Chapter 104: There is no shame in living by ones own means
"Laoba, come with me."
It was one evening a week later, Gao Fan called Wu Zixian from the dormitory to outside the building.
"Lao Liu, what's the matter?" Wu Zixian asked.
A few days ago, he had borrowed ten kilograms of national food stamps from Gao Fan, put them in an envelope and sent them home. He promised to return the five kilograms of grain stamps to Gao Fan when the rations were distributed next month.
Then he will pay back another five pounds next month. Now, Gao Fan is still his creditor, which makes him feel a little unsure when talking to Gao Fan.
Gao Fan took something out of his schoolbag, handed it to Wu Zixian, and asked, "Do you recognize this thing?"
"This... aren't these stockings worn by girls?" Wu Zixian said calmly, holding the pair of socks beautifully packaged in cellophane.
Silk stockings were a rare thing in this era, but he had gone to the girls' dormitory to look for fellows and had seen these things there, so he was not unfamiliar with them.
However, taking such a pair of silk stockings out of Gao Fan's hands and then handing them over to him always makes him feel awkward. Silk stockings should also be considered a type of underwear, right?
"Do you know how much a pair of stockings like this costs?" Gao Fan asked.
Wu Zixian shook his head, he had nothing to eat but why did he care about this?
Gao Fan said: "Then can you go to your hometown and ask how much she is willing to pay for a pair of stockings like this."
"You want to sell stockings?" Wu Zixian asked in surprise, and at the same time, he mentally raised a middle finger to Gao Fan to show his disdain.
Gao Fan applied for exemption, and everyone regarded him as an inspirational model. Who would have thought that this guy was exempted from education just to sell silk stockings? Isn’t this depravity?
You, Gao Fan, don't look like someone who is short of money. You are the most extravagant in the whole dormitory. You go to the internship restaurant every three days to eat stir-fries. Even a kid from Beijing like Pan Chang is not so rich. You still want to sell
Making money from socks, isn’t this in the eyes of money?
Wu Zixian was criticizing Gao Fan in his heart, but he saw Gao Fan shaking his head and saying: "Xiaoba, be more confident, it's not that I want to sell stockings, but you want to sell stockings."
"I sell silk stockings! Why would I sell silk stockings?" Wu Zixian almost shouted, what are you talking about!
Gao Fan said: "I got these stockings from a friend from Shuinan who came to Beijing to do business. The wholesale price he gave me was 35 cents a pair. He said a pair on the market can be sold for 80 cents.
"Go and ask your fellow villager and her roommate to see how much they are willing to spend on it, or if they are willing to exchange it with food stamps.
"We don't have to sell them for 80 cents, just 60 cents, or four jins of national food stamps, or five jins of Beijing food stamps. Girls are all in need of food stamps, and there must be some who are willing to exchange them."
"Then what?" Wu Zixian was a little confused, but seemed to see something bright again.
Gao Fan said: "If you can sell it, you can give me thirty-five cents for each pair, and the rest will be yours. I have thought about it. Since there are few girls at Peking University, we may not be able to sell many. You can use the weekend to go there
I went to National People's Congress and National Normal University to sell them. It wouldn't be a problem to sell thirty or forty pairs a day.
"Based on forty pairs, you earn 25 cents per pair, which is ten yuan a day, or equivalent to 60 pounds of national food stamps. Do you want to do it?"
"I..." Wu Zixian's eyes widened, and he didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Earning ten yuan a weekend, or the equivalent of 60 kilograms of national food stamps, is something he never dared to dream of. Renmin University and Normal University are not far from Peking University, and the bus fare is negligible. He needs
All it takes is hard work and some shame. After all, going to the girls' dormitory to sell stockings is a very test of shame.
But, how much is face worth compared to the bellies of younger brothers and sisters?
"But, Lao Liu, is this appropriate?" Wu Zixian stammered.
In fact, he didn't know what he wanted to say. It was impossible to refuse Gao Fan's suggestion, but accepting it directly seemed not to be reserved enough.
That's not right. He doesn't want to be reserved, but he feels that it is too impolite to accept other people's kindness. Shouldn't he refuse it first before accepting it?
Gao Fan patted Wu Zixian on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Old man, don't be polite to me. I originally said that I would give you some national food stamps, but you refused to take them. So I asked my friend to ask him
Flatten some socks and give them to me.
"It's okay if you go sell socks and make money to improve your own life or improve your family's life. Anyway, it's your own money. You can support yourself without any shame, right?"
"Yes, yes, oh, Lao Liu, Gao Fan, I don't even know how to thank you. Otherwise, I would give you 40 cents for every pair of socks I sell, but I can't let you..., uh,
You can't let your friends suffer, can you?" Wu Zixian said with a blushing face.
He felt that he could only express his gratitude by giving Gao Fan some profit. But when the words came to his mouth, he felt it was inappropriate, so he changed his words and said it was for Gao Fan's so-called "friend". As for Gao Fan and that friend
He doesn't care how to distribute these profits.
Gao Fan said: "You don't need to think about this. My friend has a big business, and his business scope is not just socks. You can sell socks first, and if it works, I will get you some gauze scarves later."
, come here to sell gloves and the like.
"This is considered a work-study program, just don't delay your studies."
"No, I will definitely not delay my studies." Wu Zixian patted his chest and said. In fact, at that moment, he had already made plans to go to the National People's Congress and the National Normal University every week to sell 40 pairs of socks.
, it won’t waste much time. On the bus going back and forth, he can memorize words without wasting time. Usually, if he sleeps a little later, he will save time.
If he can earn 10 yuan a week, that is 40 yuan a month. He has 15 yuan for a scholarship, and another 10 yuan is enough to buy books. The remaining 30 yuan will be sent home and will be given to his family.
What a change it has brought.
You know, you may not see 100 yuan in cash at home all year round.
With this money, the younger brothers and sisters should no longer have to drop out of school. They are so envious that they can go to college. Maybe they can also realize their dream of going to college.
"Gao Fan, this matter... I cannot thank you enough for your kindness." Wu Zixian looked at Gao Fan and said solemnly.
Gao Fan quickly interrupted: "Old man, you don't regard me as a brother when you say this. To be honest, my father is a factory director and his family background is better than yours. I really have never suffered as much as you. I heard that you
I really admire you for being able to pass the exam even though your family is so tough."
Wu Zixian smiled bitterly and said: "Maybe it is because of the hardship at home that I study so hard. Only by studying can I jump out. Alas, Gao Fan, I won't say anything anymore. I will remember your love. If I can have it in the future,
I will never forget everything you did for me when I was in the early days."