Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart
Chapter 263 - 262: Pleasant Cooperation with...

Chapter 263: Chapter 262: Pleasant Cooperation with...

Lin Nianhe stared into Zheng Lirong’s eyes, trying to discern any unusual emotion from them.

Zheng Lirong didn’t display much emotion. She nodded slightly and said, "Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I was going to lower the price. The previous price..." Thinking about the doubled price tag from before, she involuntarily shook her head.

Thinking of Bai Bo once again, Zheng Lirong’s expression turned a bit desolate.

After a while, she changed the subject: "The money I donated, I won’t take back. I also never planned on expanding the business; the current workforce is sufficient. Once this period passes and things settle down, I will continue to help them."

As a mother, she saw more and was more inclined to empathize.

Without going too far back, just consider those in our black market—the majority are kids around fifteen or sixteen years old, all born and raised by parents. Looking at them, I can’t help but think of my own children.

She had no objections to the two conditions, which in turn made Lin Nianhe a bit nervous.

She said, "Sister Lirong, with this pricing, your profit is incomparable to what it was before."

"I know," Zheng Lirong nodded, "as long as it’s enough to support my two kids, that’s enough. You could say it’s... a way of atoning for Old Bai’s sins."

She sighed deeply, her eyes slightly red at the corners.

Lin Nianhe was silent for a moment, then reached out to pat her on the shoulder.

Zheng Lirong wiped the moisture from the corner of her eyes and smiled. She sniffled and said, "For Brother Qian’s deliveries, ask him to keep sending goods to me as usual. Pay him the normal price, and I’ll calculate his cut based on the selling price, not taking any profit from him."

Lin Nianhe was surprised: "You won’t earn a penny?"

"I’ve done Brother Qian and Xiao Sun wrong in the past," said Zheng Lirong, "I can’t smash their rice bowls now, can I?"

Lin Nianhe looked quietly at her, and after a moment, she smiled.

"Alright, I’ll talk to him." Lin Nianhe extended her right hand to Zheng Lirong, "Sister Lirong, here’s to a pleasant cooperation."

"Cooperation... uh, pleasant cooperation."

Zheng Lirong wanted to say "harmony brings wealth," but for some reason, she swallowed the words as they reached her lips.

An inexplicably ominous feeling told her that uttering these four words might spell trouble.

"Do you have any new goods recently? Any grains?"

"Don’t count on me for grain, I truly can’t manage that. But... I can get some soybean oil, do you want that?"

"Really? That would be great, yes, I want it."

"Mm, what we have in abundance recently are meat and apples, and there are also some red dates and tea."

Zheng Lirong looked at Lin Nianhe, her gaze gradually shifting: "Girl, you haven’t lied to me, your goods will definitely have no lack of buyers."

Lin Nianhe curved her mouth upwards, saying, "Then sell with peace of mind. When it comes to making money, slow and steady wins the race."

"Mhm!"

Lin Nianhe took Zheng Lirong to recognize the cellar door. In these past few days, Cao Shijian had not been idle, having bricked up several walls and cleaned everything up thoroughly.

Zheng Lirong pondered for a while, then said, "If we fill this place up, it could fit a truckload. I reckon, for now, taking a delivery once a week should be enough. I’ll go back and test the waters with the sales. If it’s not enough, we can discuss further, alright?"

"Alright," Lin Nianhe tried to keep her lips from curving upward, and nodded in agreement, "When you come to see me, just say you’re here to visit the kids. No one will suspect anything."

"Mhm." Zheng Lirong touched the secret pocket sewn at her chest and looked at Lin Nianhe, "I’m not hiding it from you. When I go back, I’ll have quite a few people to take care of; I still need to look after Shanshan and the others. I do have some money, but... don’t worry, sister, I definitely won’t default on the debt."

"I know." Lin Nianhe patted her on the shoulder, "There’s plenty of time in the future. I’m not in a hurry."

"Okay!"

They didn’t linger here; Zheng Lirong had to arrange for transportation and take care of connections, as well as handle the school matters for Zheng Shan and Bai Xiaojun. After leaving the cellar, she went into town, and Lin Nianhe watched her walk away before returning to the Educated Youth Corps.

As soon as she got to the backyard, she indeed saw two "door gods" squatting at her door.

"Are the kids awake?" Lin Nianhe approached and asked softly.

Wu Genmao shook his head: "No movement."

Cao Shijian nodded: "Hmm."

Lin Nianhe gently pushed the door open and tiptoed in.

The two little guys must have been exhausted; they were still sleeping.

She covered them with the blankets that they had kicked off, then tore a piece of paper and wrapped around ten painkillers.

After leaving, she handed the wrapped medicine to Wu Genmao: "Take one when it hurts, but no more than two in a day. Got it?"

Wu Genmao took the medicine, his eyes teary as he looked at Lin Nianhe: "Teacher Lin, thank you."

"It’s nothing." Lin Nianhe waved her hand nonchalantly, "There’s really nothing to do today, and school is out. You two should go back and rest."

Wu Genmao and Cao Shijian were about to shake their heads when Lin Nianhe said: "Didn’t you just say that you would listen to whatever I said? Are you going to disobey just like that?"

This statement was more effective than any threat, and the duo immediately had no objections and left, looking back every three steps.

Lin Nianhe stretched, then headed to Wang Shumei’s house.

Qian Guozhu wasn’t there; the two sisters, Wang Shumei, were nestled together talking, both with red eyes.

Lin Nianhe poked her head in and asked, "Did I come at a bad time?"

"Come on in." Wang Shumei sniffed and waved Lin Nianhe in, "Xiao Lan took my brother to gather firewood. We were just thinking about what to make for dinner... Your timing is perfect, try these on. My sister-in-law made a pair of shoes for you and Xiao Lan each."

As she spoke, Wang Shumei passed the new cotton shoes that were on the edge of the bed to Lin Nianhe.

"Xiaoxiao, when you go back, thank your sister-in-law for me," Lin Nianhe said with a smile, giving Wang Shumei a big hug, then addressing Wang Xiaoxiao.

Wang Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously: "I will."

The cotton shoes made by the sister-in-law were extra thick and high-topped, nothing to fear even in the snow.

Wang Shumei watched Lin Nianhe try on the shoes and explained: "My sister-in-law said that you and Xiao Lan have never stayed in the Northeast before, and she was afraid that your families wouldn’t be prepared for how cold it gets here... Are they the right size? She made them a bit big, just pad them with an insole if needed."

"They’re perfect," Lin Nianhe jumped a few times on the floor wearing the cotton shoes, "Your sister-in-law is really skilled."

Wang Xiaoxiao came over and said, "Big sister saved up cotton for a long time. She said she needed to make them before it got too late, as it’d be hard to sew when the baby comes. She also told me to pass on her thanks to you sisters for taking care of my elder sister."

Wang Xiaoxiao and Wang Shumei were two extremes; the latter was tactful and had a twisty heart, while the former was pure-hearted and wore her thoughts on her face.

This was probably the difference between the protective older sister and the younger sister who had been cared for all her life.

Wang Shumei pressed her lips into a smile and ruffled Wang Xiaoxiao’s head: "You don’t need to be so formal with them. Tell your sister-in-law not to work so hard on these tiring chores, I’ll help her make clothes for the little nephew."

"Okay!" Wang Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously, her pigtails swinging.

Lin Nianhe watched the interaction between the two sisters and couldn’t help feeling a bit envious.

Having family around is truly wonderful.

Just as she was getting wistful for home, she heard Niuwa’s voice from outside: "Sister Hehe, have you come back?"