1994: Starting with unpaid leave

"So, you're really planning to make a living selling eggs from now on?"

Although her son's explanation was very reasonable, Zhang Guifen was still somewhat worried.

While doing business may seem to offer greater returns, it carries just as many risks as working in a factory where the income is guaranteed regardless of the circumstances.

Putting aside other things, if some leader's relative takes a fancy to this egg reselling business, will it still be his son Jianguo's turn to do it?

In addition, given the treacherous nature of society, I don't know if my pampered youngest son can handle things.

"Let's just do it for now. Who knows what will happen in the future?"

"Aren't you afraid the farm won't wholesale eggs to you anymore?! What will you do then?"

Dong Jianguo had considered this possibility before, and frankly shared his thoughts with his mother:

"Mom, the egg business isn't the most profitable business for farms."

"I visited several farms today. Meat and dairy products have the highest profit margins, but they're all already in the hands of the leaders' families. Even if I wanted to do it, there's nothing I could do."

"But the profit margin on eggs is low and transportation is difficult, so generally no one pays attention to this business. Before I started, the farm would sell eggs to small vendors in small batches. Small vendors have limited purchasing power and can only rely on tricycles to transport them from Annecy to the city to sell, which the farm also finds troublesome."

"So, based on the current situation, this business should be able to last for a few months. Once we have the money, it's not too late to switch to something else."

Zhang Guifen was increasingly alarmed as she listened. She never expected that her youngest son, whom she had spoiled since childhood, would be so thoughtful.

"Then... will Xiuyun agree to you going through all this trouble?"

"Of course she agreed. She came with me to my second uncle's house that night," Dong Jianguo replied with a smile, his eyes filled with happiness.

He genuinely felt that marrying a wife like Xiuyun was a very happy thing.

What men ultimately want in life is a wife who can idolize and respect them like an idol.

From this perspective, Xiuyun is impeccable and can be described as perfect!

This precious wife of mine, how could I have been so blinded by love in my past life?!

Upon hearing her son's words, Zhang Guifen, who had originally come to confront him, was completely speechless.

Dong Jianguo slapped his forehead, pulled a plastic bag from his backpack, inside which was a neatly cleaned old hen:

"Mom, these are two chickens that they gave me when I went to Angxi Farm today. Since you're here, I don't have to bring them home. You can take them home with you later."

"Huh?! This... I was just bringing Xiuyun some stewed pig's trotters to help her recover, how could I possibly take your things?"

"You can take it. My older brother has a refrigerator; this chicken will definitely spoil if it stays in my house. I have to go make chicken soup for Xiuyun now."

Watching her son take another chicken out of his schoolbag and go to the small kitchen in the outer room to work, Zhang Guifen rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

My son used to be a great eater, but now he's completely hopeless at cooking.

Now he's actually cooking for his wife; it's practically an act of defiance.

Full of curiosity, he stood between the bedroom and the outer room, holding the door curtain. He couldn't help but marvel at how well Dong Jianguo was doing it.

"Mom, what's so interesting about me? If you have nothing to do, go home and rest."

"What rest? I'll be cooking for the whole family when I get back. How can I possibly take a break?"

"Wait a minute, didn't my brother say that my sister-in-law was coming back in the last couple of days? Why do you still have to cook?"

Zhang Guifen snorted: "Your sister-in-law is good at making money, but don't even think about cooking."

Upon hearing this, Dong Jianguo chuckled and fell silent.

My sister-in-law, Liang Qiuyue, is a train attendant who works on the route from Hecheng to Dalian.

Not only is her salary high, but she also receives many additional benefits.

In 94, getting a sleeper berth on a long-distance green train required finding someone and paying extra. Employees like Sister-in-law Liang Qiuyue, who worked within the railway system, were highly sought after.

Not only that, the sister-in-law also has an extra source of income.

During ticket checks, passengers who haven't bought tickets often manage to sneak onto the train.

If the flight attendant discovers this, you will need to buy a ticket.

However, the money spent on these supplementary tickets may not necessarily be handed over to the authorities.

Due to the lack of effective verification methods, this money often ends up in the pockets of flight attendants.

During peak holiday seasons, you can sometimes earn a few hundred yuan by riding along with a truck.

Therefore, my older brother's family has always had a good standard of living.

Not only does it have a refrigerator and washing machine, but even the TV is the latest Panda brand model.

The old models that were phased out were given to Dong Jianguo as a wedding gift.

The last time we ate pork ribs, my older brother said that my sister-in-law's career was on the rise and she might get promoted to become a train conductor.

However, it's difficult for a person to excel in everything.

My sister-in-law, Liang Qiuyue, is very good at her job and career, but she's terrible at housework.

When she first married into the family, she was responsible for making braised carp for the New Year's Eve dinner.

The color, aroma, and taste were all quite good, but after a few bites, when they opened the fish's belly, everyone realized that the carp's stomach hadn't been gutted at all...

Fortunately, her income, which far exceeds that of ordinary people, makes up for this shortcoming. Zhang Guifen, who lives with her eldest son, can't find fault with her eldest daughter-in-law and instead silently takes on the household chores.

Seeing that her youngest son didn't need her help, Zhang Guifen didn't linger.

Before leaving, I turned over my trouser legs and found 200 yuan in my nylon socks.

"This money was originally intended for you to buy some gifts to put in a good word for the factory manager."

"Since you're determined not to go back to work at the factory, keep him here for an emergency."

Dong Jianguo, who was chopping up an old hen, was taken aback when he heard this: "Mom, what's going on? We have money!"

Zhang Guifen glared at her son:

"You don't have a penny to your name! Your second aunt said you even had to buy goods on credit! Stop pretending to be all high and mighty with me!"

Dong Jianguo was speechless for a long time.

People in this era generally feel bad about owing money to others.

My wife, Xiuyun, is like this, and so is my mother.

The inherent kindness of ordinary people allows them to imagine how difficult life must be for the party whose wages are owed.

What they had no idea was that borrowing money and taking out debts were important components of truly expanding and strengthening a business.

In some ways, the more money you owe, the more successful you are at paying it off.

"The money's here. Buy Xiuyun some good food to nourish her when you have time! She needs nutrition right now!"

"Okay, I understand."

Looking at the two hundred yuan tucked under the aluminum lunchbox, Dong Jianguo felt a warm glow inside.

"mom!"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm determined to make something of myself!"

Zhang Guifen, who had already stepped into the courtyard, was stunned when she heard this.

The warm afternoon sun shone on her, giving her a soft halo.

She chuckled and turned to her youngest son, saying:

You look fine as you are.

"Young man, don't overwork yourself, okay?! I'm leaving!"

Having said that, he waved his hand and strode out of the courtyard...