300 yuan as initial capital is indeed a bit too little.
But if you want to make money, there are always more solutions than problems.
Collecting scrap?
Repairing electrical appliances?
Making a TV signal receiver?
These are all low-cost, high-return projects.
With a little hard work, one can become a millionaire in just 3 months.
But for Chen Dong, the cycle was too long.
If you have this idea, let others hear it.
I have to slap him across the face and call him a show-off.
But this is indeed his true thought, and it is an established fact.
Treasury bonds, border trade, and black swan events in the financial sector...
He is now essentially racing against time.
"Brother Dong, you're here."
"Um?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Dong snapped out of his thoughts and looked toward the source of the sound.
"Hua Zi!"
Before him stood a robust 20-year-old young man, who, like Chen Dong, had no education or background, and was one of his few friends.
The reason they met here was because it was a meeting place they had arranged beforehand.
Across the street is a job placement agency for migrant workers.
In reality, it's just a storefront of about 10 square meters.
Even seemingly useless young people like the two of them still have a fighting spirit.
Upon meeting, the two exchanged a few pleasantries.
Chen Dong also wanted to find an opportunity to explain the situation to Hua Zi.
He is not the Chen Dong of the past.
Go work for someone else?
I will never work for someone else in my life.
Just as Chen Dong was about to speak, Hua Zi spoke first.
"Um... Dong-ge, I'm sorry... I can't go to the south to work with you."
Hua Zi forced a smile at Chen Dong, a smile that was somewhat shy, but mostly bitter.
"What happened?"
Chen Dong asked the question, his tone unconsciously carrying the air of someone in a superior position.
Upon hearing this, Hua Zi choked up.
“Brother Dong, the family can’t come up with that much money for the 250 yuan travel expenses all at once.”
After saying that, Hua Zi lowered his head even further, making it impossible to see his expression.
The 1.85-meter-tall strong man looked like a child who had done something wrong in front of Chen Dong.
Upon hearing this, Chen Dong was briefly taken aback.
He never imagined that 250 yuan would drive a strong man to this state.
At the same time, he also realized where the 300 yuan in his pocket came from.
The matter is quite simple.
The labor agency across the street is recruiting workers to work in factories in the south.
This is a common phenomenon in this era.
The agency fee plus travel expenses weren't too expensive; it came to 250 yuan per person.
The factory provides food and accommodation, and the monthly salary is 120 yuan, which is considered a good income for the two of them given their education level.
Even a penny can stump a hero...
It is common for many people who go to work in the south to not even be able to afford the travel expenses.
250 yuan still has a lot of purchasing power these days.
When colleagues at work give each other wedding gifts, the most they give is 5 or 10 yuan.
Thinking of this, Chen Dong felt a pang of sadness.
His family's situation was only slightly better than Hua Zi's.
The family's food and drink, as well as the two younger sisters' schooling, all depended on Chen's father's salary alone.
Giving Chen Dong 300 yuan for travel expenses was already the limit of what the family could afford.
......
"Hua Zi, it's almost lunchtime. Let's find a place to eat and talk while we eat."
"Oh, okay, Dong-ge."
The two found a noodle shop nearby and prepared to have a meal there.
When Chen Dong saw the price list, he was somewhat moved; the prices were just too cheap.
Beef noodles: 1 yuan; noodles with minced meat sauce: 50 cents; plain noodles: 30 cents...
"Two bowls of beef noodles, two side dishes, and two tea eggs, please."
"Okay, please wait a moment."
After Hua Zi sat down, his lips twitched slightly. He kept giving Chen Dong meaningful glances, and when Chen Dong didn't react, he said awkwardly.
"Brother Dong, let's go to another noodle shop before the boss makes noodles. I know there's a noodle shop up ahead where beef noodles are only 70 cents. This one is 30 cents more expensive."
"Let's eat here!"
Chen Dong waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to change.
He remembered the noodle shop Hua Zi mentioned. The reason it was so affordable was that you had to pay with food coupons in addition to the cash.
As a product of the planned economy, grain coupons were not abolished until 1993.
It is now the early 1990s, and some goods and restaurants can be purchased without coupons, which was unimaginable before 1985.
Two steaming bowls of beef noodles were served, each with a generous amount of beef, at least an ounce each.
Come to think of it, pork costs 2.3 yuan per pound and beef costs 2.8 yuan per pound in the market. Even if you put an ounce or two of beef in each bowl, the owner will still make a profit.
"Hua Zi, what are your plans?"
"Slurp... Dong, Brother Dong, I haven't thought about it yet. My dad knows an appliance repairman. At worst, I can do odd jobs and become an apprentice. After a few years, I can learn a skill."
"Haven't you thought about doing something else?"
Upon hearing this, Hua Zi gave a wry smile and sighed.
"Brother Dong, I only have an elementary school education. Besides doing manual labor, I really don't know what else I can do."
"Let's eat first. There's always a way to overcome difficulties. You can't die from holding your pee."
"That's right, Dong-ge, you should try their tea eggs, they taste really good."
What was said unintentionally was taken to heart by the listener.
Tea eggs?
Tea eggs...
As Chen Dong muttered to himself, he suddenly realized that he had entered a blind spot.
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