Song Qi'an drove directly to the Zhou family's door. "Thank you."
Zhou Sui thought that simply saying thank you seemed a bit too inadequate, so she suggested, "Why don't you come in and have some water?"
That's what they said, but their faces clearly showed they were just going through the motions.
If it weren't for the late hour, Song Qi'an would have liked to agree to her suggestion and see how she would react, saying, "Let's do it another day."
"Brother Song, I'll come visit you tomorrow," Zhou Xu said even after getting off the bus.
Zhou Xu was so enthusiastic towards Song Qi'an because he learned that Song Qi'an had served in the military. It seems that most boys are like this, having a strange fondness and admiration for soldiers.
After Song Qi'an's car drove away, Zhou Sui led the two into the house. They had dinner at Grandma Zhou's house.
At the dinner table, Zhou Yu chattered away, quickly recounting how Zhou Sui had been selling clothes and hair clips in the past two days. Everyone was amazed and repeatedly asked Zhou Sui for confirmation.
When they heard the affirmative answer, everyone gasped, "Those things can sell for so much money?"
Zhou Sui was actually being conservative with the amount she made from selling clothes, only saying a little over a hundred, but that was still enough to surprise her family.
"They got a good deal. If they went to buy clothes wholesale now, they might not be able to sell as many." After all, the cost price has gone up.
“Sui Sui, if that’s the case, then those wholesalers in the city must be making a lot of money too.” Zhang Cui asked, “Then why bother wholesaling clothes in the city? Why go to the clothing factories to buy them?”
“You think you can just approve it whenever you want?” Zhou Dawu put down his rice bowl and explained, “The factory produces several thousand or even tens of thousands of units at a time. Who would dare to take so many to sell at a stall when we ordinary folks are just setting them up for sale?”
Zhang Cui agreed, saying, "If we didn't have the middlemen wholesalers, selling clothes might actually be a good business."
She turned to Zhou Sui excitedly, "Sui Sui, what do you think about your second aunt learning to sell clothes from you? Anyway, there's not much farm work to do these days."
Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Dawu tugged at her, "What are you saying? The child has finally found a way to make money, why are you getting involved?"
These days, if someone has a way to make money, they'll keep it a secret, afraid that someone else will learn it.
“Am I that kind of person?” Zhang Cui retorted. “Sui Sui is my niece. Would I steal her business? She sells in the west. I sell in the east. I would never steal her business.”
Zhang Cui was aware of this, but she had only ever bought clothes, never sold them. When she heard that Zhou Sui had earned over a hundred yuan in two days, she considered asking Zhou Sui to teach her.
"Second son, don't get excited. Let's hear what Sui'er has to say." Old Mrs. Zhou also became interested.
Zhou Sui smiled at everyone, "Second Uncle, it's alright. I don't plan to sell clothes for a while. Second Aunt can sell them if she wants. I'll go to the wholesale market with her one of these days and follow her around for a day or two and I'll get the hang of it."
Zhang Cui was overjoyed when she heard this, "Okay, I'll listen to Sui Sui. Just tell your second aunt whenever you have time."
“Mom, I want to go too. I sold hair clips with my sister today, so I’m sure I can do well selling clothes too.” Zhou Yu interjected, only to be glared at by Zhang Cui.
"Get out of here, I find you annoying." Zhang Cui is still sulking because her daughter isn't going to school.
Zhou Yu pursed her lips and ate in silence.
Zhang Cui continued, "After I sell clothes for a few days, maybe I can secure a permanent position for our eldest son."
The eldest son she was referring to was Zhou Peng, the eldest grandson of the Zhou family.
Zhou Peng is a very gentle person. While everyone was vying to speak, he just listened with a smile and only spoke when it was his turn.
"Mom, there's no need to waste that money. I'm fine as a temporary worker."
“That won’t do.” Zhang Cui frowned. “The difference in salary and benefits between temporary and permanent employees is huge. Only when you become a permanent employee will you be able to hold onto your job securely.”
Zhou Peng is now a temporary worker at a paper mill. Although he is only a temporary worker, the Zhou family paid money to get him a job.
Now, one of the people in his team is retiring, which means someone needs to fill in. Zhang Cui found out that they would give up the spot for 500 yuan.
“Peng, you’re right to listen to your mother.” Grandma Zhou nodded in agreement. “Now that you’re officially employed, your salary will be higher, and it will be easier for you to find a wife.”
Zhou Sui, who was listening nearby, thought about it carefully. In about three years, workers across the country will start to be laid off one after another.
Even if my aunt and uncle go to great lengths to get my eldest brother a permanent job, he may still face being laid off.
Moreover, Zhou Sui clearly remembered that the paper mill in the town had to relocate due to drainage pollution problems.
Five hundred yuan is a lot of money these days. Instead of spending it now, it's better to use it to start a small business.
"Second Aunt, I heard someone say the other day when I was selling clothes that the paper mill is going to move away in a few years."
"What? Moving away?" Zhang Cui asked in surprise. "Why are you moving away?"
Zhou Peng was also puzzled. "Sui Sui, who told you that?" He worked at the factory all day and hadn't heard anyone say that.
“It’s an older woman in the residential building. Someone in her family is a foreman in the workshop. I overheard them talking about it. They were saying that the workers shouldn’t know about this, in case they’re afraid they’ll go on strike.”
"I don't know the specific reason why we had to move; I didn't ask at the time."
You can't say things too explicitly, or you'll give yourself away.
However, the pollution problem of the paper mill is not something that has been going on overnight. The government must have communicated with them long ago, and the people on top should know to some extent that they will have to move away in a few years.
This matter is a bit serious. After hearing it, Zhang Cui didn't even want to eat anymore. "I didn't hear that old worker mention it."
"No, I need to confirm this. Five hundred yuan is not a small amount of money."
Zhou Dawu also became serious. "Tomorrow I'll go to town to inquire and see what's going on."
Seeing that they took this matter seriously, Zhou Sui stopped talking and ate her meal in peace.
After dinner, Zhou Sui went to the old lady's room. The Zhou family only had one telephone installed, which was placed in the old lady's room.
Zhou Sui was worried about her mother. She had been gone for three days, but on the first day she called to say that she would be taking care of Grandma Li for a few days.
After a few beeps, the phone was answered.
"Hello?"
"Mom!" Zhou Sui immediately recognized Li Qiuju's voice.
"Sui Sui, are you still awake?"
"I just finished eating, Mom. Have you eaten yet?"
"Oh, not yet, but I'll eat it soon."
Zhou Sui glanced at the time; it was almost nine o'clock, and she still hadn't had dinner?
"Mom, how is Grandma?"
Li Qiuju's voice sounded exhausted. "Oh, it's nothing, it's not serious. It's just that your grandmother needs a lot of care."
Just as Zhou Sui finished speaking, she heard a series of noisy and shrill sounds coming from the phone, as if someone was shouting at the top of their lungs.
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