Throughout the summer vacation, Shi Zhen was running between various construction sites.
As summer vacation was drawing to a close, Guan Baiyu decided not to go to Changxi City again, but stayed behind to follow him every day, and incidentally... do his summer homework.
At this time, Shi Zhen had completed the first factory building he built for others, and construction on the second factory building had begun.
The two bosses who asked him to build factories owned factories that produced chemical fibers and fabrics, respectively. Their factories were relatively simple to build and quick to construct.
Fang Miyan also worked for Shi Zhen for over a month.
The food at Shi Zhen's place is pretty good. Fang Miyan eats here every day. Her arms look a bit thick, but because she's so dark-skinned, you can't tell she's fat at all.
However, she did become a little more familiar with the people on their construction site, though they still didn't talk much.
Shi Daniu and the others didn't have time to talk to her much either. They had to work right after breakfast, take a nap after lunch, rest for a bit, and then go back to work. They didn't have a moment to spare.
Shi Zhen knew they had worked hard, so when the first factory building was completed, he gave each of them a 500 yuan red envelope. He also privately found the two people who worked the hardest and gave them an additional 100 yuan red envelope each as a reward.
Shi Zhen didn't pay them much, but he provided room and board and a considerable bonus, so Shi Daniu and the others worked very hard.
Shi Zhen got up early that morning and found it was raining outside.
On rainy days, most of his construction sites have to stop work, which is equivalent to him taking a holiday... Shi Zhen lay in bed, not in a hurry to get up.
He lay there for a long time, and only after Guan Baiyu came out of the inner room did he say, "Xiaoyu, let's go to town today." He had to go see Shi Dalin and the others.
"Okay," Guan Baiyu said.
Since we're going to town anyway, we might as well have breakfast there.
They got up early, and by six o'clock they were all ready. They put on their raincoats, rode their bicycles, and went to town.
They first went to the small shop run by Zhao Meiyun and Shi Dalin. When they arrived, Zhao Meiyun and Shi Dalin were pulling up the roller shutter, preparing to open the shop.
Their shop usually opens at six in the morning and stays open until nine at night. Even though business is not as good as usual during the summer vacation, they don't take a day off.
Upon seeing Shi Zhen, Zhao Meiyun immediately asked, "Zhen, have you had breakfast?"
"Not yet," Shi Zhen said with a smile.
The shop has two entrances, both with awnings to keep out the rain. Shi Zhen and Guan Baiyu parked the car, locked it, and then went inside to help Shi Dalin and Zhao Meiyun move their things outside.
Zhao Meiyun said, "I have vermicelli soup, tea eggs, and instant noodles too... Do you want some?"
"Aunt Zhao, just make us some vermicelli soup. You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll go to Xingxing's place and buy some egg pancakes so we can eat together."
"Oh, you want egg pancakes? I'll make them for you. You don't need to buy them from Xingxing," Zhao Meiyun said.
Shi Zhen smiled at her, ignored her, and, holding up his umbrella, called Guan Baiyu to go find Shi Xingxing together.
Shi Xingxing and Zhao Qiujuan set up a stall in the same place.
Shi Xingxing's egg pancake recipe is very simple. First, scoop a spoonful of batter onto a griddle, spread it out and cook it into a pancake. Then, crack an egg on top and finally brush on some sauce. That's it!
These egg pancakes cost 50 cents.
Of course, you can add ham or pork tenderloin to the egg pancake, and you can also add an egg, but that will cost extra.
When Shi Zhen and Guan Baiyu arrived, it was still early. After greeting Zhao Qiujuan, Shi Zhen said to Shi Xingxing, "Xingxing, prepare five egg pancakes for me, each with two eggs and pork tenderloin."
Shi Xingxing quickly started working. Shi Zhen gave her ten yuan, but she refused to accept it, saying, "You rarely come here, I can't take your money."
“If you don’t accept it, then I won’t come again next time,” Shi Zhen said.
Shi Xingxing took the money, but gave Shi Zhen five yuan in change and added extra pork tenderloin to his plate.
In other words, a deluxe egg pancake with two eggs and pork tenderloin would cost Shi Zhen one yuan per pancake.
Shi Zhen got the advantage by giving one to Guan Baiyu and telling him to eat it while it was hot. He then took five egg pancakes back with him and saw Shi Ting also coming with a schoolbag.
Zhao Meiyun and Shi Dalin were not home, and Shi Ting didn't want to stay home alone, so she came to the store with them every day.
One egg pancake per person was just right, and at that moment Zhao Meiyun's vermicelli soup was also served.
The vermicelli soup that locals eat is made with vermicelli that has been cooked the day before and then soaked until it becomes plump.
Once the vermicelli is cooked, add oil, salt, and other seasonings. When someone buys it, serve a bowl and sprinkle with chopped green onions, pickled vegetables, and minced ham... The method for making vermicelli soup is very simple.
Because this stuff is inexpensive, Zhao Meiyun has been preparing it, and people from the neighborhood often come to eat it.
As soon as Shi Ting got the vermicelli soup, she started adding vinegar and chili sauce to it, and said to Shi Zhen, "Brother, add a little of both, it'll taste especially good."
Shi Zhen smiled and added some of everything. This chili sauce was locally produced in Changxi City and wasn't spicy at all. He had eaten plenty of it in his past life.
Guan Baiyu only added vinegar, as he wasn't good at eating spicy food at the moment.
After breakfast, Shi Zhen inquired about Shi Dalin's business and then looked at Shi Ting: "Tingting, let me take you to buy some clothes."
Shi Ting was a late bloomer, but she has grown very tall recently, and her female characteristics have become more pronounced.
Zhao Meiyun prepared a vest for her, but didn't buy her any underwear... There was nothing she could do about it; Zhao Meiyun herself didn't wear underwear, only vests.
As for Zhao Qiujuan, Shi Zhen didn't know much about her. She was probably wearing something, but it wasn't the kind that could flatten her curves; it looked more like something that would flatten her breasts.
But as a man, he couldn't very well say that to other people.
Shi Ting is his younger sister, so some things are easier to handle.
Shi Ting has gained weight and grown taller, so her clothes are all too tight; it's not a good idea to just wear a tank top underneath...
Shi Zhen didn't discuss this with Shi Ting. He just took Shi Ting upstairs in the market to find Li Ahui, who is Guan Kai's mother, and asked Li Ahui to find Shi Ting some suitable clothes, from the inside out.
After divorcing Guan Wenguo, Li Ahui remarried and soon became pregnant. Now the child has been born. She was holding the baby when Shi Zhen and the others came, so she put the baby in the cradle and picked out clothes for Shi Ting.
She looked quite well, though she had gained a little weight. While choosing clothes, she talked to Shi Zhen and asked him about Guanjia Village.
Guan Jianguo was still sailing the boat, while Guan Baiyu's adoptive father, Guan Guangguo...
In his previous life, Guan Guangguo lost money raising chickens, so he stopped and started farming again. His family was never rich until Guan Jinjin opened a barbershop and their house was demolished for redevelopment, which made them wealthy.
But this time, probably because Shi Zhen paid them back for raising Guan Baiyu, they gritted their teeth and continued raising chickens even when chicken meat wasn't selling for a good price.
Then... after many people stopped raising chickens because it wasn't profitable, the price of chicken suddenly rose starting in March of this year.
Guan Guangguo's family has been particularly enthusiastic about raising chickens lately, and they even built a shed behind their house to raise them.
However, there's not much to say about Guan Wenguo; he's still sweeping the floor at the cement factory.
At first, people introduced him to potential partners, but... if the other person didn't like Guan Wenguo, the grandmother would think that the other person was exceptionally good. If the other person liked Guan Wenguo, she would start to be picky. If the other person couldn't stand the pickiness and left, she would start to think that the other person was better.
The cycle continues, and Guan Wenguo has yet to remarry.
Shi Zhen also asked about Li Ahui.
Li Ahui's husband rides his bicycle back and forth in the village selling things like straw paper and popsicles, but he doesn't earn much.
Because Li Ahui sold clothes upstairs in the market every day, she got to know many people in the market. Later, she introduced her husband to a butcher so that he could become his apprentice and learn how to sell pork.
Now, Li Ahui's husband has bought a stall and sells pork himself.
In Shi Zhen's view, this job was not bad. Over the next many years, the town's population continued to grow, and selling necessities like pork was always a profitable business.
With supermarkets and online shopping becoming increasingly common, the money earned from selling pork will decrease. But to be honest, for the vast majority of working-class people, changing jobs is not a big deal.
As long as you're willing to work, in a place like Changxi City with a good economy, it's still easy to find a job in ten or twenty years.
Shi Zhen bought Shi Ting two sets of clothes, one inside and one outside.
It wasn't a big brand, and the price wasn't expensive, but Shi Ting was quite happy, especially after changing into the new clothes from head to toe... She looked in the mirror and became happier and happier, feeling like a beautiful young woman!
When she was in a good mood, Shi Ting would chatter on and on with Shi Zhen.
"You should study hard!" Shi Zhen said.
"Don't worry, brother, I will definitely study hard," Shi Ting assured him, patting her chest.
Back in the village, her junior high school classmates were always thinking about who they would marry after graduation, and some of them had even already arranged marriages for each other.
At that time, she had no interest in studying.
But when she arrived here, all her classmates wanted to go to high school or vocational school, and Shi Zhen also made grand promises to her, so she wanted to continue her studies.
However, she doesn't have any ideas about the future.
Shi Zhen asked her, "Tingting, have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"
Shi Ting replied without hesitation, "I hadn't thought about it."
Shi Zhendao said, "Do you want to be a kindergarten teacher? After you graduate from junior high school, you can study to become a kindergarten teacher. Alternatively, you can study at a nursing school and become a nurse."
He learned that a preschool teacher training school and a nursing school had recently been built in Changxi City, both of which are vocational secondary schools. Shi Ting will take the high school entrance exam next year and can apply there.
Shi Ting's personality is perfect for being a kindergarten teacher. She has a good temper and doesn't get angry easily. Also, a big reason why she was willing to have three children in her past life is that she really loves children.
As for being a nurse, Shi Ting is perfectly capable of it; she is very patient.
Such a stable job is also suitable for Shi Ting, who doesn't have much ambition.
As for whether I can get the job... there's a shortage of people everywhere right now, so there's no need to worry about not finding a job after graduation.
"Brother, I want to be a nurse!" Shi Ting exclaimed excitedly, "I want to wear that white coat!"
“Okay,” Shi Zhen said.
But Shi Ting quickly added, "No, being a nurse involves giving injections, which is a bit scary. I'd rather be a kindergarten teacher; there are winter and summer vacations."
Public kindergartens in Changxi City all have winter and summer vacations.
"It's up to you, but your grades absolutely cannot be too bad."
Shi Ting nodded earnestly.
A few days later, Guan Baiyu and Shi Ting started school one after the other.
Zhao Meiyun and Shi Dalin's business also became booming instantly.
These days, the best-selling pen in their store is Huaguang ballpoint pen.
Huaguang's ballpoint pens are all very pretty, with both inexpensive and expensive options, and the children love them.
Because their products are branded as Huaguang, and Huaguang has recently been advertising on local television, increasing its brand awareness, many people think it's a good brand, so Huaguang's schoolbags and pencil cases are selling very well.
Huaguang's schoolbags and pencil cases are of very good quality. As for the pens... the refills are imported from abroad and are not bad. The quality of the pen barrels is just so-so, but ballpoint pens are consumables, and nowadays people rarely buy refills to replace them... Everyone uses them and doesn't feel there's anything wrong with them.
Through word of mouth, the brand has become increasingly well-known in Changxi City.
Shi Zhen is extremely busy, so he can't take care of Shi Dalin's side. Now, Shi Dalin is the one who sources the goods himself. There are also many things that he doesn't need to source, as people will deliver the goods directly to his shop.
Time flies, and before long, it was October.
The weather in October hadn't completely cooled down yet, and Shi Zhen, who was prone to heatstroke, was still wearing short sleeves. Meanwhile, his second factory building was completed.
Shi Zhen built houses for people at a low price, about the same as if they had hired workers themselves, but he built houses much faster.
He buys bricks and cement for others in bulk, and he can make some money from it.
After the two factories were completed, after deducting the wages and bonuses paid to Shi Daniu and the others, as well as expenses such as food, the net profit that Shi Zhen received totaled 12,000 yuan. Although this was money earned after working for several months, it was still quite a lot!
In addition, each of the other construction sites could earn him at least four or five thousand.
After all, the people who hire him to build houses are all wealthy, and they want the best in everything, which allows him to earn more money. Ordinary families buy bricks and tiles, build a bare house, paint the walls, and move in directly. No matter how capable he is, he can only earn a wage.
After the factory building was completed, Shi Zhen planned to have Shi Daniu and his team work on another construction site.
It was actually closer to the Fang family's place, but Shi Zhen didn't know where the Fang family's place was, so he asked Fang Miyan if she still wanted to do it.
Fang Miyan answered without hesitation: "Yes!"
Shi Zhen said, "Then you should continue doing it... By the way, do you want to buy a bicycle? It would be more convenient to go back and forth."
Fang Miyan runs around in worn-out shoes every day. Before, one of her plastic slippers even fell off halfway while she was walking...
Fang Mi walked away barefoot without changing his expression, while Shi Zhen watched, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
Also, the canvas shoes Fang Miyan is wearing now are very old, and they're clearly not hers; they're a bit too big, so she tied them up with rope...
Shi Zhen didn't know what to say about a girl living such a rough life.
Fang Miyan said, "I don't need a bicycle, I can run faster than a bicycle."
Okay... Shi Zhen didn't continue the topic.
Actually, if you think about it carefully, it's not surprising that Fang Miyan doesn't buy a bicycle.
Given her family's situation, even if she bought a bicycle, she probably wouldn't be able to keep it.
Shi Zhen said, "By the way, Da Niu and the others will rest for two days before starting work again. Could you come to Guanjia Village to cook? Of course, it's okay if you don't come."
"I can do it." Fang Miyan was afraid that she would lose her job if she didn't go, so she readily agreed.
“Then come over here. Guanjia Village isn’t far from here…” Shi Zhen told her how to get to Guanjia Village, and then said, “When you get to Guanjia Village, ask someone where the place for sending and receiving sweaters is. You can find me there.”
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