If possible, in the places where I used to work in the countryside, especially in Fusong County, there are many local mountain products that can be stored in shops and sold slowly. The key is that these products can be stored for a long time.

Also, haven't I always kept in touch with those people who were sent to the countryside and lived in the family compound before?

Are there still quite a few of them who stayed in the countryside because they didn't get into university? The local specialties they sent back are also quite good; I'm planning to sell those things too.

In this way, even if our small shop doesn't have as many items as the supply and marketing cooperative, we can still attract customers to buy from other places.

"You can do that? Are there any other ways?"

"Also, go to the paper mill to buy some notebooks and such wholesale, and then sell those things."

Besides this, I plan to sell some toys and such.

I've already figured out how to do this. I'll arrange for one or two people to distribute handicrafts or handicrafts collected from the countryside, and sell them in the shop. After all, kids like dumplings and Xiao Shi, one likes to eat and the other likes to play with toys.

We can open a toy store specifically to collect these later.

At the same time, priority will be given to military family members and families of retired military personnel when hiring for this store.

"Isn't this just something I did because I had nothing better to do?"

"Yes! This way, I can take care of my family without neglecting to supplement my household income."

"Okay, what did you mean when you said you needed Mom's account information?"

"Mom, I heard that the higher-ups have started discussing whether it's capitalist or socialist, so even though my roasted nuts shop is busy, I can't increase the number of staff for the time being."

But I plan to open four stores in a row, so I'll need three more people.

Furthermore, if this toy is to succeed in the market, then at least someone will need to go door-to-door collecting toys, or managing their pickup and delivery.

"Do you have enough money?"

"Mom, isn't this the money from selling peanuts before and after the New Year? Didn't my sister-in-law and the others refuse to take it?"

Here's my idea: take two-thirds of their money and invest it in a toy store; the rest should be enough to keep the nut and nut shop running smoothly.

"Does the toy store have enough money?"

"I still have some left, so this will almost cover the cost. Besides, we're just distributing manual labor right now, not officially hiring employees. It just means the cost of buying scrap fabric will be better."

"That's good. If it's not enough, just tell Mom, and Mom will get you some money."

"Okay, Mom, don't worry, I won't hold back when the time comes."

"By the way, Mom, when you have free time, take Xiao Shi with you and keep an eye on the toys that are being collected."

"good"

Soon, using Zhou Tao's name, the toy store was registered. The name was very simple: "Baby Paradise" Toy Store.

Because there was no need to specifically find employees, as they would just come and pick up the parts and make them at home, like pasting matchboxes, the toy store started operating soon after they bought most of the defective and discarded fabrics from the textile factories in Qinghe.

After the first batch of toys was produced, all four shops opened at the same time.

However, in order to attract attention, only one shop was labeled "Li's Fried Nuts and Seeds Shop," and it also sold other things, such as vegetables, fruits, chicken, duck, meat, and eggs.

The other three stores are toy specialty stores, and they also sell some roasted nuts, vegetables, chicken, duck, meat, eggs, and the like on the side.

It can be said that by opening four small shops in a short period of time, he had cleared out most of the supplies in the space.

Aside from items with dates that were inconvenient to take out, the rest of the items were mainly grains and eye-catching fruits. I gradually put everything else in the convenience store to sell.

I brought out all the dried persimmons, dried dates, dried apples, dried peaches, and other snacks that I had saved up before. Since I was going to find a place to buy them anyway, I might as well sell them!

Besides, my own children are all grown up now. Only Xiao Shi and Jiaozi are still willing to eat these things. The other children are willing to eat meat, so I'm keeping the meat and grain in the space.

As for the strawberries, blueberries, and cherries in the space, they were all eaten long ago, not a single one left, let alone sold.

Furthermore, since the shop opened, regardless of how the roasted nuts and seeds shop is doing now, the workshop of this handmade toy shop has soon seen this handicraft work also appear in the military compound. Many older people who have nothing to do at home are also taking on this handicraft work, and it is not only simple, but the wages are also fair.

From then on, you will no longer see women arguing for no reason in the military compound.

For a while, even the logistics director, who often dealt with neighborhood disputes, felt a little uncomfortable. After understanding the situation, he specifically sought him out.

"Comrade Xiao Li, thank you so much. If it weren't for you setting up this toy store, I would have lost all my hair."

"Director, you're joking."

"This is no joke. To be honest, I, the logistics director of the military unit, am almost like a neighborhood committee auntie. I don't have to do any work every day. I just spend my time mediating conflicts among the women in our military family compound."

"I wonder why the director summoned me here this time?"

"Oh! I forgot, I forgot, sorry, sorry. Let's get back to the point, that's why I called you here!"

I just wanted to ask if there's anything this toy store can help with. If so, please let me know.

"To be honest, everything else is fine, the problem is the lack of manpower."

As you know, everyone is currently discussing whether it's capitalist or socialist.

"Comrade Xiao Li, what you've said is indeed a very important issue. What do you think? If our troops also get involved, wouldn't that solve the personnel problem?"

"That's indeed a good idea, but..."

"However, what? Speak up! We can discuss any issues."

"Then, sir, I'll be frank. The purpose of setting up this handmade toy factory is to help the disabled soldiers who are injured in the army to make a living."

So no matter how big the factory becomes in the future, there's one rule for the eldest son: he must be disabled, and specifically, a retired soldier.

The others will not be needed for the time being, at least not in this factory.

"Comrade Xiao Li, I almost forgot about this. I have to thank you properly on their behalf for providing them with job opportunities."

"No need to thank me, thanking me would be too formal. As you know, I am not only the child of a martyr, but also a military family member. Doing these things is simply my responsibility."

"By the way, Xiao Li, I wanted to ask, if the military gets involved, how big of a factory do you plan to build, and where is it located now?"