Sewing Machine

In the back of the truck were not only more than a dozen bolts of various fabrics and several sacks of fabric scraps, but also a brand-new Butterfly sewing machine.

Shen Jianan froze on the spot. "My god! Th-this..."

He stammered outright, then turned to stare wide-eyed at Bai Yun and Su Chen. "A-all of this is for me?"

Bai Yun nodded with a laugh. "Yes! It's all for you."

Then she added, "Hurry and move everything into the courtyard first. We just ran into a group of villagers, and they looked somewhat..."

She left it vague, unable to say anything too harsh. But Shen Jianan understood what she meant and did not dare waste any more time. He immediately called Gu Yu and Su Chen over to help.

"Quick! Get the sewing machine up the mountain first."

Everyone present was sharp. As soon as he spoke, they sprang into action, taking turns carrying the sewing machine off the truck. Then the driver and Su Chen carried it into the small courtyard.

Meanwhile, Shen Jianan and Gu Yu each shouldered two bolts of fabric and carried them halfway up the mountain, leaving them in the roadside grass before returning the same way. They planned to move all the fabric up first, then carry it into the courtyard one piece at a time.

However, just as Su Chen and the driver carried the sewing machine into the courtyard, and Shen Jianan's group was making their third trip, Zhao Qiancheng and his son came rushing toward the foot of the mountain with a crowd of villagers.

Far behind them followed several clearly unwilling cadres led by Zhao Gang, along with Lu Xiaoyue and Feng Yi from the Educated Youth Station, as well as Cheng Hu's family of three and Chen Ming.

Sure enough, the moment some people saw the fabric that had yet to be moved, greed flashed across their faces, and they instantly turned green with envy.

"Oh my goodness! Look! So much fabric!!"

"My god! The patterns on those fabrics are so beautiful!"

"If only I could have one bolt like that."

"I wonder if Shen will have any leftovers after making clothes? If he does, I'd like to trade for some scraps to make my daughter a hair bow."

"Oh, why trade? He bought those fabric scraps for our brigade. Six yuan gets you a huge sack. You won't need much to make a hair bow, so why not just ask him for a piece!?"

"That's true! He's such a nice person, he'll probably give us some!"

"I want some too..."

The overlapping chatter made several people visibly displeased, their expressions immediately darkening. Gu Yu simply raised his voice and waved over Chen Ming and Cheng Hu, who were walking at the back of the crowd, to help move the things.

"Coming!"

The two readily agreed. They hurried over with Cheng Guang and Xiang Haiyan, then silently carried the remaining fabric and sacks up the mountain alongside Gu Yu, Shen Jianan, Su Chen, and the driver.

From beginning to end, Shen Jianan and Gu Yu had not asked a single outsider for help, nor had they said a word to them. This left Zhao Qiancheng and the brigade villagers, who had come full of excitement, deeply awkward. They had intended to curry favor with a few words, but now they did not even know how to begin.

Feng Yi and Lu Xiaoyue, who were fairly quick-witted, immediately realized they had overstepped. They quickly pulled away several Educated Youths they were close to. As for Zheng Lei and Huang Qimei, they were once again excluded.

Those two were cut from the same cloth as Jiang Hongmei. They followed different paths and had no reason to associate too much, lest they invite trouble.

When Zheng Lei and Huang Qimei saw themselves shut out again, they were furious and resentful. They felt that Feng Yi and the other Educated Youths were insane. They had all been sent down to the countryside together, yet instead of sticking together and getting along, they had formed their own little clique and isolated the two of them. It was simply too much.

During evening study, they had to speak properly with the Party secretary and brigade leader about this. Otherwise, Feng Yi's group would only grow more arrogant.

The two kept muttering under their breath without even bothering to lower their voices. In the end, Li Shuqin and Bai Qiulian heard every word.

The two women were both cadres' family members and upright people. They had followed the crowd over partly out of curiosity, but more because they feared Zhao Qiancheng might cause trouble for the two youngsters and wanted to lend a hand.

But once they got there, they realized they had worried for nothing. Those kids were clever! They could easily handle the problem without anyone else stepping in.

The two women did not want to delay work any longer and were about to leave when they unexpectedly overheard the pair plotting against others. Their tempers flared instantly.

"Can't you two do something useful for once? Why do you only know how to stir up trouble?"

Li Shuqin pointed at them and cursed, "Instead of wasting time causing nonsense, why don't you think about why nobody likes you?"

"Exactly. I think Educated Youth Feng and the others are quite good. But you two..."

Bai Qiulian looked the pair over and gave a cold snort. "Nobody welcomes you anywhere you go."

Their words were extremely harsh, leaving no room for dignity. Even Zheng Lei aside, Huang Qimei—who had always considered herself mentally strong—could barely endure it. Her eyes reddened as she trembled and glared at them. "Y-you..."

"What about us? Aren't we telling the truth?"

Li Shuqin raised her voice and cut him off. She swept her gaze over the crowd that was still daydreaming and sneered disdainfully. "All you do all day is think about taking advantage of others. You're getting more and more shameless!"

The moment she said that, even the dumbest person knew she was mocking them indirectly. Everyone was flushed with embarrassment and anger, but no one could respond. Otherwise, would they not be admitting they were exactly that kind of person?

For a moment, everyone fell silent, standing there like old ducks with their necks pinched, breathing heavily as they stared at the two women. Their eyes practically spat fire.

Li Shuqin and Bai Qiulian were not intimidated. They ignored them outright, called their children over, and headed back to the brigade without even acknowledging their own husbands or other family members.

Everyone became even more awkward, especially Zhao Qiancheng. After all, he had permitted everyone to come watch the excitement. Yet not only had they failed to see anything, they had angered Shen Jianan and Gu Yu, and he had lost face as well. He had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the bait.

Bang!

The sudden slam of a door was not particularly loud, but it was enough for everyone below the mountain to hear clearly. Looking at the tightly shut courtyard gate, they felt even more humiliated.

Zhao Gang expressionlessly looked over them before mocking, "Since every one of you is so capable, why don't you go secure the brigade's orders from now on?"

After saying that, he left with his hands behind his back. Zhao Hongjun and the other cadres hurried after him, leaving brigade secretary Zhao Qiancheng standing there, so embarrassed he wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground.

He was both furious and resentful, feeling that Zhao Gang and the others were becoming increasingly disrespectful toward him. Now they had publicly slapped him in the face. Just wait! He would make those idiots pay.

Zhao Jianguo, standing nearby, was equally dissatisfied. He could not understand why those two people, who clearly had status and influence, would give things to Shen Jianan. He was just some pretty boy who could not tell grains apart and would not lift a finger to work. What was there worth associating with?

As for Gu Yu, Zhao Jianguo looked down on him even more. He followed Shen Jianan around all day like a lapdog, doing whatever he was told without an ounce of backbone. No wonder Hongmei did not like him anymore!

It had to be said, this father and son were truly good at flattering themselves.

With no excitement left to watch and having offended people besides, everyone lost interest in staying. They left in groups. Before Zhao Qiancheng departed, he gave the small courtyard a meaningful look, his eyes full of schemes.

When Zhao Jianguo saw that expression, the gloom in his heart immediately faded quite a bit. He knew that whenever his father wore that look, someone was about to suffer.

He had probably forgotten, however, that no one in the Half-Mountain Courtyard was a fool. And while his father was planning mischief, he had already stepped into a trap prepared in advance.

Inside the Half-Mountain Courtyard.

When Chen Ming saw the brand-new sewing machine, his eyes widened. "Th-that must have cost quite a lot, right?"

"Not much. One hundred and fifty yuan."

Bai Yun smiled and patted the machine's body, then looked at Shen Jianan as she explained, "Although I agree with the partnership arrangement you suggested before, I can't let you be the only one benefiting.

So after I got home, I discussed it with your brother-in-law. We got you a sewing machine and a batch of fabric, and that will count as my investment.

I won't put in any more money after this. We'll still split profits according to our previous agreement, but if we run into a situation where we need to greatly expand the business, we can discuss it separately."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "And I won't take a share from the clothes custom-made by those families in the compounds this time. After all, we only discussed working together after you completed the sale. But once you deliver the goods, we'll have to follow the agreement."

Shen Jianan nodded at her words, but he did not entirely agree with her proposal. Instead, he insisted on giving her two hundred yuan for her efforts. Otherwise, he would feel too ungrateful.

After all, if Bai Yun had not helped with his clothing business, he would never have received so many orders in such a short time, nor would he have so quickly built connections with people at the Public Security Bureau and in several compounds.

Bai Yun could not refuse him, so she accepted with a smile. Then she and her husband rose to say goodbye. They still had things to do, and the driver needed to hurry back to hand over his shift, so they could not stay too long.

"All right! I won't keep you, then. Next time you come, I'll make dry pot for you."

Shen Jianan smiled at Su Chen and the driver. "And I'll get some liquor for Brother-in-law and Brother Wang."

"No need."

Su Chen waved his hand generously. "I'll bring my own liquor. You just need to make that dry pot."

"Sure, no problem."

The young man raised a hand in invitation. "I'll see you out."

"No need, no need. You two get back to work."

Bai Yun smiled, waved, then linked arms with her husband and left the courtyard with the driver. Shen Jianan and Gu Yu stood on the halfway-up-the-mountain path and watched their vehicle leave before returning to the courtyard.

When Cheng Hu saw the two enter, he quickly stepped forward and said he wanted to return half a month's rent.

Shen Jianan paused before realizing that Cheng Hu had seen the sewing machine Bai Yun brought and assumed Shen Jianan would no longer make clothes at his place, so he wanted to refund the rent.

"No need to return it. Although I won't be making clothes over there anymore, I still need to keep some things at your home for now."

The young man explained, "Our brigade will soon receive a batch of Educated Youths sent down to the countryside. People will definitely be living in this little courtyard, so we can't occupy the empty rooms.

And Brother Gu's room and mine are already small. Now that we have fabric and a sewing machine in here, if we add anything else, we probably won't even have room to walk. So we'll continue renting your house. Also..."

The young man looked at Cheng Hu, who had quietly breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled. "Although I no longer need your sewing machine, I have other work for your family."

The Cheng family immediately perked up and stood straight as they asked, "What work? Just tell us. As long as we can do it, we won't refuse."

Shen Jianan nodded. Then he said seriously, "The orders I receive will only increase from now on. I definitely won't be able to handle them all alone.

So I want to hire your family as assistants to make clothing accessories for me. I'll cut out the required styles in advance and make samples. You just need to follow the samples exactly.

For work like attaching pockets and zippers, I'll pay you three to five cents per item of clothing, depending on the number of accessories. Fewer than three accessories means three cents; three or more means five cents.

If the clothes have added flat embroidery, it'll be six cents per piece. If they include designs such as separate belts or three-dimensional floral decorations, it'll be ten cents per piece. Are you willing to take this work?"

"Yes! Of course we are!?"

Cheng Hu nodded repeatedly in excitement. Then, looking at his equally delighted wife and son, he said, "Shen, don't worry. We'll work hard and definitely won't hold you back."

"Mm."

Shen Jianan nodded. "Then it's settled. Go back to the brigade first, so no one starts talking."

"All right, we'll head off first."

Cheng Hu knew Shen Jianan was thinking of their family. After all, everyone in the brigade was working, while their family's skilled workers were absent. It would be hard to explain. So he did not delay further and left with his wife and son. Chen Ming had intended to go with them, but Shen Jianan called him back.

"Chen Ming, I've noticed that the hair accessories you make have very good styles and color combinations. Your stitching is also neat and fine, so I'd like you to help with some work too. Would you be willing..."

"Yes, I am. I'm willing."

Chen Ming eagerly cut in before he could finish. Shen Jianan shook his head with a smile and continued.

"However... you don't have a sewing machine, so there's plenty of work you can't do. You can only help me iron clothes, cut fabric, thread elastic bands, sew on buttons, and things like that.

Compared with the Cheng family's work, those jobs require much less skill, so I can't calculate the wages the same way. I can only give you two cents per item of clothing."

"No problem."

Chen Ming happily waved his hand. "As long as I can earn money, I'm willing no matter how much it is."

"All right."

Shen Jianan tipped his chin. "Go to work too. When you come back tonight, you can start working with me."

"Okay!"

Chen Ming pressed his lips together in thanks, then left the two men's room and ran down the mountain like a cheerful little sparrow.

Gu Yu smiled as he shut the door. When he turned around, he saw Shen Jianan opening the package delivered by the postman. Inside was the complete set of textbooks his family had found for him.

The two were overjoyed. With this set of books, they were one step closer to their dream of attending university. Gu Yu pointed to the two letters on the table. "Are those letters from your family?"

"Oh! One is from my dad, and the other is from the newspaper office."

Shen Jianan smiled at him and casually opened the newspaper office's envelope. Inside were a twenty-yuan money order and a letter from one of the newspaper's editors.

As far as he was concerned, there was nothing particularly unusual in the letter. It was all encouragement for the young man to continue writing and hopes that he would submit new work as soon as possible. However, the final sentence—"We hope for greater diversity in your work, and remuneration will be adjusted accordingly"—caught his attention.

Shen Jianan considered finishing the next part of Hot-Blooded Struggle in the Seventies after the evening meeting, then simply trying his hand at a martial arts novel.

Although Jin Yong and Gu Long's works were already famous across the country in this era, not everyone in the mainland had the opportunity to read them. People in Hong Kong and Taiwan, on the other hand, had more chances to encounter their work.

Therefore, based on his many years of reading experience, he could write a different kind of new-style martial arts novel.

Though his literary foundation was not as deep as that of the two masters, vernacular fiction still had its audience. As long as he could draw in that small portion of readers.

He might not become a famous writer, but earning some manuscript fees should still be possible. Of course, he could not neglect his proper work.

He also needed to keep submitting those uplifting short stories that answered the call of the times. He could not let either side fall behind. The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, so he shared his idea with Gu Yu.

"If you want to do it, then do it!"

Gu Yu lifted a hand and lightly patted the air above his head, smiling as he said, "But you need to manage your time properly. Don't exhaust yourself, understand?"

"Of course."

The young man nodded proudly. "I'm not the kind of person who wants money more than his life."

Then he playfully bumped his head against Gu Yu's shoulder. Amid Gu Yu's amused laughter, he casually opened the other letter. But when he saw its contents, the smile on his face abruptly vanished, replaced by gloom and worry.

Gu Yu immediately realized something was wrong and hurriedly asked what had happened. Shen Jianan shook his head angrily and said in a low voice, "My wonderful eldest uncle reported my dad for embezzlement and bribery at the critical moment of his promotion.

That got him suspended and investigated for more than half a year. Nothing was found in the end, but it still affected his promotion.

That's also why my parents didn't dare bring me back. They were afraid someone would target us again. They only dared tell me the truth in a letter now that the matter has passed."

"Your eldest uncle is truly vile."

Gu Yu's expression darkened.

"Mm!"

Shen Jianan spoke viciously, "Once I find the chance, I'll make sure his whole family dies without a burial place."

Gu Yu's eyes darkened slightly. "If something happens to them, will your father be upset..."

"Hmph! How could he be!?"

Shen Jianan turned to look at him. "I know my dad best. He's kind, but he's no saint.

To him, no one is more important than my mother and me. Next comes himself. Anyone who dares set their sights on him or us, he will never tolerate them—not even my grandparents."

A smile appeared in Gu Yu's eyes. "All right, I understand."

"What do you understand?"

Shen Jianan tilted his head in confusion. Gu Yu merely shook his head with a soft laugh. "Nothing."

Then he added, "Hurry and make the clothes. We'll have to deliver them soon."

"Right, right, hurry! There are more than three hundred sets of clothes!"

Reminded by him, the young man panicked and hurriedly stood up. He grabbed Gu Yu's hand and pulled him toward the sewing machine. "Brother Gu, help me! Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't finish them."

Gu Yu tightened his grip around Shen Jianan's hand and answered with a smile, "Okay."

The two were frantically busy in the small courtyard, while the Zhao Household was plotting against them. At first, Zhao Qiancheng had only wanted Gu Yu to marry his daughter, so he could make a fortune and seize the Jiang and Gu Households' connections.

But after seeing Bai Yun and her husband bring things over, he began plotting against Shen Jianan as well. He planned to go into the city and find his elder brother Zhao Manjiang, asking him to bring his second niece over so they could discuss things together.

They would see if they could score a double blessing, having his daughter Zhao Xiufen and his niece take down Gu Yu and Shen Jianan together. Then the Zhao family would have both power and money. How could they fail to prosper!?

Listening to his father's scheme, Zhao Jianguo was unhappy about Gu Yu and Shen Jianan becoming his brothers-in-law. But since both men came from wealthy and influential families and could become his support in the future, he suppressed his dissatisfaction and volunteered to fetch his cousin.

Seeing how sensible his son was, Zhao Qiancheng's resentment toward him faded considerably. But he was still uneasy about letting Zhao Jianguo go speak to his elder brother alone.

After all, his sister-in-law was not easy to deal with and already held considerable grievances against their family. If his son failed to explain things clearly and caused her to misunderstand, that would be disastrous.

After thinking it over, he said, "Come with me. That way, your uncle and aunt will see that we take this matter seriously. Otherwise, they'll think I'm just casually finding someone for Xiao Jun to marry."

Zhao Jianguo thought that made sense as well and readily agreed. Thus, the father and son hurried out without even eating lunch.

Jiang Hongmei, who had been unable to get a word in from start to finish, was frantic. Things were slipping further and further out of her control. If they really succeeded, would her lies not be exposed!?

Zhao Jianguo might still be easy to coax, but she was afraid Gu Yu would contact Gu Lingwei and reveal everything. By then, not only would her parents lose their jobs, she herself might not be able to bear Gu Lingwei and Luo Tianming's fury. How could she still dream of getting rich then?

Thinking of this, she hurriedly got up and told Qin Fengying that she was returning to the Educated Youth Station to fetch some pretty clothes for Zhao Xiufen to dress up in, so the plan would have a better chance of succeeding.

How could Qin Fengying refuse? She agreed immediately. "Go and come back quickly. I'll steam eggs for you and Xiufen at noon."

"Okay."

Jiang Hongmei answered with a sweet smile, but her face immediately fell when she turned away. Then she strode out of the Zhao Household and headed to the brigade to find Huang Qimei.