Ch 84: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Xiao Zhijun immediately got to work on the idea. After discussing with Shen Yunxuan, she suggested making baked sesame flatbreads, which were delicious even when cold, easy to reheat on top of a hot water cup, and convenient to carry. These would sell well not only at the train station and hospital but also in residential areas.

Full of enthusiasm, Xiao Zhijun started early the next morning. He made various types of flatbreads, including salted, sweet, and red bean-filled ones, along with scallion rolls and sugar triangles. He even prepared twenty potato-filled wraps. His culinary skills as a seasoned chef shone, but as he finished, a wave of anxiety crept in.

He had used quite a bit of expensive ingredients—white flour, sugar, and oil weren’t cheap. If these didn’t sell, it would be a considerable waste!

During breakfast, Shen Yunxuan noticed his worried expression and chuckled. “Dad, have some confidence. People’s lives are much better now than in the past, and selling goods is really easy. Trust me, everything you made today will sell out.”

Xiao Zhijun looked doubtful. “Really? There’s so much food!”

Shen Yunxuan reassured him. “Don’t worry. Xiao Jun and I will sell it all. And even if there’s anything left, we’ll eat it ourselves. It wouldn’t be a loss—we’ve already made quite a bit from selling tea eggs, flatbreads, and fresh eggs.”

Hearing this, the family relaxed a bit and, remembering how much they had already earned, became excited again. The most profitable item was the tea eggs. Between Shen Yunxuan’s sales and those at the state-run restaurant, they made 25 yuan in one day! Xiao Jun sold 400 eggs, earning 7.5 yuan, and brought back 200 eggs to pickle for more tea eggs. He also collected several hundred more fresh eggs from the villages.

The flatbreads earned another 2.5 yuan after accounting for the free pickled vegetables they gave out.

This totaled 35 yuan in net profit in a single day. Over a month, that would be 1,050 yuan, meaning 525 yuan per person. This was equivalent to a year of Xiao Zhijun’s salary. The whole family was ecstatic, dreaming of tea eggs even in their sleep.

The elder sister-in-law was particularly inspired. “Maybe I should sell my job and start selling goods too? What do you think?”

She was hesitant—she’d never done such work before and wasn’t sure if the family would support her. She also worried Xiao Jun and Shen Yunxuan might feel she was intruding on their success.

Surprisingly, Shen Yunxuan was the first to support her. “Sister-in-law, you already work in the supply and marketing cooperative as a salesperson. Selling is your expertise—you’d definitely be great at it! I believe in the potential of self-employment. Policies are more relaxed now, and small vendors don’t need tickets, aren’t limited in supply, and don’t have to deal with sour attitudes.

Over time, fewer people will go to supply and marketing cooperatives because it’s less convenient. Those stores will have to improve, maybe even lay off staff if business declines. If the cooperative starts reducing its workforce, who knows? I think selling your job now and stepping out on your own is a great idea. You don’t have to sell tea eggs—you could sell household goods, clothing, or breakfast. As long as people need it, it will sell.”

Elder sister-in-law Xiao’s eyes brightened. She had never thought of it this way. If small vendors became more common, why would anyone put up with the attitudes at the cooperative? Although she herself was friendly, many of her colleagues were indifferent or outright rude. If working at the cooperative lost its prestige, her “iron rice bowl” wouldn’t hold the same value. Besides, the income difference was staggering.

Yu Hong, however, had some reservations. “But these jobs can be passed on to our children. We fought hard to get them—are we really going to give them up?”

Having talked a lot with Shen Yunxuan recently, Xiao Jun immediately chimed in. “Mom, think about it—college graduates will soon flood the job market. Good positions will definitely go to them. Over time, there’ll be fewer opportunities for people without degrees. Eventually, they might cancel the inheritance system for jobs entirely. If that happens, those without qualifications will only get the most basic positions.”

Yu Hong, being a workshop supervisor, understood this deeply. The newcomers she’d seen so far varied greatly in capability, with many unqualified workers causing inefficiencies. She nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense. If job inheritance is canceled, unqualified replacements won’t be able to keep up.”

Elder brother Xiao frowned and added, “It’s like when they used to recommend workers and peasants for university. How many of them were truly talented? Most got in through connections or quotas. Later, the country brought back the college entrance exam to find real talent. Now recommendations to universities don’t happen anymore.

“PYunxuan and Xiao Jun are right. With this in mind, we need to think about long-term plans for our family’s four jobs.”

Xiao Jun grinned. “Big brother, you’re safe—you’re a great teacher. You just focus on your students; leave the selling to the rest of us.”

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After breakfast, everyone went about their day—those with jobs went to work, and the sellers went to their stalls.

Even so, the “envied” Xiao family, known for their four secure jobs, was preoccupied all day. Shen Yunxuan and Xiao Jun’s words lingered in their minds, filling them with both worry and hope for the future. The need to make changes seemed more urgent than ever.

Elder sister-in-law Xiao, while chatting with others, asked if they had any relatives or friends interested in taking her job and inquired about how much it might sell for. She also started taking note of the supply and demand at the cooperative—what goods sold well, their costs, selling prices, and their seasonal trends—jotting it all down in a small notebook.

Yu Hong, after walking around the workshop, increasingly felt her job was unfulfilling. Although many envied her position as a workshop supervisor, in reality, it was exhausting both physically and mentally, and her monthly salary of 42 yuan could now be earned in just two or three days of selling goods.

She realized that working for herself, even if tiring, would feel far more satisfying. But working at the factory, no matter how much effort she put in, her salary remained fixed, and opportunities for promotion were scarce unless she had connections. As Shen Yunxuan and Xiao Jun mentioned, good positions in the future would likely go to university graduates. With only a high school education, her chances of advancing were slim.

Yu Hong considered that if she started selling goods, it would be best to stick to her area of expertise—fabrics, clothing, or shoes—since she didn’t know much about anything else. But selling clothing was more complex than eggs or snacks, so she would need time to figure out the specifics. She began asking colleagues about defective goods, exploring what prices she could get and whether she could establish a steady supply chain.

Meanwhile, Xiao Zhijun pondered his own situation. Making and selling baked goods might harm his reputation as a chef in the cooperative. If policies continued to relax, private restaurants might start popping up, offering more variety and better service without requiring ration tickets. How would state-run restaurants compete?

The key question was: if others could open restaurants, why couldn’t he? If he acted quickly and opened his own private restaurant, he could potentially earn much more than from a food stall. If he established a solid foothold, his business might one day rival the success of state-run restaurants. Excited by this realization, Xiao Zhijun resolved to ask Shen Yunxuan for advice on what else he could make and sell to test the waters.

Even Elder brother Xiao, the teacher, found his ambitions growing. He reasoned that as competition for talent increased, opportunities for teachers to advance their careers, secure higher pay, and work at better schools would also grow. He began carrying a radio to school and, during breaks, listened to news and policy updates on the playground, hoping to make better-informed decisions.

The entire Xiao family had been inspired by Shen Yunxuan’s drive and vision, a development she hadn’t anticipated. But she was delighted by the unity and shared determination. Unlike in her previous life, where she was isolated and had to rely solely on herself while remaining guarded against others, this new camaraderie was warm and reassuring. It felt like the whole family was building a fortress together, protecting one another. This collective sense of purpose gave her even more motivation.

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At the train station, Shen Yunxuan’s food stall quickly drew a crowd. People were intrigued by the variety of freshly made baked goods—no tickets required and in multiple flavors—all kept warm under a blanket in a box.

Those who came to buy tea eggs noticed the baked goods and decided to try them. Those buying baked goods were tempted by the aroma of the tea eggs and added those to their purchases. The variety created a multiplier effect, and as Shen Yunxuan predicted, the growing purchasing power of the public ensured she sold out completely.

Her success even benefited neighboring vendors selling soda, tea, and cigarettes, as they also experienced increased sales. In gratitude, they gifted her sodas and other items, strengthening their camaraderie. Within just a few days, she had built strong connections with other vendors, earning their goodwill.

On his end, Xiao Jun took some tea eggs and baked goods to sell in residential areas. By now, he had figured out the tricks of the trade. His good looks and sweet-talking drew attention wherever he set up shop. During his lunch break, he ate the goods he was selling in front of crowds, deliberately making them look irresistible. Seeing how much he enjoyed the food, people couldn’t help but buy some for themselves.

Xiao Jun also chatted with customers, addressing them affectionately as “Big Brother,” “Big Sister,” “Uncle,” or “Auntie.” This endeared him to them, and they were happy to talk with him. Through these conversations, he learned about their roles and connections, which sparked a new idea. If tea eggs could be sold at a state-run restaurant, why not sell them at factory and hospital canteens too? Moreover, since canteens always needed eggs, he wondered if they could become a supplier. However, supplying at wholesale prices would require lowering their egg purchasing costs.

That evening, Xiao Jun eagerly shared his idea with Shen Yunxuan, looking at her with anticipation. When she nodded in agreement, he broke into a wide grin. “I knew you’d agree! Isn’t this a great idea?”

Shen Yunxuan praised him, “Of course, it’s a great idea! You’re a natural at business—look how quickly you come up with plans. I don’t know anyone who can match you! Do you have a detailed plan yet?”

Xiao Jun nodded eagerly. “I do! First, I’ll start with my mom’s textile factory. She’s worked there for twenty years and knows everyone. Convincing the cafeteria to source eggs and tea eggs from us shouldn’t be a problem. Then, there’s the First High School. I’ll ask Big Brother to introduce me, and I’ll pitch the tea eggs. Sure, they’re not cheap, but thrifty students can have a tea egg and a steamed bun as a meal, which is cheaper than a vegetable dish by several cents—it’s doable.

As for the cost of eggs, I’ve got a lead. A friend’s cousin’s comrade retired after being injured and now raises chickens. He’s probably taking advantage of the relaxed policies to sell them. I’ll visit and see if I can buy eggs at a lower price. If that works, we’ll solve the cost issue.”

He also mentioned building a small cart to transport more goods. He planned to buy eggs from more distant villages where prices were lower since it was harder for those villagers to sell directly in town. While it would be a bit more effort for him, the lower costs would be worth it.

Xiao Jun added, “Traveling further has its risks, so I’ll bring a friend along for safety. I’ll even give him a share of the profits—this way, I can help a friend and earn together. Plus, when the family expands the business, it’ll be helpful to have reliable people around.”

Shen Yunxuan noticed Xiao Jun’s logical and thorough thinking and couldn’t help but smile. Perhaps he was born to be a businessman. In their previous life, he hadn’t succeeded, likely because his family didn’t support him, and he missed the right opportunities.

When Xiao Jun finished, he hesitated. “Do you really think this will work? Don’t just say it to make me feel better.”

Shen Yunxuan laughed. “What would I gain from tricking you? Go ahead and give it your all. Even if it doesn’t work out, you’ve got me to back you up. Besides, you’ve thought through every angle. You’re not being reckless—I have no doubt you’ll do well.”

Xiao Jun blushed slightly, coughed awkwardly, and tried to maintain his composure. But he couldn’t help grinning. “Alright, then I’ll go for it with everything I’ve got!”

“Xiao Jun? Xiao Jun! Are you home?”

Hearing someone shouting from outside, Xiao Jun glanced at Shen Yunxuan nervously. “It’s one of my friends. I’ll go see what he wants,” he said, quickly heading out and scolding the person for being so loud.

Shen Yunxuan understood immediately—this must be one of his old “troublemaking buddies.” Given Xiao Jun’s past reputation, his family likely nagged him to stay away from such friends. Since this was the first time one had shown up since their marriage, Xiao Jun seemed a bit uneasy.

Curious, Shen Yunxuan followed him outside. To understand Xiao Jun better, it was important to get to know his friends too.

When Xiao Jun saw her, he quickly introduced the tall, lanky man at the door. “Why are you just standing there? Say hi to my wife!”

The man smiled. “Hello, sister-in-law! I’m Li Sheng, Xiao Jun’s buddy. We’ve been friends since we were kids. I hadn’t seen him in days, so I came to find him.”

Shen Yunxuan greeted him politely. Xiao Jun then said, “I’m busy these days—no time to hang out.”

Li Sheng looked surprised. “Really? I heard you’re selling eggs. Is that true?” He leaned in and whispered, “Isn’t that… speculative trading?”

Xiao Jun rolled his eyes. “Speculative trading? That’s old news! Do you see anyone getting arrested for it now? Listen, I’m focused on making money now and don’t have time to play around. Tell the others not to look for me anymore—I’m a married man now.”

“But… that’s not what you said before you got married!” Li Sheng muttered under his breath. Then, louder, he asked, “So, you’re really not coming to play cards?”

“Nope. If you’re smart, you’ll quit too. Think about setting up a stall and selling something. Even selling sunflower seeds outside the cinema or popsicles on the street would be better,” Xiao Jun said, pulling Li Sheng inside to sit down. He suggested they source sunflower seeds from villages or buy from a place that roasted them well and resell them in town.

Li Sheng looked skeptical at first but soon began listening intently. Observing this, Shen Yunxuan smiled. Seeing that Li Sheng wasn’t a bad influence, she returned inside to handle the day’s accounting.

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That day, including the baked goods Xiao Zhijun made, they earned 45 yuan. The baked goods alone brought in a net profit of 10 yuan. Xiao Zhijun was so thrilled he drank half a catty of liquor during dinner.

He couldn’t believe how profitable it was. At the state-run restaurant, he worked all day for only 1.5 yuan. Yet, by working at home for just a morning, he had made 10 yuan! Why continue his job at the restaurant? Once he arranged for someone to take over his position and the family business was stable, he planned to quit and focus on the side hustle, which could earn five to six times as much.

Having worked at the state-run restaurant for over two decades, Xiao Zhijun had strong connections in the supply chain. With just a dinner invitation, he managed to secure a deal with his old contacts to privately buy rice, flour, and pork. While the prices were slightly above wholesale, they matched market rates, ensuring the same profit margin for their goods.

Excited, Xiao Zhijun shared the news with Shen Yunxuan. Seeing his enthusiasm and ability to source pork, she immediately proposed making five-spice braised pork. Not only could it be sold at the train station, but if properly packaged, it could also be marketed as a gift item.

Eldest Brother Xiao had a classmate whose factory produced packaging materials. Hearing the suggestion, he eagerly volunteered to have dinner with his classmate and secured a deal for packaging paper. The oil paper, tied with fine hemp string, had “Wuyou Five-Spice Braised Meat” printed on it.

The term “Wuyou (worry-free)” was inspired by the meaning of “Xuan” in Shen Yunxuan’s name, which referred to a carefree herb. Her biggest dream in this life was to live without worries. She decided to test the brand name “Wuyou” on the packaging paper as a first step toward building a larger brand.

Regular customers were curious about the new braised meat product. Naturally, they wanted to try it, even though it was a bit expensive. A small portion cost 0.5 yuan, and a slightly larger one was priced at 1 yuan. However, the small portions allowed people to enjoy a taste of meat for just half a yuan, which many found worthwhile. Most importantly, it was delicious—far better than tea eggs and impossible to replicate at home. Even the state-run restaurants didn’t offer such flavors!

Additionally, for travelers who couldn’t access decent food on long journeys, bringing along a pack of braised meat to enjoy with steamed buns on the train was a true delight. At the train station, Shen Yunxuan’s braised meat sold exceptionally well. She even signed an agreement to deliver a basin of it daily to the state-run restaurant. Their daily net profit now consistently exceeded 80 yuan!

This level of profit left the entire family stunned. Even Shen Yunxuan was a little emotional. While she knew this era was full of opportunities, she hadn’t personally experienced it before. She never imagined that selling goods, something often looked down upon, could generate such substantial income—something that sounded unbelievable!

However, the workload was undeniably exhausting. Xiao Zhijun woke up at 5 a.m. daily to prepare food. Shen Yunxuan spent the entire day at the train station, exposed to the elements. Xiao Jun traveled between neighborhoods and villages, running multiple errands each day. By the time they came home for dinner and accounting, they were so tired that they fell asleep instantly. Their quality of life hadn’t improved at all.

This prompted Shen Yunxuan to consider hiring help. However, she still had unresolved matters at the train station, so she decided to take her time with recruitment while continuing as usual for now.

Xiao Jun contacted a friend who introduced him to a retired soldier named Brother Chen, who now raised chickens. After several visits, Xiao Jun finalized a deal to collect 1,500 eggs and two chickens daily, ensuring fresh supplies. This brought the egg cost down to 0.07 yuan per egg, significantly reducing costs.

Xiao Jun also struck deals with the textile factory and First High School cafeterias. They required 600 eggs and 200 tea eggs daily. He sold the eggs to them at 0.085 yuan each, effectively reselling them for a profit of 0.01 yuan per egg, earning 9 yuan daily from the eggs alone. The tea eggs added another 18 yuan of profit. Including sales to the state-run restaurant, their daily stable income now reached 40 yuan!

This was Xiao Jun’s first independent business success, boosting the family’s income significantly. While he leveraged family connections to secure opportunities, he negotiated all the details himself, ensuring satisfaction on both sides to finalize the deals. This achievement changed how the family viewed him—they no longer worried about his future.

All of this was thanks to Shen Yunxuan, making the Xiao family adore her even more. At times, Shen Yunxuan felt less like she had married into the family and more like she was their cherished youngest daughter.

Xiao Jun suggested, “Working at the train station all day in the sun and wind is too tough. Why not switch to the hospital instead? We can set up a chair and an umbrella for you. It’s closer to home, so you can rest whenever you’re tired. How does that sound?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded. “Maybe in a few days. The train station is too good a spot to give up. If I’m not there, we’ll need someone reliable to take over. You’re also working hard; perhaps we should hire a few people. If we place one person at each location, no one will have to run around too much.”

She continued, “If they feel the pay is too low, we can sell them goods at wholesale prices and let them manage their own earnings. That way, they can earn more, and we’ll benefit from higher sales volume without overworking ourselves. What do you think?”

Xiao Jun’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea! Yunxuan, sometimes I feel like you didn’t grow up in a village—you seem like someone from a big city. How do you know so much?”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “Maybe it’s because a few elders I knew in the bullpens came from big cities.”

“Where are they now? Are you still in touch with them? They indirectly helped us a lot—we should thank them if we get the chance.”

Shen Yunxuan had indeed been close to some elders in the bullpens, mainly because she had secretly brought them food, gathered firewood, and helped with chores. They had taught her a lot, but most of what she knew now was from her own studies in her previous life. Shaking her head, she replied regretfully, “I’ve lost contact with them. I don’t even know which cities they were from. It was a meaningful connection while it lasted, but they have their lives and statuses now. I wouldn’t want to disturb them.”

Xiao Jun nodded in agreement. Those sent to the bullpens were often prominent figures, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for someone from their small town to maintain contact with such people.

Reflecting on this, he realized the importance of acquiring skills. Whether it was knowledge from books or practical skills like Shen Yunxuan’s recipes or his father’s cooking, these were valuable abilities that could secure a living.

Xiao Jun resolved to keep learning—whether about managing people, negotiating partnerships, expanding sales, or maximizing profits. Who knows? One day, they might even establish a factory. When that time came, he would need to understand accounting, taxes, and many other things to succeed.

In the past, Xiao Jun was smart but lacked interest in studying, mainly because of his limited perspective—he truly didn’t understand what could be achieved by acquiring knowledge. But now, for the first time, he realized the profound impact of “lifelong learning” and felt a genuine hunger for knowledge. He even began to feel that time was not enough.

Seeing his determination and drive for self-improvement, Shen Yunxuan felt genuinely happy for him.

Time passed day by day, and the event Shen Yunxuan had been waiting for finally arrived.

That morning, she set up her stall at the train station as usual. While selling her goods, she kept an eye on her surroundings. Suddenly, she noticed a family of four heading toward the station. Each adult held an infant in their arms, and they all carried large bags on their backs or in their hands. The family looked simple and unsophisticated, with a hint of unease and shyness, as if they were from the mountains and not used to interacting with people. When spoken to, they awkwardly explained that they had relatives who had married into a family in the capital and had invited them to attend a wedding. They claimed to be bringing local specialties as wedding gifts.

Those who tried to make small talk with them noticed their discomfort and didn’t press further, exchanging a few words before walking away.

Shen Yunxuan picked up a steamed bun and walked over to the security guard. The guard was about to decline her offer when she leaned in and whispered urgently, “Brother Liu, those four over there are human traffickers. Their bags are hiding several infants. Quickly gather some people, restrain them securely, and I’ll head to the police station to file a report!”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆