Chapter 70: Addiction to Making Money

Ever since Lin Ping and Zhang Guixiang started selling popsicles, Lin Qiu basically no longer needs to go to the popsicle factory to purchase goods himself.

Lin Qiu didn't want to trouble them, but was directly blocked by Zhang Guixiang and was speechless.

"Sister Lin, what you said is meaningless!" Zhang Guixiang was very angry. "Before the Chinese New Year last year, you took me to sell Spring Festival couplets to make money. Now it's the off-season and there's nothing to do in the garment factory, so you told me how to sell popsicles. You thought of me and took me with you when you were making money. Why do you say such polite words when I help you transport some popsicles? You don't treat me as your own!"

Lin Zeping looked at Lin Qiu with an accusing look on his face, "Sister, don't you consider me a family member again?"

Lin Qiu was completely overwhelmed and could only accept the kindness of his sister-in-law and sister, but he brought two large bottles of water from home every day.

After Lin Ping and Zhang Guixiang punched in at the garment factory every morning, they would go to the newsstand and push their bicycles to the popsicle factory to help Lin Qiu buy popsicles, and then buy popsicles for themselves and sell them at the school gate.

Like Lin Qiu did last year, they went to the school gate twice a day and went to the pedestrian street and the park on weekends.

The two of them insisted on pushing their bicycles and selling popsicles every day regardless of rain or shine, and when they settled the accounts at the end of the month, they were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling. Although Lin Qiu did not ask them for the specific amount, just by looking at their energetic state every day and Zhang Guixiang's feat of buying a bicycle specifically for the popsicle business, he knew that they must have made a lot of money!

Seeing how motivated they were, Wang Xiuren and Zhao Dalong were extremely jealous. The two of them had been working together for several days but had not been able to come up with any ideas.

It was Lin Qiu who helped them come up with an idea.

This year, the stadium opened. Together with the gymnasium opened in 1985 and the tennis and badminton center opened in 1989, Shenzhen's urban construction and sports development ushered in a small peak.

In addition, since the fourth national "Lishi Cup" bodybuilding invitational competition was held in Pengcheng Gymnasium in 1986, eighty to ninety bodybuilding competitions of various types are held in the country every year, and a bodybuilding craze has quickly swept across the country. Bodybuilding and fitness became one of the sports with the broadest mass base in China at that time.

As the birthplace of Chinese bodybuilding competitions, Pengcheng is even more popular with the bodybuilding and fitness trend. Every day, countless people who are keen on sports and bodybuilding and fitness check in at these training grounds.

So Lin Qiu suggested that they could use the time between eight and nine in the evening to go to the gymnasium to sell mineral water.

Wang Xiuren and Zhao Dalong were a little hesitant. After all, the stadium was not in the same district as where they lived, and they had to take a bus to get there.

"How about you two go sell popsicles too?"

"Bao'an is such a small place, are we going to compete with them for their business?" Zhao Dalong felt that there were already quite a few people selling popsicles, and he wasn't someone who could shout, so he refused awkwardly.

"Then I really can't think of any ideas!" Lin Qiu spread his hands.

The two cobblers had no choice but to huddle together, frowning and thinking of ideas.

Maybe God loves fools, because as soon as Wang Xiuren felt sleepy, someone sent him a pillow.

Director Huang asked Ah Xing to tell Wang Xiuren that some old venues in the gymnasium needed to be repaired, and asked Wang Xiuren to work harder and take time out in the evening to work overtime there.

Wang Xiuren asked Ah Xing if he could bring one more person.

Ah Xing waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter if there are more or less people!"

After Ah Xing left, Wang Xiuren ran excitedly to find Zhao Dalong.

Lin Qiu thought that since Wang Xiuren had to work the night shift, she could also go to the gymnasium to sell mineral water.

As for his daughter, Lin Ping will help take care of her temporarily.

Since Lin Ping started selling popsicles, she has basically been living at Lin Qiu's place. She was afraid that her colleagues at the factory would find out about her selling popsicles and follow suit, so she will not be sleeping in the dormitory this month.

So after Wang Xiuren came back from Zhao Dalong, Lin Qiu told him her thoughts.

Wang Xiuren had no objection. Since he would be with her every trip, there would basically be no safety issues. The only thing he was worried about was his daughter.

As a result, Wang Shan gave her mother face. When she heard that her parents had to go out to make money at night and couldn't take her with them, she didn't cry or make a fuss, but just asked if her parents would come back to sleep.

When Lin Qiu and Wang Xiuren assured her that they would come back, she immediately took Lin Ping's hand and said, "I want to play with my aunt!"

My aunt is so nice! She will take her out to play and buy her delicious food. She loves her aunt so much!

So, Lin Qiu started a business selling water in the gymnasium at night.

The stadium was, as expected, packed. People who are jogging, playing tennis, playing badminton, exercising and doing other sports are distributed in various venues of the gymnasium.

Wang Xiuren and Zhao Dalong were very strong, carrying a box of mineral water in each hand, while Lin Qiu was holding a box of mineral water with both hands with great effort. The three of them followed the person in charge of management and maintenance of the gymnasium.

Lin Qiu asked them to move the water to the tennis court or badminton court. These two sports are relatively intense and consume a lot of physical energy, so they need constant replenishment of water.

After hearing this, the person in charge pointed to the badminton hall not far away and said with a smile: "That's the badminton hall. Help her move the water over there. I'll wait for you here."

"Thank you!" Wang Xiuren smiled and nodded to the person in charge.

The person in charge waved his hand, signaling him to hurry over.

"You just sell water here. I'll go over there with Ah Xing first. Brother Zhao and I will come here to find you around ten o'clock. Don't wander around!" Wang Xiuren put the water away and warned with some concern.

"Don't worry, I'll wait for you here and won't go anywhere." Lin Qiu assured Wang Xiuren.

After saying that, Wang Xiuren and Zhao Dalong walked towards the person in charge. When they were about to turn to go to the logistics office, they looked back at the badminton hall with concern.

"You two have such a great relationship! You looked back after just walking a few steps. I guess you've just been married for a short time?" The person in charge teased with a sarcasm on his face.

"The child is three or four years old!" Zhao Dalong replied.

“Wow, I really can’t tell! The children are so grown up, but they still have such a good relationship. It’s rare!” the person in charge exclaimed.

Wang Xiuren blushed slightly, a little embarrassed, and explained: "It's mainly because this is her first time here, and I'm afraid she'll wander around and it will be troublesome if I can't find her later."

"Sister Lin is so smart, how could we not find her? If you are worried, then don't worry. Why are you making excuses? We won't laugh at you." Zhao Dalong also laughed.

“We envy you!”

Wang Xiuren was so amused by their laughter that he shut his mouth and stopped talking, but the redness on his face deepened.

Lin Qiu's mineral water sells very well.

At this time, everyone came to the gym to exercise, and few people came with things to sell. This was Lin Qiu's exclusive business.

There is no need to shout, the five boxes of water placed in front of Lin Qiu are the most obvious sign.

"How much is a bottle of mineral water?" A young man in sportswear and with a muscular body came over first.

"One dollar and five cents a bottle," Lin Qiu replied with a smile, practicing smiling service to the end.

"Give me two bottles!"

As he said this, he tucked the badminton racket under his armpit, took out three dollars from his trouser pocket and handed them to Lin Qiu.

Lin Qiu took the money and handed him two bottles of mineral water.

The young man turned around and threw a bottle to his teammate, then unscrewed the cap, tilted his head back, and drank the water in big gulps.

Other badminton enthusiasts who were taking a break also came up to Lin Qiu and started buying.

The water in front of Lin Qiu was slowly decreasing. Lin Qiu kept touching the money in his pocket and sighed in his heart: This money is so easy to make!

There are 24 bottles of mineral water in each box. The wholesale price is 24 yuan per box, but the retail price is 1.5 yuan per bottle. Lin Qiu can make a net profit of 50 cents for each bottle of water.

Before half past nine, all five boxes of water in front of Lin Qiu were sold out. She was so happy that she sat down on the floor of the gym, not even caring that her pants were covered in dust.

“How are the sales?”

Wang Xiuren rushed to Lin Qiu before the museum closed, panting.

"All sold out! They're selling so fast!" Lin Qiu's eyes sparkled.

"So popular?" Wang Xiuren didn't expect it to sell so well.

"No amount of water is enough for exercise in this kind of weather, especially when you're running back and forth non-stop."

"That's right! It's so hot, how can we not drink water?" Wang Xiuren understood deeply, "You are smart to think of selling water here!"

"I guess this business can only last for a while. If nothing unexpected happens, someone will come here to sell water in a couple of days."

Selling mineral water is a job that requires no technical skills and anyone can do it. Lin Qiu's unique business will probably not be so easy to do soon.

"You still have to be the first to try something new!" Lin Qiu sighed softly.

“Why think so much? You’ve already earned a lot. People should learn to be content! There’s so much money, how can you make it all!” Wang Xiuren himself didn’t expect to say such philosophical words.

"You are right! People should learn to be content with what they have and learn to cherish their blessings." Lin Qiu praised.

"Whether it's right or not, let's go quickly, Brother Zhao is still waiting for us outside!"

When I got home in the evening, it was almost eleven o'clock.

Wang Shan had been coaxed to sleep by Lin Ping, who was dozing off on the sofa. When he heard the door open, he reported Wang Shan's situation to Lin Qiu, then went back to the small bedroom to sleep with sleepy eyes.

After taking a shower, Lin Qiu and Wang Xiuren calculated today’s income before going to bed.

After that day, Wang Xiuren and Zhao Dalong went to the gymnasium to work two extra hours every night, and Lin Qiu also went there to sell water. This kind of life continued until the end of July.

The income from the newsstand and the money from selling water made Lin Qiu never feel tired. He made money day and night. Even for his beloved daughter Wang Shan’s birthday, he just bought a cake and sang a birthday song.

Wang Xiuren and Zhao Dalong felt that the kind of work Director Huang had assigned to them was rare with little pay, so they put in a lot of effort and did a good job that even the person in charge of management and maintenance praised them.

Lin Ping and Zhang Guixiang also made money by selling popsicles. They braved the scorching sun every day, pushing their bicycles and selling them everywhere. They didn't care if their faces and arms got three degrees tanned.

If you ask them if they are tired?

They will definitely say they are tired.

But if you ask them if they are still willing to do this?

They certainly won't say no.

No need to ask why, the real money is in front of you, it’s worth it no matter how tiring it is!

In Zhang Guixiang's words: Making money is addictive!