Chereads / Rebuilt 1992 / Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Competition even in small businesses

Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Competition even in small businesses

After relocking the door, Han Songlin saw that a shop next door was being renovated. He went over to take a look, and it was obvious that the owner was also planning to set up a front shop and back house. Honestly, this choice is very common.

There is nothing strange about it.

'Hello, my name is Han Songlin, I own the shop next door; we'll be neighbours from now on, so please take good care of me!' Han Songlin said to the man, who was obviously the shop owner.

Don't ask how Han Songlin knew that he was the shop owner, because when workers were doing the work, they would ask him what he wanted to do.

There were no specialised decoration companies for shop decoration at the time.

Anyway, there weren't any in the small county town.

So, how was the decoration carried out?

It was very simple, relying on the experience of the workers.

It's just painting the walls, making doors and things like that, nothing like suspended ceilings, which aren't popular yet.

The short, middle-aged man shook Han Songlin's hand politely, with a seemingly hearty smile on his face: 'Hello, brother! Yesterday, I heard that your store was sold, and I wondered who bought it!'

'I sell groceries, what are you going to sell, brother?'

Han Songlin laughed: 'I'm going to sell braised pork! I don't know yet, what's your name, brother?'

'My name is Zhang Qifa, from Foguang Town. Are you from the same village?'

'I'm from Leyuan Township!'

'So you're close to your hometown!'

Han Songlin said, 'Not really, I'd say it's just so-so!'

Zhang Qifa tilted his head and whispered to Han Songlin, "Is that your wife over there?'

'Yes!" Han Songlin followed Zhang Qifa's gaze and saw Liu Yuyan standing tall and graceful by the roadside, looking around from time to time.

'You're a lucky man!'

'Haha! You're not a less lucky man yourself!'

Zhang Qifa was taken aback by these words. He gave a knowing look and said, 'Compared to you, I'm nowhere near as lucky!'

Han Songlin really didn't like talking about these things with a stranger. Maybe it was because he was shy?

'Brother Zhang, you're busy, we'll go for a walk!'

'Sure, let me know if you need anything!'

'Well, thank you in advance!'

Han Songlin turned around and the smile on his face disappeared.

This kind of everyday hypocrisy is, to be honest, the norm in the lives of adults.

When Han Songlin said that he sold braised pork, Zhang Qifa obviously felt that the guard in his heart had disappeared.

'It really is like this: the marketplace is like a battlefield!'

If you want to sell braised pork, then naturally you have to get a permit or something.

It's quite easy to go and apply for an individual industrial and commercial household registration.

Of course, it was not possible to get it done in one day, and Han Songlin was busy with this matter for quite some time afterwards.

He had originally planned to go look at cement, river sand and some other decoration materials, but now there was no time.

Han Songlin and Liu Yuyan did not catch the bus, so they had to walk home.

Han Songlin was a little speechless about this.

He never expected that the rural bus would actually stop running so early.

Before dark, Han Songlin and Liu Yuyan returned to the village and picked up Han Ting.

The little one was tired from playing all day and fell asleep in his arms on the way home!

Still, there was no power at home!

Han Songlin was a little uncomfortable about this, but Liu Yuyan didn't feel anything and found a kerosene lamp to light in the dark.

In the countryside nowadays, every household has a kerosene lamp, which they all make themselves.

They use glass bottles, then wrap cotton thread around a piece of tin, and pour in kerosene.

Han Ting was put to bed.

They had a quick dinner, and Han Songlin and Liu Yuyan boiled some water to prepare for a bath.

In the morning, Han Songlin had already fetched two buckets of water, so they didn't have to worry about water.

In front of the stove, the two of them talked by the light of the fire.

'Are you going to the city again tomorrow?'

Han Songlin thought for a moment and said, 'Yes! Tomorrow I'll ask Songcai to go with me, so you can just stay at home!'

'Then you can go by bike!'

Bike?

Bicycle!

Han Songlin did remember that when he was a child, he had seen Uncle Songlin have a 28-speed bicycle.

But Han Songlin didn't know if it was still there or not.

Now it seems that it is.

If it's not in the bedroom, then it must be in the right wing room.

Han Songlin's house is symmetrical.

'Well, you need to ride faster.'

Han Songlin had never considered the issue of cycling before, and a very important point was that he had some psychological hang-ups about the 28-bar bike.

When he was a child, Han Songlin had fallen off a 28-bar bike.

Anyway, after that, he never rode this type of bike again.

'After we go to the city, we might be very busy, so why don't we send Ting'er to my parents' place?' As she spoke, Liu Yuyan kept an eye on Han Songlin's face.

Han Songlin didn't speak immediately, but thought about where Liu Yuyan's home was.

To be honest, he didn't really know exactly where it was.

He just knew that it was quite close to the city.

When he was a child, Han Ze's mother had pointed it out when they passed by the village on the highway.

Han Songlin: 'Well, let's talk about it later! When the semester starts, we'll send her to kindergarten in the city!'

Send her to kindergarten?

Liu Yuyan opened her mouth in surprise: 'Kindergarten? That'll cost a lot of money!'

Han Songlin couldn't help but smile: 'Money is made to be spent! Don't worry, we'll be very rich in the future.'

It was another charming night.

Han Songlin was awakened in the morning by the chirping of birds.

Shouldn't biological recovery take place in ten years?

Why are there so many birds now?

In the past, due to the scarcity of various materials in the countryside, it was only natural to go after various types of wild animals.

After thinking about this, Han Songlin gave up.

I remember when I was a child, I also trapped birds. I sprinkled some rice, then used a wooden stick to prop up a dustpan, tied a piece of string to the stick, and when the bird ate the rice, I pulled it up directly.

This could cover the bird that was stealing the rice.

Did I ever catch a bird?

I did, but when I tried to take it out, the bird flew away!

After setting up the trap again, the birds actually became smarter and never got caught again.

In his heart, he felt a little cold.

He habitually felt for it, but felt a warmth instead. Han Songlin momentarily opened his eyes; after adjusting to the light in the room, he reacted and realised where he was.

He carefully got up and covered Liu Yuyan with the quilt; after getting dressed, he washed his face with cold water.

The morning of May is a little chilly.

Han Songlin went to fetch two buckets of water and then started preparing breakfast.

Before that, Han Songlin reheated the brine and brought it to a boil.

This must be done every day to keep the brine in working order for a long time.

If there were a refrigerator, the brine could also be stored in it for a long time.

After the noodles were done, Han Songlin went to wake Liu Yuyan up.

'Come on, get up, it's time to eat!'

Liu Yuyan looked a little dazed: 'What time is it?'

'Eight o'clock!'

'Oh, is it that late?'

Late?

Han Songlin didn't think it was late at all.