Reborn in 1979: I Raised a Fortune with Four Daughters

Chapter 4: Planning Begins

Zhao Yuan began to work on future plans.

The college entrance examination in 1979 was held in July, which is still about 5 months away.

At this point, the maximum age for taking the college entrance examination is 40, and you can participate.

The policy of reform and opening up to the outside world, which China began to implement at the Third Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in December 1978.

In this isolated rural area, people didn't have much of an understanding of the reform and opening-up policy.

Taking the college entrance examination is a must. Only through studying can you meet people at a higher level and elevate your own standing.

The urgent task now is to both study and support my wife and three children.

There are three military factories in this area. Each factory needs several hundred bamboo baskets every month, and each basket costs 0.5 yuan.

This is currently the lowest-cost and fastest-profit job.

However, the quantity that can be completed by one person's skill is very limited, and it is also very time-consuming.

We'll figure out what to do next after we've made some money.

Zhao Yuan walked into the cattle pen and saw a large water buffalo inside.

There is a piglet weighing about 30 pounds in the pigpen. This pig is being raised to be eaten during the Chinese New Year.

Zhao Yuan returned to the main room, sat down, smoked a cigarette, his brow furrowed, and kept thinking.

Zhao Yuan spent the entire morning going through all the memories in his head.

......

"squeak"

Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Laidi pushed open the door and came in.

They came home from school.

Rural schools don't provide lunch; students go home after a few classes, and most of them help their parents with housework and farm work.

"dad"

Two little girls quickly entered the room and put down their schoolbags.

"Ah."

After a long while, Zhao Yuan finally looked up and responded.

Zhao Laidi consciously went into the cattle pen and drove the cattle out.

Zhao Zhaodi went to Lin Fangfang's room.

"Mom, you didn't cook lunch, did you? I'll start cooking now."

At this moment, Zhao Yuan snapped out of his thoughts.

He quickly walked to the main room and began skillfully weaving bamboo baskets.

One hour later...

"Mom, get up and eat. I'll go call Lai Di back."

After saying that, Zhao Zhaodi ran out the door, and soon she and Zhao Laidi returned one after the other, driving the cattle back.

"Dad, dinner's ready."

"OK, all right."

A trillion-dollar response.

Zhao Zhaodi brought a bowl of boiled cabbage and a small bowl of boiled eggs to the table.

Then take out four pairs of chopsticks and four bowls.

Having not eaten all day, Zhao Yuan put down his work, washed his hands, and began to eat.

On a dilapidated, old square table sat a large bowl of boiled cabbage and a small bowl of boiled eggs.

Whether it's due to extreme poverty or local customs, or perhaps these customs arose from poverty, this is the only dish served to an entire family for a single meal.

Zhao Zhaodi handed the food to Zhao Yuan first.

Then she scooped a bowl of rice and handed it to her mother, pushing the boiled egg towards her and glancing timidly at Zhaoyuan.

Seeing that Zhao Yuan remained silent, Zhao Zhaodi put most of the eggs into her mother's bowl.

Zhao Zhaodi glanced at Zhao Yuan.

Zhao Yuan's expression remained unchanged.

Zhao Zhaodi sat down and picked up a large mouthful of cabbage to eat.

Zhao Lai Di ate her meal slowly today, glancing at her mother every now and then, her mouth practically watering.

Yes, we rarely have meat at home, and we only get to eat an egg on our birthday each year.

The eggs laid by the hen are all saved to hatch chicks. However, the chicks have a low survival rate after hatching, so neither the eggs nor the chicks get to eat.

Zhao Yuan looked up and picked up a small piece of egg from the steamed egg custard, placing it in Zhao Laidi's bowl. Then he lovingly patted Zhao Laidi's head, his eyes full of affection.

"Eat up, look how hungry you are."

When Zhao Lai Di saw the eggs, she happily started eating quickly, as if she had eaten a delicacy.

She didn't notice Zhao Yuan's changing expression.

Lin Fangfang and Zhao Zhaodi glanced at Zhao Yuan in astonishment. He didn't seem so scary anymore, but this thought only flashed through their minds.

Such stubborn thinking cannot be changed in a short time; it is a concept ingrained in one's bones.

Zhao Yuan didn't care about what Lin Fangfang and her daughter thought. He felt very uncomfortable. Although he was also born in the early 70s in his previous life, he couldn't say that he ate meat every day, but he could often eat eggs, fish and meat.

Although he was very hungry, the boiled cabbage was really hard to swallow. Zhao Yuan ate a few bites of rice and then put down his bowl to continue weaving bamboo baskets.

Thinking about tomorrow's plans.

Zhao Zhaodi quickly tidied up the table, cleaned up, and then took her younger sister to do her homework.

"Zhaoyuan, want to go to Li Dawen's house to play cards?"

As they were talking, a man who was about 165cm tall pushed open the door and came in, a pipe dangling from his mouth.

This is Zhao San, who lives in Group 3. He is also skilled in bamboo weaving, but his work is rough, and the factory is not very willing to accept his baskets.

"I'm not going today, I need to catch bamboo baskets."

"Don't rush, at your speed, you'll finish it in a few days. Today is still the date, what's the hurry? We can finish it tomorrow."

As he spoke, he pulled Zhaoyuan outside.

Zhao Yuan broke free from Zhao San's hand and sat down to continue weaving bamboo baskets.

This Zhao San is no good. Every time he goes out, Zhao Yuan pays for everything. He never pays out of his own pocket and always says he forgot to bring money.

Zhao San stood to the side, smoking a pipe. Seeing that he couldn't persuade Zhao Yuan, he had no choice but to leave dejectedly.

After a while, Zhao Jieyuan and his wife Yu Hongmei came in. They were also from Group 3. Zhao Jieyuan was the same age as Zhao Yuan, and he was classmates with Zhao Yuan and Lin Fangfang. He heard that Zhao Yuan had given birth to another daughter, so he came over to see her.

"Gentlemen of the provincial examination, you've arrived. Please have a seat."

Where is Lin Fangfang?

"Inside the room."

Zhao Yuan gestured towards the room.

As he spoke, he handed Zhao Jieyuan a pipe.

Zhao Jieyuan rolled a pipe for himself, looked around the house, and saw Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Laidi doing their homework in the courtyard.

The house was quiet, and the atmosphere was alright.

Yu Hongmei walked towards the room.

"Lin Fangfang, are you alright? Did Zhaoyuan fly into a rage? I brought some eggs for you to help you recover."

He then placed the eggs on the table.

"Thank you for the expense. You were smashing things at home last night, but things are better today."

Lin Fangfang said softly, afraid that Zhaoyuan would hear, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't cry too much during your postpartum period."

Yu Hongmei comforted Lin Fangfang.

Zhao Jieyuan and his wife got along best with the Zhao family, and Yu Hongmei and Lin Fangfang got along very well.

"Zhaoyuan, are you sure you're not crazy?"

Zhao Jieyuan moved a long bench and sat down next to Zhao Yuan, asking the question.

"Don't worry, I've thought it through. I was a jerk before, but I won't be anymore. A girl is a girl, and from now on, girls are better than boys."

Zhao Yuan talked and laughed as he quickly wove a basket.

"Hey, it's good that you've figured it out. Don't listen to those people's nonsense. You still have to live your own life."

Zhao Jieyuan looked at Zhao Yuan and said.

We chatted about some other things.

Zhao Jieyuan and his wife then got up and left.

Lin Xuefang's voice came from the doorway.

"Hongmei, you should stay a little longer before heading back."

"I'm going back; there's still a ton of stuff to do at home."

Lin Xuefang carried a small bamboo basket in one hand and held the hand of her youngest son, Zhao Haibo, in the other.

"Brother-in-law, you're weaving a basket. Congratulations on becoming a father again. My sister is in her room, right?"

"Um"

Zhao Yuan responded without looking up.

"Auntie."

Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Laidi looked up and called out, "Auntie!"

Zhao Zhaodi stood up, took the bamboo basket from her aunt, put the eggs in the cupboard, and then handed the basket to Zhao Haibo.

Zhao Xuefang led Zhao Haibo into Lin Fangfang's room.

"Sister, are you alright?"

"Haibo, look how cute your cousin is."

"Fortunately, there wasn't much for Haibo to eat."

Lin Fangfang lay on her side. After saying this, Lin Fangfang ignored Lin Xuemei.

Lin Fangfang, the younger sister, often showed off in front of her older sister because she had given birth to several sons. Sometimes when they argued, she would even curse her older sister as a terrible old woman, which was very offensive.

I even brought Zhao Haibo over today to show off.

Therefore, Lin Fangfang didn't really like to talk to this younger sister.

"Haibo isn't eating, you should rest."

Sensing something was amiss, Zhao Xuemei led Zhao Haibo out of the room.

"Auntie, would you like to stay for dinner?"

Actually, they had already eaten at home, but Zhao Zhaodi still politely said so.

"We're not eating anymore. We're going back now. Take good care of your mother during her postpartum period, and don't use cold water."

With that, she took Zhao Haibo's hand and left.

Zhao Zhaodi got up and went to her mother's room.

"Mom, don't mind Auntie. She has many sons, and she might not be as happy as you in the future. I will be better than her sons, so don't worry."

"Zhaodi, Mom is fine. Go do your homework. It will be dark soon."

"Okay, I'm going to do my homework."

Squeak,

Zhao Zhaodi helped her mother close the bedroom door.

Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Laidi finished all their homework before dark.

Zhao Zhaodi picked up a bamboo stalk again and helped her father split it.

Zhao Yuan said:

"Zhaodi, you don't need to do this work anymore. Go feed the pigs, lock the chickens, and fetch water for your mother to soak her feet."

"Oh, okay."

Zhao Zhaodi looked at her father timidly and in surprise, but dared not disobey and did as he said.

After Zhao Zhaodi finished soaking her mother's feet, it got dark. To save money on lamp oil, Zhao Zhaodi and her younger sister went to bed early.

Zhao Yuan lit a kerosene lamp and continued weaving bamboo baskets while pondering his future plans.

Silent all night.