That night, the moonlight outside the window was as clear as water, and the courtyard was quiet except for the occasional low chirping of crickets.
In the east wing, the table lamp emitted a warm orange light. Guan Wenru had just finished washing up and was sitting in front of the dressing table, casually combing her long hair.
Then he said, "By the way, something happened at the store today."
He Yanzhi put down the book in his hand. "What is it?"
Guan Wenru: "Recently, we've noticed a shortage of stock in our stores, especially the two in Xidan and Qianmen. These are mostly small, easy-to-carry new styles."
Upon hearing this, He Yanzhi's brows furrowed immediately, and he sat up straighter. "Has someone been dishonest? Have you found out who it is?"
Guan Wenru shook her head. "Unlike an internal employee, Feifei checked the accounts and sales records. It must have been someone mixed in with the customers who stole the items. Now, more and more educated youth are returning to the city, and there are fewer job opportunities. I heard... some alleys are getting unsafe."
He Yanzhi's face darkened. "This matter cannot be taken lightly. Tomorrow I will talk to the comrades from the street office and the district public security bureau and ask them to patrol and keep an eye on your shop more often. This unhealthy trend must be stopped!"
As he was about to get up to get the phone, Guan Wenru smiled and pressed his hand down. "Don't rush, let me finish. I've already arranged basic precautions in the store, such as increasing patrols and locking valuable small items in the display case, but this is ultimately just a temporary solution."
She took her husband's hand, helped him sit up straight, and then sat down beside him on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), continuing to speak:
"I'm thinking that simply preventing thieves isn't enough; we need to provide a viable path for those who have nowhere else to turn. So, I have a new plan..."
She explained her idea of the "Ruyi Educated Youth Cooperative" in detail.
How to provide sources of goods, how to enable young people returning to the city to support themselves through mobile vendors or night market stalls, how to set a bottom price and return/exchange mechanism to both help them and revitalize inventory and expand the brand.
He Yanzhi listened attentively, his initial anger gradually replaced by focus and contemplation.
After Guan Wenru finished speaking, he gazed at his wife, his deep eyes sparkling with undisguised admiration and amazement.
"Wenru, your idea is brilliant! This is not just about doing business, it's about building a bridge, a bridge that can ferry people from the shore of despair to the shore of hope!"
Adapting to local conditions, teaching people how to fish, and creating economies of scale... I dare say, even those in power who are struggling with resettlement issues might not be able to come up with such a comprehensive and practical solution!
His praise came from the heart, reflecting his sincere admiration for Guan Wenru's wisdom.
Guan Wenru was a little embarrassed by his praise, and lowered her head slightly, but a warm smile appeared on her lips. "Isn't this what I should do? After all... not everyone has a prophecy. I have been favored by God, so I should naturally give back."
Her ability to think of these things is not entirely due to her exceptional intelligence.
She is a reborn person who has experienced the future once, knows how the times will develop, and knows many things that will happen later.
For example, the employment pressure brought about by the return of educated youth to the cities, the booming development of the individual economy, and which industries will rise... She is like... standing on the shoulders of giants, seeing the road ahead in advance.
Therefore, what she has done—opening restaurants, running clothing stores, and now trying to establish this cooperative—is less a matter of her own ability and more a matter of her using this 'prophecy' to do as much as possible within her capabilities.
God gave her a second chance, and she didn't want to use it just to make her and her family's lives better.
She wondered... if she could also use this advantage to lend a hand to those who were being swept away by the tide of the times, even if it was just to help them stand up a little and see a glimmer of light ahead.
He Yanzhi stretched out his broad hand and gently stroked her cheek, his thumb caressing the corner of her eye. After a moment, he pulled her into his arms with a slight pull, his voice whispering in her ear:
"Go ahead and do whatever you want. There are historical trends ahead of you; behind you is me and our family. I will support you no matter what you do."
Guan Wenru leaned against his firm, warm chest, a deep smile on her face.
...
Before we knew it, it was 1981.
In just two months, Guan Wenru and his team acted swiftly and decisively.
The Ruyi Educated Youth Cooperative is already operating well. Guan Wenru rented a warehouse, which has become the center for the allocation, registration and management of goods.
The small courtyard outside the warehouse was bustling with activity.
Dozens of simply dressed but neatly tidy young people returning to the city were queuing up. With certificates issued by the street office, they registered with Duan Feifei and two other staff members, paid a small deposit, and then happily received a uniform canvas carrying pole with the words "Ruyi Clothing" printed on it, or a permit for a night market stall.
Inside the carrying pole were various pre-packaged scarves, hair clips, socks, handkerchiefs, and some relatively simple but brightly colored T-shirts.
Guan Wenru, dressed in a neat khaki trench coat, was checking the situation in the yard, occasionally nodding and greeting acquaintances.
A young woman with two braids and a flushed face from excitement received her load of goods but did not leave immediately. Instead, she quickly walked up to Guan Wenru and bowed to her at a ninety-degree angle.
Guan Wenru was startled. Before he could say anything, he heard the girl's voice choked with emotion, "Boss Guan! Thank you! Thank you so much! I've been back in the city for almost half a year, just sitting at home doing nothing. My parents are worried, and I... I feel ashamed. With this cargo pole, I... I can earn my own living!"
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