Chapter 96: Registering the Children

Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

The crowd queuing to buy tofu was packed tight, and the salesperson shouted loudly, "One by one, don't push! That's right, there will be more tomorrow!"

Su Qingyue smiled and went to the office.

She explained to Xiang Jianming the reason why they could no longer supply bean curd sheets, "One hundred jin of bean curd sheets consumes five hundred jin of soybeans; we would lose seventy-two yuan. Unless the Supply and Marketing Cooperative buys them at the price of one yuan per jin, we cannot avoid a loss."

Zhang Dongfeng pondered, "There are many wealthy people in the city, but it is indeed difficult for us to sell at this price. However, there are definitely people who want bean curd sheets; just yesterday, the old lady who bought bean curd sheets was asking why there weren't any today."

Su Qingyue quickly racked her brain, "Actually, there is another way. We cut the bean curd sheets into pieces, for example, divide one jin of bean curd sheets into four portions, pack two point five liang in each bag, and sell them at a fixed price per bag."

Zhang Dongfeng was delighted, "This is a good idea; it can directly reduce the customers' sensitivity to the price."

Su Qingyue smiled, "Then you must also purchase them by the bag! I will look for packaging and go back to discuss with the village head to see if this can work."

"Good, remember to coordinate with Chen Yan regarding recent work and let her get familiar with the process."

After Su Qingyue finished communicating here, Pei Huaiye took the opportunity to buy rice, flour, oil, brown sugar, eggs, and various snacks at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, each with the required ration coupons.

When checking out, Jiang Meng kept secretly sizing up Pei Huaiye. He was handsome and willing to spend money on Su Qingyue; why didn't she have such a good man?

Thinking of Zhang Jun, he hadn't even contacted her these past few days because of work.

Because the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative supplied tofu, both the firm tofu and soft tofu were very delicious, and there were also bean sprouts in large quantities, so the customers all diverted to the Hongqi side.

President Zhang of the Shengli 【Cooperative】 put pressure on Zhang Jun, demanding an increase in the quantity of vegetable tofu.

Zhang Jun was organizing the villagers to make tofu, but everyone was very resentful.

Because the villagers had soybeans in their hands at the beginning and there was no cost price, Zhang Jun bought the vegetable tofu at a price of six cents per jin and then sold it to the Shengli Supply and Marketing Cooperative at a price of twelve cents; both he and the villagers made a profit.

The problem now was that the villagers made tofu every day and had no soybeans left. When he went to Ping Shu to buy soybeans, he was told that they had already partnered with Shuangshui Village and would not cooperate with them.

"Stop smoking, think about where to find soybeans first!" Captain Shi snatched the cigarette from Zhang Jun's hand.

If they couldn't find soybeans, the Shengli Supply and Marketing Cooperative couldn't keep up the supply, and the customers would all run to the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative; all of Zhang Jun's previous work would have been in vain.

The key was that he had smugly resigned from the printing factory just two days ago.

"Go to the Black Market and buy some!"

Zhang Jun insisted firmly.

"No, what if we get caught?" Zhang Huarui immediately objected.

"Then what other way do you have? If we are careful, we won't be discovered."

"But the Black Market price should be very high; I estimate we won't be able to buy it for twenty cents."

Zhang Jun said in a deep voice, "At most thirty cents, that's the limit! How much higher could it possibly go!"

Captain Shi instructed, "Then you two go together, and be careful when doing things."

"I'll go scout the location and ask around clearly first, then we'll go buy it; it'll be safer." After Zhang Jun finished giving instructions, he left.

Wang Lingling had come to look for Zhang Jun, but hearing the words of the few, she didn't dare to make a sound and quietly slipped away from the back window.

She took a detour to intercept Zhang Jun, "Are you going to the Black Market to buy soybeans?"

Zhang Jun was startled. Seeing that there was no one around, he pulled Wang Lingling into his arms, "You know? Don't go spreading this; this is a major matter concerning the common interests of our village!"

"I still have that much sense of propriety, but can you spend more time with me!" Wang Lingling kept acting like a spoiled child and being unreasonable.

Zhang Jun had no choice but to take her along, "After we get to the County, we'll go eat first. You wait for me at the State-run Restaurant, and I'll take you back to the village after I inquire about the situation at the Black Market."

Xichuan County.

Su Qingyue, Pei Huaiye, and a group of adults took seven or eight little children to Yucai Primary School to register.

"Hello, Teacher Gao, these are all children from our village."

Gao Ying greeted Su Qingyue. Apart from Su Zhuangzhuang and Su Qingxi, who looked fair and cute, the rest of the children had dark, tanned faces, and the clothes of Liu Shu and her siblings even had several patches on them.

Gao Ying hid the contempt in her heart, "So many children from your village are coming to school?"

"Yes, where is Qingxi's examination room? I'll send her over."

Teacher Gao pointed to the classroom in the middle of the first floor, "Right there, go straight ahead!"

Su Qingyue sent Su Qingxi to the entrance of the examination room and patted her head, "Be good, don't be nervous, just take the exam normally. Sister will wait for you outside."

"Okay, Sister!"

With the help of Su Qingyue, Xiang Jianming and Widow Liu registered the three Liu children and the two Xiang children respectively; because they had no foundation, they all enrolled in preschool.

After the children received their textbooks, Su Qingyue took them to a nearby bookstore to pick out stationery.

Looking at the dazzling array of stationery, Liu Shu pulled on Widow Liu's sleeve, "Mother, our pencil stubs can still write; we don't need to buy anything!"

Widow Liu smiled lovingly, "That won't do. I just saw that the other children are all using new pencils. I'll buy three, and all three of you siblings will have one!"

Liu Shu lowered her head, her eyes turning red.

Su Zhuangzhuang bent his head to look, "Big Brother, don't cry." He used his chubby little hand to wipe Liu Shu's tears, "Are you afraid of going to school to study? I'm not afraid at all. My little aunt is very good at studying; if there's anything you don't know, just go ask her."

Liu Shu raised her head. Su Zhuangzhuang hugged him like a little adult, then ran to Su Qingyue to act spoiled, "Aunt, I want to eat candy."

"You little glutton, what will you do if you eat candy every day and get cavities?" Although she said that, she still grabbed a handful of candy from her bag for Su Zhuangzhuang.

Su Zhuangzhuang gave one to each of the Liu sisters, then trotted over to Xiang Xiaole, "For you and your brother."

"Thank you, Zhuangzhuang." Xiang Xiaole was the son of Xiang Shishui and was six years old. Two days ago, when Su Qingyue asked everyone to introduce themselves, only this child was the most calm and composed.

Several parents were picking out gifts for their children, and there was even a scene in the store of a father lifting his child up.

Widow Liu watched all of this from the corner of her eye, her eyes filled with tears. She clenched her fists; no matter what, she must let the three children study. As long as they could study, she would do anything!

"Qingyue, listening to the meeting this morning, are you planning to open a factory?"

Su Qingyue was startled; Widow Liu was quite sharp. "There is such a plan, but it still has to wait until the current supply to the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative is stable."

"Okay, I understand. I have soybeans at home. I'll accept training when I go back today. I also want to make bean sprouts. In the future, if the Production Team has anything, just call me. Now that the farm work is done, I have time, and I can do anything!"

Su Qingyue looked at the thin and frail Liu Shu and her two siblings, who were like little sprouts, and laughed heartily, "Good, then I won't stand on ceremony. I'll arrange work for you tomorrow!"

Widow Liu's tears fell instantly.

She knew that this sentence meant that there would definitely be a place for her once Su Qingyue's factory opened in the future.

"Thank you!"

Su Qingyue handed over a Handkerchief, but Widow Liu did not take it; she waved her hand and said, "Many people in the village look down on me, I know that, but you are the first person who has not looked at me with strange eyes."

Su Qingyue touched her belly and said softly, "I am also going to be a mother soon, I just understand the feelings of a mother."