Chapter 8 — Forty-two Days of Confinement

I took a photo of the business license and saved it on my phone. Don't post to your friends circle, and don't tell anyone. But that day the baby seemed especially happy, crawling three times on the mat and smiling at me. I picked my child up and gave him a kiss. "Mom, I've opened a company. Later, I'll make money to support you." The child reached out and pulled my hair. "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts... Let go..." The second week after registering for the studio, I interviewed two designers. One is a girl who just graduated from an art academy, is very good at drawing hands, and has a quiet personality. The other person Has been doing e-commerce image design for three years, wants to change direction, has strong execution ability. I accept both. Initially cooperate on each project. They do the draft remotely, I control the direction, communicate with the customer and finalize the final version. After a month of getting used to it, performance more than doubled. Finally, I don't need to stay up until two in the morning anymore. At half past ten that night, the baby fell asleep. I sat in front of my desk, comparing this month's books. Four projects, earned one hundred and sixty thousand yuan. The last installment of the two projects will arrive next month. Combined with the previously accumulated amount, the number on the card exceeded five hundred thousand yuan. I looked at the balance on the screen, leaning back in my chair. Half a year ago, I was still the woman who was laid off by the company. My mother-in-law thinks I'm "free", my husband thinks I'm "good at staying home and taking care of the kids". Now, I'm raising a whole team by myself. The phone lights up. It's a group that To Vi pulled me into, the group name is "Bright people exchange group for local mother and baby brands." She mentioned my name: "Sister, I pulled you in. In the group are all founders of local brands related to mothers and babies, let's get acquainted." There were more than thirty people in the group. I didn't speak up. I first flipped through the chat history. Someone is talking about a local mother-baby industry exchange tomorrow. The organizing unit is the city's startup association. To Vi sent a private message: "Are you coming to the exchange tomorrow afternoon? Quite a few people I want to get to know you." "I'll go." "Okay, I'll come pick you up." I turned off the computer. When I got up and walked through the living room, I saw the fruit my mother-in-law brought a few days ago on the tea table. The mangoes were overripe. I selected them one at a time, threw away the damaged ones. Then I checked the baby's blanket and pulled it back for the baby. From tomorrow I have to dress a little more neatly. I can't always wear pajamas at home. The mother-and-child industry exchange was held in a hotel banquet hall in the city center. When I arrived, I was surprised by how large it was. There were about seventy or eighty people attending, with a row of guest name signs in the front row. To Vi pulled me in, greeting everyone as I walked. "This is Ms. Lam Van, the brand designer of Voi Khon Lon. The new packaging that everyone sees is made by her." People continuously reached out to me. "Hello, hello, I've heard of you for a long time." "Voi Con's identity is really excellent." "I've seen your work on my friends circle, always wanted to meet." I shook hands and chatted. Communicating with people doesn't feel very real. Half a year ago, I was squatting at home, breastfeeding and editing designs. Activity begins. The host introduced today's schedule, and several guests came up to share. When the third guest walked on stage, I recognized her. It's Tran Tuyet. She wore a neat suit and high heels and stepped onto the stage with a professional smile. "Hello everyone, I'm Tran Tuyet, brand planning director of Thanh Mieu Mother and Baby..." My hand stopped halfway to my mouth. Mother And Baby Thanh Mieu. It is the largest local mother and baby chain. When did Tran Tuyet change her job there? She spoke clearly about brand upgrades, distribution-channel strategy, and customer awareness. The presentation is very delicately made. Midway through, she showed a photo of a sample project. I stared at that photo. It's a set of packaging designs for a mother and baby brand. The color combination, layout, font selection, and illustration style were extremely similar to the set I made for Baby Elephant Growing Up. To Vi beside me saw it too. She pulled my sleeve, lowered her voice: "Sister, her project..." "I saw it." Tran Tuyet continued to speak on stage: "This image system is the first project I chaired after joining the company. The effect is very good, the rate of bringing goods into the store increased by forty percent..." I sat under the stage, holding a mouthful of water in my mouth without swallowing. Led? That set of designs had been developed from the first idea to the finished product, with every stroke and line created by To Vi and me. To Vi's hand pressed hard against my knee. "Sister, don't rush. Wait for her to come down and then speak." I put the glass of water on the table. "I'm not in a hurry." Tran Tuyet finished explaining. Below applauded. She walked down the stage with a confident smile, shaking hands and chatting with those sitting in the front row. She didn't see me.