Chapter 25: Engaging in Agent Purchases in the Seventies

Gu Hanchuan endured the massage as though he were being tortured, his collar already soaked with sweat by the end.

“Chief, I’ve been exercising for half the day, so why are you sweating more than I am?” Qian Lai looked at him with a knowing smile, aware that his nerves were the culprit.

“Tomorrow, let’s just have a male nurse come.” Gu Hanchuan still couldn’t face it—the whole process was simply too much to bear.

Noticing he was drenched, Qian Lai fetched hot water to wipe him down.

“Is the chief dissatisfied with my technique, or did I miss the right acupressure points?”

“You! You know very well why.” Gu Hanchuan’s cheeks flushed again.

“Or is it just because of the difference between men and women?”

He nodded.

“Then tomorrow I’ll dress as a man.”

“You! Now you’re just trying to tease me, aren’t you? If I know it’s you, I just can’t relax.”

“If you’ve chosen me to take care of you, please try to get rid of those old-fashioned ideas as soon as possible. Only then can we make smooth progress with your rehabilitation. If you keep being so timid and overthinking everything, you’ll only delay your recovery. Unless, of course, you have improper thoughts about me.”

Qian Lai stood righteous and unyielding, like a little leopard cub defending herself—adorably fierce.

To her, Gu Hanchuan was the perfect test subject. She only hoped he would reach the ideal condition for her experiments as soon as possible.

“I have not the slightest improper thought about you.” The phrase itself startled Gu Hanchuan.

“Then stop making such a fuss. I’m a woman and I don’t mind, so what are you worried about?” With that, Qian Lai picked up a basin of dirty clothes and left without looking back.

She tossed all the laundry into the washing machine in her space, then carried the various utensils stained with medicinal residue to the designated washroom for cleaning.

As she was busily scrubbing, a middle-aged woman carrying utensils entered.

“Hello, I’m Wu Mei, the wife of Lv Daxin from the ward next to Deputy Commander Gu’s. Are you Deputy Commander Gu’s fiancée?”

The woman looked to be around forty, with a gentle face.

Qian Lai replied politely, “I’m his distant cousin. My name is Qian Lai, ma’am.”

Oh, a cousin—a distant one at that. Wu Mei guessed the young woman was just too shy to admit to being the fiancée. She smiled knowingly.

Her gaze fixed on the pink rubber gloves on Qian Lai’s hands. “May I ask where you bought those gloves? I’ve never seen them at the department store.”

Of course she hadn’t—these gloves came from the future.

“Do you like these gloves?” Qian Lai asked.

Wu Mei sighed, “I always have to help Old Lv with the washing, and look at my hands—cracked and sore. Now I have to wash these medicine bottles three times a day. I really worry about the chemicals having some side effect.”

“That’s true, ma’am. I worry about that too. These gloves are very useful—thin and flexible. Here, try them.” Qian Lai deftly removed her gloves and let Wu Mei try them on. After scrubbing a few bottles, Wu Mei was full of praise.

“The army used to distribute some rubber gloves, but they’re only good for washing vegetables. For delicate work like this, those gloves are too thick and clumsy. Where did you get these? How much are they? I’d like to buy a few pairs.”

Qian Lai’s mind spun quickly and she came up with an idea. “These aren’t available locally. The rubber is special, and the craftsmanship is different. I bought them from out of town. But if you want some, I can help you purchase them.”

“Purchase them for me?”

“Yes, I can buy them on your behalf. Tomorrow, we can ask the other families if they need any too. If there’s enough interest, we can make a group order.”

“A group order?”

“It means if there are more people, we can negotiate a discount. I paid six yuan a pair, but if we order in bulk, maybe it’ll be five, or even less.”

“Oh my goodness, that’s wonderful! I’ll help you collect names and hand you the list.”

Wu Mei’s efficiency was beyond expectation. In just a day and a night, she had canvassed both buildings and compiled a list of all the families in the convalescent home.

What surprised Qian Lai even more was the demand: two hundred and thirty pairs.

“Little Qian, some people missed out this time, and some want to wait and see. Here’s the first round of orders. See if we can get a group discount. And I told everyone it’s six yuan a pair, but we’ll settle up after adding shipping and your service fee—refund any excess if there’s any. Does that work for you?”

“Two hundred and thirty pairs at six yuan each, that’s 1,380 yuan. Please double-check.”

Qian Lai took the thick stack of bills and gave Wu Mei a thumbs-up.

“No need to count, ma’am, you really are capable. I trust you completely. When the goods arrive, you’ll get your share for all your hard work.”

Wu Mei was overjoyed—she hadn’t expected to earn a little extra just by running errands.

Qian Lai hadn’t imagined she’d end up running a side business in the seventies.

If this first batch worked out, diapers, waterproof pads, and so on could all find a new market here in the future.

Wu Mei was outgoing and seemed to have a knack for sales; with more observation, she might just become a valuable assistant.

“Ma’am, I’ll contact my friend today and have her ship the goods as soon as possible.”

“One more thing. I noticed your hands were cracked yesterday, so I brought some hand cream I mixed myself. Try it.” She handed Wu Mei a jar infused with spring water, scooped out a little, and gently rubbed it onto the back of Wu Mei’s hand.

The “enhanced” cream immediately made her skin supple.

Wu Mei exclaimed, “No wonder your hands are so fair and soft! You have so many good things. How much is it? I’ll buy it from you.”

“This one’s a gift. If it works well for you, I’ll get more next time.”

The two women were engrossed in conversation, leaving Gu Hanchuan in the ward growing anxious.

Tan Yunhai searched the entire compound for Qian Lai and finally found her plotting with Wu Mei in the central garden.

“Oh my! Little Qian, what are you doing here? Deputy Commander Gu has asked me where you are eight times this morning!”

Qian Lai slapped her forehead, having forgotten about Gu Hanchuan completely. She quickly pocketed the money and dashed inside. “Is the chief looking for me? Is it urgent?”

“What could be urgent? I think he’s just afraid you’ll disappear. It’s written all over his face. Been around long enough to recognize that look. But he won’t admit it, stubborn as ever. Refused breakfast this morning, just waited for you. I tell you, he can’t do without you now!”

Panting, Qian Lai hurried to the ward door, finding it very quiet inside. She tiptoed in, peeking apologetically through the crack.

She saw Gu Hanchuan struggling to transfer himself from the bed to the wheelchair.

His upper body was strong enough, and the wheelchair was securely positioned; in theory, he should have been able to make the transfer.

If he succeeded, it would greatly boost his confidence. This step was crucial.

Qian Lai stood motionless at the door, holding her breath and willing him on.

Gu Hanchuan adjusted the wheelchair’s position, braced himself with both hands, and shifted to the edge of the bed. Gripping the armrests, he pushed hard from behind, lifting his upper body completely off the mattress.

By now, he was drenched in sweat. After all, it was his first attempt—the movements unfamiliar, each step uncharted territory.

At the critical moment, the wheelchair’s center of gravity shifted slightly; it looked as if it would slide away, sending him crashing to the floor.

In a split second, Qian Lai lunged forward, grabbing the wheelchair just in time for Gu Hanchuan to land perfectly in the seat.

It was an epic achievement.

There were still flaws, but with practice, he would soon be able to transfer smoothly.

“Chief, are you in the wheelchair to come look for me?” Qian Lai, delighted for him, couldn’t resist teasing him playfully.