In the 1980s, junior high and high school students mostly used fountain pens to do their homework and exercises. At that time, there were very few stationery items on the market, and ballpoint pens were expensive.
But in the last two years, the price of ballpoint pens has come down because they are more convenient to use, so many people have started using ballpoint pens.
They also started buying new and pretty stationery. For example, the girls were proud to have a hardcover diary with cartoon characters or other patterns printed on it, even if they didn't actually write in it.
Stationery is something that students at No. 1 Middle School need every day, but at that time there were very few places to buy stationery, and they could only buy it from the school store when they were at school.
To be honest, everything at the school store is more expensive than outside.
Although it might only cost a penny or two more, for students who aren't well-off, that's enough for a breakfast.
The pens and notebooks sold in stores are already being sold at a profit; buying them wholesale would be even cheaper.
Shi Zhen thinks about making money all the time, and Guan Baiyu, being influenced by him, also thinks about and looks for any profitable business opportunities... He had thought about selling stationery a long time ago.
The main reason is that he doesn't want to spend more money on notebooks at the convenience store.
Unfortunately, everyone needs notebooks for studying and making drafts, and the ones provided by the school are simply not enough!
Some students' parents would bring home some paper from the factory where they worked, but most children, especially those from poor families, really didn't have any paper. So, after buying a notebook, they would fill every nook and cranny of it with writing.
White paper that can be used as scratch paper shouldn't be expensive. If he can get his hands on some, he can definitely make money.
Another option is ballpoint pens. Although he uses fountain pens, some people in the school prefer to use ballpoint pens, and the usage is quite high, so there's definitely a market for selling ballpoint pens.
Having this idea in mind, Guan Baiyu went to find Liang Qinxuan during evening self-study and told him his thoughts.
Without hesitation, Liang Qinxuan said, "My dad's factory has a lot of paper with their name printed on it in the warehouse. You can take it freely. I've even seen people at school using their paper as scratch paper. If you want some, I'll go get some for you."
Guan Baiyu said, "I'm going to sell it, how can I take paper from your dad's factory! But the paper in your dad's factory was bought, so go find the person who sold the paper to your dad, and you should be able to buy cheaper paper from him. As for the pens... you can also ask where your dad's factory bought the pens."
Larger factories buy a lot of paper, pens, and other similar items as office supplies, and the price of these office supplies is definitely cheaper than the paper and pens in stationery stores.
Guan Baiyu and Liang Qinxuan agreed to do this business together—this week, they would have Liang Qinxuan's cousin take them to buy some goods.
Liang Qinxuan was eager to try: "So, is our business empire about to set sail? I must surpass my dad and trample him underfoot in the next ten years!"
Guan Baiyu: "..." This is really difficult.
Liang Qinxuan's father's factory looks thriving, and it might even be better in ten years. It would be too difficult for Liang Qinxuan to surpass him.
But children need encouragement.
Guan Baiyu said, "You can definitely do it!"
Liang Qinxuan was very excited to receive the affirmation and even started to consider selling other stationery: "In the past, when my dad went to the provincial capital, he would buy me a bunch of pens, all of them Japanese ballpoint pens, which don't leak ink at all. They cost three yuan each in the stationery stores here... Could we sell those too?"
Upon hearing this, Guan Baiyu's heart stirred, and he asked, "How much did those pens cost?"
He wouldn't buy a ballpoint pen that costs three yuan, but he couldn't resist... kids this age are all a bit vain.
Students from relatively wealthy families at their school are quite happy to have a designer pen.
Liang Qinxuan said, "My dad buys them by the box. I've calculated it; each one only costs two yuan."
“You can tell your classmates that your dad bought too many pens and you’re planning to sell them for some pocket money. Sell them for two yuan and fifty cents each, and then tell them that you have other stationery in your dorm room and ask them to come and take a look. That way you’ll definitely be able to sell the other stationery,” Guan Baiyu said. For their business to gain recognition, they needed a certain opportunity, and this could be used to open up the market.
It's only 50 cents cheaper, that's a huge difference!
They could also stock up on pretty notebooks and sell them in Liang Qinxuan's dorm room.
Those diaries that sell for two or three yuan in stationery stores shouldn't have a high cost price.
If he could go to big cities to get some newer and more fashionable goods... Guan Baiyu even wanted to open a stationery store near the school gate.
Of course, that's unlikely.
Anshan Town, Shijia.
Shi Zhen remained a quiet backdrop until 9 PM, then announced that he had something to do and needed to go home.
If he goes home too late, the rumbling tractor will disturb the neighbors.
Wang Zugen was talking about how great Anshan Town was, and how his father knew so-and-so... He was still engrossed in his story when he urged Shi Zhen to stay and listen: "It's still early! Why are you going back so early?"
"Something came up at home," Shi Zhen said.
"What could you possibly want?" Wang Zugen said impatiently.
"See you next time." Shi Zhen smiled, didn't say anything more to him, and left directly.
Wang Zugen's expression was a bit unpleasant. He said to Zhao Dongjuan, "Your brother, tsk tsk, he's got quite the airs."
“That’s just how he is. He has a bad temper, doesn’t like to talk to people, and can’t stand seeing others do well… Just ignore him,” Zhao Dongjuan said in a low voice.
Although Zhao Dongjuan spoke in a low voice, everyone in the room could hear her.
Shi Dalin was a little unhappy when he heard this.
With someone leaving, Wang Zugen couldn't stay any longer, so he said goodbye and left. Zhao Dongjuan quickly went to see him off.
"Your brother hasn't spoken to me at all today. What kind of attitude is that?" Wang Zugen said irritably as they went outside.
"I told you long ago, I don't get along with him... Just leave him alone! He's not my real brother!"
"Alright, alright, let's let it go this time." Wang Zugen added, "Your family is really boring. They don't smoke or drink."
During the meal earlier, Shi Zhen said he didn't drink alcohol, so he didn't drink any.
Shi Dalin didn't have such an extravagant hobby as drinking, so he only drank a little with Wang Zugen.
“They come from the mountains and don’t know anything, unlike you who know everything.” Zhao Dongjuan flattered Wang Zugen, saying one nice thing after another.
Wang Zugen was satisfied with what he heard before he left.
Zhao Dongjuan smiled sweetly in front of Wang Zugen, but her face fell when she got home: "Dad, Zugen asked you to smoke before, why didn't you smoke?"
Zhao Dongjuan's tone was rather unpleasant, and Zhao Meiyun, fearing that Shi Dalin would be angry, quickly said, "Your dad doesn't smoke, why do you insist on him smoking?"
"What's wrong with smoking a cigarette? It's not like Dad hasn't smoked tobacco before! Today he refuses to smoke and won't drink properly either, is he doing this to embarrass me?" Zhao Dongjuan said coldly.
Zhao Meiyun was startled: "What nonsense are you talking about!" In the past, her daughter always picked fights with people, but she usually caused trouble for them or Shi Zhen and Shi Ting in private, and almost never mentioned it to Shi Dalin. Now, she was actually directly accusing Shi Dalin...
"Where did I lie? Doesn't Shi Zhen speak the local dialect? Why didn't he say more before? You're all just trying to make things difficult for me, you can't stand to see me doing well!" Zhao Dongjuan said angrily, and then went upstairs.
After walking a few steps, she came back and carried all the things Wang Zugen had brought upstairs, leaving nothing behind.
Zhao Meiyun and the others were dumbfounded.
Shi Dalin got angry too.
The Shi family eats dinner at a time that is neither too early nor too late. Usually, Shi Dalin will finish setting up his stall at the elementary school gate and go home before starting his meal.
They had been waiting for Zhao Dongjuan and Wang Zugen to arrive for a long time, and during the meal, Wang Zugen even wanted to drink alcohol.
When the guests wanted to drink, Shi Dalin had no choice but to keep them company. During this time, Wang Zugen kept sitting there with only a little wine left in his bowl, not putting down his wine bowl to serve rice.
People like Shi Dalin are not used to eating only vegetables; they must eat some rice to feel full.
But in order not to be impolite, he insisted on drinking with them and didn't get to eat for more than an hour after he was hungry.
That's not all; the whole time, his father-in-law had to fawn over Wang Zugen, while Wang Zugen showed him no respect whatsoever, instead finding fault with everything he did.
Even in his condition, he was still disliked by Zhao Dongjuan!
Shi Dalin only realized what was happening after Zhao Dongjuan went upstairs: "She's gotten too big for her britches and doesn't take me seriously anymore!"
Shi Dalin was both wondering if he had really done something wrong and sulking.
After thinking it over, he felt that he had done enough.
The food was prepared, and a red envelope was given, but in the end, the other person didn't even say a kind word and instead scolded him!
His stepdaughter has found someone else, so she won't eat his food anymore and doesn't care about him at all.
"Calm down..." Zhao Meiyun quickly said.
"I'm going to sleep. Don't bother me with her matters anymore. I'm from the mountains, I don't know anything, and I can't handle it." Shi Dalin went straight back to his room.
Zhao Meiyun glanced at the attic and said angrily, "I'm not going to care about her anymore. She just doesn't want me to have a good time!"
Zhao Qiujuan didn't reply and was busy packing her things. Wang Zugen had been too talkative before. During this time, she wanted to clean up the table and wash the dishes, but Wang Zugen stopped her and wouldn't let her leave.
She has to sweep the floor and wash the dishes now, and she doesn't know when she'll be able to sleep.
Shi Ting also had homework to do. She blinked and took the homework out of her schoolbag, then started scratching her head.
The house that Shi Zhen helped build for Boss Wang is now in the process of needing plumbing and electrical work done.
The plumbing and electrical work on this house was done by an electrician from Mr. Wang's own factory.
The electrician was one of Boss Wang's own people, and it was a job done after get off work, so Shi Zhen didn't need to supervise him.
Shi Zhen simply stayed at home and managed his sweater collection and distribution point.
That way, he can meet Zhao Qiujuan when she comes over at noon, and he'll also have time to visit Shi Dalin and Zhao Meiyun.
The cast on Zhao Meiyun's leg will be removed in another half month. After that, with more practice, she will be able to walk normally.
Shi Dalin has been earning a good income, but with the weather getting colder, his family needs to buy new clothes, so he doesn't have much savings.
However, once all the necessary items have been purchased, you'll gradually be able to save money.
Shi Dalin himself is very satisfied with his current life.
I can earn money during the day and watch color TV when I get home. It's wonderful!
Having watched a lot of television, Shi Dalin can understand Mandarin, but of course he still can't speak it well.
Zhao Meiyun was the same. At first, she couldn't understand those TV programs. She just watched the screen, and as she watched, she was able to understand some of them.
You can also earn money by embroidering sweaters while watching.
This is such a wonderful life!
For them now, the only thing that's really bothering them is Zhao Dongjuan's marriage.
The day after Wang Zugen visited, Zhao Dongjuan went to Wang Zugen's house.
She also took all the things that Wang Zugen had brought back with her.
In their mountainous hometown, weddings are relatively simple. But in Anshan Town, because everyone is well-off, there are many weddings and festivals, and the bride price is also higher in the countryside.
Of course, in most families, the parents don't take the bride price. They usually use some of it to hold the wedding banquet, and the rest goes to their daughter as part of her dowry. The money collected from the wedding banquet also goes to the daughter.
In this town, dowries are not common, but the groom is expected to prepare a house and buy the bride a gold ring, a gold necklace, and gold earrings.
Zhao Meiyun said she wouldn't interfere, but she still asked her daughter what the Wang family's plans were and how much the bride price would be.
As a result, Zhao Dongjuan immediately accused her of wanting to sell her daughter because she wanted a bride price, and asked if she wanted to back out and wanted the bride price again.
Zhao Meiyun was so angry she was stunned.
Zhao Dongjuan then told her that on the wedding day, the parents would give a "change of address fee" (a traditional Chinese custom of addressing someone by their parents), and the bride's family would also buy the groom a gold ring or pendant. Wang Zugen was getting old and was in a hurry to get married. He had agreed with Zhao Dongjuan that they would hold a wedding banquet before the end of the year, and then get their marriage certificate when Zhao Dongjuan reached the appropriate age.
Zhao Meiyun was dumbfounded: "You also want a change-of-address fee and a gold ring?"
She doesn't even have a gold ring herself! Why would she give a gold ring as a wedding gift to her daughter?!
In Zhao Meiyun's mind, not asking for a bride price was already a huge concession, so she never expected that she would have to pay for it now.
This isn't the first or second time they've given out red envelopes—they've given out red envelopes before!
“Give it to everyone here!” Zhao Dongjuan said.
“Anyway, I have no money,” Zhao Meiyun cried. “Even if you force me to my death, I still won’t have any money!”
Zhao Meiyun would never have told Shi Zhen about Zhao Dongjuan's situation before, because she felt ashamed.
However, she seems to have had enough recently and has complained to Shi Zhen several times, wanting him to help her manage the situation.
How could Shi Zhen possibly manage that?
However, Shi Zhen thought it was quite normal for Zhao Dongjuan to do this, and it wasn't surprising at all.
She's the kind of person who'll do anything to get benefits for herself.
However, she is still too young now, unlike in her previous life, when she spent a long time choosing and gained experience before finding a family that was easy to control.
That Wang Zugen... he looks like a braggart, and probably doesn't have any real skills.
Otherwise, how could he be 31 and still not married?
However, he must have had something that Zhao Dongjuan wanted to scheme against.
As for why Zhao Dongjuan was in such a hurry to get married, Shi Zhen roughly knew the reason.
She probably... doesn't want to go home for the Chinese New Year.
After leaving the mountains in their previous life, all the other members of their family went back, but Zhao Dongjuan never did.
No. 1 Middle School of the city.
On this Sunday, Guan Baiyu and Liang Qinxuan, driven by Liang Qinxuan's cousin, went to the place where Liang's father's company ordered office supplies.
They do sell blank paper here, and the price varies depending on factors such as the thickness of the paper.
Guan Baiyu looked at the options and finally chose a cheap and easy-to-use type of paper, buying a lot of it.
In addition, ballpoint pens and ballpoint pen refills are also sold here, and the prices are much cheaper than outside. Guan Baiyu bought quite a lot of them and asked him where he could buy fountain pens, notebooks, and the like.
This person really does know.
Liang's father's company was a major client of his, so he didn't hide it from Liang Qinxuan and told him directly.
Guan Baiyu and Liang Qinxuan rushed over and bought some more fountain pens, notebooks, and other items, choosing the prettiest and most novel ones.
After this trip, the entire afternoon was gone. Guan Baiyu and Liang Qinxuan hurriedly returned to school, then divided up their stationery at the school gate, intending to sell it separately.
They were partners in this business, but Liang Qinxuan focused on the high-end market while Guan Baiyu focused on the low-end market.
The stationery that Guan Baiyu took was all inexpensive.
When Guan Baiyu entered the dormitory with bags and packages, his roommates curiously gathered around him: "Guan Baiyu, why did you bring back so much stuff?"
Guan Baiyu said, "I went to Liang Qinxuan's dad's company. Some of the paper and pens there were really cheap, so I bought some... I bought a bit too much."
"How cheap is it?" these people asked curiously.
Guan Baiyu explained the prices one by one.
The price he mentioned was, of course, an extra penny or two added to the price he paid, but even so, it was still cheaper than what was sold in stationery stores outside, and much cheaper than what was sold in school canteens.
Immediately someone said, "This is too cheap! Can you sell me some? I've run out of draft paper."
“Sure, I can buy more when I run out. I’ll give you as much as you want.” Guan Baiyu agreed immediately.
Then someone else said, "Then I want to buy a ballpoint pen!"
"I need both the draft paper and the ballpoint pen."
Give me two pen refills.
...
People in the dormitory started buying things, and some even went to the next dormitory to find acquaintances to buy from Guan Baiyu.
Inexpensive and high-quality items are popular everywhere.
Guan Baiyu's products win on price, while Liang Qinxuan's are different; his items are all more expensive. He says his father bought them for him, and he has too many to use, so he sells them cheaply to others...
People from well-off families flocked to buy things from him, especially the Japanese imported ballpoint pens that his father brought back for him in whole boxes, which were snapped up as soon as they were sold out because of their low price.
Those classmates could afford ballpoint pens for 2.5 yuan, so when they saw pretty notebooks and nice fountain pens, of course they wanted to buy them too... Stationery is something you just want to buy as soon as you see it, so his business was particularly good.
The next day, as soon as Liang Qinxuan saw Guan Baiyu, he said, "Guan Baiyu, business is so good! I actually made over twenty yuan yesterday! This is the first time I've ever made money!"
Guan Baiyu didn't earn as much as he did; he only made about ten yuan in total.
But even with just this little bit of money, it's enough to cover his living expenses, and he can even have some left over.
Guan Baiyu thought it was a good way to practice, and once he was proficient, he could go on to do other businesses.
As for Liang Qinxuan, he was still happy about making money!
Because he was making money, he didn't even pay much attention to Chen Shaojin's affairs anymore.
Chen Shaojin hasn't come to school for over a week.
Yesterday, Liang Qinxuan's cousin told them about Chen Shaojin. Chen Shaojin is still in detention, and at the same time, No. 1 Middle School has already expelled him.
He attempted murder, which is a heinous act. There's no way a school like No. 1 High School could keep him.
Furthermore, according to Liang Qinxuan's cousin, Liang's father and Yuan Xiangyang are going through a divorce—Liang's father wants a divorce, but Yuan Xiangyang refuses.
However, Liang's father took Liang Qinxuan's sister to a big city for surgery, so whether they will divorce or not is still uncertain.
The people on Liang Qinxuan's mother's side were hoping that Liang's father and Yuan Xiangyang would divorce, and they even encouraged Liang Qinxuan to go back and interfere, to drive Yuan Xiangyang away. However, Liang Qinxuan was frightened and did not want to go back.
Liang Qinxuan is currently busy making money and is even less willing to get involved in this matter.
Guan Baiyu said, "Making money is good, but you can't neglect your studies... Have your monthly exam results come out yet? What were your scores?"
Every time there's an exam, their school posts the names and scores of the top two hundred students in the grade on the honor roll at the school gate.
Liang Qinxuan wasn't inside, so he didn't know Liang Qinxuan's grades.
Liang Qinxuan: "..." He was so frightened that he didn't do well on the exam!
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