Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Chapter 164 Beisen Clothing Department Store

Zhao Fengying shook her head and said softly, "Son, it's fine for Mom to help collect and manage the money, but since the business license is registered in your name, you should be the boss."

Besides, the money your sister and her friends got from the Forestry Bureau's shop isn't enough to open a shop in the city. You'll have to arrange the loan and stuff. Mom's already had her fun as a boss, so from now on she'll just focus on selling goods and taking care of your little sister's schooling nearby.

Xu Bei didn't argue with his mother about this issue. After all, being a boss was just a title; having money was what really mattered.

"Okay, I'll do it. Mom, what do you think we should name the shop?"

Zhao Fengying thought about it seriously, "It would be best if it had a character from your name, like 'Bei' or something like that."

Xu Bei, remembering that his hometown was a city in a forest, immediately had an idea. "How about calling it Bei Sen? Or Sen Bei?"

Zhao Fengying clapped her hands and laughed, "My son is really something, he came up with a name right away. Let's go with Beisen, it sounds better."

Xu Bei repeated the two words in a low voice, and then laughed, "Then let's go with this one. But we still need to have their staff review it to make sure there aren't any duplicate names in our area."

Zhao Fengying immediately said urgently, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go ask again right now."

So they went back to the place where they had applied for their business license and consulted the clerk.

The clerk, a middle-aged man wearing tinted glasses, looked at the mother and son who had returned. "Have you made up your minds?"

"Comrade, it's all settled. I'll apply for a sole proprietorship license in my name, and I've even thought of a name for the store: Beisen Clothing Department Store."

Xu Bei's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a hint of confidence.

The clerk adjusted his glasses and glanced at Xu Bei a couple more times. "Beisen Clothing Department Store? That's quite a prestigious name."

"But young man, we need to check if there are any people with the same name first."

"Okay, please check. If there are any duplicate names, I'll think of other ones."

Xu Bei was quite open-minded about this, focusing on adapting to changing circumstances.

Zhao Fengying, however, was quite certain of this name, and clasped her hands tightly in hope that she would eventually be able to use it.

Fortunately, the reform and opening up has only been going on for a short time, and people opening shops and becoming self-employed are not as ubiquitous as they would be in the future.

After searching and checking, the clerk quickly found a definite answer.

"Okay, the name is approved without any problem. There are no duplicate names, and it complies with naming regulations. Young man, could you fill out this individual business registration application form first?"

As they spoke, the other person handed over a form for them to fill out.

Last time Xu Bei and his friends went to the Forestry Bureau's business administration department to complete some paperwork, they brought along Xu Juan, a high school student, and it was she who filled out the forms.

Since the little girl was away at school this time, Xu Bei had to take matters into his own hands.

He picked up a pen and carefully wrote the words "Beisen Clothing Department Store" on a form, then began filling in his personal information.

"Son, your handwriting is really good. It's just that you were born at the right time. Otherwise, you could have gone to university too."

Xu Bei was distracted by his mother's words as she leaned closer, and almost wrote the wrong business scope while filling out the form.

"Mom, there's no need to romanticize things you didn't have a choice about. Even if you were born in a good era and studied hard, there are still many people who failed the college entrance exam."

Zhao Fengying immediately understood, "That's true, there are also those who have repeated their studies for several years and still haven't passed the exam."

Xu Bei quickly filled out the application form and handed it to the staff along with his household registration book, rental contract, and other certificates.

After checking, the other party said to the two, "The materials are complete. According to regulations, we need to go and take a look at the place where you want to open the shop. If there are no problems, you can get the license in a few days."

"Thank you so much, I'm sorry to trouble you to make this trip again."

"It's okay, it's what we should do."

Xu Bei and Zhao Fengying had already gone through this process once, and they knew that all they had to do was wait patiently. They no longer had the same worries and anxieties as the first time.

When Xu Juan returned home from school at noon, she not only saw the prepared food on the table, but also heard about the business license application process from Xu Bei and the others. She also felt that the name Beisen was very good.

"Brother, you really know how to name things. It sounds sophisticated and stylish."

Xu Bei swallowed the cabbage, pork, and vermicelli stew his mother had just made, and boasted shamelessly, "Of course, your brother here does have some talent."

Having already experienced the riddle-guessing incident on the Lantern Festival, Xu Juan and Zhao Fengying no longer argued, but instead winked slyly.

"But if you compare yourself to Sister Xiaowan, who is more talented?"

Xu Bei pointed at his mischievous younger sister through the void, "Is there any need to say more? It's definitely your sister Xiao Wan. She's even good at submitting articles and earning money from them."

Zhao Fengying and Xu Juan also heard about this later, and they had even greater respect for Zhou Qingwan, even to the point of having a very high opinion of her.

"Aside from her difficult background, this young lady Zhou is truly outstanding in terms of appearance, personality, and talent."

"Yes, and Sister Xiaowan is not arrogant at all; she's very easygoing and kind."

Zhao Fengying looked at Xu Bei, "Son, now that we've moved to the city, do you think we should cook something for Xiao Zhou and send it to school? If it's not appropriate for you to do it yourself, have your younger sister do it."

Before Xu Bei could answer, Xu Juan excitedly raised her hand, "I'd love to go! I'm willing to go!"

Xu Bei smiled helplessly and shook his head. "It's better not to. Guodong's sister lives in the same dormitory as her. It wouldn't be good if I didn't give her a gift, but giving her one might cause misunderstandings. I'll treat her to a meal alone when there's a chance."

Zhao Fengying and Xu Juan also knew that Song Guomei liked Xu Bei, and the mother and daughter both sighed softly.

"That's the only way."

"yes."

Meanwhile, Zhou Qingwan, who had brought her food back to her dormitory from the cafeteria in an insulated lunchbox, was being interrogated by Song Guomei.

"Qian Shumin from our class said she saw a tall, young man escort you to an alley near the school on the first day of class, and then he left. Could that be Xiao Bei? It couldn't be your cousin, could it?"

Zhou Qingwan calmly picked up a piece of pickled mustard greens and tofu with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly as if she hadn't heard the other person speak.

The other female students in the dormitory looked at each other, then continued to pretend to be doing what they were doing, but their ears were all perked up, waiting to hear the gossip.

Before the winter break, Song Guomei and Zhou Qingwan were as close as ever, but when they returned from the early start of the semester, they were completely different. Anyone who saw this would be curious about the reason behind it.

"Your silence means you agree, right?"

Enraged by Zhou Qingwan's attitude, Song Guomei stepped forward and tried to snatch the lunchbox.

Zhou Qingwan deftly dodged her, then stared at her with a cool, aloof gaze. "Have you made enough of a scene? Is it any of your business whether it is or isn't?"

Song Guomei's expression froze, then she shouted excitedly, "Am I trying to cause trouble? You know perfectly well—if you openly admit that you also like Xiao Bei, I might be able to give you my blessings!"

Zhou Qingwan was really annoyed and wanted to end this farce as soon as possible, so she blurted out, "Okay, then give your blessings."

Song Guomei never expected Zhou Qingwan to react this way. She was so speechless that her face turned red, and she couldn't utter a single word.