Chapter 29: Bought a Tricycle

Chapter 29: Buying a Tricycle

Lu Xiang, having made some money, wanted to buy more duck necks. However, the old man who sold them, perhaps thinking they weren't selling well, didn't show up again that day. Lu Xiang had no choice but to wait for Fu Qinhui to finish work so they could go home together.

After calculating her earnings, she found a clear profit of twenty yuan after deducting costs.

In just one day, she had earned as much as Fu Qinhui’s monthly salary. On their way back, Fu Qinhui helped her carry the bucket and other items, asking Lu Xiang, "So happy?"

Lu Xiang replied, "Yes." This was just a small market near the local co-op. If they could sell in the county’s main market, even more people would buy.

When they got home, though tired, Lu Xiang clutched the money bag tightly. Exhausted and thirsty, she poured herself a glass of water and gulped it down.

Xiao Cailian, who had been outside getting some sun with her child while chatting with the neighboring women, heard that Lu Xiang and the others had returned. She immediately carried the child back home.

When she arrived, Lu Xiang was scrubbing the large bucket they had brought from home.

Xiao Cailian asked, "How did it go?"

Lu Xiang said, "Everything sold out."

Xiao Cailian was pleased to hear this: "Well, that’s pretty good!"

Lu Xiang then handed her mother-in-law the two yuan she had prepared: "Here's your investment back, plus your share of the profit."

Xiao Cailian hadn’t expected to make so much. She had only invested one yuan, and without doing anything, it had doubled. The return was huge.

Not only Xiao Cailian but also the other sisters-in-law had invested. After finishing their work, they hurried home. As soon as they entered, they eagerly asked, "How did it go, Fourth Sister-in-Law?"

Lu Xiang said, "Not bad. Everything sold."

Third Sister-in-Law Fu felt a bit regretful. She had been hoping to feast on the duck necks, but that plan was dashed again.

Second Sister-in-Law Fu, unlike Third Sister-in-Law who loved her food, asked, "Did you make money?"

Lu Xiang handed the prepared money to each of the three sisters-in-law, two yuan each, and said, "We're squaring up after each round. I’ve returned both the principal and profit. If you want to do it again next time, you can reinvest."

The sisters-in-law were all tight on money. It had taken considerable effort for each to come up with that one yuan, so earning an extra yuan without lifting a finger was amazing. Money making money—how impressive!

Third Sister-in-Law Fu said, "So, is there any work to do today? We can help." She had just realized that Lu Xiang was not only a great cook but also a little money-making wizard. If she could stick close to Lu Xiang, she’d be rich in no time! With that thought, she spoke to Lu Xiang with a new friendliness.

The other sisters-in-law felt the same.

Second Sister-in-Law Fu thought even further: each of them had one share, turning one yuan into two. But Lu Xiang held six shares herself—how much must she have made?

Lu Xiang said, "This business can’t be done every day."

Xiao Cailian, listening nearby, felt a pang of worry, thinking the business might have caused trouble for Fu Qinhui: "What’s wrong?"

Lu Xiang explained, "The duck necks were bought from an old man, and now I can’t find him. We probably won’t be able to set up a stall tomorrow. I’ve told Fu Qinhui to buy more if he happens to see the old man."

Third Sister-in-Law Fu grew anxious. She was in the middle of a dream of getting rich—she hadn't had her fill of the duck necks, and now the profits were slipping away too: "Why didn’t you ask which village he’s from? What a shame."

Lu Xiang said, "I’ll make sure to ask next time."

Xiao Cailian, relieved it was nothing more serious, said, "Selling once in a while is just fine. It’s better than drawing unwanted attention." In those days, selling goods required courage—not long ago, buying and selling for profit was illegal.

Lu Xiang nodded.

The sisters-in-law, seeing there was no work for the day, gathered around Lu Xiang and said, "If there’s another opportunity like this in the future, count me in. I’ll definitely contribute money."

Having gotten a taste of profit, they promised to contribute money much more readily next time.

Lu Xiang said, "Not every business venture will be profitable. There are gains and losses."

Third Sister-in-Law Fu said, "We’re all family. We accept both profits and losses."

The others agreed. After all, Lu Xiang handled everything—purchasing, cooking, and selling—while they just shared the profits. Such a good deal was hard to come by.

Lu Xiang said, "Mom, I want to buy a tricycle." Tricycles were even more expensive than bicycles. They were pedal-powered vehicles with space in front for both passengers and goods, making them ideal for setting up stalls or household use. Relying on their own strength was just too exhausting—too much energy was wasted on the road.

A bicycle cost around three hundred yuan, while a tricycle would cost at least four hundred. This was a significant sum for the family.

Sure enough, Xiao Cailian scowled and said, "Just settle down, will you?"

She knew Lu Xiang was bold, but she hadn’t expected her to be this bold.

She'd only been part of the family for a few days, and she already dared to ask for such a large amount of money.

Lu Xiang knew that using external tools to save manpower was the most cost-effective approach. She said, "Mom, consider it a loan from you. I’ll pay you back with interest once I earn the money."

Xiao Cailian had money. With four sons, the bulk of their earnings were given to her. Fu Qinhui was among the first batch of university students—not only did his education not cost the family anything, but the university also provided him with a stipend.

He had been sending money home since his university days. Additionally, Xiao Cailian was very frugal. Third Sister-in-Law Fu had calculated that her mother-in-law had at least five hundred yuan saved up. She had secretly shared this with Lu Xiang.

The Fu family had not yet divided their assets. If Lu Xiang brought this up under normal circumstances, it would have upset all her brothers- and sisters-in-law. But now, everyone supported Lu Xiang.

"Mom, Lu Xiang is doing this for the family," Eldest Sister-in-Law Fu said. Unlike Second and Third Sister-in-Law, who could scrape together some money from other sources, she relied solely on strict savings. Now that Lu Xiang was selling goods and sharing profits, she hoped Lu Xiang would succeed.

Third Sister-in-Law Fu chimed in, "Absolutely! Although there are a few bicycles in our village, no one has a tricycle yet. If our family buys one, we’ll show those petty people what we’re made of!" She was vain and couldn’t wait to boast about it everywhere.

Second Sister-in-Law Fu also said, "Mom, Lu Xiang has to walk so far every day. Let’s buy one—it’ll be useful for the whole family."

Xiao Cailian looked at her daughters-in-law, who usually had their own agendas but were now united, and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "You all..." Then, seeing the eager look in Lu Xiang’s eyes, her heart softened. "Fine, since your sisters-in-law are vouching for you, I’ll lend it to you. But you have to pay it back."

Lu Xiang was overjoyed: "I will, I definitely will."

Xiao Cailian then pretended to be angry and said to Fu Qinhui, "Your wife—her ability to earn money is one thing, but she spends money three times faster than she makes it. For a big-ticket item like this, go with her and choose carefully. Don’t get scammed."

Fu Qinhui nodded. He was always steady and reliable, and Xiao Cailian trusted him. She went back inside and took out five hundred yuan—all in ten-yuan bills, along with some smaller bills and change—ones and fifty-cent pieces. This was money she'd saved up over most of her life.

Lu Xiang then happily went to buy the tricycle. In the 1980s, owning a pedal-powered tricycle for carrying people and goods was almost like owning a car would be in the future.

As they watched Lu Xiang cheerfully leave with Fu Qinhui, Third Sister-in-Law Fu praised, "Look how close that young couple is."

Xiao Cailian said, "Don’t go shooting your mouths off outside. Don’t mention a word about making money or anything else."

The gossip about the marriage swap hadn't even died down yet. If they went out boasting, the Lu family might stir up trouble again.

Xiao Cailian was worried and drove the point home once more.

Third Sister-in-Law Fu quickly said, "Mom, you don’t need to tell us. We know better."

The other sisters-in-law also promised not to say anything, and only then did Xiao Cailian feel relieved.