Chapter 4: Jiang Yang & Lin Shu & Liu Qingqing 2 – Daily Gossip in the Courtyard of the Sickly Young Aunt

Chapter 4: Jiang Yang & Lin Shu & Liu Qingqing 2 - The Sickly Aunt’s Daily Drama in the Compound

Jiang Yang never expected Lin Shu to act so quickly. Just two days after the college entrance exam results came out, she had already sold off her job.

Lin Shu hadn’t let herself be persuaded by her office colleagues to quit before, yet now she sold her job just to avoid their mockery.

By the time Jiang Yang found out, it was already a done deal.

He only learned the news from Mother Jiang, who had heard it from someone else and was nearly fuming.

"What on earth is your wife thinking? She just gave up a perfectly good job like that—what’s she thinking?"

Jiang Yang grimaced at Mother Jiang’s shrill nagging.

How should he know what Lin Shu was thinking?

He had already told her over and over how important that job was, yet she turned around and sold it. How was he supposed to understand her reasoning?

"Tell your wife to make that job back—now!"

Jiang Yang knew that was impossible.

The paperwork’s already done—how could she possibly reclaim the job now?

Meanwhile, Lin Shu was happily counting her cash in her room.

She had sold her job for a whole 1,000 yuan!

Ever since coming back to life, she had never held so much money in her hands, and she was giddy.

She even felt her decision was genius—1,000 yuan would’ve taken her over two years of work to earn.

By then, the economic reforms would’ve kicked in—wouldn’t making money be much easier?

Would she even still need a job by that point?

The more she thought about it, the prouder she got.

"Giggle giggle!"

Jiang Yang heard her laughter as soon as he entered the room.

He said darkly, "You sold your job?"

"Yep!" Lin Shu was still riding the high.

"Didn’t I tell you? That job was supposed to be saved for the kids—how could you just sell it without consulting me?"

This time, Lin Shu could hear the anger in his voice and quickly explained, "I already told you—I don’t have time to work anymore!

And do you know how much I got for it? 1,000 yuan! 1,000! That’s two years’ pay!"

"If you hadn’t sold it, you’d have gotten far more than 1,000 yuan down the road," Jiang Yang still couldn’t understand.

"Pfft! Nobody’ll want a factory job later… Everyone will be doing business by then…" Lin Shu mumbled, trailing off.

"What did you say? Doing business? That’s black-market hustling—you could get arrested for that!" Jiang Yang was startled by her implication.

"Just because it’s not allowed now doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future!" Lin Shu shot back with a knowing look.

"What do you mean? Where'd you hear this?" Jiang Yang couldn't understand how Lin Shu had come across such news.

Lin Shu’s gaze shifted uneasily, her stomach twisted with guilt.

Before she could explain, Jiang Yang cut her off with his own theory. "Was it the deputy mayor you used to know who told you?

It must be him. Otherwise, how else would you know this?" Just like with the college entrance exams before—while others were still clueless, she had already started preparing. Surely, that was also a tip from the deputy mayor.

Lin Shu opened her mouth, then clamped her mouth shut.

Once Jiang Yang assumed the news came from the deputy mayor, he relaxed a little.

Based on past experience, the information was pretty much a sure thing.

So, did that mean they could really run businesses out in the open in the future?

The thought suddenly set his pulse racing.

Who didn’t wanna be the big shot?

Thinking of those tycoons from before, each with immense wealth—if they could finally go legit, could he become one of them too?

...

Because of the news Lin Shu had revealed, Jiang Yang no longer cared whether she was still preparing for the college entrance exams. All he could think about was waiting for the time she had mentioned—when business would be openly permitted.

He spent days pouring over the papers day and night, determined to catch the news before anyone else.

Finally, after Lin Shu failed the college entrance exams once again, Jiang Yang spotted the headline about China’s reform and opening-up policy in the papers.

Jiang Yang knew that the legit business opportunity Lin Shu had mentioned had finally arrived.

Jiang Yang also shared this news with Liu Qingqing. In his eyes, Liu Qingqing was a better match for him than Lin Shu, and she would surely give him better advice.

Sure enough, while Lin Shu was pushing him to quit, Liu Qingqing told him not to rush into quitting.

"Brother Jiang Yang, if you ask me, it's best not to resign too quickly. After all, you were just assigned the apartment not long ago. If you resign now and someone has it out for you and reports you, what then?" Wouldn't they end up without a place to live?

Jiang Yang, who had been stirred up by Lin Shu's encouragement, was indeed considering resignation. But Liu Qingqing's words dampened his enthusiasm somewhat.

Yes! Although they had been allocated the house, the factory still owned the place!

No, he had to figure out how to buy the property rights first!

Otherwise, if he quit and the money didn't come through, what if they got evicted?

"Qingqing, I'm so lucky to have you!"

Liu Qingqing smiled faintly. "Brother Jiang Yang, no matter what, I only wish the best for you. If you do well, my son and I will do well too."

Jiang Yang was deeply moved by her words.

...

Later, Jiang Yang used his connections to purchase the property rights to the house.

Lin Shu agreed as well, though she winced at spending the money.

Still, she comforted herself, thinking Jiang Yang would make it all back and then some in the future.

After securing the property rights of the house, Jiang Yang applied for a leave of absence with pay and went into business, becoming one of the first to jump in early.

People in the factory and the residential housing complex were impressed by his bold move.

Only Mother Jiang couldn’t stop worrying.

"Why are all of you quitting your jobs one after another? What will you eat and wear in the future?"

Jiang Yang reassured her, "Mom, times have changed. Don’t stress—I’ll always have enough to eat and wear."

"I don’t know what’s changed. All I know is you gave up a stable job."

Jiang Yang wouldn’t listen. "Mom, just stop worrying and wait and see!"

"Fine, fine. You all know best. You think I’m annoying, don’t you?" Mother Jiang scoffed and marched off.

Jiang Yang ignored her—he was too busy scheming up his fortune!