Lin Qionghua didn’t have to wait long before her eldest uncle returned on his bicycle.
Under the scorching sun, he was drenched in sweat. He hopped off the bike and looked at his niece. “Where should I put the ice pops?”
Lin Qionghua directed him. “They’re likely measuring the seventh row now. Let’s go over there and ask if they want to buy some.”
Lin Weimu nodded.
Lin Qionghua asked him about the costs.
“I followed your instructions and wholesaled three hundred ice pops. The wholesale price for the classic ice pops is 7 fen, selling for 1 mao. Ice cream wholesale is 2 mao, selling for 3 mao. Green bean and red bean ice pops wholesale for 1 mao 5, selling for 2 mao. The other varieties are fruit or soda flavored; the wholesale price is 8 fen, selling for 1 mao 2.”
Lin Qionghua took note. Fearing the ice pops would melt, she urged her uncle to hurry.
They arrived at the measuring site quickly. Since it was almost lunchtime, a large crowd was still gathered to watch the excitement.
Lin Qionghua shouted, “The demolition is bringing us all wealth! It’s so hot, don’t suffer. Eat an ice pop and cool off!”
Usually, the villagers lived frugally. Even the most generous ones would only buy one for their child to sweeten their mouth; they wouldn’t dare eat one themselves.
But with the village about to be demolished, they were actually quite tempted.
They lived frugally not because they liked to, but because life forced them to. Now that they had money, it was just an ice pop—why didn’t they deserve to eat one?!
The thriftiest of them all, Old Mrs. Ge, reached into her pocket. “Give me three ice pops!”
Lin Weimu was puzzled. “Don’t you only have two grandchildren? Why buy three?”
Being tactless, Old Mrs. Ge rolled her eyes. “I’m eating one too. At my age, what’s wrong with having an ice pop?”
Lin Weimu awkwardly scratched his head, realizing his mistake.
Lin Qionghua handed the three ice pops to Old Mrs. Ge and smiled. “Grandma Ge, well said. Why do you think we work ourselves to the bone? Isn’t it to eat and dress well? Now that we have money, of course, we should enjoy it. Otherwise, it’ll be too late when we can no longer eat.”
These words hit home for Old Mrs. Ge. Seeing others standing by, she feared being called greedy, so she intentionally called out to everyone, “Come and have an ice pop! It’s so hot, don’t get heatstroke.”
The excuse was perfect, and the villagers flocked over.
Lin Qionghua collected money while handing out the pops.
Those who usually couldn’t bear to spend money bought the classic ice pops. Those who were used to buying ice pops bought the ice cream or the red/green bean flavors. In no time, they were surrounded.
Seeing so many people, Lin Weimu felt a twinge of regret that he hadn’t brought more. With this many people, three hundred ice pops weren’t enough.
Lin Weishen heard about the ice pops and came over to buy some, only to be surprised to see his brother and daughter selling them.
He didn’t think it was his daughter’s business; he assumed his brother was doing the trading and his daughter was just helping out. He took out 3 mao. “Give me three classic ice pops.”
Lin Weimu didn’t want to take the money, but Lin Qionghua had already taken it. “Dad, here you go.”
Lin Weishen only took two. “The other one is for you.”
With that, he turned and left.
Lin Qionghua didn’t mind; she tucked the ice pop back in and continued selling.
In the blink of an eye, all three hundred ice pops were sold out.
Lin Qionghua and her uncle went home to count the money. They made 3 fen profit on classic pops, 5 fen on red bean/green bean/fruit flavors, and 1 mao on ice cream.
They had earned 18 yuan from the three hundred pops.
It took about an hour, which was better than working a labor job. Lin Weimu’s eyes widened. “Should I go for another round?”
Lin Qionghua looked at the sun. “You can, but don’t take more than three hundred. It’s almost lunchtime.”
Lin Weimu was now obsessed with earning money. “That’s fine. I can eat after I get back.”
He asked his niece how much to take this time.
Lin Qionghua didn’t want to hold him back. “This batch is all yours; count me out for this one.”
She returned the cost price he had fronted and kept her profit. “Uncle, you transport them, and I’ll help you sell them. I’m heading home first.”
“Alright! Go ahead.” Lin Weimu cycled out of the yard quickly.
Lin Qionghua went home, where Lin Weishen was cooking. She ran to the main room to find her mother for money.
Song Lanfang chuckled. “In such a rush? Wait until the demolition money arrives! Where would I have money for you right now?”
Lin Qionghua nodded. “Mom, then buy me a notebook? I want to keep accounts so that when you see where the money is going, it’ll be clear at a glance.”
Song Lanfang agreed, but since there was no convenience store in the village, they would have to wait for the market day the day after tomorrow.
Lin Qionghua put the 18 yuan into her drawer.
Lin Weishen finished cooking and called her to eat.
At the table, the couple kept chatting about the demolition.
Song Lanfang wanted to buy gold earrings. “There’s a girl in our village who always clashed with me; she later married into the city. Her fiancé bought her a pair of gold earrings, and all the girls in the village envied her. I wanted to buy some back then, but we had no money.”
Lin Weishen promised immediately, “Buy them! And not just gold earrings, but a gold necklace and gold bracelet too, so the whole village envies you.”
Song Lanfang beamed, grinning from ear to ear. “You said it yourself—don’t start wincing when it comes time to pay.”
Lin Weishen smiled fawningly. “If you’re buying gold, shouldn’t you get me a new outfit too? I’m practically worth hundreds of thousands now; it looks pathetic wearing old clothes every day.”
Song Lanfang looked at his clothes—bought the year before last, with frayed collars—and nodded. “Fine. I’ll get you an outfit.”
“I want a suit; those look so sharp,” Lin Weishen requested.
“Fine!”
Lin Qionghua sighed inwardly, hearing them plan their purchases before the money was even in their hands. She wondered how long the money would last.
She thought for a moment. “Mom, when you buy the gold, don’t pick anything too flashy. Current trends change, but solid, plain rings can be worn forever.”
Song Lanfang felt her daughter was right. “Alright. I’ll listen to you.”
She looked at her daughter. “I’ll take you to buy a gold locket later. Wealthy families used to buy them, and we didn’t have the means before, but now that we do, I’ll buy one for you too.”
“Thank you, Mom!” Lin Qionghua felt buying gold was better than getting scammed. Gold would soar in value.
After she finished eating, her uncle returned.
Lin Qionghua helped sell the ice pops.
The previous three hundred weren’t enough, and with the heat rising, everyone swarmed to buy.
Lin Weimu counted the money until his hands were sore. After selling out, he went home happily, agreeing to wholesale more the next day.
The next morning, after Lin Qionghua finished breakfast, the demolition team continued measuring homesteads.
Lin Weishen and Song Lanfang went to watch.
Lin Qionghua went to look for her uncle, only to find he had already left early.
Mu Xiaocao told her not to worry. “Your uncle will definitely make it.”
Last night, she had learned from her husband about how much money he made selling ice pops, and she grew even fonder of her little niece.
Lin Qionghua nodded and asked if she was going to the market tomorrow.
“Yes.” Mu Xiaocao felt such an opportunity shouldn’t be wasted. There would be more people at the market; they wouldn’t have to worry about selling out.
Lin Qionghua nodded and went to the village entrance to wait.
Time ticked by, and by 10:00 AM, the sun was hot enough to make people dizzy. Her uncle finally returned on his bike.
Lin Qionghua looked at the brand-new tricycle and hurried forward. “Uncle, you really bought a tricycle?”
Lin Weimu got off. “Of course, I said I would. Buying it sooner or later is the same; might as well buy it early. Here! You try it.”
Lin Qionghua took the tricycle. It didn’t have electric power or fuel; it relied entirely on pedaling, and it was hard work.
If it were empty, she could manage, but the heavy box on the back made it too difficult; she gasped for air after just a few meters.
But she was still happy. “With this cart, selling ice pops will be even easier.”
“Exactly.” Lin Weimu rode to the demolition site. Lin Qionghua helped shout, and soon people came to buy.
By 12:00 PM, the two large boxes were sold out.
Although Lin Weimu did the wholesaling, he still gave Lin Qionghua half the profit.
She didn’t decline and happily went home to put the money in her “vault.”
The next day, Lin Weishen and Song Lanfang had to go to Plum Blossom Village to buy the homestead. Lin Qionghua refused to go; she was going to the market with her uncle to sell ice pops.
Lin Weishen asked curiously, “How much does your uncle make selling pops?”
Lin Qionghua smiled. “3 fen profit per classic pop, 1 mao per ice cream. Three hundred pops make 18 yuan.”
Lin Weishen clicked his tongue. Yesterday, the two boxes held six hundred pops, which meant 36 yuan. If they could make that much every day, that would be over a thousand a month—way better than a regular job.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought. His brother was only doing well because of the demolition; people were willing to spend money, but the market might not be as lucrative.
The envy slowly faded.
Song Lanfang gave her daughter fifteen yuan to buy food at the market and two notebooks.
“What about the rest of the money? Is it mine?” Lin Qionghua asked happily.
Song Lanfang ruffled her hair. “There’s another ten yuan from the Zhou family’s wedding. Your father and I won’t be back until late. Go eat at the banquet.”
Lin Qionghua realized she had forgotten about that.
The couple cycled away.
Lin Qionghua went to find her uncle, but he had already left early.
Mu Xiaocao told her to wait a bit longer.
She didn’t wait long before Lin Weimu returned, telling her to sit on the back so they could go set up the stall together.
He had brought more stock today. He left one crate in the village, as everyone there was willing to spend on their kids during the demolition. Why pass up the profit?
Her aunt sold one crate, while she and her uncle sold three.
Lin Qionghua felt they were wasting efficiency by working in the same spot, so she suggested taking another bicycle. If they sold at opposite ends of the market, they’d be faster.
Lin Weimu agreed and let her take the bike.
The family’s bicycle was a ladies’ model, so she could ride it, though she had to stand up because she wasn’t tall enough. Fortunately, her uncle wasn’t riding fast, so she could keep up.
At the market, her uncle had her guard the tricycle while he rode off to sell elsewhere.
When they returned home, their faces were sunburnt red.
Lin Qionghua wanted to share her business experiences with her parents, so she rushed home.
Since they hadn’t returned, she headed straight to the Zhou family for the wedding feast.
From a distance, she saw Qingqing, and they lined up together.
“Have you seen the bride?” Lin Qionghua asked softly.
Qingqing shook her head. “No. People haven’t arrived yet.”
Lin Qionghua was stunned. “Ah! They haven’t arrived yet at this hour?!”
The latest time for the groom’s side to pick up the bride was usually noon. It was already past one o’clock. This would miss the auspicious hour—wasn’t that bad luck?
Lin Qionghua was confused. “Is the bride’s family far away?”
“Not far. Just in Xiao Zhuang Village. My dad said it’s only a thirty-minute bike ride,” Qingqing said.
Lin Qionghua was even more puzzled. Why would they miss the auspicious hour if it was so close? As she was wondering, people behind them started whispering.
“I heard the groom ran away.”
“Ah! Dayong ran away? Then is the wedding still happening today?!”
“It’s happening! Zhou Qiang asked Xiao Yong to go pick up the bride instead.”
This news caused a stir. The eldest son ran away, and the younger son was sent to pick up the bride—whose wedding was this, anyway?!