Chapter 86: Two Years Later

Two years later, in Jiucun Town,.

Early in the morning, Jiang Liyun woke up and, upon opening her eyes, saw the mosquito nett hanging over her bed, along with the ceiling fan inside.

It was a small fan designed for use within mosquito netts, providing a gentle breeze that was perfect for sleeping.

Despite having money, she chose not to install an air conditioner due to various expenses, opting for a ceiling fan instead.

This place wasn’t meant to be her long-term residence.

Yawning, Jiang Liyun glanced at the calendar on her bedside table.

July 1, 1990.

She tore off a page, and the date became July 2, 1990, a Monday.

Jiang Liyun quickly wrote down a few tasks for the day.

After completing her morning routine, she entered the room’s attached bathroom to freshen up and get dressed.

As she left the room, she saw Feng Yi studying at the dining table outside.

In the past two years, while some experienced sudden wealth or bankruptcy, Jiang Liyun steadily ran a breakfast shop and engaged in white-feathered chicken farming.

Initially, she had local farmers raise her chickens, but later she established her own farm, implementing large-scale poultry farming.

These two years had been hectic for her, with her doing many things she hadn’t done in her previous life.

Of course, she had earned quite a bit of money.

It was 1990, and the cost of living was relatively low.

In her previous life, giving birth at the commune hospital around this time cost only a hundred yuan.

Worker wages had increased slightly in these two years, but not by much. An ordinary worker’s monthly salary was around $200.

Meanwhile, she had her own business and a savings of a hundred thousand.

She also owned a house.

Two years ago, after earning money, she bought land in town and built a four-story building for herself.

At this time, real estate development hadn’t taken off yet. People in town who wanted better living conditions could buy land and build houses.

Seizing the opportunity, she built her own house.

Her house was located next to a newly constructed wide street in town. Though quiet now, in a decade, it would become the centre of Jiucun Town, attracting people for shopping.

Twenty years later, the town government spent money renovating the old buildings on both sides of the street, making it exceptionally beautiful.

Even if she didn’t live there in the future, renting it out would be profitable.

The ground and first floor of this building were already rented out by Jiang Liyun for selling clothes.

The tenants named the shop “Affordable Clothing,” selling a variety of clothing on the ground floor and children’s wear, shoes, and accessories on the second floor, and their business was thriving.

As for the third and fourth floors, Jiang Liyun reserved them for herself.

She planned to develop outside but would return during the holidays to have a place to stay.

Currently, the ground and first floors of the building were rented out, and the third and fourth floors were occupied by Jiang Qiang and his wife, along with Jiang Liyu.

Jiang Liyu had transferred to town for schooling after Jiang Liyun built the house. The educational conditions in town were better than in the countryside.

Living in town made studying more convenient, so Jiang Qiang’s family, including Jiang Liyu, moved into the house.

As for Jiang Liyun and Feng Yi, they lived on the fourth floor.

The house was built in 1988, costing a reasonable amount for land and construction. While not expensive, its future appreciation potential was undoubtedly significant.

“Liyun, the porridge is in the pot,” Feng Yi said, smiling as he saw Jiang Liyun getting up.

Jiang Liyun entered the kitchen and found porridge cooking in the electric rice cooker, accompanied by a plate of scrambled eggs and another of pickled vegetables.

“Feng Yi, what time did you wake up?” Jiang Liyun asked.

“At four, I’m used to getting up early,” Feng Yi replied.

Although Jiang Liyun also had the habit of rising early, it was only six o’clock now, and Feng Yi had been up for two hours.

“With exams approaching, take it easy these days and don’t overwork yourself,” Jiang Liyun advised.

Two years ago, after Jiang Liyun had Feng Yi transfer to the third year of junior high school, she stopped him from working at the dumpling shop, urging him to focus on studying. She even spent 200 yuan to hire two junior high school teachers to tutor him before the high school entrance exam.

With the efforts of those two teachers and Zhao Hai, Feng Yi eventually secured a spot in the second-ranked high school in the county. Granted, there were only two high schools in the county, making it the lowest-ranked one.

After negotiating with the high school, they agreed to let Feng Yi study at home.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye, and Feng Yi, who skipped a grade, was about to take the college entrance exam.

Although Feng Yi was intelligent, not attending full-time school meant his grades weren’t top-notch, and skipping a grade was uncommon.

However, this year, Jiang Liyun planned to start a business in a big city.

The past two years have had some instability in the situation, especially last year, a year often euphemistically referred to as “that year” in the future.

So, Jiang Liyun postponed venturing out and focused on tasks in Jiucun Town during this time. But this year was different—she had completed all the preparations.

During those two years, Feng Yi accompanied her, helping with various tasks. Now, as she prepared to start her business, Feng Yi could join her, returning to take the exam next year. However, Feng Yi wanted to take the exam earlier.

Jiang Liyun had no objection, though she felt Feng Yi was working too hard.

These two years, she had been busy, and Feng Yi had taken on some of her workload.

“Li Yun, studying is a way for me to relax,” Feng Yi said with a smile.

“Fair enough! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you don’t pass this year, you can try again next year,” Jiang Liyun advised.

Feng Yi pondered, realising he was already twenty-two this year. If he didn’t pass this year and tried again next year, he would be twenty-three when he graduated from college.

He wanted to graduate and get married soon. With these thoughts, Feng Yi continued his studies.

In Jiucun Town, there were retired high school teachers whom Jiang Liyun paid to help Feng Yi with extra lessons. When young teachers from the county high school returned during breaks, Feng Yi also studied with them.

Jiang Liyun even arranged for him to obtain various test papers from the county high schools and buy study materials not available locally.

Though he followed Jiang Liyun, Feng Yi dedicated considerable time to his studies during these two years. Due to skipping a grade, his grades weren’t outstanding in school, but he should pass the exam. If he could get into a university in Shanghai, he could go to Shanghai with Jiang Liyun.

How wonderful!

Feng Yi was earnestly studying while Jiang Liyun had finished breakfast and decided to visit Liyun Dumpling Shop.

Her dumpling shop remained in its original location.

Initially, she considered relocating it beneath her newly built house, but the sudden move might affect business. Moreover, the rent from her house was much higher than the dumpling shop’s rent. So, staying put was more cost-effective.

As soon as Jiang Liyun entered Liyun Dumpling Shop, she spotted Lai Bocheng and greeted him with a smile, “Little Lai, long time no see.”

Lai Bocheng’s face turned dark.

Jiang Liyun couldn’t resist laughing again.

Living in the same town and both engaged in business, two years ago, shortly after Jiang Liyun saw Lai Bocheng at the dumpling shop, she encountered Lai Bocheng’s parents.

Lai Bocheng was their only child, and though they cared for him, the prevalent concept of education and child-rearing was different at that time. They believed that providing enough money for him to live comfortably was sufficient.

However, with so much money given to Lai Bocheng, could he avoid going astray?

Lai Bocheng even had a child during junior high.

This not only harmed himself but also his girlfriend. Jiang Liyun suggested to Lai Bocheng’s parents that they spend more money and hire school teachers to supervise him.

Lai Bocheng’s parents paid a whopping 500 yuan per month to hire a pair of middle-aged junior high school teachers to look after him.

How did they care for him? Lai Bocheng moved into the teachers’ home and had all his meals there!

His parents were too busy to take care of him, so they essentially “boarded” him out.

These two teachers, one teaching math and the other Chinese, were paid more in a month than their combined salaries. They took care of Lai Bocheng diligently, providing special attention.

This included, but was not limited to, calling Lai Bocheng to the office for problem-solving during school hours, bringing him home right after school for homework, and offering free tutoring during breaks.

Lai Bocheng: “…”

During this time in Jiucun Town, not many people attended tutoring classes, but Lai Bocheng did!

When he was taken in by the teachers, he was only in his first year of junior high. Although he had lost interest in studying, the boy of 1.5 metres with a baby face was actually afraid of skipping classes and scared of his teachers.

Being watched by the two teachers, he didn’t have time to go astray. All he thought about was behaving well so that the teachers’ son would be willing to play basketball with him.

After being monitored for two years, Lai Bocheng, in his third year, not only didn’t have a girlfriend but also, relying on his abilities, ranked last and got into high school.

In gratitude, Lai Bocheng’s father specially gave Jiang Liyun a big red envelope, thanking her for the suggestion.

Lai Bocheng’s parents were grateful to Jiang Liyun, but Lai Bocheng felt that Jiang Liyun was poisonous.

She not only compelled her man to study but also forced him to read!

He shouldn’t have come to the Liyun Dumpling Shop to eat!