Su Grandma said again, "The money should go to our own children. They can pay their tuition fees for school, and they'll have money to buy books and notebooks. Why not?"
If it was for their own family, there was no need to give it to others.
Su Grandpa hadn't thought that far, but hearing Su Grandma's words now, he felt it made a lot of sense.
The children in the family weren't the type to spend money carelessly, and if they were given it, it would all be put to good use.
"You mean, pay them wages?"
"Of course, we have to pay them. And Little Sweetheart should be paid more," Su Grandma said generously.
"Grandma, why should Little Sweetheart be paid more?" Su Xiao Si grumbled, clearly dissatisfied.
"No reason, just because this idea was thought up by Little Sweetheart," Su Grandma glared at Su Xiao Si. "If you can come up with a way to make money, I'll pay you more too!"
This brat, what's wrong with giving his sister a little more money?
It's not good to be so calculating, she'll have to have a good talk with him later.
If it weren't for Little Sweetheart being favored by the Dragon King, these brats wouldn't even be able to eat their fill, let alone study.
Su Xiao Si had only asked casually. After being told off by Su Grandma, he just touched his nose.
It was only right that Little Sweetheart got more. She had earned half of the sales from today by herself.
Chi Yiyuan clearly hadn't expected the Su family to have such a way of doing things.
He felt as though a new world had opened up to him.
At this moment, Chi Yiyuan had no idea how profoundly this incident would influence his future.
Finally, Su Grandma decided that half of the net income would be distributed as wages for the children.
Su Xiao Si hadn't expected such a good thing to happen.
He thought smugly that he would earn at least fifty cents a day, and if they earned more, he might even earn a dollar.
Over the entire holiday, he would earn quite a bit.
If he could use this money to make more money, he would soon become a rich person.
At this time, the young man hadn't yet considered what a truly rich person was.
In his youthful imagination, having a hundred yuan on him was already extraordinary.
It wasn't until many years later, when he had truly become a wealthy boss, that he looked back on this time and felt as if it were a dream.
More than twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Li Zhuzi delivered eggs several times, and as Su Grandma had instructed, he delivered more each time.
On one occasion, he delivered eight hundred eggs at once.
Li Zhuzi wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Auntie, you have no idea, our Hongxin Brigade doesn't even have this many eggs."
"Then where did you get these eggs?" Su Grandma asked worriedly.
She was genuinely afraid that Li Zhuzi had obtained the eggs from a chicken farm, as that would be a mistake.
"Auntie, I've collected eggs from the surrounding brigades. I'm thinking of going to other communes in a couple of days."
Su Grandma smiled. "The eggs from the farmers, they're reluctant to eat them. They're counting on exchanging them for money to buy oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. If you collect them, they'll be happy too."
"Auntie, you're right. They were very happy and told me to keep collecting them and go back in a few days."
Su Grandma suddenly thought of something. While pouring water for Li Zhuzi, she said,
"Zhuzi, don't just collect eggs. Collect some various vegetables too. We need them."
Li Zhuzi took the water from Su Grandma and gulped it down before saying, "Okay, Auntie. Tell me how many you want and what kind of vegetables."
He figured it was for Grandma Li's family who wanted to eat fresh vegetables.
"Zhuzi, I make vegetable pancakes every day, and I need quite a lot of vegetables."
Li Zhuzi finally understood and quickly agreed.
"Zhuzi, I'll give you two cents per jin for the vegetables. It's a bit low, but if the price is any higher, Auntie can't afford it," Su Grandma said with a smile.
Li Zhuzi became anxious and quickly said, "Auntie, you're flattering me. I've already made quite a lot of money collecting eggs. How can I still make money from vegetables?"
Su Grandma smiled. "You have to spend time and effort collecting vegetables. What's wrong with giving you money?"
"That's right, Uncle Zhuzi. We help out every day, and Grandma even pays us wages," Su Xiao Si said cheerfully.
Hearing Su Xiao Si say this, Li Zhuzi felt much more at ease.
He had always worried that Su Grandma was trying to take care of him and giving him more money.
The Su family's yard had a vegetable garden, and Chen Zi'an's family also had a fairly large vegetable garden. Su Grandma had been using vegetables from these two gardens recently.
But now, the demand was increasing, and it was no longer enough. Moreover, vegetables in the city were too scarce to get, and they weren't fresh.
"Alright, Auntie. Leave this to me. I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly!" Li Zhuzi nodded repeatedly.
He could earn a little more money. The money he had earned recently was more than what he had earned in half a year at the brigade before.
Li Zhuzi didn't know how Su Grandma and the others made money, but he was happy to be an intermediary and earn a little.
With a little more income each day, Li Zhuzi felt content.
When Zhuzi's wife learned about this, she was also very happy, firmly believing that the Su family had helped their family a lot and that they should repay them well.
"Our family's conditions haven't been good for the past two years. When things improve in a couple of years, we'll have to show filial piety to Uncle and Auntie," Li Zhuzi mused.
Although they weren't his biological parents, without the elder Su couple, he, Li Zhuzi, would probably still be a despised scruffy-haired fellow.
Zhuzi's wife nodded in agreement.
Su Grandma, along with the children, was doing very well in business.
Her two daughters-in-law and Su Lao San also helped out when they were free.
Su Grandma, following Su Xiao Tian's advice, believed in fair compensation for labor. Anyone who participated in the work would receive a certain income.
At first, Su Lao San, Qi Liang Ying, and Liang Xiu were not used to it. They felt that it was just family helping out, and it was strange to still be asking for money.
However, after a few days, they gradually got used to it and accepted the small bills that Su Grandma handed them, following her wishes.
The family was living in harmony.
But this kind of business did not last for too long.
As Su Xiao Tian had predicted, because Su Xiao Tian and the others were making money, some sharp-eyed people discovered it.
Now, many people were eyeing this train route to sell snacks.
With more people, the competition became fierce, especially since some of them were family members of railway station staff, which gave them a lot more convenience.
And the train was different from other places; there was no fixed customer base. Even though Su Xiao Tian's tea eggs were fragrant and their leek pancakes were affordable, due to the intense competition, they didn't have much of an advantage.
The small business became increasingly difficult to sustain, and Su Xiao Si's smile became less frequent.
Why was it becoming less profitable? Yesterday he had earned fifty cents, which was less than on the first day.
"Little Sweetheart, what should we do? You're so smart, you must have a solution!" Su Xiao Si asked Su Xiao Tian listlessly.
Su Xiao Tian thought for a moment and said, "Let's switch to a different business!"
During this period of doing small business, everything had been smooth except for the competition.
Even the railway police had never appeared.
This might be a clue to something different.
Therefore, Su Xiao Tian decided to stop doing business on the train.
With so many people competing, investing manpower and resources every day was simply not cost-effective and a waste of time.
Su Xiao Si had wanted Su Xiao Tian to save the business, but he hadn't expected Su Xiao Tian to simply give up.
"Little Sweetheart, how can you do this?" Su Xiao Si was so anxious he was about to cry.
Su Grandma was also surprised when Su Xiao Tian said this and felt a bit reluctant.
The old lady had never known that one could make money like this before.
But in such a short time, less than a month, her little stash had increased by over four hundred yuan.
The old lady was overjoyed!
But this beautiful mood didn't last long before it ended.
She was so unwilling to give up!
"Little Sweetheart, this business isn't completely unworkable. We're just earning a little less than before!"
"Grandma, don't worry, I have other ways to ensure you have something to do and money to earn."
When Su Grandma asked again, Su Xiao Tian didn't say anything more.
She just said that they would know in the afternoon.
Watching Su Xiao Tian's retreating back, Su Grandma felt regretful that she had forgotten to ask where Su Xiao Tian was going.
"Old man, why can't this profitable business continue?"
Su Grandma said this with great sadness.
People are like that; once they taste sweetness, they can't let go.
When they hadn't tasted the sweetness, they didn't feel much, but once they had, they were reluctant to give it up.
For the entire afternoon, Su Grandma was dispirited. She didn't even have the appetite to prepare lunch.
After Su Xiao Tian left, she didn't return for most of the day, and she wasn't even present for lunch.
In the afternoon, Su Grandpa couldn't help but look towards the gate several times.
He even couldn't help but blame his grandsons for not keeping an eye on their sister, despite there being so many of them.
Su Xiao Si and the others also felt wronged. They had gone to study for a while, and who knew their little sister would disappear?
Besides, didn't Grandma say that Grandpa and Grandma knew when their little sister went out?
Why were they being blamed?
Just as the whole family was blaming each other, Su Xiao Tian returned.
"Grandma, I'm back."
When Su Xiao Tian entered from the gate, she was pushing a small cart.
Her small body pushing a cart looked somewhat uncoordinated.
"Oh, my precious darling, where have you been? Why did you bring back a cart?"
Su Grandma hurried forward and examined Su Xiao Tian from head to toe. Only after confirming that her precious darling was fine did she feel a little relieved.
"Little Sweetheart, how could you run off like that without telling anyone in the family?" Su Xiao Wu, as her own brother, stepped forward with a stern face to scold Su Xiao Tian.
Although it was just a simple sentence, it was the most severe reprimand Su Xiao Wu could muster.
Su Xiao Tian herself didn't feel anything, but clearly, others didn't think so.
Su Xiao Si quickly pulled Su Xiao Wu aside and said, "Xiao Wu, what are you doing?"
"Fifth Brother, Little Sweetheart didn't do anything wrong, so don't blame her!"
"Fifth Brother, speak nicely. If Little Sweetheart cries because of you, you'll have to coax her yourself!"
The brothers bickered, making Su Xiao Wu feel like he was in the wrong.
Su Xiao Wu felt a pang of injustice!
They were all born of the same parents, so why was the treatment so different?
Fine, if he didn't say anything, he wouldn't say anything.
Anyway, Little Sweetheart was sensible and wouldn't cause trouble.
Just as Su Xiao Wu was worried that Su Xiao Tian might go astray because of her brothers' favoritism, Su Grandma's gaze fell upon the cart that Su Xiao Tian had brought back.
The cart was a very ordinary cart, but what was unusual was that it had been greatly modified.
A frame was built on the cart with wood, and the boards were even chiseled with several holes of the same size.
There were several compartments on the frame, and it was unclear what they were for.
"Little Sweetheart, where did you get such a small cart?" Su Grandma asked curiously.
Su Xiao Tian said with a smile and a touch of coquetry, "I've been looking for it for several days to get it."
"Little Sweetheart, why did you get such a strange cart?" Su Grandma looked at it for a long time but couldn't figure out its purpose.
It couldn't hold things properly because of this strange frame.
If it were any other grandson, Su Grandma would have surely used a broom to chase him away.
"Grandma, tomorrow we'll use this small cart to push breakfast out to sell. Isn't it more convenient than carrying it in our hands?" Su Xiao Tian said to Su Grandma as if presenting a treasure.
Su Xiao Tian mainly thought that when they all went to school, only Grandpa and Grandma would be left, and it would be too tiring for the two elderly people to carry things by hand. Having a cart would be much more convenient.
Su Grandma thought about it. Having a cart would indeed be much more convenient, but why put this strange wooden frame on it?
"Why build a wooden frame?"
"Grandma, I bought several basins that fit perfectly with these holes. We can put the tea eggs, vegetable pancakes, and steamed buns into separate basins, and then embed the basins into the holes, so they'll be stable."
Saying this, Su Xiao Tian took out several more basins and placed them one by one.
Su Grandma was amazed.
Su Xiao Tian's method was indeed a good idea. The basins were placed firmly in the small compartments and didn't shake at all.
During the time they were doing small business at the train station, although she had the idea of making money, it was more to test the current environment.
While the idea of making money was urgent, Su Xiao Tian had no intention of letting her family suffer because of it.
Through her tests during this period, Su Xiao Tian felt that business could indeed be done, and as long as it wasn't too excessive, no one would interfere.
"Little Sweetheart, your method is good, but why not just make breakfast at home? Who would go out to eat breakfast on the street!"
Su Grandma didn't think selling breakfast on the street was a good idea.
Who had so much money to casually eat breakfast on the street?
The people on the train were willing to buy meals because they couldn't cook for themselves.
"Grandma, we can cook at home, so why do so many people go to restaurants to eat? Isn't it for a different taste?"
Su Grandma thought about it, and it seemed to be true.
She had been in the county town for a year and had observed coldly that there were quite a few people in the county town's restaurants.
Su Xiao Tian believed that no matter what they did, as long as they persisted, they would succeed one day.
The next day, Su Grandma got up early and prepared a variety of breakfast items, then packed these breakfasts into basins and placed them steadily on the small cart.
Su Grandma originally intended not to go out herself, but Su Xiao Tian pulled her along.
"Grandma, in about seven or eight days, we'll be going to school. Don't you want this business to continue after we start school?"
Su Grandma then remembered that her grandchildren were all going to school.
Just then, Chi Yiyuan spoke, "Grandma Su, after Little Sweetheart and the others go to school, I'll do business with you!"
Chi Yiyuan had felt upset about not being able to go to school before, but during these past twenty days, he seemed to have found new motivation.
It wasn't a big deal that he couldn't study. Doing business might be another way of life.
Su Grandma was delighted and said with a smile, "Alright, Xiao Yuan, let's do business and make money, and we won't share it with them!"
Su Xiao Tian clearly didn't expect her grandmother to have such a cute side and couldn't help but laugh.
Su Grandpa had originally come to the county town because he was worried about the children. Now that everything was going smoothly, he was no longer worried.
Therefore, the old man decided to return to Hongxin Brigade.
"Old man, I think you shouldn't go back. Your eldest daughter-in-law is also busy and can't even take care of you properly," Su Grandma advised him.
Everyone in the family was busy now, and the old man couldn't cook for himself. If he went back, it wouldn't be easy.
"The brigade allowed us to be out for so long. We can't cause trouble for the brigade leader," Su Grandpa sighed.
In the past year or two, the enthusiasm of the members for work had not been high, making it difficult for the brigade leader.
With most of their family in the county town, the members would surely have opinions, so it was better for him to go back.
Su Grandma understood Su Grandpa's meaning and didn't say anything more, so she could only let him go.
Su Xiao Tian tried hard to recall. It was still one or two years before the household responsibility system was implemented. She couldn't remember the exact time, perhaps about a year or a year and a half later.
Oh well, she'd wait a bit longer!
Thus, Su Grandpa returned to Hongxin Brigade first.
Su Grandma remained busy every day, overwhelmed with work.
As an elderly person, being so busy every day began to take a toll on her health. Although Qi Liang Ying and Liang Xiu tried their best to help, and Su Xiao Tian and the others also helped as much as they could when they weren't at school, Su Grandma was still exhausted.
"Mom, why don't we stop making this money!" Su Lao San said, his heart aching as he looked at his mother's face, which had become thin in a short time.
Su Grandma glared at her son. She truly didn't understand the cost of managing a household!
With such a large family, what would they do in the future if they didn't make money?
At this moment, Su Grandma clearly completely ignored the several boxes of treasures that Su Xiao Tian had brought back for the family.
Or rather, in the old lady's mind, only the money she earned through her own hard work felt comfortable!
Su Lao San was speechless.
He knew what his mother meant, but they couldn't let the elderly person work so hard just to make money!
"How about I quit my job at the factory and sell breakfast with Mom!" Liang Xiu suddenly said.
Su Xiao Tian was quite surprised by her mother's sudden statement.
The factory was a stable job now. Why would she suddenly want to quit? Had she been wronged at the factory?
Su Lao San looked at his wife, and his thoughts were similar to his daughter's. His first reaction was that his wife must have been upset at the factory.
[Author's Note]
Five thousand characters uploaded! I've been modifying some of the earlier text recently, so updates might not increase. This is a period drama, and it's easy to accidentally cross lines. Even with great care, it's hard to avoid. Sob sob!