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

Chapter 70 Exploring the Way to Make Money
The Tanka people already had a hard life, and everyone was used to helping each other. Even in the most difficult times, no one was ever heard of anyone starving to death. Now that life is better, it's ironic that some people are starving to death.

Chen Yongding comforted him, "Dad, it's all Zheng Aqiang's own fault. Even a good person like Wenjun doesn't want to help him, so we can't help him either. When we get to Nangang, we'll try to find out where his family is. That's all we can do."

Zhou Shuifang muttered to herself, "Ever since Wenjun married this woman, he seems to have become distant from everyone. Before, no matter how angry he was, he would never just abandon us. But this time he's so resolute. Could it be that he's planning to leave the Tanka people?"

"It can't be that bad! Hasn't he been fishing all along?" Chen Yongding thought Zhou Shuifang was overthinking it.

Grandpa Chen waved his hand, "Forget it, we can't help with other people's affairs. What's the use of telling us? Just go do what you need to do."

Seeing that Grandpa Chen was unhappy, Zhou Shuifang reluctantly shut her mouth.

After closing up his stall at the vegetable market, Chen Wenjun went straight to the Guoxing Hotel and finally delivered the remaining items to Lin Qin.

I also mentioned Zheng Aqiang to her.

Lin Qin felt incredibly relieved after hearing this, "Serves him right! This time he broke his leg earlier than in his previous life, I wonder if he'll die sooner."

Chen Wenjun shook his head. "Don't worry about him. He can't cause any more trouble now. We can just live our lives in peace. I just heard people at the market talking about the start of school, and it reminded me that our two kids are also of primary school age. Do you think I should send Ping'an to school?"

Liu Yaya will definitely go to school, but Chen Ping'an's situation is quite special. He has no intellectual problems, but he has a physical disability. If he goes to school, he will be easily bullied.

But Chen Wenjun felt uneasy if he didn't send his son to school. He felt that his son was smart, but in his previous life he was too cowardly to take the first step, so his son lived a muddled life just like him, and even died feeling inferior and cowardly.

Sending your child to school might give them a different future.

Lin Qin nodded without hesitation, "We must send it! We'll sell everything we own to send it! Not to mention we can make money now, even if we didn't have any, we'd still find a way to raise our child properly."

“But I’m worried that no school will be willing to accept someone like Ping An.” Chen Wenjun frowned.

Lin Qin paused, then patted his shoulder to comfort him, "It's okay, there's still some time before school starts. If all else fails, we can ask Boss Zheng, or at the very least, we can go to the Education Bureau to inquire."

The worst thing about the Tanka people's nomadic lifestyle is that they cannot be managed in a unified way. Villages have designated primary schools, and different streets in the city have enough primary school places, but the Tanka people are the only ones without such facilities.

Because there was no land on the mainland and no schools were built, the government could only allocate land nearby. However, the Nanxi River was too long, and the Tanka people would not live in one place for a long time, resulting in frequent population movement. Often, a few children would come in one semester, but they would not come in the next semester because the fishing boats drifted away.

Over time, the school also had its opinions and was less willing to accept the Tanka children. In addition, the Tanka people were already easily discriminated against, and they were often bullied when they studied with rural children, and fights between the two sides occurred frequently.

This hurt the children in another village, and the villagers were bound to have complaints. Every year, there would be unpleasantness because of this, and over time, fewer and fewer Tanka children were willing to go to school.

Chen Ping'an's situation is even more difficult; he not only has to choose a good school, but also a good school that is willing to accept him.

They have no power or influence, so they simply cannot do it.

With something on his mind, Chen Wenjun didn't seem as energetic as usual.

After Lin Qin finished her work, Chen Wenjun helped her tidy up, and the two hurriedly returned to Nanxi. Just as they approached their five-awning boat, they discovered two uninvited guests on board.

It was Gao Lei and the thug who hit Chen Ping'an with a stick yesterday, I think his name was Wu Agui.

What are they here for?
Chen Wenjun instinctively shielded Lin Qin behind him, watching them warily.

Wu Agui hurriedly got off the boat, grabbed Chen Wenjun's hand, and said sincerely to Chen Wenjun's astonished gaze, "Brother Chen, I was wrong about what happened a few days ago. I attacked you without asking any questions, and you got hit for nothing. I'm so sorry, so very sorry."

Chen Wenjun looked like he'd seen a ghost. When did thugs start coming to apologize on their own initiative? Was he someone you couldn't afford to offend?

Wu Agui looked at Chen Wenjun with a scrutinizing gaze. After so many years of debt collection, accidental injuries had happened before. He didn't know what had gotten into his boss, insisting that he come to apologize.

Just as the two were staring at each other, Gao Lei appeared behind Wu Agui, slapped him on the back of the head, and said arrogantly, "Get out of here! You can't even apologize properly, you useless thing!"

After scolding him, he looked at Chen Wenjun and gave him what he thought was a friendly smile, "Want to come to your house for a while?"

Chen Wenjun was undecided, but circumstances forced him to comply with Gao Lei's unreasonable demands in order to avoid a falling out with the thugs.

The four boarded the fishing boat, and Lin Qin went into the cabin on her own.

Chen Wenjun and the other two sat on the deck.

There was also a large bag of things next to them, which they had obviously brought.

Chen Wenjun was completely baffled.

Gao Lei gazed at the vast river and the fishing boats coming and going for a long time before finally looking away. "I heard that you Tanka people mainly make a living by transporting goods and passengers. Why don't I see you transporting goods and passengers?"

Chen Wenjun was puzzled, but answered truthfully, "My son is not in good health. I couldn't do this kind of work before because I had to take care of him. I could only fish and set up a stall to earn a little money through hard work."

Gao Lei raised an eyebrow, his lips gradually curving downwards. "Fishing can make money to buy land and build houses? Who are you trying to fool!"

He hated being fooled more than anything in his life.

Seeing that Gao Lei was showing signs of anger, Chen Wenjun quickly explained, "I'm serious! Everyone in this floating village knows that I make my living by fishing! I've been saving up for years to buy the land, and the house is still under construction. I'll build as much as I earn, and I don't even know when I'll be able to move in!"

高磊深吸一口气，有点郁闷，之前揍郑阿强的时候，郑阿强一口咬定陈文军有钱，还说陈文军肯定有别的发财门路，不然不可能买地盖房子还娶了个陆地上的媳妇。

Zheng Aqiang spoke as if it were the truth, so he believed him. In order to get information from Chen Wenjun, he even bought some things and came over with great sincerity. But this was the answer Chen Wenjun gave him!
Wu Agui grew anxious and leaned over to warn, "Chen Wenjun, our Lei has a powerful background in Anshi. If you dare to fool him, he'll make sure you regret it!"

(End of this chapter)