Traveling back to 1952, starting a comeback from a relief station

Wang Anping raised his hand and made a few simple gestures:

"Move the counter to the middle of the store, with the staff standing inside. The fabrics can be laid directly on the counter, allowing customers to touch and choose them themselves. This saves you the trouble of moving fabrics back and forth, and it's more efficient."

Hearing his words, Chen Xueru's eyes shone even brighter.

As I imagined the scene, I became more and more excited, feeling that the idea was just too good to pass up.

These days, many shops don't dare to do this, simply because they're afraid things will get stolen. For example, small items like candy and preserved fruit are easily stolen, but fabric is different.

They are all cut by the foot and priced by the piece.

No one would dare to run away with just a piece of cloth—that would be treating the police patrolling the streets like decorations.

"Anping, what were you thinking? How could you come up with such a brilliant idea!"

The more Chen Xueru thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

"I think this has potential. Let me think it over again... or should we just go for it?"

"It's the off-season now, so we'll take this opportunity to tidy up and renovate the shop so we can reopen just in time for the spring sales."

Chen Xueru has always been bold; once she makes up her mind, she can't wait to take action.

Wang Anping waved his hand:

"No rush."

"Actually, I think you should consider buying the house in the backyard?"

"If we can really take it over, we can build a door connecting the shop and the backyard, use the backyard as a fabric warehouse, move the sewing machines there, and set up a small workshop where we can cut fabric and make clothes."

"This makes it more convenient, with the shop in the front and the workshop in the back."

Chen Xueru sighed with a frustrated expression:

"Why wouldn't I want to!"

"But the person in the backyard disagrees."

"I tried to contact him several times before, but I only met him once. He refused on the spot, and I haven't seen him since. I don't know what he does. He's very mysterious."

Chen Xueru just made a casual complaint, but Wang Anping's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He suddenly remembered that although the original plot was set several years later, it had vaguely mentioned that there was an enemy agent living in Chen Xueru's backyard, but he had been arrested before the plot began.

These days, people are shouting slogans about catching enemy spies everywhere on the streets, and it's not just empty talk—there are actually quite a few enemy spies.

After all, the country had only been established for less than two years.

Although several crackdowns have been carried out, most of the enemy agents have been identified.

But there might still be some bald men or Japanese soldiers hiding in Beijing, each one deeply entrenched.

Every now and then, you'd hear news of another enemy spy being unearthed somewhere.

From Chen Xueru's words, one can guess that the enemy spies in the backyard have not yet been discovered.

Wang Anping's mind immediately started racing:

This isn't some freebie that just popped into our door!

Putting everything else aside, making such a great contribution will definitely boost one's reputation significantly.

He coughed lightly and said:

"When I have some free time, I'll go to the backyard with you and ask again."

Chen Xueru nodded quickly.

She had felt that the person in the backyard was a bit strange, and she really didn't want to go looking for him alone. But thinking that Wang Anping had managed to subdue a thug wielding a weapon yesterday, Chen Xueru felt much more confident with him by her side.

Looking at Wang Anping, Chen Xueru felt even more that this man was formidable.

She was thinking about something that had been bothering her lately.

He opened his mouth and asked:

"Anping, there have been rumors lately that our shops will also be subject to public-private partnership, and the shops will no longer belong to us and will be confiscated."

"Recently, many shop owners have been contacting me privately."

"We are preparing to form a federation."

"We'll stand together and resist the confiscation. Do you think I should get involved?"

"You're working in the neighborhood work group, have you heard?"

Wang Anping glanced at Chen Xueru, surprised that she had told him something so important. Was she trying to find out what was going on?

He wasn't wrong.

Chen Xueru really thought so.

However, upon hearing that those people were going to unite in resistance, Wang Anping laughed:

"They're overestimating themselves. Those capitalists have all been overthrown, but they're quite bold and dare to think such things."

"At that time, I'm afraid they'll all be hanging from the streetlights."

"Public-private partnership is an inevitable trend."

"However, this is not something that needs to be resolved right now."

"There is still time before it is fully implemented. As long as we make some preparations before it is fully implemented, we may not lose much. Moreover, if we make arrangements in advance, we will have a chance to recover our losses later."

Wang Anping's understated remarks are based on a historical perspective.

But in Chen Xueru's eyes, the way he spoke so easily, as if he had everything under control, gave people a mysterious and unpredictable feeling.

Chen Xueru pondered for a moment, then said seriously:

"You came up with this idea, and you've helped me so much."

"We'll reopen the store once the renovations are complete."

"I'll give you shares."

Wang Anping was slightly taken aback.

However, he quickly realized that Chen Xueru intended to bind herself to him.

I'll have a share in the store then, so I naturally won't stand idly by if anything happens.

Wang Anping smiled and said:

"That's a mistake."

Chen Xueru rolled her eyes at Wang Anping:

"Don't worry, I know you want to move up. This is a private matter between the two of us, nobody knows."

Wang Anping didn't reply, but he knew exactly what was going on.

He knew that in the coming years, privately owned shops would not put any effort into this store, nor would they leave any written agreements that could implicate him.

He didn't want to work himself to death in this life, and Chen Xueru was a good partner.

She was capable and knew the general situation of the raging torrent.

Cooperation is a good option.

Just then, he heard guests greeting him from outside. Wang Anping had finished his business and was about to leave.

But as soon as he reached the office door, he heard a familiar voice. He peeked out and quickly withdrew.

Seeing his expression, Chen Xueru asked curiously:

"What's wrong?"

Wang Anping whispered:

"Two people have come in from outside."

"Go and find out for me what the relationship is between these two, and what they do for a living."

Chen Xueru was puzzled, but didn't ask any further questions. She added some hot water to Wang Anping's cup before getting up to go out and greet the guests.

Hmm...who said this woman can't take care of people!

After a while, Chen Xueru finally pushed the door open and came in.

He gave Wang Anping a strange look.

He opened his mouth and said:

"Those two just left."

"I subtly inquired, and they said they were husband and wife. But they didn't seem like it to me."

"Judging from her accent, that woman wasn't from Beijing. She was fair-skinned and had a charming look in her eyes. The man seemed to be bewitched by her."

"The two said they were planning to go back to their hometown and wanted to have some clothes made to take back with them."

"What, you know him?"

Wang Anping nodded:

"That man lives in my courtyard house."

"However, his wife passed away several years ago, leaving behind a son and a daughter."

"I reckon he wants to go with this woman."

That's right, the two people outside are He Daqing with a woman.

Based on the timeline.

I'm guessing.

That woman is most likely the White Widow.

It seems that He Daqing has made up his mind to run away with Widow Bai!