Chapter 71

Chapter 71

"Qingqing, you don't know how scared I was! The Zhou family's place was covered in blood, and the smell even reached my house!"

Ning Pingying's teeth were chattering, her face pale with fright.

Tang Qingqing felt both surprised and unsurprised.

Shen Hewei was already ill and couldn't handle any more shocks.

The Zhou family had become increasingly arrogant, starting off by maintaining some decorum but gradually becoming shameless as they grew accustomed to causing trouble.

Wang Heizi had told her that Lu Xiang had become quite wealthy from targeting the Shen family.

Before Shen Hewei's incident, the Shen family had been more resilient, but once it was confirmed that Shen Hexian was responsible, they completely lost their spirit.

Raising such a daughter who harmed her own brother and father, without anyone else saying anything, Director Shen himself proposed his resignation.

Shen's mother also quit her job at the labor union, unable to accept the fact that she had raised such a cruel child.

They believed their education had failed, and their small family had become this way; how could they manage a larger one?

When faced with the Zhou family's provocations, they no longer responded aggressively but adopted a passive attitude.

Shen Hewei's outburst was due to reaching his limit, as the Zhou family not only angered Shen's parents to the point of fainting but also harassed Shen Hexian's two children.

"Although I didn't like that family before, they used to treat us normally. I never expected them to be so shameless! What does a child have to do with adults' mistakes? They couldn't get what they wanted, so they went after the kids instead. It's truly despicable!"

With their own mother in trouble, the two children were already being ostracized at school. After this incident, they couldn't stay there anymore.

So Shen Hewei snapped and went to the Zhou family with a knife.

That day, they had agreed to deliver money to the Zhou family, so everyone, including Lu Xiang, was present.

Since they were discussing serious matters, the children were sent away, thus escaping harm.

Due to the suddenness of the event, everyone was caught off guard, and the room was small.

With Shen Hewei wielding a knife, the Zhou family members didn't react in time and were stabbed.

"Originally, it shouldn't have been so severe. After all, Shen Hewei was alone and not particularly strong, while the Zhou family had many people. But this family was cowardly and lacked familial bonds. When Shen Hewei drew his knife, instead of working together to resist, they pushed each other forward to shield themselves.

Each person pushed others in front of them, hoping someone else would take the hit, fearing injury or loss. As a result, those who could have avoided it were pushed into Shen Hewei's blade, leading to the entire family being injured.

After being stabbed, they blamed each other instead of the attacker, making the situation even worse."

Due to the suddenness, no one knew what was happening inside, and the door was blocked, preventing entry.

However, the Zhou family's mutual accusations and curses revealed everything.

Now, everyone at the match factory was mocking the Zhou family. Losing a daughter wasn't enough; they were still proud of the benefits they gained, which no decent family could tolerate.

Even those who favored their sons rarely showed such cold-heartedness, and they all condemned the Zhou family for their lack of decency.

But the Zhou family, having gained too much, became thick-skinned and dismissed criticism as jealousy.

"Was Shen Hewei caught?"

Ning Pingying replied, "After he stabbed them, he fainted."

This incident once again caused a stir in the commune. The Zhou family suffered a significant loss. Although no one died, the injuries were severe, affecting internal organs, leaving lasting damage.

To treat these injuries, the Zhou family spent a lot of money, using up all the funds they had extorted from the Shen family. This led to further disputes, constant arguments, and mutual blame, leaving no peace.

Due to their severe injuries, they could no longer continue their previous work and were assigned to less demanding positions.

In recent years, the match factory's profits had declined, and wages were already low. Their injuries, resulting from personal conflicts, made their new positions even more challenging.

The Shen family had nothing left to compensate, and Shen Hexian's husband took their children and left Red Star Commune. Since Shen Hewei's actions were unrelated to their family, they were not held responsible.

Despite being the director for many years, Shen Hewei was honest and had little savings.

He had already spent a considerable amount on his treatment, and now without jobs, the Zhou family couldn't extract much compensation from the elderly couple.

They no longer dared to act as arrogantly as before, fearing that the old couple might also go mad and cause trouble.

This family had nothing left and could snap at any moment.

Shen Hewei stabbed multiple people, causing severe disabilities, yet he did not face criminal charges.

After fainting, he woke up in a state of dementia, unresponsive to the outside world.

If not fed regularly or taken to the toilet, he would soil himself.

He rarely spoke and appeared dazed.

Doctors couldn't determine the exact cause, suspecting that his previous brain injury, exacerbated by the shock, had led to dementia.

The commune's medical facilities were limited and couldn't provide a definitive diagnosis.

Tang Qingqing was shocked upon hearing this: "How did he become like this?"

"Who knows," Ning Pingying said, finding the situation bizarre. "But compared to being executed, being alive, albeit in a daze, gives the elderly couple some hope."

Though the Zhou family was unhappy, they had no choice but to accept the reality.

This case became a sensation, frequently discussed over tea and meals.

Yet, regardless of events, life continued, and soon the impact of this incident began to fade.

Tang Qingqing also sighed, but soon she put the matter out of her mind.

The girl with the sweet smile was now hidden deep in her heart.

Sometimes when she suddenly recalled it, she couldn't help but marvel at the impermanence of life, which made her cherish her current life even more.

After this case, Tang Qingqing rarely took leave to help at the Public Security Bureau again. The bureau also knew that she was now in her third year of junior high and called on her less frequently than before.

Soon, a semester passed, and through her tireless efforts, Tang Qingqing once again topped the entire grade.

After the holidays, Tang Qingqing went home for a visit, bringing her award certificate and prizes to see Old Liu first.

Old Liu was still the same as before, and because he was eating well now, he looked even younger than before.

Since Wang Heizi started junior high, he had expanded his network in town and thus frequented the commune more often.

Every time he returned from the commune, he brought back plenty of good things.

He didn't dare bring these items home, fearing questions, so he always delivered them to Old Liu's place.

Old Liu, Wang Heizi, and Tao Dazhuang were not great cooks; they could only manage to cook the food, but with good ingredients, they still managed to look healthy and rosy-cheeked.

Seeing Old Liu like this, Tang Qingqing felt very happy and wished her master would stay healthy and live a long life.

Old Liu carefully stroked the award certificate Tang Qingqing brought back, though he couldn't read the words, he was still very pleased.

"Master, you seem to be getting along well with Tao Dazhuang. Why don't you move down to live with him?"

Old Liu glared at her, "This is my house, I'm not going anywhere!"

"We can keep this place, but when Wang Heizi isn't around, you can stay at Tao Dazhuang's place for a few days."

Tang Qingqing was most worried about Old Liu living alone halfway up the mountain, where no one was nearby. If something happened, no one would know.

Although Old Liu was getting better, he was still old.

The roads nearby were uneven, and if he tripped, it could be serious.

Elderly people fear falling the most. Some elderly who were fine before could carry a hundred jin of grain briskly, but one fall could end their lives.

Moreover, life here was very inconvenient.

When Zhai Hongyi was with Old Liu, Tang Qingqing felt reassured.

After Zhai Hongyi left and she studied at the commune, Wang Heizi visited often, so although she was still worried, it was manageable.

But since Wang Heizi started junior high, he only came by once a week or every ten days. If something happened, it would be too late.

"I'm fine here, stop talking about moving. I won't go anywhere."

Tang Qingqing understood the saying that a golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as one's own doghouse, but Old Liu moved here because he was severely traumatized and wanted to escape the world.

"Master—"

Old Liu was firm and wouldn't listen to Tang Qingqing's persuasion.

But Tang Qingqing didn't give up, "Master, tell me what it would take for you to leave here."

Old Liu wanted to refuse, but seeing Tang Qingqing's determined eyes, he found it hard to say no.

"Master, I will never leave you here alone. If you don't give me a clear answer, I'll move here too!"

"You stubborn girl!"

"I learned stubbornness from you."

Old Liu not only taught Tang Qingqing tracking skills, changing her fate, but also imparted many principles during their interactions.

Otherwise, growing up in such an environment, she might have been misled into becoming someone who only contributed to her family without any self-awareness, like many so-called 'brother supporters.'

Through many cases, Tang Qingqing understood the impact of one's original family.

Many people turn to crime due to their living environments.

Even if she later discovered she wasn't related to the family, the severe mental conditioning would make it hard to break free, affecting her life.

Tang Qingqing could detach herself after learning her true origins because she had already armed herself mentally, making her resilient.

She could calmly analyze pros and cons and choose a better path.

Old Liu was her closest elder and relative, and Tang Qingqing was determined to take care of him.

"You're still young, why think so much? When I need help, I'll come to you."

"No, you must answer my question today, so I have something to look forward to!"

Annoyed by her persistence, Old Liu said, "Wait until you start working."

Tang Qingqing calculated and realized it would be years away!

"That's too long. How about this: if I can afford to rebuild your old house, will you move back?"

Old Liu's old homestead was still there, but the house had collapsed due to disuse.

Though not the busiest spot, it was still in the village, making it easier to check on him.

Tang Qingqing had thought it through: if Old Liu moved back, she could ask her uncle to check on him occasionally.

The two houses weren't far apart, just fifty meters in a straight line.

But with Old Liu living here, Tang Qingqing didn't want to trouble Uncle and Aunt. It's too far, and the commute would be a waste of time.

"Can you do it? Give me a straight answer."

Tang Qingqing waited for a while, but Old Liu still didn't respond. So she said:

"If you don't speak up, I'll take it as your agreement!"

Old Liu had an expression of helplessness, but deep down, he was overjoyed.

He never imagined that even though his son was gone, he could still enjoy the blessings of grandchildren in his old age.

It wasn't that he insisted on staying here, but going to live with others at his age was something he couldn't bring himself to do.

Even though Tao Dazhuang was a sincere young man and they got along well,

Tao Dazhuang wasn't young anymore. Previously, because he ate a lot and was intimidatingly large, no girls were interested in him.

Now that he had teamed up with Wang Heizi and had some spare cash, getting married and having children would likely happen soon.

Old Liu didn't want to be a burden, which is why he hadn't agreed.

When Tang Qingqing returned, she specifically bought a pound of lean meat and a leg bone from the commune.

Wang Heizi had previously bought some dried kelp, which was still stored at Old Liu's place.

They lived inland and had never eaten this before, so they hadn't dared to cook it and it had been gathering dust.

Tang Qingqing bought the leg bone specifically to make soup. Eating more seafood wouldn't cause iodine deficiency, thus preventing goiter.

Someone in their brigade had goiter, which was particularly frightening.

Tang Qingqing didn't know about this until she read about it in a book and asked Wang Heizi to bring her some seafood if he found any.

Tang Qingqing made a pot of leg bone and kelp soup, sweet and sour pork with half a pound of lean meat, and stir-fried spicy and sour shredded potatoes.

Wang Heizi and Tao Dazhuang weren't there, so two dishes and a soup were enough for her and Old Liu.

Tang Qingqing rarely came back, so Old Liu hadn't tasted her cooking in a long time.

Today, he ate an extra bowl of rice; the food was so delicious, far better than what he usually had.

If Tang Qingqing insisted on taking him in later, Old Liu felt he might give in just for the sake of her cooking.

Perhaps it was due to his age, but his taste buds had become increasingly picky.

In his youth, he could eat anything and find it delicious.

Now, if the food didn't suit his taste, he'd find it bitter and put down his chopsticks after a few bites.

He thought it was due to aging and poor digestion, but now he realized it was simply because the food wasn't good enough.

After dinner, Old Liu directly sent Tang Qingqing home, not letting her clean up.

"Master, look, you live so far away. If I return late, I worry about safety. If you move back, I can come and go whenever I want without rushing."

Old Liu tapped her head with his chopsticks, "Enough, stop talking nonsense and get going!"

Tang Qingqing ran off happily. When she arrived home, she saw Tang Xingsheng and Tang Xingqiang squatting in the corner, their hands tucked into their sleeves, stamping their feet occasionally to keep warm, and constantly looking down the road.

"What are you two doing here? Aren't you cold?"

The brothers jumped up when they saw Tang Qingqing.

"Sis, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"

"Sis."

The brothers surrounded her. They had grown taller since the last time she saw them.

Tang Xingqiang, who had been educated by Tang Qingqing, was now cleaner than before. His nose no longer dripped snot, and his face was washed clean, making him quite adorable.

Tang Xingsheng was also growing up, and Tang Qingqing noticed that his features were rather handsome. If he continued like this, he would definitely charm many girls in the future.

Everyone loves beauty, and Tang Qingqing was no exception. Seeing her brothers grow well brought her joy and softened her attitude.

"In such cold weather, why aren't you staying inside? Don't you feel the chill?"

Tang Xingqiang: "Third Brother and I heard someone say you were back, so we waited here."

Tang Qingqing now went directly to Uncle's house instead of her own. Often, the neighbors wouldn't know she was back until the next day.

Tang Qingqing pinched his cheek, "Don't do this again. What if you catch a cold?"

"Sis, I got another double hundred!" Tang Xingqiang looked at her with bright eyes.

Tang Qingqing gave him a thumbs-up, "Great job, great job!"

Tang Xingsheng, slightly embarrassed, also spoke up, "I didn't do as well as my little brother. I lost some points in Chinese, but I still scored above ninety."

"That's still a great score. It shows you've mastered what you've learned. While grades are important for your future education, learning itself is even more crucial. Have your test papers been returned? Let me see where you went wrong, and we'll analyze it together to avoid similar mistakes in the future."

"I brought them back; I'll show you later!"

Tang Xingsheng nodded happily. If it were another child, talking about studies might be annoying, but Tang Xingsheng not only didn't mind; he was delighted.

This showed that his eldest sister cared deeply about him. She was concerned about whether he understood the material, not just fixated on the scores, and wouldn't beat him if he performed poorly.

He felt that this elder sister genuinely cared for him from the bottom of her heart.

Although Tang Xingsheng had been ridiculed many times for not performing as well as his younger brother on exams, the moment he thought about how his elder sister would carefully analyze the reasons for his mistakes when she returned home, all that frustration would dissipate.

When Tang Qingqing saw that her two younger brothers were studying diligently, she fulfilled her previous promise by taking out two packets of candy from her bag as a reward.

Not only that, but each of them also received fifty fen as a reward.

This was the first time Tang Xingqiang had received such a large amount of money, and he hesitated to reach out and take it.

"Sis, why are you giving us money?"

"You're all growing up now. I believe you have the ability to plan and reasonably allocate your pocket money."

After the reforms, market days in town became even more bustling, with a wider variety of goods available, many of which did not require ration coupons.

With the New Year approaching, giving them some money would allow them to buy whatever they wanted.

Tang Xingqiang suddenly found these fifty fen particularly precious. This was Tang Qingqing treating him like an adult rather than a little kid who knew nothing!

Although his family loved him, they always treated him like a child. Even if they gave him money, it would be handed over to his older brother, Tang Xingwang.

But Tang Xingwang's personality was such that he wouldn't take care of his younger brothers. He would spend all the money on himself, perhaps buying the cheapest sweets for his brothers just to keep them quiet.

Tang Qingqing was different. Not only was she generous, but most importantly, she trusted them!

Tang Xingsheng was also very excited upon receiving the money. He needed pens and notebooks badly, and now he could buy them.

Otherwise, whenever he asked for money to buy notebooks and pencils, he would be scolded and not given any money.

Even though Tang Xingsheng cherished the money, he still returned thirty fen to Tang Qingqing.

"Sis, twenty fen is enough for me."

Tang Xingqiang widened his eyes, clutching the money, wondering whether he should return some too.

In the end, he gritted his teeth and took out thirty fen as well.

"Sis, we don't need so much. You should keep it for yourself."

Tang Qingqing smiled and pushed their money back. "I'm not asking you to spend it all at once. Keep it and buy what you need when necessary. But take good care of it; if you lose it, I won't replace it."

Tang Xingqiang quickly stashed the money away, fearing it might disappear if he was slow.

"Sis, don't worry! I'd lose myself before I'd lose the money!"

Seeing Tang Qingqing's firm attitude, Tang Xingsheng carefully put the money away, treating it as a treasure.

Seizing the opportunity, Tang Qingqing went to greet the elders at home.

Zhao Dahua's gaze immediately fell on the backpack on her back.

While Grandma Wu didn't show it as overtly, her first words were:

"Qingqing, you're back? Did you go to the Public Security Bureau before coming here? I heard you solved another big case."

This was no longer a hint but a clear indication that she wanted something.

Tang Qingqing didn't want to play games with them and directly said, "I'll be going back to the commune in a couple of days and won't return until just before the New Year."

The period before the New Year was the busiest time for the Public Security Bureau, with theft cases especially frequent. Thieves probably wanted to have a good New Year too.

Tang Qingqing had been hesitant about staying at the commune until the New Year, but she missed Old Liu and decided to come home first.

Grandma Wu and Zhao Dahua immediately broke into bright smiles.

Zhao Dahua: "You've been busy with your studies. It's good to help out during your break."

Grandma Wu: "Serving the people is what you should do!"

Zhao Dahua's eyes flickered. "Your brother Xingwang isn't young anymore. Why don't you take him along?"

Though following Tang Qingqing wouldn't earn him any money, he would still receive benefits at year-end and could eat at the Public Security Bureau's canteen every day.

She had heard from Tao Dazhuang that the canteen there was excellent, often serving meat, and one could eat as much as they wanted.

With the New Year approaching and little work available, sending Tang Xingwang there for meals would be a good deal.

Grandma Wu slapped her thigh. "Yes, yes, take your father along too. It's better to take family members than others!"

Zhai Hongyi, being an educated youth from the city, knew more, so there was no comparison. Wang Heizi had connections as the team leader, which couldn't be replaced. However, Tao Dazhuang could follow Tang Qingqing, which made Grandma Wu and the others unhappy.

Why take Tao Dazhuang and not family members?

It was fine during other times, but now, during the slack season, not choosing family members was inappropriate!

Tang Qingqing raised an eyebrow. "Do you think going there is for fun? They would be outside in the cold wind for at least fifteen hours a day. Do you think Tang Xingwang and Tang Jianjun can handle it?"

These two were probably huddled around a stove playing cards somewhere. Asking them to stand in the cold during winter was unrealistic.

Moreover, they seemed to treat the Public Security Bureau as a place to freeload.

While Tao Dazhuang did benefit from Tang Qingqing's presence, he wasn't just there to eat. Each time he visited, he helped chop firewood and did heavy labor in the kitchen.

Sometimes, when the bureau was short-staffed, he was even drafted to help apprehend criminals.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be appropriate to bring him along every time. After all, he eats a lot, and it makes Tang Qingqing seem too high-maintenance, bringing her own bodyguard for simple tasks.

Zhao Dahua hesitated; she knew all too well what kind of men her husband and eldest son were.

The older Tang Xingwang gets, the lazier he becomes. A grown man earns fewer work points than some girls, and people often gossip about him behind his back.

But Old Lady Wu is indifferent, believing that her son and grandson aren't incapable; they just don't want to work. If they put in effort, they'd be better than anyone else.

With such significant benefits dangling in front of them, they would surely be willing to work hard.

"Why not? If you, a young girl, can do it, why can't they?"

"Alright then. Let them stand outside for fifteen hours tomorrow. If they can endure it, they can go; if not, they shouldn't embarrass themselves. That's the Public Security Bureau, not a place for play-acting.

If there's a serious case, with bodies decomposing and maggots growing, they'll have to help carry the corpses and deal with the maggots."

Tang Qingqing was making this up; in the dead of winter, bodies wouldn't easily develop maggots.

But it was enough to scare Old Lady Wu. "What, you have to do that too?"

"What else? Do you think anyone can join the Public Security Bureau? Can our country afford to support idle hands? Wanting benefits without doing any work—where can you find such a thing?"

Zhao Dahua wasn't so easily fooled. "Why haven't I heard Tao Dazhuang talk about these things?"

"Does he ever talk about anything other than food?"

Zhao Dahua was stumped. Tao Dazhuang wasn't much of a talker and didn't like dealing with women. The only thing that made him speak was food.

"Besides, when he goes to the commune, he doesn't come to me. The commune isn't always busy with cases. During downtime, they need to find their own food and lodging. Where do you expect Tang Xingwang to stay? In a bridge tunnel in the dead of winter or at an inn?"

Old Lady Wu frowned. "Why is the Public Security Bureau so stingy?"

"If they had my skills, their treatment would be different. But do they?"

Old Lady Wu: "They just haven't studied seriously. If they did, they wouldn't be worse than you, a mere girl."

"But right now, they lack the skills. No matter how much you argue, they can't track someone by footprints."

Zhao Dahua, seeing Tang Qingqing's relentless arguments, became displeased.

"How dare you talk to your elders like that! Tang Qingqing, listen to me. Regardless of your abilities, you can't bypass us. Children should follow their parents' arrangements; it's natural. Your big talk won't change anything!"

Tang Qingqing rolled her eyes, unwilling to waste more words on them, and left for the next-door neighbor's house with her bag.

Tang Xingsheng hurried after her, while Tang Xingqiang shook his head at them and said:

"Grandma, Mom, your greediness even makes me shake my head. Sister has been away for so long, and you don't care about her at all. You don't ask how her exams went, only thinking about benefits. Even chickens need to be fattened before being slaughtered. You're trying to get something for nothing. Who would bother with you?"

Taking advantage of Zhao Dahua fetching a broom, Tang Xingqiang quickly slipped away.

Upon returning to Uncle's house, Tang Qingqing was greeted with warm smiles from Aunt and Tang Qiaoqiao.

"Qingqing, come taste the sunflower seeds and peanuts I just fried. They're from the crops I grew this year, and they turned out great."

"Sis, are you tired? Would you like to soak your feet? There's water heating on the stove."

Uncle wasn't as enthusiastic but still asked, "Have you eaten?"

Tang Qingqing could feel the genuine joy in their welcome. As soon as she entered the courtyard, they rushed over to greet her, taking her luggage and helping her into the house.

Inside, she was handed sunflower seeds and peanuts, while Tang Qiaoqiao busied herself serving tea and fetching roasted sweet potatoes, bustling around like a little top.

Tang Qiaoqiao also performed well this semester, scoring 99 in math and 98 in Chinese.

Tang Qingqing gave her the same reward as Tang Xingsheng and Tang Xingqiang: a bag of candy and fifty cents.

Before Aunt could speak, Tang Qingqing explained, "Learning to manage money is a skill. Let Qiaoqiao learn how to budget, so she knows how to handle finances in the future."

Aunt still hesitated. "You can't weave baskets anymore, where will the money come from? And you have many expenses. How can you keep bringing so many things for Qiaoqiao? She's not much younger than you."

"Aunt, I'm not one to overextend myself. Please trust me."

"But you're just a student..."

"Uncle, Aunt, I came back to discuss some matters with you."

Uncle looked at her, and Aunt asked, "What matters?"

Tang Qingqing glanced at Tang Xingsheng and Tang Xingqiang, who quickly swore:

"We'll only listen, not speak!"

Tang Xingsheng also promised, "We won't tell anyone!"

With their assurances, Tang Qingqing began.

"Uncle, Aunt, the world outside has changed. Individuals can now set up stalls and do business."

Uncle and Aunt widened their eyes, and Tang Xingqiang's eyes sparkled like light bulbs.

"Isn't that considered speculation and profiteering?"

"It's not entirely clear yet, as the policy is new and still evolving, but it will become more relaxed each year."

Aunt immediately waved her hands. "We can't do that."

Tang Qingqing understood their fear but couldn't avoid mentioning the risks.

Things were indeed chaotic, given that the previous policies had been in place for so long, and attitudes were still ambiguous.

Especially in such a small place, it's easier for things to go back and forth.

However, based on Uncle and Aunt's situation, doing a bit of small business would be more suitable for them.

Farming is too hard for them; everything has to rely on Aunt alone, as Uncle can do very little.

Moreover, farming has always been laborious and the income is very low.

It can only serve as a basic guarantee; if you want to live better, it becomes extremely difficult.

The future trend will also see a large number of migrant workers leaving their hometowns to work in industrially developed areas.

If we wait until policies become clear before taking action, the market will likely already be occupied by others.

At this moment, Uncle spoke up: "Qing girl, continue speaking."

Aunt looked at Uncle, who gave her a reassuring look.

"Wang Heizi has been out there making his way; you must have heard some news about him, right?"

Although Wang Heizi has always kept his earnings a secret from his family, it's impossible to completely hide it. They know something, but since they haven't separated households, his parents worry about other siblings taking advantage, so they turn a blind eye.

When he finds good items, Wang Heizi doesn't bring them home but gives them to Old Liu instead. They don't say anything, fearing that if they start, their own son might be exploited.

Uncle nodded. Since the separation of households, he no longer stays cooped up at home like before, almost forgotten by the village. He now goes out and socializes, no longer afraid of others' strange looks, thus knowing quite a bit about what's happening in the village.

Tang Qingqing often asks Wang Heizi to bring newspapers home. Uncle had attended two years of primary school, so he knows some characters. With Tang Qiaoqiao and a dictionary, he understands what's happening outside, unlike before when he lived in ignorance.

Tang Qingqing even highlighted the story of Xiaogang Village with a red pen, helping Tang Jianshe understand the profound changes happening in the world.

"I think you should consider doing a bit of small business. Uncle, your legs aren't convenient, but you can manage a stall."

Aunt still felt uneasy: "Doing business requires capital, and even if we manage, we'd need to go to town. How can we leave?"

Uncle also said: "Now isn't the right time. Qiaoqiao is still studying at the brigade school."

Hearing Uncle's words, Tang Qingqing realized he had a plan.

Not doing business now isn't because they don't want to, but due to limited conditions. But things might change in the future.

Tang Qingqing understood that this family currently prioritizes stability and can't take risks.

"We definitely can't do big business now, but we can do small business, selling things like needles, thread, handkerchiefs, and hair ribbons. Heizi can get the goods. You can also make tofu, sell peanuts, sunflower seeds, and pickled vegetables. When the town has a market, you can sell these items. If anyone in the village needs them, they can buy from you."

Small businesses won't make you rich, but they can supplement household expenses and give you a taste of how business works.

Wang Heizi started with small business under Zhai Hongyi's guidance and gradually expanded.

Aunt was now somewhat interested. She had recently gone to town and noticed that things were indeed more relaxed.

If she sells some homemade items, she probably won't be targeted.

Tang Qingqing said: "Those small items aren't expensive. Even if they don't sell, you can use them yourself. There won't be much loss. Heizi and I are close; even if you order a small amount, you can get wholesale prices."

Aunt asked: "Wouldn't this affect Heizi's business?"

Tang Qingqing smiled: "Don't worry about that. He's too busy to sell in town now."

Wang Heizi has become a middleman, getting goods from suppliers and distributing them to dealers. He no longer cares about small sales.

His goods don't require coupons, so his business is booming.

Tang Qingqing doesn't know where he gets the goods, but she knows they're not stolen. This channel was established by Zhai Hongyi.

They believe she's now half a public security officer, so it's better not to know about gray areas. Tang Qingqing also respects this and doesn't ask.

In reality, this is self-deception, as part of Tang Qingqing's income comes from this business, which she initially invested in.

Not only does Tang Qingqing receive annual dividends, but Zhai Hongyi's share has also been saved for him over the past two years.

They agreed that dividends would stop after Tang Qingqing enters university.

Tang Qingqing clearly understands that Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi are looking after her. Otherwise, why would they need her investment? Zhai Hongyi certainly doesn't lack money.

She didn't refuse their kindness and has noted this favor, planning to repay it when she can.

Hearing this, Uncle immediately decided: "We'll do this small business. Whether we make a profit or lose, we must try."

Tang Xingqiang, listening nearby, was fired up, his eyes shining.

Tang Qingqing sensed this and looked at him.

Tang Xingqiang, being bold, directly asked: "Sis, can I do this business too?"

"Do you want to compete with Uncle?"

"No, no, no! I can sell in other places!"

Tang Qingqing rubbed his head, "Do you want to do big business or small business?"

Tang Xingqiang wanted to say small business, to avoid seeming overly ambitious.

But he didn't want to lie to Tang Qingqing and finally said the truth.

"I want to do big business! Make a fortune!"

"Then you study hard. If you can get into university, I'll let Brother Yi take you to do big business!"