Chapter 208 The First Person to Eat Crab

She took a deep breath and tentatively continued, "Then... can you bring people?"

"I'd also like to go to Nanzhou with you. Just a trip there would be good for broadening my horizons."

Scenes from her previous life flashed through her mind.

The turning point in their fate began in the south.

This time, she didn't want to rely on others to tell her; she wanted to see for herself and touch the road leading to the future.

Upon hearing this, Song Wenhua remained silent for a few seconds, a hint of hesitation flashing across his brow.

He pursed his lips, and finally nodded, his tone tinged with difficulty.

"We can bring them, but... they can only sit in the trunk. We only have two drivers in this car, and the front and back seats are already full, so there's really no room to move them."

He paused, then added in a low voice.

"I feel really bad about letting you sit in the trunk."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Shen Cuifen not only didn't get angry, but instead waved her hand and laughed heartily.

"You can sit anywhere! I really don't care at all! If you're worried, you can go back and ask your supervisor first. I'll cover your gas money so you won't be put in a difficult position or get criticized at work."

Her greatest skill in life is knowing how to be patient.

Being able to hitch a ride on this bus and save tens or even hundreds of yuan in travel expenses is already a huge convenience.

As long as she could get to Nanzhou, she would accept it even if she had to crawl on her knees the whole way.

Song Wenhua immediately shook his head.

"Why would we need to ask the leaders? Giving someone a ride is perfectly normal. Who hasn't hitched a ride a few times? Our team often gives relatives and friends rides. As long as nothing goes wrong, the higher-ups don't even bother to investigate."

He paused, then said seriously, "I know what's going on with the gas money. I'll take care of it, so don't worry about it."

He was well aware that many passengers got off the bus midway through the journey.

As long as Shen Cuifen is willing to make do with part of the journey, arranging it is not difficult.

"Sure!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Cuifen's eyes lit up immediately, and she nodded repeatedly.

"Then please ask around for me, Wen Hua! I'll be waiting for your news!"

Song Wenhua glanced at her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“We’ll probably have to leave in about seven or eight days, Aunt Cuifen. If you really want to go, I’ll come pick you up directly from here, so you won’t have to travel.”

"I definitely have to go! I absolutely must go!"

Shen Cuifen blurted it out almost without thinking.

Then, as if she had just thought of something, she enthusiastically suggested, "Why don't you ask your mom if she wants to go out and explore together? If she's willing, we can go together and look after each other on the road!"

Sunlight streamed in through the car window.

Song Wenhua slowly turned a corner, let out a long breath, and looked somewhat gloomy.

"I'm afraid I can't go. My sister's divorce proceedings are still not finalized, and things are dragging on. My parents are worried about it every day, and they're extremely stressed. How can they have the mind to go on a trip or do anything unnecessary at a time like this?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Cuifen's eyes flashed with regret, and she sighed softly.

"Sigh, it must have been tough. Your sister's divorce took a really long time."

But she quickly composed herself, patted her knees, and rallied.

"It's alright. I'll go ahead and scout out the area first, get a feel for the situation, and familiarize myself with the route. I can come back to pick up your mom later. We can't stay stuck in this small place forever, can we?"

While driving, Song Wenhua suddenly turned around and stared at her.

"Aunt Cuifen, you...you wouldn't be thinking of going over there to find a way to make money, would you?"

He was still somewhat shaken when he heard these words.

It's rare to see a woman who is not only bold but also has such foresight.

Shen Cuifen usually appears mild-mannered and doesn't talk much.

But once they open their mouths, every word they say seems to hit the nail on the head.

Song Wenhua had always thought she was a law-abiding person who lived a quiet life, but he never expected her to be so adventurous at heart.

Shen Cuifen didn't hide it from him.

"Now that the government has relaxed restrictions on individual businesses, I think this is a golden opportunity."

“Have you read the newspaper? It mentioned ‘revitalizing the economy’ and encouraging individuals to start businesses. This isn’t just talk; it’s something they’re really going to promote. Many people say there’s no future in this line of work, that we’re ‘speculating and profiteering,’ and that it’s not respectable. But I think it will become the mainstream sooner or later. Once the market is active, who doesn’t make a living by buying and selling? Rather than waiting for policies to come step by step, it’s better to secure a position now and seize the opportunity.”

Song Wenhua wholeheartedly agreed.

He raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded.

That's absolutely right.

He had also thought about it himself; his family's financial situation was average, and he had many children, so his salary simply couldn't support them.

His wife, Zheng Mingyue, works tirelessly from dawn till dusk selling velvet shoes, just to earn more money to supplement the family income.

But this path, in the end, is still walking a tightrope.

"I told my mom the same thing. But she absolutely refused. She was afraid of losing money."

His mother was old and timid, and always felt that receiving a salary from the government was the only right thing to do.

Even though the policy has been relaxed now, there's still a concern that it might be taken back someday.

The person was arrested, and all the money was lost.

She often said, "Our kind of family can't withstand any more upheaval."

Song Wenhua understood her, but she also felt aggrieved.

There was a clear opportunity, but all we could do was watch helplessly.

He gave a wry smile.

That feeling of helplessness—wanting to do something but being prevented from doing it—is like a stone pressing on my chest.

He knew his mother meant well for the family, but the reality was what it was.

If you don't take risks, you'll never turn things around.

Zheng Mingyue is now selling velvet shoes, which can be considered "speculation and profiteering".

No need to rent a shop, no need to pay rent, they can secretly set up a stall on the street corner.

It's risky, but it's not scary.

She leaves home before dawn every day, carrying an old bamboo basket.

He stuffed a dozen or so pairs of hand-sewn cloth shoes inside, hiding them under his cotton-padded coat, and went from street to street looking for someone to buy them.

When the business administration officials came to inspect, she turned and ran, not daring to turn back to pick up her lost shoe.

Even so, you can still earn an extra few dozen yuan a month.

This money is enough to buy the child two new outfits.

Shen Cuifen understood her.

Looking at Zheng Mingyue's thin back, she felt a pang of sadness.

That wasn't reckless audacity; it was courage born out of necessity.

If it were her, she would also be afraid if she didn't have that memory of her past life.

But what happened next?

She experienced bankruptcy, unemployment, and the death of loved ones.

He died alone in his rented room, with no one to even claim his body.

Having been reborn in this life, she never wants to repeat the same mistakes.

Sole proprietorship?

The rental deposit alone requires a large sum of money, tying up funds before even opening for business.

She was aware of the cost.

Renting a small storefront of about ten square meters now costs at least three or four hundred yuan, with a deposit of three months' rent and payment of one month's rent in advance.

What does that mean?

Half a year's salary for a worker!

Anyone would hesitate or be afraid.

But she knew that as long as she chose the right goods, there was nothing to be afraid of.

The key is the "goods".

You need to sell people what they truly need.

The price should be low, the quality high, and the repurchase rate high.

She already had a plan in mind.

She plans to start with everyday household goods, beginning with small items like soap, towels, and needles and thread.

Low cost, fast turnover, and no need to stockpile too much.

Once we have a good reputation and a steady stream of customers, we can gradually expand.

They can be opened as small supermarkets or even chain stores.

"It's good that your mom is being careful. It's okay, I'll test the waters first."

She knew others would wait and see, so she decided to be the first to try something new.