Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 132 - 131 Confidence

Chapter 132: Chapter 131 Confidence

Lin Qiu repeated the argument she had already discussed at home with her sister, explaining that their parents were gone, and it was only her and her siblings.

As for Lin Aiguo and those people, now that they had moved to the city to start a new life, they didn’t want to have anything to do with them.

So, they didn’t even want to mention them.

The old lady kept nodding gently as she listened and finally spoke up, "Come to me for a month to try it out, if I think you’re suitable, then you can formally learn!"

From the way she spoke and carried herself, the old lady thought the young girl didn’t seem bad, but whether she was skilled with her hands, could endure hardship, and had the discipline to stay seated, these things would only become clear when she started working.

Lin Xia and Lin Qiu smiled at each other, both feeling very pleased; it was good enough that someone was willing to give her a chance to try.

Lin Qiu thanked her profusely and then asked, "Auntie! When should I come over?"

She didn’t think the old lady was that scary.

"Tomorrow, be at my house by eight in the morning!"

"Alright! Auntie! I’ll definitely be on time!" Lin Qiu replied with a smile.

"I haven’t finished speaking, if I decide to take you on as a formal apprentice, the tuition fee will be thirty yuan, and you’ll need to bring your own sewing machine!"

She was used to her machine and didn’t like others using it.

Lin Qiu was startled; they didn’t have a sewing machine at home.

Lin Xia smiled and took over, "That’s fine! No problem!" These weren’t issues; she could come up with thirty yuan.

An old sewing machine might not be available right away, but she could look around to see if she could find a used one.

Sister He hadn’t expected her second aunt to be so easy to talk to this time, and she was happy for them too.

Upon leaving, Sister He told Lin Xia, "It seems your sister has really pleased my second aunt, she’s not usually one to keep people around easily!"

Naturally, Lin Xia and Lin Qiu were both very grateful to Sister He; without her, they would not have been accepted even if they had come to the door themselves.

After parting ways, the sisters headed towards home.

Lin Qiu worriedly asked, "Sis! We don’t have a sewing machine at home!" She had seen her sister agree so readily that she hadn’t dared to say anything else.

"What’s there to worry about! We’ll buy one! Xiaoqiu, we can’t afford a new one right now, but we’ll probably be able to find an old one!" Lin Xia was already figuring out where to find a used one.

Sewing machines were considered major purchases these days, one of the three big-ticket items for newlyweds, with a new one costing over a hundred yuan, money she didn’t have in abundance.

Lin Qiu wasn’t picky, "Sis! An old one is fine too, as long as it works! But if she really takes me on, there’s also the thirty yuan tuition fee!"

She knew her sister earned money from her street stall, but the thought of spending it pained her; it was her sister’s hard-earned money.

Lin Xia understood her sister’s thoughtful concerns and reassured her, "Xiaoqiu! You don’t need to worry about these things! All you need to do is perform well! The goods sold well before the new year, a few days of selling and I’ll earn it back!"

The hair clips and earrings she sold might look trivial, but they could earn her thirty to fifty cents each, and they added up with volume, turning into a decent profit.

Hearing this, Lin Qiu’s steps became lighter, "Sis! I’ll definitely work hard and learn well, and when the month is up, I won’t let her send me away!"

"Xiaoqiu! As long as you put your heart into it, she will definitely take you on," Lin Xia saw that the old lady was quite fond of Xiaoqiu, and besides, she would help with the work while learning there.

"Right! And once I learn how to work, I’ll take care of all the clothes for you and Dongzi! Oh, and also for big brother! I’ll make his too!"

Seeing the confident smile on her sister’s face, Lin Xia felt a sweetness in her heart as if she had tasted honey.

Lin Qiu now, if not completely transformed, was certainly a lot more self-confident than when she had been back at that other home, even her social interactions had grown bolder.

People are multifaceted and can also be honed; she believed that Lin Qiu would definitely improve further in the future.

Lin Xia, arm in arm with Lin Qiu, laughed heartily, "That’s great! Now we won’t have to worry about clothes and pants! When the season changes, I’ll make new outfits!"

"Yes! Sister! Once I finish my apprenticeship, I’ll open a tailor shop!"

"Sure! By then, my Xiaoqiu will be the little boss!"

The two chatted and laughed as they returned home and cooked together.

Lin Dong came back from school and, upon hearing that his second sister would start her apprenticeship tomorrow, jumped up with a joyful shout!

"Second sister! You and big sister are so efficient, huh?"

These past few days, his sisters had been running around trying to settle this matter without success. He, too, had been worried, feeling frustrated that he, as a student, was even more useless and couldn’t do a thing about it.

"It was also a stroke of luck. He Jie, who sells goods with me, her relative knows the craft, and then they saw your second sister, who is obviously clever and dexterous, so they took her on!"

Lin Xia looked at her younger brother, who had grown taller recently, and thought she would have to tiptoe to tousle his hair.

Fortunately, when she bought fabric to make his pants, she had left extra material at the hem. So now, with some adjustment, they could still fit.

Moreover, she could alter her big brother’s clothes for him to wear, which again saved a sum of money.

Lin Dong stood by the door, smiling at Lin Qiu, "I knew it! My second sister is skilled; those who didn’t take her in simply have poor eyesight!

Second sister! Learn well now, and later, when you open your tailor shop, you’ll be able to earn money from your work!"

Lin Qiu was slicing potatoes and looked up at Lin Dong with a smile, "My little brother now talks like a businessman!"

Lin Dong nodded with a smirk, "Of course! I’m influenced by big sister every day; I can’t help but pick up on it!"

Suddenly, Lin Xia asked, "Dongzi! Have you finished your homework?"

Lin Dong quickly moved back to his book bag, "Not yet! I’m on it right now!"

Lin Xia knitted and laughed; she had accomplished another plan.

Seeing her siblings’ lives on the right track, each with their own responsibilities, she was sure they would continue to do even better in the future.

The next day, while Lin Xia was at her stall, she asked He Jie where she might find a second-hand sewing machine.

He Jie told her about a spontaneously formed flea market, which might have one for sale, that was set up every Sunday right in front of the post office.

Lin Xia figured that Lin Qiu was still just helping out with odd jobs at the old lady’s and didn’t need a sewing machine yet, so she wasn’t in a rush.

When Sunday came, Lin Xia packed up her stall early and went straight to the place He Jie had mentioned.

When Lin Xia arrived, she saw stands on both sides of the road, selling comic books, used bicycles, and other items that were not many in number and mostly unused trinkets lying around at home.

Not many families were rich; most home furniture was handmade.

Back then, black and white televisions were just beginning to be purchased by some families, and if a family got a TV, nearly the whole street of neighbors wouldn’t hesitate to crowd into their house to watch it.

Lin Xia, following others who were browsing, took her time looking at each stall.

Indeed, there were two people selling used sewing machines, both seven or eight parts new.

After carefully observing the details, Lin Xia eventually settled on a Butterfly brand sewing machine that was seventy percent new.

She haggled with the seller and bought it for sixty-three yuan, and the seller also promised to deliver it to her home.