Chapter 32: When I came out, I saw Grandpa was still considering...
"Panpan, go set up the table in the little room inside. Grandma just bought a few pounds of good meat and vegetables. We'll have a good meal today."
Seeing that her granddaughter had finished the business she was doing, Grandma Chen, who had been back for a while, immediately put on an apron and started to make arrangements.
"Okay, grandma, I thought you were going to be out buying groceries for a long time!"
He happily put the fifteen yuan gas money in his hand into his own pocket, and then Chen Pan quickly ran into the house with a clean rag to wipe the table.
When she ran out again with a rag and began moving the family's large red and blue plastic stool, Grandma Chen, who was rapidly kneading dough, turned to her and explained to the people at the table behind her, "The vegetables and meat at the market are fresher in the morning than in the afternoon. I saw the price was right, so I bought them quickly. I'm quick on these things, unlike someone who takes over two hours to do it."
After finally finishing the calculations and discussing prices with his brother and nephew, someone immediately gave a helpless laugh. "When I went out to buy these in the afternoon, I never really slacked off. It's true that the vegetables and meat at the market here are not fresh in the afternoon, so I need to go to several stores to buy enough for the next day."
"No, that won't work. From now on, you should all go buy it in the morning." Glancing at his younger brother who was writing and calculating on the table, the talkative Chen Lao Er said another sentence.
"No, our business is usually best in the morning. If we want to make money, we absolutely cannot miss out on the morning time. Today is Saturday, and the students nearby are on holiday, and many factories are also closed. Plus, Panpan is at home, so we can spare one person to go out this morning."
I didn't explain it clearly last time, and only now did Chen Aiguo, who was taking the list given by his elder and second brothers and carefully calculating the money, find the time to reply.
"Is that so? There's nothing we can do."
In fact, everyone's attention is now on the accounts and money. Hearing him say this, Chen Aimin replied casually, then lowered his head and looked at it seriously.
While they were talking, Chen Pan had already set up the small table on the kang in the inner room and wiped it clean, and also put chopsticks, chili peppers, vinegar and other things on it.
When he came out, he saw Grandpa still deliberating on the price. Chen Pan hesitated for a moment, but still walked over quickly: "Grandpa, this is the 75 yuan I made from selling oil just now. The oil costs two yuan per catty, and I sold it for three yuan. Can you discuss with Grandpa and Second Grandpa and see if we can each make 50 cents? In other words, no matter how Grandpa and his family buy the oil, we will give them 50 cents per catty. Flour is cheap, Grandpa and his family buy it at 20 cents per catty, while the grain and oil shops outside actually sell it at between 24 and 25 cents per catty.
We asked our great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather to collect these from the village to save money and help our great-grandfather and second-grandfather families earn more. For now, is it okay for us to give you 23 cents per pound of flour? That way, your hard-earned money for oil will be 50 cents per pound, and your hard-earned money for flour will be 3 cents per pound. As for our family, compared to the price of rapeseed oil sold outside, we will save 50 cents per pound, and 10 or 20 cents per pound of flour. Is that okay with you?"
After Chen Pan finished speaking rapidly, he looked at everyone at the table with a serious expression.
"I have no problem with that. I wonder if you, big brother and second brother, agree—" Chen Aiguo, who had already figured out the flour price but was still worried about the oil price, immediately looked at his two brothers. The flour price he had just imagined was actually the same one Chen Pan had mentioned. As for the rapeseed oil price, it was actually pretty much the same as Chen Pan had mentioned.
"I--" Chen Aimin usually talks a lot, but at this time he looked at his son.
"I think it's okay. I saw it when Panpan bought oil today. It looks like that thing can only be bought for three yuan at most. Then Uncle San can make us fifty cents per pound, which is already okay." The head of the second house looked at everyone and spoke slowly.
"That's it, then. You started this business because you wanted to sell your products cheaper than other places. If we make our prices exactly the same as other places, it would be meaningless for you." Chen Aidang glanced at the two empty pancake plates in the middle of the table and the large pork elbow that his sister-in-law had already taken out. He thought for a moment and slowly nodded.
As for his eldest son Chen Yongyi, since his family tradition is to listen to his parents, he nodded without objection.
"Okay, that's it for this time. I never thought this oil could be sold. Anyway, when we get back, you two should pay more attention to this. Next time, you can try to buy a dozen more cans of rapeseed oil. Maybe we can really make money from this. Even if others don't want it later, our family consumes one can a day now, so we don't worry about it going bad.
As for the flour, you see, we left it out for a few hours today without even asking about it. This means that from now on, the flour will only be used by our store. So when my eldest and second brothers help me with the shopping, one 50-pound bag a day will be enough. I don't need to buy too much.
"For now, this is the price. If the price of flour and cooking oil fluctuates again, suddenly becoming more expensive or cheaper, we can discuss it with each other. Brothers should always be clear about their accounts. The point of me doing this is so that all three of us can get a little advantage. I can save money, and my eldest and second brothers can make a small profit. That's our ultimate goal. This is fine for today."
Grandpa Chen, holding an oil pen, spoke incessantly and sincerely.
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions on everyone's faces became better.
"You're right. It's true that only when everyone makes money can this thing last. So let's do this. You save 50 cents on rapeseed oil, and we make 50 cents too. We make 30 cents on flour, and you save 10 or 20 cents on it."
Seeing that he had said so much, the talkative Chen Aimin touched the empty Daqianmen cigarette box in his pocket and said something fair again.
"Then let's do it this way. You give us the total amount, and then we'll divide it privately between the two families. We'll also keep track of who received more and who received less, and we have to divide it according to the amount. We can't split it equally."
Chen Aidang, who is particularly particular about fairness, stated his ultimate goal.
Everyone at the table had no objection and nodded.
Then, in the following period, Chen Aiguo started to settle the accounts again.
Because he didn't have to consider how the two brothers' families would divide the account this time, he calculated much faster than before.
"Ten bags of flour, each weighing 50 jin, and each jin costs 0.23 yuan. 10*50*0.23=115 yuan."
"15 bottles of rapeseed oil, each weighing 5 jin (approximately 100 grams), each weighing 2.5 yuan. 15*5*2.5 = 187.5 yuan."
"Then the total amount I'm giving you should be 302.5 yuan. Of this, 10 * 50 * 0.2 = 100 is your capital, and 15 * 5 * 2 = 150 is also capital. So, you've earned 15 + 37.5 = 52.5 yuan. After all, you've done me a great favor this time, so I can't just ignore your gas money. I'll add another two dollars and fifty cents, for a total of 55 yuan. So the total is 100 + 150 + 55 = 305 yuan. Do you think that's right?"
Because everyone was illiterate, with only a few younger generations able to study for a year or two, Grandpa Chen Pan wrote down every detail clearly while calculating the accounts. He first calculated the total, then broke it down and calculated their costs and benefits, one by one.
When Chen Aiguo was settling the accounts, Chen Aimin and Chen Aidang both frowned and listened with difficulty.
Chen Yongyi and Chen Yongqiang, who had only been in school for a year or two and ultimately dropped out, both used their best brains and followed suit in calculating.
Everyone, you calculate it, and I calculate it.
After another ten minutes, all the numbers were finally calculated.
Then Grandpa Chen breathed a sigh of relief, immediately went to the inner room to get the money, and counted out 305 yuan for everyone.
The money was finally collected very carefully by the most steady grandfather.
As soon as they received the money, everyone looked relieved and extremely happy.
"We made 55 dollars a week. No matter how we divide it, we can get at least 20 dollars. It's worth it."
While everyone was settling the bill, Grandma Chen and Chen Pan had already prepared lunch quickly.
Although time was limited, Grandma Chen only made noodles and not ramen.
But this time they took out a piece of beef and pork that had been cooking on the kitchen stove, and Grandma Chen fried two more dishes, so the meal looked very sumptuous.
Anyway, when everyone went into the inner room to have lunch, Chen Yongqiang, who was 32 years old this year, pulled his 38-year-old cousin slightly and whispered something in his ear.
"really!"
Currently, workers in Longcheng earn around 100 yuan a month, and that's for those working in good companies, the kind of salary you'd find at a teacher or civil servant. Others, like salespeople in shopping malls and factory workers, might make 80 or 90 yuan a month. And low-level workers like them, if they leave the city, might only make 50 or 60 yuan a month. While rumors spread that salaries in other provinces have soared to over 200 yuan a month, the average salary in Longcheng is around 50 yuan, and anything above that is considered high.
Now, each family earns more than 20 yuan a week.
Although if divided per person, the money is not much.
But if it weren't for the idea suddenly proposed by the Third Uncle's family, they wouldn't have been able to make even this little money. Anyway, this was the first time doing something like this, the first time making this kind of money, and Chen Yongyi was happy and excited from the bottom of his heart.
After the two of them talked in low voices, they went into the house to eat.
"We've never eaten beef this way before. Anyway, everyone ate as much as they wanted today and was very full."
Looking at everything on the table, Chen Aiguo thought a lot. He was afraid that his family would think they ate it every day, so he said something specifically.
"I know, I know, you should eat quickly too! Even so much meat can't fill your mouth." Chen Aimin could see the expression on his face when he looked at his sister-in-law and niece. But even though he understood what his brother meant, Chen Aimin was used to retorting him.
"Oh!" Chen Aiguo was speechless and helpless.
"Haha, you guys are wasting money today."
After all, Chen Aidang was the most talkative boss. Seeing the situation, he immediately said something polite, and then finally had time to talk to Chen Panpan and Grandma Chen.
"Third sister-in-law, is this dish cooked by Panpan? It's so delicious!"
"Haha, Panpan washed and cut all the food, and I fried it in the end." The atmosphere in the countryside is still very conservative. At least Grandma Chen is used to not interfering or interrupting her husband when he is talking about something.
Just now, when everyone was discussing business and counting money, she had been listening subconsciously with her ears perked up, but she didn't interrupt.
Because she values everyone's business, she spoke very little just now.
Only when her uncle started talking to her did she respond with a smile.
"Your skills are improving. By the way, how's the business going lately? Can you and Panpan manage it?"
"It's not bad, it's just hard-earned money. To do this, we have to get up at 4:30 in the morning and we don't close until at least 10 o'clock at night. But no matter what, working here is slightly better than farming, I'm not lying about that."
Seeing that the other party was testing her as usual, Grandma Chen felt that it was just as she expected.
"That's really tiring!" Chen Aimin sighed, eating meat in big mouthfuls.
"This is hard-earned money, but if you work every day and nothing unexpected happens, it's really not bad." Chen Aiguo is not used to lying, and he told the truth to his family.
"Then Uncle and Aunt San just have to work harder and earn more money. If everything goes well for you, maybe our small business can continue to thrive." Chen Yongyi, who made money from business for the first time today, said very honestly.
"Okay, I'll take care of this side, and you guys take care of the back. Even if it doesn't work out, our lives will get better and better." Understanding what his eldest nephew meant, Chen Aiguo held the bowl and agreed with a smile.
"Uncle, uncle, when you go back, try to collect as much rapeseed oil as possible. But don't collect too much at once. Today we collected 15 pallets. I think you can give us 30 or 25 pallets next time. Anyway, we'll see how things go. If the cooking oil business really takes off, I'll have my grandfather call you, and then we can focus on this business."
At the table, the elders sat on the kang. Chen Pan, Chen Yongyi, and Chen Yongqiang sat on plastic stools below, holding their bowls and chopsticks. Accustomed to intervening in family matters, Chen Pan didn't hesitate and addressed the two younger elders beside him.
"Well, okay, we'll go to the village to collect some more when we get back." Knowing the situation of his uncle's family and understanding that many things in his family were discussed between his uncle and his niece, Chen Yongyi was not surprised and nodded immediately.
"Then we'll prepare 30 cartons this time. You guys should be careful these two days. If the oil sells out quickly, give us a call to urge us. But if no one wants it later, or if it sells very slowly, please give us a call and let us know. Then we'll try to take less."
Understanding Chen Pan's meaning, Chen Yongqiang, who was holding the bowl, also expressed his opinion.
"Okay, this flour will probably last us half a month anyway. I'll call you on the seventh or eighth day. Then you'll know how much flour and rapeseed oil I'll need next time."
Grandpa Chen, who was sitting on the edge of the kang, also spoke immediately.
That day, Chen Pan's great-grandfather and second-grandfather did not return home until two o'clock in the afternoon.
Amid the rumbling sound of the handcart and the thick black smoke, everyone was smiling happily.
Grandpa Chen was undoubtedly very proud as it was the first time he helped his brothers make money.
Looking at her husband's heroic and high-spirited appearance, Grandma Chen, who always regarded her husband as her God, also smiled at him.
The great grandfather and the second grandfather were waving at them in the car and were also happy.
After only a week's work, they earned fifty-five dollars.
Thinking of the infinite possibilities in the future, they feel that they have suddenly become several years younger and are still at the age where they can continue to work hard with their sons and grandchildren.
"Uncle Chen, Aunt Chen, we've discussed going to the hospital to see the landlord tomorrow morning. Can you go? Do you want to go?"
Once the relatives left, all that was left was a pile of pots, pans, and utensils.
Just as Grandpa Chen was sweeping the floor and tidying the house, and Grandma Chen was quickly washing the pork and beef she had bought today and chopping the meat, trying to quickly prepare the ingredients for making pancakes in the evening; and as Chen Pan was squatting on the kitchen floor quickly washing the dishes, the neighbor from the grocery store who had lent them a large scale today suddenly came to the door and shouted hesitantly at the door.
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