Chapter 155: 90: A Family by the Spring Chapter 155: Keep it up, young man!

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"All right."

Everyone else was used to following his commands, and they answered in unison.

There were youth hostels near the train station, thirty yuan per day for a triple room.

Guben booked two rooms, registered their ID cards, and paid three days' rent.

The boys and girls, newly arrived, were all excited; after putting down their luggage and a brief rest, they set out again for their destination—The Bund.

——

"Damn, there are so many people in Shanghai."

Not long after leaving the hotel, the boys and girls had a new understanding of this international metropolis.

Wang Fan was shocked by the ferocity of passengers squeezing onto the bus, and complained endlessly.

"I've taken buses in Jinan and never seen so many people..."

Wu Meng was also shaken, looking at her white sneakers covered in footprints, wanting to cry but having no tears.

"No more waiting, take a taxi."

After failing to squeeze onto three buses in a row, Wang Fan was completely convinced and gave up the idea of taking the bus.

Guben waved to hail two taxis.

Once in the taxi, the boys and girls had another extraordinary experience.

Taxis in Shanghai were absurdly expensive, and fares were calculated even when stuck in traffic.

From the train station to The Bund, the road was crowded with traffic; the female cousin watched the numbers on the meter keep rising, and her heartbeat accelerated along with them.

Still some distance from The Bund, seeing the fare had already jumped to fifty yuan, she could no longer bear it and told them to stop early.

The taxi driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror and muttered discontentedly.

"A country bumpkin from the sticks, no money to take a taxi."

Although he spoke Shanghainese and the female cousin didn't understand, she automatically inferred the contempt from his expression.

"I feel a bit carsick, I want to get out for some air."

Lin Xiyu was quick-witted and used carsickness as an excuse to ease the female cousin's embarrassment.

"What's wrong with being from the countryside?"

The female cousin got out of the car, still unhappy: "One day, I'll be richer than all of you."

"What's going on? Why did you get out?"

The taxi carrying Guben and the others followed closely behind and also pulled over to the side of the road.

"Not taking it anymore, too expensive."

The female cousin waved her hand irritably: "We barely went a few li and it's fifty yuan; we might as well walk."

"Shanghai has high prices..."

Guben smiled helplessly: "Taxis are like that, the price is a bit high."

"So what if it's expensive."

Wang Fan was full of displeasure: "Not taking a taxi means squeezing onto the bus anyway; do you want to be squeezed into a meat patty?"

"I don't care..."

The female cousin cared about money and wouldn't listen to anyone: "Anyway, I'm not taking a taxi."

"Sigh."

Guben rubbed his brow with a headache.

The boys and girls hesitated for a long time between taking a taxi or squeezing onto the bus, and finally chose to walk.

Relying on their youth and energy, they walked on foot to The Bund via Route 11.

——

The old Shanghainese ladies were very enthusiastic; if someone asked for directions, they would patiently and carefully explain. Unfortunately, their Mandarin wasn't standard, mixed with the local Shanghainese dialect, leaving people half-understanding.

Guben used gestures and guesses, and finally managed to ask two enthusiastic old ladies for the route to The Bund.

He drew a simple map on paper with a brush, led the group, followed the map's guidance, wandered through the alleyways full of Old City District character for a good while, and finally emerged from the lanes.

"Look, that sign says Nanjing Road."

"Damn, we finally arrived; walking any more and my legs will be useless."

"Wow, Nanjing Road is really different, so many beautiful Western-style buildings, worlds apart from the old streets and lanes we just saw, separated by a single street, as if two different worlds."

"Shanghai's old alleyways really opened my eyes; bamboo poles sticking out to hang clothes, big underpants falling from above, almost hitting me in the face."

"Hahaha..."

After walking for a long time, they finally reached their destination; the boys and girls were all excited, and all fatigue vanished.

——

"Xiyu, this trip was worth it; Shanghainese dress so well."

"The jeans they wear look good in color and style, making their legs look slim and straight."

"The sweaters are pretty too, feel great to the touch, soft and comfortable, and buying them off-season is cheap."

"T-shirts are even better, such trendy styles, never even seen in Jinan."

"Wow, this is real Shanghai foreign-trade clothing; buy it back and resell it, it'll definitely sell like crazy and make big money."

——

Her female cousin arrived on Nanjing Road, as if discovering a new continent, browsing every mall.

She commented on every fashionably dressed passerby, male or female, drawing many sidelong glances.

"If you want to resell, you definitely can't buy on Nanjing Road."

Lin Xiyu had her own opinion: "Although Nanjing Road has many malls and high prices, there's no rush. Wait until I start school, I'll help you ask around where Shanghai locals buy clothes, and we'll talk after finding a suitable sourcing channel..."

"Good younger sister, I'm counting on you for this."

Her female cousin was overjoyed: "Sweaters sell well before New Year. Let's stock up as much as we can and make a killing during the New Year."

"Fine."

Lin Xiyu readily promised: "I'll tell you when I have news. As for how much, we'll discuss it then."

"That's settled."

Her female cousin was full of confidence: "I heard my mom say two years ago that sweaters are very popular in Jinan. She has many colleagues who specifically ask people to buy them in Shanghai to wear during the New Year for face."

"Buying off-season is cheap, but when the season hasn't arrived, few people buy, and you'll end up with unsold stock."

Lin Xiyu considered things more thoroughly than her: "Think it through—decide exactly how much is appropriate. Don't leave yourself short of funds and having to buy on credit. This time Liu Ye isn't here, and no one will let you withdraw your salary early."

"Sigh..."

Reminded by her, her female cousin's small face fell: "It's just that my principal investment is too small. Otherwise I really want to go all out..."

Lin Xiyu genuinely thought of her female cousin: "I have over three thousand yuan here. I can lend you some first."

"Xiyu, good younger sister, you're really too kind."

Her female cousin was moved to tears, hugging her and spinning around in place.

"Okay, okay..."

Lin Xiyu laughed and cried at the same time: "Stop spinning, I'm dizzy."

"Xiyu, Sister won't let you spend money for nothing."

Her female cousin put her down and became energetic again: "Selling clothes counts as our partnership. You handle sourcing, I handle selling, and we split the earnings evenly."

"Partnership..."

Lin Xiyu was somewhat tempted: "It's not impossible, but it's hard to say now. What if there's too much schoolwork? I can't guarantee I'll always be able to help you source goods."

"You don't have to run errands yourself for sourcing..."

Wang Fan had sharp ears. Hearing the two sisters' words, he seized the chance to interject: "Find a suitable supplier, establish a long-term partnership. Call them for whatever styles you need, and they'll deliver the goods..."

"I have no eye for styles."

Her female cousin was unusually humble: "Styles and colors still need Xiyu to pick."

"Picking styles is no problem."

Lin Xiyu quietly breathed a sigh of relief: "I can handle that. Just don't make me carry clothes myself and run to the train station to deliver them."

"Yay."

Her female cousin made a victory gesture, her spirits lifted: "Great. With your words, I can already see small money flying in the sky."

"Xiyu, I truly admire you..."

Wu Meng watched with envy, also smiling as she came over: "No wonder my mom says you're smart. As soon as you came to Shanghai, you thought of money-making ideas. Not like me, who only knows how to play foolishly, forgets the scenery after seeing it, and makes no progress at all."

"Auntie said that, and you actually believed it?"

Lin Xiyu smiled humbly: "What do I have worth admiring? It's my female cousin who wants to do business and gave me a hand. I'm just riding on her coattails."

"From now on I'll follow you."

Wu Meng affectionately linked her arm: "When you make money, pull me up too."

"Fine."

Lin Xiyu readily promised: "When I one day want to be a boss and start my own company, I'll definitely tell you. We'll also do business together."

"Mm."

Wu Meng was content, her small face red with excitement, nodding repeatedly.

"The big shots all have ambition. They all want to start companies and be their own bosses. I can't fall behind."

Wang Fan's competitive spirit was stirred by the three girls. Standing by the Huangpu River, he pointed at the skyscrapers under construction across in Pudong New Area, full of heroic spirit.

"One day, I'll have my own skyscraper there!"

"We're rooting for you!"

"Go for it, young man!"

The boys and girls, for once, didn't make fun of him and cheered him on enthusiastically.

"Hahaha."

Wang Fan was pleased with himself and laughed out loud happily.

At that moment, no one could have predicted that the unrestrained youth's joke by the Huangpu River would actually come true.

Many years later, he seized the timing, rode the east wind of the construction industry, and at the very place he had promised, truly owned his own skyscraper, becoming a wealthy tycoon.

——

In May of '93, Shanghai Metro Line 1 opened, running from Xujiahui to Jinjiang Amusement Park.

Her female cousin rarely came to Shanghai once, so naturally she had to play some fresh and exciting projects.

Neither the subway nor the roller coaster had been ridden before, so Jinjiang Amusement Park was a must.

The boys and girls took the subway to Jinjiang Amusement Park early the next morning, bought a set of tickets in high spirits, and planned to try the log flume, roller coaster, Ferris wheel, drop tower flying chairs... all the thrilling and dangerous projects, playing every single one.

However, dreams were beautiful, reality was cruel.

Her female cousin didn't get dizzy on anything and had a great time.

Wu Meng couldn't handle it. After getting off the drop tower flying chairs, she vomited all over.

Wang Fan rode the river rapids, sitting in the very front row of the small boat; when it plunged down from a height, she was soaked through by the water.

Guben was not spared either, sitting in the last row, more than half of his body was wet.

Lin Xiyu was slightly better off, not soaked too badly, but she clearly felt a stuffiness in her chest at the moment of plunging down from a height.

The rushing water had already sent warning signals through her body, so she dared not try any more thrilling roller coasters.

The group went through the attractions one by one, with one person dropping out after each, until only the female cousin and Li Liang persisted in riding the roller coaster.

Li Liang was tall with long legs; his two long legs cramped in the middle of the roller coaster seat felt stifled, and under the strong impact, his skin was scraped raw.

The female cousin came out unscathed and became the final winner.

——

After playing for two days in a bustling downtown area, they visited the campuses of two prestigious universities, Fudan University and East China Normal University, and saw the female cousin through her enrollment procedures.

The female cousin's three-day tour of Shanghai was very enjoyable.

As the start of the school term approached, Wu Meng and Li Liang also had to go to their respective schools to register.

The female cousin bid them a reluctant farewell and boarded the return train with the two of them.

——

East China Normal University.

For new student enrollment, the campus was especially lively; Lin Xiyu arrived early, and when dormitories were assigned, she luckily got a bottom bunk.

The girls' dormitory she lived in was on the sixth floor, a six-person room, a long rectangular tube building with a south balcony; the indoor area was small, fitting only three beds, one table, and one washbasin stand.

Personal toiletries were placed on the washbasin stand, and large suitcases were stuffed under the bed.

As for the table, six people shared it, only able to hold a mirror or so, serving merely as decoration.

——

"Ah, I don't want to sleep on the top bunk......"

"I'm afraid to sleep on the top bunk."

"What if I fall down?"

"Why did they get to take the top bunks first?"

"It should be a fair draw."

East China Normal University's English Department had many female students, and where there were many female students, there were many disputes; with the bottom bunks full, newly arriving students who saw only top bunks left inevitably had complaints.

Lin Xiyu's dormitory also welcomed a local Shanghai girl, coquettish and making a fuss about wanting to sleep on the bottom bunk.

Her parents had a headache from her tantrums; they wanted to scold her but couldn't bear to, so they could only stiffly look around the dormitory, their gaze landing on Lin Xiyu.

"Fellow student, could you switch with my daughter? She's been spoiled by us a bit, sleeps restlessly, and is used to tossing and turning; at home she can fall off the bed while sleeping, and we really can't rest easy letting her sleep on the top bunk."

"Fine, okay."

Seeing that the girl spoke eloquently and had a sincere attitude, Lin Xiyu wanted to build a good karmic connection; she was stunned for only one second, then agreed without any hesitation.

"Thank you, little girl."

The girl's mother didn't expect her to agree so readily; first stunned, then overjoyed: "Qingqing, come over quickly, thank your classmate."

"Thank you."

The girl was named Li Qing; seeing that Lin Xiyu was willing to yield to her, she was very happy, stopped making a fuss, and obediently walked over to thank her.

"You're welcome."

Lin Xiyu politely made small talk: "From now on we're all classmates, helping each other is only natural."

"Little girl, what's your name?"

The girl's father, hearing a familiar accent, looked surprised and delighted: "Where are you from? Where is your hometown?"

"My name is Lin Xiyu."

Lin Xiyu said generously: "I'm from Shandong, my home is in Jinan."

"Shandong person, what a coincidence."

The girl's father, to prove he was not lying, switched from Shanghai dialect to a not very authentic Shandong dialect: "My hometown is also in Shandong, my ancestral home is Qufu, not far from Jinan."

"Oh oh, Qufu......"

Lin Xiyu suppressed a smile, giving very enthusiastic support: "Confucius's hometown, very famous, all Shandong people know......"

"Xiyu, this is my business card."

The girl's father, seeing that the little girl was practically a fellow townsman, was very happy; he took a business card from his pocket and handed it to her.

"From now on, please look after Qingqing; this child has been spoiled by us since she was little, can't stand the slightest grievance, so please take more trouble, help her out more usually, and we won't let you lose out either; say whatever you need, when the weekend holiday comes, come to our home with Qingqing to play, and let your aunt make you something delicious to nourish you......"

"Thank you, Uncle."

Lin Xiyu took the business card and glanced at it; seeing it said a certain garment foreign trade import-export company, her heartbeat couldn't help but skip a beat.