Eighties Sweetheart Wife
Chapter 99: Do you want to try a side hustle?_1

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Do you want to try a side hustle?_1

Song Yunuan and Zhao Li had agreed that she would call after asking clearly about the situation.

So, both parties hung up the phone.

Song Yunuan placed one yuan next to the telephone, in a clip and also wrote down her name, to prove the call wasn’t made in vain.

One should know that the cost of a telephone call was rather expensive then.

Chu Zizhou didn’t say much.

However, his demeanor was clearly different from before; he seemed to be getting sick of staying here.

Well, he was always a playboy, perhaps he came to hide from something, and it just so happened that Gu Huai’an had designs on her, so there he was, becoming the brigade leader.

In fact, his work direction was right, so things were going pretty well.

Even though this year was a disaster year, judging by the current situation, there should be no issues.

But Chu Zizhou’s novelty feeling probably had worn off.

So he seemed a bit listless.

One must know his family was in Beidu, even in the eighties, that place was Beidu. How could it be compared to the poverty-stricken Erdao River?

Song Yunuan stared at Chu Zizhou for a bit too long, leading him to ask, puzzled, "You finished the call; is there something else?"

Song Yunuan’s eyes shone brightly, "Brigade Leader Chu, are you interested in starting a side business?"

Chu Zizhou looked at Song Yunuan skeptically, "Making head flowers and shoulder bags?"

Song Yunuan, "No, no, no, there isn’t enough fabric for that, but let’s hypothetically say—"

Chu Zizhou, "Hypothetically say what?"

"Suppose we weave a thousand summer straw hats, with designs for men and women, could you sell them?"

Chu Zizhou was taken aback for a moment.

Song Yunuan said, "Come with me to my house, and I’ll show you a sample."

In that era, people really liked wearing straw hats in the summer.

Whether they were city folks or country folks.

Looking back at the propaganda brochures and such from the eighties, there were many wearing straw hats.

Of course, they could also be called cool hats.

At the moment, although Chu Zizhou wasn’t busy, he wasn’t really interested.

Even with Branch Secretary in place, he felt increasingly tired, the type where both body and soul are exhausted.

It seemed that compared to the isolated Erdao River, which didn’t even have a supply and marketing cooperative, facing his family’s anger back home wasn’t that big a deal after all.

This place was too boring.

He had had enough of it.

Even if he was extremely busy every day, many things, once their novelty faded, could no longer pique his interest.

If it weren’t for Song Ting, he guessed he would have run away long ago.

But these were words he dared not speak to anyone.

He didn’t even dare to mention them.

In fact, up to now, besides the consolation performance, he had only encountered her once on the street in the county town, where he should have said a few words, but he was so nervous that he only uttered a few phrases, "Ah, Comrade Song, ah, goodbye!"

Just like a silly roe deer.

Luckily he was good at pretending, maintaining a calm face, completely hiding his thoughts.

Otherwise, he would have been terribly embarrassed.

He felt that his chances with Song Ting were almost nonexistent, with not even a sliver of hope.

Because there was simply no interaction between them.

Since the consolation performance, Song Ting hadn’t returned home.

Besides, even if she did come home, what could he do about it?

In the past few days, he had been in a complete slump.

If it weren’t for remembering his grandfather’s joyful laughter upon hearing his grand plans to take root in the countryside and lead the villagers to a better life, he would have ditched this place and run back to Beidu by now.

Really, he was capable of doing just that.

He didn’t really want to go see some straw hat, but he couldn’t embarrass Song Yunuan by refusing. Don’t ask why it would be embarrassing, the answer is that it would be out of respect for Gu Huai’an.

The brigade headquarters wasn’t far from the Song family’s home to begin with.

Chu Zizhou said to Old Man Sun, who was cooking, "Sir, I’ll be back in a jiffy. If you’re hungry, go ahead and eat, and you can head home once you’re done with the work."

"Alright, alright, go do what you need to do, Brigade Leader Chu," Old Man Sun said with a cheerful smile toward Song Yunuan.

He also ate there, but Song Liang said that city folk and country folk have different dining habits. For starters, cleanliness is most important. Let people dine on their own; don’t hover around making a mess. Although Chu Zizhou seemed easy-going, he’s after all a city kid. They might feel too embarrassed to speak up, but you have to give them time to adjust.

Song Liang’s advice was delivered with tact, and Old Man Sun understood it loud and clear.

So, he got along quite well with Chu Zizhou.

As Chu Zizhou and Song Yunuan walked to the Song family home, Chu Zizhou suddenly said to Song Yunuan, "When you’re in front of Gu Huai’an, can you not call me Uncle Chu, alright?"

Song Yunuan’s eyes widened with surprise, and she asked, puzzled, "But it was you who made us call you that in front of him. Why have you changed your mind now?"

Then she asked eagerly, "What happened, did he say something to you?"

Chu Zizhou glanced at Song Yunuan and thought, even in Beidu, he had never seen such a sly little girl. He had to be careful when speaking to her.

"He didn’t say much. What are you up to every day without studying, just loafing around?" Instead of answering, Chu Zizhou started to lecture.

Song Yunuan pursed her lips, everyone likes to fob her off with studying.

"Why do you always bring up my studies?"

"What else do you want to do at your age if you’re not studying?"

In such a small place as Erdao River, where can you make your mark?

Song Yunuan: "I am reviewing. I’ll be going to high school in September."

Talking, they arrived at the Song family’s home.

Song Yunuan called out to Old Man Song to bring out his straw hat for Brigade Leader Chu to admire.

Old Man Song immediately went to the storeroom and took down the two straw hats hanging on the wall; one was new, and indeed, it was quite attractive.

Wearing a smaller straw hat on her head, Song Yunuan said to Chu Zizhou, "Brigade Leader, do you think it would look better if I add a ribbon with a bow on top? Oh, and they should sell these in Beidu, right? Do you know how much one costs?"

Chu Zizhou looked at the straw hat, acknowledging its beauty, and said casually, "I’m not very sure, but if it had a bow, it would cost at least one yuan or more."

Old Man Song’s breath caught, "That expensive? Really?"

In the past, when he rented the brigade’s cart to carry firewood, he’d earn about one yuan after deducting the rental fee for a day’s work.

As for such straw hats, no exaggeration, he could make seven or eight a day as if he were playing around.

Taking off the hat and handing it to Chu Zizhou, Song Yunuan said, "There are quite a few people in our village who can weave straw hats, and the raw materials are everywhere, so material costs are very low. The biggest expense is the labor."

Chu Zizhou fiddled with the straw hat, contemplative.

Song Yunuan continued her earnest persuasion, "Even though Erdao River has implemented the household responsibility system, there’s still surplus labor. If this side business gets off the ground, our village could turn over a new leaf, and you would have a shining achievement."

"Weaving straw hats is easy; the hard part is the sales channel, but you have connections. Many people also support your work. With summer almost here, it’s the perfect opportunity to launch a side business and generate income. It’s totally doable."

Looking at Song Yunuan, Chu Zizhou had to admit that this girl had a sharp mind.

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