My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]-Chapter 193

Zhao Guihua and several other elderly women went to the hospital for a full-body check-up.

Surprisingly, despite their advanced age, none of them had any major health issues. Compared to the others, Yinlai was slightly weaker. He had been seriously injured by a pig when he was young, which had left him somewhat different from ordinary people.

Although he wasn't seriously ill this time, the doctor still recommended that he stay in the hospital for three days of observation and intravenous therapy, which would also serve as aperiod of rest. Yinlai was very obedient to the doctor's orders.

Zhao Guihua and the other elderly women were discharged first. They were in high spirits. They divided the goods among themselves; the styles had already been decided before the order was placed, so they simply split the items according to their previous agreement.

Zhao Guihua had the most goods. However, since Ming Mei had to work, Zhao Guihua had to involve her husband, Old Man Zhuang. With Lan Sihai away, Old Man Zhuang found staying at home boring and was happy to accompany his wife to the market.

The old couple became the main force in setting up shop.

As for Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei, although they had invested ten thousand yuan, the main force was Zhao Guihua, who invested the most. After some discussion, it was decided that Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei would only receive 20% of the profits this time.

Even with 20%, it wasn’t a small amount.

After all, both Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei had to work, so the main responsibility still fell on Zhao Guihua.

Zhao Guihua held a family meeting at home. She said, "For the next while, I’ll be busy setting up shop, so I won’t have much time to care for the house. Oldest daughter-in-law, you’ll be in charge of the household chores, helping with the kids after work and taking care of cooking. Also, the laundry and other chores will be your responsibility. Any problems?"

Liang Meifen didn’t dare to express any objections. Her mother-in-law was tough, her sister-in-law was tough, her own family couldn’t be relied on, so she could only remain steady and obedient.

She said, "Okay, I’ll take care of all those chores."

Zhao Guihua nodded slightly in satisfaction, "Let’s set this for a month for now. I’ll give you one hundred yuan."

Clang!

Liang Meifen fell off her stool, looking at Zhao Guihua in shock, stammering, "O-o-one h-h-hundred?!"

Zhuang Zhiyuan, who was beside her, was also astonished, and quickly said, "Mom, what are you doing? We’re all family, helping with chores is natural. How can you be paying us? If you do that, it seems like we only care about money."

Zhao Guihua replied, "You’re paid according to the work you do. I’ve always been clear about these things. This matter is settled, don’t argue. Oldest daughter-in-law, you’ll also take care of the laundry for Old Three’s family. Oh, and keep an account of the money spent on groceries and cooking, that’s separate."

Liang Meifen was in a daze, nodding absent-mindedly, unsure if she really understood.

Zhao Guihua glanced at her, knowing it didn’t matter whether she understood or not; as long as Oldest son understood, it was fine.

She looked at Zhuang Zhiyuan, who said earnestly, "Mom, whatever you say is what it is, I’ll follow your lead."

In her past life, she had always aimed for fairness, but everyone felt things were unfair. In this life, she just went with her own standards, and surprisingly, every child felt she was being just, obeying her happily.

It was really quite messed up.

But it didn’t matter.

After living so long, Zhao Guihua had come to terms with everything.

She said, "Old Three, all these small chores at home will be handled by your eldest sister-in-law. After work, hurry up and go sell clothes. Don’t think that just because you invested some money, you can directly get your share. Both of you have to go sell clothes."

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "We understand."

Zhao Guihua’s gaze fell on the children. Hutou and Xiao Yanzi both firmly said, "We’ll attend classes as usual."

Zhao Guihua nodded. She looked at Hutou with a tinge of melancholy; the boy just wasn’t cut out for studying. But as his grandmother, she didn’t say much. She then turned to the two little ones.

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan immediately said firmly, "We’ll study hard. After school, we’ll practice our martial arts and go to the Culture Palace on time."

Even though they were only in elementary school, they were very busy children.

Although the school curriculum wasn’t heavy, besides practicing martial arts, they also learned the cello at the Culture Palace. Additionally, the kids had to find time to go to the City Library every week. So even though they were young, they were quite busy.

Fortunately, these were things the children enjoyed, and since all their friends were doing them, they didn’t feel like a burden.

Children like to play, but they also have a little competitive streak.

Everyone has something they’re learning, and they naturally hope to do well.

"If you come back late one day, tell your eldest aunt, and she’ll come pick you up."

"Okay!" The little ones replied crisply.

Although Tuantuan and Yuanyuan had quite a bit to do, they were the easiest to manage in the family, being so young. Mainly, as long as their safety was ensured, everything was fine.

Zhao Guihua said, "I’ll give you each a T-shirt to wear from the ones I’m selling."

"Nai, I’ve gotten so many new clothes this year." Hutou said cheerfully, unaware of his upcoming college entrance exam in a couple of months. The adults were all worried, fearing he wouldn’t make it, but he showed no concern, just enjoying life.

Zhuang Zhiyuan said, "You’re a boy, why are you talking about new clothes? Your main task now is the college entrance exam."

Back in the day, he hadn’t been able to go to university, and he was really hoping his son could fulfill that dream.

Although having his daughter get in would also be great, Zhuang Zhiyuan still held a bit of old-fashioned thinking. He felt that having a son go to college would bring more honor to the family. He felt anxious whenever he saw his son being carefree.

Hutou: "..."

Despite the looming college entrance exam, Hutou didn’t feel much pressure. He’d always been like this, honest and simple. He wouldn’t do anything out of the ordinary, nor was he particularly ambitious.

In most families, facing such tiger-like parents constantly nagging about going to university, one might feel immense pressure and possibly suffer from depression. But Hutou remained calm and composed. He ate, drank, and enjoyed himself as always.

He even casually told his dad, "Dad, our acting teacher said I have no talent for acting."

Zhuang Zhiyuan, hearing this, almost coughed up blood.

Of course, he didn’t want his son to become an actor, but acting was the easiest shortcut Hutou could take. Without this, it would be very difficult for him to get into university. Zhuang Zhiyuan restrained himself from exploding, not because he wasn’t angry, but because his mother was very protective of the children. If he got angry over such matters, his mother would surely scold him.

Though he was already middle-aged, he still feared his mother.

He took a deep breath and asked quietly, "Then what are you going to do? Are you still studying?"

This question was asked through gritted teeth. Zhuang Zhixi, Ming Mei, and even the little ones, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, could hear the grinding of teeth from their eldest uncle.

Eldest uncle was usually a kind and gentle man, easygoing and agreeable, but once it came to Hutou’s studies, he transformed into a fire-breathing dragon.

The two little ones watched their uncle eagerly, feeling that if Hutou didn’t answer well, their uncle might bite someone.

Hutou seemed completely unaware of his father’s rage, saying, "I’m planning to take the photography department exams. I’m not cut out for acting, but the photography department is also considered arts, and my teacher said I have some talent in that area."

He proudly raised his head.

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "..."

Inhale, exhale!

Exhale, inhale!

Don’t get mad at Hutou!

Don’t!

"You’re about to take the arts exam, and now you’re telling me you want to switch to photography?! Are you trying to…"

"Ahem!" Zhao Guihua coughed, interrupting her son’s words. She said calmly, "Given the situation now, what else can you do but let him be? I’ve thought about it, let Hutou perform as he can; if he gets in, fine, if not, that’s okay too."

She smiled, "I talked to Zhixin about this. If he doesn’t make it into university, then have her husband arrange for him to join the army. That’s a good way out too."

"Ah!" Hutou widened his eyes in disbelief, stammering, "D-d-do I have t-t-to join the army?!"

He was shocked.

From a young age, he had always been undisciplined, but he had heard from his cousins that military life was incredibly strict and arduous. After all, his two cousins had grown up in a military compound, so they knew better than anyone. He was completely stunned, pointing at himself and stammering, "Me... me?"

"Yes, you."

Hutou was truly frightened, thoroughly frightened.

Although every boy has a dream of becoming a soldier, Hutou knew himself well enough. He had always been a carefree child, and his family lived comfortably, so he wasn’t the type to strive relentlessly. Even the tutor found this out: Hutou didn’t have the drive of someone like Yinlai, who desperately wanted to change his life and rise above the rest. With Hutou’s comfortable life, there was no need for him to gamble everything on studying.

Because, even without all that, his life was already good.

However, seeing his grandmother's serious expression, Hutou suddenly straightened up and declared, "I’ll start studying now."

He didn’t have the drive to join the military.

So he decided to focus on getting into university; if he failed, he would have to enlist. If that was the case, he had to work hard!

As long as he didn’t collapse from studying, he would keep pushing himself to the limit!

Hutou asked, "By the way, are Dabo and Erbao planning to take the college entrance exam next year?"

These were his aunts’ twins.

Zhao Guihua replied, "Yes, they both want to attend military school, so they’re studying very hard."

Growing up in such an environment, they had never considered other paths.

Hutou raised his thumb, "Impressive!"

He couldn’t do it himself, but he admired his cousins for their determination.

"If you can’t get into university..."

"I’ll start studying now!"

Hutou was resolute, swiftly leaving without hesitation.

Zhao Guihua wondered, "What’s this kid thinking? Doesn’t he want to join the military?"

She wasn’t using reverse psychology; she genuinely considered this a fallback option. She never expected Hutou to reject it.

Xiao Yanzi calmly commented, "My brother can’t handle the hardship. Luckily, he knows he can’t handle it!"

Zhao Guihua: "... "

Liang Meifen was worried, saying, "Look at Hutou, he’s about to take the college entrance exam, and he’s like this. It’s so frustrating!"

Zhao Guihua replied, "Isn’t he motivating himself to study? Kids need to be pushed a bit. I just didn’t expect this to push him. Had I known, I would have said it sooner!"

"I don’t expect him to get into a top university, as long as he gets into a university, I’ll be satisfied."

Zhao Guihua didn’t quite agree with her son’s viewpoint. She said, "You couldn’t get into university yourself, and you’re forcing your son to do so? That’s a bit too much."

Zhuang ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍Zhiyuan said seriously, "Just because I couldn’t get in, I know how important it is to get into university now. His conditions are much better than ours were back then. This kid isn’t studying hard enough—that won’t do."

Then he looked at his daughter. "You too, study hard."

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

Xiao Yanzi replied, "I know."

She carried her books home to review. Although she was only in the first year of high school, the workload was still heavy.

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, the two young children, sat there as if nothing was their concern. Zhuang Zhiyuan solemnly said, "Kids, study hard, alright?"

"Got it, Uncle."

Zhao Guihua said, "Alright, let’s move on to discussing the clothing business."

Zhuang Zhiyuan said, "Mom, you guys go ahead. I’ll head back first. I’m leaving again tomorrow."

"Okay, Liang Meifen, go pack your husband’s things."

Zhuang Zhiyuan was well aware that his younger brother and mother had made some money from their business. Even if he didn’t pay attention, his wife did. However, he didn’t intend to get involved; he was more traditional and believed that a proper job was the righteous path. Business ventures like these didn’t suit him, nor did he think they were a sustainable path.

Of course, he wasn’t stopping his mother or younger brother from pursuing their ventures. They enjoyed the hustle, and it was good for his mother in her old age to have something to keep her busy. The older one gets, the less one can afford to be idle. As for his third brother, if he wasn’t causing trouble, he wouldn’t be himself.

Besides, they were already separated; he couldn’t really meddle in their affairs. So, whatever they wanted to do, they could go ahead, and as the eldest son, he would focus on providing the necessary support. After all, they were a dual-income family with a stable life, not rolling in wealth, but things were decent enough.

Liang Meifen liked to compare herself to others, but she didn’t dare to provoke her mother-in-law or Ming Mei. Plus, she wasn’t that gutsy, nor did she have the face to join them in selling goods, so she didn’t dwell on how much money they made.

Thinking about it too much only made her feel upset.

She was content just living her own life, and she thought it was good that way.

Zhao Guihua didn’t mind that the eldest son and his wife weren’t involved in the business. Whether they joined or not didn’t matter, but it had to be clarified from the start—don’t expect to join halfway. She called her third son, Zhuang Zhixi, to discuss. "The T-shirts I’ve ordered this time are all in large sizes. I figure at the same price, people would prefer something bigger. You know, back in the day, making clothes required fabric coupons and measurement, so the more fabric you needed, the more it cost. Now, with the same price, a larger size is definitely more attractive. After all, these clothes aren’t designed for any specific body type, so having some extra space doesn’t hurt…"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I understand."

Zhao Guihua continued, "The selling point here is the size. Let’s talk about the pricing. My cost isn’t too high, what do you think?"

Zhuang Zhixi suggested, "Let’s set the uniform price at twenty-two, with a minimum return of twenty. We’ll start selling like this, and if there’s competition or sales are average, we’ll adjust the price accordingly."

"Alright, I’ll go straight to Xidan tomorrow. You don’t need to look for me after work; just bring the clothes and head to the station to see how it goes."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Sounds good."

The mother and son discussed their plans, and Zhao Guihua wasn’t entirely sure how well the items would sell. But she felt optimistic. This time, the designs she ordered were quite unique, featuring some with panda patterns, which weren’t seen on the streets of Beijing. There were also some with lettering like "Great Wall Souvenir," "Forbidden City Souvenir," and "Beijing Welcomes You," which were similar to the T-shirts Zhuang Zhixi had brought back from other places. However, such merchandise wasn’t available locally yet.

After all, it had only been two years since the start of the reform and opening-up, and compared to the special economic zones and the surrounding areas, their region was still somewhat cautious. These T-shirts, which will be commonplace in the future, are still quite novel now.

Zhao Guihua had designed several features, and she was confident that they would attract interest.

However, such things rely on a thin layer of opportunity. When no one’s doing it, everyone can’t think of it, but once someone starts and sees how popular they are, they’ll quickly become ubiquitous. Fortunately, it’s 1982, and the spread isn’t as fast yet. As long as she’s quick enough, she can seize the first opportunity.

Zhao Guihua didn’t expect the cultural T-shirts to remain popular for the next twenty years or to start a clothing empire. As the saying goes, one should wear a hat that fits their head size. She didn’t think she was capable enough.

People with the courage, determination, and education aren’t necessarily making a fortune, so what could an old woman with only experience achieve?

Fortunately, this was an era where even a pig could fly if they caught the right wind.

Zhao Guihua said, "We have to be quick. If it sells well, others will follow."

Old Man Zhuang, nodding beside her, agreed, "Yes, I went fishing the other day and saw a young man setting up a stall selling bell-bottom pants."

Zhao Guihua replied, "...That certainly won’t sell well."

Old Man Zhuang asked in surprise, "How do you know it won’t sell?"

Zhao Guihua was speechless, saying, "Just think about it. The people fishing there are all old men, and the youngest are middle-aged. How could they be interested in bell-bottom pants? These are for the young crowd. If something doesn’t sell in one place, we need to move quickly and change locations. Don’t stick to it."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Got it!"

As they discussed these matters, Aunt Zhou came banging on the door. Zhao Guihua exclaimed, "Why don't you just dismantle my door altogether? Who knocks like that?"

Aunt Zhou replied, "Come over here, Lao Zhao. Give us some advice. How do you think we should divide and sell better?"

Zhao Guihua, pulled outside, muttered in complaint, "What do I owe you? You're making money, why not share it with me? And now you call on me for advice."

Aunt Zhou just chuckled.

She quickly led Zhao Guihua to her house, where several others were gathered.

Zhao Guihua sighed and said, "You can't keep relying on me every time. What I say isn't always accurate. You need to have your own thoughts, otherwise, how can you make money?"

"Should we also sell at Xidan?" Aunt Wang asked.

Zhao Guihua patiently explained, "If you want to sell more, you need to go to the right places. Generally, women buy these kinds of things. You can go to the gates of large factories where the workers know each other and might even buy in groups. Of course, Xidan is also an option, but go there on weekends. Don't all crowd into one market; distribute yourselves. Like at the gate of our machinery factory. Even though there are more men than women, some women work there, and if they gather and create a lively atmosphere, men will become curious too. They might not know the price but mention it at home, and that could increase business the next day. Also, clothing factories – you shouldn't sell outside just any clothing factory gate; precisely at those gates, it's better. There are more women, and they know the prices. If you offer them slightly cheaper than the supply stores, it will definitely sell well. And food factories... you can go there too. With just a few items, you won't have trouble selling."

"Yes, yes, yes."

In reality, they could have figured these things out with some thought, but being beginners, they were all nervous, afraid the goods might get stuck with them. So Zhao Guihua was willing to offer more advice.

She said, "Once you've decided, act quickly. Such business opportunities may not exist now, but they might later. Advancing first means you can 'eat meat,' while those who follow will only 'drink soup.'"

"You're right."

This time, Wang Xiangxiu was also present during the discussion. It couldn't be helped; Yinlai was in the hospital, and she didn't want to delay, but she could also sell things after work.

Zhao Guihua added, "Also, if you don’t want to compete with each other, set a uniform price. This way, you won’t affect each other. Like my third son, he also sells things before getting off work, even though we’re in two different places, we’ve agreed on a unified price. First, sell and see, then adjust according to which patterns sell better later."

"You're right."

Having agreed, they didn't want to waste any time.

After leaving Aunt Zhou's place, Zhao Guihua saw Zheng Huimin peeking timidly from the doorway.

Zhao Guihua asked, "What are you doing?"

Zheng Huimin stammered, "I... I wanted to consult you about something."

Zhao Guihua replied, "I was going to look for you anyway. Come in."

She invited Zheng Huimin into the house and said, "On our trip to Guangzhou, we ran into your sister."

Zheng Huimin exclaimed, "What!"

She was astonished and looked at Zhao Guihua in disbelief, not expecting it to be so coincidental.

Zhao Guihua continued, "She's found a job there, working at a clothing factory. It's mainly because she's young, and many jobs are unavailable to her. She'll make other plans when she's older. You can rest assured."

Zheng Huimin indeed felt relieved. Her sister had run away alone, and she didn't know where she was. Zheng Huimin had been somewhat worried. Now that she knew everything was fine, she felt much better.

Zheng Huimin said, "That's good. It's fortunate she ran away."

She remembered her parents' whispered conversations. If her sister hadn't run away, her parents had intended to use her to curry favor with Fan Debiao, while he was also planning to marry her. The thought made her feel utterly disgusted.

Zhao Guihua asked, "By the way, what did you want to ask me about earlier?"

Zheng Huimin felt a bit shy but quietly said, "I... I wanted to ask about setting up a stall."

Not having much interaction with others since coming to this courtyard and even having once scared people by pretending to be a ghost, she felt a bit embarrassed asking for help now. Despite this, she still mustered the courage to speak up.

"I've never had a proper job and only do odd jobs, so I can't save much money. I wanted to start a small business, something with little capital. Since you have a lot of experience, could you help me think of something?"

Zhao Guihua, seeing Zheng Huimin struggle to speak, said, "Running a stall is different from working in a department store. You need to be warm and welcoming; you can't have the stiff expression of a department store salesperson. They have a steady income, but you don't."

Zheng Huimin asked, "I see. I've noticed that Fan Debiao and others do buy-and-sell transactions. Could I do that?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "I don't think so. The more common buy-and-sell transactions involve going to the countryside to collect things like eggs, poultry, or specialty products, then selling them for a profit. This requires a means of transportation, and it's not very safe for a girl to go to the countryside alone. So, I don't think it's suitable for you. Instead, purchasing and selling small items would be better. Like the underwear and socks they sell, you could also do that, or sell hair accessories. However, our local factories won't give you just a small amount of stock. If you only take a small amount, it’s not worth having your sister send it from there. So, starting a business isn't that easy. I see you can take shifts at the clothing factory, so you must be good with a sewing machine. You could buy some scraps of fabric, make hair accessories yourself, and then sell them. Of course, this won’t make much money. But given your limited capital, this is probably what you’ll have to do. Oh, you could also buy yarn and knit scarves to sell. Doing business requires capital; just wanting to set up a stall isn’t enough. At the very least, you need around a thousand or two for your first order to get a relatively good price. Otherwise, with high costs, how can you make a profit?"

Zhao Guihua felt like she was radiating wisdom, taking care of every detail.

And she couldn't understand why everyone kept coming to her for advice. She was feeling quite overwhelmed.

She added, "Hair accessories require the least capital and are suitable for the season. You can start making them now. Although the profit might not be much, as long as you can make enough to sustain your life, that's fine. Once you save some money, you can start dealing in scarves in winter. If you save even more, you can directly purchase stock instead of relying on us. You can go straight to your sister; their factory is a clothing factory, and you can find a way to buy small items from them."

Zheng Huimin listened very attentively, nodding continuously, saying, "I understand."

Indeed, although Zhao Guihua mentioned only small businesses, they were very practical considering her situation. With just a few dollars in hand, doing anything bigger would be a joke! Actually, Zheng Huimin had no money. The reason she dared to even consider setting up a stall was that Guan Hong had agreed to lend her one hundred yuan again!

Guan Hong's monthly wage was over thirty yuan, but she also needed to live off it, so even one hundred yuan would take her about half a year to save. During this time, she already lent Zheng Huimin her second hundred yuan. Zheng Huimin was very grateful to Guan Hong.

She hadn’t expected that after running away, she would encounter so many kind people. Even though she and Guan Hong were rivals in love, Guan Hong was still willing to lend her money.

She had said, "It's all business – nothing personal!"

She also said, "I can't stand the feudal families oppressing women."

And additionally, "I believe Li Weiwei can see that I'm a kind-hearted girl."

Zheng Huimin thought this last statement didn’t need to be said – it was a bit redundant.

But she knew Guan Hong was a good person.

Zheng Huimin gathered her courage and said, "Then I'll make hair accessories. The clothing factory sells fabric scraps; I can buy those."

Although she was just doing temporary work, she could still buy the fabric scraps, which weren't very expensive.

After all, these fabric scraps were truly very small pieces, not like the good scraps Zhao Guihua and others had bought before. It would be impossible to make clothes with this, at most, sewing small cleaning cloths.

Or to patch up clothes.

So Zheng Huimin thought she could still make the purchase. She calculated and said, "I can get a lot of fabric scraps for ten bucks."

Zhao Guihua: "It's not just about the fabric scraps; you'll also need to buy some wire for making hair clips and such. You didn't think it was just a hair tie, did you?"

Zheng Huimin: "Please enlighten me!"

Zhao Guihua: "...Speak normally."

Zheng Huimin: "Oh, oh."

Zhao Guihua: "I'm not an expert in this area, but since you're all young girls, you should know what kind of hair accessories are more appealing, right? If you're really unsure, you can watch TV or movies; the female characters in them always wear hair accessories, don't they?"

Hearing this, Zheng Huimin's eyes lit up. She felt like she had some direction now and nodded quickly. "You're right. I'll go back and ask Guan Hong for advice."

Guan Hong was definitely more knowledgeable than her.

Zheng Huimin dashed off in a hurry.

Aunt Zhou and Aunt Wang looked at Zhao Guihua with somewhat complicated expressions.

"You're a good person. She was trying to scare you earlier."

Zhao Guihua: "Oh, I'm old enough to not bother arguing with a scatterbrained young girl. Her life isn't easy either. I heard from my old man that she only eats one steamed bun a day. Life must be tough for her."

"She really has it rough," Wang Xiangxiu added. "I heard she has no money at all."

Zhao Guihua snorted. "Guan Guiling? She wouldn't give her a penny! I bet Guan Guiling doesn't have any money herself."

"That's likely true."

Having sorted things out, Guan Guiling happily returned home and quickly discussed the matter with Guan Hong. After all, she couldn't find anyone else to consult. Once she made some money, she could start stocking up, but for now, she needed to take things slowly and steadily.

It turned out that making handmade items suited girls well. Although Zheng Huimin may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, she knew what looked good. She quickly sketched a few popular designs. Guan Hong, having watched more movies, said, "I remember, in a movie I watched, the heroine wore a hair clip that was so beautiful, with pearls on it... let me draw it for you."

The two of them discussed things well.

On the next day, Zhao Guihua and her crew started setting up their stall. Zhao Guihua was already a well-known figure in Xidan. Although she hadn't been selling bell-bottoms recently, rumors said that the old lady and her daughter-in-law were the ones who turned in the group of extortionists.

Whether the rumors were true or not, the fact remained that something had happened. So when Zhao Guihua returned, everyone paid attention. Given the past success of her bell-bottoms, there were now two or three other stalls selling them on the street.

When she set up her stall, many people secretly peeked over. Only then did they see that this time, she was selling T-shirts, which they called "sweatshirts" in their local lingo, but these were more fashionable than ordinary sweatshirts.

"Come over and take a look-see~"

Zhao Guihua started shouting right away. Old Man Zhuang, for the first time setting up a stall, blushed intensely but still followed along and helped.

The T-shirts' designs weren't particularly outstanding, but the patterns and colors were bold and eye-catching. It seemed that after enduring too much black, white, and gray, people now preferred vibrant colors. Zhao Guihua's stall had exactly that—bright colors.

"How much is this one, Auntie?"

Zhao Guihua: "Twenty-two."

"That's not cheap."

You see, the average worker's salary was just over thirty, mostly between thirty to forty bucks, but a shirt for twenty-two was a normal price at the time.

Zhao Guihua: "Twenty-two isn't cheap, but look, these are all big sizes. If you buy one, how much cloth ration do you need? Even if you gain weight later, it won't matter. Plus, look at the pattern; it's unique! Whether it's summer or fall, you can wear them anytime. If it gets cold, you can layer a long-sleeve underneath. One shirt, two ways to wear it."

"Oh, layering a short-sleeve over a long-sleeve? You sure know how to stretch things, Auntie."

Zhao Guihua retorted proudly, "What's wrong with that? Can't young people be a little different? As long as you're good-looking, you could wear a fertilizer sack and still look good. Let alone this shirt, which is special to begin with. Just you wait; this shirt will lead the trend. By the time others start wearing it, you'll have been rocking it for months. Isn't that proof you had the best taste, making the most informed choice?"

"That's true."

"You know, to see a panda, you'd have to go all the way to Chengdu, but on this shirt, you've got one right here."

The young man laughed. "Auntie, you sure can talk. There are pandas at the Zoo; they're all alive and kicking."

Zhao Guihua: "Living pandas at the Zoo aren't exactly something you can take home! Look at mine; it's something you can bring back."

"That's true, huh. I wonder why they don't let you take them home!"

Zhao Guihua: "...Looks like you're here just to chat with me."

She said, "You think you could, but the law won't allow it."

The young man laughed heartily. "Auntie, you're really funny. Give me a discount, and I'll bring you more customers."

Zhao Guihua: "Are you serious? Don't go fooling around with your old auntie here. We both love pandas, so no fooling around."

"No fooling, I promise. Give me a discount, and I can sell you twenty shirts."

Zhao Guihua: "Oh? Really?"

"Cross my heart, if I'm lying, I'll be your grandson."

Zhao Guihua: "Alright then, if you can really sell that many, I'll give you the wholesale price, eighteen bucks. But that's only for you; anyone else is at least twenty."

"Come on, Auntie, we're all brothers and sisters here. It'll be awkward if we sell at different prices. I'm in the Art Troupe, and I can coax my fellow troupe members to come buy. Eighteen bucks each, all twenty of them. What do you say? We'll wear them well and bring more people over."

Zhao Guihua: "I see you're not bluffing, I believe you."

"You can trust me, Auntie. I'm a honest man."

Old Man Zhuang watched in utter surprise as this deal kicked off brilliantly, with twenty shirts sold in one go. The young man placed the order, went home to get the money, and soon returned with a group of tall guys, each carrying a panda shirt.

Those who knew thought they were from the Art Troupe, those who didn't might have mistaken them for members of a panda association.

Zhao Guihua had a brilliant start and quickly broke through.

Everyone deeply felt that their Auntie Zhao was indeed their Auntie Zhao, selling anything was impressive.

When she sold jeans, she was quick and smooth, and now with T-shirts, it was the same. This woman could not only get hold of rare goods but also knew how to sell them.

When dealing with older customers, Zhao Guihua would emphasize the size and material, making it sound like the only advantage. But those older, thrifty folks really fell for that. For the same price, who wouldn't want something bigger?

Even if it wore out later and had to be turned into a rag, it would still be a large piece of cloth!

When dealing with young people, she’d talk about trends, uniqueness, and being ahead of the curve, making them feel like not buying would mean they lacked good taste. Everyone could see that her sales were booming.

Old Man Zhuang, having lived with his wife for decades, finally realized that her talents had been limited by the times. Otherwise, their household could have become capitalists. She was simply too good at selling things.

Meanwhile, while Zhao Guihua was doing well, Zhuang Zhixi rushed to the train station to set up his stall after work. He also sold well. It was April, not quite the end of the month, and the weather was still a bit chilly. But he boldly wore a short-sleeve T-shirt that read: "Welcome to Beijing."

The white T-shirt was tucked into his pants, showing a tall and refreshing figure. With people coming and going at the train station, many stopped to take a look. How could you prove you'd been to the capital?

This T-shirt would certainly do it. Plus, they were all big sizes, so they wouldn't be hard to fit into.

Even though they were loose and oversized, they didn't look bad.

Zhuang Zhixi was slender, and the T-shirt hung loosely on him, though it didn't fit well, it somehow looked just right. Even if it didn't fit well, it seemed like nothing else could be better. However, they overlooked the fact that whether something looked good or not depended on the face!

However, no matter what, the clothes are selling quite well.

Compared to Zhao Guihua selling Panda patterns in Xidan, people here prefer the most obvious lettering.

Whether they have been to the Great Wall or not, buying a Great Wall memento makes them feel very dignified, and there are other things as well... In short, they sell a lot. Although the weather is cold, the heart of making money is very warm. Zhuang Zhixi knows that 20% of the profits are his own.

How can he not work hard?

It's true that in this era, as long as you're willing to work hard, getting rich is easy. Various materials are scarce, and now there’s a transition between using and not using coupons, so private businesses without coupons still attract many customers.

They are like this, and so are the others in the compound.

For example, He Lan chose to set up a stall outside the machinery factory gate. She's not very adventurous and still feels insecure, so setting up a stall closer to home gives her a sense of stability. She arrives around late afternoon, just before the factory gets off work, and starts selling. Initially, business is slow, but as the closing bell rings, the crowd quickly grows.

Female colleagues, seeing the stalls selling these items from afar, immediately come over to ask for prices.

He Lan: "Men's briefs are one yuan each, men's boxers are five jiao, and women's are also five jiao. Buy ten and get one free. Socks are two jiao a pair, with the same buy ten get one free offer. Men and women can mix and match."

Her voice isn't loud, but everyone still gasps in surprise. "Your socks are two jiao? I bought some for two jiao and three fen at the department store the other day."

He Lan quickly responds, "I also offer buy ten get one free."

"I can't buy ten pairs at once."

He Lan remembers Zhao Guihua's advice and smiles, saying, "You can team up with your coworkers and buy together. Then you can settle the money privately. That way, you get them for less than two jiao each. Besides, these won't go bad. If you find a good deal, why not buy a pair and save them? Look, I got these from the south. The patterns are quite unique."

Whether it's briefs or socks, their prices are a bit cheaper than the department store's. Don't underestimate that slight difference—it can add up. For example, with socks, saving three fen could buy three candies.

He Lan's words soon grab everyone's attention, and they start to agree that it makes sense.

These items won't go bad, and they can team up with others to buy them!

Overall, it seems like a good deal.

Especially since men and women can mix and match, it becomes even more appealing.

"Move aside, let me take a look."

"Move over, I want some too. How many are you getting? Should we team up?"

"Sure!"

"This price is really good."

"Exactly."

The place quickly becomes lively as everyone surrounds the stall, finding the prices great. Another advantage of selling these small items is that, since they're slightly cheaper than the department store, people don't bargain much.

There are quite a few people setting up stalls now, but most places like Xidan sell clothes, not these small items. So people jump at the chance to buy them.

Bai Fendou: "Oh man!"

He knew his wife was going to set up a stall today and hurried over to help, but he couldn't even get close. A group of women surrounded his wife, and her hands never stopped collecting money.

Bai Fendou: "Move, let me through!"

"Bai Fendou, you're a man, stop bothering us."

Bai Fendou is a well-known figure at the machinery factory.

Bai Fendou: "This is my wife!"

"What?!"

"My god."

"What did you do to deserve such a wife?"

This revelation is a bombshell. Everyone is shocked. How could a seemingly gentle and good-looking woman like He Lan marry Bai Fendou? Is this even reasonable?

Seeing everyone stunned, Bai Fendou quickly squeezes in, saying, "Wife, let me help you. Should we add some of this pattern?"

He Lan: "Yes."

She softly said, "You take care of the money."

"Sure."

Everyone knew Bai Fendou was married, but his wife didn't interact much with outsiders, so many didn't know who she was. Now they see this, and it's truly baffling. But watching the couple so harmonious makes it even more unimaginable.

No wonder Bai Fendou has been so decent these past ten years. Marrying such a good wife, isn't it natural?

Bai Fendou: "My wife's goods come from the south. They're really good and cheaper than the department store. If you see something you like, grab it quickly! The later you come, the fewer good patterns will be left."

This sales pitch, he heard his wife use before, and now he can easily repeat it.

His wife practiced for hours last night to ensure she appeared natural today. He and his daughter, Bai Qingqing, acted as "buyers" to help her practice.

"Bai Fendou, we're all from the same factory. Give us a pair of socks for free." Someone jokes.

Bai Fendou: "Pfft. Why don’t you give me all your savings? My wife traveled all the way to the south for these goods, and she suffered. Don’t expect us to make less profit!"

"We'll let you make your profit. Quickly, give me that red one. I want it all. The one with the dwarf-stomping pattern is really good!"

Bai Fendou: "You want ten pairs of red Little People to stomp? How many Little People do you have around you?"

"Mind your own business!"

"Hey, I want that too!"

He Lan: "......"

When they were purchasing, Aunt Zhao said the red socks with little people stepping on them would definitely sell well. As expected! Although breaking superstitious beliefs is the trend now, some things are deeply rooted in people’s minds.

If it were a few years ago, selling such items would be too risky, but luckily, that’s not the case now.

"Buying underwear? Who wants to split an order with me?"

"Me!"

"Alright, we…"

Bai Fendou's arrival causes a brief pause, but soon everyone dives back into a feverish buying spree.

He Lan is doing business outside the machinery factory, while Aunt Zhou is at the garment factory gate. There are many factories in Beijing, and they each find a place to sell their goods, close or far. Because Yinlai is in the hospital, Wang Xiangxiu even took a half day off to go sell.

Compared to He Lan's nervousness, the others are a bit stronger, though not by much.

After all, everyone is doing this for the first time. How can they not be nervous?

Aunt Wang is stationed outside the food factory gate. Like He Lan, she starts with no customers, feeling a little anxious, but as the end-of-work bell rings, she becomes so busy she can hardly manage. There are many female employees at the food factory, and they’re very enthusiastic buyers.

"My family is big. I can buy enough on my own. I'll split them with my sister-in-law when I get home."

"My family can’t do that. Who wants to team up with me?"

…

Everyone talks among themselves, quickly surrounding Aunt Wang.

There are many people setting up stalls in Beijing, but selling these small goods isn’t common. So people naturally won’t hesitate. Although they believe there will be more opportunities to buy, as the saying goes, 'the early bird gets the worm'—early buyers have more choices!

Meanwhile, Aunt Zhou, Wang Zizhen, and Wang Xiangxiu and others are also doing great business.

Although it’s their first day, they actually brought quite a lot. Originally, they thought they wouldn’t sell everything, but they underestimated people’s purchasing power. These small items may be cheap, but their sales volume is high.

Wang Zizhen went to sell at a factory gate farther away. She remembered her first time selling popcorn. She had to be proactive to slowly break into the market, but selling these suitable small items is much faster.

Before she even had a chance to call out, someone came over to ask for prices, and soon a crowd gathered.

Although it’s not her first time selling, she still feels a bit overwhelmed, but she quickly gets the hang of it. Before long, everything is sold out. When she gets home, she still feels a bit dazed.

There’s no one home at the moment. Her husband went out to sell fried goods.

Peanuts, melon seeds, and popcorn—they sold them all. However, popcorn wasn't selling as well as it used to. Their business was thriving, but their success didn't go unnoticed. Small ventures like theirs required little capital, so it didn't take long before others joined in.

No matter what you sold, as soon as everyone started selling it, competition increased, and profits shrank. Sales weren't as easy anymore. So Wang Zizhen's husband began roasting peanuts and melon seeds to sell alongside the popcorn. Though the income wasn't as high as at the beginning, it still added up to a substantial amount at the end of the month.

It almost doubled their regular wages.

So, Da Qiang continued selling after work each day, and the children went to the neighboring compound. Wang Zizhen counted the stock. She had only bought a thousand yuan's worth, but the low price made it seem like a lot.

As she started counting the money, someone called out, "Zizhen, are you home?"

Wang Zizhen replied, "Yes."

She hurried out: "Auntie, you're back too?"

Aunt Zhou was in high spirits, practically floating as she walked. "I bought pork head! Come to my place and have some."

Wang Zizhen: "Sure."

She quickly gathered the money and stepped out.

The residents in the compound were no longer surprised. Aunt Zhou, known to be sharp-tongued, was unusually kind to Wang Zizhen. It was strange, but everyone had grown accustomed to it.

Their selling hours coincided with the evening rush, so it was quite late by the time they packed up. Wang Zizhen had snacked on a handful of peanuts earlier, so she wasn't too hungry. She arrived at Aunt Zhou's place, where the family had already finished dinner.

Aunt Zhou and Wang Zizhen went into Aunt Zhou's room. Wang Zizhen asked, "Auntie, you must have had a good day selling, right?"

Aunt Zhou was elated. "Do you think I'd do anything wrong? Let's just say the sales were phenomenal—hardly any small purchases. People were buying in bulk, ten at a time. Even the underwear was selling like hotcakes. I reckon we'll clear this stock in about two weeks."

Now she could finally understand why Zhao Guihua was so eager to start a stall.

What drives someone?

It's money!

Aunt Zhou continued, "We old ladies don't have pensions. Everyone's saving up, and so must I. Zizhen, your sales must be going well too, huh?"

Wang Zizhen nodded. "Yeah, good."

Aunt Zhou pressed, "You bought less stock than us. You should sell out faster, right? What'll you do once you run out?"

Wang Zizhen was momentarily stumped but then remembered, "Right! Thanks for reminding me. I should write to Huifang."

They had agreed beforehand that if they needed more stock, they could contact Zheng Huifang.

This way, Zheng Huifang could ship the goods to them, saving them the trouble of traveling back and forth, as well as the expenses for accommodation and meals. Plus, they wouldn't have to worry about any risks. Wang Zizhen added, "Oh, but I haven't recouped my costs yet. I can't order much."

Aunt Zhou offered, "You can use some of my money."

Wang Zizhen replied, "Why don't you order more too? If you can sell out in two weeks, it's worth restocking."

Aunt Zhou agreed, "That makes sense."

She quickly decided, "I'll talk to Zhao Guihua. She has five thousand T-shirts. It might take a while to get them all, but she's getting daily returns from selling. I'll borrow some from her."

Truth be told, borrowing money was still a delicate affair for many.

But in this era, everyone lived in shared courtyards and had been neighbors for decades. It was common to lend and borrow among friends. Aunt Zhou said, "Don't worry, I'll handle it."

Wang Zizhen hesitated, "Maybe I should..."

"Don't borrow from Auntie Zhao."

Jiang Lu entered, seeing the two in a dilemma. "I'll lend you the money. Just pay me back when you make a profit. It's ridiculous to borrow from outsiders when we're family."

With their high salaries, she had the means to lend.

Aunt Zhou responded, "Oh right, I forgot about you."

Jiang Lu: "..."

Was her presence that easy to overlook?

Even her own mother-in-law forgot about her.

Aunt Zhou scrutinized Jiang Lu. "You're just lending us money, right? Not asking to invest, are you? This is my business."

Jiang Lu: "..."

She forced a smile. "I'm just lending you money. You're really taking my goodwill for granted. If I wanted in, I would've started already." What a character her mother-in-law was!

Aunt Zhou nodded, "Good!"

Jiang Lu asked, "How much do you need?"

Aunt Zhou replied confidently, "More is better, of course."

Jiang Lu was a bit skeptical. "But can you sell it all?"

"If it doesn't sell out, we'll take it to the countryside. I've thought it through. What's there to be afraid of? I'm just an old lady."

Jiang Lu pondered and then agreed, "I'll lend you five thousand. Three thousand for you, Zizhen, and two thousand for my mother-in-law. Okay?" Since Aunt Zhou already had a larger stock, she didn't need more.

"Sure, of course! You're pretty well-off, aren't you?"

Jiang Lu explained, "My husband, Zhou Qun, and I have high salaries—almost one hundred fifty a month combined. It's easy to save."

Even though they'd only been selling for a day, everyone felt it was wise to order more. As long as the market remained untapped, they could maximize their profits. Once more people started following Wang Zizhen's popcorn model, their business wouldn't be as lucrative.

Aunt Zhou added, "Oh right, Zizhen, go tell that fool and ask if she wants Huifang to bring some stock for her."

Wang Zizhen laughed, "Will do."

Aunt Zhou muttered, "I must be crazy to help her."

Despite her harsh words, her actions spoke louder.

Hmph, she only did it for Zheng Huifang's sake!

Otherwise, she wouldn't bother with Zheng Huimin, that fool!