Chapter 86: Others Buy Stocks, She Sells Lunchboxes

Lin Cuiping’s face twisted, and she stared wide-eyed: “How much? Aunt Zhao, how much did you say?”

Over three hundred yuan for two pieces of clothing? Since Xie Yunshu’s divorce, has she gone crazy from the shock? She works from early morning till late at night earning that little money, and she spends it all on clothes—if that’s not crazy, then what is?

Ling Fenlan only knew that Yunshu and Xie Mingcheng had gone to the department store to buy clothes today, but didn’t know she had spent so much money. Her hand trembled so much she almost dropped the clothes: “Yunshu spent over three hundred?”

She shook as she looked at the receipt for a long time, then gritted her teeth and stuffed the clothes back into the bag: “No, no, these clothes are too expensive. I’ll take them back to the department store this afternoon.”

Two pieces of clothing, one for herself and one for Mingcheng—how big-hearted does Yunshu think she is to wear them?

Aunt Zhao was both envious and sighing: “Fenlan, if the kid wants to buy you something, just wear it quietly. Don’t return it without a word—do you think Yunshu’s heart can take that? You don’t know your own daughter’s character yet?”

Ling Fenlan hesitated but still thought the clothes shouldn’t be kept: “The down jacket worn by our packaging factory’s Section Chief Zhao’s wife cost only over seventy yuan. How could I wear something so expensive? It’s not appropriate, not appropriate…”

Since Old Xie passed away, Ling Fenlan’s originally timid nature became even more cautious. Being a single mother raising children alone, it’s easy to be bullied. Moreover, Yunshu just got divorced recently—countless eyes are watching, waiting to see their downfall.

If she wore such flashy clothes, outsiders wouldn’t know what kind of rumors they’d spin about her daughter.

Lin Cuiping snorted: “Aunt Fenlan, with Xie Yunshu’s bad temper, if you dared to return it, she’d just go buy an even more expensive one. Believe me or not? Aren’t you afraid of what she might say about you? Who dares mess with Xie Yunshu?”

She added in her heart: if Yunshu really got angry, even the street dogs would get slapped twice. Who would dare to sneer at her?

Ling Fenlan couldn’t decide: “Then let’s wait for Yunshu and Mingcheng to come back. I’ll talk it over with her.”

Lin Cuiping looked at the two down jackets, feeling almost sick with envy. She sarcastically snorted: “Over three hundred yuan spent, and she didn’t buy anything for herself. Xie Yunshu must have something wrong with her head.”

Aunt Zhao laughed and slapped her lightly: “Your mouth is only sharp when Yunshu isn’t around. If she were here, you’d still dare to talk like this?”

Lin Cuiping stood up, twisting her hips: “Aunt Zhao, I’m not afraid of Xie Yunshu. What am I scared to say?”

If there was no screw loose in Xie Yunshu’s head, how would she have been able to catch the eye of Lu Zhixing at the matchmaking? Forget everything else, with Yunshu’s face alone, she’s quite capable of charming men. Even if she didn’t marry Lu Zhixing, she could still have married some small cadre or someone better than a man like Lu Zhixing who keeps mistresses.

She thought this bitterly, completely forgetting that when Xie Yunshu got married, she was so jealous she nearly tore up the bedsheets at home and wanted to run over to sabotage Yunshu’s wedding…

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On Jing’an Avenue, in front of the Securities Trading Center, the small shops of tens of square meters were crowded with people.

Xie Yunshu rode a tricycle and stopped outside the crowd. People were squeezing inside, paying no attention to her.

Although Xie Mingcheng had once sold lunchboxes with her, at that time people came actively to buy the food, so he just focused on collecting money and serving food.

Facing such a crowd now, he was still shy and didn’t know what to do: “Sister, how should we sell?”

Xie Yunshu thought for a moment: “One and a half yuan a box, free hot water to drink. This way it’s fair, and the profit margin is high.”

People who have money to buy stocks are rich. Since the reform and opening up, Haicheng has gained a large group of entrepreneurs who made their money from business. When they have money, they start investing.

Some make money, some lose money—it’s all about luck and brains. Xie Yunshu earned hard money and didn’t dare to gamble, but the lunchbox price could still be set a little higher. One and a half yuan fills you up and doesn’t stop them from watching stocks. How attractive is that?

Xie Mingcheng looked worriedly at the lunchboxes on the tricycle. He clenched his teeth, blushed, and shouted, “Lunchboxes for sale, one and a half yuan each!”

“That won’t do, your voice isn’t even as loud as others’!”

Xie Yunshu smiled at him, cleared her throat, and without hesitation started shouting: “Delicious lunchboxes are here! Meat and veggies balanced, nutritious and rich, only one and a half yuan a portion! Don’t miss out!”

As she shouted, she opened a small gap in the quilt covering the thermal box and took out a lunchbox to show: “There’s meat, rice, and veggies inside, plus free hot water to drink!”

At first, the people squeezing into the trading hall didn’t notice, but as the aroma wafted over, they all turned their heads.

A man closest to Xie Yunshu was already starving. He had made money on stocks yesterday and came today to check the market, but hadn’t even had a sip of hot water yet. He happily took out money: “Young lady, give me one.”

Xie Yunshu handed him disposable chopsticks: “Brother, eat it while it’s hot, it’s delicious.”

The lunchbox tasted good. Although one and a half yuan was a bit expensive, Xie Yunshu did not skimp. Inside were big chunks of meat. They had been waiting outside for a long time, cold and hungry. Eating this lunchbox made them feel comfortable inside and out.

Once someone started buying, the lunchboxes quickly sold.

Of course, some thought it was expensive: “Young lady, your price is too high. Pork costs only eighty cents a jin, your lunchbox must have nearly two jin of pork! Can you make it cheaper? I want one.”

Xie Yunshu smiled: “Brother, if you think it’s worth it, buy it. If not, I’m not forcing you.”

The noodle shops in the alley opposite had cheaper prices—fifty cents for a bowl of noodles with meat sauce was only seventy cents total. But they didn’t want to sell. She was here to make a quick buck. Also, she knew this business wouldn’t last long; the small restaurants opposite would learn to sell lunchboxes soon after seeing her.

The man hesitated after hearing Xie Yunshu, swallowing, still unsure.

But as he hesitated, Xie Yunshu sold a few more boxes: “Only about thirty portions left, hurry and buy!”

With this shout, even the reluctant but hungry people took out money to buy.

The man couldn’t resist anymore, hurried to pay: “I came first. Young lady, save one for me.”

Thirty lunchboxes were sold quickly, even though it wasn’t yet noon.

Xie Yunshu squinted and quietly told Mingcheng: “You ride the bike home quickly, have Aunt Zhao and us make thirty more, then bring them over. I’ll wait here.”