Song Qihang said, "Well, the country definitely has its own standards. Just relax and wait for news about returning to the city!"
The people behind him started talking amongst themselves, but Gu Zhiyun stopped listening.
His thoughts drifted to Shen Jingyan.
The notice to return to the city could come at any time, but he hasn't yet confessed his feelings to the person he loves.
At the same time, he felt a sense of uncertainty about his future.
Three years ago, after graduating from high school, he was assigned to work at the forest farm in Dalin Village.
His parents, one a physics professor at Imperial University and the other a researcher at a research institute, are both top talents with doctoral degrees.
He was expected to achieve great things from a young age. If it weren't for the "Down to the Countryside Movement," he would have been able to get into university and become a researcher in the future.
Plans have been disrupted, and life needs to be re-planned.
After returning to the city, he couldn't possibly look for a job with just a high school diploma; he would definitely have to find a way to continue his studies.
This could take several years. Would Jingya be willing to follow him to the city and wait for him to finish university?
The little girl has never been to a big city. Will she be able to adapt to life in a big city?
Will I have the energy to take care of her while I'm studying?
He thought about many things, but no matter how many futures he envisioned for himself, Shen Jingyan was always involved.
Gu Zhiyun became even more determined in his goal: no matter where he went, he would be with Shen Jingyan!
Unbeknownst to Shen Jingyan, Gu Zhiyun had already quietly incorporated her into his life plans.
Before the Lunar New Year, she used her points to redeem a large number of New Year's gifts and made a fortune.
With the Lantern Festival approaching on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Shen Jingyan is once again thinking about starting a business.
Northerners attach great importance to the Lantern Festival. On this day, regardless of wealth, everyone eats glutinous rice balls.
The supply of glutinous rice balls at the supply and marketing cooperative was limited, and people needed coupons to buy them, which could not fully meet people's needs.
Shen Jingyan had an idea for the business of selling glutinous rice balls.
On the eighth day of the lunar new year, Shen Jingyan followed the forest farm's truck to the town, visiting the market and the supply and marketing cooperative.
She wanted to first investigate the market situation for Lantern Festival dumplings.
The supply and marketing cooperative's glutinous rice balls for the Lantern Festival were in short supply. They were sold out as soon as they were delivered, and many people lined up early but still ended up empty-handed.
There are also loose Yuanxiao sold in the market, but the appearance and quality vary, and most of them are small-scale businesses.
After a day of investigation, Shen Jingyan came to two conclusions.
The market for Lantern Festival dumplings is huge; whether for personal consumption or as gifts, demand exceeds supply.
Currently, the variety of glutinous rice balls on the market is relatively limited, with only sugar filling and peanut and sesame filling available. People can hardly find any new flavors.
After returning home, Shen Jingyan made a serious plan to sell Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls).
She still has 15,000 points in her account, enough to buy and redeem materials for making Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls).
However, the dormitory at the forest farm was too small, and she needed to find a larger place if she wanted to make Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls) on a large scale.
Another day, she went to town again and rented one of the rooms in a courtyard house.
The owner of the courtyard house lived in the city year-round, so the property in the town was vacant. The owner asked a friend to rent it out, and three of the four rooms were rented out, leaving only the largest room.
The rent isn't expensive either, only five yuan a month.
Shen Jingyan could exchange everything she needed from the system shop, so she was doing business without any cost. She rented the room without even blinking.
She used 3,000 points to redeem a tricycle.
In this era, there were no electric vehicles; tricycles had to be pedaled.
But it's still much more convenient than walking on two legs.
From now on, she won't have to wait for the forest farm's trucks anymore, nor will she have to sit crammed together with a group of villagers.
Hop on a tricycle and go to town whenever you want.
Starting from the ninth day of the first lunar month, Shen Jingyan would get up early in the morning, ride her tricycle to the rented house in town, and begin making Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls).
She used her points to redeem several hundred kilograms of glutinous rice and various fillings for making Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls).
There are peanuts, sesame seeds, jujube paste, lotus seed paste, purple sweet potato, taro paste, candied dates...
Shen Jingyan took every kind of filling that could be wrapped in glutinous rice.
On this day, Shen Jingyan made five hundred Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls).
The next day, she pushed her tricycle to the market, placed the sorted glutinous rice balls in different bamboo baskets, and stuck a piece of paper on each basket with the filling of the glutinous rice balls written on it.
Considering that some of the new flavors were unfamiliar to people, Shen Jingyan set up a small pot and cooked some of the different kinds of glutinous rice balls, so that people could try them before buying.
In the biting cold wind, steam bubbled from a small pot, and the cooked glutinous rice balls emitted a fragrant aroma. People followed the scent and stopped in front of her stall.
"Come on, come on! Freshly made handmade glutinous rice balls, with all kinds of fillings available. Try them first, then buy!"
The little girl was pretty and had a clear, melodious voice; listening to her hawking her wares was a real treat.
The children gathered around the stall were so tempted that some even started biting their fingernails.
Shen Jingyan generously shared the glutinous rice balls with the children.
A little boy tasted a glutinous rice ball filled with purple sweet potato and taro paste and found it both novel and delicious.
"Mom, I want to eat this kind of glutinous rice ball! I want to eat this kind of glutinous rice ball!"
Unable to resist her son's persistent requests, the little boy's mother stepped forward and asked, "Girl, how much are your purple sweet potato and taro-filled glutinous rice balls?"
"Five cents a pound, all the glutinous rice balls are five cents a pound. Sister, you can have a little of each kind, they're all delicious!"
The little boy's mother seemed to be a thrifty person. She pointed to the glutinous rice balls cooking in the pot and asked:
"Nizi, can I try them all?"
Shen Jingyan immediately nodded and said, "Okay, I'll serve you some!"
The little boy's mother was very unceremonious and tried every kind of glutinous rice ball.
After eating about ten glutinous rice balls, she felt about 80% full.
"Big sister, how does it taste?"
The little boy's mother touched her belly a little shyly and said, "It's delicious, everything is delicious."
"How many kilograms would you like?"
"Five catties! My family is large, and these glutinous rice balls are so delicious, I'll take them back so everyone can try them!"
"Okay!"
Shen Jingyan weighed out five jin of assorted glutinous rice balls for the little boy's mother and wrapped them in old newspapers.
The little boy's mother handed him two yuan and fifty cents.
The first Lantern Festival sale was completed smoothly.
Holding the hard-earned money he had made himself, Chen Jingyan's hawking became even more enthusiastic.
The glutinous rice balls she makes are large and plump, with fresh and rich fillings and excellent taste, so she has no trouble selling them.
Before noon, the entire cart of glutinous rice balls was sold out.
Shen Jingyan took out the small bills from her wallet and carefully counted them one by one.
She sold a total of 178 yuan worth of goods, and her little treasury became full again!
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