Chapter 266 Many hands make light work

The sisters-in-law understood the blunt explanation and panicked.

“This was all permitted by the organization. It was a worker-peasant cooperative. We pricked our fingers with every stitch we made, and we only made a few pairs of cloth shoes each month. We sent them to the supply and marketing cooperative to exchange for some ration coupons and daily necessities. That was all our hard-earned money. How can it be considered speculation?”

Cen Yan: "Isn't that settled? What I'm doing now is the same as what my sisters-in-law are doing! See those snakeskin bags in the corner?"

"It's full of medicinal herbs. I have to chop them up bit by bit, air-dry them, sun-dry them, process them, grind them into powder with a stone mortar, and finally mix these powders according to the prescription. It takes a lot of effort to cook them up. It's hard-earned money, money earned through blood and sweat."

"Maybe we'll have to ask our wives to lend a hand then, so we can work together inside and outside our residential compound."

In a collective economy, everyone gets rich so that no one will be envious. Cen Yan doesn't want to make a fortune quietly, because that way she would have to eat stewed meat behind closed doors and sneak around.

She can't make a lot of Qi Bai ointment by herself. If conditions allow, she can get the women in the family compound to develop a side business together to supplement their household income. That way, she won't be just Qi Jingchuan standing behind her, but hundreds or thousands of people in the family compound!

When Cen Yan said this, her sisters-in-law were stunned, but then they all felt a surge of warmth in their hearts and moved closer to Cen Yan.

Aunt Tang's eyes lit up. "Cen Yan, are you serious? Can we all develop this side business together?"

"When conditions allow, I'd certainly be willing to join everyone in production. But I don't know the details yet. I'll ask Jingchuan about it when he gets back. I'm quite worried about whether bringing everyone into production would be considered speculation..."

"No! Definitely not! Anyone who dares to accuse you of speculation and profiteering is the enemy of all the military wives in the family compound!"

Aunt Tang shouted indignantly, "Cen Yan always thinks of the collective and everyone else when something good happens."

Previously, when reporters wanted to interview her individually, it was Cen Yan who helped secure group interviews. Now, she has proposed to lead everyone in developing family side businesses to alleviate the family's financial burden.

If anyone dares to say that Cen Yan is a capitalist, a speculator, or someone who is exploiting the people's hard-earned money, these women comrades will definitely spit on them and drown those heartless people who can't stand seeing others do well!

You know, when everyone came to Dongming Island to join the army, they were stuck on this small island every day, sewing cloth shoes and knitting sweaters. It was very boring and hard work, and the organization couldn't arrange so many positions for them.

They desperately need a stable and profitable career!

"With my sisters-in-law's words, I feel much more at ease. When Jingchuan comes back later, I'll ask him if this operation is reasonable."

Aunt Tang and the other women said, "If anyone dares to say something is unreasonable, we'll organize ourselves and go to Commissar Lu's house to find out exactly what's unreasonable!"

Cen Yan was flattered by the high level of enthusiasm and support everyone had for the family side business she had created.

"It wouldn't look good if it got to the leader's house. Anyway, everyone wait for my good news about the family side business. With the leader's personal red stamp and the organization's approval certificate in hand, we don't have to worry about others saying we're speculating."

As she spoke, Cen Yan looked at the certificate of self-production in her hand, feeling an indescribable joy in her heart.