Chapter 74: Shopping and Seeking Opportunities

Qiao Jiangxin took her uncle to the department store. Their family lacked everything.

They didn’t have enough food or daily necessities, and their clothes were worn-out.

From 1980 to 1985, street vending was a golden opportunity for entrepreneurs after the reform and opening up.

The national economy was booming, but supplies were scarce, and market demand was huge.

However, street vending required wisdom and courage.

Qiao Jiangxin looked at the street: vendors selling popsicles from heavily wrapped boxes; snack stalls; writing services; even lighter, pot, and pan repair stalls.

There was also a shoe repair stall.

People repaired shoes; no one threw them away.

The stalls were scattered, but they had many customers, although both buyers and sellers were cautious.

There were no relevant policies yet.  If they weren’t caught, it was fine. But if someone made an issue of it, they could be charged with speculation and capitalist behavior.

After scanning the street, Qiao Jiangxin took her uncle to a tea stall.

“How much is the tea?”

A woman carrying a child said enthusiastically, “Girl, boiled water is one cent a cup, mint tea is two cents, and sweet tea is five cents.”

Qiao Jiangxin looked at the table several large wicker cups with square glass lids.

“Two cups of mint tea.”

Qiao Youfu pulled Qiao Jiangxin, “Jiangxin, I’ll just have boiled water.”

He heard that boiled water was cheaper.

Qiao Jiangxin replied, “Uncle, mint is refreshing.”

The woman removed the lids, pushing the cups forward, “Brother, it’s hot. Mint is refreshing. You can add more boiled water.”

Qiao Jiangxin gave her four cents, picking up a cup and drinking it quickly.

Qiao Youfu was also thirsty and, hearing about the refill, drank his tea and added half a cup of water.

They felt refreshed.

Qiao Jiangxin took her uncle deeper into the street.

She wanted to buy things and understand the market, looking for opportunities.

At that time, television and media weren’t widespread, information was scarce, and the market supply and demand were severely unbalanced.

Information flow, capital flow, and logistics weren’t well-regulated; there were no nationwide trading platforms.

The market was chaotic.

Suppliers couldn’t find sales channels, and buyers couldn’t find suppliers.

Asking people was useless; they were secretive.

Qiao Jiangxin and her uncle visited stalls, checking prices and chatting with friendly vendors.  Most were wary.

After an hour, Qiao Youfu had a bag full of things: a kerosene lamp with a glass cover; several large pieces of fabric; toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, and other daily necessities.

The quality was good, and the prices were lower than the department store.

Qiao Jiangxin squatted at a stall, looking at sandals and asking if they had a smaller size.

The vendor, a woman with short hair, looked at the sandals, pushing away her son who was begging for popsicles, “Yes, wait a moment. I’ll get it for you.”

After the woman went inside, Qiao Jiangxin turned to the eight- or nine-year-old boy.

“Want a popsicle?

It’s so hot; a popsicle would be great.  I’ll ask you a question, and if you answer correctly, I’ll buy you one!”

The boy’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

Qiao Jiangxin nodded, “Really.”

The boy eagerly said, “Ask.”

Qiao Jiangxin, remembering the information she’d gathered, asked tentatively, “Do you know when the material exchange fair is?”

The boy nodded, “Material exchange fair? I know. My parents talked about it yesterday. The seventh of every month!”

Qiao Jiangxin hadn’t expected a fair; her heart quickened, “Where is it?”

The boy looked towards his house; his parents told him not to talk about it.

Qiao Jiangxin took out fifty cents, “If you answer, you can buy popsicles.”

The boy swallowed.  Popsicles cost three or five cents; fifty cents could buy five creamy popsicles.

“I heard my parents say it’s at North Bridge Square, but you need a ticket to get in.”

The boy grabbed the money.  Seeing Qiao Jiangxin give it to him, his eyes widened in surprise.

“Thank you, sister. Don’t tell my mom,” he ran off.

The woman with short hair came out with the sandals, yelling at the boy’s back, “You brat! Why are you running? It’s almost dinner time!”

She turned to Qiao Jiangxin, smiling, “Big sister, does this fit?”

Qiao Jiangxin examined the sandals, paid, and tucked them under her arm.

Short on time, they bought some sandwiches from a street vendor.

Arriving at the hospital, seeing the car still there, Qiao Jiangxin breathed a sigh of relief.

Soon, Liu Xinyan and the others came out.

Qiao Jiangxin and her uncle stood up, “Xinyan, Brother Gu, Brother Peng.”

“Have you eaten? We bought some sandwiches,” Qiao Jiangxin showed her package.

Liu Xinyan wasn’t cheerful, “We ate at the hospital cafeteria. Did you finish your business?”

“Yes. Do you need anything? We’re not in a hurry,” Qiao Jiangxin glanced at Gu Yunzhou.

Peng Zhihua opened the car door, “Let’s go.”

As the car started, Qiao Jiangxin looked at Gu Yunzhou’s half-visible head, feeling pity.

She had been through this in her past life and knew how painful it was.

In her past life, the Chen family wanted her dead, giving her the silent treatment, and Chen Wende openly discussed going to a border town with Chi Suzhen, supposedly for inspiration.

Her own son was against her, and her mother was in the hospital.

Qiao Jiangxin endured silently.

But she was better off than Gu Yunzhou. He only hurt himself; Qiao Jiangxin had destroyed everyone around her.