When she got home, she saw Ji Shijie and Liu Fangzhou coming again. They were not as excited as last time. It turned out that Qiao Jinling's design draft was handed over to the factory director after Liu Fangzhou's pattern making. She thought it would be taken seriously, but it didn't happen.
I thought the factory manager glanced at it and didn't take it seriously at all.
"They feel that the styles are too advanced, and the current conservative styles are safer. But now that people are eating well and dressing well, it is no longer the same as before."
Liu Fangzhou was angry and his face turned red.
"Look now, today this woman is wearing a skirt, and tomorrow other women will also want it. Sooner or later, the shoes from our shoe factory will be eliminated. When that day comes, it will be over."
Qiao Jinling looked at Liu Fangzhou with admiration. In just a few words, he introduced a new term that would only appear decades later - involution.
Before letting go, if you are poor, I will be poor, and if you have less, I will also have less. After material abundance, I will have what others have, and I will have the advantage if others have.
"Who says it's not the case? In fact, brothers, I heard that our leather shoe factory's performance is dismal, and it is said that we need to open a leasing tender to the public."
Ji Jiji's eyes flickered, and he thought about it. Since he couldn't rely on others, he might as well try it himself. His own abilities were limited, so he wanted to call these two brothers together.
He had calculated that Liu Fangzhou understood technology, while Qiao was down-to-earth and dull, and occasionally had unexpected and fresh ideas.
"No, we are a state-owned enterprise."
Liu Fangzhou still didn't believe it.
"What's wrong with the state-owned enterprises? Didn't you read what was said in the newspaper at the end of last year? The automobile industry companies in Sanyang are bidding for leasing companies. Down here, there are automobile-related gear lever factories, axle tube factories, bakelite gear factories, etc.
When it comes to bidding and leasing companies, why can't our small leather shoe factory do the same?"
Be brave and careful in every season, and feel the subtle changes of the times from newspaper news.
"That's right. I've had enough of this leather shoe factory for a long time. The old almanac has not changed for thousands of years. I keep saying that I want to change it, but every time it is thunderous and rainy, and it is not enough to wet the ground."
Liu Fangzhou is young and energetic, and he can't stand some of the old-school practices of leather shoe factories.
"Brothers, I don't understand what you are talking about, but I believe in you. If I can help you, I will do my best."
Qiao Qianqian's head was hot, and his blood was boiling with what Ji Shiji and Liu Fangzhou said.
Qiao Jinling on the side was speechless: "My dear dad, you didn't even understand what the two of them were going to do, so you went through fire and water, and your brain was ruined? It seems that you have to take a good look at this confused dad."
In fact, Qiao Jinling didn't quite understand what Ji Shijie said. She had learned from history textbooks that in the mid-to-late 1980s, many state-owned enterprises were insolvent and sought ways to change, leasing or transferring them to individuals.
But Dad doesn’t have much money saved right now. If he really wants to take this step, he still has to be cautious. After all, every penny earned by Dad staying up late to marinate cowhide.
She also had selfish motives. She saw her father carrying big rocks every day, which made her back hurt from exhaustion. It was good to be young, but if she really had to work for a few more years, she might suffer from lumbar muscle strain and other diseases, so it was better to make plans in advance.
"Lingling, I haven't used the shoes you drew, but they are really good. How about I wait until my uncle finds someone to customize them and give them to you?"
Liu Fangzhou looked a little embarrassed when he saw Qiao Jinling staring at him. He took the child's things, but nothing happened.
"It's okay, Uncle Liu, Lingling likes to draw. Uncle, can you give me a set of watercolor pens?"
Qiao Jinling traded the small one for the big one. Only in this way can Liu Fangzhou feel better.
"Okay, wait until next time uncle comes and bring Lingling a drawing book and watercolor pens."
Liu Fangzhou was relieved.
Qiao Xiangqiang and Liu Fangzhou had dinner during the season, but the two of them just didn't agree.
"Huifang, are you at home?"
It was Qiao Xiangxiu's voice. She wanted to give away a pair of shoe mats and came to Sun Huifang to ask for some tricks.
"Second sister, you are at home."
Before Sun Huifang could see Qiao Xiangxiu, she shouted hello in the courtyard.
When Qiao Xiangxiu entered the courtyard, she and Liu Fangzhou were heard exclaiming.
"Why is it you?"
"Why is it you?"
The two said in unison.
People around were confused. When did these two people meet?
"What's going on, Fang Zhou? How do you know the second sister Xiang Qian?"
Seasons are also confusing.
"Brother, isn't this just sesame falling into a needle's nose? What a coincidence, isn't it? I don't have time to buy groceries. Aunt Su said someone could come and deliver meat, eggs, etc. I bought them several times, but I couldn't get them in time.
It broke several times.”
Liu Fangzhou smiled naively. Without a woman at home, he could only make do with his daughter.
"It's a pity that something is broken. I just..."
Qiao Xiangxiu was about to speak but stopped.
"Thanks to the eldest sister, I gave her the key. Not only did she help me deliver it to my house, but she also helped me cook vegetables from time to time and picked up Tiantian from school. She didn't want the money."
Liu Fangzhou's eyebrows were filled with gratitude.
Qiao Xiangxiu blushed and said nothing.
Qiao Jinling on the side could smell the damn love. A divorced woman who was deeply hurt, and a man who had lost his wife and raised his daughter alone said that they were not a match made in heaven, and God would not agree!
A woman's intuition is always so sensitive. As soon as Qiao Xiangqiang went out to see off Ji Shijie and Liu Fangzhou, Sun Huifang pulled Qiao Xiangxiu's arm and asked mysteriously: "What's going on? Second sister, if you have something going on, please confess.
"
"Oh, Huifang, what's going on? Stop being so troublesome!"
Qiao Xiangxiu's face turned as red as a cooked prawn. How could a woman like her, who was divorced and unable to have children, have the capital to marry a city worker?
"He said it's okay. If you look at the size of your insoles, you can see that they are made for men. Don't say they are made for your brother. I was surprised before. I gave you flowers, grass, etc., but you don't want them.
.I want the mandarin duck and the lotus flower."
Sun Huifang also became playful when speaking.
"You are annoying to death. I don't want to care about you anymore."
Qiao Xiangxiu said she was disgusted, but her legs stayed where she was. Among her brother's wives, only Sun Huifang could exchange a few words with her, so she was reluctant to leave.
The two women faced each other, chattering, talking to each other, and bursting into laughter from time to time. Until it was dark, Qiao Xiangxiu had no intention of leaving, and the women's stories poured down with the moonlight.
Chatting between women does not necessarily require solving problems, but more of talking. There is a person beside you, listening to you talking about trivial things, nodding, frowning, cursing from time to time...
This kind of friendship is enough.
Qiao Jinling thought of her past life, when she went shopping with a few friends who hated marrying, drank milk tea, ate grilled fish, and scolded men...