pjbooks Chapter 100 You Can't Do Without Money
Chapter 100 You Can't Do Without Money
Chapter 101 You Can't Do Without Money
Today, a small stall selling fabrics was still set up in front of the department store.
The stall was surrounded by young women, three or four deep, all scrambling to buy the new fabrics.
That makes sense, the Lunar New Year is just nine days away, so if we can buy the fabric now and get home to make the clothes, we can finish them before the New Year.
If it had been two days later, it probably wouldn't have been finished.
These days, almost every rural woman knows how to make clothes. They just don't have sewing machines at home, so they rely entirely on handmade work. The stitches are large and the process is slow, but the clothes are sturdy.
Li Xiangyang had previously considered getting a sewing machine for his home, which would make making clothes and mending much easier.
However, I've been quite busy lately and haven't had time to sew the plane tickets, so this matter has been delayed.
When I have the chance, I'll definitely get one for my home.
Two female saleswomen were standing in front of the stall, shouting loudly: "Come and see! Come and buy! New floral fabric, no coupons required, limited quantity, first come, first served!"
Let me emphasize again, no tickets needed, no tickets needed.
As soon as Liu Xiulan and Zhao Lijuan dismounted, they held hands and eagerly squeezed in to look at the fabric.
"You two wait a minute, take turns going to see—::" Li Xiangyang tried to call them back.
Old Zhang almost had his carriage stolen here just two days ago, so he can't afford to be careless now.
But by then Liu Xiulan and the other woman had already squeezed in, and they couldn't hear him at all.
"Brother, I don't want to go. If you want to go, then go in and take a look. I'll just watch the horses from outside."
Li Xiangdong offered to stay and watch the horses.
He was used to being frugal, and going to the department store to buy things cost money. Although they had made a lot of money recently, he still couldn't bear to spend it.
"No, we have to go together."
Li Xiangyang disagreed.
In his previous life, if he had encountered such a situation, he would have run away long ago, but he would never do that in this life.
In his previous life, Prince Li Xiangdong had a very hard life. In his short life of more than fifty years, he worked day and night for his parents, wife and children, and gave all the money he earned to his parents, wife and children. He couldn't bear to spend a penny more on himself until his death.
Having been given a second chance at life, Li Xiangyang felt that men should also treat themselves better.
The new era advocates gender equality.
"Brother, wait for me a moment."
Li Xiangyang said something and walked to the entrance of the department store. He found the gatekeeper and said, "Sir, we've come to buy some things and will be leaving soon."
He then pointed to the two chestnut horses tied to the stable: "Could you please look after those two horses over there?"
The gatekeeper shook his head and waved his hand, refusing, "No, no, young man, we gatekeepers are only responsible for guarding the gate and maintaining order at the entrance. We're not responsible for watching your horses. If you're worried about your horses getting lost, just tie them up tightly yourself, or you can take turns going in to buy things—"
Li Xiangyang had already anticipated this answer. Most people in gatekeeper positions like his wouldn't get up early for nothing and preferred to avoid trouble.
So, before the gatekeeper could finish speaking, Li Xiangyang handed him two cigarettes with a smile.
Upon seeing the sign, "Daqianmen?" the old man immediately performed a Sichuan opera face-changing act, changing his tune to say, "Alright—alright, I'll keep an eye on it for you, but don't linger too long, we're changing shifts soon."
The old man took the cigarette, lit one with a smile, and started smoking, while sticking the other one behind his ear to show off.
Get it done.
Indeed, money isn't everything, but you can't do anything without it!
Li Xiangyang's understanding of this sentence deepened at this moment.
"Brother, come here." Li Xiangyang beckoned to Li Xiangdong.
Li Xiangdong grinned and ran over.
"I knew it, there's nothing my brother can't handle."
The two brothers then squeezed into the crowd. Now that they both had wives, they weren't afraid of being mistaken for hooligans and arrested.
As soon as they squeezed in, they saw Liu Xiulan and Zhao Lijuan arguing heatedly with the sales clerk.
It looks like they're haggling?
Li Xiangyang didn't call out to them; he just stood behind them and watched quietly.
"Auntie, could you give us a discount? These two fabrics are too expensive at five cents a foot. We'd be buying fourteen feet of fabric together."
Zhao Lijuan said loudly.
She and her sister-in-law Liu Xiulan each took a liking to a new striped fabric and a small floral fabric as soon as they arrived.
They liked it very much and had already planned out what style of clothes they would make when they got back.
But when they asked the price, it was 50 cents a foot, and they all thought it was too expensive and didn't dare to buy it. They were reluctant to leave, since it was rare to find such nice fabric, so they tried to bargain with the salesperson.
When the two sales clerks saw that it was two young girls dressed as herdsmen bargaining, they instinctively didn't want to pay any attention to Liu Xiulan and her companion.
It's not that they discriminate against herders.
They've been selling this new fabric for over a week now, and it's mostly young female workers from the town who come to buy it.
Compared to women in pastoral areas, urban female workers are more fashionable, willing to spend money, and relatively have more money to spend.
This is an objective fact.
Herdsman girls generally don't have much money, and even those who do usually can't bear to part with it.
After all, this foot of floral fabric costs two cents more than the original plain fabric.
"Hey little girl, who here doesn't just tear off a dozen feet of cloth and take it home?"
I'll say it again, the fabrics you two are holding are the latest style, Dacron, you know that?
It's more structured, wrinkle-resistant, brighter in color, and more durable than the plain-colored fabrics we used to wear. It's different.
If you think 50 cents a foot is too expensive, buy that plain-colored fabric; it's only 30 cents a foot.
Another saleswoman, growing impatient, interrupted, "Hey, are you two going to buy this fabric or not? If not, put it down first. Don't keep holding onto it. Step back and let the people behind you come over."
As she spoke, she snatched the two bolts of cloth from Zhao Lijuan and Liu Xiulan's hands.
But just as the fabric was snatched away, it was pressed down by a large hand.
Then a deep male voice rang out: "Fourteen feet each of striped fabric and small floral fabric."
The two sales clerks were stunned. They looked at each other and wondered where this young herdsman came from, so generous.
Buying 28 feet of fabric in one go?
Liu Xiulan and the other woman didn't even need to turn their heads; they knew it was Li Xiangyang just by hearing his voice, and they both smiled.
Zhao Lijuan was now full of confidence and immediately said loudly to the salesperson, "Just do as he said, fourteen feet each of striped and small floral fabrics."
Liu Xiulan was also suppressing a laugh as she spoke.
"Yes, striped fabric and small floral print fabric, give us fourteen feet each."
Since Li Xiangyang, the head of the household, had spoken, they decided to follow suit and be generous.
"Okay, sure."
The two sales clerks' eyes lit up at the same time, they leaned forward slightly, and their tone was noticeably less arrogant than before.