Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

Lin Xiuhe completed her resignation procedures five days later.

The day she returned her work permit to the personnel department, the clerk checked her name twice and then looked up at her.

"Are you really quitting?"

"Um."

"Go out to do business?"

"Let's give it a try."

The other party handed her the receipt, but she still couldn't resist.

"You're really brave."

Lin Xiuhe smiled and put the receipt away.

She has heard this sentence countless times in the past few days.

After leaving the research institute, she went directly to handle the business registration procedures.

After making several trips, replacing whatever was missing, I rented a small room on the street. It wasn't big; just enough space for an old table, a metal cabinet, and two chairs.

When Lin Xiuhe finally received the business license, she stood at the entrance of the industrial and commercial bureau and looked at it several times.

There were a few words written on it.

Xinghe Business Department.

She carefully put the voucher into a document bag and went to Linzhou that afternoon.

Qian, the purchasing agent, was looking down at the order form.

Hearing footsteps at the door, he looked up and laughed.

"Why are you here again?"

Lin Xiuhe placed the file folder on his desk.

"Didn't I say that last time?"

"What did you say?"

"I'll get the next one myself."

Qian Caigou's smile faltered for a moment.

He pulled the file bag over and looked at the contents for a long time.

"Did it really get approved?"

"Um."

"Xinghe Business Department"

He looked up at her.

"That was quick."

"Slow down any further, or all your orders will be given to others."

"That last one is long gone."

"I know."

"Are you still heartbroken?"

Lin Xiuhe pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Tell me first, are there any new ones available?"

Qian Caigou was even happier.

"OK."

"Now we're really here to talk business."

He turned around and opened the drawer.

It's still that same drawer.

Lin Xiuhe didn't urge her.

Qian Caigou pulled out two orders and placed them in front of her.

"Three hundred sets per sheet, flexible timeframe, average price."

"The other one costs 400 sets, for eight days, and is priced higher."

"What goods?"

"Lunchbox basket"

Qian, the purchasing agent, brought over the sample from the side.

The wire frame is just the right size to hold two aluminum lunch boxes.

Lin Xiuhe took it, turned it over to look at the solder joints, and then tried the handle.

"The first batch of four hundred?"

"Um."

"What happens next?"

"If this batch turns out well, we'll add more."

"How much is the prepayment?"

"Thirty percent."

When will the final payment be settled?

"Fifteen days after inspection."

Qian Caigou leaned back in his chair.

"How is it?"

Lin Xiuhe didn't rush to answer, and looked at the list again from the beginning.

Qian, the purchasing agent, noticed that she hadn't moved for a while and deliberately asked:

"Are you scared when you actually sign it yourself?"

"Afraid."

Qian, the purchasing agent, was amused by her.

"Are you so afraid that you'd look at it this closely?"

"Fear is the only way to see things clearly."

Lin Xiuhe put the sample back on the table.

"I'll make two phone calls first."

"You haven't signed it yet."

"The factory didn't ask clearly, what am I supposed to sign?"

Qian Caigou nodded.

"That's right."

The first call was to Director Ye.

Upon hearing it was her, the person on the other end asked first:

"Is everything settled at the research institute?"

"It's done."

"Are you really out?"

"Um."

Director Ye clicked his tongue over the phone.

"You're really generous."

"Don't feel sorry for me yet."

Lin Xiuhe read out the quantity and delivery date.

"Four hundred sets of lunchbox baskets, eight days. I'll find the wire parts separately; you'll be responsible for assembly, inspection, and packaging. Can you do that?"

"What kind of sample?"

"I'll bring it over in a bit."

"How much does it cost?"

Lin Xiuhe reported the number.

Director Ye immediately said:

"Too low."

"I knew it."

"Now that you're running your own business, don't expect me to give you face, Engineer Lin."

Lin Xiuhe smiled.

"I didn't intend for you to see it."

"More than a dozen people in the factory are waiting for their wages. I can't possibly lose money for you."

"Then name your price."

Director Ye gave a number.

Lin Xiuhe frowned.

"Yours is way too tall."

"Where is it high?"

"Lower it a little more."

"It can't be lower."

The two of them argued for a while.

Director Ye stuck to his price, but Lin Xiuhe tried to lower it a bit more.

Finally, it got stuck in the middle.

Director Ye asked:

"Will it work?"

Lin Xiuhe did the math in her head.

There's still a profit.

Not many, but we can handle the first order.

"OK."

"Then it's settled."

Director Ye then asked:

"Forest worker."

"Um?"

"Do you still call you Engineer Lin?"

Lin Xiuhe leaned against the telephone table.

"Call me whatever you want."

"Then let's stick with Engineer Lin."

Director Ye chuckled.

"I'm not used to calling you anything else."

The second call was made to Director Luo.

After hearing the quantity, Director Luo first asked:

"Who will take the lead this time?"

"I."

There was a pause on the other end of the phone.

"You really quit?"

"She really resigned."

Factory Director Luo smacked his lips.

"You're bolder than I thought."

"Could you give me the wire part?"

"able."

"A few days?"

"Six days."

Five days.

"Do you think my factory is just waiting for one order from you?"

"Delivery in eight days, Director Ye still needs to assemble it."

"That will take six days."

"Five and a half days."

Factory Director Luo was so angry he laughed.

"You've been calculating with me for so long?"

"Half a day is still a lot of time."

"Okay, five and a half days."

"What's the price?"

Director Luo reported it.

Lin Xiuhe shook her head as soon as she heard that.

"Too high."

"Lin Xiuhe, this is only your first order, and you're already betting against me?"

"I'm spending my own money now."

"Didn't you ever try to save money for others before?"

"Province."

Lin Xiuhe smiled.

"We need to be even more frugal now."

Factory Director Luo cursed at her a couple of times on the phone, but in the end he still lowered the price a little.

"I won't budge any lower."

"OK."

"It's settled, five and a half days."

"I remember."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Xiuhe picked up the order form again.

Qian, the purchasing agent, sat on the sidelines watching the excitement.

"How come I never realized you were such a good negotiator before?"

"Even when they lost money before, it wasn't me who got the compensation."

"Now you know what pain is?"

"Of course it hurts."

Qian Caigou smiled and handed over the pen.

"So, are you brave enough to sign now?"

Lin Xiuhe took the pen.

"I dare."

The order details are left blank at the bottom, indicating the recipient.

Lin Xiuhe sat up a little straighter.

First write:

Xinghe Business Department.

The following is the person in charge of operations.

She wrote down her name.

Lin Xiuhe.

Qian Caigou pushed the inkpad over.

"Where's Zhang?"

Lin Xiuhe took out the newly engraved seal from the file bag.

The box was opened, and the smell of wood and ink wafted out.

She pressed the stamp into the inkpad, then picked it up again.

She's the one who handles the money.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Xiuhe lowered her head and smiled.

"first."

She aimed and pressed the button.

The red seal was placed next to the words "Xinghe Business Department".

Qian Caigou picked it up and looked at it.

"OK."

"This time it's really yours."

Lin Xiuhe took her turn receiving the couplet.

"Eight days?"

Eight days.

"What if we're a day late? I don't need to tell you, do I?"

"Need not."

"Is there a problem with the goods?"

"Find me."

Qian Caigou nodded.

"That's fine then."

Lin Xiuhe put the order into a file bag.

Before leaving, Qian Caigou called to her from behind again.

"Boss Lin."

Lin Xiuhe turned around.

"You're here too?"

Qian Caigou was all smiles.

"Surely you'll be able to call now, right?"

"Call me again after the goods are delivered."

"OK."

"Let's see if you're still being stubborn in eight days."

After leaving the department store, Lin Xiuhe didn't rush back to Beijing.

She first went to Director Ye's office, left the sample, and then checked the dimensions and delivery date in person.

By the time we left the factory, it was almost dark.

Lin Xiuhe stood by the roadside and took the order out again to look at it.

Xinghe Business Department.

Lin Xiuhe.

The red stamp has already dried.

She carefully put the paper away and returned it to the file folder.

The next morning, Lin Xiuhe rode her bicycle to Xinghe Business Department.

The 12-square-meter hut wasn't fully furnished yet, and only half of the wooden sign at the entrance was hung up.

Just as she was about to unlock the door, she heard someone call her from behind.

"Lin Xiuhe".

That voice sounds so familiar.

She turned around.

Zhao Guodong stood at the entrance of the alley, an old tool bag slung over his shoulder.

I hadn't seen him for several years. He was a bit darker than he was in college, but he still had that same carefree, silly smile.

Lin Xiuhe looked at him for a while.

What are you doing here?

Zhao Guodong walked over and looked at the sign behind her that read "Xinghe Business Department".

"That's what I wanted to ask you too."

"Why would you leave a perfectly good research institute to go out and work independently?"

Lin Xiuhe unlocked the lock.

"The news came fast enough."

I ran into Zhou Zhiyuan last night.

"He told you that?"

"Just say you've been busy lately."

Zhao Guodong slung his tool bag over his shoulder and glanced into the room.

"I'm leaving this afternoon, and I just stopped by to take a look."

His gaze fell on the file bag in Lin Xiuhe's hand.

"What's wrong?"

"Have you already received the job?"

"Four hundred sets."

Zhao Guodong raised his eyebrows.

"The first one?"

The first one.

"What about the delivery date?"

Eight days.

Zhao Guodong looked at her for two seconds and then smiled.

"Lin Xiuhe, you're still the same as ever."

"What do you mean, 'the same old thing'?"

"They dare to cause trouble for themselves right after opening."

Lin Xiuhe pushed open the door.

"If you don't want the hassle, don't come in."

Zhao Guodong put his tool bag inside the house.

"Since we're already here..."

He rolled up his sleeves and walked to the table.

"What are your plans for these four hundred sets? Let me take a look first."