On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, before daybreak, the Qi family's courtyard was already bustling with activity. Xu Mengyao and Huang Wenrong accompanied Grandma Qi as she packed her luggage for her upcoming trip.
In the kitchen, Huang's mother and Huang's grandmother were busy preparing food, and the aroma filled the entire courtyard. Huang's mother skillfully stir-fried the dishes in the pot, occasionally asking Huang's grandmother for her opinion. The two of them worked together in perfect harmony.
"Mom, is there anything else we need to prepare after cooking this dish?" Huang's mother asked while cutting sausages.
"It's almost done. Make a pot of porridge for them. It can warm them up on the road." Grandma Huang nodded with satisfaction after reading it.
At this time, Huang's father came in from outside after moving the things. He wiped the sweat off his face and said to Grandpa Qi:
"Uncle, there are still so many furniture left at home. Although Hai City is your hometown, you just returned and everything is inconvenient. You should take it with you."
Grandpa Qi smiled and shook his head: "It's okay, take what you need, and leave the rest for the children."
Upon hearing this, Huang Nai immediately responded, "You must take all these foods with you. It's not convenient to go out to buy food during the New Year. At least it's a taste of home."
Grandma Qi looked at the basket filled with steamed buns, steamed buns and reunion cakes, then rummaged through another basket filled with sausages, bacon, fried golden meatballs, lotus root strips, eggplant boxes, and crispy little fish, and she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Old sister, you've really emptied the house. There are so many delicious foods, I'm afraid we won't be able to finish them even before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month."
Huang Nai was even more pleased when she heard this: "That's perfect, I still think it's not enough. If I wasn't worried that the Sanzi would break easily, I would definitely give you a few more handfuls."
"Okay, then we'll take all the food. We really don't need to take so much furniture. Old Li's family wrote to me and said they'll have a new apartment building, and it's small. There won't be room for anything there, so it's better to leave it for the children. I'll bring Maomao back to see you sometime."
While the elders were talking outside the courtyard, Xu Mengyao quietly pulled Maomao over. She took out the two thousand yuan she had prepared from her pocket and said seriously:
"Maomao, I have a secret mission for you. Look, I'm going to put this money under Grandma's pillow, but we can't let her know. Will you keep this a secret for me?"
Maomao's face was full of curiosity and excitement. He patted his chest and answered seriously: "Don't worry, sister, Maomao will keep his mouth shut and complete the task!"
She smiled and touched Maomao's head, then carefully stuffed the money into Grandma Qi's pillow, and rolled it up in the quilt with Huang Wenrong to ensure it was safe.
"Maomao, remember, this is a secret between us. You can't tell grandma until you arrive at your new home in Hai City. If you do this, I'll reward you with a gift next time I visit you."
She reminded him again, and Maomao nodded vigorously, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
With everything packed up, Grandpa Qi and Grandma Qi bid farewell to their old neighbors, the air filled with reluctance and well wishes. The family, carrying their heavy luggage, set off for the train station.
On the train platform, Maomao and Wenxia were still laughing and joking, unfazed by the impending separation. However, the moment the train slowly started, Maomao's eyes filled with tears, and she cried for her sister. Grandma Qi's tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked out the window at her family, reluctant to leave.
Grandpa Qi's eyes were red as he waved goodbye to everyone: "Go back, everyone, take care of yourself. We will come back to visit when we have time."
Xu Mengyao felt equally sad. She tightly held the hand of Huang Wenrong, who was crying beside her. Wenxia was crying uncontrollably and ran after the train for several steps until she was forcibly carried back by Huang's father. Only then did her crying gradually subside.
After Grandma Qi and her family left, there was still a hint of reluctance in the air of the Huang family, but as time went by, that melancholy was gradually replaced by the trivialities and busyness of life.
Zhang Xiaomei and her three sisters moved directly into the railway bureau's staff quarters, diligently making popcorn every day. Sometimes, when the weather was nice and the sun was out, Xu Mengyao would take Wenxia and Qiu Xin to the park.
Although the two children are not in the same school now, they are still best friends. They have also agreed to enter the same junior high school together and continue to sit at the same table.
After going there twice, Xu Mengyao really lost interest in the current simple park entertainment facilities, so she simply brought a bag of popcorn and sold it while walking around the park.
She moved among the crowd with a smile on her face, and from time to time people were attracted by the unique sweet aroma of her popcorn and stopped to taste and buy it.
One day, a water vendor at the zoo gate noticed her good business, and when no one was around, he enthusiastically handed her a handful of sunflower seeds and asked in a friendly way:
"Girl, your popcorn tastes really special, where did you get it from?"
Xu Mengyao smiled cunningly and said mysteriously:
"This is a secret recipe passed down from my family. It's very difficult to make! However, although I can't tell you how to make it directly, I can sell you my popcorn. If you buy it from me, I'll give you a discount. And I won't come to the park to compete with you for business in the future."
The vendor's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he quickly asked about the price and how to pick up the goods. Xu Mengyao took the opportunity to put forward her own conditions, and smoothly accepted the deposit and agreed to a transaction time for the next day.
Inspired by this success, Xu Mengyao decided to replicate and promote this model. She called in Guizi and Badan, and together they decided to have them each approach familiar vendors to discuss cooperation.
When the devil heard this, he immediately remembered the question from the owner of the movie theater and said in frustration:
"Oh, I thought he was trying to steal my business, so I ignored him. It turns out he had that in mind. I'm going to talk to him now."
Badan was even more excited. He patted his chest and promised:
"You have no idea how many people are eyeing our popcorn business at the Children's Palace. If I spread the word today, they'll definitely come and grab it tomorrow. Haha, we're going to get rich now!"
As expected, that afternoon, Guizi and Badan returned with good news—seven vendors had expressed interest in placing orders. Together with the one Xu Mengyao had negotiated with in the park, there were eight customers in total.
Xu Mengyao quickly calculated the daily workload in her mind and then made a reasonable arrangement:
"How about this? Each person can only take two large sacks a day. Divide into two groups and pick up the goods at staggered times in the morning and afternoon. Guizi and Badan will stay home and take care of the mixing process. This way our arms won't get so sore, and you won't have to go out in the cold wind."
Once the new model was implemented, everyone felt much more relaxed. They even had time to take turns returning to the mines, enjoying their rare downtime. However, Badan and Guizi were a little unaccustomed to this "comfortable" life, feeling that they were earning more for less work, a feeling that it was a bit unreal.
In contrast, Xu Mengyao was lying in a rocking chair in the sun with peace of mind. How does the saying go, if you can't lead a team, you will work alone until you die? She is a woman who aspires to become a rich woman and enjoy a life of ease, so she must be able to lead a team and employ people.
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