"Look at you, so happy."
"Did things work out?"
Shen Xue sat on a stool, gently stroking her slightly rounded belly, and looked lovingly at Chen Yang, who had just slurped down a bowl of noodles.
"They did."
"Director Zhao from the Administration for Industry and Commerce here in Jinling is a good leader who wants to get things done. He's very supportive of our business."
After finishing his noodles, Chen Yang took a sip of the noodle soup in his bowl. The original soup aids digestion, it felt comfortable.
"So, will you be busy again soon?"
Shen Xue gazed at Chen Yang. They had planned to go home after the Lantern Festival, but now it seemed that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.
She had lived for over twenty years and had never been away from home for so long at once. The last time she came to Jinling with Chen Yang, they had returned in just a week.
Jinling was a good city, and her in-laws were good to her, but she still preferred her own home. The plants and trees in the courtyard, the tables and chairs in the house, were all familiar to her.
"Missing home?"
"Or missing your parents?"
Pregnant women are very emotional and their moods fluctuate greatly, so Chen Yang paid close attention to Shen Xue's feelings.
Chen Yang moved a stool and sat beside Shen Xue, gently holding her and stroking her head.
"A little bit."
"I'm fine. You focus on your business. Mom and Dad can take Yan Yan and Hao Hao out for walks when they have time. I won't get bored."
Shen Xue lay in her husband's arms, looking up at him. She was determined not to hold him back.
"I'll speed things up. We'll go back as soon as this is over."
"We'll see how things go. Once everything is on track here, we'll return."
The couple spoke their private words, watching the two little ones play in the yard. It was quite pleasant, to say the least.
...
"I'm going to visit my two maternal uncles. My cousins asked me about something, and I have some news for them today. I'll go discuss it with them."
Shen Xue went for her afternoon nap. Since she was pregnant, she tended to be sleepy and needed a short rest every afternoon.
Chen Yang said goodbye to his parents, asking them to look after the children, and then rode his father's bicycle to the countryside.
"Uncle, where are Ge Sheng and You Shui?"
Upon arriving at his uncle's house, he looked around but couldn't find Qin You Sheng and Qin You Shui.
"They've gone to work. The Lantern Festival is over, and the brigade has made arrangements for this year's assignments."
"In a few more days, we'll start seedling cultivation. The brigade needs to secure seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides from the commune, lobby the grain management office, and build relationships with the fertilizer plant. You Sheng and You Shui have been assigned tasks by the brigade leader."
Listening to his uncle, Chen Yang understood. Life in the countryside was like this; after the New Year, all sorts of tasks would come up, and one couldn't expect to stay idle at home like during the holidays.
"Alright, Uncle. I came to tell You Sheng and You Shui that I have some promising leads for starting a business."
"Today I'll be meeting with leaders from Jinling's Administration for Industry and Commerce. My store will be opening here soon."
"Originally, I wanted to ask You Sheng and You Shui if they wanted to work with me or start their own businesses."
Chen Yang needed staff for his radio shop. If they worked with him, they would be like Shen Xue's aunt, essentially distributors. Although they would earn a good amount now, it wouldn't be their own business.
However, with Chen Yang's involvement, they wouldn't suffer losses.
If Qin You Sheng and Qin You Shui wanted to start their own businesses, Chen Yang would also offer them guidance.
As it was, there were many avenues for starting businesses. In the coming years, with the implementation of household contract responsibility, grain production would increase.
Gradually, as supply increased, ration coupons for grain and meat would become less scarce and eventually disappear from the market.
In 1984, after more than two years of price system reform experiments, Pengcheng in Guangdong Province was the first in the country to abolish all rationing coupons, with open supply and decontrolled prices for goods such as grain, pork, cotton cloth, and edible oil.
As the experimental field for reform and opening up, the people of Pengcheng embraced the spirit of the pioneering bull, daring to forge ahead and becoming the first to live without grain coupons.
The year after Pengcheng abolished grain coupons, in 1985, the state also abolished the system of unified purchase and assigned purchase of agricultural products, which had been in place for over 30 years.
This greatly stimulated farmers' enthusiasm for production and enriched the "rice bags" and "vegetable baskets" of urban residents.
It was also from this year that the dietary structure of urban residents in China began to undergo significant changes, with an increase in non-staple foods and a decrease in staple foods in the three meals a day. Consequently, most households had a surplus of grain coupons.
The actual abolition of grain coupons nationwide occurred in 1993. However, after 1985, it was generally very convenient for residents in many places to buy grain, unlike before when one couldn't eat without grain coupons.
During this period, the earliest batch of small business owners in the country were almost all related to food and drink.
Whether it was farmers in the countryside growing vegetables and selling them, raising chickens and selling eggs, or small breakfast stalls, steamed bun shops, and small restaurants in the city, they were almost all related to food and drink.
Food is paramount, and this was reflected in the development of China's industry and commerce.
Even decades later, various catering chain stores are the most numerous and longest-lasting among countless businesses.
Household contract responsibility had not yet been implemented, so opening a small restaurant would still be quite difficult. However, selling tea eggs or running a breakfast stall was feasible.
Around schools, parents would still be willing to spend money to buy their children something to eat to fill their stomachs.
Take tea eggs, for instance. In those days, they were considered a delicacy. Selling them at the entrance of a high school would definitely attract parents willing to buy them for their children in their final year of high school to supplement their nutrition.
Eating them every day would be too extravagant, but having them occasionally was acceptable.
"You should go check on your younger uncle's place. You Tian is still recovering from his injuries at home. He was beaten quite badly last time, and several bones were broken. The brigade hasn't assigned him any work."
"Oh, right. The hooligans we caught last time, the police have investigated thoroughly. They were responsible for several murders and specialized in trafficking women."
"They were executed yesterday. I heard two shots were fired. It's some consolation for You Tian. And Liu Yan Chang, Kai Yun has divorced him. That scoundrel has also been sentenced to three years of reform through labor."
"You Tian suffered such serious injuries, and his wife is also full of resentment. Kai Yun is also upset in her heart. This family is falling apart before our eyes. Your aunt and I feel terrible."
Qin Li De sighed. He also wanted to help his unfortunate niece, but his own abilities were limited. His own family was barely getting by. Even if he offered assistance, it wouldn't last a lifetime.
He knew his nephew was capable and hoped he could help his younger brother's family, at least by finding them a way to make a living.