Chapter 63

Yu Xiangnian paid 17,000 yuan for the goods and returned home to count the money she had earned over the past few days.

The first day’s earnings had already been distributed. On the second day, they sold 130 pairs of shoes, making a profit of 39 yuan. The remaining stock was 9,361 pairs, which yielded a profit of 936.10 yuan.

(Note: The second day’s sales of 130 pairs should leave 870 pairs. Brother Ping had only prepared 861 pairs, so the missing 9 pairs might have been lost during transportation.)

So, the total profit was 975.10 yuan, which was divided among four people, with each person receiving a little over 243 yuan.

Yu Xiangnian gave 245 yuan to Liu Zhen, Wang Hongxiang, and Li Guihua each.

The three of them were astonished at the amount of money.

Then, Li Guihua suddenly burst into tears, wailing, “I never expected I could make money too…”

“So much money, I’ve never seen this much in my whole life…”

“Comrade Yu, I only made a few trips, and I earned so much. You’re my god of wealth!”

“…”

Liu Zhen and Wang Hongxiang comforted her while also wiping their own tears.

They could relate to her feelings.

They never thought they could make money, and suddenly, they earned so much.

Yu Xiangnian was moved by their tears.

It wasn’t just about earning money. As long as you were willing to use your brain and work hard, making money wasn’t that difficult.

“Alright, stop crying. I’ve told you before that women can earn money too.”

Li Guihua wiped her tears and said, “Comrade Yu, if there’s another opportunity to make money, please include me. I’m not afraid of hardship or getting dirty; I can do any work!”

Yu Xiangnian honestly told them, “Actually, such opportunities are rare. I was just lucky to encounter one. But you can earn money using your own skills.”

Liu Zhen said, “We women are either doing housework or taking care of children. How could we have the skills to make money?”

“You shouldn’t underestimate yourselves. Making money isn’t that hard,” Yu Xiangnian said. “For example, Sister Liu, your steamed cakes and pickles are so delicious. You could sell them. And the things Sergeant Xiao makes are also good; you could sell those too.”

She then turned to Wang Hongxiang, “It’s even simpler for you. You can help people with sewing and even make finished products to sell. Just check out the styles on the market.”

Yu Xiangnian noticed Li Guihua pausing, her hopeful eyes fixed on her, waiting for guidance.

After a long pause, Yu Xiangnian finally said, “Sister Guihua, what are your skills?”

Li Guihua replied, “I don’t know.”

Yu Xiangnian rubbed her forehead, “What can you do?”

“I can cook, wash clothes, farm, raise pigs, and rear silkworms…”

“Stop!” Yu Xiangnian interrupted, “Raising silkworms!”

“Silkworms produce silk. Isn’t that something you can sell?” Yu Xiangnian said, “I remember there was a mulberry grove on the mountain where we had a picnic last time.”

“But I have no place to raise them!”

“There’s a small yard outside. You could ask someone to build a silkworm house for you.”

“But my husband doesn’t agree to build it. What should I do?”

Yu Xiangnian: “…”

That was indeed a problem. Her husband wasn’t an ordinary person!

After Yu Xiangnian had hit him last time, every time they faced each other, he would coldly snort at her.

“Think of something you can decide on yourself, without relying on your husband!” Yu Xiangnian said. “For example, making snacks or household items.”

Li Guihua suddenly slapped her thigh and said, “I can make rice candy, malt sugar, and rice cakes.”

“That’s it then! You three can even team up to start a business together.”

Yu Xiangnian helped the three women plan their entrepreneurial ventures, and Cheng Jingmo returned home.

As soon as Cheng Jingmo walked in, he saw the four women chatting enthusiastically, as if they were energized.

He was internally grumbling about how Yu Xiangnian had managed to get along with these people so well.

The three women only then realized that dinner hadn’t been prepared and hurriedly went home.

Cheng Jingmo was even more surprised; they were so absorbed in conversation that they forgot about dinner!

“Cheng Jingmo, the day after tomorrow, on Sunday, let’s go home for a visit.”

Her foot was healed, and it was time to see her parents.

“Okay.”

Yu Xiangnian had stayed at home every day and hadn’t gone to the city, which had improved Cheng Jingmo’s mood quite a bit.

With the bike, on Sunday, the three of them no longer had to squeeze onto the bus.

Xiao Jie sat on the front bar, Yu Xiangnian sat behind, and Cheng Jingmo rode the bike, making it look like a family of three.

They first went to the farmer’s market to buy a chicken before arriving at Yu’s home.

Before they even reached the door, they heard a cheerful shout, “Nian Nian!”

The three of them turned their heads at the same time.

At the entrance of the neighbor’s garden stood a man about 1.8 meters tall, dressed in a gray suit, with a perfectly knotted red tie and shiny hair.

Yu Xiangnian was initially stunned, then smiled happily, “Qiu Yang, you’re back!”

The two ran towards each other, and Qiu Yang picked Yu Xiangnian up and spun her around.

Cheng Jingmo’s eyes flashed with surprise and panic, before finally settling into a cold expression.

Holding a chicken, he stood still, his gaze coldly locked on the two.

Yu Xiangyang returned from outside and saw the two hugging and Cheng Jingmo standing behind them with a dark face.

He stopped his bike and pulled Qiu Yang away, “Little Earthworm! I warn you, don’t bring your capitalist nonsense from abroad here! If you hug my sister again, I’ll beat you up!”

Qiu Yang was a few centimeters shorter than Yu Xiangyang. He straightened his wrinkled suit, glanced at him with a raised eyebrow, “Bighead Fish, it’s been almost two years and you’re still so rude!”

Yu Xiangyang made a fist gesture, “I can be even ruder. Do you want to try?”

Yu Xiangnian separated the two, “You always bicker when you meet, are you still kids?”

Qiu Yang’s parents were also soldiers. The Qiu and Yu families were good friends and lived next door, so they had all grown up together.

Qiu Yang was five months younger than Yu Xiangyang, and they had never gotten along well.

The boys in the compound generally didn’t like studying and spent their days playing together, chasing each other, climbing trees, and causing trouble.

Even when they made mistakes, they would all get punished together.

However, Qiu Yang didn’t like playing with them and instead preferred playing with Yu Xiangnian and the other girls.

Yu Xiangyang and the others often mocked him, and Qiu Yang would frequently report their various misdeeds to their parents.

Yu Xiangyang would occasionally gather a group of boys to trouble Qiu Yang, and every time, Yu Xiangnian would stand up for him.

As the boys grew up, most of them joined the army, but Qiu Yang didn’t want to enlist.

As the only child, his parents had to respect his wishes.

However, Qiu Yang loved reading from a young age and had good academic performance. Two years ago, he was awarded a scholarship to study abroad.

Yu Xiangnian brought Qiu Yang to Cheng Jingmo, “You both know each other, so I don’t need to introduce you.”

She paused and then said, “Oh! I almost forgot, Qiu Yang, Cheng Jingmo is now my husband!”

Qiu Yang was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened, and he exclaimed, “You really married him?!”