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

Upon seeing the man, Zhao Xiaohong immediately asked for help: "Master, I'm running out of oysters and river shrimp. Could you help me buy some more?"

Without saying a word, Lin Qin rode away on her bicycle.

The seafood wholesale store wasn't far from here, and there were still people inside. As soon as she got there, she told Lin Shaojun what had happened.

Lin Shaojun immediately took out six bags of oysters. "Six jin of these, is that enough? We also have eight jin of river shrimp, which were originally intended for Guoxing Restaurant. You can take them first, and I'll talk to Brother Wenjun later."

Lin Qin nodded. "Then pack them all up and put them in the books."

After the goods were delivered to Zhao Xiaohong, she immediately took a bucket to borrow water. Luckily, she had brought the flour and sweet potato flour with her.

Lin Qin watched the stall for her while she went to the side to prepare the ingredients.

It took a flurry of activity to finally mix the batter.

They started frying shrimp cakes and oyster cakes, and the aroma wafted far and wide, making the stall's business increasingly prosperous.

Lin Qin had agreed to help, so there was no reason for her to leave halfway through. She helped until after 3 p.m.

Everything is sold out.

Lin Qin asked, "How are you going to get back now? Should you call a tricycle to take you?"

Zhao Xiaohong said shyly, "My second brother drives a tricycle. I'll wait and see. If he comes here, I'll ask him to take me back. If not, I'll wait a bit. He'll come to pick me up around 5 o'clock."

Lin Qin glanced at the sky, her lips twitching slightly. "Then you'll have to wait a long time. Here's what I'll do: I'll go to the seafood shop and have Shaojun ride his electric tricycle over to help you. We also have a spare pushcart at home that you can borrow to set up your stall. Come find me in Nanxi later."

"Master, you've helped me so much, I don't know how to thank you enough!" Zhao Xiaohong said, her eyes brimming with tears.

Lin Qin didn't take it to heart, "You've already called me Master, what's wrong with me helping you out a little? Don't be so formal!"

After Lin Qin left, Zhao Xiaohong quickly packed up her things.

Lin Shaojun arrived shortly afterward. With his help, Zhao Xiaohong's headache was easily resolved. Moreover, the electric tricycle was easy to run and fast, arriving at her place in the blink of an eye.

Lin Shaojun looked around the cramped rented room and asked a few more questions, getting a general idea of ​​Zhao Xiaohong's situation.

Because she made money, Zhao Xiaohong immediately gave Lin Shaojun the money for the oysters and river shrimp.

After Lin Shaojun left, she first calculated the money she had earned that day and carefully wrote down the numbers on a piece of paper. Because she could barely read, only she could understand the accounts she kept.

After carefully calculating, she discovered that she had actually earned more than fifteen yuan in a day by setting up her stall, and she was so excited that her heart almost jumped out of her throat.

Quickly hide this money, take a little more with you, and go to Nanxi to rent a stroller from Lin Qin.

At her insistence, Lin Qin accepted three yuan from her and rented the cart to her for six days.

When Zhao Xiaohong's older brother and sister came home from get off work that evening, they were all stunned to learn that she had earned more than fifteen yuan a day from her stall.

It wasn't until they saw the money with their own eyes and listened to Zhao Xiaohong's vivid account of her experience setting up a stall that day that the three of them gradually accepted the fact.

Zhao Weiguo was overjoyed. "Little sister, you're luckier than us. You have a benefactor helping you. Work hard and save up your dowry first."

Zhao Xiaohong's smile vanished instantly, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Big brother, why don't you set up a stall with me? I only earn fifteen yuan a day, which adds up to several hundred yuan a month!" Zhao Weijia laughed, "You think setting up a stall is so easy to make money? You just happened to be there during the National Day holiday. At other times, you definitely wouldn't earn this much. Plus, you can't set up a stall when it's windy or rainy. In the end, you might not even earn as much as working for someone else. Don't get carried away and give up your good job at the daycare center to set up a stall!"

Zhao Xiaoqing nodded repeatedly, "Second brother is right, you absolutely cannot lose your job at the daycare center."

That job was the most respectable among the four siblings, with a high salary—it was practically impossible to find one like it. Most importantly, they still owed favors to relatives, so they couldn't just quit.

Zhao Xiaohong nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry, I will definitely do that job well. I'm just trying to balance it out. For example, the afternoon snacks at the daycare center are scheduled for 3 p.m., and I can usually get off work at 3:30 p.m. I set up my stall now and close it around 7 p.m. I should be able to earn some money by setting up a stall in the city center for two hours. In the morning, I start work at 7:30 a.m., set up my stall around 5 p.m., and close it around 7 p.m., or I can hand it over to my third sister to set up the stall."

She doesn't start work until 10 a.m., while my third sister sets up her stall until 9:30 a.m., keeping the money she earns for herself. Isn't that better?

Zhao Xiaoqing and the other two looked at each other for a while before Zhao Weiguo nodded, "I have no objection if you can manage both."

Zhao Weijia also chimed in, "In that case, I'll pick you up tonight; it'll be safer that way."

Zhao Xiaoqing had no objections at all.

Because it was still during the National Day holiday, Zhao Xiaohong set up her own stall, and Zhao Xiaoqing would go to help her for a while in the morning. Witnessing the booming business firsthand, she also gained a different perspective on making money through street vending.

In just seven days of the National Day holiday, Zhao Xiaohong earned more than 100 yuan from her stall, which gave everyone a lot of confidence.

However, business has clearly slowed down considerably since the National Day holiday.

After thinking about it, Zhao Xiaohong decided to set up a stall at the vegetable market in the morning and then go to Friendship Square in the evening.

Sure enough, business picked up again in a different location. On average, she could earn more than two yuan in the morning. Zhao Xiaoqing's stall was open for a longer period of time, and if other people were at work, she could earn even more, usually around three yuan.

On average, you can earn three yuan a day by setting up a stall in the evening.

In a month, Zhao Xiaohong can earn about 160 yuan more without interfering with her work at the daycare center.

Zhao Xiaoqing also saved an extra eighty or ninety yuan, which was not a small amount for her.

Seeing that Zhao Xiaohong hadn't forgotten her job while making money at her stall, and that she was as attentive to the children's food as ever, Lin Qin nodded inwardly and focused on her class.

Winter break arrived in the blink of an eye.

Teacher Su prepared a bunch of materials for Lin Qin in advance and said seriously, "You've been taking classes for two years now, and your foundation is very solid. Don't slack off this winter break. Finish these papers properly, and I'll grade them for you when school starts. You must pass the college entrance exam next year!"

Lin Qin nodded firmly, "Teacher Su, I will not let you down."

After Teacher Su left with a sense of relief, Lin Qin's shoulders slumped. She quickly packed her things and went to pick up her child from the daycare center, passing by Sister Fang's workstation.

Sister Fang called out to her, "Hey girl, wait a minute, I have something for you."

"What's this?" Lin Qin stepped forward curiously, only to find that it was two sets of baby clothes given by Sister Fang. She immediately shook her head and refused to accept them, saying, "Why are you spending so much money?"

Sister Fang scolded, "Don't think I don't know you helped Xiaohong make money by setting up her stall! Those kids are also filial and sensible. As soon as they made money, they came to pay me back and even bought me a lot of things to thank me for taking care of them."

I feel really guilty, but seeing that they're doing much better makes me happy. This holiday means we won't see each other again until next year. This is just a small token of my appreciation; I'll be upset if you don't accept it! (End of Chapter)