Gu’er’s eyes widened as she listened, and she stared at Sun Jiaming.
"What’s wrong? Was my idea no good? It was just a thought. If it’s a bad one, we can figure sothing else out."
The way Gu’er was looking at him made Sun Jiaming feel a little strange.
"No, that’s not it, Brother Jia Ming. I just think you’re incredible! How did you even co up with that? None of us thought of it."
Gu’er praised Sun Jiaming. ’This thod really is brilliant. I can’t get to the important people, and they wouldn’t be easy to fool anyway. But getting in touch with their children is possible. If we can beco friends with them, then having them introduce us to their elders is a real possibility. So how do we et these kids? We’ll need to find sothing they don’t have over there, sothing they’d find exceptionally rare.’
Sun Jiaming felt a little embarrassed by Gu’er’s praise. Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, he knew this plan was probably going to work.
"So, what do girls like? It’s basically pretty clothes, brand-na costics, and handbags, right? But clothes... the Soviet Union is probably better than us in that departnt. Those Russian-style dresses are more fashionable there than here. I don’t know anything about handbags, so that just leaves costics. Yes! The last two tis I went, I noticed the won there didn’t seem to wear any makeup. They’ll definitely love costics. Let’s go with costics."
Gu’er imdiately knew what to choose.
What do girls like? Sun Jiaming had no idea, but looking at Gu’er’s excited expression, he could tell she liked these things too. Clothes, handbags, costics... Sun Jiaming quietly committed them to mory. He would have to buy them for Gu’er often in the future.
"Where can we buy the costics you’re talking about? I’ll go with you. Are costics that stuff for making your lips red?"
Sun Jiaming didn’t know, so he asked Gu’er.
"The stuff for red lips is called lipstick. Then there’s eyeshadow, which you put on your eyelids. It cos in lots of pretty colors. And mascara, which makes your eyelashes look dark and long. There’s also eyeliner, and blush—which is like the old-fashioned rouge—and powder to make your face look fair. There’s also face cream to moisturize your skin, and eyebrow pencils for drawing your brows. There are so many things."
Gu’er hadn’t used much of it herself in her past life, but she generally knew what was what.
"It doesn’t seem like they sell any of that here; it’s not popular yet. Right, they have this stuff in Wenzhou! They should have a pretty good selection. If we go there and stock up, we can bring it with us the next ti we go to the Soviet Union. The girls there will definitely love it."
Gu’er thought carefully. ’In this era, most people probably only have that Friendship brand vanishing cream. Being able to use vanishing cream is already considered pretty good. Makeup hasn’t caught on yet, but it’s starting to appear in Wenzhou.’
Sun Jiaming found Gu’er’s words a bit strange. ’If it’s not popular yet, how does she know about it? And how does she know they have it in Wenzhou?’ But Sun Jiaming didn’t dwell on it.
"Then let’s go to Wenzhou. When should we leave? I’ll go with you. But we need to tell Li Zhi and Dingzi first. I’ll also make a trip to the village and ask an auntie to co over."
Sun Jiaming didn’t ask any more questions. He didn’t understand this stuff; all he needed to do was stay by Gu’er’s side.
"Okay. I’ll go find Dingzi and Li Zhi tomorrow and tell them. They can start procuring the other goods, and we’ll all set off again after we get back."
Gu’er was fired up and full of energy. ’This is a viable path,’ she thought. ’Even if it doesn’t work out in the end, I can still make a killing selling these costics.’
The next day, Gu’er had Dingzi and Li Zhi co over. Grandma Dingzi ca along too. She went into a room to talk with Grandma Sun, while Gu’er and the others discussed the plan in the living room.
"Jia Ming’s idea is great. Why didn’t I think of that? This plan might actually work. We’re going to Wenzhou? I hear things are super cheap there, and they have a ton of stuff we don’t have here. I’ll go too! If nothing else, we can just stock up on more goods to bring back. The more we carry, the more we can sell in the Soviet Union."
Li Zhi’s interest was piqued, and he clamored to go along.
Dingzi didn’t say anything, just nodded. If they needed him, he’d go. His job was security, not talking.
"Alright then, let’s all go together. We’ll buy so extra things to bring back."
Gu’er didn’t object. None of them had ever been to Wenzhou, so it would be good to check it out. ’Don’t they say people from Wenzhou are clever? Besides, the quality of goods from there is still pretty good right now, unlike later on.’
"Great! Leave buying the tickets to ."
Li Zhi was thrilled. ’I made the right choice,’ he thought. ’What’s the point of being cooped up in an office all day? Living a life like this is what I call exciting.’
"By the way, I went back and asked my dad about the apartnts. It’s a new developnt, and they’ll probably be finished next year. If we all want larger units, even with a discount, it’ll probably be twenty thousand each. Do you want to buy one? I’m not joking like last ti, I’m serious. If you want to buy, I’ll tell my dad to talk to the right people and reserve a few units. If not, just say the word."
After finishing with the main business, Li Zhi brought up buying apartnts.
Dingzi remained silent. He wanted to buy an apartnt for his grandmother, so it depended on whether Gu’er and Sun Jiaming were going to live there. If they moved, he’d buy one. If not, there was no need.
Sun Jiaming looked at Gu’er. He originally didn’t have this much money. After their last trip to the Soviet Union, he had said he didn’t want his share, but Dingzi and Li Zhi wouldn’t have it and insisted on giving him his cut. So, he had gotten forty thousand yuan last ti. It was enough to buy an apartnt; he was just waiting to see if Gu’er wanted to live there.
Gu’er nodded at Sun Jiaming. Twenty thousand for an apartnt seed like a lot now, but it was nothing compared to future prices. She still rembered how she had worked herself to the bone to save up over a hundred thousand for her daughter’s down paynt. It was heartbreaking to think about it even now. That’s why in this life, Gu’er had a strong attachnt to property. If she had the money and the opportunity was right, she would buy. If she owned her own place, it couldn’t run away, and she wouldn’t have to worry about having nowhere to live.
’I also need to buy a storefront for a future shop, and then a car to make getting around easier. The stall fees in the Soviet Union cost money, and greasing the wheels costs money, too. When I add it all up, I don’t have enough money again.’
’But it’s okay if it’s not enough. I can just earn more, right? One step at a ti.’
"Then we’ll buy."
Seeing Gu’er nod, Sun Jiaming didn’t hesitate over the cost. Money was earned to be spent. As long as it made his family comfortable and happy, it was money well spent.
"Yes, two units. Adjoining ones. It would be best if Brother Jia Ming’s and mine are on the sa floor, with doors facing each other."
Gu’er added. The one Sun Jiaming was buying would be his; she had to buy one for herself. No matter how close she and Sun Jiaming were, they were still two separate people. It wasn’t that she was being selfish or that she didn’t trust Sun Jiaming, but owning her own place gave her peace of mind. Besides, if her family ca to visit, it would be more convenient for them to stay with her.
Sun Jiaming glanced at Gu’er, a hint of heartache in his eyes. He knew she was doing this because she lacked a sense of security. She never wanted to be kicked out with nowhere to go, like before.
Thank you to Karl King for the monthly ticket, and thank you all for your support. There’s a water and power outage in my neighborhood tomorrow, so I’ll be working late tonight to write tomorrow’s Chapter. There will be no missed update.
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