Chapter 29

Dad Cui could stand up?

“Grandma, I’m going to see Dad Cui with my mom.” Jiang Ci dropped the dozens of wild duck eggs she had collected from the mountains and ran off.

Miao Xiu Lan looked delighted. “Go quickly.” If Cui Pingzhou could stand up, Lin Wan could finally see the end of her hardships. Grandma rubbed her eyes, picked up the wild duck eggs from the ground, and led Xiao Ting Xiang back to the yard.

With Zhao Qishu’s support, Cui Pingzhou struggled to take a few steps. Sweat poured down his forehead, and the pain made him gasp. Zhao Qishu couldn’t bear to watch. “Pingzhou, take a break. We’re not in a hurry. Qin Qian said you need six months of rehabilitation training. You can’t rush it.”

“Old Zhao, I’m not rushing. I’ve been paralyzed for over ten years. Now that I can stand again, I… I’m afraid it’s not real. Only the pain makes me feel like this isn’t a dream.”

Several medical experts had brought many medical devices to draw blood and perform various tests on Cui Pingzhou, but they could find no results. In the end, they could only conclude that this was a medical miracle, or perhaps Cui Pingzhou’s strong willpower had allowed him to stand.

Qin Qian repeatedly examined the few Chinese herbs that Jiang Ci had brewed. They were all the most common medicinal herbs; how could they have such an effect? It was unbelievable.

“Xiao Ci, these are the only herbs you used for your dad Cui? You didn’t add anything else? Think carefully,” Qin Qian said, unable to come up with an explanation. If it wasn’t the herbs that had caused this effect, then what could it be?

“It’s just these.” Jiang Ci blinked her eyes. “I used well water from behind my house. It can’t be some magical well, Aunt Qin, can it?”

The girl had quite the imagination. Qin Qian dropped the few dried herbs she had in hand and warned, “Don’t talk nonsense. Well, water is underground water; every household in that area has similar wells. Don’t go spreading rumors outside.”

“Aunt Qin, I wouldn’t say anything outside.” She smiled innocently. “If it’s not the well water, then I really don’t know.”

Cui Pingzhou listened to Lin Wan and finally sat down on the sofa. The feeling of being able to stand again was surreal. After Qin Qian left with the medical team, she said on her way out, “Lin Wan, you should accompany Pingzhou to the hospital for rehabilitation training twice a week. Make sure he doesn’t try to be lazy. After six months, he should be able to walk like a normal person.”

Lin Wan saw them to the door, genuinely happy for Cui Pingzhou. “He has such self-discipline; he doesn’t need me to supervise him, but I will definitely go with him.”

Qin Qian noticed the starlight hidden in Cui Pingzhou’s eyes as he looked at Lin Wan’s back and felt relieved. Perhaps loving someone really could bring about miracles.

As Lin Wan turned around, Cui Pingzhou withdrew his gaze and said to Jiang Ci, “Xiao Ci, Qin Province is responding to the national policy to develop individual businesses. You don’t have to secretly sell mountain goods anymore; just apply for an individual business license and start making money openly.”

“The policies in Qin Province have come out?” Zhao Qishu was delighted. “That’s great! We won’t need ration tickets for meat anymore.”

Jiang Ci’s eyes lit up. She needed to hurry and apply for a business license. “Really? I have raised several hundred wild chickens and ducks in the mountains, so I can sell them openly now.”

After leaving the military compound, she quickly returned to prepare the necessary documents to apply for an individual business license at the Administration for Industry and Commerce. Two days later, the department head handed her the newly issued Qin Province Business License No. 001 and smiled as he looked at the newly established business hall. “Little Jiang Ci, you are the first person to apply for a license. Make sure to do well and show everyone the benefits of individual business.”

Most people were still observing the situation, as those with formal jobs looked down on individual businesses. There was no security in such work; how could it compare to the stability of a steady job with a salary and housing benefits?

Having witnessed the economic boom after the reform and opening up in her previous life, Jiang Ci knew that the first batch of entrepreneurs had become wealthy. She took the business license and assured the department head, “Rest assured, Section Chief Xu, I will make sure to have a great start.”

With the business license in hand, Jiang Ci went to Jiang Da Sheng’s home and happened to see Jiang Da Niang scolding her son.

“You useless boy! I spent twenty yuan inviting people over for a meal and found you a job at a textile factory, and you refused to go!”

Jiang Da Sheng shouted as he ran, “The textile factory is full of women. You expect me, a grown man, to work in a textile factory? No way!” He had gone to work for a day, standing for ten hours and watching two machines at once, which left him dizzy. The skilled female workers could handle four or five machines, but by the next day, Jiang Da Sheng flatly refused to go back.

Jiang Da Niang threw down the broom, sat on the grinding stone, and wiped her tears. “The wages at the textile factory are high! So many people want to get in but can’t. If you have a good job, you can find a wife. Look at you, twenty-two years old and still single! Gu Qingchuan, who’s two years younger than you, is already married. You hang out with him all the time. Why don’t you learn something from him about getting married?”

Jiang Da Sheng felt a headache coming on. He turned and saw Jiang Ci smiling at the door, and quickly pulled her inside. “Little Jiang Ci, don’t just stand there laughing. You need to help me convince my mom.”

When Jiang Da Niang saw someone else, she wiped her tears and forced a smile. “Xiao Ci, you’re here! Come in!”

Jiang Ci showed her the business license she had just received. “Auntie, Brother Da Sheng likes doing business. The policies are better now, allowing individual businesses. Look, I got my license! Brother Da Sheng and I are raising chickens and ducks in the mountains, and this batch will be ready for sale soon, bringing in at least a thousand yuan. Isn’t that better than working a job?”

Jiang Da Niang’s main goal was to ensure that her son could earn more money, renovate their home, and bring a wife back. She was illiterate, so when she looked at the business license with curiosity, she asked, “Can ordinary people really open their own shops and do business?”

At just over forty, Jiang Da Niang had been quite young before the liberation and had seen the wealthy shop owners in the city, which made her envious. She asked, “How much money can my Da Sheng earn? We don’t have any capital; what should we do?”

Jiang Ci reassured her, “Don’t worry about Brother Da Sheng’s money. Brother Chuan said we will partner up, and Da Sheng will take thirty percent.”

“Thirty percent?” Jiang Da Niang quickly calculated on her fingers. “So if the pure profit is a thousand yuan, he would get three hundred, right?”

“Yes, you’re absolutely right.”

Jiang Da Niang was even happier than her son. She slapped her thigh. “Alright then! Let Da Sheng work with you. If you get too busy, I’ll come help you out, and I won’t take any wages!”

…

After dinner, Gu Qingchuan finished washing the dishes and returned to his room, where he found his little wife counting money in bed. He smiled and sat down at the edge of the bed, asking, “Did you get the business license?”

“Mm-hmm.” Jiang Ci leaned down to peck him on the lips. “This is great! We won’t have to sell things secretly anymore. By the way, what have you been busy with lately? Has the artifact trafficking case been resolved?”

Gu Qingchuan’s eyes flickered slightly. Recently, Zhao Lao Da, unable to withstand the interrogation, revealed the hiding place of that batch of artifacts. With that, the case was essentially closed. He should have settled down and focused on developing their business with Jiang Ci at the Heishui River market. However, Cui Pingzhou’s words planted new ideas in his mind.

Cui Pingzhou had recommended that he attend military school, and Gu Qingchuan wanted the capability to protect his wife, just like Cui Pingzhou. Having money alone wasn’t enough.

Jiang Ci was planning for the future. “Brother Chuan, the Heishui River is your brainchild, and I have high hopes for that area. Once our shop is up and running, we should buy more storefronts there.” Most people in Qin Province had bought things at the Heishui River black market; the commercial atmosphere was vibrant enough. In her past life, the city leaders had designated the Heishui River as a commercial zone, and later, it became the most prosperous commercial center in Qin Province.

Gu Qingchuan hesitated for a moment. “Alright, I’ll do whatever you say.”

Jiang Ci noticed that the man was preoccupied and quickly asked, “Brother Chuan, do you have something else on your mind? Just tell me.”

“No, what you want to do is what I want to do,” he replied.

Jiang Ci persisted, “Brother Chuan, I hope you can pursue what you want to do. Just say it; I will definitely support you.” Brother Chuan was a person with strong opinions, and everyone’s life paths were different. Perhaps he had his own goals he wanted to strive for.

“Cui Ba said he could recommend me to a military academy…”

“Military academy?” Jiang Ci was surprised. So, Brother Chuan wanted to wear that military uniform, too?

Gu Qingchuan thought Jiang Ci was unwilling, so he quickly added, “I’m just saying. Our dad still can’t clear his name. No matter my accomplishments, I won’t pass the political review. Tomorrow, I’ll just go sell ducks with you guys.”

“Brother Chuan, you should go do what Cui Ba wants you to do and rack up more merits. At the Heishui River market, Da Sheng and I will make sure your hard work won’t go to waste. Making money is what I enjoy doing.” Jiang Ci’s eyes sparkled. “As for you, just go do what you love. Dad will clear his name soon; you must believe me.”

The first shop at the Heishui River market to obtain a business license opened during the day. Jiang Dasheng had a knack for attracting customers, and soon, more than a hundred people crowded the entrance, making it nearly impossible to get through.

Kang Guixiang squeezed her way to the front, looking at the stacked cages filled with dozens of wild chickens and ducks. She was green with envy. She knew that Qin Province had allowed individuals to engage in business this year, but others didn’t have Jiang Ci’s skill to catch so many wild birds at once.

What did it matter if she knew? Without money or goods, how could she do business? She felt a deep resentment and desperately tried to smear Jiang Ci’s reputation, hoping he wouldn’t sell a single bird.

“Six yuan each is too expensive! The supply and marketing cooperative only sells them for 1.3 yuan per catty. One chicken is only about five yuan. Everyone should avoid buying from him; it’s better to go to the cooperative instead.”

Jiang Dasheng pulled out a plump wild chicken from the cage and said, “You just said the cooperative sells it for 1.3 yuan. This wild chicken weighs over four catties. You even get ten wild chicken eggs for free if you buy one chicken. Is six yuan too expensive? If you don’t want it, fine, but don’t block others.”

It turned out that the two large baskets of wild chicken and duck eggs at the entrance were a bonus. Those who had purchased it before the new year craved the wild mountain chicken; the soup made from it was delicious, and when you calculate the cost, it is only a few jiao more than at the cooperative. Plus, they were getting free eggs.

“Give me one.” A big man took out six yuan and said, “Big brother, pick a larger one for me. My kids love wild chicken soup with mushrooms.”

“Sure thing!” Jiang Dasheng opened the chicken cage and chose the biggest one, not forgetting to shout, “If you want to buy, hurry up! Every single one in today’s batch weighs no less than four catties and five taels. Look at this brother picking this one; it weighs a full five catties! Once others grab the big ones, you’ll get less meat if you buy a smaller one. Come quickly and pick!”

What he said made a lot of sense. In these times, a dual-income household had at least sixty to seventy yuan a month in wages. Eating meat once or twice a month was still affordable, so everyone rushed to pick wild chickens and ducks, fearing they would fall behind. Jiang Ci stood to the side, wrapping chicken and duck eggs for the buyers.

The thirty wild chickens and thirty wild ducks brought down from the mountains were sold out in half a day, and many people missed out, feeling a mix of envy and jealousy.

“Where do you think they got these wild chickens and ducks? They’re all so big. Can’t we go up the mountains to catch some ourselves?”

“There are no more in the nearby hills. Xiao Ci knows the way well, but we can’t run into the deep mountains like her. I heard they found a valley where they started breeding last year. My family bought one before the New Year, and the meat was really delicious.”

“Alright, alright, stop being envious. There will be more tomorrow. Let’s come early.”

Sixty birds brought in three hundred sixty yuan. With the additional wild chicken and duck eggs sold in the afternoon, Jiang Dasheng counted several times, feeling as if he was dreaming. “Xiao Jiang Ci, being self-employed is so refreshing! It’s much better than selling secretly before.”

After selling continuously for several days, the sales gradually stabilized, with about thirty wild chickens and ducks sold each day. Those with keen minds saw the profits and rushed to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau to apply for business licenses. Seeing the favorable momentum, the authorities decided to designate Heishui River as a commercial pilot zone, allowing Jiang Ci to expand her storefront further.

Her marriage preparations had taken half a month, and it had been less than a week since then. On this day, while she hadn’t closed the shop yet, her aunt Shen Meimei rode her bicycle over, hurrying and saying, “Xiao Ci, did your mom go to Jing City with Cui Pingzhou?”

“Yes, she just left today in a rush, saying there was something urgent.” Jiang Ci noticed Shen Meimei’s anxious expression and quickly asked, “What’s wrong, San Aunty?”

“It’s all that Kang Guixiang’s fault!” Shen Meimei stomped her foot in anger, cursing. “That harbinger of death stole stuff from the national restaurant’s kitchen storage to sell and got caught. They say your second uncle gave her the keys and instigated her. Now, great! She paid the fine and got released, but your second uncle was arrested.”