A Beauty in the 80s Goes on a Blind Date with Her Child, Captivating the Military Compound - Chapter 37

Shen Sisi rose early, styled her hair beautifully, and put on light makeup.

Her face was small, and beneath her curved willow-leaf eyebrows, a pair of large eyes shone like stars.

Perhaps because a joyful event was imminent, a light, subtle pink glow showed through her fair skin, appearing more vibrant and natural than any applied rouge.

After tidying up, she applied lipstick, glanced in the mirror, and smiled lightly. Perfect!

Niu Niu rested her small face on her hands, her long eyelashes fluttering as she stared blankly at her mother.

Mama was already beautiful, and with makeup, she was even prettier.

She was Mama’s baby, so when she grew up, she would definitely be as beautiful as Mama!

“Mama, you are very happy today,” Niu Niu said, smiling brightly.

Shen Sisi nodded. “Yes. Today is a big day for Mama and Papa. Later, we’ll go to the photo studio to take a family photo.”

Hearing they were going to take photos, Niu Niu softly exclaimed, “Yay! Mama, Niu Niu wants to look pretty, too.”

Having been worn down by her persistence, Shen Sisi had no choice but to twist out her lipstick and dot a ‘beauty mark’ on Niu Niu’s forehead.

“Look, you’re pretty now,” Shen Sisi turned the mirror toward her.

Niu Niu looked at herself in the mirror, the single red dot between her eyebrows, and waved the mirror excitedly.

“Niu Niu is pretty, too…”

“Niu Niu is the prettiest!”

The mother and daughter transformed into ‘Big Pretty’ and ‘Little Pretty.’

Shen Sisi had planned her day: first, deliver the goods at the pier, then go to the barracks to find Gu Chengfeng.

They would then have the entire afternoon to handle their affairs. After registering their marriage, they would go to the Red Star Photo Studio for a family photo. The day was perfectly organized.

At the pier, Cao Hua crawled out of bed before daybreak.

He specifically washed his hair, shaved his beard, styled his hair, picked out his best grey suit from the bottom of his chest, and arrived at the pier early.

He spent the entire morning looking around, his mind preoccupied.

It wasn’t until he saw the brightly dressed figure that Cao Hua immediately put down his work and swiftly walked over to Shen Sisi.

“Mr. Cao, you’re early!” Shen Sisi offered a polite smile, which instantly captivated the man.

Cao Hua instantly noticed her difference.

Shen Sisi, having dressed up meticulously, was even more radiant and charming.

He normally didn’t stutter, but facing Shen Sisi, his tongue suddenly tied itself in knots.

“N-not early. Those of us in this line of work always get up early.”

Shen Sisi nodded understandingly. It truly wasn’t easy for them.

After a brief exchange of polite words, seeing that Cao Hua was busy, she handed over the basket. “Mr. Cao, these are the fifteen bottles of medicinal oil you ordered. I gave you one extra bottle as thanks for your trust!”

Cao Hua took the basket without opening it, showing unconditional trust in her.

“Alright, I won’t be formal, then. How much was it?”

Shen Sisi stated, “Forty-five yuan.”

“Forty-five?” Cao Hua’s eyes nearly popped out. What kind of oil was that expensive?

Three yuan for a single bottle?

Shen Sisi knew her pricing was high, but you get what you pay for. Her medicinal oil was definitely worth the price.

Seeing his hesitation, Shen Sisi steadied herself. “Mr. Cao, you know the effect of this medicinal oil.”

“It takes a hundred days for torn muscles and broken bones to heal. If you folks in this industry truly have to rest for a hundred days, how much work will be delayed, and how much money will be lost?”

“When you calculate it, three yuan for a bottle of medicinal oil is really not expensive…”

“And mine are large, fifty-milliliter capacity bottles, enough for you to use for a long time.”

She argued persuasively, and she was indeed making a valid point.

For people who made a living at the pier, the thing they feared most was injury and subsequent work stoppage. If they stopped, the entire family wouldn’t have food to eat.

Cao Hua hardened his resolve. “Fine, I’ll buy it.”

As he spoke, he pulled forty-five yuan out of his wallet.

This was higher than the salary of an average worker.

He was truly making a huge investment.

Shen Sisi took the forty-five yuan—her first source of income from her venture—and her eyes glowed red with excitement.

“Thank you, Mr. Cao…” Shen Sisi carefully tucked the money away, but she was not in a hurry to leave.

She didn’t want to stop at this one transaction; she wanted to find an opportunity for expansion through Cao Hua.

“Mr. Cao, I have another business proposition I’d like to discuss with you…”

Cao Hua was bleeding inside, but hearing that Shen Sisi had business to discuss, he immediately became interested.

“Why call me Mr. Cao? That’s too formal. Call me Big Brother Cao or Brother Hua.”

Shen Sisi, quick to catch on, immediately changed her address. “Then I’ll call you Brother Hua, like Dong Xiaojiang!”

When the name ‘Brother Hua’ was spoken, he felt slightly dizzy with pleasure, like he was walking on a ship’s deck.

“Tell me, little sister.”

Shen Sisi looked at the bamboo basket. “Brother Hua, I want to cooperate with you to sell the medicinal oil together.”

“How would that work?”

She thought for a moment and explained the win-win cooperation model she had been considering these past few days to Cao Hua.

“You will receive a commission for every order placed through you—two-tenths of the gross profit. You get two and I get eight. The condition is that a thirty percent deposit of the total payment must be paid first.”

Two-tenths of the gross profit didn’t sound like much—she was only making a few cents per bottle—but if she moved large quantities, it would become a considerable sum.

Shen Sisi looked at him quietly, her face full of anticipation.

To quickly open up sales channels, she was making a significant sacrifice.

She wouldn’t offer this good deal to anyone else. She only wanted to cooperate with Cao Hua.

Not only because he had the connections, but primarily because his character was trustworthy.

Cao Hua had wondered what the matter was, but he didn’t expect her to be handing him money.

To get where he was today, besides his brothers at the pier, he had done many small businesses where every cent counted.

He never looked down on small deals, only feared a lack of business.

Hearing Shen Sisi’s profit split, he felt it was fair to him. After all, he just had to talk, and he could earn two-tenths of the gross profit—like money falling from the sky.

He could earn money while helping his comrades with their injuries. A win-win!

“Alright, it’s settled then…”

Cao Hua said he would let his comrades try this batch of medicinal oil first, and orders would naturally follow.

He didn’t need to manage the specifics; he trusted Shen Sisi completely.

Shen Sisi was touched by his words. Since they were cooperating, she had to show some sincerity.

She immediately pulled out five yuan and forty cents for him. “Thank you for your trust, Brother Hua. Since we’re doing business, let’s start with this transaction. Take this money; it’s your commission.”

Cao Hua looked at the five yuan and forty cents in his hand. The profit margin on this medicinal oil was quite substantial…

He earned five yuan just from two-tenths commission.

That was enough to cover the living expenses of an average worker for half a month.

Why hadn’t he discovered this business opportunity before?

Cao Hua held the money, knowing this was Shen Sisi’s sincerity, and it would be too distant to refuse.

“Well then, I accept this money…”

The look he gave Shen Sisi held a trace of appreciation that was hard to miss.

This young wife is not simple!

With the help of a benefactor, Shen Sisi completed her first sale.

Excluding the cost, commission, and the free sample she gave away, she made a net profit of twenty yuan and forty cents from this transaction.

In just a few days, she had almost earned a worker’s monthly salary.

Shen Sisi held the money in her bag, her palms sweating with excitement.

As she passed another section of the pier, a few of the older men she had seen rubbing their shoulders that day were sitting under a tree, resting and kneading their muscles again.

Seeing this, Shen Sisi took out a remaining bottle of medicinal oil from her bag, which was about half full.

She had planned to keep it for her own use, but she didn’t expect to run into them.

She walked up smiling. “Uncles, we meet again. Has your shoulder not healed yet?”

The man looked troubled. “No. This ailment is troublesome. If it goes on like this, I won’t be able to work anymore.”

Shen Sisi seized the opportunity and pulled out her Jinfeng Brand Medicinal Oil. “I have an inherited medicinal oil here. Would you like to try it?”

The man didn’t think she looked like a scammer, and besides, she wasn’t charging him.

Taking the attitude of nothing to lose, he accepted the medicine bottle. “Then thank you!”

Shen Sisi smiled sweetly, planning to check in a few days to see the results.

Having earned money, she was radiant.

Humming a little tune, she eagerly walked towards the military barracks, carrying Niu Niu.

Halfway there, she ran into Gu Chengfeng.

As it turned out, he was looking for her too!