When Xu Qiqi rushed into their home, Cheng Fangqiu was on the balcony tending to a camellia plant that had just been brought into the house. It was said that when it bloomed, it would produce clusters of vibrant red flowers, layer upon layer, dazzlingly beautiful.
It was expected to bloom around October, and counting on her fingers, it wasn’t long now. Cheng Fangqiu was looking forward to it.
“Qiuqiu!”
After greeting Zhou Yinghuai, who had come to open the door, Xu Qiqi’s gaze locked onto Cheng Fangqiu, and she fluttered over to her like a butterfly.
“What’s going on? You seem so happy!” Seeing this, Cheng Fangqiu raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile.
“Do you remember the girl we collaborated with for the first time? My middle school classmate, Du Fangping?” Xu Qiqi was extremely excited, her eyes shining. She didn’t mind the dirt on Cheng Fangqiu’s hands and grabbed them, shaking them vigorously.
Hearing her words, Cheng Fangqiu’s mind automatically conjured up a round face. Since Du Fangping was her and Xu Qiqi’s first customer, she remembered her quite well. So she nodded and said, “Of course I remember.”
“The clothes you designed for her are finished. She just called me and said she’s very satisfied. She also mentioned that several of her friends want you to design clothes for them too, at least this many.” As she spoke, Xu Qiqi gestured with her hands to indicate a number.
Hearing this, Cheng Fangqiu’s pupils slightly dilated. Could that mean they could earn a hundred yuan?
“When are we going? I’m ready.”
Seeing her agree, Xu Qiqi giggled, revealing a row of neat teeth. “Remember when she invited us to their compound to watch a movie? Let’s go the day before Mid-Autumn Festival.”
After finalizing the time, Cheng Fangqiu invited Xu Qiqi to stay for a meal before they parted ways.
After Xu Qiqi left, Zhou Yinghuai asked with some surprise, “You can earn that much this time?”
He knew about Cheng Fangqiu and Xu Qiqi’s side hustle, but in the past, they only earned a little over ten yuan at most. This time, it was the most they’d ever made, reaching three digits!
Back when he was a senior technician, his monthly salary was only that much. Although he had been promoted and his salary had increased, seeing how much they were earning, it wouldn’t be long before they surpassed his earnings in a single job.
“This is what’s called the ‘customer-brings-customer’ effect,” Cheng Fangqiu said, looking up at Zhou Yinghuai, her eyes sparkling with pride.
The “customer-brings-customer” effect refers to the phenomenon where customers bring in other customers through word of mouth. For example, the Hongmeng Photo Studio and the Golden Finger Tailor Shop are typical examples.
Both shops built their reputations through years of craftsmanship, establishing strong brand influence in Rongzhou, with a steady stream of customers every day.
Even after Hongmeng Photo Studio changed its photographer and the quality declined, there were still people who chose it for the sake of the “Hongmeng” name. But people aren’t fools. Over time, when they realized the photographer’s skills weren’t up to par, they switched to other studios.
Similarly, after Cheng Fangqiu took over, word spread quickly. People learned that the skilled photographer at Hongmeng Photo Studio had returned, and they were more willing to choose Hongmeng again. This was one of the key reasons why the studio’s reputation was revived.
Good craftsmanship and a good reputation are like a “get-out-of-jail-free” card.
No matter the time or place, having real skills ensures you’ll never go hungry.
Having spent many years in the photography industry in her past life, Cheng Fangqiu deeply understood this principle, which applied to any industry. That’s why, even when she and Xu Qiqi were only earning enough for one outfit per customer at the beginning, she never cut corners. Instead, she carefully tailored her designs to each customer’s characteristics to ensure positive feedback.
These early customers were the most critical factor in determining whether their venture would take off.
And now, their efforts were starting to pay off.
This was just the beginning.
After hearing Cheng Fangqiu’s explanation, Zhou Yinghuai fell into thought. He hadn’t expected her to have such talent in this area. His deep eyes sparkled with pride as he picked her up and spun her around in a circle. “My wife is amazing.”
Suddenly lifted off the ground, Cheng Fangqiu let out an involuntary gasp, but then her eyes curved into a smile. She reached out to hold onto his shoulders and let out a bell-like laugh. “Of course I am.”
Their eyes met in midair, and Zhou Yinghuai was the first to kiss her lips. His gentle breath brushed against her cheeks, sending a tingling sensation that spread throughout her body. He kissed her tenderly, each movement conveying endless affection.
She gradually lost strength, so he extended his large hand to support her buttocks, lifting her up slightly. Then, following the full curve, he slid his hand to the bend of her knees, guiding her slender, pale legs to wrap around his waist.
This position brought the two of them tightly together, and it didn’t take long for her to notice the changes in his body.
His scorching lips released hers and then descended onto her long neck, nibbling at her collarbone. His teeth caught the button of her shirt, and his tongue brushed over the hollow, leaving traces in every spot.
Damp, like a small pond in the rain.
After washing up in the bathroom and lying on the bed, the two of them kissed passionately, unwilling to part. It wasn’t until Zhou Yinghuai suddenly got up and leaned halfway over to rummage through the bedside drawer that they finally separated.
“What are you doing?” Cheng Fangqiu asked, taking the opportunity to sweep her bothersome long hair behind her.
“Want to try?”
Zhou Yinghuai pulled out a small packet from the drawer and waved it in front of her. Cheng Fangqiu, still catching her breath, looked over and saw the familiar square packaging. Her already flushed face turned even redder.
A couple of days ago, they had gone to the hospital to pick up their physical examination reports. After learning that there were no major issues, Zhou Yinghuai had insisted on taking her to the gynecology department. Not only did he return the dozen or so ill-fitting condoms she had previously collected, but he also picked up a few new ones.
Cheng Fangqiu still remembered the nurse’s stunned expression.
Even now, the memory made her want to crawl into a hole and hide.
“You’ve already taken it out, why are you asking me?” Cheng Fangqiu bit her lower lip and glared at him, her eyes shimmering, making her look even more radiant.
Zhou Yinghuai’s gaze darkened, and without further ado, he deftly tore open the packaging. With the experience from last time and the right size, this time he smoothly followed the instructions and completed the steps.
She watched the entire process, her hands gripping the sheets tightly, both nervous and expectant as he held her waist.
It was their first time trying this, and the experience left them both feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
“Let’s not use this in the future.”
“Yeah.”
The purpose of this thing was contraception, which they didn’t need for now.
If they had the variety of styles and flavors available in later years, they might have used it occasionally, but for now…
—
Soon, the day of their appointment with Xu Qiqi arrived. Since they would be facing many customers this time, Cheng Fangqiu specially wore clothes she had designed herself and had tailored, and she spent considerable effort styling herself from head to toe.
When Xu Qiqi came over, she was so stunned that she couldn’t stop complimenting her.
“You don’t look bad either.”
Xu Qiqi was wearing a set Cheng Fangqiu had designed for her earlier—a pea-green floral blouse paired with a white long skirt. Her short, wavy hair was tucked behind her ears, revealing a pair of pearl earrings, exuding both elegance and gentleness. She wore a pair of heeled sandals on her feet.
She looked even more fashionable and striking than usual.
Clearly, the two of them had the same idea—they were using themselves as living advertisements to increase their persuasiveness!
Moreover, Du Fangping’s compound was showing a movie today, so many people would be there. If they could attract more customers this way, it would be a huge win!
The two exchanged a glance and smiled in tacit agreement.
“Let’s go, time to head out!”
Since Du Fangping’s place wasn’t exactly close, and they were worried about parking in an unfamiliar area, they decided to take the bus.
Du Fangping’s father worked in the Education Bureau, and the family lived in a house allocated by the bureau. Additionally, the area was close to many schools, so many teachers lived there as well.
“Qiuqiu, that’s the First High School over there.”
As they passed a few taller buildings, Xu Qiqi patted Cheng Fangqiu’s hand and gestured for her to look out the window.
Aside from a few teaching buildings, Cheng Fangqiu also saw a spacious sports field. Although it didn’t have the large grassy lawns or rubber tracks of later years, it was paved with cement, which was considered quite good for the time.
“It looks pretty nice.”
“It’s one of the top schools in our province,” Xu Qiqi said, her face unconsciously showing a hint of pride since it was her alma mater. Then, remembering something, she added, “Your brother Xuejun will be coming here to register in a few days. You can come in and take a look around then.”
Cheng Fangqiu nodded.
After chatting for a bit longer, it was time to get off the bus.
“She said she’d wait for us here. Where is she?” Xu Qiqi stood at the bus stop, looking around, but she couldn’t see Du Fangping anywhere.
Cheng Fangqiu glanced at her watch. “We’re still about ten minutes early. Let’s wait here for a bit.”
There were a few osmanthus trees planted along the road, with small flower buds just beginning to appear, their tender yellow color quite delightful. The machinery factory also had osmanthus trees, and the two of them discussed picking some flowers once they fully bloomed to make sachets and osmanthus cakes.
As they were discussing this, they heard Du Fangping’s enthusiastic voice calling out from not far away.
“Qiqi, Qiuqiu!”
Following the sound, they saw Du Fangping. She was wearing the milky-white dress Cheng Fangqiu had designed for her last time, with her hair tied into loose braids. She looked fresh and cute, much prettier than the last time they had met.
Behind her were four or five girls of similar age, all youthful and stylish, dressed in the latest fashion. However, without comparison, they looked fine, but next to Du Fangping, their overall outfits seemed a bit dull.
“Fangping!” Xu Qiqi was the first to greet her.
When the girls saw her, their eyes lit up. But before they could fully appreciate her beauty, they noticed Cheng Fangqiu following behind Xu Qiqi.
Cheng Fangqiu was wearing a light blue dress with white fabric accents at the sleeves and hem, making it look quite unique. The well-fitted cut and design accentuated her slender waist and long, straight legs.
Her dark hair was tied back with a matching ribbon, cascading down her back, revealing her petite face and slender swan-like neck. Her large, bright eyes sparkled like they held the most dazzling stars in the world, making it impossible to look away.
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and her lips were like cherry blossoms. She looked as exquisite as a doll displayed in the window of a Friendship Store.
How could Du Fangping’s friends be so beautiful, one after another!
One of the girls couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious and took a step back. She had always thought of herself as quite pretty and fashionable, known in the compound as one of the more attractive young women. But now she realized what it meant to be completely outclassed.
In comparison, she suddenly felt like giving up. No matter how much she dressed up, could she ever be as beautiful as them?
Just then, the bright-eyed woman who had been talking to Du Fangping turned her gaze and looked directly at her, calling out with some delight, “Zhao Ziyi?”
Hearing her name, Zhao Ziyi looked up in surprise. How did she know her name?