Chapter 98: Opportunities Belong to the Kind

Li Ye rode his bike around the county town for half a circle, found nowhere to go, and decided to head out of town toward Shuangliu Town.

The bumpy rural roads severely limited the speed of his Happiness 250; he spent half an hour riding thirty to forty li.

Today was the Shuangliu Town market day, and thousands of villagers from surrounding areas crowded the riverside near the town government.

The day before yesterday, Li Ye had told Han Chunlan to come here for sesame candy—he didn’t know where she’d set up her stall yet.

Li Ye’s motorcycle stood out; before he even reached the edge of the market, he saw Jin Peng waving at him by the river.

Li Ye rode over and stopped. “You came all the way out here yourself?”

Jin Peng teased, “When Boss Li Ye gives an order, how could I not come check on it?”

Li Ye shook his head. “I told you not to take it too seriously—just treat them like ordinary acquaintances.”

Jin Peng said, “I know, I know—I’ve got Xiao Qiu watching them, checking their depth so you don’t get fooled.”

Li Ye grumbled, “How could I get fooled?”

Jin Peng smiled and fell silent. The Han family’s affair had circulated in Qinghe County for months, only just quieted down—did Li Ye forget his past lessons so easily?

Han Chunlan got up early today and pushed a cart with her husband Niu Dali toward Shuangliu Town.

Although Li Ye’s words the night before had sounded frivolous, the couple could only treat it as a last resort—believe it and try.

Her father-in-law had died early; Niu Dali was his mother’s only son, raised alone, and all burdens fell squarely on the two of them—no siblings to help.

When she married in, her father had demanded a heavy bride price, leaving the Niu family utterly drained; they’d just paid off their debts when this misfortune struck again.

If Han Chunlan couldn’t find another way, would she let her two children suffer on bran and wild vegetables too?

She’d give it her all—make money.

When the couple arrived at the Shuangliu market, it was only four or five in the morning—the sky was barely light, but many vendors had already claimed their spots.

Han Chunlan walked around and found only one young man selling sesame candy.

He rode a rare human-powered tricycle, piled high with several large bundles and two big sacks.

Outside the sacks sat a small pile of sesame candy; he ate some while glancing around—clearly not here to sell.

Han Chunlan approached and asked, “Brother, are you selling sesame candy?”

The young man glanced at her and asked directly, “What’s your surname?”

Han Chunlan paused. “I’m Han. What’s yours, brother?”

“No need for courtesy—I’m Qiu.”

The young man pulled out a large balance scale. “Come, lend a hand.”

Han Chunlan hurried to help him lift the scale and weigh the two big sacks.

“Two hundred and two jin total—I’ll round it to two hundred. Sign here.”

Xiao Qiu pulled out a slip of paper and had Han Chunlan sign it.

Han Chunlan had only finished primary school; she carefully read the paper twice before realizing it was an IOU.

The two hundred jin of sesame candy were being sold to her on credit—at five jiao per jin.

As she pulled out her cloth bundle of money, she said, “Brother, I didn’t intend to buy on credit—just count it.”

Xiao Qiu lifted his head. “Want it or not?”

“.”

Han Chunlan stared blankly for a long moment, then lowered her head. “Yes. Yes.”

She signed the IOU, called over her husband Niu Dali, loaded the candy onto the cart, and prepared to leave.

Xiao Qiu stopped them. “Hey? Isn’t this a stall? Where are you going?”

Han Chunlan smiled. “You’re setting up here—how could we still sell here and compete? We’ll go elsewhere.”

Xiao Qiu said, “No need. This small business is yours now—I’m switching to something else.”

“Small business?”

Han Chunlan was puzzled, but she soon saw what Xiao Qiu meant by “small business.”

Xiao Qiu untied the bundles on the tricycle, revealing colorful skirts, crisp shirts, and pants.

He also pulled out a large photo and hung it prominently on the stall—it looked like some kind of official document with a seal.

Niu Dali couldn’t read the seal, but the colorful skirts made his eyes dazzle—he imagined how beautiful his wife would look in one.

“What are you staring at? Get the stall set up and start calling out!”

Han Chunlan turned away from the skirts, urging her husband to prepare their own stall and wait for customers.

She was anxious—afraid no one would buy, afraid they’d make nothing, waste their whole day.

But things were better than she expected.

In the summer of 1982, people were still poor, but a few jiao was no longer an unaffordable sum.

Sweet treats had powerful appeal to eaters of all ages in this era.

Many villagers who sold their farm goods or handicrafts would spend three or five jiao on snacks to please their children or honor their elders.

Three or five jiao seemed insignificant, but small businesses thrive on accumulating small gains; by the time the market was breaking up, Han Chunlan realized her pockets were full of cash.

Though mostly coins and small bills, money—even coins—brought a solid sense of security.

“Dali, how many jin did we sell?”

“I didn’t count—I was too busy to keep track.”

“You idiot, can’t you see how much candy’s left?”

“Oh, uh—still one full sack and half of another.”

Han Chunlan did rapid mental math, checking several times, and estimated she’d sold sixty to seventy jin.

If they kept this up long-term

【Li Ye wasn’t lying—he really could make a thousand a year, just as he said!】

“Dali, you’re staring at what?”

Han Chunlan happily shared her joy with her husband, but noticed he kept glancing at Xiao Qiu’s clothing stall.

Today, the couple had made money—but compared to Xiao Qiu’s clothing stall, it was like comparing a candle to the sun.

Since opening his stall, Xiao Qiu’s sales never stopped.

A crowd surrounded him—people grabbing one item, then another; he’d been collecting money until his hands ached.

At the peak, Han Chunlan even sent Niu Dali over to help maintain order, fearing the crowd would overwhelm them.

Now, seeing Xiao Qiu nearly sold out, Niu Dali couldn’t help but envy him.

Han Chunlan kicked her husband hard.

“Dali, be honest and grounded. Don’t keep eyeing other people’s fields—we haven’t even mastered sesame candy yet! Why look elsewhere?”

“I’m not greedy—I’m not! I just wanted to buy you a skirt—before they’re all gone.”

Niu Dali stammered, sounding like a guilty child.

Han Chunlan snapped, “Why do I need a skirt? Can I work in it? Stop dreaming useless things—go shout and sell, then settle accounts with him.”

Owed money made Han Chunlan uneasy—she’d pay back whatever she could today.

But when the market broke up and she tried to repay part of the debt, Xiao Qiu refused.

“These two hundred jin were sold to you on credit—pay cash next time you restock. Also—”

Xiao Qiu tossed a skirt to Niu Dali. “Thanks for helping me earlier. This is a gift for your wife—don’t refuse.”

“No, we can’t accept this.”

Niu Dali grabbed the skirt quickly but insisted on paying.

After much pushing and pulling, Xiao Qiu finally accepted three yuan and fifty jiao as cost price.

“Brother, this skirt’s cost price... is only three yuan and fifty jiao?”

“What? Interested?”

Xiao Qiu blew a smoke ring, smiling faintly at Niu Dali.

Earlier, Xiao Qiu had sold each skirt for seven or eight yuan.

So shady.

Niu Dali waved his hands. “No, no, no—I’m not greedy. Brother, don’t worry—I’ll keep quiet.”

After the market broke up, Xiao Qiu rode several li to the riverside and met Jin Peng and Li Ye.

“Brother Peng, I’ve watched them—they’re decent, kind, not greedy, warm-hearted—but I can’t guarantee they’ll stay that way.”

“Alright, go take care of your own business.”

After Xiao Qiu left, Jin Peng asked Li Ye, “What now? Turn your little aunt into a wholesaler?”

Li Ye said calmly, “Let’s wait and see. Opportunities belong to the kind, to those who know gratitude.”

“Hmm.”

Jin Peng rubbed his buzz cut, beginning to think to himself.

Kind people, those who know gratitude—aren’t those exactly people like me?

Heh~

Old Feng will finish his IV drip tomorrow and start writing, then add extra chapters tonight—hope everyone supports him.

(End of Chapter)