"Of course I don’t have that kind of capability. A TV costs several hundred yuan, not to ntion you need a ticket to buy one, and I don’t have the opportunity to get a ticket!"
"This TV was a broken set discarded by another unit. My brother fixed it up like new, and now it barely works."
"Our brother is so impressive; he can even fix TVs?"
"Absolutely! That bicycle of mine was also put together by my brother from parts he bought at the recycling station. Although it rattles everywhere when you ride it, it doesn’t affect its usage at all."
"Our brother is truly amazing!"
Listening to the roommates praise Cheng Jinyun, Lin Xiang felt a sense of pride.
"Right, I’ll give you all the pay for today and tomorrow’s part-ti work after I return to school tomorrow night. It’s already quite late, and you’ve worked hard all day, so hurry back to school and rest."
"Alright, see you tomorrow then!"
After the roommates left, Lin Xiang settled the wages for the aunts who ca to help, then closed the door with Mrs. Lin.
The first task upon returning ho was always to count money.
Today’s business was about the sa as yesterday, but since more dishes were prepared in advance, more were sold than the previous day.
Mrs. Lin was simply happy to see the money spread across the table, not really caring how much was earned, just asking Lin Xiang to collect it all.
Lin Xiang locked the money in a box and said to Mrs. Lin, "Mom, there’s sothing I want to talk to you about."
"Go ahead."
"I’ve bought three pieces of land in Qi State."
Mrs. Lin was taken aback; bought three pieces of land? Why buy land out of the blue?
Mrs. Lin was even more confused; where is Qi State? She had never heard of it.
Lin Xiang explained the whole story of the land purchase to Mrs. Lin, "My brother’s cousin’s uncle is a leader in the housing managent bureau. He said Qi State will be developed in a few years. I bought the land for six thousand yuan, and it will double in value in a few years, making us real ten-thousand-yuan households!"
Mrs. Lin dread of becoming a ten-thousand-yuan household. Hearing that she was getting closer to her goal, she didn’t even consider where Lin Xiang’s six thousand yuan ca from and imdiately praised her for having a business mind.
"But the problem is, Qi State is so far from here. If we buy the land and leave it idle, it’ll be such a waste, won’t it?"
The gene built into Hua Country farrs is to grow crops.
Even with collective labor, each household had their own land to grow seasonal vegetables.
Now, hearing about nearly twenty acres of idle land, Mrs. Lin just felt it was a waste, as if losing several thousand yuan.
"It’s not a waste. I plan to set up a farm, raising chickens, ducks, fish, rabbits, and pigs so we’ll have endless supplies of at to eat."
Following the tiline, by the middle of next year at the latest, the country will lift the restriction on beef consumption, and then she’ll be able to raise cattle and sheep on a large scale.
Additionally, Lin Xiang plans to visit the agricultural college to see if she can find Zhang Maoyan to help get so seeds and find soone who knows how to farm to help plant vegetables. This way, Xingfu Restaurant can have a full supply of produce, reducing costs further.
However, implenting these plans will take ti; Lin Xiang now only has a preliminary idea.
"Alright, do as you see fit. I’m tired and need to sleep."
"Wait, I have sothing for you!" Lin Xiang stopped Mrs. Lin, "Today we had dinner at Big Aunt’s place, and before leaving, she gave gifts, including one for you. Open it and see."
Mrs. Lin playfully reprimanded, "Look at you, how you always take things when you eat!"
While speaking, Mrs. Lin’s hands already uncontrollably opened the bag.
On top were two sets of packaged thermal underwear, and on the bottom was a cashre coat.
The cashre coat was a dark navy mid-length style, with no excessive designs, only adorned with a few buttons set with small diamonds, simple yet elegant and luxurious, instantly catching Mrs. Lin’s eye.
She quickly took off her old cotton jacket, slling of cooking oil, and put on the cashre coat eagerly.
It turned out the size and length were just right.
"Niuzi, does it look good?" Mrs. Lin twirled around in place, her face showing unmistakable joy.
Seeing Mrs. Lin so happy, Lin Xiang felt a bit uneasy inside.
Clearly, she had already made quite a lot of money but hadn’t bought Mrs. Lin any decent clothes yet.
What Mrs. Lin wore were clothes made from fabric given by the cotton spinning factory and sewn by Fifth Aunt.
Although they were warm, they still couldn’t compare to a finished cashre coat.
"It looks great, very suitable for you."
Mrs. Lin twirled again, and only after Cheng Jinyun also praised it did she reluctantly take it off.
"I am so busy at Xingfu Restaurant, constantly on the go. Such expensive clothes would only be stained with the sll of oil and smoke, wouldn’t do justice to them. Keep it, and wear it when we go back for the New Year."
"Sure, when we go back during the New Year, we’ll get a couple more new outfits to return ho like dignitaries!"
Mrs. Lin happily went to sleep.
After bidding goodnight to Cheng Jinyun, Lin Xiang went upstairs with her own bag.
Her gifts were similar to Mrs. Lin’s, two sets of thermal underwear, but hers were light yellow and pastel pink, more suitable for young girls.
Additionally, there was a winter outfit.
The top was a short pink cashre coat, paired with black pants, with a warm white sweater underneath.
The sweater seed to be hand-knitted by Big Aunt, with tight stitches and occasionally visible mistakes.
Lin Xiang didn’t care much about dressing up herself, as having bought too many pretty clothes in her previous life, she wasn’t particularly interested in the clothes of the seventies, especially winter wear, primarily valuing comfort in daily wear.
Luckily, her fair skin and decent looks distracted people from noticing her outfit.
But Big Aunt noticed and, thinking from her perspective that young girls all love beauty, assud that Lin Xiang didn’t wear new clothes because of family hardships, so she provided a full set from inside out.
Though Big Aunt’s kindness was purely out of affection, Lin Xiang was still very touched.
She placed the new clothes aside, intending to wear them when going out tomorrow.
After returning from Qi State, she planned to visit the departnt store and buy a couple more sets of new clothes for Mrs. Lin and herself!
That night, Lin Xiang fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
In her dreams, she heard a long-lost voice.
"Congratulations, you’ve gained all the goodwill from the male lead and can leave this book-world at any ti to return to your original world."
The chanical male voice was devoid of warmth.
Lin Xiang woke up startled.
"Have I gained enough goodwill value? Can I go back?"
She attempted to contact the voice, "I want to go back."
"Hey, did you hear ? I said I want to go back!"
"So it was just a dream..."
Lin Xiang lay in bed, feeling weak and listless.
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