After making an agreement with the two siblings, Hua Qingqing bought a pair of jeans, hoping to start their business on a high note.
At that time, most people didn't like to wear overly bright colors. It was considered too trendy.
Hua Qingqing wandered around the large trading market for a while and then prepared to move on to her next destination. As she passed by the popsicle stand at the entrance,
she couldn't help but admire the vendor's shrewdness.
It was so hot, and setting up the stand in such a crowded place to sell popsicles was a win - win move.
Hua Qingqing held a popsicle and leisurely left the trading market.
She headed for the antique street.
This wasn't like a decade or more later. The antiques on the street stalls might actually be genuine old items.
Hua Qingqing browsed through a few stalls and finally found something she fancied.
However, she didn't have a passion for collecting. There were indeed some fine old items here, but they were too expensive. She needed to save her money to buy materials. There were also some less - expensive old things, but she didn't like them and didn't want to waste her money.
A chubby aunt with curly hair was squatting nearby, looking at the items for a long time. In her right hand, she was holding a cloisonné hand - warmer, and in her left, a newly - aged wooden basket. She looked at them back and forth.
Finally, she actually seemed to be about to choose the old wooden basket.
The stall owner's eyes widened and then narrowed, and he immediately asked for an exorbitant price.
"Fifty yuan!"
After shouting out the price, the stall owner told a story about the ancient origin of the broken wooden basket.
Hua Qingqing almost choked. It was so overpriced!
Back in their Wuxing Production Brigade, those skillful aunts and uncles could weave such a basket for two yuan an hour.
Hua Qingqing was shocked that the curly - haired aunt was actually tempted to pay.
Unable to hold back, she leaned over and whispered,
"Auntie, choose the cloisonné hand - warmer in your left hand. It's from the Qing Dynasty. As for the one in your other hand, it looks a bit like the stall owner's lunch basket today."
The chubby aunt wasn't angry. She glanced at Hua Qingqing and then decisively picked up the cloisonné hand - warmer. This one was obviously much more delicate than the broken basket. The stall owner immediately asked for 150 yuan.
Finally, with Hua Qingqing's help, they managed to close the deal at forty yuan.
The chubby aunt was so delighted that she wanted to treat Hua Qingqing to Peking duck at Quanjude with the money she saved.
Hua Qingqing's mouth watered at the thought, but when she checked her watch, it was almost time to go back. She could only bid farewell regretfully.
However, the chubby aunt really seemed to want to treat her. Before leaving, she even asked for Hua Qingqing's name.
When Hua Qingqing got back to the Hua family, it was just time for dinner.
Hua Qingqing smelled the delicious food and praised Wu Yunhua. The latter winked at her and whispered, "Grandma's back. Be careful later."
Hua Qingqing nodded.
In the past few days, she had learned from Wu Yunhua that it was Grandma Lin who controlled the family's finances. This woman was mean and stingy. She would act like a good mother in front of her son.
It was quite a dramatic story how Grandma Lin and Hua Jia, mother and son, were reunited. Back then, Grandma Lin and Hua Jia separated for some unknown reason. Hua Jia was adopted by others. Just when Hua Jia became a cadre in the capital, Grandma Lin, by some incredible coincidence, recognized her son.
It was said that the original owner couldn't go to the capital partly because of this old lady.
During dinner, Hua Qingqing finally saw her grandma. Different from Grandma Yang, her grandma's good friend, her grandma was very thin, and her eyes were fierce.
What was going on?
Was she dissatisfied with her?
Or was she here to avenge her friend?
Hua Qingqing couldn't figure it out, so she picked up a piece of meat for her grandma.
"Grandma, have some meat." Shut up.
But obviously, this piece of meat couldn't make her grandma keep quiet!
Halfway through the meal,
Grandma Lin brought up what had happened a few days ago and said that Hua Qingqing didn't respect her elders.
Hua Qingqing shook her head innocently.
"No, I respect my elders very much. Grandma Yang even bullied you. You only have me and Miaomiao as granddaughters. When she bullied us when there were no adults around, of course I had to fight back."
Hua Qingqing looked at Hua Jia, the silent head of the family who was just concentrating on eating.
"Dad, am I right? If someone bullies you, you have to fight back. What if she becomes more and more aggressive and bullies us again and again? We have to scare her into submission the first time she tries to bully us. And then she'll never dare to look down on Grandma again."
"…Yes."
Grandma Lin felt so frustrated.
She had never been in a situation where she couldn't even get a word in.
She had only been away for a few days, but so many things had changed.
This granddaughter might be difficult to deal with.
Hua Qingqing didn't provoke others on purpose, and Grandma Lin was still observing. She didn't dare to act rashly.
Soon, it was time for the appointment with the siblings Guang Hei and Guang Bai.
To show how much she valued this deal and to promote future cooperation, Hua Qingqing decided to spend some money to treat these two future business partners to Peking duck.
Well, it was definitely not because she wanted to eat it herself. Was she such a glutton?
No!
"Comrade Hua, we've got the cloth. It's at my place. After deducting the money you gave us for purchasing, there's still 200 yuan left. Here you are."
The efficiency of these two siblings was surprisingly high.
Hua Qingqing was very satisfied. She took out 20 yuan as a tip for them.
Guang Hei refused, "We can't take this money. The money you gave us for purchasing already included our payment."
Seeing that she was serious, Hua Qingqing put the money back.
"Since you don't want this money, eat more Peking duck later. Don't be polite to me."
"Also, could you please find someone to send those cloths to Nan County? I'll arrange someone to pick them up."
"This cooperation has been very pleasant. I'll definitely come to you again. After these cloths are made into products, we'll surely need a large amount of cloth. Maybe you'll have to find a few more factories."
Hua Qingqing said it casually, but there was an air of confidence that she would succeed.
Guang Bai was curious. "Sister Hua, what are you going to do with these cloths? Make shoes?"
After all, such rough cloth couldn't be made into clothes. The only thing it could be used for, as far as she could think, was making shoes.
"Make bags."
"Bags?"
Guang Bai murmured, "What kind of bags can be made with this kind of cloth? If you want to make schoolbags, army - green cloth would be more suitable."
Hua Qingqing smiled, "I do want to make schoolbags, a new type of backpack specifically for kids going to school. The enrollment rate in our country has been increasing year by year. There'll be a market for a schoolbag designed specifically for kids."
Guang Bai still didn't quite understand, while Guang Hei remained silent, deep in thought.
"Comrade Hua, can I buy one when your bags come out?"
Hua Qingqing smiled, "I've been waiting for you to ask that. I'm very confident in my products. I plan to sell them in every big city. If you two siblings are interested, you can take some goods. If you're not, I can hire you to sell them."
After the meal, the three of them became more familiar with each other.
When Guang Bai learned that Hua Qingqing was still in high school, she was a bit stunned.
This experienced businessperson was actually a student!
Spending hundreds of yuan on goods at a time. She had never seen such a bold person!