CHAPTER 124: CHAPTER 124: THE HONG FAMILY’S BUSINESS BOOM

Lin Qin understood her anxiety and helped get Huang Yuezhen’s luggage onto the boat, watching her leave.

Huang Yuezhen returned with some goods this time. The bus bumped along to the countryside, and as soon as she got off, she called on two passing villagers to help carry her luggage back.

Along the way, everyone inevitably inquired about their situation outside.

Huang Yuezhen didn’t hide anything and told them the real situation.

She was a bit vague when it came to wages, but it was enough to make everyone envious.

The group arrived at Huang Yuezhen’s home.

Her mother-in-law, Lin E, was sweeping chicken droppings in the yard. Seeing her daughter-in-law return, she quickly put down everything to help and joyfully asked, "Why are you back so early? Where’s Weimin? Didn’t he come with you?"

Huang Yuezhen shook her head and explained, "Weimin is working over in South Port and won’t have time off until New Year’s Eve. I’m working in the city. This year, the weather’s been bad, so the project was halted, and the boss gave us an early holiday. Mom, let’s not talk about it now. Let’s carry these things inside first."

Lin E, still puzzled, followed Huang Yuezhen’s lead in carrying the large sacks inside.

Once the villagers left, Lin E immediately closed the door and asked inside the house, "What are all these?"

Huang Yuezhen didn’t hide anything and told Lin E all about their past year’s experiences, "My younger cousin’s household is really doing well. Uncle now stays with them and even helped us out. Weimin works in South Port and earns forty-five a month, with some benefits. He eats and lives there, so there are no places to spend money.

I cook at the construction site for thirty a month and help Uncle farm in the afternoons, also for thirty. Occasionally, when Uncle sells some field produce, he’d also slip me some money. I’ve saved nearly a thousand this year.

I saw that my older cousin cleared over two thousand in foreign debt in just a month by getting supplies, so I boldly borrowed money from my younger cousin this time to get some goods. If we can sell everything before the New Year, we’ll make a fortune!"

Lin E, not daring to delay, said immediately, "What are you planning to do? I’ll help you!"

Huang Yuezhen shook her head, "Mom, it’s the end of the year. We still rely on you for household matters. I plan to take Shaoyang, Shaohua, and Shaorou to the town to set up a stall, mainly to have Shaoyang sell with me, while the two younger ones assist and watch over things to prevent theft."

Lin E felt a bit uneasy upon hearing this, "No way! I’ll go too, just for a bit. I’ll come back to work when I’m not busy. Besides, there’s nothing much to do in the fields now."

They acted without delay. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law checked the goods and called the three children back, carefully explaining the plan to set up a stall in town the next morning.

To the three children, town was the furthest place they’d ever been. They might only visit once a year, so when their mother said she’d take them, the kids were overjoyed.

The eldest, Hong Shaoyang, was more composed, since he was nearly of dating age and relatively more mature.

Early the next morning.

The family tidied up their old cart and set off with their goods for the stall.

Their village was far from the town, which served over a dozen villages and was even poorer than the town where the Xu Family Village was located.

Considering their local circumstances, Huang Yuezhen didn’t dare stock expensive goods. They were all trendy and affordable, with prices that were somewhat friendly.

As soon as the goods were displayed, people gathered.

Huang Yuezhen and Hong Shaoyang immediately started greeting customers, while Lin E and the younger two handled organizing the goods.

Most of the first customers asked about prices. Some particularly liked the items, haggled a bit, and happily made a purchase.

After all, it was the New Year, and everything—including pants and clothes—had to match, and even an overcoat was needed. Those in bright red were especially festive, and orange-red wasn’t bad either, being low-key yet vibrant. Some even had flashy plastic patches sewn on for decoration, making them quite fashionable.

Once someone bought something, others didn’t want to miss out and came in waves to haggle with Huang Yuezhen and her son.

Raising their voices to shout, the two eventually had hoarse throats.

When they realized what time it was, they were surprised to find it was nearly noon! They had been busy for half the day!

Huang Yuezhen quickly asked Lin E, "Mom, how much of our goods are left?"

Lin E, exhausted, sat on a rock to rest, "Of the goods you brought back, most are sold. My head is spinning!"

The two younger ones nodded solemnly, mimicking Lin E, "Mom, there’s just a little left. Should we keep setting up the stall?"

Huang Yuezhen thought for a moment and decided, "You all go home with grandma. I’ll stay with your big brother to sell the rest. Don’t just play around when you get back. Finish your homework because we’ll need your help again tomorrow morning."

"More work!" Hong Shaohua and Hong Shaorou glanced at each other, their faces falling instantly.

Once they left, Huang Yuezhen had her eldest son watch the stall and ran to the general store to call Gao Lei’s warehouse, asking for another batch of goods to be sent over.

As Huang Yuezhen intended to continue with the stall, she arranged for the goods to be delivered to the town.

The other side handled things efficiently, and three hours after hanging up, a batch of goods arrived with a bus.

Huang Yuezhen and Hong Shaoyang brought the goods to the stall, planning to sell them as they checked through them.

Unexpectedly, another wave of clothing buyers came, keeping them busy until five in the evening, when they had to pack up and go home.

By the time the mother and son returned to the village, it was nearly dark.

In winter, there were fewer people around the village, and being dinner time, even fewer were out.

The mother and son pushed the cart into the yard, bringing everything inside the house.

Lin E called out to her grandchildren, having them bring dinner inside.

After a long day, Huang Yuezhen and Hong Shaoyang were famished and ate voraciously.

After downing two large bowls of sweet potato porridge, Huang Yuezhen finally began to recover.

She hurriedly took her eldest son to the room to tally the earnings.

Carefully counting, they found they sold goods worth over a thousand today, exceeding Huang Yuezhen’s expectations.

Hong Shaoyang was stunned by the amount, as if a new world had opened to him.

After securing the money, the mother and son informed Lin E.

Lin E, with her eyes full of joy, lowered her voice to remind them, "Make sure you keep this money safe, no losing it, and don’t brag about it and make others jealous. If people ask, just say you’re earning a hard-working living and having to share it, no need to say much else."

Both Huang Yuezhen and Hong Shaoyang nodded solemnly in agreement.

Lin E smiled contentedly and sighed, "Once this rush is over, I’ll go with you to the city to pay respects to Weimin’s eldest uncle for the New Year."

Since she was sent to the Hong family as a child bride, her ties with her own family had almost faded, and she never imagined her family still cared and helped her son so much.

Being someone who knew the importance of gratitude, she naturally wanted to reciprocate.

Then Lin E remembered she also had a brother, turning to Huang Yuezhen, "What about Weimin’s second uncle?"

Huang Yuezhen shook her head honestly, her expression not looking too good, "I haven’t met him, but from what I’ve heard from my cousin, the second uncle isn’t easy to deal with. Just because the eldest uncle has no son, the second uncle has been eyeing his house and land, always speaking harshly.

As they say, ’No profit, no early riser.’ Now the eldest uncle has cut ties with him. If you ask me, let’s not mention the second uncle when we visit, to avoid upsetting the eldest uncle and cousin."

Lin E sighed deeply, nodding in agreement.