Chapter Eight A Good Beginning

  Wang Zhen looked at her mother and knew she was heartbroken about the money: "Mom, listen to me first, then see if it's okay?"

  Zheng Shuirong abruptly stopped eating and stared seriously at her daughter, as if to say, "Let's see you come up with a flower!"

  Wang Zhen didn't care about Zheng Shui Rong's expression, and continued to speak calmly: "In these days, it's going to be busy with farm work. When you go to buy vegetables, mom, try to get some better ones like leeks or mushrooms. These days are busy with farm work, basically every household buys vegetables for guests and workers, and these vegetables make more money. On a good day, who knows, maybe we can even make a profit of 50 or 60 yuan."

  Zheng Shuirong listened to fifty-sixty, her eyes flashed, and she had reason. Today, there were still old customers asking if they had mushrooms for sale. Usually, few people from the countryside came to buy vegetables, but in recent days, the number of people increased significantly, and they all asked about good dishes. Then, she continued to look at Wang Zhen, meaning to let her continue speaking.

  Wang Zhen led the way: "This farm work, front and back, is almost busy for over ten days. If you calculate it this way, even if you spend 100 yuan to hire someone to do the field work, selling vegetables can earn at least an extra 300 or 400 yuan."

  Right! This way, it's worth inviting people to help. If you were at home before, of course, you would do it yourself. But now that there is a small business, after all, we have to calculate which one makes more money. Zheng Shuirong, if no one helps her, she will definitely go and do it herself, squatting on the ground every day, with no one to help, at least for several days.

  After hearing her child say that, she suddenly felt enlightened and a smile appeared on her face: "Alright, let's pretend to be the landlord and have someone collect the grain for us. I'll take a risk this time and listen to you once. If we make a profit, we'll hire someone again next year. If not, we'll do it ourselves next time."

  What a majestic and awe-inspiring mother! Wang Zhen's heart was filled with joy. What a lovely mother she is!

  As expected, her own mother just lacked someone to guide her.

  With the remaining time, Wang Yan could finally do her own things, and in a flash, a week had passed.

  On Friday, Wang Zhenyi arrived at Li Qingya's house as soon as school was over: "Auntie Li, are you home?"

  First was a burst of barking dogs, followed by a male voice: "Who is it?"

  As soon as she heard the voice, Wang Zhen laughed. It had been over a decade since they last met, and Wang Zhinan was still a naive young man: "Zhinan, it's me, Wang Zhen."

  The door opened, and when Wang Zhinan saw Wang Zhen smiling, he revealed a shy smile: "Xiao Zhen, are you looking for me or my mom? My mom is not at home, I guess she'll be back later."

  "I'm looking for your mom, I have something to talk to her about. Oh, right, aren't you supposed to be in supplementary class? Why are you back?" Wang Zhen still had his backpack on and followed Wang Zhinan into the courtyard, where they moved two wooden stools and sat down inside, starting a conversation.

  "It's not a busy farming season, school is off for three days including the weekend, and when we get back, it's labor reform time, haha." Wang Zhinan was still a shy big boy at this moment, with a smile, his peach blossom eyes narrowed, and there were two shallow dimples, very sunny and handsome.

  "That's great, just in time for you to help Erniang and them with their work. They're not easy, that half-acre vegetable garden is being carefully tended to every day." Wang Zhen knew that their family's income basically relied on that vegetable garden.

  Wang Zhinan also understood, smiling and nodding: "Oh, right, I heard from my mom that you borrowed my high school books, are you planning to attend high school later?"

  Wang Zhen smiled and lowered her head, softly replying: "I do have this idea, but I don't know if I can get in at that time." If economic conditions permit, she naturally wants to attend a key high school.

  "I think you're eligible, our high school has scholarships starting from last year, it's founded by a few alumni who graduated from our school and went on to get their PhDs, they're all doing very well now. So they set up a fund, if you can get into the top three in our high school entrance exams, you'll get a full scholarship including tuition and accommodation fees, plus a cash prize. And it's not just that, every semester, the top three students in each grade will also get scholarships, which include tuition and accommodation fees, and there's still plenty of money left over, even more than the tuition fees. If you can do well, you'll be rewarded every semester..." Wang Zhinan said with a confident smile on his face.

  "Really? That's good, but I don't know if I can get into Senior High." Wang Zhen replied: "I also don't know if my parents want me to go." A hint of sadness appeared on her face, but was quickly replaced with a smile.

  Wang Zhen has really changed, she's more confident than before, and there's something else that's changed too. Wang Zhinan thinks this new Wang Zhen is like winter sunshine - warm, radiant, and talking to her makes people feel happy, yes, it's a feeling of happiness.

  Wang Zhinan thought for a moment: "If you pass the exam, they will definitely let you go. It won't cost much money anyway. As long as your grades are good, they will definitely let you go." Regarding Wang Zhen's family situation, Wang Zhinan didn't want to say anything else, but he felt that if she could get in, it would be a pity not to go. So he comforted her and said, "Besides, someone like Wang Zhen is worth encouraging!"

  "Hehe, thank you." Wang Zhen also couldn't help but feel that she could take first place, although she had been reborn once, but that high school was one of the few in the country, and it was a national key high school, where many excellent high school students were. She could only do her best.

  The county's top high school, fully named Wén Cǎi High School, was originally a school founded by a large landlord. It was later taken over by the state because the landlord's brother was a warlord, and as such, had money and influence. As a result, the school's facilities were among the best in the country. After being taken over by the state, it continued to focus on nurturing students' growth, making it the dream of every child in the country who wanted to attend university.

  There is a saying: The left foot has just entered the elementary school, and the right foot has already entered the university.

  It's dazzling in a high school with a low college entrance rate at that time.

  "Xiao Zheng's sister is here?" Li Qingyao heard the two talking and greeted them while still outside the courtyard.

  "Yes, Second Aunt is back and has been waiting for you." Wang Xian replied.

  "Hehe, I thought you'd come, but didn't expect you to bring your backpack. Li Qingya looked at Wang Zhen's anxious appearance and felt that this child was both funny and well-behaved. Who said this child was heartless? All she knew was that her mother got up early to sell vegetables and earn money, which was called being heartless? Which rumor-monger was truly black-hearted? Indeed, rumors are not to be believed."

  Wang Zhen's face turned red, she was really anxious to make money: "I, I, I came to tell my sister that tomorrow I will go with you to pick up gravel."

  Li Qingyao chuckled and patted Wang Zhen's head: "Alright, come over at 6 am tomorrow with your tools."

  Wang Zhen nodded in agreement with a smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners.