like a honking goose. "If I’d learned sorcery, the first thing I’d do is break that little widow’s evil spells, then I’d sell her off to some old widower..."
The two were dumbfounded. Zhang Yazhen looked at Liu Jinbao with a sympathetic expression. "Liu San, it seems you’ve really suffered at that little widow’s hands."
"If you want to make money, then follow me." Liu Jinbao crooked his head at them. "I’ll teach you how to get money out of that little widow."
After a moment’s hesitation, the two followed him.
****
In the meeting hall, Lin Lan smiled at Yang Meihua. "I came looking for you all yesterday, but no one was home. I thought you had gone to set up your stall today, too!"
Yang Meihua laughed. "I went back to my parents’ to haul potatoes. As soon as I got back, I heard you and Zhang Yazhen got into it, so I rushed over to see how you were doing."
Lin Lan said gratefully, "Thanks!"
Yang Meihua grinned at her. "No need to thank me. Just do me a favor!"
Lin Lan nodded readily. "Name it. What do you need my help with?"
Yang Meihua pulled her down to sit. "My cousin found a girlfriend, and her family is demanding a 26-inch women’s bicycle. Any brand will do. Can you help me buy one?"
Lin Lan thought about how Uncle Da had just returned. He should have plenty of smaller items like bicycles and sewing machines. She nodded and said, "Okay, I’ll go get one for you this afternoon."
Yang Meihua happily grabbed her hand. "Thank you! I knew you’d have a way."
Lin Lan smiled. "I only dared to promise because they just got back. If you need anything in the future, you should tell me earlier."
Yang Meihua gave her a sideways glance. "So you’re saying as long as I tell you early, you’ll have stock even if I want to buy other things?"
Lin Lan chuckled. "That’s exactly what I mean!"
By now, most of the people in the meeting hall had dispersed. He Xianghua came over to Lin Lan and said, "Your courtyard exceeds the size limit. You’ll need to pay an additional land use fee."
Lin Lan nodded and asked, "Brother-in-law He, if I tear down the house and rebuild it, will the foundation need to be remeasured?"
He Xianghua shook his head. "I’m not sure. I’ll ask around for you." He thought for a moment, then added, "I heard the commune is planning to sell that patch of woods in the Eucalyptus Forest. You should have Xiangyang go ask about it."
Lin Lan’s heart leaped with joy upon hearing this. "Okay, thank you, Brother-in-law He."
"Don’t mention it!" He Xianghua smiled. "Are you coming to work tomorrow, or will your brother and the others cover for you?"
Lin Lan thought for a moment. "Can I pay money to cover the work points?"
He Xianghua nodded. "Yes, you can. Just go find Accountant Jin to pay the fee."
Yang Liying and Li Guizhi also wanted to pay to cover their work points. The three of them went to Accountant Jin and paid the money. Then, Accountant Jin called Lin Lan over and asked her to help him buy a television.
Lin Lan readily agreed. Accountant Jin said gratefully, "Little Lin is always so capable. I told them if I asked for your help, it would definitely work out!"
Lin Lan smiled. "Well, you’re always very helpful when we need your help, too!"
After leaving Accountant Jin’s office, Yang Meihua said to Lin Lan with a smile, "Now that you’re helping Accountant Jin buy a TV, even more people will be coming to you for help buying things."
Lin Lan just smiled. "We’re all from the same production brigade. I’ll help out where I can."
Li Guizhi said, "That’s right. My mother always taught me it’s better to plant flowers than thorns on your path. Helping others ultimately helps yourself. People like Zhang Yazhen are really the exception."
She then repeated the things Zhang Yazhen had said after Lin Lan returned their money. "Little Lin, I think she’s just jealous that you’re prettier than her and that your life keeps getting better and better. That’s why she’s latched onto you and won’t let go."
Lin Lan sighed. "It’s just my bad luck to run into such a weirdo. I never did anything to provoke her, yet she schemes behind my back to harm me time and again. No wonder they say it’s better to make an enemy of a gentleman than to befriend a villain."
Yang Meihua sneered, "That crazy hag. Someone’s good looks come from their parents, and a good life comes from their own hard work. With all the time she spends being jealous of others, she could have sewn a few pairs of shoe soles."
The group walked to Lin Lan’s doorstep. Yang Meihua and Li Guizhi went home, while Lin Lan and Yang Liying got on their bikes and headed toward the south side of the city.
****
When Lin Lan and Yang Liying arrived at the shop, Yang Liying pulled her aside and asked, "Lin Lan, when are you planning to tear down the old house and rebuild?"
Lin Lan shook her head. "It was just a spur-of-the-moment thought. We’ll see what Brother-in-law He finds out."
"Let me know once you have a plan," Yang Liying said with a smile. "Whatever you do, I’ll do. I’m following your lead."
Lin Lan smiled and nodded. "Okay. I’m going to find Xiangyang now to arrange the TV for Accountant Jin and the bicycle for Sister Meihua."
After the Dragon Boat Festival, business at the pastry shop slowed down a bit. However, due to the change in season, the clothing and shoe stores were booming.
On a Sunday, the daily revenue could exceed ten thousand yuan. In this day and age, when the most expensive piece of clothing was just over a hundred yuan, a turnover of ten thousand was staggering. It took Little Xue, Little Mei, and the old man—all three of them—just to manage the flood of customers.
Over at the shoe store, Lin Lan had to pop in from time to time to help. Even with Xiang Qun, who had come over from the general store, they could barely keep up.
For the clothes and shoes in the store, some were missing sizes, while others were completely sold out.
Fortunately, Li Xiangyang had already arranged things with several regular wholesalers in Yangcheng City. Whenever they ran low on stock here, they could wire the payment from the post office, and the wholesalers would ship the latest styles of clothing and shoes over. This saved them from having to make another trip to Yangcheng City.
When Lin Lan arrived at Limin Road, Old Li told her that Li Xiangyang had gone to the pig farm and wouldn’t be back until the afternoon. He said that for the bicycle, she could just go get it directly from Liu Da in the alley behind the clothing factory.
Seeing how busy the store was, Lin Lan helped serve a wave of customers before heading to the shoe store next door.
As soon as Xiang Qun saw her, she said, "Little Lin, we’re sold out of most sizes for the pumps with thin heels. A few customers have even paid deposits, specifically for the sheepskin shoes. When will the shipment from Yangcheng City arrive?"
Lin Lan did a quick calculation and said, "Xiangyang has already wired the money. If they ship it out today, the earliest it can get to East Market is in four days."
Xiang Qun nodded. "Okay, I’ll let the customers know."
After leaving the store, Lin Lan thought for a moment and went to the post office to send a telegram to Gu Dahai. She asked him to keep an eye out for their packages from Yangcheng City and to help get them loaded onto the next transport as quickly as possible when they were being transferred in the provincial capital.
