CHAPTER 125: CHAPTER 125: SETTLING ACCOUNTS

The next morning, the entire Hong family set off again to set up a stall in the town.

As the New Year approached day by day, the town’s market became more and more lively, with many people returning from working outside.

Quite a few people headed straight to Huang Yuezhen’s stall as soon as they got off the bus, and business never stopped for her.

The initial stock valued at five thousand yuan sold out in less than ten days.

Later, Huang Yuezhen contacted Gao Lei, secured goods on credit, and kept selling until the twenty-eighth day of the lunar year before stopping.

During this period, the whole family was busy with business, and everyone lost a considerable amount of weight, but their spirits were high.

Huang Yuezhen counted the money made during this time with Hong Shaoyang and Lin E. After deducting the money owed to Lin Qin and Gao Lei, there was still over eight thousand yuan left.

Lin E and Hong Shaoyang were dumbfounded.

"Mom! Pinch me quick, is this real?"

Huang Yuezhen herself felt it was unreal and immediately pinched Hong Shaoyang.

Hong Shaoyang let out a pained cry.

The three of them felt as if they awoke from a dream.

Lin E immediately said, "With a few days left till the New Year, Yuezhen, you and Shaoyang should go to the city, pay off the debts so they won’t carry over into the New Year, and meet up with Weimin. Then you can return together."

In rural areas, it is taboo to carry debts into the New Year.

Huang Yuezhen immediately agreed.

Mother and son, carrying a large sum of money, left without any sloppiness. To avoid drawing attention, Lin E specifically found a large woven bag treasured in the house, placing money in a sack at the bottom, with homegrown vegetables and freshly slaughtered chickens and ducks on top.

As soon as these things were loaded onto the car, a strong fishy smell wafted out, and everyone didn’t want to look, turning their heads towards the windows.

They arrived in the city safely.

The mother and son first went to Nanyu.

Huang Yuezhen had lived here all year, so she was already accustomed to it.

But it was different for Hong Shaoyang. It was his first time in the city, and he was amazed by everything. By the time he saw the houses and sports center in Nanyu, he was at a loss for words.

Huang Yuezhen put down the things, took out the money in front of Lin Qin and Lin Yi, counted out five thousand for Lin Qin, and said, "I need to take Shaoyang to Boss Gao to pay what we owe, buy some stuff, and then wait for Weimin to return so we can go back to the village together.

Uncle, my mother-in-law said she would come to the city to visit you during the New Year."

Lin Yi widened his eyes in surprise, "If my elder sister is coming, I must prepare well. What does she like to eat?"

Huang Yuezhen shook her head, "During the hard times, my mother-in-law was not picky and was just happy to eat some meat, so you don’t need to prepare anything too complicated, Uncle."

Lin Yi carefully remembered what Huang Yuezhen said and turned to whisper with Lin Qin.

Just then, the baby in the house cried, and Lin Yi hurried inside to tend to the child.

Huang Yuezhen took Hong Shaoyang to see Gao Lei, to pay off the debt and get acquainted while inquiring about next year’s goods.

Wu Agui had been doing well with Gao Lei these past months, making a good profit, and had become more open in his ways.

Knowing that Huang Yuezhen was a relative of Chen Wenjun, he didn’t dare be negligent and detailed next year’s plan, "Our boss plans to go to Guangdong Province to get goods after the Lantern Festival, and it’ll be spring wear this time. If you have any needs, let me know because our boss mainly deals with your family for clothing."

It wasn’t that Gao Lei didn’t want to focus on clothing, but electronic products had higher profits, and he had connections in that field. Balancing both would require preparing another ship, which wasn’t possible at the moment.

Huang Yuezhen was very grateful and chatted with Wu Agui for half an hour before leaving.

Hong Shaoyang benefited greatly from witnessing Huang Yuezhen negotiating with others.

The mother and son left Gao Lei’s warehouse with some money still left, so they took a stroll around the city’s department store and supply and marketing cooperative. The goods in the mall were too expensive, and they were reluctant to buy them. The supply and marketing cooperative was not as popular as before, but it was still crowded.

They bought a few things that couldn’t be found in the countryside and left.

For New Year’s goods, there were more options at a few new food shops near Friendship Square.

After they finished shopping and headed back, Hong Shaoyang’s hands were already full of things.

He exclaimed, "Mom, this city is really prosperous! And our second cousin’s family is truly wealthy! I’ve really broadened my horizons this time!"

Huang Yuezhen covered her mouth with a light laugh, "Mom thinks so too. In the past, I just wanted to follow your second cousin and her husband, but this time, our family also made money, and Mom has more ideas. Son, listen to Mom. After the New Year, Mom will continue to work in the city, and you stay in the hometown and run the stall diligently, half-day, then help your grandmother with some work the rest of the time.

You can keep half of the money you earn for yourself and give half to your grandmother. Save up to build a house and get married. By then, we’ll build a two-story house, just like your cousin’s. Deal?"

Hong Shaoyang nodded enthusiastically, "Mom, I’ll listen to you!"

Huang Yuezhen’s smile was radiant, feeling more hopeful about the future.

They stayed in Nanyu until New Year’s Eve.

Early in the morning, Hong Weimin returned with Chen Wenjun’s iron boat, and on the way, he helped sell fish at the market, allowing Chen Wenjun to make another trip to South Port to load goods.

It wasn’t until noon that Hong Weimin returned to Nanyu to meet up with Huang Yuezhen and Hong Shaoyang.

The family of three prepared to take the 1 PM bus back.

Lin Qin had prepared New Year’s goods for them to take back, "Thank you, cousin and sister-in-law, for your hard work this year. Please accept this little token of mine."

Hong Weimin was quite helpless, "Cousin, Boss Lv gave me two boxes of seafood as New Year’s gift, and I really don’t lack seafood here. Bringing it back would be wasteful if we can’t finish it."

Lin Qin shook her head, "It’s not the same. I’m giving you dried seafood, which can be stored, and a box of tangerines, which you probably don’t have over there! Additionally, some candies and seeds are just snacks for the kids."

Hong Weimin couldn’t argue with Lin Qin, so he had to take all the stuff.

The family returned to the village around 4 PM.

During the New Year, the village was covered in red, with lanterns and decorations everywhere, very festive, and children secretly setting off firecrackers, full of the New Year atmosphere.

The three of them carried their things back home.

Lin E hadn’t seen her son for a year, hugging him with tears in her eyes, but with a joyful expression, "You’ve lost weight and got darker! Didn’t eat well out there?"

Hong Weimin laughed heartily, "Mom, why don’t you say I’ve gotten stronger and more spirited? The sun by the sea is harsh, even with a straw hat, I couldn’t beat the sea breeze! During the New Year, Boss Lv gave me two boxes of seafood, one box of ribbonfish, and one box of razor clams, plus Wenjun prepared other seafood for me, with a little of each kind.

Cousin gave us dried seafood and other things, all here."

As soon as the items were put down, Lin E’s attention was immediately diverted.

Hong Weimin turned to the kitchen to fetch hot water for a bath.

Huang Yuezhen went inside to do the accounts. By the time Hong Weimin came out after his shower, Huang Yuezhen had finished calculating and looked at him, "Your monthly salary is forty-five, so if you didn’t eat or drink for a year, you should bring back five hundred forty yuan, and after some expenses, your total shouldn’t reach five hundred forty. But there’s twelve hundred here! Where did it come from?"