Chapter 79: Willing
“I will give you a batch of grain and reserve fund on time and in fixed quantities. You need to use these to scavenge some antiques books for me. Of course, gold and silver jewelry jade ware are also fine.”
“Hmm?”
Not reselling but exchange purchase?
This is much easier than reselling, and the risk is smaller.
If you’re bold, go to the black market for exchange purchase. Even if caught as the buyer, it’s just confiscation of the things and a fine. The worst is sent down for reform through labor for one or two years.
But if the seller is caught, it’s directly peanuts.
Even more steadily, you don’t need to risk the black market at all, but go to the scrap station and flea market countryside brigade to scavenge.
The quick-witted Xiao Qiao instantly grasped the key point, his misty eyes suddenly brightening with a burst of brilliance.
“Must go to the black market? Is there a specified scavenging quantity per month?”
“No must, it depends on you. I’m just providing this idea. As for the scavenging quantity, it’s also up to you, because it’s tied to your salary.”
She doesn’t lack these things, but she won’t dislike them being too many to handle.
Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish.
It can give the three of them something to do to support themselves, and also add more property for her future sons. There’s nothing bad about that.
“For every piece scavenged back, I’ll give you…”
The current gold price at the bank is twenty per gram. Antiques rare editions and such are even harder to estimate.
After thinking a bit, Su Ning continued, “Ten percent of the market value for you.”
For example, a gold ring with five grams, market value one hundred, ten percent is ten bucks.
If two or three pieces can be received each month, isn’t that equivalent to a factory formal employee’s monthly salary?
If diligent every day and running more places, especially farther communes brigades, with good luck scavenging ten pieces is no problem?
That would be one hundred bucks…
Hiss~
“I’ll do it!”
Xiao Qiao thought the matter over and over, even thinking of which communes brigades to go to, which remote countryside areas.
This is way better than risking your head following Brother Leopard to mix in the black market!
Once the money is paid back enough, not only can send Xiao Tong to school, but also buy a job for Xiao Feng and save up a wife’s fund.
“Comrade Su, I’m willing to do this job!”
Facing the three young men’s excited looks ready to go all out, Su Ning nodded and had to add a few words, “Things are secondary, people are most important. When necessary, throw them away, rest assured no compensation from you.”
With the words said to this point, how could Xiao Qiao not know her intention? In an instant, his nose soured, and he hurriedly lowered his head in embarrassment to hide his reddened eyes.
This is trying every way to help them, and thoughtfully considering their self-esteem.
Perhaps the things she mentioned are not valued in her eyes at all, just an excuse because they need such a job to support themselves.
Xiao Qiao didn’t know if he guessed right. Even if overthinking, she gave them a way to live is an indisputable fact.
“Xiao Feng, Xiao Tong!”
“Thud—”
As Xiao Qiao knelt down, the two brothers behind him also quickly knelt down.
Before they could kowtow, Su Ning, who was once again attempted to be sent off, quickly said, “If you don’t get up quickly, I’ll regret this!”
“Whoosh—”
One more responsive than the other. Before the words finished, Xiao Qiao and the other two bounced right up.
……
The sunset gradually hid in the clouds, and the evening glow on the horizon also splendidly turned and faded its colors.
Before dark, Su Ning pushed a full bicycle of things, bringing the furniture factory workers dragging the proper furniture back to the small Western-style building.
Xiao Qiao waiting in the courtyard led his two younger brothers to clean up the early eye-sore weeds branches.
Seeing her with such a big setup, they were all a bit at a loss for a moment.
After all, the older and more experienced Xiao Qiao was the first to recover, hurrying forward to greet her.
“Sister Ning, let me help!”
“And me, and me, I’ll help too!”
After the furniture was placed, the workers left one after another. Looking at the brand-new home, the youngest Yan Tong had already secretly cried several times.
“Sister Ning is such a good person, no, the best best best!”
“How? Not a bad person anymore? Who was the one saying she’s the most annoying?”
“Young man! Shut up, when did I say that…”
“Okay okay, I admit I was wrong before, I was wrong. Sister Ning is not a bad person, she’s the best best person.”
Brother Qiao said knowing and correcting mistakes is a real man!
Yan Tong with red eyes also flushed face, embarrassedly admitted his mistake.
Looking back at their room, not only with wardrobe desk but even the long-dreamed big bed…
It’s a bed, with cotton quilt quilt pillow, a proper bed!
Not straw pile, not stones bricks, not casually pieced together with wooden blocks to make do!
“Young man is really good. I feel like I’m dreaming.”
Touching his prickly short buzz cut, Tang Feng smiled, “Rest assured, when you wake from the dream, the big bed you want is still there.”
“Mm!”
The two simultaneously looked at Su Ning on the side talking serious matter with Brother Qiao, eyes full of thick gratitude, and some hard-to-hide longing: if she were really our sister, how great that would be~
Or a few years younger to be Sister Ning’s son would also do~ They are willing!
The young Su Ning who was already being eyed to be a mother: No need at all.
……
Just now carrying the two sacks of grain humped on the bicycle, together with Xiao Qiao lifted into the second floor storage room.
Called storage room, actually before it should have been used as the second floor study room, just taken by the brothers to place some of their scavenged ‘belongings’.
Except bedroom, living room and kitchen’s simple necessary furniture, other places still empty as usual.
“Open and check first.”
Nodding, Xiao Qiao did as she said, squatting down to successively open the two sacks of grain.
When seeing inside all white with not a bit of gravel grit, top-grade rice hard to come by even in the black market.
Even the as-calm-as-possible Xiao Qiao couldn’t help sucking in cool air, uncertainly asking, “Sister Ning, are you sure to really exchange with these?”
“Not that sure.”
“Ah?”
Privately she preferred they use money to scavenge things, easier to carry and safer. Grain for their own eating and use.
But this is just her idea, specifically how to do depends on them.
After all, whether black market or countryside, grain is easier to transact than money.
Su Ning handed him the canvas small bag in hand, “This is reserve fund. Grain and money are all here, specifically how to operate up to you. Anyway, safety first as mentioned before.”
Stiffly taking the bag she handed, as expected saw inside bundles of big black ten.
Xiao Qiao for the first time looked at her so seriously.
Clearly not much older than him by two years, what kind of environment background could raise such a person?
Looking aloof and distant from people, yet the things done so warm and loving.
“Aren’t you afraid we’ll take the stuff and run?”
“Do I look like a fool?”
“Hehe, exactly like one.”
Xiao Qiao grinned, laughing so freely for the first time, laughing and then choking up, quickly turning back to wipe his eyes.
“Sister Ning rest assured, even if you’re silly I’m not. One time how compares to long-term business!”
Mouth saying unserious words, but those eyes clearer: Your trust, I can use a lifetime to prove if right or wrong.
“These are enough for you two or three months anyway. When I return to Xiangnan, I’ll see the situation then and mail more to you.”
Automatically ignoring his lesson-worthy words, throwing the prepared notebook along with pen to him, Su Ning pretended fierce look.
“Record properly for me. When I check accounts next time, if one place doesn’t match, work a year for nothing!”
“Yes!”
Cooperatively making a scared gesture, Xiao Qiao’s face earnest smile, “Sister Ning rest assured, I won’t let you down.”
“We won’t either!”
“Sister Ning, I’ll definitely scavenge the best and prettiest treasure for you!”
“Then, thank you in advance?”
Glancing at the time, Su Ning looked at the three with warm soft smiles one by one, “Not early, I’ll head back to the hotel first. If something, the notebook has address to contact me.”
“Sister Ning, I’ll see you off.”
“I’ll go too!” “Then we’ll go together!”
Not refusing their kindness, Su Ning chatted with them while going downstairs.
……
In the long alley outside the Little Red Building, under the flickering street lamps were four figures from tall to short.
This was the very beginning of their fate, yet it took a lifetime’s time to end.
