Chapter 8

Duan Lei left a total of one hundred and fifty-six yuan. He never lacked money, but he didn’t have the habit of saving. This time, they both acted impulsively, so although the money wasn’t much, it was all he had left after travel expenses.

Ye Xiaoxiao put together her remaining money, totaling three hundred and fifty-four yuan.

This was her starting capital. She had to use this money to do something.

“Where are you going? We’re going back to the village today.”

Ye Changsheng thought that they had bought so many things, they had to rush back to the village.

Besides, Ye Xiaoxiao’s cotton shoes, cotton jacket, and cotton pants needed to be made quickly, so she wouldn’t freeze when it got cold again.

Unexpectedly, Ye Xiaoxiao waved her hand, “No need to rush back to the village. I have something very important to do now.”

“What important thing do you have?” Ye Changsheng was very skeptical.

“Market research.”

It was less than two months before the Spring Festival and two and a half months before the next semester started.

Ye Xiaoxiao’s goal was to earn enough for Ye’s children’s living expenses and tuition for the next semester within these two and a half months. Ideally, she would also earn back the money Hao Yan Yan had taken.

This way, her eldest brother wouldn’t have to work in the mine, which lacked safety measures, due to financial pressure. He wouldn’t end up disappearing after a mine accident.

At that time, Ye Jianguo would already be dead, and Ye Changsheng would be paralyzed in bed, but there would still be hope for treatment.

Ye Changqing shouldered the family’s living expenses and was under a lot of pressure. So, even though he knew it was dangerous, he still went down the mine. Unfortunately, luck didn’t favor him, and he died young.

After Ye Changqing’s death, his wife, Zhang Xue, cried every day and became distraught.

The mine refused to compensate, claiming that the accident was caused by the worker’s negligence.

Ye’s uncle’s family helped them sue, and Miao Cuifang also collapsed from grief and exhaustion.

Just when the family was in chaos, the two children, Ye Baosheng and Ye Baoyuan, who were playing at the door, were guynapped by human traffickers and never found again.

Tragic… too tragic, heart-wrenching.

When reading the book, this family appeared as a background character, summarized in a few lines.

But now, Ye Xiaoxiao couldn’t let the plot unfold. She… had to change her destiny!

Ignoring Ye Changsheng’s objections, Ye Xiaoxiao pulled him and Ye Changyuan out.

Ye Xiaoxiao, “What’s the busiest place here?”

Ye Changyuan, “Of course it’s the market. But it’s only on Fridays. Not today.”

The market was also encouraged by the local government. It was an organized event. In rural areas, ordinary people could only come here to make some money from buying and selling.

Ye Xiaoxiao, “What do they sell at the market?”

Ye Changyuan, “Everything. And the prices are cheaper than the supply and marketing cooperative.”

Ye Xiaoxiao was overjoyed, “Can we sell something there?”

Ye Changyuan, “We don’t have anything.”

Ye Xiaoxiao: “…”

As a city child and a medical student, Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t really understand business.

Ye Changsheng seemed to understand what she was thinking, “The things we have at home aren’t anything special. Every household has them. Why would anyone buy yours?”

Ye Xiaoxiao, “…You make a good point.”

Just as they were standing there, unsure where to go, they saw many people walking in one direction.

Several old people were carrying small stools.

Ye Changyuan, “Oh… is there someone coming to show a movie today? Everyone is going to take a spot.”

The county cultural bureau had a dedicated movie projectionist. He usually went around the nearby villages, usually once or twice a month.

For people who didn’t have any other entertainment, this was a monthly event.

Ye Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up.

Watching a movie!

She knew what to sell.

Ye Xiaoxiao shared her idea.

“Sell seeds?”

Ye Changsheng and Ye Changyuan both thought Ye Xiaoxiao’s idea was unrealistic. They also grew seeds. Every household could harvest a few bags. Why would they spend money buying someone else’s?

Ye Xiaoxiao, “It’s not just selling seeds. Where is there someone selling popcorn nearby? We can sell seeds and popcorn together.”

“There’s someone who pops popcorn in the alley at Grandpa’s house. You bring your own corn and sugar, and they charge you a dime per pot,” Ye Changyuan knew very well.

“Let’s go buy some things first.” Ye Xiaoxiao suddenly felt confident.

The three of them went back to the supply and marketing cooperative. Ye Xiaoxiao was ready to buy everything she needed.

Ye Changsheng stopped Ye Xiaoxiao, who was ready to spend money without thinking, “Grandpa has seeds and corn at home. You just need to buy some sugar. We’re just trying it out. If we can’t sell it, it’s no big deal.”

“Okay.”

Smart people are really good at everything. They can learn by analogy.

After buying sugar, the three of them started preparing separately.

Ye Xiaoxiao pestered her grandfather to roast seeds at home, while Ye Changyuan and Ye Changsheng took their things to find the popcorn maker to pop some corn.

Miao Fengshan didn’t know what these children were doing, but he loved them.

He moved two sacks of seeds from home. They were just sitting there uselessly.

Ye Xiaoxiao helped with the fire, and Miao Fengshan worked hard, constantly flipping the shovel in the pot.

Roasting seeds was also a skill. The heat couldn’t be too high or too low. If it was too low, there wouldn’t be any aroma. If it was too high, it would burn.

Miao Fengshan roasted them perfectly.

After roasting, Ye Xiaoxiao put the seeds into bags.

Both the grandfather and granddaughter were sweating profusely.

“Grandpa, do we have any old newspapers?” Ye Xiaoxiao thought about using something to make it easier to pack for customers.

“There are plenty of those.”

Miao Fengshan often wrote things for the town. In previous years, he had kept the old newspapers that had the names of important people on them, afraid to throw them away. He used them to practice calligraphy.

Now that they had a use, it was even better.

Ye Xiaoxiao, “Great, thank you, Grandpa.”

Miao Fengshan, “Xiaoxiao, do you need Grandpa to help?”

Ye Xiaoxiao, “No, Grandpa. You can just watch the movie peacefully tonight. I have my two brothers to help me.”

As soon as it got dark, the three of them set off for the drying yard, carrying a bag of seeds and two bags of popcorn.

Ye Changyuan was very excited, “Xiaoxiao, we didn’t bring a scale or anything.”

“No need. I brought two enamel mugs. One mug of seeds and one mug of popcorn for a dime. It’s easy to calculate.”

The enamel mugs weren’t big. They could hold more seeds and less popcorn, but this kind of bundled sale was more attractive to customers.

Besides, the price was only a dime, which everyone could afford. Even if they spent it, they wouldn’t feel it was a big deal.

Ye Changyuan, “Although it’s not expensive, I don’t think anyone will buy it.”

Ye Changsheng also looked unconvinced.

Even if they were smart, they were just two young boys trapped in the mountains. Sometimes, what held them back wasn’t distance, but their thinking.

The drying yard was already crowded with people. The projector was set up.

Children were running around, and young men and women were walking in pairs.

The three of them stood by the side of the drying yard, but no one noticed them.

Their stall was deserted and desolate.