Ning Yuan thought for a moment and shook her head: "In each era, people value different things and dignity. Value determines price."
However, the value of most things changes with the social environment.
In those days, a good radio cassette player cost several hundred yuan, while a bottle of Moutai only cost eight yuan.
Who could have imagined that decades later, radios in Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei district would cost a dozen yuan, while Moutai liquor would be speculated to cost thousands of yuan?
A top-quality domestic woolen overcoat costs between ninety and one hundred and fifty yuan in state-run stores.
But it's normal for an imported coat to be more expensive.
The Soviet Red Army-style woolen overcoat that Qin Hongxing wore when he went to the village to find Rong Zhaonan was very expensive.
Ning Yuan smiled and put a denim shirt on the mannequin in the shop window.
"It's different from where we are. The average wage in Shanghai is currently the highest in the country, and most people here are formal employees."
"The house is provided by the government, and medical treatment is covered by public medical care or reimbursed by the employer, so it only costs a few dollars."
"There are schools for children's children to attend, so what do we do with the money we save? Of course, we're willing to buy them."
The main reason people live in places like Shanghai and Guangzhou is that they are relatively well-off.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so determined to apply to Sun Yat-sen University or Fudan University.
Ningnan City is also a provincial capital, but people there are much less accepting of this kind of shop.
Listening to Ning Yuan's logical and insightful analysis, Man Hua felt that she had truly broadened her horizons and gained a lot of knowledge.
The ways of doing small business and dealing with interpersonal relationships in villages and county towns are completely different from those in big cities!
“But at the rate we’re selling, we’ll have to go to Guangzhou to buy more in about half a month.” Manhua’s expression was somewhat wistful.
Of course, I'm happy to earn several thousand yuan, which I've never seen in the first half of my life.
But thinking back to the time she almost lost her life when she went to Guangzhou to buy goods, Manhua felt a little scared.
Hua Zi, however, gritted his teeth as he looked at the payment: "If Xiao Ning isn't afraid, then we've come out here to earn a better life for our children and parents. What's there to be afraid of!"
Hua Zi clenched his fist, looking both cowardly and fierce, and gritted his teeth: "It's just killing people, practice makes perfect!"
Manhua: "...Practice makes perfect."
Ning Yuan: "..."
Look, this is the "power" of money. Why does she feel like she's not looking for helpers, but rather forming a criminal gang?
...
Ning Yuan, Man Hua, Hua Zi, and the others finished decorating the shop, and it was already 9:30.
As soon as Ning Yuan stepped out of the iron gate, she saw a tall figure wearing a short leather jacket and short military boots at the door.
He was leaning lazily against the doorway, fiddling with a butterfly knife in his hand.
The beautiful butterfly knife twirled casually between his long fingers, its blade gleaming coldly and carrying a hint of menace.
The man was handsome, with wispy hair hanging down his forehead and a visible scar, which made people around him keep their distance.
"Boss Ning, are you back?" Rong Zhaonan looked up and raised an eyebrow at her.
It was evening, and although there were few people around, they avoided looking over.
Ning Yuan: "..."
Well, it seems she's on a one-way street to becoming the "big sister of organized crime."
Ning Yuan followed Rong Zhaonan into the school, and asked quietly, somewhat puzzled, "Why are you being so high-profile today?"
Rong Zhaonan said calmly, "There are some ill-intentioned looks around you, probably because your store is doing too well."
Ning Yuan remained silent for a while. This was something she had thought about when she was doing business, something that was bound to happen.
She could calculate how much money a self-employed individual could earn, such as several thousand yuan a day in cash payments.
Even if people can't calculate it precisely, they can tell that she has a lot of money in her bag.
The crackdown didn't begin until 1983, and Shanghai is still far from peaceful.
Rong Zhaonan's posture just now was to support her.
Ning Yuan felt a warm feeling in her heart.
Once inside the school gate, there were even fewer people. She quietly took his hand and asked, "By the way, when are the Ning family members coming?"
Rong Zhaonan grasped her soft, slender hand in return: "I have already received the application from Young Master Ning's secretary. If things go smoothly, it will be after the 15th; if not, it will be at the beginning of next month."
Ning Yuan fell silent.
She needs to be fully prepared.
She thought for a moment: "Do you know any retired comrades-in-arms, preferably those who have gone through life and death with you and are trustworthy?"
It's impossible for Boss Rong to follow her forever.
Back in the county town, Lao Xu and the others were also part-time workers that she asked Rong Zhaonan to find for them.
But now that the business has grown, she needs to work full-time.
What's more, the Ning family is also involved.
Rong Zhaonan looked down at her and indulgently ruffled her hair: "I've already asked someone to help you find one."
Her first thought was to find him, not Wei Heng, which made him feel good.
Ning Yuan was taken aback. He was so thoughtful. Her big eyes crinkled into crescents, and she smiled sweetly, "Thank you, brother."
The elder brother works in the garrison, while Rong Zhaonan works in a special operations unit; the people under his command are the sharpest blades.
Rong Zhaonan suddenly took her hand, stopped in his tracks, and raised an eyebrow with a smile: "Isn't Boss Ning being a bit stingy, just saying thank you with words?"
Ning Yuan paused, only then realizing that he had unknowingly led her to the grove behind the gate.
She raised an eyebrow like him: "So you want a referral fee? How much? We're so close, can you give me a discount?"
Rong Zhaonan stepped forward, lowered his head, and pulled her slender waist into his arms with one hand, his fingertips gently stroking her back, smiling—
"If Boss Ning takes the initiative, I'll give you a 20% discount and let you get back to your dorm in half an hour. If I take the initiative, then there's no discount, and you'll have to go to my dorm."
Ning Yuan considered it for a moment, then tried to negotiate in a soft voice: "Twenty minutes. I have to go to school tomorrow, Mr. Rong. Business needs to be sustainable."
A dark glint flashed in Rong Zhaonan's narrow eyes. He straightened his ramrod-like body and chuckled, "Little shrewd businessman, that depends on how you take the initiative."
Ning Yuan blushed slightly, reached out and hugged him, first kissing his chin, then standing on tiptoe as if climbing a tree.
He refused to back down, which angered Ning Yuan. She grabbed his collar and pulled him down, trying to kiss his thin lips.
That Rong dog is just bullying her because she's short! You bastard!
Rong Zhaonan could sense that Ning Yuan was about to lose her temper, so he couldn't help but laugh and lower his head: "Tsk, shorty, how can you be so funny to be short?"
Ning Yuan bit his lip in anger: "Get out!"
"You can't just leave, we have to collect the debt!" Rong Zhaonan pinched her chin to stop her from biting him.
Then, without any hesitation, he covered her little mouth with his hand.
...
The two cuddled together, whispering sweet nothings for a long time, until it was already ten o'clock when they finally left the woods.
Rong Zhaonan reached out and tugged at his jacket, only to find that it couldn't cover the part of him that was sticking out.
Ning Yuan blushed and gloated, "Hey, Boss Rong, do you need my help?"
Rong Zhaonan's eyes deepened: "How can I help?"
Why is she so kind and proactive?
Ning Yuan laughed it off: "Just a few drops of Tiger Balm will calm it down, believe it or not?"
Rong Zhaonan: "...The most poisonous heart is that of a woman."
As the two were chatting and laughing, a pair of figures suddenly appeared beside them.
It was also a man and a woman. Ning Yuan glanced at them and found that the man looked very familiar.
I only saw that handsome and composed face today—
Su Xueming?
Woman...
Ning Yuan was stunned for a moment. It was that nanny, who was also Su Xueming's cousin. Her name was... Su... Su Xiaoli?
The two people weren't paying attention to them; they were tugging at something, no one knew what.
Su Xiaoli tugged at Su Xueming's sleeve, seemingly crying, and they were speaking in a dialect from who-knows-where.
Ning Yuan couldn't understand either.
But... Su Xiaoli suddenly turned and walked away, and then she saw Su Xueming grab her hand and hug her.
Ning Yuan was stunned.
Then, Su Xueming looked up and their eyes met.
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