Chapter 403: Chapter 399: Xiao Chenye Starts a Small Business
When he first arrived in the Capital City, he couldn’t sleep all night, worried that if he wasn’t careful, he’d run out of savings and end up sleeping on the streets.
But now, all his problems have been solved.
He’s found a way to make money.
"Come," he pulled Wen Ran, pressing her to sit on the chair, "wait for me here, I’ll show you something."
Wen Ran: "?"
This instantly piqued Wen Ran’s curiosity.
"What?"
Sitting on the chair, she couldn’t sit still, shaking her head and glancing around, "What interesting thing have you got there?"
"Just a moment."
Xiao Chenye rolled up his sleeves, squatted beside the bed, and reached inside.
With a click, Xiao Chenye pulled back his hand.
Turning around, he held a wooden box.
"Here, take a look."
Opening the box, there were two neat stacks of money and tickets, the tickets varied in type, colorful and abundant, hard to estimate at a glance.
The money was easier to assess.
Though there were ones, fives, and tens, the thick stack had to be worth a hundred yuan.
Plus, there was a small but exquisitely crafted snuff bottle inside.
And two slightly dim but finely-shaped silver bells.
There were also several intricately patterned jade pendants.
She widened her eyes and quickly covered the box again.
Lowering her voice, "No, where did you get all these things?"
"Picked them up in the suburbs of Beijing," Xiao Chenye whispered, "Though this business is not exactly legal, I see many people are dabbling in it, the safety factor is still quite high."
He might not know much about future developments, but the reinstatement of the college entrance examination itself is a very good signal.
Let hundreds of flowers bloom, awaiting the right time.
He scratched his head, his voice instinctively lowering.
Wen Ran, always straightforward and bright, wasn’t accustomed to seeing Xiao Chenye hesitate.
"Huh?" She looked puzzled, "What were you mumbling about? I didn’t catch a word, like the buzzing of a mosquito."
Xiao Chenye looked up, gazing at Wen Ran’s pretty face, gathering his courage, "Yeah, this thing, talking about it isn’t so respectable.
Would you feel embarrassed because of me?"
It’s understandable why Xiao Chenye would think that.
It’s all about the job.
Back in the countryside, he could proudly call himself a young and promising talent.
But in the Capital City, without a job, he had no source of income.
His status suddenly shifted from a career-driven youth to a loafer, the disparity was too big, he found it hard to accept.
Meanwhile, Wen Ran had transformed into a highly qualified university student.
The worst part was, there were several such students in her family.
As long as they studied properly, each of them could secure a stable job and earn a high salary.
The pressure from being chased by younger siblings, coupled with his desire to stand alongside Wen Ran, increased his stress recently.
Before, no matter how stressed he was, he wouldn’t dare to voice it.
Having earned some money now and found his value, he finally had the guts to openly talk with Wen Ran.
"Ranran," he whispered, "I know, doing this business isn’t respectable, but it’s necessary to make ends meet.
We do have money, but living off of it isn’t sustainable. In my view..."
Before he could finish.
Wen Ran suddenly hugged Xiao Chenye’s head, leaned close, and kissed his lips.
Xiao Chenye was stunned, Wen Ran chuckled lightly, rested her head on his shoulder, and said with a smile, "Chenye, this isn’t embarrassing at all.
We’re not stealing or robbing; we’re earning with our hands and brains, there’s nothing embarrassing about it."
Reform and opening up, the rise of private enterprises, are inevitable.
Wen Ran even quite supports Xiao Chenye going down this path.
Frankly, they’re about to enter an era of potential wild wealth.
Even a pig, once standing at the right spot, would eventually take off.
Moreover, Xiao Chenye naturally has a sharp mind.
If he really wants to do something, with Wen Ran supporting him just a bit, it’s hard not to succeed.
"But..."
"No buts," Wen Ran said cheerfully, "Chenye, education isn’t everything, I’m with you for who you are, not for those other trivial things."
Frankly speaking, could she not find someone better than Xiao Chenye in the countryside she went to?
Not necessarily.
She simply chose him, and as a bonus, his conditions aren’t bad.
That’s all.
Even if the family is so poor the wind blows right through, so what?
With her around, is there a worry they can’t turn things around?
"But..."
"Put it this way, if the college entrance exam hadn’t been reinstated, I’d be working in the fields forever, would you not want me anymore?"
Xiao Chenye felt wronged, "How could I!"
"Then there you have it," Wen Ran patted Xiao Chenye’s head, casually, "You wouldn’t leave me, and I won’t leave you.
Besides..."
Wen Ran smiled slyly, touching Xiao Chenye’s face, hinting, "Without you, where am I going to find such a handsome dad for the kids."
Xiao Chenye’s eyes flashed.
Oh, right.
Almost forgot his biggest asset.
Wen Ran, to say nicely, cares about looks.
If being blunt...
She’s a bit of a lecher, to say the least.
If you’re good-looking, and give her some face, Wen Ran can be tolerant.
Not to mention Xiao Chenye is handsome and doesn’t have major flaws, Wen Ran is naturally very satisfied with this.
She was alone in her previous life, now with many family members, you ask her to give up on anyone, she wouldn’t be happy.
"No one is perfect, you don’t have to carry all the burdens alone."
Wen Ran softly comforted, "Besides, what’s wrong with doing business?"
"It’s not respected."
At least, at the moment, workers are regarded as the most honorable.
If someone does speculative trading, outwardly nothing’s said, but privately, surely criticized without end.
"Whether it’s respected or not," Wen Ran nudged the wooden box, "Do you think it’s the rumors that matter or the food on our family’s table?"
It’s obvious, Xiao Chenye knows what’s more important, otherwise he wouldn’t have gone ahead without telling Wen Ran.
"Our family is more important."
"Exactly!"
Wen Ran, gratified, "Since you understand everything, what’s holding you back?
As long as it’s safe, go for it boldly!"
Plus, seeing those little trinkets Xiao Chenye collected, Wen Ran got interested too, this is a great time to find some treasures.
However...
The most pressing issue is, she can’t distinguish real from fake.
Hmm!
A bit problematic.
