In December, Bai Xiaoyue started to prepare fake letters of introduction so that Yan Ci could exchange gold for money at various banks.

Before the Lunar New Year, the couple exchanged all the gold they had received from Yao Dajun for cash.

The remaining thirty-six large yellow croakers were exchanged for more than 300,000 yuan in cash.

Yan Ci instructed Bai Xiaoyue to deposit 40,000 yuan in each of three banks.

Bai Xiaoyue asked, "Aci, didn't you say you wanted to start a transportation company? Buying a car is so expensive! Take all the money and buy a car!"

Yan Ci said, "Wife, keep this money just in case. If the transportation company doesn't make money, this money will be enough for our future expenses."

Yan Ci deposited some of the remaining money in the bank and kept 100,000 yuan in cash at home.

When she returned home for the Chinese New Year, Bai Xiaoyue counted the small gold bars and silver coins in the box, and then looked at Yan Ci's small gold lock.

Yan Ci asked, "Wife, what's wrong? Do you want to sell all of these?"

Bai Xiaoyue shook her head: "These were all left by your ancestors, keep them!"

Some of these were left by your great-aunt, which means they belonged to Cui Yunchen. Return them to him at a suitable time later.

Yan Ci nodded: "Okay, that depends on the timing."

Time flew by and it was spring of 1980.

When the news of the household responsibility system came, the whole village was in an uproar; everyone was overjoyed and ecstatic.

Yan Xiaosong even made a special trip back from Beijing to allocate land.

He gave his allocated land to his elder brother Yan Yugang to cultivate, as long as he helped him pay the grain tax.

Yan Yugang agreed to farm, but wanted Yan Xiaosong to lend him some money, saying that his son was always sick, the family had no money, and they owed a lot of money to others.

Yan Xiaosong had no choice but to lend him one hundred yuan.

Bai Wenli was allowed to cultivate the land belonging to Yan Ci's family. Originally, Bai's father offered to help with the cultivation, but Bai Xiaoyue refused, fearing it would tire the elderly couple out.

After settling things at home and asking her parents to look after the house, Bai Xiaoyue went to greet Wen Tong.

She had just entered the courtyard when she found Wen Tong's father, Xiang Zhennan, there: "Uncle Xiang, when did you get back?"

Xiang Zhennan laughed heartily:

"Xiaoyue is here. I just arrived today. Wen Tong's mother doesn't like Beijing, so I had to come here to keep her company!"

Bai Xiaoyue told Wen Tong about her trip to Beijing.

Xiang Zhennan immediately asked:

"Xiaoyue, do you have a place to stay? My house is still empty, you can stay there."

Bai Xiaoyue quickly said, "Uncle Xiang, there's a place for you to stay. Chang Le bought a small house in Beijing."

Xiang Zhennan scolded, "Why didn't you say you wanted to buy a house earlier? I have several houses to deal with."

Bai Xiaoyue clicked her tongue in amazement. They had several houses to deal with; they must be a wealthy family.

Thinking of Wen Tong's Rui Rui and Qi Qi, she quickly advised:

"Uncle Xiang, the house in Beijing can't be sold. Nothing is better than leaving the house for the children. Please keep it for Wen Tong!"

Xiang Zhennan laughed again: "Then keep it for Wen Tong."

After returning home, Bai Xiaoyue went out again to look for Bai Wenyi.

"Second brother, now Wen Tong and Aunt Wen are both working for you. If the garment factory has any problems, just ask Uncle Xiang. His family used to own a factory and has experience in this area."

Then they asked him to help look after Bai's parents and to send a telegram if anything happened.

As she walked, she wondered if it was possible to install landline phones on private property nowadays. If it was, she would definitely want Chang Le to have one installed.

Everything is ready, just waiting to depart the next day.

That evening, Bai Xiaoyue was chatting with Yan Ci when Li Mingyue arrived, saying she wanted to go out with Bai Xiaoyue.

Bai Xiaoyue asked, completely bewildered, "Mingyue, what's with this all of a sudden? What happened?"

Li Mingyue: "Xiaoyue, nothing happened. I've been thinking about this for a long time."

Ping'er and An'an have only been gone a short time, and the two siblings have already saved six thousand yuan. It would take Weiguo and me ten years to save that much.

Bai Xiaoyue said seriously, "Mingyue, your current job is a secure one."

Going out to make money doesn't guarantee you'll make any; you can't just look at the immediate situation, you have to think it through carefully.

Li Mingyue nodded: "I know, I made this decision after careful consideration."

Bai Xiaoyue asked, "Where's my brother-in-law?"

Li Mingyue: "He's still dealing with things. The yard is rented; it needs to be tidied up, doesn't it?"

Bai Xiaoyue and Yan Ci exchanged a glance. This couple dared to abandon their jobs and venture out in this era; their courage was commendable.

There were only five people going to Beijing this time. Bai Xiaoyue didn't even blink, but Yan Ci was carrying cash.

Upon arriving in Beijing, the first thing she and Yan Ci did was go to sleep.

Yan Xiaosong took Li Mingyue and her husband to find Ping'er and An'an.

After Bai Xiaoyue had rested, she finally had time to spend a day with Li Mingyue, strolling around the neighborhood.

Then, whenever she had time, she would play with Ruyi's son, who was already over three months old.

Whenever Ye Changxing was home, he would hold his son in his arms. When Ruyi needed clothes made, he would take care of all the housework.

He went out to sell clothes, leaving the child in the cradle while Ruyi made clothes and looked after the child.

Li Mingyue helped Chang Le make clothes; she was the kind of person who couldn't sit still.

Yan Ci took Wang Weiguo out for a stroll to inquire about buying a truck.

The two also bought a national map, a map of the provinces and cities they would pass through on their way from Beijing to the south, and they studied it whenever they had time.

Chang Le knew that Yan Ci wanted to buy trucks and set up a transportation company, and she was very supportive. She said that she could make money just by running between southern cities and Beijing.

She said to Yan Ci, "Uncle Yan, once your transportation company is established, things will be much more convenient for me in the future."

With a steady supply of goods, I can build a large operation.

Bai Xiaoyue hurriedly said, "Changle, this can't be done in a day or two."

Yan Ci also said, "This is still a preliminary idea and it will take time. Don't be in a hurry."

The confidence of Chang Le fans:

“It will definitely work. Uncle Yan, I’ve inquired, and a truck costs 30,000 yuan. I have tens of thousands of yuan, so take it and buy a truck first.”

Yan Ci shook his head: "Changle, you can keep the money for your own business. You don't need to worry about the transport team."

In the evening, the couple whispered to each other.

Bai Xiaoyue asked, "Aci, Changle said that a car costs 30,000 yuan. Do we have enough money?"

Yan Ci: "No rush. I'll go back when I need the money."

I plan to buy five vehicles so I can register the company first and gradually expand it.

Bai Xiaoyue: "I don't understand these things, I'll listen to you."

Two days later, Cui Yu came to Yan Ci: "Uncle, I heard from Chang Le that you want to buy a truck?"

Yan Ci nodded: "I do have that plan."

Cui Yu said, "My brother-in-law wants to meet you. He said he can help."

Yan Ci then went with him to the Cui family to meet Lu Zhiyuan.

Neither of them were talkative people, so there was no small talk.

Lu Zhiyuan went straight to the point:

“Uncle, Cui Yu said you want to buy a truck and start a company. I have a comrade-in-arms who I can talk to.”

Yan Ci nodded: "I want to buy a few vehicles and start a transport team."

Lu Zhiyuan: "I would also like to ask you for a favor, Uncle. I have two demobilized comrades who are looking for work."

Yan Ci thought it would be a good deal to hire two people to buy the car, since cars are hard to buy these days, and he heard that car orders are booked until the end of the year.

He asked Lu Zhiyuan, "Can you drive?"

Lu Zhiyuan: "I taught them."

Yan Ci: "Okay!"