"Why not? Not only will I come, but I’ll bring my man with me. And when we have kids, I’ll bring them along too." Grace Winslow said brazenly, taking the vegetables from Irene Lynch’s hands.

Hayley and Lily Callahan had prepared gifts for Grace Winslow and Joanne Chase, as well as large red envelopes.

Joanne Chase was a bit overwhelmed by the gesture.

Grace Winslow, on the other hand, didn’t stand on ceremony. She accepted them graciously and then took out the gifts she had brought back from abroad to distribute.

"Why didn’t Ryan and the others come? I brought gifts for them too. The stuff over there is just so-so, not much better than what we have at home, so I didn’t buy a lot." Grace Winslow stuffed the various bags from her suitcase into Hayley’s and Lily Callahan’s arms, emptying more than half the case in an instant.

Joanne Chase had also prepared gifts for everyone.

After exchanging gifts and having dinner, Hayley and Lily Callahan were in no hurry to leave.

Grace Winslow told them about running into Dylan Lockwood that day and mentioned his proposal for a partnership.

"A partnership? Does that mean he’ll be taking a cut of our money?" Hayley’s first reaction was that the money she’d earned was about to be split.

Grace Winslow almost burst out laughing. "Hayley, if we partner with him, he’ll provide the factory and all that, plus distribution channels. We might be able to sell even more."

"But we don’t make mass-market goods. Our clothes aren’t mass-produced. What’s the point of working with him?"

"I still think it’s better for us to handle it ourselves. Right now, it’s just me and Lily. We discuss everything and make decisions together, which works out great."

"The tailors we hired are busy, sure, but we all get along really well."

"They can make money through us, and we can gain fame and profit from them. It’s mutually beneficial, without all that scheming and drama. If this President Lockwood really joins, I’m afraid some unpleasant things might start happening."

"You know me, I hate complications."

"Businessmen are a cunning lot." Hayley said after thinking for a moment, laying out her thoughts.

Lily Callahan’s thoughts were much the same.

The two sisters-in-law had gotten along for years. Their relationship was already rock-solid, like they were blood sisters. Even if they had the occasional disagreement, they would work it out quickly.

Bringing in an investor would just make them feel uncomfortable all around.

"I already told him that a partnership is basically impossible. But, setting the custom tailoring aside, we do need to build our own brand and reputation. Working with him still has its benefits."

"The markets in Portara, Oakhaven, and Glimmerfall would be very difficult for us to break into on our own. With his help, it would be much easier."

"My idea is this: we keep the custom tailoring business firmly in our own hands. Then we can open a separate production line to create high-end, boutique womenswear. It would be mass-produced, but not in huge quantities."

"We could make just ten or twenty pieces of each style per color. That’s definitely doable, and we could earn more that way."

"Hayley, if you’re worried about the designs, I specifically studied design while I was abroad. I can provide all the designs for the shop from now on. If you’re interested in this partnership, you should consider it."

"However, my suggestion is that we don’t let him get involved in management. He would only be responsible for distribution and production, and we’d split the profits according to a set ratio. That would prevent a lot of conflicts and trouble." Grace Winslow thought for a moment before sharing her idea with Hayley.

Hayley frowned, seriously considering Grace Winslow’s words.

She didn’t understand all these complicated business dealings, but she felt that what Grace Winslow said made a lot of sense.

"Alright, let’s talk to Mr. Lockwood about it at dinner tomorrow. It would be best if he agrees. If not, then forget it. It’s not like we absolutely have to make this money. We have enough to get by as it is; we’re not short on cash."

"Oh, right. For the past six months you’ve been gone, I’ve reinvested your share of the profits. I don’t have any cash to give you right now. You’re not mad, are you?"

"Why would I be mad at you? I don’t manage anything and I’m not bringing in money. Besides the initial capital I put in, all the money we’ve earned since is thanks to your hard work. You don’t have to give me a cut at all." Grace Winslow didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’We’re family; there’s no need to be so particular about it.’ she thought.

’Even if Hayley kept all the money for herself and didn’t give me any, I wouldn’t be angry.’

Hayley shot her a look. "How could I do that? We made an agreement from the very beginning. If I just swallowed all your money, what kind of person would that make me?"

"Anyway, if you want to see the account books, you can come and look at them later. Your share of the money... well, it’s already in the hundreds of thousands by now."

"That much?" Grace Winslow was stunned. "Wait, sister-in-law, you’re not kidding me, are you? Is our business really doing that well? Hundreds of thousands?"

"We’ve already opened eight branch stores. What do you think?"

"Our clothes aren’t like they were back in Prospera Town, selling for just eighty or a hundred apiece. Now, we sell a single dress for several hundred, sometimes even over a thousand."

"And we also sell matching bags, shoes, and jewelry."

"And don’t forget, you left us that batch of raw gemstones from home to handle before you went abroad, plus the ones you and Joy bought."

"All that stuff is money, and very valuable money at that."

"Your first and second brothers are also holding onto some of your money. When they get back, you can go ask them for it." Hayley poked Grace Winslow’s forehead, feigning annoyance.

Grace Winslow really hadn’t realized she was so wealthy now.

’A net worth of hundreds of thousands just like that, maybe even over a million?’

’In my past life, Caleb Forrest schemed endlessly and spent so much time, but his final assets were only a few million.’

’And it’s only just the beginning of 1980 right now. There’s still some time before the real economic reforms kick in.’

"Then I’ll go get the money from them later. I need to buy a few more houses." Grace Winslow calculated her current assets. ’In twenty years,’ she thought, ’I’ll definitely be a billionaire.’

"You’re just one person. What are you buying so many houses for? Can you even live in all of them?" Hayley looked at Grace Winslow, completely baffled.

Grace Winslow linked her arm with Hayley’s. "Of course they’re useful. Houses are only going to get more and more expensive. I have to buy more now while they’re cheap. I can guarantee you, in ten years, it won’t be so easy to buy a single apartment in Coronet."

"Hayley, you and my brother have two kids. I suggest you buy a few more places too. One for each of the kids, and one for you and my brother."

Hayley thought about it. Grace had never been wrong about the things she told her. When Grace told her to start the business, she made a fortune. Now that Grace was telling her to buy houses, there had to be a good reason.

She was already starting to calculate how she could get some money from Brandon Winslow to buy a few houses.