Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Chapter 103 Lin Yi Gets Rich

Lotus root sells for 50 cents a pound in the market, but it's about 30 cents wholesale.

While the two were figuring out how to sell lotus roots, they didn't forget Zheng Guoxing. They delivered ten catties of seafood to Zheng Guoxing as well.

Late at night, Guoxing Restaurant had very little business.

Zheng Guoxing habitually came out to help carry the seafood, and was somewhat surprised when he saw the ten pounds of lotus root. "Wow! Sister-in-law, where did you buy the lotus root? It's so fresh!"

Lin Qin smiled broadly, "These weren't bought, they're grown by ourselves. Take these and try them, see if they're good. If you like them, we grow quite a lot more, there's plenty for you."

Zheng Guoxing immediately understood Lin Qin's meaning, "Sister-in-law, wait here, I'll go to the kitchen to make some stir-fried lotus root slices and stew some lotus root and pork rib soup, you can all try them."

The couple was used to it and did not refuse.

Wait until the contents of the tricycle are unloaded.

Chen Wenjun went back to load the second truckload of seafood, while Lin Qin stayed behind to weigh and record the orders.

Stir-fried lotus root slices are ready in no time.

Everyone in the restaurant tasted it, and Lin Qin's eyes lit up after just one bite. She gave Zheng Guoxing a thumbs up and exclaimed, "Your cooking skills are getting better and better!"

Zheng Guoxing was overjoyed. "I am the restaurant's star attraction. To be honest, this lotus root is really good. It's tender, crisp, and fresh, with a sweet taste. I think it can even be eaten raw. Send me 100 jin tomorrow to see."

"No problem!" Lin Qin agreed very quickly.

After Chen Wenjun brought over all the remaining seafood, the lotus root and pork rib soup was ready.

The couple each ate a bowl before leaving.

When Lin Yi returned home, he was overjoyed to learn that Zheng Guoxing had ordered 100 jin of lotus roots.

Early the next morning, Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin took a boatload of lotus roots with them when they went to the dock.

Everything was moved to Lü Lin's recruitment office.

Lu Lin had just arrived and was still in a semi-conscious state. When he saw the bags of things, his eyes widened instantly. "What the hell is this?"

"Lotus roots! We grew them ourselves and wanted to try selling them at the dock," Lin Qin answered honestly.

Lu Lin only paused for a few seconds before reacting. He opened all the bags, examined them carefully, and then stroked his chin, asking, "What's the price?"

"Three and a half cents." Lin Qin glanced at Chen Wenjun and explained, "We used diesel fuel coming from the city, which cost five cents more per pound."

Lu Lin nodded in understanding. "In that case, weigh the goods and sell them here."

This was exactly the result the couple wanted, so they immediately got to work.

The boatload of lotus roots weighs 1,000 jin.

After everything was weighed and the bill was settled, Hong Weimin also picked out the seafood that Chen Wenjun had ordered.

The two hurried back and also delivered another 500 jin of lotus roots to the market.

They don't sell them individually; they wholesale them to the elderly. They sell them for three cents each, and the elderly sell them for five cents each. Business is pretty good.

For elderly people with mobility issues who can't walk far, this is an unexpected delight.

After this incident, Lin Qin and her husband immediately became well-liked by the elderly vendors at the market, and even when they weren't there, no one could take their stall.

In the afternoon, the couple brought over a thousand kilograms of lotus roots to the dock.

The two planned to sell the goods to the cargo ships.

As soon as they arrived at the dock, they were stopped by the sharp-eyed Lü Lin, who bought them all. Inside the recruitment office.

Lu Lin diligently brewed tea for Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin, exaggerating the frenzy of buying lotus roots that morning.

"You wouldn't believe it, all the seafood vendors who come to buy seafood see my lotus roots and swarm around them. As a result, my seafood sells faster than everyone else's. Around noon, many families in the village cooked lotus roots, and those who tried them all said they were delicious and even placed orders with me. We've agreed that you'll sell all your lotus roots to me, and if I have anything good to offer, you'll be the first ones I give you. How about that?"

You can only listen to half of what a businessman says. No matter how much exaggeration there was in Lu Lin's words, the couple found them quite helpful.

He nodded repeatedly and agreed.

Lin Qin said, "The lotus roots at home should last for another ten days or so. During this period, it won't be difficult for us to deliver more than two thousand catties to Brother Lü every day."

Lu Lin was overjoyed, "Good, good, good! We'll do as you say."

His only worry now is that Lin Qin and the others haven't given him enough lotus roots. He's not afraid of them giving him more, since this is a dock, and as long as it's goods, there's no worry about them not selling.

The next few days.

Lin Qin and Chen Wenjun became even busier.

Lotus roots are not only selling well in Nangang, but even elderly people who set up stalls at the Xiatian vegetable market are asking the couple for their products.

They could only prioritize the elderly, and then send the rest to Lü Lin.

It took half a month of continuous work to dig up all the lotus roots.

All the accompanying eels and loaches were sent to Guoxing Hotel to be raised.

This batch of lotus root cultivation earned Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin over 10,000 yuan, and the eels and loaches they sold brought in nearly 6,000 yuan. As previously agreed, the couple gave half of their earnings to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi was shocked when he received the more than 8,000 yuan.

"What are you doing! What is this all about?"

Chen Wenjun explained in a serious tone, "Dad, have you forgotten what we agreed on before? You're the one who farms all this land, and you'll take half of the profits."

Lin Yi was even more frightened, his voice trembling as he spoke, "Half of it?"

Lin Qin found it amusing. "Dad, you know better than us how much lotus root yields per acre, and you know what price it sells for. And what about those eels and loaches? Just do the math yourself, and you'll know."

"But you don't have to give me that much!" Lin Yi muttered to himself, looking conflicted.

The couple looked at each other and smiled.

Chen Wenjun advised, "Dad! They say even close brothers should keep clear accounts. You can take this money without worry. Tomorrow I'll buy some good food and we'll celebrate properly to thank you for making me rich."

Lin Yi burst into laughter, "Stop teasing me! Seriously, lotus roots are selling so well, we can plant even more this year."

Lin Qin deeply agreed. Now that the land has just been distributed to individual households, each household has a limited amount of land, and only a few are wealthy. Even if someone knows that they made money growing lotus roots this year, it will be difficult to imitate them, unless they are bold enough to gamble big, and such people are still a minority.

Lin Yi's idea of ​​making a fortune by growing lotus roots is indeed feasible, at least it could allow him to keep going until the 1990s.

Lin Yi was overjoyed to receive the money. After putting it away, he turned to Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin and said, "I'm planning to give Yuezhen two hundred. What do you think?"

"Of course! Dad, even if you didn't want to give it to me, I would have. I'm so grateful to my cousin-in-law for helping me these past few days, otherwise you really wouldn't have been able to manage on your own." Lin Qin said seriously, which was unusual for her.

For the past two weeks, Huang Yuezhen has spent all her time in the fields except for going out to work in the mornings. She works until the wee hours of the morning every day, and even Lin Yi admires her hard work and perseverance.

Lin Qin and Chen Wenjun could only admire her, and became even more determined to keep Huang Yuezhen at home to help.

When Huang Yuezhen returned from the construction site, Lin Yi immediately gave her two hundred yuan.

(End of this chapter)