Chapter 5

Since that day when we parted on bad terms outside the factory manager's office, Lin Wentao seemed to deliberately provoke me by publicly pairing up with Li Xiangyun.

At noon, while I was having lunch in the cafeteria, a commotion erupted at the entrance.

I looked up to see Li Xiangyun clinging to Lin Wentao's arm, sporting a deliberately smug smile.

She intentionally sat across from me, pulling Lin Wentao along.

"Oh, isn't this Ling Shuang? I heard you're resigning. Is it because you can't make it here anymore?" she taunted.

I continued eating slowly, not even bothering to lift my gaze.

Lin Wentao pretended to dissuade her, but his eyes kept darting toward me.

"Xiangyun, don't say that. Maybe she has better opportunities elsewhere, " he said.

"Her?" Li Xiangyun scoffed, "What's she going to do, coming from an embroidery background?"

I swallowed the last bite of my meal, picked up my tray, and stood up.

In my past life, these words would have upset me so much I couldn't eat for days. Now, I couldn't care less about their antics.

As I started to leave, Lin Wentao suddenly called out to me, "Chen Lingshuang!

Next month, Xiangyun and I are going to Shanghai. Want us to bring you anything?"

Without turning back, I waved dismissively, "No need, have fun on your trip."

Leaving the cafeteria, I headed straight to the library.

Lately, I had been gathering information on doing business in the South, particularly the policies of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

Opportunities for change and growth were on the horizon, and I intended to seize this opportunity.

On the weekend, I tried setting up a small stall at the market near the factory, selling small goods like electronic watches and stockings from the South.

To my surprise, business was exceptionally good; I made half a month's salary in just one day.

"Boss, your goods are quite trendy, even better than what's in the department stores, " a young woman remarked as she paid.

I smiled, saying nothing.

In my past life, I knew nothing about this; I only clung to the meager salary from the textile factory, giving it all to Lin Wentao.

Now, looking back, I realize how foolish I was.

As I packed up my stall, I noticed Lin Wentao and Li Xiangyun standing not far away.

Li Xiangyun looked at me with disdain, while Lin Wentao frowned, lost in thought.

In a few breaths, they were right in front of me.

"Oh, look who's become a market trader? Want me to give you some business?"Li Xiangyun mocked.

I ignored her, continuing to pack up my things.

Lin Wentao pulled at her sleeve, urging her to leave, but she shook him off.

"Why leave?" she snapped, pulling out several ten-yuan bills and waving them in my face.

"This should be enough to buy everything on your stall, right? You poor thing."

I paused my work, looking up at her.

"Li Xiangyun, how long do you think your father can support you? Three years? Five?"

Her face changed. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing, " I replied calmly, packing the last item into my bag. "Just a reminder-depending on others is unreliable, they won't always be there for you."

With that, I picked up my bag and walked away, leaving Li Xiangyun fuming on the spot.

Lin Wentao stood frozen, watching me with a complex expression.

Back home, I counted the day's earnings and reviewed the business materials sent from Shenzhen.

At this rate, in two months, I would have enough savings to head to the South.

Outside, the sound of a car horn interrupted my thoughts. I peeked through the curtains to see Li Xiangyun's newly bought Santana car, a popular model in China at the time.

Lin Wentao sat in the passenger seat, glancing in my direction.

I quickly drew the curtains and returned to my business plans.

Let them be; nothing would stand in the way of my path to making money.