Ch 81: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan brought home 500 eggs, and Xiao Jun immediately pulled out a new notebook and pen to record their first batch of stock. Shen Yunxuan watched from the side and made a few suggestions, turning the notebook into a table format, giving it the semblance of a proper ledger.

That night, Xiao Jun tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep at all. The thought of selling goods at dawn filled him with nerves—what if they couldn’t sell, what if the pricing was wrong, or what if people were unwilling to buy from street vendors? By the end of it, he wasn’t even sure what was bothering him; he just couldn’t fall asleep.

He glanced sideways, catching a glimpse of Shen Yunxuan sleeping soundly in the faint moonlight filtering through the curtains. Her lips were slightly curled, as if she were having a pleasant dream. Xiao Jun couldn’t help but admire her. Was she just naturally carefree, or did she have everything under control? Compared to her, he felt utterly useless as a grown man.

Xiao Jun also wondered if Shen Yunxuan’s calmness came from being mistreated by her family. Maybe she had endured so much hardship that nothing fazed her anymore.

The Shen family was terrible. He was glad he hadn’t married Shen Xuewei. Facing someone like her every day would probably make him never want to come home.

Xiao Jun’s thoughts spiraled in all directions until he finally dozed off near dawn.

The rest of the Xiao family wasn’t much better. They stared at the two large baskets of eggs and felt dizzy. Who would buy so many eggs? Eggs weren’t exactly rare or precious, even if not everyone could afford them. And if they priced them the same as the supply co-op at one cent each, why would people buy from them instead?

Most people didn’t want to be seen buying from street vendors, fearing the stigma of being labeled as engaging in speculative trade or being gossiped about. Even if they managed to sell some, there was no way they could sell that many eggs. If the eggs went unsold, the family of six wouldn’t be able to eat through them all. What would they do then?

The elder Xiaos were particularly worried. One month’s wages were just over forty yuan, and this venture could cost them an entire month’s income. The thought of it was heartbreaking, and none of them slept well.

The next morning, Shen Yunxuan greeted everyone with a bright smile. She made a pot of porridge, sliced some pickled vegetables, and took out some tea eggs she had prepared, offering six to share among the family.

Yu Hong quickly interjected, “Yunxuan, aren’t those the tea eggs you’re going to sell? Just having porridge is fine; there’s no need to eat those.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “Mom, you should try them first to see how they taste. We need to know if the products we’re selling are up to standard. If they’re too ordinary, we won’t stand out. Besides, since we’re the ones selling them, it’s fine for the family to eat some. There’s no need to save on this.”

The family hesitated, reluctant to touch what they saw as inventory for fear of waste. They considered splitting two eggs among everyone to taste. But Xiao Zhijun, seeing Shen Yunxuan and Xiao Jun already peeling their eggs, said, “Since today’s the first day, let’s each have one. Consider it supporting the business and offering some advice.”

As they peeled the tea eggs and took their first bites, they were all taken aback. Xiao Zhijun, in particular, was astonished. As a chef at a state-owned restaurant, his palate was extremely discerning. He immediately recognized the blend of spices in the tea eggs. The flavor was unparalleled—better than any tea egg he’d ever eaten, perfectly seasoned and irresistibly delicious.

Xiao Zhijun genuinely praised, “Yunxuan, you’ve got a real talent. These are better than anything I can make. You could start as an apprentice in our restaurant and work your way up to chef.”

Shen Yunxuan beamed. “If Dad says so, I’m confident. There are fifty tea eggs for today’s trial. Don’t worry; even if this doesn’t work out, trying different things is a good experience. If one path doesn’t work, we’ll find another.”

Xiao Jun chimed in with bravado, “Exactly! Stop worrying. Just focus on work and leave this to us. Who knows, we might surprise you by the time you get back from work.”

Shen Yunxuan gave him a sidelong glance, smiling knowingly. Wasn’t he the one fretting all night and unable to sleep? Now he was acting like nothing was wrong.

Once the four working members of the Xiao family left, Xiao Jun loaded the baskets of eggs onto a bicycle, while Shen Yunxuan walked alongside him, marking the first step in their venture.

They targeted a residential area far from the supply co-op, hoping to catch homemakers shopping early in the morning.

Seeing a few people, Shen Yunxuan called out, “Fresh eggs from the countryside! One cent each, just like the supply co-op. Buy twenty and get one free—just 0.95 cents each. Buy fifty, get five free—only 0.9 cents per egg. The more you buy, the better the deal. Come take a look!”

Xiao Jun paused for a moment, surprised by her calm, confident pitch. Not to be outdone, he quickly joined in. “Fresher than the supply co-op! Right at your doorstep, no hassle, no cracked eggs. Plus, our tea eggs are so good that one bite will make the kids next door jealous!”

A few elderly women approached, curious. “You’re selling eggs? Fresh from the countryside? Are they better than the supply co-op’s?”

“What’s this about tea eggs making kids jealous? You’re quite the talker!”

Shen Yunxuan cracked an egg into a bowl and held it out with a smile. “Aunties, you’re the experts at spotting fresh eggs. Look at this—bright yolks, clear whites, and fresh as can be. We collected these just yesterday and rushed here this morning to bring you the freshest eggs!”

Several elderly women gathered around to inspect the egg, intrigued by the unusual sight of someone cracking an egg on the street. After examining it, they agreed it was indeed fresh. Eggs purchased from the supply co-op were hit or miss; even those labeled as “fresh from the countryside” might have been stored for days, sometimes resulting in subpar quality. Fresh eggs like these were rare, and at the same price as the co-op, it was worth buying some.

When it came time to actually pay, they hesitated, instinctively glancing around to ensure no one was watching.

Xiao Jun lowered his voice and said, “Aunties, are you worried about getting caught? Don’t worry; we checked everything before coming here. Besides, it’s early morning—the police station isn’t even open yet. Even if they were, they’d be busy catching thieves, not bothering with us selling a few eggs. We’re newlyweds, just trying to make a living with our own hands, responding to the government’s call to be self-reliant. If anything, people would praise us if they saw us!”

The women laughed at his words. Selling goods was often looked down upon, yet here he was tying it to the government and leadership. His silver tongue was impressive! One of the women, whose daughter was getting married, pulled out money and said, “Give me 20 eggs to try. My daughter’s getting married, so let’s share in your joy. You’ll include an extra one, right?”

“Of course, 21 eggs for 2 yuan. Here you go,” Shen Yunxuan replied, placing the eggs into the woman’s basket. She smiled and added, “Wishing your daughter all the best—may she have good fortune and prosperity!”

The woman chuckled, “What an unusual blessing. Who wishes for wealth at a wedding?”

Shen Yunxuan replied matter-of-factly, “With money, there’s no need to worry about food or clothing, and life naturally gets better. Besides, I’m selling eggs—they roll easily, so wishing for wealth to roll in seems perfect, don’t you think?”

The group laughed again. “You’ve got a way with words! I’ll take your blessing.”

Hearing this, others joined in, drawn by the auspicious wishes of a new marriage and prosperity. It felt like spotting a magpie in the morning—an omen of good luck. Cheered by the sentiment, they reached into their pockets and bought eggs. Some bought 20, while one bought 50 and added a tea egg for her grandchild.

As the group laughed and chatted, their purchases attracted attention. Residents of the workers’ compound came over out of curiosity. While some dismissed the street vendors as engaging in speculative trade, others appreciated the convenience of buying fresh eggs right at their doorstep. The eggs could last over two weeks, and for households with many members, buying 20 eggs wasn’t excessive.

Most buyers purchased 20 eggs, which, with the bonus egg, brought the cost down to 0.95 yuan per egg. In these times, even small savings brought satisfaction and joy. Many felt sympathy for the young couple, who had just married and were already finding ways to earn a living. Their friendly and hardworking demeanor made customers feel they were supporting a good cause, which made them even happier to buy.

However, being the first day, many were still cautious. Some decided to wait and see how the eggs turned out before buying more, ensuring they wouldn’t be scammed.

After about an hour, sales slowed, and no one else approached. Shen Yunxuan decisively told Xiao Jun it was time to move on.

Xiao Jun, reluctant to leave, whispered excitedly, “We’ve made 19 yuan already! Between sales and bonuses, we’ve moved nearly 200 eggs—almost half! Shouldn’t we stay and ask them to spread the word to their neighbors? We’d get more customers.”

Shen Yunxuan shook her head. “Time is money. There’s no point waiting. Let’s head to the other factories in town and see how we do there.”

Xiao Jun suppressed his excitement, though his eyes sparkled with joy. In just one hour, they had earned over 3 yuan. If they made that much daily, it would add up to 90 yuan a month! His brother only earned 23 yuan a month, and his father 45 yuan. The thought of earning double his father’s income seemed unreal to Xiao Jun.

They visited two more factories. However, these were closer to the supply co-op, so fewer people bought eggs. After selling 108 more eggs between the two factories, Xiao Jun understood why Shen Yunxuan had chosen to start at the farthest factory—it had the most customers, and people there bought in larger quantities.

With the morning shopping rush over, they moved to the hospital to sell tea eggs.

The hospital was bustling with patients, visitors, and family members. The tea eggs they were selling cost 0.12 yuan to make, including seasoning, and were priced at 0.25 yuan each. Initially, passersby asked about the price but left when they heard it. Realizing this, Shen Yunxuan cracked a tea egg, broke it into small pieces, and offered samples to those who asked.

The first person to try it was impressed, hesitating only briefly before buying four eggs for 1 yuan. Others, drawn by his enthusiasm, also came to sample the eggs. While many left without buying, several praised the taste and bought two or four eggs each.

Before long, they had sold 28 tea eggs. Some visitors also bought fresh eggs to boil for patients, purchasing 50 eggs in total.

The two headed to the train station next, where the remaining tea eggs quickly sold out. Xiao Jun stared at the now-empty baskets in disbelief, checking them multiple times. “I can’t believe we sold so many tea eggs at the train station! Don’t most travelers bring their own food? They’re not short on snacks—why would so many people buy tea eggs?”

Shen Yunxuan gestured at the bustling train station. “There’s a saying: ‘Live rich on the road.’ When people travel, they tend to treat themselves better, especially family or friends seeing someone off—they’re even more willing to spend. Our tea eggs aren’t expensive, they’re nutritious, and their salty flavor pairs perfectly with steamed buns. Tea eggs and train stations are a perfect match.”

Xiao Jun suddenly asked, “Then why didn’t we start at the train station instead of going to the hospital to give out samples?”

“Because we needed to explore different locations. If we don’t test a variety of spots, how will we make plans for the future?” Shen Yunxuan replied. “Let’s head home for now, eat something, and rest a bit. Later, when the workers get off, we’ll go back out.”

Back home, Shen Yunxuan ate and then took a nap. Having been reborn, she wanted to seize the opportunities of this era, but her health was a priority.

In her previous life, overwork had left her with countless ailments in her later years, and her quality of life had been poor. Reborn into a body that was weak and malnourished, she needed to eat well, rest properly, and gradually restore her health. There was no sense in jeopardizing her health for business.

Xiao Jun couldn’t believe she had gone to sleep. Afraid of disturbing her, he went to the storage room and began counting the day’s earnings. He counted the money over and over, pinching himself to confirm it wasn’t a dream. When it was time for workers to get off, he eagerly woke Shen Yunxuan, and the two set out for another round of sales.

This time, they targeted young workers leaving their shifts. Young people were quicker to make purchases, and after seeing how fresh the eggs were, many bought some. They sold another 130 eggs, leaving just three eggs and the one they had cracked for sampling.

Seeing the reduced flow of people, Shen Yunxuan decided it was time to call it a day. “Let’s head back. We’ll fry these last few eggs tonight to celebrate our successful first day!”

“Great! Hop on; I’ll take you home!” Xiao Jun was brimming with excitement, smiling ear to ear. Riding at full speed, he couldn’t help but start singing.

Seated behind him, Shen Yunxuan laughed as she lifted her hand, letting the cool breeze flow through her fingers. She felt the vivid reality of her rebirth during this youthful moment. She had once believed her previous life was without regrets, but now she realized she had many: regrets over the lack of control she had over her life and the missed opportunities of her youth.

Given another chance, she resolved to live for herself, to live freely and joyfully.

When they arrived home, the rest of the Xiao family was already waiting, occasionally peeking outside to check if they were back. The moment they saw them, they hurried out to greet them, all asking how things had gone while their eyes scanned the baskets. To their shock, the baskets were empty.

Yu Hong rushed over to the bike and exclaimed, “Only three eggs left? Where did all the eggs go?”

Xiao Jun burst out laughing. “We sold them all, of course! Where else could they have gone? Mom, are you serious? Did you think we lost them?”

Yu Hong’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? You sold them all? How is that possible? You’re not fooling me, are you?”

Shen Yunxuan hooked her arm through Yu Hong’s and said cheerfully, “How could I dare lie to you, Mom? Really, they’re all sold! These are just leftovers for tonight’s dinner. Let’s celebrate!”

The eldest Xiao sister-in-law, who worked at the supply co-op, was skeptical. Even the co-op rarely sold 500 eggs in a day, let alone 50 tea eggs as well. Nervously, she asked, “You… you didn’t sell them at a loss, did you?”

Xiao Jun nodded. “Well, we did lower the price a bit…”

The family exchanged looks, feeling a twinge of disappointment. If they had slashed prices, the profit margin would be negligible—barely covering their effort. They were about to comfort the couple when Xiao Jun led them to his parents’ room, emptied the earnings onto the table, and proudly announced, “My wife and I did the math. Today, after all costs, we netted 12.36 yuan! Twelve yuan! That’s six yuan each! If we keep this up, that’s 180 yuan each per month—360 yuan for the two of us!”

Yu Hong’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto a chair. Shen Yunxuan quickly steadied her. “Mom, don’t take him too seriously. People won’t buy this much every day, and bad weather can also affect sales. It won’t always be this high.”

Even so, even if they earned half as much, it was still more than the combined wages of the four employed family members. Stunned, the family began to grasp the possibility that street vendors, long dismissed as struggling and desperate, might actually be earning significant money.

After a long silence, they snapped out of their daze and triple-checked the earnings. Each person counted the money three times, calculated the costs, and even used an abacus to verify the profit. Finally convinced, they were overwhelmed with joy, whispering excitedly, “It’s real! We really made a fortune!”

Eldest Sister-in-law Xiao excitedly said, “Xiao Jun, Yunxuan, keep up the good work! If this continues to go well, I might quit my job and start selling too. Selling goods is selling goods, no matter where you do it. I only make 20 yuan a month at the supply co-op, and I have to work fixed hours, rain or shine. I’ll think about what I could sell and give it a try too!”

Yu Hong wanted to remind her that being a supply co-op clerk was a stable job—a coveted position that people would fight tooth and nail to secure. It even allowed children to inherit the role. But then she thought about how much Xiao Jun and Shen Yunxuan earned in just one day, and she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She was even starting to consider selling goods herself.

The Xiao family had decent conditions and a close bond. When Eldest Sister-in-law Xiao shared her thoughts, no one objected. Instead, they praised Xiao Jun and Shen Yunxuan for their success. If this path worked, they encouraged them to pursue it wholeheartedly.

Xiao Zhijun, feeling proud, patted Xiao Jun on the shoulder. “Getting married has changed you for the better. You married a good wife who pushes you to improve. From now on, you better listen to her and stop fooling around.”

Feeling elated, Xiao Zhijun even brought out the liquor he’d been saving for the New Year and went to the kitchen to prepare a few meat dishes. He placed a plate of fried eggs in the center of the table, and the family joyously celebrated the successful first day of selling eggs. The atmosphere was livelier than on Xiao Jun and Shen Yunxuan’s wedding day. After all, earning money meant prosperity for the household, and everyone was genuinely happy.

With no eggs left and no tea eggs pickled, Shen Yunxuan suggested they head to the countryside the next day to buy more eggs. Yu Hong remembered something and said, “Tomorrow is the third day after your wedding—you’re supposed to visit your family. Go later to buy eggs. I’ve already prepared the return gifts. Wear your new clothes and bring the gifts to visit your family. Be sure to come back before dark, and don’t get drunk.”

As she spoke, Yu Hong brought out the gifts, but Shen Yunxuan stopped her and went back to her room to fetch a newspaper. Smiling, she said, “Mom, I’ve cut ties with my family. There’s no need to visit. I had Xiao Jun tell you before.”

Yu Hong was stunned. “What? He… he did mention it, but…”

Yu Hong read the severance notice repeatedly, recognizing every character, yet the whole thing left her bewildered. She had seen families with conflicts—plenty of shouting matches and even physical fights—but cutting ties? She’d never encountered that before.

The Xiao family passed the newspaper around, each taking a turn to read it. Eldest Sister-in-law Xiao hesitantly asked, “Yunxuan, why did you cut ties?”

Shen Yunxuan picked her words carefully, sharing only select instances of how poorly her family had treated her. While other families might be strict with their children, the disparity between how she was treated compared to Shen Xuewei and Shen Jie was glaring. They had treated her like a servant. She also revealed how her family was eyeing the Xiao family, planning to exploit the connection for cheap goods from the supply co-op, discounted fabric from the textile factory, and tutoring for Shen Jie to help him get into high school and eventually college.

The Xiao family frowned as they listened. Mutual support between families was normal, but blatantly taking advantage was distasteful. They hadn’t expected Shen Yunxuan to sever ties first. Given the Shen family’s behavior, they couldn’t possibly urge her to reconcile, so no one objected.

Yu Hong, however, was concerned about how it would look if Shen Yunxuan didn’t return home on the third day after her wedding. People in the countryside might gossip, and the Shen family might accuse her of being unfilial. She suggested they go to a different village to buy eggs instead.

Shen Yunxuan smiled and said, “There’s no need. Going back will make it clear to everyone that I’ve cut ties with my family.”

Xiao Jun immediately added, “Don’t worry. I’ll go with you. If anyone dares to bully you, I’ll make sure they regret it!”

Meanwhile, the Shen family, having married off two daughters, was dressed in new clothes and happily anticipating their daughters’ return with their husbands. It was a rare moment of pride for the Shen family. After years of feeling insignificant, they now had an army captain and four urban workers as in-laws. Who in the village could compare?

Early in the morning, Shen Xuewei and Xing Kai arrived with their two children. The Shen family welcomed them warmly, serving tea and snacks. They waited and waited, but Shen Yunxuan and Xiao Jun never showed up. Then a villager came running to inform them, “Your eldest daughter and son-in-law are in the village buying eggs! They said they’re not planning to visit. You should go check it out!”

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