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

At this moment, Su Wanwan, who lived upstairs, came over. She nodded to Chen Xinyue first, and then sat down next to Ji Fang affectionately. "Fangfang, I've already talked to my family. I won't be going home for the Spring Festival this year. I'll stay in the capital and work part-time. You mentioned before that there's a child near your house who needs a tutor. Do you think this is okay?"

Chen Xinyue and Zhou Miaoqing both looked at Tang Jing at the same time.

Tang Jing's face turned pale, and she lowered her eyelids uncomfortably.

The two exchanged a knowing glance and remained silent.

Ji Fang glanced smugly at Tang Jing's location, then turned to Su Wanwan with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll talk to her and make sure everything is arranged perfectly for you. There's a room in my house that's empty, with some odds and ends. I'll tidy it up and rent it to you. Just give me a small amount for the rent, and you can stay for a month. It'll save you the trouble of running back and forth between the two places, wasting time and money on transportation."

"I'll ask my mom to inquire again later and see if there are any other kids who need tutoring, and I'll find you a few more!"

"Oh! Fangfang, you're such a benefactor to me! Come on, let me treat you to dinner!" Su Wanwan exclaimed excitedly, her sweet voice giving Chen Xinyue goosebumps.

After they left, Zhou Miaoqing immediately looked at Tang Jing and said, "It's just a part-time job! What's so great about it! She'll turn her back on you if you stop ordering her around. You're better off without a friend like that."

Tang Jing forced a smile and nodded repeatedly.

Seeing that Zhou Miaoqing hadn't gotten to the point after talking for so long, Chen Xinyue was somewhat speechless. "Jingjing, you're planning to stay in the capital during the winter break to earn living expenses, right? As long as it's a legitimate job, you're fine with it, right?"

Tang Jing looked up at Chen Xinyue and nodded emphatically.

Chen Xinyue laughed, "That's easy. I'll call my mom and tell her about your situation, and she can give you some advice. We can also eat at the cafeteria while we're at it."

Zhou Miaoqing nodded in agreement, comforting Tang Jing and telling her not to be sad.

The three of them wrapped themselves up like penguins before daring to leave the dormitory building.

After entering the cafeteria, Chen Xinyue went to the convenience store to call Lin Qin and tell her about Tang Jing's situation.

Zhou Miaoqing and Tang Jing, who had ordered food for Chen Xinyue, watched her from afar, waiting for her to come and eat together.

Ji Fang and Su Wanwan were sitting not far away. Upon seeing the three of them, Ji Fang's face immediately darkened. "They're like ghosts that won't leave!"

Su Wanwan knew at a glance that Ji Fang and Chen Xinyue had fallen out, and immediately added, "I also think Chen Xinyue is quite pretentious. We are both from Anshi. When we met on the train, she acted like a rich girl and was indifferent to people. It must be very difficult to live with her."

Ji Fang, looking like she'd found a kindred spirit, launched into a tirade against Su Wanwan: "Not only is she pretentious, but she's also incredibly stingy. If you accidentally use her things, she'll make a huge fuss. Nobody else can touch her things. The cabinet has two locks; I wonder what kind of shady stuff she's hiding there."

Zhou Miaoqing is the same; she's incredibly selfish. She wouldn't even help me bring her food for two days, and she'd calculate every penny. She's so short-sighted and has such a poor, stingy look about her.

Tang Jing used to be alright, but ever since she started hanging out with them, she's become so petty and calculating, it's really annoying!

Su Wanwan rolled her eyes and said, "I remember that at the end of the semester, we can apply to change dorms. It just so happens that Xu Jiahui, who lives across from us, doesn't get along with her roommates. That dorm is full of people from the north, and she's the only one from the south. Their lifestyles are all different, and everyone dislikes her. You're from the north, so wouldn't it be perfect for you to go to that dorm?"

"Besides, I live right across the street, so we can often go to class and eat together, what do you think?"

Ji Fang hadn't originally intended to think about it, but after Su Wanwan mentioned it, she actually started to think about it carefully.

She's a local from the capital, from an above-average family, and has relatives here, so finding a way to change dormitories wouldn't be a big deal.

Having made up her mind, Ji Fang looked at Su Wanwan with even greater satisfaction. Meanwhile, Chen Xinyue finally finished her phone call and returned to her friends.

“I just talked to my mom, and she said there are plenty of places to make money in the capital now. If you just want to make a quick buck, she suggests you go to the morning market and set up a stall to sell clothes.”

Tang Jing opened her clear, large eyes, and stammered timidly, "I...I can't set up a stall."

Chen Xinyue grabbed Tang Jing's hand, "Don't be so quick to deny yourself. I just asked my brother, and they said we can stay in the capital for a few more days and earn some extra money."

We'll set up a stall with you then, so you won't be lonely. And if you really make money, maybe you can even go home for the New Year.

“Then I want to come too,” Zhou Miaoqing quickly said.

Tang Jing was so moved that her eyes welled up with tears. "Xin Yue, you've all been so good to me. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

"No need, I'm just doing this to make money too." Chen Xinyue smiled and started eating.

The three of them were chatting and laughing, a scene that stung Ji Fang's eyes. She angrily complained to Su Wanwan about her roommates, even making up stories.

A week later, the final exams were over.

Ji Fang immediately contacted her counselor and submitted an application to change dormitories, with a clear target: Xu Jiahui, who lived upstairs.

When Xu Jiahui received the notice, she was completely stunned. She thought that her other roommates had ganged up on her and was so angry that she cried.

When she learned that her new roommate was Chen Xinyue, she immediately stopped crying and moved into the new dorm room with remarkable efficiency, leaving her former roommates dumbfounded.

After the two of them switched dorm rooms, most of the others had already left.

At this time, Chen Xinyue and her two companions had already arrived at Chen Ruiyu's school with their luggage.

Upon first meeting Chen Ruiyu, Zhou Miaoqing and Tang Jing both blushed and dared not look him in the eye.

Chen Ruiyu remained calm and composed, taking Chen Xinyue's luggage and saying slowly, "Akang had already spoken with my cousin beforehand. This shipment was sourced by my cousin and was shipped directly from Guangdong Province."

Our parents didn't handle anything; they weren't involved at all. How much we earned depended entirely on our own abilities. We scouted out a few good locations beforehand, one of which was a vegetable market near many residential buildings in the city center.

Another place is the largest morning market in the suburbs, which is also very lively.

Considering your roommate's financial situation, we've chosen a morning market in the suburbs. Firstly, it's bustling with people every day; secondly, rent is cheaper nearby, and since everyone lives in the same village, renting a single room from a reliable family won't cost much per month, and grocery shopping and cooking will also be inexpensive.

Seeing that Chen Ruiyu had considered all the circumstances, Chen Xinyue smiled and said, "Okay! Then let's listen to our brother and go over now."

Chen Ruiyu called a car. The four of them, plus a bunch of luggage, almost couldn't fit them all. Fortunately, it was going to the suburbs, not too far from here, and the driver didn't say anything.

On the way, Zhou Miaoqing and Tang Jing were too embarrassed to speak; only Chen Xinyue and Chen Ruiyu were talking in the car. (End of Chapter)