Chapter 49 Playing Ball

Yao Shula knew about this thing; she had seen it before.

There was a set of cassettes like this in a storeroom at my grandmother's house.

A square table with four bags at each of its four corners.

There are also cue balls and child balls on the table, which can be played by two or four people.

In short, different people play together and there are different ways to play. Ultimately, it's about who can pocket the other person's ball first.

In short, this is a type of billiards game.

Grandma said that in her generation, young people playing this ball was considered fashionable!

"Back then, any family that set up a few pool tables outside would have good business."

Most of those who came to fight were young people.

He had an afro, wore bell-bottoms, and sported a pair of sunglasses.

Whenever someone is hitting someone, a large crowd will gather to watch.

Your grandfather went to Shanghai specifically to buy this pool table!

Yao Shula always remembered her grandmother's words.

When my maternal grandparents were young, wasn't that the same era?

When it first opened up, everyone was curious about everything. Young people also wanted to be trendy, so they basically wanted to do whatever people in big cities were doing!

What's popular in the capital and Shanghai is exactly what people in the smaller county towns below have always been fond of.

Plus, Yao Shula is lazy and doesn't want to go to work in the factory, so setting up a few pool tables to make money is a good option.

Seeing Yao Shula engrossed in the blueprint, Lei Jingwu couldn't help but continue speaking.

"Do you want to buy a pool table? I've already asked around for you. A complete set, including the table, pieces, and cues, costs 120 yuan."

If you're interested in buying it, I'll call a friend in Shanghai, and they'll bring it along next time they have a car coming from Shanghai.

Yao Shula shook her head as she looked at the blueprints.

"No need! It's too expensive to buy!"

Just find someone to make a few sets!

"Do it yourself? Who are you going to ask to do it?" Lei Jingwu was stunned.

"Looking for my uncle! My uncle works at a lumber mill, where they make furniture and such every day, and he's quite skilled."

It's just a pool table, right? My uncle is a seasoned pro at it.

"Even without blueprints, my uncle can make it just by looking at a picture," Yao Shula said proudly.

She really wasn't bragging.

Uncle Shu's carpentry skills are really good. All the furniture used in Yao Shula's house, whether it's wardrobes, beds, or tables, chairs, and benches, was made by Uncle Shu.

Sturdy, durable, and good-looking!

We'll just give the blueprints to Uncle Shu and ask him to help us make them.

That way, you can save a lot of money!

"You want to set up a stall?" Lei Jingwu was a little surprised.

Yao Shula nodded very affirmatively.

"Yeah, just put it out on the roadside and let people play! One cent a game, as long as someone is there watching over it."

Lei Jingwu remained silent.

He never expected that Yao Shula would actually consider setting up a stall.

In an era where working in a factory is a source of pride, Yao Shula chose to set up a street stall.

Lei Jingwu knew very well that Yao Shula wasn't without opportunities to enter the factory, but rather that she didn't want to.

Lei Jingwu could not hide the fact that she had sold her job to someone else.

Lei Jingwu knew that Yao Shula didn't just not want to work at the factory.

She didn't want her younger sister and brother to work in the factory either...

Otherwise, he wouldn't have sold that permanent job so readily.

"What? You think this is wrong?" Yao Shula looked up at Lei Jingwu when she saw that he didn't speak.

Lei Jingwu smiled and nodded.

"Girls your age should all like working in factories. People with your mindset are unlikely to be found even in the county."

Even in Shanghai, it's very rare.

Setting up a stall outside...you really have a good idea."

Yao Shula, however, didn't think anything of it.

She also knew what everyone was thinking: a girl without a proper job wasn't a good girl.

"What? I didn't steal or rob. It's all earned through normal labor. What's shameful about it?"

I need to take care of my younger siblings, so it's impossible for me to go to work like a normal person.

Let alone setting up a street stall, even picking up trash is a means of survival when desperate.

"Comrade Lei, don't tell me you look down on street vendors just like everyone else!" Yao Shula looked at Lei Jingwu with a serious expression.

Lei Jingwu hurriedly waved his hand.

He wouldn't dare look down on street vendors, much less on Yao Shula in front of him.

Just the fact that she snatched the house back from her own father with a kitchen knife shows she's no ordinary girl.

"That's not what I meant at all!"

"Yao Shula, it seems you have a broad perspective and don't care at all about what others think!" Lei Jingwu stared at Yao Shula.

Yao Shula chuckled.

What does it mean to have a broad vision? She's just going with the flow, trying to make money while taking care of her younger siblings, okay?

If it weren't for certain reasons, she really wouldn't have wanted to come to this place!

Thinking of this, Yao Shula's expression suddenly turned serious.

"Comrade Lei, you're wrong! It's not that I have a narrow perspective."

Rather, I believe in the Party, I believe in the government, and I believe that the government's decisions are correct.

"I'm doing this in response to the government's call; I'm firmly following the government's lead," Yao Shula said very seriously.

Lei Jingwu...

Setting up a small stall is simply responding to the government's call and firmly following its lead.

Isn't this making a mountain out of a molehill?

Seeing Lei Jingwu staring at her in surprise without saying a word, Yao Shula decided to raise the banner even higher.

"Comrade Lei, although I am not a Party member, I like to read newspapers and listen to the radio in my spare time."

I am also familiar with the policies of the Party and the government.

Why did the government's policies suddenly change starting two years ago? I heard that there are more people doing business along the coast now.

The country is also doing business with other countries, selling domestic products abroad to earn foreign exchange!

Why? It shows that the country also needs to make money!

Only by making money can one do many things for the country and its people!

Similarly, the government also supports ordinary people to start small businesses.

In the past, if any family in the countryside raised chickens, ducks, or anything else, they would be considered a capitalist remnant and their livelihood would be cut off.

Now, the government is encouraging everyone to raise livestock! They're encouraging everyone to raise more!

What if we raise so many that we can't eat them all? We'll definitely sell them in the city!

Therefore, the government encourages people to become small vendors.

Only when this sector is thriving will farmers have a better life and more spare money!

Similarly, city dwellers can also buy more fresh vegetables and meat, isn't that killing two birds with one stone?

In short, is it only in this way that everyone's life will be better?

So, the government supports everyone setting up small stalls and doing small business when they have free time, don't you think?" Yao Shula blinked her big eyes at Lei Jingwu.

Lei Jingwu was stunned for a long time.

"Then... you're not selling anything here!"

"So all you're doing is making this fun and entertaining for everyone! Is this what you call serving the people?" Lei Jingwu asked with a smile.

Yao Shula nodded seriously immediately.

“How can it not be serving the people? What? You don’t believe me? Let me explain!” Yao Shula said, gesturing for Lei Jingwu to sit down instead of standing.

Lei Jingwu was tall, so when Yao Shula was sitting, Lei Jingwu standing made her feel a little intimidated...