1994: Starting with unpaid leave

The speed of capital accumulation often exceeds people's imagination.

With the help of Erzhu and Zhao Hongmei, and his wife Xiuyun collecting money and keeping accounts, selling eggs became a business that Dong Jianguo could practically earn money without lifting a finger. He didn't have to worry about the household's receiving and retail business at all.

The supply from the four farms has been steadily increasing, gradually rising from 2400 jin in the second delivery to a total of 3500 jin of eggs per trip before the settlement date.

This is almost all the surplus egg production from the four farms.

Moreover, Dong Jianguo's vision is not limited to just the four farms.

During this period, he would frequently visit Angxi District and make Secretary Guo of Hongqi Farm feel extremely comfortable.

With Secretary Guo's introduction, they also successfully connected with five tertiary industry farms under the provincial power bureau in Angxi District.

Having acquaintances makes things easier; it's the same old Hongtashan cigarettes, two packs for each person.

In addition, after having a big drinking session with several secretaries, Dong Jianguo secured the supply of goods from these farms at the same price.

These farms provide agricultural products to the province's power system, and their shipment volume is larger than that of the previous four farms.

As a result, the trucks that used to deliver every two days were changed to deliver every day.

On average, Dong Jianguo receives about 100 boxes of eggs, or about 4000 jin (2,000 catties), every day.

A daily delivery volume of one hundred boxes has significantly increased the pressure on inventory.

But that's not difficult.

To speed up sales, Dong Jianguo asked Erzhuzi to find several familiar coworkers from the factory, have them bring their own tricycles, and sell eggs from street to street.

The price Dong Jianguo offered them was the same as the price he had initially promised Erzhuzi: two yuan.

He never inquired about how much these people were ultimately sold for.

Although the profits were less, they still allowed these workers to earn a living.

As for the restaurants that needed supplies, Dong Jianguo had them all in his hands.

After a month of work, Dong Jianguo and Xiuyun did some calculations at home:

After deducting the expenses of Erzhuzi and Zhao Hongmei, the benefits paid to the secretaries, and the cost of goods, Dong Jianguo's income in the first month was about 28,000 yuan.

This was 28,000 yuan in 1994, and it was in Heilongjiang Province, where prices were relatively low.

For ordinary people, this amount of money is already astronomical.

"You can make this much money selling eggs...!"

Xiuyun stared at the bill, dumbfounded.

"My monthly salary is only 116, and that's before the pay cut. How many years would I have to work to earn that much money?!"

"Calm down, this is nothing..."

Dong Jianguo smiled faintly, reached out and hugged his wife, touching her gradually fuller belly. Even through her clothes, he could feel her round little tummy.

"Why don't you tell the factory to quit your job?"

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Zhou Xiuyun hesitated.

"What's wrong with that! The egg supply is gradually stabilizing now, and we'll only earn more starting next month. Are you worried I can't support you and your child?"

"But I still feel uncertain... What if something goes wrong with this business and we can't continue? We can't just sit around and eat our savings of 20,000 yuan, can we? Sister Hongmei still insisted on working here after she had 3,000 yuan, didn't she?"

Dong Jianguo sighed and said nothing more.

Zhao Hongmei is a very stubborn person. A month ago, after she received the 3000 yuan, she went to find Wang Gaofei the next day to ask him what was going on, but Wang Gaofei had already boarded a train heading south and disappeared.

As a result, Sister Hongmei preferred to continue working to earn money rather than spend this money that was not properly accounted for.

Fortunately, with the help of himself and his wife, the mother and daughter's lives have improved slightly and are no longer as difficult as before.

Dong Jianguo had an idea:

"When we got paid, I told you to give Erzhuzi and Sister Hongmei an extra 200 yuan each as a bonus. Did you give it to them?"

"Yes, they've been paid. I'm just wondering why you didn't just give them a raise? Without their help, wouldn't we be working ourselves to death?"

"You can't just give a raise directly. Think about it: for the same job, one company tells you upfront that your salary is 400 yuan, while another company tells you upfront that your salary is 200 yuan per month, and then gives you an extra 200 yuan bonus. What's the difference?"

"Um...aren't they all 400 yuan?"

"How can they be the same? The former makes people feel that it's a guaranteed income regardless of whether you do a good job or a bad one."

"With bonuses as an incentive, wouldn't they work like oxen plowing the fields?"

Xiuyun blinked and swallowed the word "capitalist" back into her mouth.

She wisely chose not to comment.

"By the way, Jianguo, tomorrow is my mom's birthday. Let's buy some things and go back to visit her."

"No problem! I've got some money now, I'll get some good cigarettes and liquor to take back to my father-in-law. They married such a wonderful daughter-in-law to me, and I haven't really had a chance to properly show my appreciation!"

"Xiuyun, what does Mom like?"

"I don't know either... but to provide dowries for the three of us sisters, my mom melted down and sold all her rings. How about we buy her a gold ring?"

After asking the question, Xiuyun glanced guiltily at Dong Jianguo's face, afraid that he would be unhappy.

What she said is true.

However, by the time her mother used the money from melting down the ring to support her second sister, there was hardly any left.

By the time she arrived, her family was already destitute.

When she finally got married, her parents only gave her two hundred yuan as a dowry, a few quilts, and some basic living supplies.

There was nothing else.

Although the mother expressed that she felt guilty about this matter, the family's circumstances were such that there was really nothing she could do.

Dong Jianguo noticed his wife's concerns but nodded dismissively, "No problem!"

"real?"

"Of course it's true! We'll go buy it after we see the house tomorrow!"

"Looking at a house? What kind of house?"

"Of course, we're looking at apartments!"

Dong Jianguo shrugged.

He's had enough of public toilets this past month.

He didn't think much of it before, but after experiencing clean and tidy restrooms, especially after using a smart toilet, the contrast is stark, and his tolerance for public restrooms has plummeted...

"Is this enough to buy a new house?"

"If it's not enough, we can always earn more. The egg supply wasn't this high at the beginning of this month, but I estimate that starting next month, our profits can double again, maybe even more!"

"If we have two months' worth of profits on hand, we'll have nearly 100,000 yuan. What kind of house can't we buy?"

"If all else fails, just pay a deposit and move in, then settle the remaining balance within a month, right?!"

"I promise the bathroom in my house will smell wonderful then!"

Xiuyun looked at her husband with longing eyes.

Why are you looking at me like that?

"I feel like you've changed so much in the past month or so, I almost didn't recognize you..."

"What can I transform into?" Dong Jianguo asked somewhat guiltily.

"He's become more career-oriented, more family-oriented, and loves me even more..."

Watching his wife slowly slip her hand inside his clothes, Dong Jianguo knew that her last words might not have been an adjective, but a verb…