Chapter 41

Jian Li’s plan sounded like a pipe dream, but it made Wang Yunyun and Qian Ping both start fantasizing.

A house.

Wang Yunyun had never thought about buying a house before.

None of the girls around her would ever say such a thing.

Everyone around them assumed that the family house would be inherited by the sons. As the older or younger sister, they would just live with their husband’s family as long as their future in-laws had a house.

Buying a house with only her name on it.

Just the thought of it made Wang Yunyun’s heart race.

But Qian Ping thought further.

She thought back to her childhood.

Wang Menglan often argued with Qian Jinlai when she was young. At that time, Qian Jinlai hadn’t made much money; he could barely scrape together two coins. But back then, Qian Jinlai seemed to have more presence than he did now. He would always take money to play cards and drink when he was with newlywed Wang Menglan, who wasn’t as hot-tempered at the time.

This led to frequent quarrels and even physical fights.

The young couple would smash plates and bowls during their arguments.

At the most intense moments, when Qian Jinlai couldn’t win the argument, he would simply pull open the front door, eyes wide like copper bells.

“You think you’re capable? If you are, just get out!”

Wang Menglan, holding Qian Ping, walked for over an hour in the snow, eventually reaching Wangjia Village.

She cried when she arrived at her mother’s house, and Wang Yuedong was furious and wanted to go find Qian Jinlai, but Uncle Wang Yuexi didn’t want to.

Aunt Wang Yuexi advised, “Everyone goes through this. You should talk it over with him. And it’s too harsh to bring up divorce, especially now. You need to think of Ping Ping.”

Her grandmother also sided with Aunt Wang Yuexi, saying, “Who doesn’t argue in a marriage? Even teeth and tongues sometimes clash. Don’t be foolish. Stay for a few days, and when he comes to get you, go back. You’ve always been so competitive. I think this time it’s your fault.”

Wang Menglan stayed at her mother’s house for six days, starting with determination not to go back, but by the end, her attitude shifted to worry and anxiety.

Her mother kept making sarcastic comments, fearing she wouldn’t go back and people would gossip. Neighbors were also talking, eager to see if her husband would give her a way out.

Wang Menglan was scared she might really have nowhere to go if things didn’t work out, but also afraid that Qian Jinlai wouldn’t come to get her.

Fortunately, Qian Jinlai eventually came, and the couple took Qian Ping back home.

Since then, Qian Ping never saw her mother argue and return to her parents’ house.

Wang Menglan became increasingly dominant over time, and Qian Jinlai became more and more afraid of her. They would still argue, but it gradually became one-sided with Wang Menglan yelling at Qian Jinlai.

Qian Ping thought to herself, if her mother had a house of her own back then…

Qian Ping made up her mind.

“Jian Li is right, we should all save up and buy a house.”

A house that no one could ever kick them out of!

The three sisters chatted excitedly in the back room, while Wang Yuexi was in the living room “interrogating” Wang Shuai.

Sun Cuifang called everyone to eat.

The whole family gathered at the table in the living room.

On the second day of the New Year, the dishes were all elaborate, reflecting the family’s generosity.

Braised carp, sauerkraut stir-fried with pork, cabbage and potato stew with vermicelli…

Wang Shuai, who had been “on the brink of death” just moments ago, seemed to come back to life, eager to bury his face in the bowl. At the dinner table, Wang Chengcai, who had arrived late, sat next to Zhao Chunlan, who kept serving him meat.

Wang Chengcai was in his third year of high school this year, and Li Xia couldn’t help but boast about his hard work.

“He wakes up at around six every morning, and stays up until ten at night.”

“He ranked in the top 30 for the final exams.”

“The scores are almost the same as last year’s provincial university admission scores.”

Li Xia didn’t hide her pride.

Wang Menglan lowered her head, eating, and Li Xia felt even more satisfied.

Throughout the whole meal, Li Xia was the busiest, constantly steering the conversation toward Wang Chengcai’s studies.

“I told Chengcai, if we’re going to take the exam, let’s aim for universities in big cities! Why bother with provincial ones? It’s better to go to Shanghai or Beijing!”

“As long as Chengcai can study, I’ll support him through to his PhD!”

Jian Li quietly muttered, “A postdoc isn’t a degree.”

Li Xia didn’t hear her mumble and continued talking excitedly.

Every word she said was to belittle Qian Ping.

Wang Menglan could barely stand it.

Qian Ping was studying well in the city. Recently, Wang Menglan asked her, and Qian Ping said she ranked 35th in her class for the final exams.

Although it was only in the middle of the class, Wang Menglan had heard that the repeating class at the cotton spinning factory high school was somewhat well-known in the city. As long as you weren’t at the bottom, you could get into a college.

Wang Menglan looked down on Li Xia, who just couldn’t stand seeing others succeed.

A few years ago, when her son’s grades weren’t as good as Qian Ping’s, she would always say, “What’s the use of just studying? Learning is just one part.”

And now, with her son’s grades improving, she constantly said that others weren’t studying well enough.

Wang Menglan subtly jabbed at Li Xia a few times, but Li Xia seemed not to understand, continuing to boast and deliberately bring up painful topics about Wang Jin Lai and Wang Menglan’s marriage.

“We’re talent that bursts out; every time there’s a big exam, we never drop the ball. The teachers say, boys tend to have a better mentality.”

This sentence, which hit the mark for others, quickly made Qian Jinlai’s face show signs of discomfort.

Qian Jinlai didn’t eat much and soon excused himself, saying there was something at home, and left.

Leaving Wang Menglan and Qian Ping at the table.

Qian Ping looked at Wang Chengcai, who was sitting there waiting to be served, and at Li Xia, whose face couldn’t hide her smugness.

She clenched her fist tightly.

Jian Feng and Wang Mengmei, who hadn’t left after the second year, were offered a big room by Sun Cuifang, who warmly invited them to stay.

“Stay a few more days. After all, you’re not going to work. I’ll make more delicious food for Xiao Li.”

This year, Jian Li only came for the summer vacation, and her son’s grades had three subjects with no red lanterns. If she stayed a few more days, it was possible that this semester, Wang Shuai might pass all his subjects.

Wang Mengmei had already planned to stay longer. She hadn’t come back for a year and needed to visit her father’s grave and spend time with Zhao Chunlan.

Sun Cuifang brought out two new cotton blankets, lit the stove, and brought a glass bottle used for infusions filled with hot water, placing it early in the bedding.

Jian Li was sleeping under the warm blankets and didn’t want to get up the next morning.

But she had no choice.

Wang Shuai, wearing his new clothes, was squatting at the bedside, waiting for her to get up.

“Sis, get up, I want to show you my little warehouse.”

Jian Li was so annoyed by Wang Shuai that she couldn’t sleep, so she had to get up, put on thick clothes, a dog-skin hat, and gloves that Wang Mengmei had knitted for her.

She was left with only her eyes showing.

Wang Shuai led Jian Li through twists and turns, arriving at a dilapidated house no one had been to for years. The house had collapsed halfway, and the other half was still intact.

Wang Shuai and his gang of little black eggs liked to play there, sometimes smashing glass beads or playing cards.

Wang Shuai took out a dirty tin box from a broken jar and opened it to show Jian Li his goods for this year.

“This one’s expensive, a set costs more than a yuan. This one’s cheap, only three cents.”

“And this candy, it’s not selling well. I should’ve known better than to stock it.”

Wang Shuai showed his goods to Jian Li and eagerly asked for her opinion.

Jian Li: “Buy more of these glass beads. Don’t sell them one by one, bundle them. Don’t you have those red plastic bags at home for packing things? Just cut them a bit, put ten or so in a bag, and sell it for a yuan.”

“Try to clear out all your stock, the worst thing in business is to be stuck with inventory. If it sits too long, you’ll be reluctant to clear it out, and in a few years, it’ll be outdated. The most important thing is it takes up space.”

“Don’t buy any more snacks unless they’re new stock.”

Most of the snacks are unbranded, and if they end up making someone’s child sick, the after-sales service would be too much of a hassle.

“Also, find new products. These are all common items. When you’re restocking, if you find new toys, as long as they’re not expensive, you should bring them back and try selling them… Wait.”

Jian Li’s gaze turned dangerous: “You brat, the winter break is almost over, why are you asking me about this now? You’re not planning on selling at school, are you?”

Wang Shuai, caught in the act, could only awkwardly scratch his head: “No… no, how could I do that?”

Jian Li: “You better know better. If your parents find out, it’s no big deal to get a beating. But aren’t you afraid your dad will take away your little stash of money?”

When money was mentioned, Wang Shuai obediently shut up.

But he still felt it was a pity: “If I didn’t have to go to school, I could just focus on selling things.”

What’s the use of doing problems in class every day? It’s way more fun making money. He now earns hundreds a month!

Jian Li kicked him: “Your vision is so small!”

You’re happy with a few hundred bucks? You should see your cousin, Wang Yunyun, who earned two thousand just by writing over three months.

Wang Shuai stuffed his “inventory” back into place. Just as the two were about to leave the dilapidated house, a few of the little black eggs appeared.

The first black egg greeted Jian Li, “Sister, you don’t remember me, but I’m the one who sold you the snake shed!”

Jian Li immediately remembered. This kid had somehow gotten a huge piece of snake skin, which had scared her. In the end, that snake skin sold for over seventy yuan, and she gave fifty yuan to Wang Shuai to pass on to the little black egg.

The first black egg was overjoyed that Jian Li remembered him, and happily mentioned that he had earned twenty yuan during this winter break.

“We followed Shuai Zi to town to sell things, and it’s so profitable.”

“Though selling goods isn’t as good as picking wild mountain goods. I earned the same as I did from that snake skin this winter break.”

Jian Li: …

Wang Shuai: !!!

Jian Li tried to stay calm, pulling Wang Shuai aside while talking to the little black eggs: “I was so busy, I almost forgot. How much did I give you for that snake shed?”

The first black egg: “Twenty yuan.”

The second black egg: “Me, me! Sister, I sold a centipede and earned four yuan!”

The third black egg: “You guys are lucky, I only earned three yuan from selling hedgehog skin.”

Jian Li really had nothing to say. She grabbed Wang Shuai and bade farewell to the little black eggs.

Jian Li was so furious as she dragged Wang Shuai home.

“I really didn’t expect this, you actually have the potential of a black-hearted capitalist!”

Taking half of the money from the proletariat’s poor folks, why don’t we just hang you up on a streetlight!