Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Desperate to make money
Jiang Xi was angry at Wu Yaqin's stubbornness and cowardice, but at the same time, he felt sorry for Wu Yaqin's hard work. She was abandoned by a heartless man and had to go through so much hardship to raise her.
Wu Yaqin has never bought a new piece of clothing in these years, and she also sold all the jewelry she owned in her early years to support her family.
Jiang Xi took a deep breath. Wu Yaqin's ideas could not be changed in a short time, but she had to find a way to change her. Suddenly, Jiang Xi had an idea and decided to take drastic measures.
"Mom, Jiang Haibo is a heartless man. He wanted a divorce because you didn't give him a son, but Jiang Haibo married a new wife, who also didn't give him a son. Yet, Jiang Haibo dotes on his new wife. When I went to his house, his new wife was adorned with gold and silver jewelry and looked incredibly young. The daughter he and his new wife had also dressed in the latest fashions and couldn't even do housework. Not only that, Jiang Haibo also treated the son his new wife brought with him very well, even though he wasn't his biological son, he treated him as his own."
"So, Mom, wake up. Jiang Haibo only blamed you for his mistakes so he could be with that woman. Everything he said was a lie. They were all excuses. He just wanted to be with his new wife and make you feel guilty. He's a selfish, heartless man!"
Wu Yaqin's pupils were dizzy. She didn't dare to believe what Jiang Xi said, but she had to believe it. She always thought that Jiang Haibo filed for divorce because she didn't give birth to a son, but now Jiang Haibo's new wife didn't give birth to a son either. So why was it different?
Why? Wu Yaqin's expression was painful, and she refused to think about the reason any further.
Chen Xiulian sighed. As a mother, she certainly understood her daughter's thoughts. Wu Yaqin still had feelings for Jiang Haibo. Her daughter was good in every way except that she was too gentle and virtuous. Because of this character, she suffered such a great loss and was still thinking about that unfaithful man.
"Yaqin, Jiang Xi was right about this matter. That Jiang Haibo is not a good person. He lied to you about the divorce, but he had been hooking up with that woman for a long time. He also said he would give you living expenses, but he gave it to you for two months and then stopped. So everything he said was a lie. Now he and that bitch are getting along with Meimei, making you and your daughter suffer here. He should pay the money, but I think he gave too little."
Wu Yaqin looked disapproving, but she couldn't argue with her mother, so she could only remain silent.
She had suffered so much over the years and always had to find an acceptable reason. She would rather believe that Jiang Haibo divorced her because she did not give birth to a boy, than believe that Jiang Haibo divorced her because he had completely lost feelings for her and fell in love with another woman.
Wu Yaqin was immersed in bitterness, unwilling and afraid to think too deeply.
Chen Xiulian looked at her daughter who was unwilling to believe the truth, and felt sad for her and a little angry.
Chen Xiulian touched Jiang Xi's face and said, "You've worked hard today. You ran so far by yourself, and even had to quarrel with those shameless people for money. In the future, if you have such things, call grandma, or at least call your uncle. Don't go alone. What if they beat you? You should pay attention to your safety as a little girl."
Jiang Xi knew that Chen Xiulian really cared about her, so she nodded: "Don't worry, grandma, I'm good at quarreling, but I will also pay attention to safety and won't let others bully me."
Wu Yaqin was at a loss. Chen Xiulian's words brought her back to her senses. She had just been blaming Jiang Xi, but she hadn't thought about how difficult it would be for Jiang Xi to go ask for money alone today, and whether he was in danger. She was an incompetent mother. Thinking of this, Wu Yaqin burst into tears.
Jiang Xi wiped her tears. This was her mother. She hated her cowardice and confusion, but she also felt sorry for what she had gone through.
The mother and daughter are like two trees, supporting each other for so many years and have long been inseparable.
Jiang Xi made up her mind that she would change Wu Yaqin's thoughts and also change Wu Yaqin's fate!
Why should Wu Yaqin waste her life listening to the lies of that scumbag Jiang Haibo, and abide by those so-called virtuous rules in her own world, pretending to be a good wife and mother?
She wanted to take Wu Yaqin to see the world, a new world.
Jiang Xi decided to take another drastic measure: "Mom, do you know that Jiang Haibo's monthly salary is over 100 yuan now? His family bought a large color TV some time ago. That large color TV alone cost over 1,000 yuan, but he won't even give us 10 yuan a month for living expenses. I told him that you were sick and needed money, but he didn't show any concern. Instead, he thought I was causing him trouble."
"So, Mom, stop making excuses for him. He's long since treated us, mother and daughter, as strangers. No, worse than strangers. You should see clearly that Jiang Haibo is a completely heartless man."
A TV set worth more than a thousand yuan was beyond Wu Yaqin's understanding. She and Jiang Xi saved money and their monthly living expenses were only three yuan at most, but Jiang Haibo could easily buy a TV set worth more than a thousand yuan.
Wu Yaqin recalled what Jiang Haibo said to her at that time. After giving her two months' salary, Jiang Haibo told Wu Yaqin that the factory's performance was not good, his salary was getting less and less, and it was not even enough to support his family, so he had no money left for them, mother and daughter.
Wu Yaqin believed Jiang Haibo's words because they sounded pitiful. Now it seems that she has been cheated again.
Wu Yaqin smiled bitterly. She seemed to be a little stupid and not as clear-sighted as her daughter. What Jiang Xi said today seemed to have opened a hole in Wu Yaqin's heart and shattered some of her inherent ideas.
Jiang Xi observed Wu Yaqin's expression. This time, Wu Yaqin did not refute Jiang Xi's words. She was silent for a long time, returned to the room, wrung out a towel, and gently wiped Jiang Xi's face: "You walked a long way today. It must be very tiring. I'll boil some hot water for you to soak your feet in the evening."
Jiang Xien took the opportunity to say, "Mom, we can't go on like this. I want to do some business to make some money. Otherwise, if we keep relying on farming and doing laundry for others, we won't even have money to eat, let alone live a good life."
Wu Yaqin was anxious when she heard this: "What kind of business are you doing? You're still young, and you want to go out and show yourself in public? Those business people are so shrewd. I'm afraid you'll suffer losses."
Chen Xiulian did not agree at this time. Her youngest son listened to others and went to the south to do business. He has not returned yet.
Moreover, in Chen Xiulian's opinion, one's ability determines his position. She did not think that Jiang Xi, a young girl who had never been out in society, could do any business.
"Business matters can't be decided all at once. Think about it again. You are a young girl after all. Going out to do business in the wind and sun is not suitable for a young girl."
Jiang Xi insisted: "Grandma, I have thought it through. Don't worry. Everything I say has been carefully considered."
Jiang Xi had already figured it out. Now is no longer the time to rely on the land for a living as before. Her family does not have much land. With only two laborers, she and Wu Yaqin, they cannot afford to buy a big color TV and live a good life even if they work themselves to death.
Jiang Xi saw many small vendors on the street, and more and more people were doing business. If he wanted to live a good life, the safest and fastest way Jiang Xi could think of was to do business.
Jiang Xi was not too ambitious. She did not plan to invest too much capital at the beginning, nor did she want to become rich overnight.
As for currently popular businesses such as clothing, electrical appliances, daily necessities, etc., Jiang Xi excluded them from the beginning because he did not have enough capital and it was difficult to find sources of goods.
After much deliberation, Jiang Xi decided to set up a snack stall. As for what kind of snacks to make, Jiang Xi also analyzed that he wanted to make snacks that were somewhat distinctive, low in cost, and easy to make.
Jiang Xi thought of zaoluo, a delicacy made by marinating vegetables or meat with lees mixed with rice wine and some spices.
Wu Yaqin is very good at making glutinous rice. The glutinous rice she makes is fresh and has a wine aroma. It is much better than the glutinous rice made by others. This is also one of the reasons why Jiang Xi wants to make glutinous rice. At least in terms of taste, it has an advantage.
When the weather is not too hot, the fermented food can be kept for three days, but the taste will change over time, so even if Jiang Xi wants to eat it, Wu Yaqin only makes it occasionally.
Making glutinous rice stew at home can be a bit troublesome. If you want to eat a lot of different kinds of food, it will be very troublesome to process the ingredients and boil the brine every time because the food cannot be preserved for long.
But if you do business, there will be no such problem. Jiang Xi tried to imagine that if she had extra money and wanted to eat zaolu, but was afraid of the trouble, and happened to come across a zaolu stall with cheap prices, fresh ingredients and good taste, she would definitely buy some to try. Based on this, Jiang Xi decided to make zaolu.
It is low-cost, easy to operate, and very suitable for setting up stalls, which perfectly meets Jiang Xi's current needs.
Wu Yaqin lowered her head and said nothing. Jiang Xi persuaded her again: "Mom, we have to change, otherwise we won't even have a decent piece of clothing to wear. Our house leaks when it rains and it's very damp. Your legs always hurt. We need to do business and make money to buy a big house."
The good days that Jiang Xi talked about were something Wu Yaqin had never imagined.
She looked up at her daughter and noticed her daughter's frayed sleeves and shoes with holes in them. A trace of pain flashed through Wu Yaqin's mind. Her daughter suffered with her. Her daughter was 18 years old this year, at the age of a flower and also the age of loving to be coquettish. However, her daughter not only did not have nice clothes to wear, but also had to think about supporting the family.
Wu Yaqin couldn't say no: "We'll make the zaolu, but I'll go out to set up the stall and you stay home."
Jiang Xi was unwilling to do so. Wu Yaqin was not good at speaking and her legs were not in good condition, so she needed to recuperate for a while. "Mom, you make the glutinous rice at home and I'll go to the stall. We have a clear division of labor. Don't worry, I will never argue with others easily. I'm also very smart, so nothing will happen."
Wu Yaqin still didn't give in. At this time, a man ran in from outside. The man was about forty years old, with a square face and dark skin. He looked like a man who did heavy work.
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