Chapter 93: Testing the Waters

However, Tang Xin did not dare to openly and recklessly go into business with Chen Liguo.

For one thing, although Chen Liguo was her husband’s good brother, Tang Xin still did not dare take too much risk at the outset. After all, private buying and selling was still illegal at this time.

She had once taught Chen Liguo the equivalent of doing a small trade, but it was under the banner of serving the public.

Most importantly, Chen Liguo’s line of work was suitable, and the little snacks he handled had already been approved by the leadership, so there was no problem with him taking action.

But what Tang Xin wanted was different, and she was not entirely at ease. It would be best to test the waters herself first.

After leaving the department store, Tang Xin deliberately followed a few people who had failed to find what they wanted inside.

She had come here before to observe the layout and knew these people’s final destination.

There was a small base here, what people commonly called a black market.

On the surface, it was a crisscrossing little alley, but in truth it was a perfect place to advance or retreat at will.

People usually carried a basket, covered with a cloth or towel for concealment, and occasionally lifted it to show others the goods inside.

After a quick look around, Tang Xin knew exactly how to proceed. From her own basket, she took out an apple that did not look especially appealing.

She held it up and gave it a shake. Once she was sure many people had seen it, she quickly put it back into the basket.

Soon, someone who wanted apples came over and asked the price in a low voice.

Tang Xin was straightforward and replied at once, “Three dimes each, five dimes for two. If you buy more, I can give you a little discount.”

The apples she had brought out were all average in appearance and small in size, so it was better to price them by the piece. Selling by weight was inconvenient for others, and they might not want to buy that much anyway.

That price was honestly not cheap, but there was nothing to be done. Apples were scarce on the market these days.

Those who wanted them could afford such a price; those who could not would naturally not even think of fruit.

At this time of year, fruit itself was a rare treat.

Tang Xin also called softly to the people around her, “Friends who are interested can come take a look. There are only so many. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

Those words instantly made many people more tempted.

Tang Xin had not brought many apples. Being cautious was one reason; the key was that she understood the psychology of the people here.

Because apples were not a necessity for filling the stomach or saving a life, scarcity made them precious, and only limited quantities could stir people’s desire to rush and buy.

So when Tang Xin lifted the towel covering the basket a little higher, revealing the bright, tempting apples inside, a middle-aged woman immediately stepped forward to ask the price and buy some.

She was also decisive, taking out two yuan at once to buy ten apples. In a flurry of quick hands and feet, she chose ten and put them into her cloth bag.

Not a single extra word was spoken. She turned and left in a hurry.

One thing Tang Xin knew very well was that in these years, worker families generally were not too poor. Otherwise, why would villagers desperately want to get into the city?

The main reason was that prices were low in those days, and most factories had workshops and canteens, so workers’ living expenses were not high.

For example, if a family had three or four able-bodied adults who were workers, they could absolutely earn a hundred yuan a month.

For the most part, food, clothing, shelter, and daily needs could be covered with thirty or forty yuan a month, which meant they could save several hundred yuan a year.

There was no notion yet of freely buying and selling houses, and the big-ticket items were things like televisions and bicycles. Those required industrial coupons, and ordinary families would not buy many of them anyway.

So in truth, many worker households had savings. However much or little, they were still wealthier than the farmers.

After a whole year of hard work, with New Year fast approaching at last, what was so strange about buying a few apples to take home and eat?

Besides, Tang Xin had not brought much this time—only about thirty apples in all—so they sold out very quickly.

From start to finish, it took no more than two hours, and she had collected more than seven yuan. Tang Xin was very satisfied.

A good beginning was half the battle; from here on, she would continue to adapt to circumstances.

Most of all, if she could truly find a market and a proper channel, she had great confidence in that brat Li Kai.

Earlier, when the farm upgraded, Tang Xin had obtained apple tree seeds.

As far as her personal preference went, though, she actually liked oranges better, especially the sweet, refreshing taste of sugar oranges.

She did not know whether her Happy Farm could grow them, but she did know that further upgrades would eventually bring orange trees. The only question was at what level they would appear, and what variety they would be.

That apple tree had taken Tang Xin a full week of careful cultivation before it bloomed and bore fruit. It had been excellent: one tap harvest yielded more than two hundred jin of apples.

She kept some for herself and her family, and would sell the rest. After all, the fruit trees in the farm were still growing.

Later there would be other kinds of fruit as well, and those too could be sold.

After finishing this matter, Tang Xin could finally go home.

She had only money and a few light items on her person; the rest had been stored in the warehouse.

Then, with practiced ease, Tang Xin took a vehicle and walked the rest of the way back to the Harvest Production Brigade, where she found a hidden corner and brought out all her things.

Two huge bundles in all, and she puffed and panted as she struggled to carry them home.

Just as she was nearing the Lii family courtyard, she saw Madam Fang standing at the door, looking out after having already finished preparing supper.

Seeing her daughter-in-law return from far off, Madam Fang was overjoyed and hurried over to her.

She took the large bundles from her.

But her steps faltered for a moment. “What on earth is in here? It’s so heavy.”

Tang Xin only smiled and said, “Mother, let’s go in and eat first.”

She really was already very hungry. Though she had ridden back empty-handed later on, there was still a stretch of walking before she could return to the brigade.

Tang Xin felt that she truly, truly, truly had suffered too much and contributed far too much to this family.

Next time, she would still have to bring Brother Li Sheng along. At the very least, it would be good to have someone to help carry things.

Thinking of this, she looked around and asked, “Hmm? Mother, isn’t Brother Li Sheng at home?”

Although Li Sheng had also been busy every day lately, coming and going early and late, by this hour he would usually already be back preparing to eat with everyone.

“Oh.” Madam Fang was still studying her daughter-in-law’s big bundles and answered absentmindedly, “The brigade leader’s family is treating people to dinner tonight. Li Sheng went to keep them company.”

Back in the house, Li Kai and Li Xiyue had already set the table on their own.

Over these days, they had actually made a great deal of progress, especially Li Xiyue.

Her little mouth was still sharp and merciless, but compared to before, she was at least doing much more.

Because Li Sheng would not be eating at home tonight, and because the past few days had gone rather well, Madam Fang made supper much simpler.

Simple, that is, only by the daughter-in-law’s exacting standards. In truth, compared with the Li family’s meals of the past, this was already far, far better.

The Reversal of the Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character’s Life will continue to be updated in New Book Sea Pavilion, with no ads on the site. Please collect and recommend New Book Sea Pavilion!

If you like The Reversal of the Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character’s Life, please add it to your favorites: The Reversal of the Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character’s Life New Book Sea Pavilion updates the fastest.