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

When Lin Xiuhe arrived at the department store, the entrance to the purchasing department was already in chaos.

Warehouse staff ran back and forth carrying documents, and several freshly opened wooden crates lay across the corridor. Qian, the purchasing agent, strode out from the back warehouse, his forehead covered in sweat, and waved to her when he saw her.

"Don't go to the meeting room yet, the back warehouse is out of stock."

Lin Xiuhe followed him inside.

Fang Qicheng arrived as well, his coat draped over the wooden crate, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his usual relaxed expression was gone.

Director Du was squatting on the ground checking the numbers.

Today, of the 180 lunchbox baskets that were supposed to be delivered, the original supplier only delivered 70. A large factory in the west of the city is waiting to receive the goods at 6 a.m. tomorrow. The employees have already paid in advance, but they are still short 110 baskets.

Director Du stood up, his anger barely contained.

"Let's put the long-term stuff aside for now. Who can make up for these 110 tonight?"

After listening, Fang Qicheng went to the telephone room.

Lin Xiuhe did not follow.

She bent down, picked up a basket, and tried the handle.

"Do they need this kind in the west of the city?"

Qian Caigou nodded.

"It's the same as the one you're making now, with an added heat insulation sleeve. It can be stored in the warehouse tonight and loaded onto the truck tomorrow morning."

Lin Xiuhe put the basket back and turned to pick up her bag.

Qian Caigou followed them to the door.

"where did you go?"

"Linzhou".

She had barely finished speaking when she pushed her bicycle out of the courtyard gate.

The street factory was busy in the afternoon.

Lin Xiuhe rode her bike there, her trouser legs covered in dust, and a few strands of hair on her forehead were ruffled by the wind. Xiao Mei, carrying a basket of insulation covers, came out of the workshop and almost bumped into her.

"Forest worker?"

How many finished products are there?

Before Xiaomei could react, Director Ye had already come out, with loose threads hanging from his apron and glue on his hands.

"What happened so urgently?"

Lin Xiuhe went straight to the finished product shelf.

There were already 136 on the shelf. After she finished counting them, her shoulders and back, which had been tense all the way, finally relaxed a bit.

"The department store is temporarily short 110 units, and we need them tonight."

After listening, Director Ye glanced at the finished product and then turned to her.

"From your four hundred sets?"

"Um."

"What about your own delivery date?"

"We'll make it up later."

How are urgent shipments priced?

"To be calculated separately."

Director Ye raised an eyebrow, already understanding the situation, and turned to call out to the workshop.

"Who can stay a little longer tonight?"

Soon, there was activity in the workshop.

Those with children at home packed their things and went home first, while the rest tightened their sleeves again and returned to their workstations.

Xiaomei put the basket she was holding on the table.

"I stayed."

Director Ye glared at her.

"Your mom came to ask yesterday why you've been coming home late every day lately."

"If I earn a little more today, I'll buy her some meat."

The people nearby laughed as they listened.

Director Ye was amused by her.

"Fine, if you really get yelled at, don't come hiding here."

As soon as the people separated, the workshop immediately became busy again.

Lin Xiuhe rolled up her sleeves and went through the baskets she had already made again. She picked out the loose ones with the heat insulation sleeves, put aside the ones with sharp wire edges, and then tied the rest back up.

Xiao Mei followed her for half the investigation, and her back ached so much that she kept pounding it.

"Engineer Lin, did you have to run around like this when you were at the research institute?"

"When I used to go to factories, the transportation expenses were reimbursed."

"And now?"

Lin Xiuhe turned the basket in her hand over to take a look.

"If we run too slowly now, I'll lose my own money."

Xiaomei immediately perked up with a smile.

"Then you'd better hurry up."

By the time all 110 were tied up, it was already getting dark.

The truck that was supposed to come and pick up the goods has yet to arrive.

Director Ye walked to the courtyard gate for the third time, his expression already grim.

"You promised this afternoon, where did you go?"

Lin Xiuhe glanced at the time; if she delayed any longer, she wouldn't even make it to the station.

A handcart used for delivering materials was parked next to the courtyard wall.

She went over and tried out the wheels.

Director Ye followed her gaze and immediately understood.

"You don't intend to take this to the station, do you?"

"Take it out first, and we'll find another vehicle on the way."

"What if we can't find it?"

Lin Xiuhe had already gripped the handlebars.

"Then keep going."

Xiao Mei laughed so hard she almost squatted down, and quickly ran over to help.

"Mr. Lin, I'll walk you to the street corner."

Several female workers who stayed behind also came out to lend a hand.

Eleven bundles of goods were loaded onto the cart, weighing down the wheels. Lin Xiuhe pulled from the front, while Xiao Mei pushed from behind. The wire baskets clattered gently against each other as the cart bounced, making a clanging sound all the way.

Just as we turned the corner, we finally ran into the truck that Director Ye had arranged for someone to bring.

The two of them then busied themselves loading the truck.

As the last bundle was pushed up, Xiaomei leaned against the carriage, panting, her palms rubbed raw.

"If you don't make any money on this trip, I'll feel bad for you."

Lin Xiuhe leaned against the car door and took a breath, her face flushed from the evening breeze.

"rest assured."

"I will collect every penny that is due."

Fang Qicheng inquired with several partner factories, and while the goods could be replenished, the earliest they could be delivered was tomorrow afternoon.

When he came out of the phone booth, Director Du was already preparing to contact the factory in the west of the city to explain that the goods for tomorrow morning could not be gathered.

A car horn suddenly sounded outside the warehouse.

Qian Caigou was the first to rush out.

After the truck came to a stop, Lin Xiuhe jumped out of the passenger seat. Her trouser legs were covered in mud, and her hair was plastered to her face with sweat. She looked like she had been on a long and arduous journey back.

Eleven bundles of goods were neatly stacked in the back of the truck.

She handed the receipt to the warehouse staff.

"Count the items first, then point out any problems now."

The warehouse immediately became busy.

One hundred and ten baskets were quickly unloaded, the heat insulation covers were neatly added, and the corners were cleaned up. After the purchasing manager and his team checked the quantity, Qian nodded to Director Du.

Not one is missing.

Director Du's tense face finally relaxed.

"You really made up for it."

Lin Xiuhe then leaned against the car to catch her breath, two red marks rubbed off the back of her hand by the hemp rope.

Fang Qicheng stood inside the warehouse, watching as all the goods were moved inside, and the slight relief on his face faded.

In the afternoon, he brought certificates from the three partner factories.

Lin Xiuhe rushed back with 110 items in stock.

He walked over and handed her the half-full cup of herbal tea he was holding.

Lin Xiuhe took the drink and drank a sip; her throat finally felt a little better.

"Thanks."

Fang Qicheng gestured with his chin toward the warehouse.

"Don't thank me yet. This time, it's just that you were quick."

"Long-term deals haven't been discussed yet."

Lin Xiuhe smiled.

"Then let's continue tomorrow."

"OK."

The next afternoon, Director Du called the two men to the warehouse.

Fang Qicheng brought all the materials he needed, Nanhua offered lower prices, and the supply records from the three partner factories over the past few months were also complete.

Lin Xiuhe didn't waste any more words explaining how flexible she was.

Yesterday, those 110 items were loaded onto trucks and sent away; everyone in the warehouse saw it.

Director Du first asked Fang Qicheng about the amount to be paid, and Nan Hua was able to handle it.

When it was Lin Xiuhe's turn, he only asked one question:

"Six hundred a month, is that okay?"

"able."

What if we need to expedite the delivery at the last minute?

Give me some time in advance, and I'll figure out a way to make up for it.

"Is it really broken?"

"It belongs to Xinghe."

After listening, Director Du turned around and went to discuss with the warehouse manager and the purchasing manager.

People kept pushing carts past outside the warehouse, the wooden wheels making a clattering sound as they moved goods, and the people carrying goods called out to each other from a distance.

Lin Xiuhe leaned against the door and waited.

After a while, Director Du returned.

"Next month, 1,200 sets will be sold, 600 to Nanhua and 600 to Xinghe."

Lin Xiuhe paused for a moment.

Fang Qicheng's smile faded somewhat.

"Let's each work for a month first."

Director Du continued:

"Whoever performs steadily will get the majority of the profits."

The procedures were completed quickly.

After signing the form, Lin Xiuhe held the order for 600 sets in her hand and looked at it for a while.

The last time Nanhua signed an order, she could only stand by and watch.

This time, with 1,200 sets laid out before her, she actually took half of them.

Fang Qicheng packed his things and paused as he passed by her.

"One month."

Lin Xiuhe waved the order form in her hand.

"That's enough for me to do first."

"It might not be six hundred next month."

"Then let's try again next month."

Fang Qicheng walked away with a smile.

Lin Xiuhe did not return to Beijing.

She took the new order and went straight to Linzhou.

At the factory in the street, more than 100 of the first batch of 400 sets had already been made. Xiao Mei was carrying the heat insulation covers to the workbench when she saw her enter and immediately called out.

"Forest worker!"

Director Ye came over from the other end.

Why are you running so fast again?

Lin Xiuhe handed over the new order.

"Six hundred more next month."

Director Ye took it, and his eyes lit up immediately.

"Long-term?"

"Let's do it for a month first."

"What about Nanhua?"

"Six hundred."

Director Ye was genuinely delighted this time.

"You actually managed to snatch half of it from them."

When Xiaomei heard "six hundred", she immediately came over.

"So we still have work next month?"

"have."

Her eyes lit up immediately.

Several female workers nearby also heard it, and those who were engrossed in their work all turned to look in this direction.

A woman by the window asked:

"Should we pretend?"

"If this batch is done well, we'll continue next month."

The atmosphere in the workshop immediately became lively.

Xiao Mei happily placed the basket of heat insulation covers on the worktable.

"Then my mom can't scold me for always working overtime this time."

Director Ye jokingly scolded her.

"Focus on doing the task at hand well before boasting."

Everyone laughed.

Lin Xiuhe stood by the worktable, watching them get busy again, and only then did the joy in her heart truly settle down.

Six hundred sets are business for her, but for the people here, it means they'll have work to do next month.

She left the factory after her shift had ended.

Zhou Zhiyuan was waiting for her by the roadside, his bicycle leaning against a tree, carrying two hot sesame cakes in his hand.

As soon as Lin Xiuhe approached, he could tell she was in a good mood.

"Did you get it?"

"Six hundred."

Zhou Zhiyuan handed the sesame seed cake over.

"What about Nanhua?"

"Six hundred."

"Then why are you laughing like that?"

Lin Xiuhe took the sesame seed cake and took a bite.

"Last time they took the order, I could only watch."

"I managed to grab half of them this time."

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled.

"That's something to celebrate."

Lin Xiuhe shook the sesame seed cake in her hand.

"Is this what they call a celebration?"

"You've just started your business, so be careful with your money."

"Zhou Zhiyuan".

"Um?"

"You're getting more and more stingy."

"We'll eat well when you actually make money."

Lin Xiuhe ate as she walked, her steps becoming noticeably lighter.

The two hadn't gone far when someone suddenly called her from behind.

"Lin Xiuhe!"

Qian, the purchasing agent, caught up with him on his bicycle. Before the bicycle had even come to a complete stop, he pulled a notice out of his pocket.

"The first batch of 400 sets will be inspected tomorrow afternoon."

Lin Xiuhe took it, her smile still lingering.

"Wasn't there supposed to be two more days?"

"Director Du made the changes; he did it personally."

After catching his breath, Qian, the purchasing agent, gestured to the long-term invoice in her bag.

"If there are any problems with the first batch, then we'll lose all six hundred."

After reading the notice, Lin Xiuhe handed the remaining half of the sesame seed cake to Zhou Zhiyuan.

"Hold this for me."

Zhou Zhiyuan knew what she wanted to do as soon as he answered the phone.

"Shall we go to Linzhou now?"

"Um."

"Where's the food?"

Lin Xiuhe had already turned around to push her bicycle.

"I'll buy it on the way."

I just managed to snag six hundred sets; I need to hold onto them first.