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

Chapter 217 Money Can Make People Cheerful

Zhou Miaoqing's mouth was dry, and she hesitated for a long time before finally speaking apologetically, "Mom, can I talk to you about it and go home after the Spring Festival?"

Zhou's mother felt as if she had been doused with cold water, but instead of immediately scolding him, she calmly asked, "Why?"

Zhou Miaoqing quickly told her about setting up a shoe stall with her roommates. "Now my roommates and their brothers are going home, and I want to sell some of the unsold stock to earn more money so that I can cover my living expenses next semester and my parents won't have to work so hard."

The anger that Zhou's mother had been suppressing instantly dissipated, leaving only gratitude and reluctance. Her voice choked with emotion as she said, "Silly girl, our family isn't so poor that we have to make you work while you're in school. You're tearing my heart out!"

“Mom.” Zhou Miaoqing also cried.

Hearing her daughter cry, Zhou's mother finally reacted. "Alright, alright, since you're willing to endure this hardship, I won't say anything. Take good care of yourself while you're away. Also, if you have a lot of money, deposit it in the bank. It's not safe to carry it around."

"Thank you, Mom!" Zhou Miaoqing was immediately delighted.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou's mother went home and told Zhou's father about it.

Mr. Zhou rarely praised his daughter, saying, "She's grown up now and knows how to share the burden with us. You should be happy. It would be sad if she were still at home in her twenties, relying on her parents to support her."

After thinking about it again, Zhou's mother realized that Zhou's father made sense, and her mood improved considerably.

After Zhou Miaoqing convinced her parents, she excitedly ran to find Chen Xinyue and Tang Jing to tell them the good news: "My mom agreed to let me stay and go back after the New Year. I've thought it through. Jingjing and I will set up a stall together until New Year's Eve, buy train tickets for the first day of the Lunar New Year, and if we can't buy them on the first day, we'll go on the second day."

Chen Xinyue gave her a thumbs up, "That's ambitious, keep it up! My cousin sent over a new batch of goods. You've sold them all, and I have the payment list here. Check it carefully, and we'll settle the accounts after school starts."

Don't worry if you can't sell everything. If you have too much, you can lower the price to clear it out. If not, just leave it in this rental. It'll only cost you another month's rent, which isn't much.

Zhou Miaoqing and Tang Jing nodded repeatedly.

Now that everyone has made money, they won't be stingy about rent.

After handing over all the necessary arrangements, Chen Xinyue embarked on her journey back to her hometown with her two older brothers.

Three of the five stalls were gone at once. The goods were given to Zhou Miaoqing and Tang Jing, who simply couldn't support such large stalls. The two of them discussed that they should set up a stall together and split the profits equally.

As the year draws to a close, the morning market becomes increasingly lively. In the past, it would close around 11 or 12 o'clock at noon, but in the last week, it was open all day long, with people from morning till night.

In order to sell their goods as quickly as possible, the two dared not close their stall and remained there from morning till night.

They originally thought the goods wouldn't sell, but by the 26th, most of the clothing and shoes had been sold, and what was left were some sizes that were no longer available. The two of them followed their plan to clear out the stock by lowering the prices.

Business was booming, and a portion of the inventory was cleared out on the first day.

The next day, they sold out the remaining stock, along with most of the skincare and electronics products.

By Lunar New Year's Eve, they only had one woven bag full of goods left.

It's obviously not cost-effective to keep this amount of stock in a rented apartment.

Zhou Miaoqing looked at Tang Jing, "Jingjing, there are still half a month before school starts, what are your plans?" It's obviously not worth keeping these goods in the rented room.

A hint of confusion flashed in Tang Jing's eyes. "I originally wanted to go home like you, but my home is in the mountains. It would take two days and two nights to get back by train. Once I got to the provincial capital, I would have to transfer to a bus, and then transfer again in the county. It would take about four or five days to get home. If I really went back, I would only stay for less than five days before having to leave again, and I would have to spend a lot of money on travel expenses. I don't think it's worth it."

“But it’s not safe for you to stay here alone for the New Year. More importantly, the problem of food will be a hassle. Why don’t you come home with me? My home is in a provincial capital in the south. It’s a direct train ride, and it only takes two days to get there.”

Besides, I'm your only daughter, so you can live with me. We can also keep in touch with Xinyue. She's from the same province as me, and it only takes a day to get from our house to hers by car. We can settle the bill and return these goods to her while we're there.

You haven't been to the South yet! It's completely different from the North. It's like spring all year round, the winters aren't as cold, and it's especially lively outside during the Lunar New Year. What do you think?

Tang Jing initially wanted to refuse, but when she heard Zhou Miaoqing say that she was going to settle accounts with Chen Xinyue and return the goods, she was immediately tempted.

"Okay! I'll go back with you, but I want to send some money home first."

Looking at the sky, it's still possible to make it there in time.

Zhou Miaoqing was overjoyed. She first accompanied Tang Jing to send the money, and then went to buy train tickets.

All the tickets I bought right now were returned tickets, but luckily there were still some left.

The two returned to their rented apartment and hurriedly packed their luggage.

It was around 4 p.m. when the landlady invited them to have New Year's Eve dinner together.

The two politely declined, wished the old lady a Happy New Year in advance, and mentioned that they were checking out and going home.

The landlady was a little surprised, "Didn't you say you were staying for a month? It's only been half a month."

Zhou Miaoqing said with a grin, "I bought a train ticket for tomorrow morning. I need to go to the train station to stay at a guesthouse now, otherwise I'll miss the train tomorrow."

The landlady suddenly realized what was going on, smiled kindly, and wished them a safe journey.

This was Tang Jing's first time going to the South, and she was extremely nervous the moment she boarded the train.

Along the way, Zhou Miaoqing told her a lot about the scenery in the south and her family's situation.

Tang Jing listened attentively and with great curiosity. "My family lives in the mountains. I have two older brothers and two older sisters, and one younger brother. Education is our only way out. My parents said that no matter if it's a boy or a girl, as long as they can study, they will support them. With so many children in our family, one of them has to be capable."

My older brother and sister are not academically inclined and do not like to study. My eldest brother dropped out of junior high school and went out to work with my father. My second brother went to work in the south and rarely came back home, and he also rarely sent money home.

My mom said that it's not easy for my second brother to earn money outside. He has to spend money on food and lodging, so he can't save any. They don't expect him to send money back home; they just hope he can support himself.

My third and fourth sisters dropped out of school after graduating from elementary school and got married early. Their husbands were also from our area. Everyone's circumstances were similar. Poverty meant that life was all about daily necessities, and we could argue fiercely over even a penny.

I grew up witnessing my parents arguing over money, and later I saw my sister and brother-in-law fight over it. That kind of life wasn't what I wanted, so I studied hard and desperately wanted to make something of myself, just so I wouldn't live like them.

She had never said these words to anyone before, but it was only after making money this time that she felt much better and had the desire to tell them.