Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading

Chapter 177: Buying a Sewing Machine on Behalf

Whenever this topic came up, both of them were at a loss, confirming that drinking led to trouble. How did they end up agreeing to it?

They were fine making a meal at home, but going to cook for city sales clerks, they really lacked confidence.

"Uh, third child, Sister Zhaodi and I were thinking, maybe we should just drop this?"

Liu Cuilan tentatively suggested.

"Xiaoxiao, Aunt Liu’s right. We don’t know a thing; going there we’d just make a fool of you, wouldn’t we?"

"Mom, Sister Zhaodi, you two agreed to this yourselves. I’ve already put your names on the list."

Su Xiaoxiao was bluffing them. She had full confidence in their skills, and together with her recipes, it would definitely work out.

Liu Cuilan slapped her thigh, "What? You already signed us up?"

Xu Zhaodi was so nervous her palms started sweating, "Xiaoxiao, can it be changed? Could you talk to your boss and take our names off?"

"Too late, they’re already submitted."

Su Xiaoxiao lied brazenly.

"What do we do then?"

Hearing this, the two of them immediately looked unsure and glanced at Su Xiaoxiao.

"What else can you do? Just go with it."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhaodi hesitantly asked, "Xiaoxiao, what if Aunt Liu and I don’t go?"

"Nothing much, except we won’t get our 100 yuan deposit back."

Su Xiaoxiao continued her outright lie—there was no deposit at all, but she knew if she didn’t push them, they might not participate.

"This..."

Both showed a distressed look, but Su Xiaoxiao decided for them, "It’s not a big deal, at worst we just won’t get chosen."

After thinking it over, they agreed it wouldn’t be much issue, just a trip to the city.

"I even specially prepared two outfits for you, perfect for the bidding event."

As she spoke, Su Xiaoxiao took out the two sets of clothes from Manager Wang, and showed them to the two.

Liu Cuilan immediately refused, "These flashy outfits are for you young people, I can’t wear them. Third child, you keep them for yourself."

"I bought them in your size, they won’t fit me."

As Su Xiaoxiao spoke, she stuffed the clothes into Liu Cuilan’s hands, "Mom, you’re not even fifty, still young! Why can’t you wear these? Ladies in the city dress like this."

She took out the other set for Xu Zhaodi, "Sister Zhaodi, this one’s for you."

"Xiaoxiao, this is too extravagant. I can’t accept it. You’ve given me enough already."

Xu Zhaodi shook her head, refusing immediately.

"We don’t need to be polite as a family. In my heart, you’re my real sister. If you don’t accept, you’re treating me like an outsider. That would anger me."

Su Xiaoxiao stated.

Unable to refuse further, Xu Zhaodi had to accept.

Seeing both of them accepted, Su Xiaoxiao nodded in satisfaction.

Su Xiaoxiao: "The bidding event is set for a week later. I’ll write a menu for you later. We’ll follow this menu for it."

They glanced at each other and nodded, "Alright, we’ll do as you say."

As the three were talking, the courtyard gate was knocked on; it was Grandma Liu from the village.

"Xiaoxiao, my grandson’s about to get married, and his in-laws want a sewing machine. Do you think you can help us get one?"

At this, Grandma Liu became a bit embarrassed, "But we only have ten industrial coupons on hand, could you help ask around?"

At that time, sewing machines were scarce, costing over a hundred yuan, plus a dozen industrial coupons.

Thinking the mall had them, Su Xiaoxiao immediately agreed, "Okay, Grandma Liu, I’ll figure something out. Expect good news from me after work tomorrow."

Grandma Liu was instantly moved, "Xiaoxiao, thank you so much. If there were any other way, this old lady wouldn’t thick-skinnedly ask you for help."

She took out a handful of fruit candy from her pocket, "Xiaoxiao, take these as a token of joy in advance."

"Grandma Liu, you’re too polite. We’re neighbors; anytime you need me, just come find me."

Grandma Liu was moved, "Cuilan, you’ve raised a fine girl! If my grandson weren’t engaged, I’d match him with her in an instant. Whoever marries Xiaoxiao is lucky for eight generations."

Liu Cuilan was full of pride from the compliment, "My third child takes after me, smart and capable since young."

After some more pleasantries, Grandma Liu left happily.

Liu Cuilan glanced at the sky and said to Su Xiaoxiao, "Third child, ride over and check, how come the fourth and fifth haven’t returned yet? Could something have happened?"

Su Xiaoxiao guessed it was nearly six o’clock. Usually, at this time, her two younger brothers would be back for dinner, so not returning was indeed odd.

She immediately grabbed a flashlight, got on her bike, and headed to the school.

The weather was getting colder, evenings darker sooner. By the time Su Xiaoxiao arrived at the school, it was already starting to get dark.

The school gate was locked, the campus deserted, indicating the students had already left long ago.

Su Xiaoxiao felt a pang of worry and hurriedly cycled back.

She checked all the usual spots the two would go, but found no sign of them.

She grew even more anxious.

Could something really have happened?

Just then, she spotted two familiar black figures in the distance. She quickly pedaled faster and got a closer look, getting a fright.

"What have you two been doing to end up like this?"

Su Xiaoxiao braked quickly, took a step back, keeping a safe distance from them.

They were both soaked, barefoot, with mud in the crevices of their fingers and toes.

Both of them grinned, "Third Sister, we went to make money."

"Make money? What money could you two make?"

Su Xiaoxiao was skeptical.

Su Jianwu puffed his chest and pulled out a dirty fifty-cent coin, "Here, this is what we just earned."

"We just got a good gig. Catching snails in the river to sell, one jin is one dime, and it’s quite lucrative. If it didn’t get dark so soon, we’d have caught even more."

Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoxiao remembered that at this time, many Southerners were coming here to buy snails.

"Third Sister, let me tell you, they take all we have. We even thought about coming tomorrow afternoon to catch more..."

"You two try skipping school and see if I don’t break your legs."

Su Jianwu was cut off by Su Xiaoxiao, who immediately fell silent. Su Xiaoxiao frowned, "Hurry home. No more of this work."

It was too dangerous in the dark by the river, what if something happened?

The two younger brothers got a good beating upon returning home and assured they wouldn’t go catching snails the next day before being allowed back to their room, rubbing their sore behinds.

Su Xiaoxiao lay in bed, just opened the game interface to check on sewing machines, when a message popped up.