Two cups of wine down, Zeng Shuyi’s belly felt warm and cozy, and a fine sweat appeared on her forehead.
“Duoduo, your family’s making some money now, and you’re still so young. You actually could go back to school. Or you just don’t want to?”
Studying isn’t necessarily the best path, but being literate and knowing more from books can be helpful in business.
Before, Bai Duoduo’s family was poor and couldn’t afford to send her to school, so she dropped out young and stayed home.
Now the Bai family was a bit better off—at least they could cover Bai Duoduo’s tuition fees.
Bai Duoduo shook her head without saying a word.
“Is it that you don’t want to study, or your family doesn’t want you to?” Zeng Shuyi asked.
“I never brought it up,” Bai Duoduo honestly shared her thoughts. “I left school before finishing elementary, and now if I went back, I’d be much older than my classmates.
Shuyi da, I’m afraid I won’t fit in. I don’t want to take the college entrance exam either.
Sometimes I do wish for it, but most of the time, I still prefer wandering the streets and alleys selling goods with you.”
Zeng Shuyi understood clearly. “That’s how it is. No matter what choice you make, you’ll feel conflicted. Just go with how you feel. If you want to, go. If not, then forget it.”
Bai Duoduo nodded in agreement. “By the way, Shuyi da, you said a few days ago you got a batch of cotton through connections—is that for real?”
“It’s real. It was transported by train but wasn’t protected well and got soaked by rain. The state-run store wouldn’t pass quality inspection, so me and your brother Zhao Fu bought it up together.”
Zeng Shuyi had been thinking of ways to make a profit, so when she heard this, an idea immediately formed.
“Cotton soaked by rain definitely isn’t as good, so it’s cheaper. Zhao Fu and I spent days drying it out, and we found a skilled cotton carder. Once everything’s ready, we’ll take it to the countryside to sell.”
Fortunately, the weather was hot, and every day was sunny. Zeng Shuyi and the Zhao Fu brothers spent every day drying the cotton, and although their arms peeled from the sun, Zeng Shuyi felt accomplished.
This batch of cotton had eaten up most of Zeng Shuyi’s savings, but she was just waiting to flip it for a profit.
The Bai family had always done a small business selling Poria paste and dared not invest, so Zeng Shuyi didn’t rope them in.
“When you’re done, can you sell me two beds’ worth of cotton for quilts? My mom’s quilts are too thin, and she’s already in poor health. Come winter, she coughs even more,” Bai Duoduo asked.
“Of course, I’ll sell it to you at cost,” Zeng Shuyi replied, full and satisfied, then headed home as the sun was setting.
As soon as she stepped through the door, Zeng Shuyi saw the burned incense sticks on the table and the sunflower seeds and peanuts on the floor—she knew relatives had been there.
Zeng Qingliang came over with a chuckle. “Shuyi, you haven’t eaten yet, right? Your mom specially saved you some chicken and rice. You probably don’t know yet—your eldest brother got into university! Our family finally has a college student!”
“I already ate, and I know,” Zeng Shuyi said, then went straight to her room.
“You’re such a kid, what’s wrong with you?” Zeng Qingliang was happy but didn’t take offense at his daughter’s coldness, sweeping the floor with a smile.
After a while, Lin Jiazhen brought in some chicken soup poured over rice. “Shuyi, your mom left this for you, a small chicken leg. Eat quickly. You must be tired today, coming back so late. Don’t sell so late in the future—it’s okay to earn a little less.”
The food was warm. Zeng Shuyi picked up her chopsticks and then hugged her mother tightly.
Zeng Shuyi didn’t say anything, she just cried—her heart aching with grievance.
She didn’t think studying made someone superior, but before, she wanted to study and was forced not to, which hurt. She also blamed herself for not working harder in high school. If she had passed the entrance exam on the first try, she could have continued her studies.
Zeng Shuyi cried until it hurt. Lin Jiazhen thought her daughter was bullied and anxiously asked what was wrong.
“I’m jealous,” Zeng Shuyi said. “Why is it so hard for us women?”
Only then did Lin Jiazhen understand her daughter’s feelings, sighing silently before patting her back. “It’s tough, but you still have to eat, no matter what, understand?”
Finally, Zeng Shuyi finished the chicken soup rice and was so full she had to pace around her room. When her second aunt came in with her granddaughter, Zeng Shuyi was still walking.
“Auntie, I ate chicken today,” He Shengnan happily took Zeng Shuyi’s hand.
Zeng Shuyi patted her granddaughter’s head and looked at her second aunt. “I heard from mom that you and Erda want to move out—is that true?”
“It’s true.” Zeng Shuyue hugged her daughter as they sat on the bed. “Living at my parents’ place has always been cramped. I remember something you said before—I named my daughter Shengnan, yet I raised her like a cautious, timid child. Shuyi, living under someone else’s roof is like that. I don’t want Shengnan to be like me. You’re right, my nature is like this for life, but Shengnan can’t be.”
So Zeng Shuyue planned to move out. Li Dandan’s phlegm had cleared, and she found her another family to work for in the family compound. The new employer’s daughter-in-law was pregnant, and with many children at home, they needed help.
Zeng Shuyue worked as a nanny for over half a year, saving a bit of money. Last month, Zhou Sheng introduced her to a horse path repair job. Although moving out would cost more, Zeng Shuyue was determined to do it.
Zeng Shuyi nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Moving out means it’s truly your own home.”
When she had a bit more money, she would move out too.
Zeng Shuyue said she had already found a house near the family compound. “Just a ten-minute walk. I can come back and forth every day to take care of the family. It’ll be tiring but I’ll feel safer.”
Seeing her younger sister’s eyes redden, Zeng Shuyue’s voice softened. “Shuyi, what’s done is done. Don’t be too sad, and don’t dwell on why dad is biased. We can’t change his mind. If you still want to study, now that you have money, you still can.”
“Second Aunt, I notice you’re different now,” Zeng Shuyi smiled. “But I don’t want to study anymore. I’m upset because of the unfairness, not because I missed out on studying. I enjoy the happiness of having money and I like earning it. Let’s each work for our own hopes.”
Zeng Shuyue didn’t fully understand, but she got the last sentence.
A few days later, Zeng Shuyue and her family of three moved out.
With fewer people at home, Zeng Xiangmin moved back to his old room. Zeng Shuyi had finished preparing part of the cotton and went with the Zhao Fu brothers to the countryside.
“Selling cotton!” Zeng Shuyi stood by the tricycle. “Ma’am, look at my cotton—it doesn’t need coupons, and it’s even cheaper than the state-run store.”
“Really? You look so clean and pure, your cotton couldn’t have been stolen, right?”
“Of course not.”
Zeng Shuyi showed her individual business license. “See? I have a license. My cotton is bought through legal channels, but to be honest, it was soaked by water. But look—it’s no different after we dried it.”
The villagers didn’t understand licenses; the real reason she mentioned it was to bargain with them. “If it was soaked, it won’t be as warm and should be cheaper.”
“That’s not right, Auntie. It can’t be cheaper.” Zeng Shuyi leaned in, “How about this—you buy five jin and I’ll give you a discount.”
Hearing her offer, a woman nearby immediately grabbed the chance and said she wanted to buy.
Normally, even with money, villagers couldn’t buy cotton, let alone get it cheaper. Once some started buying, others feared missing out and gathered to buy as well.
In less than an hour, all the cotton belonging to Zeng Shuyi and the Zhao Fu brothers was sold out.
They quickly left the village and rode back to Zhao Fu’s house before counting the money.
Though Zeng Shuyi had a business license for small goods, the regulations were strict. Selling cotton in the countryside meant risking being caught by red-armed inspectors, which would be illegal.
But if the inspectors weren’t strict, they might just turn a blind eye.
Zeng Shuyi didn’t dare take the risk, so she agreed with the Zhao Fu brothers to visit each village only once and not partner with others to avoid complications.
“Brother Zhao Fu, we earned 160 yuan today. Let’s split it three ways,” Zeng Shuyi divided the money. “I calculated that the remaining cotton can sell for about 2000 yuan. This deal made quite a lot!”
Zhao Qing was calm, but Zhao Fu was excited. “Shuyi, you’re so smart. At first, we didn’t know what to do with this batch, but you insisted we buy it.”
“That’s because you guys got the news first, so we had the chance to earn money.” Zeng Shuyi was full of energy, just wanting to make money.
From start to finish, Zeng Shuyi forced the Zhao Fu brothers to keep going to the countryside, sometimes gone two or three days at a stretch. She was so determined she didn’t mind living in a broken temple with them—she just wanted to earn more money.
By the end of August, all the cotton was sold, and Zeng Shuyi earned a full 700 yuan.
Before, selling goods barely brought in seventy yuan a month. Now, in just over a month, she made 700 yuan. She was so happy and eager for another opportunity to sell cotton again.
However, such opportunities were rare. Zeng Shuyi kept her earnings quiet—her family didn’t know.
One day, Zeng Shuyi came home a little early and heard voices inside the house.
Peeking in, she saw the Wang couple—not a surprise.
“Shuyi, you’re back,” Tian Xiaohua greeted warmly, as if their previous unpleasantness hadn’t happened.
Zeng Shuyi nodded and poured herself a glass of water.
Wang Zhigang, feeling sour, couldn’t help but sneer upon seeing her. “Shuyi, are you dating the wrong people? Last time I saw you with two men. What, is it fashionable now to date two at once?”
Zeng Shuyi, just having poured the water, splashed it directly at Wang Zhigang.
Everyone inside was stunned.
“What… what are you doing?” Wang Zhigang was caught off guard.
“What am I doing?” Zeng Shuyi glared at him. “Walking with men means dating them? Are you blind, or is your brain broken?”
“Before, you said no contact. Now you hear your eldest brother’s going to university, and you come crawling back? Wang Zhigang, I realize you have no shame.”
Wang Zhigang stood up. “Zeng Shuyi, what are you saying? I’m your elder!”
“Do you look like an elder? All you do is spit venom. If you’re not happy, be angry. If you’re uncomfortable, be uncomfortable. If you don’t like it, I don’t mind posting big-character posters again.” Zeng Shuyi finished and slammed the door, retreating to her room.
“Rongjia, look at her! Isn’t she going too far?” Wang Zhigang yelled at the door.
Lin Jiazhen was unhappy too. “In-laws, I only let you come because you’re Xiaojuan’s dad. How can you say such things about Shuyi?”
Zeng Qingliang added, “Yeah, Wang Zhigang, my daughter’s pure. Clean up your mouth, or I won’t recognize you as family.”
He truly hated the Wang family deep down, but for appearances, he couldn’t cut ties completely. Before, he tried hard to please Wang Zhigang, but now he no longer treated them seriously.
Wang Zhigang had come to deliver something, knowing the son-in-law was going to university and would have free time. He came to curry favor with the Zeng family, hoping to get his daughter and son-in-law’s work to benefit his youngest son.
No one expected that after Zeng Shuyi came home, the atmosphere changed.
Even Wang Juan, who usually protected her natal family, tugged her dad’s arm. “Dad, what are you doing?”
“I… I was just joking,” Wang Zhigang said quickly.
“No joke. Is that how you joke?” Zeng Shuyi came out again. “Wang Zhigang, you don’t go anywhere for no reason. This time, you’re probably thinking about my eldest brother’s job.”
After speaking, Zeng Shuyi returned to her room.
Zeng Shuyi had been suspicious—Wang Zhigang wouldn’t come to the Zeng home for no reason. Even if it was to mend relations, bringing gifts meant he had ulterior motives.
Thinking about interests and benefits, Zeng Shuyi immediately suspected it had to do with her eldest brother’s job.