Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Chapter 168 Another Trip to the Provincial Capital

Upon hearing this, Zhao Fengying immediately asked, "Son, what about the money for the goods? Your sister and the others who took over the shop, and what we have on hand, aren't enough. We still haven't paid back the five hundred yuan we owed your boss. We can't just borrow from them again."

Xu Bei lied without batting an eye, "I've been asking people to help me with the loan these past few days, and it's making progress. I estimate I'll get three thousand yuan in the next day or two, which will be enough to stock the goods."

"They actually managed to borrow three thousand! That's a huge amount! Can we even pay it back?!"

After all, these days workers only earn a few dozen yuan a month, so three thousand yuan is undoubtedly a huge sum of money for many people.

Not only Zhao Fengying exclaimed in surprise and question, but Xu Juan was also stunned by so much money.

The young girl bit her lip and said with some worry, "Brother, what's the latest I can pay back this three thousand yuan? What if I can't pay it back?"

Xu Bei pinched his younger sister's wrinkled cheek. "The loan term is five years, and you only need to repay the principal of three thousand. Besides, the location is close to the department store, so business is bound to be good. There's no problem with not being able to repay it. Mom, Xiao Juan, you can rest assured."

Also, it's best not to tell anyone about this loan except my sister and brother-in-law. After all, we've paid someone to help us privately, and it wouldn't be good for too many people to know."

Zhao Fengying and Xu Juan were completely fooled and repeatedly promised in unison that they would never let anyone else know.

The next day, after breakfast, the family of three continued with their own tasks as usual.

Xu Juan went to school with her schoolbag on her back, Xu Bei rode his bicycle to the new shop to light the stove and dry the house, and Zhao Fengying also took the train to the shop near the Forestry Bureau.

When Xu Li learned that the business license had been obtained and that a loan of 3,000 yuan had been taken out, she admired her brother's ability to get things done, but also felt worried and guilty.

"Sigh, if I had known it would turn out like this, I would have just opened a shop myself. In the end, you all had to move to the city and take out a loan to open a shop just to accommodate me."

Zhao Fengying looked at her eldest daughter, who was thinner than before due to pregnancy and morning sickness, and whose eyes were red. "What nonsense are you talking about? It's only because your brother wasn't here that he would have said something to you too."

"How can we, as family, speak like strangers? Besides, I've told you so many times, moving to the city is a good thing. Your little sister is really enthusiastic about her studies now; maybe she'll even get into university next year! Don't you want a university student to come out of our family?"

Xu Li rubbed her eyes, feeling both amused and exasperated. "Of course I hope so! If my little sister gets into university, I, as her older sister, will be proud to mention it!"

"I just feel really bad for my brother. He's taken on a 3,000 yuan loan. What if he expands the business and ends up losing money?"

Even though Zhao Fengying wasn't sure herself, she couldn't say anything discouraging to Xu Li, so she repeated Xu Bei's rhetoric, adding at the end, "Even if business isn't good in front of the department store, there are still five years, right? We can always pay it back eventually."

Xu Li felt a little better and said with a firm look in her eyes, "Okay, we'll take care of you if you can't pay it back. We definitely can't let my little brother bear the debt alone."

a few days later.

Xu Bei delivered the last batch of goods to Chen Jianguo and his team, and then boarded the train to the provincial capital.

The second day of the second lunar month is almost here. Not only is the weather in his hometown much warmer, but he also felt that the provincial capital was much warmer as soon as he got off the bus.

The platform was still bustling with people.

Many people from the south and north, carrying large and small bags, hurried along, heading towards their respective futures.

Xu Bei mingled with the crowd exiting the station, walking lightly towards the exit.

After exiting the station, he found a breakfast stall near the station to fill his stomach before boarding the red and white trolleybus.

Although the winter chill has not completely faded and the early spring air is still biting, one can see from the clothing worn by people on the bus and on the street that they have shed their thick winter coats and put on lighter clothes.

There are even fashion-conscious individuals who aren't afraid of the cold, wearing collared leather jackets with sweaters underneath, prioritizing style over warmth.

degree.

After getting off the trolleybus, Xu Bei turned into an alley near the station with practiced ease and headed towards the Chen family's house.

Because he hadn't contacted anyone beforehand, he didn't know if anyone would be home at the moment, so he decided to give it a try.

When they finally arrived at their destination and stood in front of the half-open, mottled gate, Xu Bei breathed a sigh of relief.

As he stepped into the yard, he called out loudly, "Is Brother Chen home?"

Then, someone quickly came out of the house; it was Chen Jianguo's younger brother, Chen Jianshe.

When Chen Jianshe saw Xu Bei, who supplied him, suddenly appear at his home, he greeted him warmly.

"Did you just get off the bus today? Why didn't you let me know beforehand so I could pick you up? Come inside."

Xu Bei noticed that the other person looked much healthier and more radiant than when they came over on the eighth day of the first lunar month. He didn't need to guess why.

"Yes, I just got off the bus. It's not like I can't find it, no need to go to all that trouble. Are you home alone? Where's Brother Chen?"

Chen Jianshe said with a smile, "My brother got up early to go to the market to set up his stall. If you had come any later, I would have left too."

Xu Bei raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Then I really did time it right."

The two exchanged pleasantries as they walked into the house.

After entering the house, Chen Jianshe led Xu Beirang to sit on a single sofa and then busied himself making tea and pouring water.

Xu Bei's purpose in coming here this time was not only to purchase clothing and department store items, but also to inquire about the wooden products business, so naturally the conversation began from there.

"Looks like it's selling quite well."

Chen Jianshe was an even more honest man than Chen Jianguo. He chuckled twice and said, "It's really quite good, otherwise we wouldn't have ordered the goods so quickly. It's just that we're too far away, so we'll have to wait a while for the goods to arrive. Have some tea."

Xu Bei took the enamel mug, thanked him, and said, "Well, there's nothing I can do about it. If it were closer, the purchase price wouldn't be so low just because it's from a timber-producing area, and we wouldn't be able to sell it for a good price here either."

"That's true. There are pros and cons. Now that you're here, we won't send telegrams or wire transfers this time if we need more goods."

As Chen Jianshe spoke, he also sat down on another single sofa next to him.

Xu Bei smiled and said, "Sure, I'll take it back to our boss for you."

After chatting for a while, the other party was about to take Xu Bei to the market to find Chen Jianguo.

Xu Bei quickly replied, "I can find it myself. You should go about your business and not delay things."

Chen Jianshe waved his hand and laughed, "It's alright, it won't cause any trouble. Besides, my brother has moved, you definitely won't be able to find him."

Seeing this, Xu Bei did not refuse again.

"Okay, thank you for your help."

"No need for that. My brother will definitely be happy to see you."

Subsequently, led by Chen Jianshe, Xu Bei went to a spontaneously formed open-air market.

There are many stalls on both sides of the road. In addition to the same items sold in the morning market, there are also many stalls selling needles, thread and small commodities, as well as clothing and shoes.

Chen Jianguo's stall wasn't big, but the clothes he sold were all trendy batwing shirts, jeans, and flared pants, which attracted quite a few people to stop and look.