Wang Li and Zhi Xia were growing further and further apart, and it seemed that it was already destined.
On the third day of school, Pei Jing left alone.
Pei Jing had already become the commander-in-chief of the special forces team, while An ZhiAng succeeded his original position.
This was also within expectations. After all, the physiques of both of them had been upgraded, so of course they were beyond ordinary people.
News came from Wu Lei that the first batch of trial equipment had good feedback and the effect was very good. Although the profit was not yet enough to maintain the expenses, it was already a very good start.
Su Ying's customers were also asking her about the purchase channels of Jiao Yan, and many customers came to the store to place orders because of the trial kits she had sent out.
Unfortunately, Zhi Xia didn’t have any goods here for now, so she could only contact Wu Lei to transport a batch of goods here as soon as possible and open the Jiao Yan store in Jincheng.
Jiao Yan's preliminary plan was to take the high-end route. The store was ready-made, An ZhiXian’s two rooms, no matter the location or space, were very good, while An ZhiAng’s store was mainly used to store fabrics for Su Ying. In addition to the one key that Zhi Xia kept here, it could also be considered as returned to them.
Next was the renovation issue.
It wasn’t the era where renovation companies were all over the streets in the late 1990s, where anything could be easily solved with money. Everything had to be figured out by oneself.
She could design the store herself, display cabinets could also be custom-made through the trading platform, but the store renovation still had to find someone.
Those were old houses from many years ago, and the roofs still leaked in some places. It was said that it used to be a leather shop.
Plan step by step, Zhi Xia wrote these things down on paper before going to implement them.
Next door, the Old Master and Old Madam were relaxing in the yard.
Zhi Xia went in and greeted them, then asked, "Grandma, is my fourth sister-in-law back?"
"She's inside, just got back not long ago," the Old Madam said, "You come in and ask about your fourth sister-in-law, what's the matter?"
"I have a small problem to ask her. I'll go in first."
An ZhiAng left the day before yesterday. Su Ying was also a woman with a strong sense of career. She had already moved her shop from the alley to the main street, and also hired several shop assistants.
It was originally pure customized handiwork, but considering most people's wallets were not that thick, she also started using sewing machines now. The prices were relatively cheaper, but the styles coming out of her place were good-looking, so business was not only unaffected, but getting better and better.
Of course, the custom handiwork was not abandoned either. She had always been high-end, so she was not affected at all.
Su Ying was also busy inside, making another romper for her unborn child. The expected date of birth was around February next year, and the weather would still be cold at that time, so the clothes would have to be made a little thicker.
"Sister-in-law, let me ask you, which workers did you ask to renovate your store back then? Please help introduce them," Zhi Xia went straight to the point after entering.
Su Ying glanced up at her, put down her work at hand to the side, and said, "It was done by Second Uncle and others from Zhou Village, plus two cousins. But you’ll have to prepare the materials yourself. If it's just painting the walls, it can be done in a few days. It depends on the specific situation if wardrobes are needed.”
Anyway, it took her more than a month at that time. Making the cabinets took a long time, and they had to be made according to her needs.
"Uncle and the others can do this too?" Zhi Xia really didn't know about this. She hadn't been to Zhou Village many times either. After she got married, she followed the army, and later it was not convenient to travel with several children.
And as a married daughter, after Grandma passed away, she didn’t need to visit relatives during holidays like her brothers.
"It is said that when Grandpa was alive, he was a carpenter. Second Uncle and them have learned it, but they abandoned the skill during the difficult years some time ago. In recent two years they picked it up again. In addition to farming, they occasionally make furniture and windows for others, which can bring some extra income home."
Zhi Xia knew Zhou Nan had contact with Eldest Uncle and them. There was an official in Zhou Village government who helped pass messages when they communicated.
Since Zhi Xia didn’t know him, she obviously didn’t have the face either, so she could only ask An JingZhi to help.
Zhou Village, the two uncles were actually quite busy.
Land was distributed at the beginning of the year, and every household worked hard since it was their own land.
By the spring harvest, except for a couple of lazy guys, every household had a bumper harvest.
Now that they had money, they naturally wanted to improve their lives. Those who didn't have enough houses to live in or wanted to split their families built new houses.
To build houses, roof frames and windows were needed, as well as furniture, so they had work to do.
When the message arrived at home, Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle were sawing wood.
As soon as Eldest Uncle heard that there was work for them in the city, he agreed without thinking twice. He also asked the messenger to help pass a message to An JingZhi.
After the man left, Second Aunt was dissatisfied: "Big brother, you agreed so readily, but the work at hand hasn't been finished yet.”
"We'll work overtime tonight, just spending more electricity. It has to be delivered tomorrow." Eldest Uncle laughed.
Later, when there was an opportunity, Older Aunt pulled Eldest Uncle aside and said, "You didn't hear the implication in my sister-in-law's words, right? She was obviously reluctant for you to go to the city to work."
She felt her sister-in-law was getting more petty after Mother Zhou passed away.
Eldest Uncle didn't let Older Aunt talk. He said Second Aunt didn't mean anything bad and told her not to overthink.
In fact, how could he not understand? But in life, one should turn a blind eye when one should. It would be tiring for both sides if everything was pursued to the end.
He blamed himself too. Last time when he went to help his little niece, he thought they were relatives so he didn’t have the heart to charge money. On his way home, he forced her to take back the money she gave him and asked Zhou Nan to return it to her. This made his sister-in-law feel at a loss.
It was not a quiet night. There was also a lot of noise at Second Uncle's house until midnight.
Zhou Jianye hugged his child and wife and hid in the room. His wife asked him if he shouldn't go out and advise them. He only replied that things would get more out of hand the more he advised.
Of course, Zhi Xia didn't know any of this. It was Uncle and Second Uncle who came with two cousins at noon the next day, a total of four people.
Zhi Xia took them to the store, which had two floors and two rooms. There was a layer of white limewash on the walls, but it had turned black and needed to be chipped off and replastered.
Working with her own relatives was reassuring in one way. She didn't have to keep an eye on them to prevent workers from cutting corners.
Zhi Xia originally wanted them to stay at her house at night. The house was big enough for them to stay. But Uncle and them refused and said that working on the walls was too dirty, it was better to stay here than at home.
Indeed it was so. They had different lifestyles. When they went to Zhi Xia’s house, it was clean inside and out, and the house was spotless. They would feel uneasy if they stayed there.
On the contrary, spreading quilts on the ground here made them feel more comfortable since the weather was still hot.
