Lin Xia did not know that Lin Qiang had seen her selling the scarves. She chatted for a bit with the people who wanted to buy scarves, told them to come back in a few days, and then rode off on her bicycle.
She returned to the same secluded corner she had found earlier, checked her cash, and counted: 12 scarves, 36 dollars!
Together with the previously earned 54 dollars, the 30 scarves had totaled 90 dollars, giving her a gross profit of 15 dollars!
After deducting the round-trip train ticket of 7 dollars, she still made a profit of 8 dollars!
8 dollars!
Considering the hardship endured on the train, earning these 8 dollars really wasn't too difficult!
Previously in the provincial city after buying the scarves, Lin Xia had calculated how much money she could make, but those 8 dollars were just theoretical and didn't feel real; now, the money was genuinely in her hands!
Lin Xia was thrilled and excited for quite some time!
Once she calmed down a bit, she couldn't help thinking that there were still so many people at Chopstick Factory No. 1 who wanted to buy her scarves, not to mention other factories filled with female workers she hadn't yet visited!
It seemed she would need to make another trip to the provincial city soon!
While the weather was still warm, she could continue selling scarves for a while longer and earn more money!
Lin Xia combined all her money, tucked it all into Jade's room, and only kept a dollar in her trouser pocket for pocket change.
With a joyous flick of her long braid, she hopped on her bicycle and hurried home!
At the same time, Lin Yu was also on her way home from school and happened to run into Lin Qiang, who was running towards her.
Lin Qiang looked hurried, with a forehead full of sweat and panting heavily!
Lin Yu quickly got off her bicycle and asked, "Lin Qiang, what happened to you? Who were you fighting with?"
She thought Lin Qiang had gotten into another fight and was coming to her for help.
But Lin Qiang shook his head, caught his breath by bending over and supporting his knees, then pulled Lin Yu, who was pushing her bicycle, to a secluded area. He made sure no one was around, then whispered about seeing Lin Xia selling scarves in front of Chopstick Factory No. 1, emphasizing that the scarves were three dollars each.
"...Three dollars each! Those people didn't even think it was expensive, they just kept pulling out money... Lin Yu, you should have seen it, Lin Xia's pockets were bulging. I reckon there must have been dozens of dollars! I don't know where she got those scarves from..."
Lin Yu was completely stunned by what Lin Qiang told her, and it took her a while to regain her composure. She believed Lin Qiang must have witnessed it himself, but she couldn't imagine Lin Xia managing such a feat!
At the same time, she felt inexplicably uneasy; she had never worn a three-dollar scarf herself, nor had she ever had so much money in her pocket!
"Was she selling them for someone else?"
Lin Qiang recalled Lin Xia's demeanor at the time, "I don't think so! Anyway, it looked like she was calling the shots!"
Lin Yu analyzed with him, "If it really was her doing, her trip out of town a few days ago when she said she was attending a wedding, was just a lie!
But where did she get those scarves? Three dollars each, even ten or so would cost over thirty dollars! Where did she get the money?"
Lin Yu racked her brain but couldn't figure out how Lin Xia had undergone such a drastic change in such a short time.
Seeing Lin Yu constantly babbling about this, Lin Qiang impatiently waved his hand, "Why do we care where her money came from? There's no name on the money or the scarves. I came to you to discuss how we can get our hands on that money and those scarves!"
His goal wasn't to speculate about the origin of Lin Xia's money; he wanted Lin Xia's money and belongings to become his!
"Sure!" Lin Yu's heart leaped with joy. If they could really pull this off, she would have both money to spend and scarves to wear.
And, ideally, they should think of some trick to make Lin Xia suffer a loss without daring to complain.
With that thought, the sullenness she felt at Lin Xia's house a few days ago was completely swept away.
Seeing her agree, Lin Qiang eagerly said, "When this works out, we'll split the money and scarves: eight for me, two for you!"
Lin Yu immediately objected to Lin Qiang's proposed distribution, "Why do you get eight and I only get two?"
Lin Qiang raised his chin, "Because I discovered this! If I hadn't told you, would you have known?" He wouldn't have wanted to share a penny if he wasn't worried about failing on his own!
Lin Yu argued with him, "You can't give me so little! I should at least get forty percent!"
Lin Qiang sneered with a grimace, "Lin Yu, you wish!"
Lin Yu raised the corner of her eyes, "If you don't agree, then I'll tell mom, and since dad will probably be back from the mountain the day after tomorrow, I'll tell him too! Think about how this will be settled then!"
Lin Qiang knew very well that if their dad, Lin Aiguo, found out about this, he wouldn't get a penny, and he gritted his teeth in agony, "Then the most I can give you is thirty percent! Take it or leave it, I'll talk to mom!"
"Deal! Let's discuss this properly and plan our next move!"
The two huddled together and murmured for a long time. It was definitely not feasible to do anything tonight, as Lin Xia and the others usually stayed in the Western House after school and work.
If there was a chance, it could only be tomorrow!
Tomorrow Lin Xia had to go to work, and she probably wouldn't be able to bring the money and scarf to work, so it must be hidden somewhere in their house.
By then, Lin Chun would be at work, and Lin Dong would be at school, only Lin Qiu would be at home.
The two secretly agreed that Lin Yu would keep watch while Lin Qiang would search the Western House...
How could Lin Xia and the others possibly know that siblings Lin Yu and Lin Qiang had already secretly planned everything.
When Lin Xia returned home, Lin Chun had not yet come back from work; only Lin Qiu and Lin Dong were there.
Lin Qiu was originally in the kitchen cooking, and Lin Dong was lying on the table in the Western House doing his homework.
As soon as they saw Lin Xia return, they both dropped what they were doing and gathered around her.
Lin Dong looked Lin Xia up and down, noticing joy in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows, "Big sister! Where were you?"
Lin Xia took off her crossbody bag, placed it on the lid of the red box, and smiled, "I went out for a stroll!"
Lin Qiu inquired curiously, "Sis, what exactly are you up to? Why so secretive?"
Since getting off the train that morning, her big sister had gone out twice.
And judging by the expression on her face, she came back happier each time!
Lin Xia looked at her brother and sister, "Is anyone home at Eastern House?"
"No one's home," Lin Qiu answered quickly.
Lin Dong specifically glanced towards the courtyard gate from the window, "No one!"
Lin Xia put her arms around their shoulders, "I am thinking of ways to make money!"
Lin Qiu's eyes widened in surprise, "Make money?"
Lin Dong eagerly asked, "Big sister! How are you going to make it?"
Lin Xia was just about to divulge a few details when she sharply spotted Lin Yu and Lin Qiang, the sibling duo, appearing at the front door, "They're back, let's keep this between us for now! I'll tell you more when I get a chance in the future!"
"Okay!" Lin Qiu knew they needed to keep it a secret, "I'll go fix dinner!" and meanwhile keep an eye on people from the Eastern House.
As Lin Qiu left the Western House, Lin Dong sat back down on the long bench to do his homework.
But he kept glancing at Lin Xia, who noticed his distractedness and sat next to him, whispering, "Dongzi! Do you have something you want to tell me?"
Lin Dong moved his lips and finally voiced his thoughts, though very softly; had Lin Xia not been close to him, she wouldn't have heard him clearly, "Big sister! I was thinking of taking some candy treats for Haizi!"
Over the years, as he tutored Haizi, Haizi's parents had been very kind to him, often giving him food.
Given his family's special circumstances and limited means, he had scarcely enough to fill his own stomach, let alone give something back; he could only be more diligent and responsible in tutoring Haizi.
Taking advantage of the excitement during lunch when they ate the canned meat, he hadn't thought of that; it was only when he saw Haizi going to school that he thought about giving Haizi something to eat.