Chapter 19 Chapter 19
Jiang Hongmei looked at Liu Mianmian for a few seconds, crossed her arms, and said, "You're not being snobbish and unwilling to acknowledge your rural relatives, are you? The grace of raising someone is greater than the grace of giving birth. Look at Liu Jinshi, she's been staying in the family compound. Didn't she say her parents raised her for so many years? You can't disown them just because they're not her biological child, right?"
Speaking of Liu Jinshi, Jiang Hongmei curled her lips and said, "No matter what her purpose is, at least the logic is the same."
Liu Mianmian was speechless: "How come you have an even worse temper than me? I haven't said anything yet, and you're putting the blame on me?"
Shen Weizhuo, who was standing by, raised his eyelids and glanced at her, thinking that she knew he had a bad temper.
Liu Mianmian and Jiang Hongmei explained, "I just find it strange. When I left the village, my second aunt secretly told me that my family wanted me to go through a marriage exchange program to find a wife for my younger brother. I had a big fight with them before I left. After I came to Nancheng, they never contacted me. The things you mentioned about sending things or writing letters, they never happened at all."
"Is that really the case?" Jiang Hongmei frowned. "But Comrade Yu Guoliang doesn't look like someone who would lie. Besides, he did bring something with him, and he said he would give it to you in person."
The two looked at each other and turned back to look at the second floor of the family building behind them.
If there is any misunderstanding here, for example, the Yu family did send letters and things, then the most likely people who could make these letters and things disappear without a trace are those from the Liu family.
Liu Mianmian withdrew her gaze and looked at Jiang Hongmei deeply.
The Liu family is actually very good at putting on a good show, especially Ding Mingxia and Liu Jinshi, who have a very good reputation in the family compound and are both gentle, kind, good-tempered and helpful.
Liu Mianmian was a little surprised. Looking at Jiang Hongmei, it seemed that she could also see through the phenomena to the essence of the Liu family?
Since I know people are queuing at the fertilizer factory, I can just take some time to go over and take a look. Liu Mianmian turned to ask Jiang Hongmei: "Aren't you going to work today?"
Although there are many people in the family building craning their necks to watch the fun, in fact most of them are elderly men and women who don’t work and housewives, and there are not many young people.
If Jiang Hongmei hadn't left a message asking her to come to the family compound, Liu Mianmian might have gone directly to the garment factory to find her. She knew that Jiang Hongmei was a temporary worker there.
Jiang Hongmei said: "I sold my job and planned to open a stall to sell clothes."
Liu Mianmian didn't know much about the buying and selling of jobs in this era, so she asked curiously, "Can temporary workers be sold?"
"Of course not under normal circumstances. The family that bought my job has some connections. I can get a temporary position first, and then find a way to become a regular employee."
The main reason is that the employment situation has been very severe in recent years, especially in state-owned factories. There is a shortage of jobs for everyone, and it is difficult to find a job even for temporary workers.
The purpose of that family was to set up a pit first so that they could operate it later.
"Where do you get your supplies?" Liu Mianmian asked again.
Jiang Hongmei laughed: "If you ask someone else this question, you'll get scolded, you know?"
Liu Mianmian also laughed: "That's what I'm asking you."
Jiang Hongmei sighed, "Temporary workers don't make much money, just enough for me to get some defective products at the garment factory."
Before the reform and opening up, defective goods were considered good things, and people would not buy them even if they had money. It was only after the reform and opening up, when material goods became more abundant and people began to pay more attention to their clothes and appearance, that defective goods became less popular.
Of course, if she hadn't worked in a garment factory and had good relationships with people, she wouldn't have been able to get it.
Liu Mianmian thought for a moment and said, "I have some money on hand. How about we form a partnership?"
Jiang Hongmei thought to herself, you don’t just have a little money, you have a huge sum of money, everyone in the family compound knows that you took 2,000 yuan in betrothal gifts!
Liu Mianmian explained to her, "Local garment factories have limited production capacity, and local costs and prices are high. If you buy from local garment factories, your profit won't be high. Dacron cloth in Guangzhou costs two or three yuan per meter, but we can sell it here for eight to ten yuan per meter. That's an average profit of six yuan per meter, so you can make six thousand yuan on a two thousand yuan product."
"The train ticket from Nancheng to Guangshi costs 17.5 yuan, which means a round trip of 35 yuan. Including accommodation and meals, the total cost is 300 yuan, right? It's not safe to go out alone, so I'll find someone to go with me. It'll cost 600 yuan for the two of us, so I can make 5,400 yuan."
Jiang Hongmei: “…”
She had inquired about the possibility of making money as a self-employed person, which was why she wanted to sell her job and start her own business. However, the people she inquired about were all local vendors or food vendors, who could probably make a few hundred dollars a month.
Of course, this is much better than working and getting a salary.
Now Liu Mianmian calculated it all, and wondered, could she earn five or six thousand right away?! Even though the fabric wouldn't turn into money right away, a thousand meters wasn't much; it would only make a few hundred shirts. Jiang Hongmei was confident she could sell all that in a month.
But, "How do you know that Dacron cloth in Guangzhou is only two or three yuan per meter?"
Nowadays, anyone who dares to travel thousands of miles to Guangzhou to purchase goods is extremely brave. For ordinary people, it is difficult to even leave the county town, let alone go to Guangzhou.
Liu Mianmian said calmly, "Someone in our restaurant said that a beautiful clothing store opened on Gongren Road. The clothes in the store are all from Guangzhou. They are very fashionable and the business is booming. You know, our boss and manager are both from Hong Kong. You can find out about this kind of thing by just asking."
In fact, in her previous life, she had learned about the economic and trade situation in the early days of reform and opening up, and she was deeply impressed when she saw someone cite this example.
Jiang Hongmei was skeptical: "Would the manager tell you this? Doesn't that mean you all have to quit your jobs and start your own businesses?"
Liu Mianmian laughed: "Doing business requires capital and courage."
It’s one thing to hear about other people making money, it’s another to do it yourself.
Even though everyone in the restaurant knew that fabrics and clothing were cheap in Guangzhou, not everyone dared to actually do it. Anyone with the guts and determination would have gone into business long ago. After all, timidity and a desire for stability are human nature, and most people prefer a stable life.
"You can set up a stall first to familiarize yourself with the market, accumulate some capital, and take this opportunity to carefully consider my proposal." Changing the subject, Liu Mianmian continued with a smile, "But market information is ever-changing, and time is money. If I were to take a fancy to another project, I might invest my money elsewhere."
Jiang Hongmei rolled her eyes and said directly, "We can form a partnership. No need to think about it. Just give me some more money and I'll take more defective products from the factory. I heard that there are a lot of markets in the countryside now, and there are a lot of people at the markets. Defective products can't be sold in the city, but they can definitely be sold in the countryside."
Liu Mianmian gave her a thumbs-up. "The ten policies to further invigorate the rural economy were published in the newspaper at the beginning of the year. Rural areas are a market with huge potential. Comrade Jiang Hongmei, keep going!"
Jiang Hongmei raised her eyebrows: "I'm doing my best, what are you doing?"
Liu Mianmian said confidently: "I pay for it. Occasionally, when I have free time, I can set up a stall with you, but the main thing is still up to you. If you rely on me for everything, I will do it myself if I ask you to partner with me."
Jiang Hongmei: “…”
It sounded very reasonable, and she really couldn't refute it.
"Okay, we have things to do today. Come back to No. 9 Qiuzhi Lane and find me. We can discuss the details."
After Liu Mianmian finished speaking, she left with Shen Weizhuo, walking hurriedly, looking as if they really had something urgent to do.
Jiang Hongmei stood there watching their backs as they walked away, thinking that the two of them actually looked quite a good match. They were both good-looking, and standing together they looked like the male and female protagonists in a movie.
She was actually still a little dazed.
I just happened to help pass on a message, but it ended up becoming a business partnership?
However, after coming to her senses, Jiang Hongmei suddenly remembered that she had forgotten something important.
She originally wanted to remind Liu Mianmian that Zhu Yongqi had been hanging out with a burly man recently, and that man didn't look like a good person.
Forget it, I'll go to Qiuzhi Lane to find her tomorrow and talk to her then.
*
"Let's go to the hospital first." Liu Mianmian said as they walked. "I heard there's a long line at the fertilizer factory every day, but in reality, there are only a few people who can buy fertilizer every day. Many people wait in line for ten days or half a month. The people in Qianjin Township probably won't be able to go back so soon."
Shen Weizhou nodded.
If you stick your head out, you will be cut by the knife. If you hide your head, you will be cut by the knife too. There is no way to avoid this physical examination.
In fact, Shen Weizhuo was also a little curious about what kind of data his body would give when it was examined by medical instruments after accumulating enough health points.
Although the system that he once fought alongside has disappeared, before he was reborn, the system once said that everything would be fine and he could just live an ordinary life peacefully.
Shen Weizhou suddenly looked back.
Just now, he felt a malicious gaze, and when he turned around, he saw two figures trying to hide.
The first rule of survival in another world is to make your body a weapon.
Although the special powers he awakened in the other world disappeared, his body was undoubtedly strengthened. His hearing, vision, strength... were all far higher than the normal levels of this world.
It’s like, with a normal person’s reaction speed, he would not have been able to see the figures of those two people clearly, but he saw them clearly.
One of them is Zhu Yongqi.
Shen Weizhuo had once checked this person's file and was deeply impressed by this disgusting face.
"What's wrong?" Liu Mianmian turned around.
Shen Weizhou shook his head: "Nothing, let's go."
Arriving at the hospital, Shen Weizhou easily found his attending physician. He was a gray-haired old man named Bai. Mr. Bai's ancestors were traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, and he himself trained in Western medicine, making him a master at combining both Chinese and Western medicine.
After checking Shen Weizhou's pulse with a frown on his face, Mr. Bai tutted and muttered, "Strange."
Liu Mianmian was frightened by his click of the tongue and couldn't help asking, "What's wrong?"
Although she would occasionally joke about "hospice care" in her heart, they had been "roommates" for such a long time after all. If something really happened to Shen Weizhuo, Liu Mianmian would still be sad.
After all, this is a living person, not just the cold words in the original book.
Mr. Bai waved his hand. "Hey, don't be nervous. He's fine. It's the same as before. The most important thing to pay attention to is his heart. Make sure to get plenty of rest. Don't overwork or get too excited. His physical condition is still weak, but fortunately, it has improved significantly compared to before."
He carefully examined Shen Weizhou's face, nodded, and said affirmatively: "It is indeed much better than before, and his complexion is better too."
Liu Mianmian immediately breathed a sigh of relief and thought to herself, why are you making such a fuss? It's scaring me.
"Wei Zhou's physical condition has been relatively stable over the past few years. His foundation was weak, but it hasn't gotten any worse. Of course, it hasn't gotten any better either," Mr. Bai pondered. "I thought it would be great if he could maintain it, but I didn't expect such a significant change this time."
Old Master Bai frowned, as if he was still confused, and urged them to quickly complete all the necessary inspections and then take a look at the status of various indicators.
The test results didn’t come out so quickly, so the two went home after the test.
Shortly after leaving the hospital, an old lady carrying a bamboo basket came over, stopped in front of them, and whispered, "Fresh eggs, one yuan per pound. Buy more and you can get a cheaper price. Any idea?"
The old lady had a gentle, smiling face and looked very approachable. Although she was stopped presumptuously, Liu Mianmian did not feel offended and said with a smile, "It sells for 1.29 yuan at the market. You've missed nearly 30 cents by doing this?"
The old lady said: "Well, I don't know how many times it has changed hands at the market, so it must be expensive. These are from chickens raised by my relatives. I make a profit if I sell one. Small profits but quick turnover, isn't it cheaper?"
Liu Mianmian nodded, thinking that Aunt Liu had to buy eggs every now and then anyway, it didn't matter where she bought them, and this was a few cents cheaper, so she might as well buy a pound.
Before he could open his mouth, he heard the old lady say, "My relative has dozens of chickens and a dozen pigs. You're lucky, he just slaughtered a pig this morning and sent some pork over. If you want it, I'll give you 1.5 yuan per pound, which is 30 or 40 cents cheaper than the butcher shop, and you don't even need a ticket."
Although coupons were gradually being phased out for many things, residents of Nancheng still needed them to buy pork, with a monthly ration of 1.5 kilograms per person. Pork was also sold secretly in the market, without coupons, but it was about 50 to 1 yuan more expensive than at the butcher's station.
This doesn't require a ticket and is cheaper than a meat stall. This is the first time I've heard of it.
Liu Mianmian's eyes flickered as she asked, "I see there are only eggs in your bamboo basket. Where's the pork?"
The old lady smiled and said, "How can you sell pork just like this? If you are caught, you will be fined. I put the pork at home. It's not far from here. It will take only a few minutes to walk there."
Liu Mianmian looked hesitant, and the old lady tried her best to sell her: "We just slaughtered the pig this morning, it's incredibly fresh, with both fat and lean meats. You can buy whatever you like. We also have offal, and the liver on this page looks great today, bright red. We also have kidneys, which are the best for men. We also have pig's trotters, and although they have a lot of bones, they fall off the bones easily after stewing them. They're so delicious!"
You know what, Liu Mianmian was almost starved by what she said.
Liu Mianmian: "Let's talk about eggs first. How many pounds does this basket of eggs weigh?"
The old lady was stunned for a moment and replied, "About five pounds."
Liu Mianmian: "We have nothing to put it in, so how about the basket? But this basket looks a bit old, and the bamboo weaving skills are just average. It shouldn't be worth much, right?"
old lady:"……"
This bamboo basket is obviously newly bought, and the handle is still a bit rough, so why does it look a bit old?
After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Okay, this basket is really not worth much money. I see you are quite straightforward. If you want to buy everything, I will give you this basket as a gift."
Liu Mianmian's face suddenly lit up with smiles: "Auntie, you are really generous. Can you tell me if the price of these eggs can be lowered?"
old lady:"……"
Eggs for one dollar per pound, and a new bamboo basket is given away. Do you still want to bargain?
The old lady looked reluctant and bargained again. Finally, the basket of eggs was sold for four dollars and fifty cents.
After receiving the money, the old lady said, "Shall we go and look at the pork?"
Since eggs came first, there must be something else to come, and that would naturally be pork.
The old lady was ready to lead them, but Liu Mianmian glanced at her watch and said, "Oh, Auntie, it's getting late. We have to hurry home for dinner. We'll get scolded if we go back late. Forget it, let's not buy pork for now. What a pity! I was thinking of buying some pork kidneys to take back for my husband, but it's not easy to find them at such a low price. What a pity. Auntie, are you usually here? Otherwise, I'll come to see you another day."
The old lady was stunned: "No, how could it be too late? It's just a few steps away, it will be quick. Who would scold you if you bought the meat and went back?"
Liu Mianmian waved her hands repeatedly: "Oh, no one is as kind as you. If you are a little late, you will curse the heavens and the earth. Next time, next time I will come to see you!"
Picking up the basket of eggs and pulling Shen Weizhuo, Liu Mianmian waved her hand and left.
The old lady cried and wailed for a long time, but failed to stop the man.
Seeing the man walking further away, the old lady's face suddenly fell. She spat and cursed, "You son of a bitch, why didn't you tell me you didn't want to buy pork? You wasted so much of my saliva and even blackmailed me for a basket of eggs. Damn it, damn it, today is really the worst day of my life! I've capsized in the gutter!"
A burly man with a fierce look came over with a gloomy expression: "Is he gone?"
The old lady spat again: "He even ripped me off with a basket of eggs that I spent eight dollars on."
As soon as I sold it, I lost three dollars and fifty cents.
The man also cursed.
People always love to take advantage. They have traveled all over the country for many years and have succeeded countless times with this trick, especially in the past few years, when the supply of pork was tight, those young girls and wives, when they heard that there was such cheap pork, who wouldn't rush to buy it?
Of course, there are also those who are hesitant and don't want to take risks. Generally, such people will neither buy pork nor eggs. Such vigilant people are not their targets.
All in all, this was the first time they encountered someone who bought eggs instead of pork.
This is true.
The two were extremely speechless and a little at a loss. This girl didn't play by the rules. What should they do?
On the other side, Liu Mianmian and Shen Weizhuo had already boarded the bus.
Liu Mianmian observed the passengers in the car, then looked out the window. After making sure that there were no suspicious people, she breathed a sigh of relief and sighed, "You really can't judge a book by its cover!" The old lady looked so kind, but she turned out to be not a good person.
"You trust your own judgment so much?" Shen Weizhou glanced at her. "What if she really is an ordinary old lady?"
"Pork doesn't require a ticket, yet it's still selling for 1.5 yuan. Go back and ask Aunt Liu, is that even possible?" Liu Mianmian touched her face and asked doubtfully, "Do I have a face that's particularly easy to be deceived? Why would she think I would believe such an outrageous thing?"
Anyone who has downloaded an anti-fraud app will never believe the old lady's rhetoric.
"Besides, do I look like someone who's only interested in profit and taking advantage of others? Do I look like someone who would put himself in danger just for a little bit of money?"
Shen Weizhou: "..."
I couldn't help but remind her: "You bought a basket of eggs."
Speaking of eggs, Liu Mianmian suddenly smiled again, a smile like a rat that had stolen oil, and her tone became more relaxed. "I guess she spent at least seven or eight yuan to buy this basket of eggs. This basket looks new, the handle is still rough, and the bamboo strips are so fresh that you can smell the fragrance of bamboo. There should be more than five pounds of eggs, probably a little more. She must have lost three or four yuan for this round trip."
"This is called stealing a chicken but losing the rice. If you want to fool me, even the wild geese will be fooled by me."
Liu Mianmian was extremely happy.
Shen Weizhou: "..."
Quite self-aware.
However, Shen Weizhuo narrowed his eyes, as if he had seen the person who was with Zhu Yongqi just now.
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