Chapter 93: This Is a Good Opportunity

"Take him away!" Director Ding showed no sympathy for Xiao Daode, in fact, he was rather disgusted by his actions.

Seeing that Xiao Daode was already showing signs of confessing, he waved his hand and led a dozen or so staff from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce down the country road.

"Liu Xing, I have to go now. Save some rice cakes for me. Next time, I'll come with Shoes to get them." Ding Lan knew she couldn't avoid returning given the situation, so she quickly greeted Liu Xing before catching up with Ding Dali.

Niu Lianfang smiled and waved at Liu Xing, then followed suit.

The swift arrival and departure left Liu Xing feeling oddly unsettled for a moment.

But he didn't dwell on it. After watching Ding Lan, Ding Dali, Niu Lianfang, and the others disappear down the country road, he turned and walked into the main hall.

Liu Dazhao and Zhou Qiuxiang were still processing the shock from Xiao Daode's arrest. Seeing Liu Xing return inside, they hurried after him.

Liu Dazhao spoke, "Xing, I feel like something's not right today! Now that Xiao Daode's been arrested, do you think the others from the supply and marketing cooperative will retaliate against our family?"

He couldn't say such things wouldn't happen; he'd seen it in his youth.

The family targeted in retaliation eventually had to leave their hometown and ended up miserable.

"Dad! What are you thinking?" Liu Xing turned and laughed at Liu Dazhao. "Look, even if we hadn't clashed with the supply and marketing cooperative in Old House Village, they'd probably cause trouble when the shoe store opens."

"Why is that?" Liu Dazhao was puzzled.

"Why ask? It's because the shoes Xing made took away business from the supply and marketing cooperative!" Zhou Qiuxiang couldn't help but interject.

In the 1980s, the supply and marketing cooperatives did all sorts of business—from hardware and machinery to daily necessities, to agricultural products. If there was money to be made, there was nothing they wouldn't sell.

Originally, they provided convenience to the people, but now they've become monopolies.

Anyone who dared to compete with them wouldn't have an easy time.

"That's right," Liu Xing nodded in agreement.

Today, Xiao Daode tried to frame him but ended up arrested in his home—truth be told, it was both an accident and a coincidence. If it had been before his rebirth, such a thing probably wouldn't have happened. But Xiao Daode had done so many bad things, it seemed predestined that he would fall at Liu Xing's hands in this life.

So, he had nothing to fear.

Furthermore, he suspected that the higher-ups truly intended to take action against the supply and marketing cooperative this time. Even if they couldn’t find evidence in his home, it was only a matter of time before Xiao Daode was arrested. Some people in the cooperative had hindered social progress and the implementation of reform policies.

"Xing, can we not open the shoe store at the market?" Liu Dazhao was getting nervous, taking several drags from his cigarette before voicing his concern.

"Heh... It's too late to back out now." Liu Xing smiled and, having said this, entered his room.

A moment later, he came out. "Big sister, pack up and come with me to Old House Village. We're going to start renovating the shop, open as soon as possible."

He had originally planned to wait until he had a few hundred pairs of shoes in stock before dealing with the shop renovations, but after today's events with Xiao Daode, he realized the plan needed to be moved up.

With Xiao Daode, the manager, arrested, the supply and marketing cooperative was leaderless. This was the best opportunity to open the shoe shop.

If he missed this chance, or if things changed and Xiao Daode was released, he might never get such a good opportunity again.

"Alright! I’ll follow your lead." Liu Dongju quickly rose, brushed the rubber scraps from her clothes, and went to pack in the bedroom.

"Mom," Liu Xing looked at Zhou Qiuxiang.

"Yes?" Zhou Qiuxiang, deep in thought, responded.

"After I leave, don’t sell any more shoes. Wait until the shop opens. Also, the custom orders should be put on hold until I return. I believe folks can wait a bit longer."

"Okay!" Zhou Qiuxiang nodded repeatedly.

She didn't dare sell shoes now! She’d been thoroughly frightened by Xiao Daode earlier, and her nerves hadn't settled.

If she sold shoes again and ran into another Xiao Daode, she'd rather not live.

A few years ago, when the village cracked down on illegal speculation, the memories were still vivid in her mind. Some offenders were even executed. She didn't know how Liu Xing suddenly became so capable, turning misfortune into blessing in an instant, but she knew that, for now, the best thing was to follow Liu Xing's lead.

As for other worries, she need not concern herself.

Even if she wanted to, she didn’t have the ability.

"By the way, where’s all the money from shoe sales these days?" Liu Xing asked with a smile.

"It’s all here!" Zhou Qiuxiang pulled out three thick bundles of bills from the wardrobe. "Earlier, Xiaomo gave me the deposits she collected. I counted it three times—eight hundred sixty-nine yuan in total."

Liu Dazhao was dumbfounded to see so much money.

He knew Liu Xing had earned some, but he never imagined it would be this much.

He wanted to hold it for a moment of satisfaction, but refrained.

After all, it was Liu Xing's earnings; he couldn’t show any intention of keeping it for himself.

Zhou Qiuxiang felt the same. Otherwise, she might have kept some.

But now, she thought managing this much money was a headache.

After much consideration, she decided it was best to hand it all over.

She’d realized that, as long as she followed Xing's leadership, earning money wasn’t a problem.

Giving Liu Xing the full amount was her greatest support, granting him space to fully utilize his abilities.

"Brother, I have five yuan here. It's from the aunt next door who wanted to buy shoes, but I couldn't get them for her." Liu Dongju rushed out upon hearing Liu Xing inquire about the money.

It wasn't that she feared Liu Xing would accuse her of hiding shoe money, but as his big sister, she needed to set a good example in handling finances. Otherwise, if any issues arose, it could create distance between her and Liu Xing.

This wasn’t an exaggeration; she'd seen families torn apart over just a few dozen yuan, never speaking again.

Liu Xing understood her meaning, smiled, and accepted the five yuan from Liu Dongju. "Sister, I'll bring some materials over for your neighbor’s shoes, and also make a pair for your parents-in-law."

Since he was opening the shoe shop at the market, renting his sister’s house, he needed a good relationship with her in-laws. Even if he didn’t like them, as a person in this new life, he couldn't neglect basic decency.

"Alright! Good!" Liu Dongju nodded happily.

Liu Xing picked up a bundle of one-yuan bills and looked toward Kang Hu, Zhao Xiaomo, and Liu Qiuyuan, who were busy in the main hall. "Everyone, pause your work for a moment. I have a few things to say."

"What’s up?" Liu Qiuyuan looked up and smiled.

Zhao Xiaomo put down her scissors, brushing the rubber scraps from her clothes.

Kang Hu leaned against the wall, watching Liu Xing.

"I’m heading to Old House Village’s market this time—probably won’t be back for a few days." Liu Xing spoke softly. "You three just focus on making sandals and slippers. Don't get involved in anything else."

"For example, don’t take custom orders on your own, or sell dozens of pairs to unfamiliar villagers. These things aren't allowed. As for consequences, my mom saw them firsthand today." Liu Xing paused, then added.

Zhou Qiuxiang smiled awkwardly at his words.

Liu Dazhao smiled as well, seeing there was nothing for him to do, and left to check the sunflower seeds.

Liu Qiuyuan promised, "Xing, don’t worry. When you’re not around, we won’t make decisions about shoe sales."

"Exactly," Zhao Xiaomo echoed.

If something went wrong, they couldn’t take responsibility.

Kang Hu didn’t speak, but his expression showed everyone his unconditional support for Liu Xing.

"Good!" Liu Xing looked at Liu Dongju. "Sister, you’ve been making shoes with everyone here for several days now, so I’d like to settle up the wages. Everyone’s worked hard."

The real reason was that keeping so many small, medium, and large bills at home was unsafe. To avoid trouble, it was best to pay the wages out now.

That way, his burden was less, and the helpers felt secure.

"We haven’t worked many days!" Liu Dongju said, embarrassed, when she heard wages were being paid.

Kang Hu grinned, seeing there was nothing else, and got back to work.

"Xing, I think you should pay us monthly, just a token amount." Liu Qiuyuan spoke her mind.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want money, but they’d been eating meat every meal at Liu Xing’s house. If she took money on top of that, she’d feel awkward.

As a housewife herself, she knew how expensive daily meat was.

"Monthly wages won’t do," Liu Xing denied her suggestion without hesitation, pulling ten one-yuan bills from the bundle and handing them over. "Aunt, these ten yuan are your wages for these days. Don't think it's too little."

"Really?" Liu Qiuyuan hesitated, looking to Zhou Qiuxiang.

"Take it! Your husband will depend on you for the next few months," Zhou Qiuxiang reminded with a smile.

Touched, Liu Qiuyuan accepted the ten yuan.

Next, Liu Xing gave ten yuan each to Kang Hu and Zhao Xiaomo.

As for Liu Dongju, he neither mentioned nor gave her any, then put away the money and returned to his room.

This left Zhou Qiuxiang a bit unhappy, pulling Liu Dongju along in pursuit.

Once Liu Xing’s family walked away, Liu Qiuyuan snatched Kang Hu’s ten yuan from his hand. "Son, Mom will save your wages for your future bride. Don’t waste it."

"Okay!" Kang Hu didn’t realize he was being tricked, but nodded with a foolish grin.

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