Zhan Aiping not only bought a color TV and an imported washing machine for her home, she also bought four soft, moisture-resistant, high-end spring mattresses at one time. Each mattress costs more than two hundred yuan, and the total cost of four is nearly one thousand yuan, which can be said to be a luxury. She also bought a set of high-end spring sofas.
They have moved in half a year ago, and they used to sit on small wooden stools. This time, the living room has been enriched with sofas, coffee tables, dining tables, TV cabinets... They are all new, and the dozens of legs from before were thrown away before moving.
A clumsy black color TV is placed on a plain wooden TV cabinet, covered with a lace dust cover. Not far next to it is a green double-door refrigerator. A soft sofa is opposite the TV, and there are empty tea cups and a pot of green plants on the coffee table.
In addition to replacing the mattresses, Zhan Aiping also bought new bed sheets for her daughters. She asked a tailor to make them custom-made. The white lace bedspreads have simple embroidery patterns, making them look like beautiful little princess beds.
My daughter Xiao Mianhua likes all kinds of dolls. Zhan Aiping arranged her dolls in two rows around her little bed. She picked up a little tiger. This yellow little tiger was made by Gu Sheng himself. It was old. Xiao Tangyuan played with it when she was a child, and later it belonged to Xiao Mianhua.
"Mom!! Buying new appliances again!"
Zhan Aiping said with a smile: "My dear children, go and check your little beds."
"Wow!! Mom, what a beautiful bed, mom, it can bounce!!!"
Little Cotton took off her shoes, hugged her puppy doll, and jumped hard on the sheets. The mattress bounced her up, then down, and then bounced up again.
Sister Xiao Tangyuan looked eager to try, but Zhan Aiping dissuaded her, "You are so old, don't collapse the bed."
Little Tangyuan hugged her mother's arm and said regretfully, "Okay."
Zhan Aiping said lovingly: "If it collapses, Mom will buy a new one."
“My mom is the best mom ever!!”
"Be careful, don't jump too high and hit your head."
Let the two little sisters jump and dance happily, Zhan Aiping sat on the sofa with her daughters to watch TV. Little Mianhua also learned to sing, singing her grandmother's Penghu Bay, and she sang very well.
"The evening breeze blows gently over Penghu Bay, white waves break out from the beach..."
When Little Mianhua sang, her sister Little Tangyuan also followed. Zhan Aiping couldn't help but sing along with her daughter. Among the three of them, Little Mianhua was the only one who didn't sing out of tune.
They sang for a while, and then Gu Sheng and his son came back sweating profusely. The elder brother, Gu Chen, was holding a basketball in his arms. They always played basketball at school in the evening.
This is a military school. There are a lot of strong guys playing basketball and parallel bars in the evening. Gu Chen has grown taller this year. Little Tangyuan, or Gu Yuan, has also grown rapidly, but she can't compare to her brother.
Gu Yuan was very disappointed that she couldn't be taller than her brother.
"Brother, you are all sweaty, don't sit on the new sofa, go take a shower."
Although there was only one bathroom, the father and son did not have to take turns to wash. After washing together and changing clothes, they came out with wet hair. Zhan Aiping gave each of them a dry towel and said, "Wipe your hair."
"Come sit on the sofa and watch TV. Come and try it. Is it comfortable?"
Gu Sheng looked at her with a smile: "Wife, how much did you spend?"
Zhan Aiping said: "Just tell others that we have spent all the money we earned."
"It's quite eye-catching."
Zhan Aiping said seriously: "The money I made is gone, and I'm still in debt. I'm afraid someone will take away my business next month."
The oil teahouse she opened with Mrs. Luo made a lot of money, which attracted a lot of attention. There were many people who were jealous and envious. Zhan Aiping didn't want to show off, but she didn't want to be low-key either. She had already spent all the money she should have enjoyed and spent... If she was asked to borrow money, it meant she had no money. She hadn't even made back the capital she invested in opening the teahouse.
In order to help in emergencies, Zhan Aiping did not help the poor. In the past six months, she had lent out several hundred yuan. Gu Sheng had many comrades-in-arms, some of whom were really in urgent need of money, so she also lent money to them. However, she did not want to be a sucker and be caught and fleeced.
Instead of lending the money, it is better to sell various home appliances openly and tell people that the money has been spent and there is no need to borrow money.
There is even less room for attracting investment.
*
Another oil tea house nearby opened before the Qingming Festival. This oil tea house was a complete imitation of Zhan Aiping's Ai Ming Oil Tea House. Even the appearance was not much different. What made Zhan Aiping even more speechless was that she, Zhan Aiping, opened an oil tea house called Ai Ming Oil Tea House, and this person opened an oil tea house called Aiping Oil Tea House.
The oil tea house opened by Zhan Aiping is a few teachers from a primary school. Several men and women and four or five families pooled their money to open it. At first they just had an idea, and later they started to raise money. The oil tea house opened by Zhan Aiping is indeed grand, with a large flow of people and making a lot of money every day. Who wouldn't want to get a piece of the pie
This is especially true for primary school teachers. Today’s teachers’ income is too low. When they see people around them starting their own businesses and setting up stalls, those who have jobs are tempted but cannot make up their minds to quit their jobs and start their own businesses.
When someone proposed to open a teahouse, several people responded, "Three cobblers are better than Zhuge Liang. With so many teachers, how can we not be able to beat her small teahouse? We will definitely make more money than her."
If they wanted to open an oil tea house, there would be a problem. They were all teachers working in companies. If they set up a roadside stall, it would definitely not be high-end. Only something like Ai Ming's oil tea house would be appealing to them.
So I just learned to do the same thing, as long as I could make money.
—This has caused a big mess.
From the very beginning, no one thought how much it would cost to open an oil tea shop. The rent was just a little expensive, and they needed some tables, chairs, benches and tools. But once they decorated it like Ai Ming's oil tea house and poured money into it, it was like a bottomless pit. The cost of decoration was too high. Several teachers even took out loans, and they were all terrified, afraid that they would not be able to pay back the four-digit loans. How long would it take to pay back the salary
But if the teahouse makes money, they will be rich!
Several families couldn't wait. They originally planned to open in May, but now it's ahead of schedule. A male teacher came up with a weird idea and said to call it "Aiping Oil Tea House."
Other people's oil tea house is Ai Ming Oil Tea House, and they say they are Ai Ping Oil Tea House, and they say they are sister tea houses. I heard that the owner of the other people's oil tea house is named Ai Ping - this is taking advantage of a loophole.
"Our Ai Ping Oil Tea House is open!"
When Mrs. Luo saw the Aiping Oil Tea House, she was really furious. She said to Zhan Aiping, "How could they do this? They just took your name. How shameless! I don't believe he didn't know..."
Zhan Aiping said: "Use my name, who knows, it might be mine someday."
Mrs. Luo was anxious: "They sell cheap things. Everything is a few cents cheaper than ours. Many people go to their store."
Apart from the high income in the month of Chinese New Year, the business in the following March was also not bad, with a net profit of two thousand three. Mrs. Luo was very satisfied with this money. For ordinary people, earning more than one hundred yuan a month is considered a high income, and most people earn thirty or forty yuan a month. Even if she could only get two or three hundred, she was willing to do it.
What's more, this job is not tiring at all. March was not as prosperous as February. Mrs. Luo was only busy making oil tea in the morning and evening. Shen Liqing was in charge during the day. She could go home to rest and do housework during the day without delaying anything. After saving money for another two months, she also wanted to buy an imported washing machine to make washing clothes easier and less worrying.
Her husband, Mr. Luo, is jealous of her job. Of course, Mrs. Luo knows that it is better to have a job. It provides security. If you are injured or disabled, you will receive pensions. You will also receive care from the unit. Soldiers do not have to spend money on medical treatment. You will get the salary you deserve every month, which will increase year by year and give you peace of mind.
As for how long their oil tea house can be open, Mrs. Luo doesn't know. She only knows that while she can still make money, she must make more, saving half and spending the other half.
Zhan Aiping said: "Let's not look at these few months, let's look at the future."
"If we fight with others on price, we will be exhausted. The price should be the price, Mrs. Luo, you have to believe in your craftsmanship. The difference is just a few cents per piece. If you want to save money, wouldn't it be cheaper to make oil tea at home?"
"Let's improve the service in the private room."
Mrs. Luo thought about it and nodded: "That's right."
Zhan Aiping said: "Let's focus on repeat business."
The oil tea house next door opened, and the prices were cheap. Because of the novelty, many people went there to try it. As a result, the Ai Ming Oil Tea House on Zhan Aiping's side became quiet, and most of the private rooms were empty in the evening.
Zhan Aiping said to Mrs. Luo: "This is perfect, let's invite some old comrades and old friends to come over for tea and chat."
Mrs. Luo's eyes lit up: "That's right!"
She used to like making oil tea, didn’t she just like the feeling of everyone gathering together and chatting
It’s very lively and even if there is no business, we won’t lose much money.
Zhan Aiping said, "We've been busy for two months, it's time to take a break. Please sit down and have a good rest."
Zhan Aiping herself has no business sense. Of course she knows that she should engage in price wars and grab business, but as a doctor, what business should she grab
In addition, she opened the teahouse to have a place to gather and relax, and to have a place for relatives to gather when they come. Now that their family has moved into an apartment, the 100 square meters is still too crowded. Even if the Gu family and the Zhan family come over, there is not enough room for them.
It is much more comfortable to have a teahouse of your own. Everyone can drink tea and chat here. The environment is good and the food is safe. It is okay for children to be a little noisy as there is also a yard outside for them to play.
Shi Songhong is one of the owners of Aiping Oil Tea House. She is also a primary school Chinese teacher. Seeing her oil tea house full of seats these days, she couldn't stop smiling. Several teachers invested together to share the risk. They also have many friends and there are endless people coming to support the restaurant every day.
Their prices are cheaper than Ai Ming Oil Tea House. Who would still go to Ai Ming Oil Tea House
Shi Songhong kept a close eye on the movements of Ai Ming Oil Tea House, wondering if the other party would respond and whether Ai Ming Oil Tea House would follow suit and lower its prices.
Shi Songhong: "If they reduce the price by one cent, we will reduce it by two cents. If they reduce the price by one cent, we will reduce it by 1.1 cents. We will always be a few cents lower than them."
Who would have thought that Ai Ming Oil Tea House would not lower its prices at all, but actually raise them. "Her melon seeds are three cents more expensive?!!! Is the girl next door crazy?!!!"
Zhan Aiping thought that since she was going to invite friends to dinner, she might as well run a boutique teahouse. It was very easy to mix water into the melon seeds, and she could easily add stones, gravel, and small wooden sticks to the flat, hollow, or bad melon seeds to reduce the cost.
In the past, there were many people in Ai Ming Oil Tea House, and the sales of melon seeds were high every day. The melon seeds sold in the store were of ordinary quality, which were tastier than those sold on the roadside, but you could also find flat and bad ones.
Now, it is different to make fine products. We choose plump and good melon seeds, fry them beautifully, and make them attractive in color. The kernels are crispy and delicious, and they are also added with various flavors, such as cream melon seeds, tea melon seeds, and spiced melon seeds...
Mrs. Luo sighed: "They lowered their prices, but we raised them. Is anyone coming?"
Zhan Aiping said: "There are always people who are not short of money. Since the opening of the individual economy, there are many people who make money. They wear suits and carry briefcases. They are not short of a few dollars."
Not to mention that the audience of their oil tea house also includes a group of picky "literary youths".
Zhan Aiping gave Shen Liqing a bonus of 300 yuan so that she could continue to hold their book club and tea party in the oil tea house.
The 1980s was an era of open-mindedness and the emergence of many writers. The once suppressed desire to create burst out in large numbers during these years.
Zhan Aiping said to Shen Liqing: "Our teahouse is open to those who are creative and want to write articles during the day. Anyone can come to our teahouse, order a pot of tea, eat some snacks, and sit there for the whole afternoon."
After Shen Liqing heard what she said, she excitedly grabbed Zhan Aiping's hand and said, "Xiao Zhan! You are really a passionate writer!"
Zhan Aiping: "?!!! What?"
Shen Liqing: "This is exactly the place that writers dream of. There is a place where everyone can get together to drink tea, talk about literature, and discuss their works..."
Zhan Aiping said: "Then I should be a good boss."
Shen Liqing said: "You don't know, I also want to open a teahouse like this. Many writers want to open a teahouse like this, but we don't have the initiative and ability to sustain it."
"Xiao Zhan, you forgot that you have published literary works! Your science stories sell so well! You have so many readers. I know several people who said they have read your works!!"
"No, we have all read your works. We are all your readers! You don't know how widely your books have been circulated over the years... We were just talking about your books."
In the past, everything was banned, and the novels that could be circulated openly were read to pieces. Among these novels, the science stories written by Zhan Aiping were the most interesting. Although they were written in the style of popular science, those stories were so full of ups and downs that people could remember them deeply and indulge in them.
She is like a modern Pu Songling.
"I have a pen pal named Chen Xi. He knows that you are the author of science stories and have opened a teahouse. He said he must come to meet you."
A few days later, Zhan Aiping met this man named Chen Xi in a teahouse. He was a man about 1.7 meters tall, with curly hair and wearing bell-bottom pants. He looked a little decadent, but his eyes were very bright. What was even more surprising was that he had a guitar behind him.
But he plays the guitar awfully.
Shen Liqing introduced that Chen Xi has a pen name called Chenxi. He has recently published poems and novels in many publications. He is also currently preparing to write a novel. He has read Zhan Aiping's works before and admires her very much.
Chen Xi said: "I used to dislike reading those stories that liked to preach, but I like the popular science stories you wrote very much. I admire you."
Zhan Aiping: "Thank you, it's a compliment."
Zhan Aiping chatted with Chen Xi for a while and she found that Chen Xi loved to read martial arts novels. He had read almost all the martial arts novels on the market. Chen Xi said, "I have liked listening to this kind of stories since I was a child. The old ones like Yue Fei Biography, Journey to the West, Water Margin... I can recite the ones I like by heart." Zhan Aiping thought for a while and said, "You like martial arts stories? Why don't you tell martial arts stories in our teahouse, just like storytelling in the past, so that everyone can listen to them for fun."
Chen Xi agreed immediately: "Okay!"
For someone like Mrs. Luo, who can barely recognize a few words, it would be too difficult for her to read martial arts stories. However, she might find it interesting to listen to something like storytelling.
So Chen Xi started telling stories in their oil tea house, and he became an instant hit, attracting a large number of listeners. Even Mrs. Luo was fascinated by the story. She held a small stove, listened to the stories and made oil tea at the same time, and everyone was very happy.
Chen Xi told stories for two or three hours every evening. Many people came to listen to his stories. A lot of melon seeds and various teas in the teahouse sold well. Zhan Aiping offered him a salary, but Chen Xi refused it.
Chen Xi said: "Don't insult me with money."
(End of this chapter)