Chapter 31 Business
After saying that, Liu Zhixia turned to the female educated youth who had been splashed with water and asked with concern, "Comrade Xu, are you alright? I saw the water was still steaming just now."
Xu Zhihong took the handkerchief Zhao Dongmei offered, wiped the water from her face, and shook her head: "I'm fine, thank you for your concern. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Liu Xuejun couldn't wait to speak up: "We'd like to inquire about the school's teacher recruitment."
"Oh!" Xu Zhihong suddenly realized, "That's true. I heard that Comrade Liu Xuejun only has a high school diploma?"
Liu Xuejun nodded shyly: "Yes, that's why I want to give it a try."
As they were talking, Zhao Dongmei glanced coldly at Liu Zhixia and said indifferently to Xu Zhihong, "I'm going back to my room." Then she turned and left.
Xu Zhihong smiled at them and said, "Don't worry about it. Dongmei has always been like this, but she's a very nice person."
Liu Zhixia glanced at the handkerchief in Xu Zhihong's hand: "Indeed."
Xu Zhihong led them to the person in charge of the educated youth settlement. After they found out the exam information, the siblings said goodbye and went home.
"How is it?" Zhang Xiuying greeted him as soon as he entered the door.
“You can take the exam if you register at the school tomorrow,” Liu Zhixia said. “The exam is in half a month. I’ve already found out what the exam will cover. Xuejun can just prepare well at home.”
"That's good! Xuejun is working so hard, he'll definitely pass the exam!"
Liu Xuejun blushed and scratched his head: "I will definitely work hard and not let my family down!" After saying that, he went back to his room to review his studies.
Liu Zhixia returned to her room and slipped into her spatial dimension. The vegetables inside were growing well; she could harvest cabbage tomorrow and green beans the day after. She considered that she needed to process these vegetables before selling them, and the first thing that came to mind was making pickled vegetables. These were easy to preserve, and she had accumulated considerable experience in her previous life; selling them on the black market would be ideal. She noted down all the necessary ingredients, preparing to purchase them on her next trip to the black market.
She found Liu Xiangyang and told him about her idea of starting a pickled vegetable business.
Liu Xiangyang was somewhat surprised: "Can this make money?"
“Yes!” Liu Zhixia nodded. “I secretly planted some vegetables in the mountains, and they’re ready to harvest now. I want to make them into pickles and sell them on the black market, but I’m short of jars and containers.”
After hesitating for a moment, Liu Xiangyang finally agreed: "Okay, I'll be free tomorrow, let's go tomorrow!"
"Thank you, big brother!" Liu Zhixia was overjoyed. "Don't worry, I'll pay for the things myself, and I'll also give you an extra sum as a cooperation fee. You won't have made a wasted trip."
"What do you take my brother for? We're all family!" Liu Xiangyang glared at her, annoyed.
“Brother, now is not the time to be polite,” Liu Zhixia said seriously. “Dabao needs to study, and he needs money for everything. If this business goes well, you may have to keep coming with me. Xuejun needs to focus on his exams. If we make money, I’ll give you 30%.”
Thinking of his son, Liu Xiangyang no longer hesitated: "Alright, leave this to my elder brother."
The next morning, the brother and sister went to town. Liu Xiangyang was indeed very familiar with the black market, and he easily helped her buy everything she needed. They returned home before noon.
Liu Xiangyang helped her carry the jar into the kitchen, then he carried a hoe to the fields.
Liu Zhixia stayed at home and began cleaning the jars in preparation.
Shen Hongmei came out carrying the child, looking at her warily: "You went out so early in the morning and bought all this? What are you planning to do now, Mother? Didn't we just pay back the money? Where did you get the money?"
She is now extremely sensitive about money, fearing that her family might pretend to be poor and then withhold her son's education if they have the money.
Liu Zhixia explained, "Sister-in-law, I still have the money you gave me. I bought these myself. I want to make some pickled vegetables to sell in town."
Upon hearing the word "compensation," Shen Hongmei's heart tightened, and she scoffed, "What a waste of time! Everyone makes their own pickled vegetables; why would we need to buy them?"
Liu Zhixia looked up at her and said, "From now on, my brother will accompany me when I buy materials and sell pickled vegetables. I've already agreed with him that we'll split the profits 30/70."
Upon hearing that there was money to be made, Shen Hongmei's impatient expression immediately turned into a smile: "Really? The seven of us?"
Liu Zhixia looked at her speechlessly.
Shen Hongmei immediately changed her tune with a laugh: "Just kidding! The three of us are fine too! We'll just contribute our labor. Your eldest brother didn't contribute any money, did he?"
"No." Liu Zhixia picked up a jar. "Sister-in-law, you watch the house. I'll take this jar to the river to wash it."
"Hey, there are still several left! I'll help you!" Shen Hongmei immediately stood up. "We agreed on a 30/70 split, you can't go back on your word!"
“Okay,” Liu Zhixia smiled, “I’ll move one over first, and you can move the rest over, sister-in-law.”
Shen Hongmei is easy to manipulate as long as you give her some benefits and make her feel like she's getting the better deal.
She definitely couldn't run a pickled vegetable business by herself. Since she needed to find help, she would feel more at ease asking her own family members.
Although Shen Hongmei was greedy, she wasn't stupid. As long as she could make money, she would definitely want the deal to go through and would do her best to make it happen.
Liu Zhixia chose a quiet spot by the river and carefully washed the jar. Hearing footsteps behind her, she said without looking up, "Sister-in-law, just put it here. You have children at home, so you should go back first."
Her response was a deep male laugh.
She paused, turned around abruptly, and saw Wang Laizi from the village staring at her with a lewd expression.
Her heart sank. She glanced around, but there was no one there.
"What do you want to do?" Liu Zhixia shouted sharply, hoping to stall until Shen Hongmei came over.
Wang Laizi laughed even harder: "What are you pretending for? There's no one around!"
He rubbed his hands together as he moved closer to her, saying, "I can't wait any longer, shall we get intimate right now?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhixia felt a chill run down her spine.
In his past life, this Wang Laizi was arrested and sent to a labor camp for defiling a female educated youth! In this life, the trajectory has changed, and he has actually set his sights on me!
Knowing she couldn't out-strength this scoundrel, she instinctively glanced at a large rock beside her, quietly reached out, and gripped the rock tightly in her hand, watching the person in front of her warily.
Seeing her wary look, Wang Laizi said impatiently, "Still pretending with me? Fine, let's play a little fun."
Just as he was about to step forward, Shen Hongmei's reprimanding voice came from not far away: "Wang Laizi, what do you think you're doing! Get out of my way! How dare you bully my sister?"
She grabbed a wooden stick and rushed over, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Help! There's a thug bullying people!"
Wang Laizi was so frightened that he turned and ran away, not forgetting to throw down a vicious threat before he left: "You just wait!"
"That scoundrel!" Shen Hongmei angrily threw down the wooden stick. "Stay away from him from now on!"
Liu Zhixia pondered, "I have a feeling there was something more to what he said just now."
"Who cares!" Shen Hongmei waved her hand. "Hurry up and wash the jars!"
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