CHAPTER 497: CHAPTER 499: HIRING A DESIGNER

In the evening, Jiaxing Gao came home, looking very pale. Although he knew his sister Yongfang Gao was a troublemaker, every time he faced her it was a new low, and to him, Yongfang Gao was beyond help.

First, Jiaxing Gao took Xiao Mei to The Fangs to introduce her, and then he went to the Feng family. As one would expect, the Feng family was quite cautious upon seeing Jiaxing Gao.

But Yongfang Gao didn’t have this awareness, even acting as if her being the mother wasn’t a big deal, and that Jiaxing, her uncle, was too intrusive.

With Yongfang Gao undermining him, one could imagine the attitude of the Feng family, but Jiaxing Gao still used his status to warn them, and that was all he could do.

After hearing Jiaxing Gao’s words, Xia Xiao thought Yongfang Gao was foolish. A wife marrying into her husband’s family and valuing his family was nothing to blame, but Yongfang Gao was obsessively influenced by the Feng family.

Logically, with a promising brother like Jiaxing Gao, who made the Feng family cautious, Yongfang Gao could have used her status to her advantage, or even borrow some influence.

But obviously, Yongfang Gao didn’t. Just because she couldn’t have children for the Feng family, she lived like a sinner and even lost her sense of self.

On the third day, Xia Xiao and Jiaxing Gao’s family set out for the Capital, with He Xuewu joining them.

When they returned, Yang Xuehua, heavily pregnant, came out to meet them. Yu Shijie, busy with work, had sent her over.

Xuehua was delighted to see Xia Xiao and her group return. Xia Xiao also took the opportunity to inquire about the pregnancy.

"This child is so well-behaved." Yang Xuehua said tenderly, her condition had been good throughout the pregnancy, and she hadn’t suffered much morning sickness, with a healthy appetite to boot.

Xia Xiao touched Yang Xuehua’s belly and said, "Such a good child, looking out for Mom."

After a simple cleanup, Xia Xiao went to cook, Yang Xuehua wanted to help but Xia Xiao refused, so she just took a book and watched from outside the kitchen.

After cooking a simple pot of porridge and a few side dishes, the family ate and sat for a while before going to rest, tired from the travel.

The next day, Jiaxing Gao took He Xuewu to the school. Since school hadn’t started yet, He Xuewu just familiarized himself with the school and then returned, temporarily staying in the room of Feiyang and Feiyue.

He Xuewu was very diligent, helping Zheng Xianghong start the fire early in the morning. Although he couldn’t make buns, his eagerness to help with moving and lifting was apparent.

Zheng Xianghong, despite finding Li Shengmei, annoying, admitted her sons were quite decent. Xia Xiao also had a good impression of He Xuewu, who was hardworking and knew his limits.

Since school hadn’t started yet, Xia Xiao was designing her own drafts, having purchased a sewing machine, she fiddled around by herself.

Xia Xiao had seen her mother use one in a previous life, so she knew how to simply sew clothing.

This time when Xia Xiao bought fabrics, she first made clothes for the children. Feeling satisfied with the outcome, she made some for Zheng Xianghong, Gao Guoqiang, Jiaxing Gao, and even Jiazhi Gao and Weilin.

During that summer vacation, Xia Xiao spent half her time tinkering with those fabrics. When Yang Xuehua received the clothes Xia Xiao made for her child, she was quite moved.

Xia Xiao’s children always wore hand-me-downs. After the smaller ones like Feiteng and Feiling outgrew them, she passed them to her sister’s children.

So now Xia Xiao was making new ones for Yang Xuehua’s child, and intrigued by the sewing machine, Yang expressed a desire to learn with Xia Xiao, planning to make clothes for her child and Yu Shijie later.

After school started, Xia Xiao and Yang Xuehua returned to school, He Xuewu also reported to the Agricultural University, where his food and lodging were arranged.

Once Xia Xiao’s tailoring skills became marketable, she hung a sign outside her home for tailor-made clothing, naturally accepting cloth tickets for payment. Of course, customers could bring their own fabric, paying only the labour charge, but if she provided the fabric it was more expensive.

Xia Xiao bought some cloth tickets privately from Ning Hui and The Fangs, and also had some from Jiaxing Gao.

Thus, Xia Xiao did make some earning, albeit modest.

With the needlework skills, Zheng Xianghong also helped Xia Xiao quite a bit.

Yang Xuehua also helped Xia Xiao drum up business. Her pregnancy made her face even gentler. Previously somewhat aloof, she now appeared very approachable, quickly making good relations with many classmates.

Yu Shijie was also very supportive, often coming to pick up Yang Xuehua and always bringing some sweets, asking everyone to keep an eye on her, making Yang Xuehua a protected member among her classmates.

People were genuinely kind and hearty; as long as you sincerely interact, others will sincerely respond.

Initially, because of her status, Yang Xuehua didn’t fit in, but now that she sincerely interacted with classmates, she was very well-received.

Unlike Yang Xuehua, although Xia Xiao didn’t mix thoroughly with the classmates, she maintained good relations with them. Consequently, not only did Zheng Xianghong’s breakfast sell well, but also Xia Xiao’s tailoring business was thriving.

"Comrade Xia Xiao," one day after class, a female classmate approached Xia Xiao.

Xia Xiao recognized her as Lu Mingzhu, a classmate from the same department, but they weren’t close, "Comrade Lu Mingzhu, what’s up?"

"It’s like this, I’ve seen the clothes you make, they are quite good, and the styles are novel. My dad is the manager of a garment factory, and the factory is hiring designers, would you be interested?" Lu Mingzhu asked directly.

Xia Xiao was surprised but followed Lu Mingzhu to learn more about the opportunity. After Lu Mingzhu left, Xia Xiao picked up Yang Xuehua and discussed the matter with her.

"Lu Mingzhu seems alright, at least she didn’t just see your designs and have the factory produce them without consulting you. You’ve been wanting to start a garment factory, try taking this opportunity," Yang Xuehua encouraged.

Xia Xiao nodded, agreeing, as it was a good chance to learn more by entering a garment factory.

Lu Mingzhu had observed Xia Xiao for a while. Her father as the factory manager knew that the current garment factory was not performing well and the styles were outdated; that’s why when Lu Mingzhu saw Xia Xiao’s new designs, she approached her.