Chapter 133: The Sister-in-Law Is Here Again

The factory manager’s office was located on the top floor, offering a commanding view of the factory grounds. From there, he could look down and take in the bustling, energetic scene of the workers below.

Shen Guodong took a sip of strong tea just as a knock sounded at the door. Zhou Meiniang walked in, her heels clicking against the floor.

"Manager, there’s a package at the factory gate addressed to you. Should we have it brought inside?"

Zhou Meiniang looked puzzled. She couldn't imagine why such a large package would arrive out of the blue, as they hadn't ordered anything recently.

Shen Guodong’s eyes lit up. "Oh? Could it be the shipment from Wang Chengliang’s cousin in the south? Take me to see it at once."

When he arrived at the gate, he was taken aback by the sight of a massive wooden crate. Ordinarily, clothing was transported in simple woven plastic bags; since garments weren't fragile, there was no need for such elaborate protection, especially with a bulk shipment.

The delivery crew had clearly traveled all the way from Huadu. The man in charge greeted him with a thick accent, repeating, "Lei hou, lei hou."

Shen Guodong was momentarily bewildered. "Are you from Huadu?"

Standing nearby, Zhou Meiniang looked equally confused. "Is he from the South? We can barely understand a word he's saying."

The leader of the transport team continued in broken Mandarin, "Yes, we are from Huadu. This is the order for Mr. Shen Guodong. We’ve brought it all the way for you."

"That’s right, that’s right," Shen Guodong replied. "I ordered it. This is the clothing, right?"

The leader nodded. "Exactly. We shipped it out directly. There are 500 pieces in here. Our boss insisted that we handle it with the utmost care."

Shen Guodong shook his head in surprise. "I didn't expect the shipping to be so fast. It’s only been three or four days."

"Well, the road is long, but we pride ourselves on speed. We can't keep our customers waiting."

Shen Guodong smiled. "No worries at all. The speed is excellent. I’m very satisfied."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out ten yuan, intending to offer it as a tip for their travel expenses. However, the men from Huadu waved him off. "No, no, sir. Our wages are already quite high; you don't need to pay us extra. Where would you like us to put this? We can deliver it for you before we head back—we have other shipments to handle."

Shen Guodong realized that his cousin-in-law must be doing quite well for himself in the South. "Just bring it to my home. Follow me."

He figured his small courtyard would be the perfect place to store the crate. Since it was made of solid wood, it would be secure enough. He led the way, and the men hurriedly hauled the cart behind him. As they passed through the streets of Fengcheng, many curious onlookers watched them, though no one dared to ask what was inside.

Once they arrived, he had them place the two large crates in his courtyard. "Thank you for the hard work."

"It’s no trouble. In business, integrity is everything. I’m sorry it took a bit of time to get here—it’s truly freezing in this part of the country!"

Shen Guodong shook his head. "It’s fine. Take these two yuan and grab a meal while you're here. Our local food is quite good. And do take care of yourselves; it’s going to be very cold lately."

The men accepted the tip and nodded. "Don't worry, boss, we will."

After they left, Shen Guodong stood before the crates. He knew these were likely imitation goods rather than the latest authentic brands from Hong Kong. He was well aware that for every fashion trend emerging in Hong Kong, the small workshops in Huadu would immediately churn out copies. But he didn't care about authenticity; he only cared about the fresh styles. If these pieces could find a market in Fengcheng, they were good enough for him.

He went inside and dialed a number to reach Liu Yuexian.

Liu Yuexian was surprised by the call. Their relationship had always been lukewarm. There had been rumors that Shen Guodong was abusive toward her sister, but when she had stayed at their home recently, he had seemed surprisingly decent. She had suspected he was just putting on an act, so she had been planning to visit again soon to see how her sister was truly faring.

"Brother-in-law? Why are you calling me?" she asked.

"I was just wondering if you were free lately."

"I don't have any time. I'm busy studying for my certification."

Shen Guodong was puzzled. "Certification? What kind of certification?"

"How about this? I’ll come over for dinner tonight, and we can talk then. I’m a bit busy right now." With that, she hung up.

Shen Guodong stood there, stunned. "This girl... she actually dared to hang up on me. Has she forgotten who her brother-in-law is?" He shook his head, suspecting she was up to something. She wouldn't have offered to come over unless she was brewing some kind of trouble. The last time she visited, she had been incredibly difficult, and he had only survived the encounter because his reincarnation had changed his temperament and he had treated Liu Yueru with such care.

He then called Liu Yueru at her office, just as she was finishing her class.

"Hello, who is this?"

"It’s me, darling."

"Oh! Why are you at home, Guodong? Aren't you at the factory?"

"Yuexian is coming over for dinner tonight. Could you stop by the market and pick up some groceries on your way home?"