Lu Haici was serious about making money. Seeing that the winter vacation was about to start, he had plenty of time to rest. He called Qin Ming and Ji Yang together and asked, "Do you know how we kids make money?"
"I don't know about that." Ji Yang had never suffered any hardship, so he didn't know.
"I know, I know." Qin Ming said, "I heard from my grandparents that you can make money by twisting ropes. Oh, and you can also make money by picking up firewood." Commander Qin and Zhang Hongping often talked to Qin Ming about the past. Qin Ming always liked to listen to his grandfather talk about various things, so he knew something. "Lu Haici, do you want to make money? Don't you have pocket money? You don't have enough money? I can lend it to you."
Good friends have money, so it is convenient to borrow money from them.
Lu Haici immediately waved his hands: "No, I'm not borrowing money, I'm trying to earn money. I heard from the aunts in the family compound that if a girl gets married with a large dowry, she won't be bullied by her husband's family. I want to earn a dowry for my sister."
"Is that so..." Qin Ming thought, "Then let's go collect firewood. We can make money by selling the firewood to the family compound."
Lu Haici hesitated: "Speculation is wrong. Will we be arrested if we do this?"
Qin Ming said: "No, no, we just don't let others know."
Ji Yang was puzzled: "Who should we sell the firewood to? How do we know they won't tell anyone?"
Qin Ming: "Sell it to my grandmother's family. I told him not to tell anyone. You can sell it to someone you know. They will definitely not tell anyone."
Lu Haici thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll sell it to Da Wang's family... No, I don't trust Da Wang anymore. Last time when I wrote a letter of apology, Da Wang promised me not to tell my parents, but he told my parents anyway."
If Qin Dawang knew about this, he would definitely say aggrievedly, I didn’t tell your parents, I only told my mom.
Qin Ming said: "Then I'll go ask my grandma and see which family needs matches. My grandma will definitely not tell me."
When Lu Haici heard this, he thought it was a good idea.
So, after school, Qin Ming asked Zhang Hongping as soon as he got home: "Grandma, does anyone in our family compound want to buy matches?"
Zhang Hongping had never heard her grandson ask this question before. She was puzzled when she heard it suddenly. "Why are you asking this? Are you still concerned about this?"
Qin Ming said: "Lu Haici wants to make money during the winter vacation, and Ji Yang and I also want to make money together, so if the family compound needs firewood, can we pick it up and sell it to them?"
Zhang Hongping was shocked that these three kids actually wanted to make money. However, it was a good thing that her grandson had such an ambitious idea, so Zhang Hongping did not refuse: "Okay, I'll go ask for you."
"Grandma, we can't let others know about this. It would be bad if people say we are engaging in speculation." Qin Ming reminded.
Zhang Hongping couldn't help laughing out loud: "How can your little tricks be considered speculation?" The kids picked up firewood to earn some pocket money, just a few cents. Even if those people found out, they couldn't catch them.
"Really?" Although Qin Ming was a tough guy, he was also afraid of those people, mainly because there had been too many rumors about arresting people everywhere in the past two years.
Zhang Hongping: "Really, really, I'll go ask who needs firewood for you now."
Zhang Hongping moved quickly. However, Zhang Hongping was not asking about the individuals in the family compound, but about the canteen. The firewood in the canteen was all bought from outside, so why did it matter who bought it from? Besides, the firewood the children picked up was just a small trick, just to satisfy their cravings.
Zhang Hongping thought of asking the canteen because she learned it from Lin Qingqing. Collecting firewood in the name of the collective can't be associated with speculation, right
However, Zhang Hongping did think of one thing, so after greeting everyone in the cafeteria, she went to the Lu family. "Comrade Lin...Comrade Lin..."
"Auntie, why are you here? Come in and do it." Lin Qingqing greeted warmly.
The Lu family had just finished their meal. Lu Haici heard Zhang Hongping's voice and listened secretly. He was afraid that Zhang Hongping would be like Brother Dawang and tell his mother about his affairs in no time.
Zhang Hongping came in and said directly, "Comrade Lin, today our Xiao Ming told me that he wants to collect firewood with Hai Ci and Ji Yang during the winter vacation to sell in the family compound. I thought, instead of letting them collect firewood to sell in the family compound, it would be better to contact the canteen and ask the canteen to accept the firewood collected by the children. In this way, any child can collect firewood and sell it to the canteen, which can also encourage everyone. What do you think?"
When Lu Haici heard this, he had only one thought in his mind: adults are all liars. They said they wouldn't tell their parents, but what about now? He knew from Zhang Hongping's words that Qin Ming told her about this. Lu Haici wanted to cry. Qin Ming was not reliable either. He also said that his mother wouldn't tell. He had to have a good talk with Qin Ming.
Lin Qingqing was a little surprised that Lu Haici and his friends wanted to earn money by collecting firewood, but she fully agreed with Zhang Hongping's proposal. "But there are two points to note. One is the safety of the children, and the other is that it should not affect their homework."
Lu Haici said, "We will do our homework after we collect firewood." Although he was a little angry that Zhang Hongping told her mother about this, he knew that her mother must have agreed to it after hearing her words. So Lu Haici immediately stuck his head out of the house.
Lin glanced at him gently, and the half-smile in her eyes made him shrink his head back immediately. "Aunt, you still have to organize this matter, and then tell the adults in the family compound, and remind them of the things they need to pay attention to. The weather is cold now, and the most important thing to pay attention to when collecting firewood is that the road is slippery."
"Okay, no problem. I'll go door to door now." Zhang Hongping likes to take this kind of job the most. It makes her feel present and dignified, and makes her feel very useful.
Seeing them talking, Lu Haici wanted to take the opportunity to talk to Qin Ming about this matter, but was stopped by Lin Qingqing: "Haici, have you finished your homework?"
Lu Haici sneaked halfway and pushed back: “Not yet, I’m a little thirsty, come and drink some water.”
Lin Qingqing: "Then finish your water and do your homework."
"Oh." Lu Haici had no choice but to pretend to drink a sip of water from the thermos, then went back to the room to continue doing his homework.
Lin Qingqing walked Zhang Hongping to the door, then turned around and went into Lu Haici's room: "Haici, why did you think of picking up firewood to sell for money?"
Children are not short of money. Everything is prepared for them in their daily lives, and she also gives them 1 cent pocket money a week, so children should not be short of money.
Lu Haici said, "I want to save money. Mom, is it wrong for me to pick up firewood and sell it for money?" Lu Haici was a little worried that his mother would not agree.
"Of course not. It's good that you have this idea, and you can make money with your own ability, how can it be wrong?" Lin Qingqing was very pleased. This child has always been very sensible, and sometimes she was very sensible. "But, why did you suddenly think of saving money? Is there any use for it? If you need money, and it's a serious matter, mom can give you money."
Lu Haici shook his head and waved his hands, "I don't need the money, I just want to save it. I have time during the winter vacation, so I want to pick up firewood and sell it. I can't find other ways for other kids to make money. Then Qin Ming said that you can make money by twisting ropes and picking firewood."
I see.
"Then you can go collect firewood and sell it for money, but you have to pay attention to your own safety. Don't go to remote places or dangerous places. You can't go alone. You have to go with Qin Ming and Ji Yang. If you find that something is wrong, you have to come back immediately. Do you understand?" Lin Qingqing reminded them one by one.
"I know." Lu Haici was very happy to see that his mother had no objection.
Lin Qingqing chatted with Lu Haici for a while, then came out to find Lu Cheng. She told him about her conversation with the child, "I saw that the child didn't say anything, so it's not good to ask more. You can ask him why he wants to save money before he goes to bed at night."
Lu Cheng thought it was okay for a boy to collect firewood and sell it for money, as that was what a real man should do. But based on what his wife said, he still asked.
When he went to bed at night, Lu Cheng asked about this matter.
But Lu Haici was very tight-lipped. If he didn't want to say something, Lu Chengwen would be useless. Lu Haici wanted to save a dowry for his sister, so of course he couldn't tell his parents. If he told them, there would be no surprise. He wanted to give his sister a surprise when she got married.
When the children were on winter vacation, the whole family compound was bustling. There were many children in the family compound, and everyone formed groups to collect firewood. These children set out every morning, came back at noon, ate lunch, and came back before the sun set.
Even though the weather is cold, and it’s cold outside, it’s actually quite hot when you exercise.
Especially when the children sold firewood to the canteen in exchange for money, their hearts were warmed.
Because of the farm, the wives of soldiers in the family compound were not short of money. Each of them had at least a hundred yuan of private savings. Therefore, the parents did not confiscate the money the children earned from selling firewood, which made the children very happy. They all made appointments to go shopping together at the New Year's market.
The New Year came quickly and every household began to get busy, but some families were unhappy.
Father Lin and Lin Luming looked at each other and sighed. Although they were eating with their grandparents now, and Father Lin's monthly allowance was given to Grandpa and Grandma Lin, such as meat coupons and the like, no matter how delicious Grandma Lin's cooking was, they were not happy.
Because Lin's mother had left the production team for almost a year.
"Why are you sighing?" Grandma Lin rolled her eyes at her useless son. "If you have the guts, take your son to the army to celebrate the New Year."
Father Lin pursed his lips and said, "But I don't have that much New Year's holiday."
Grandma Lin said indifferently: "What's the big deal? Let the third child take your place for a few days and just pay him the wages."
Before Father Lin answered, Lin Luming answered first: "Dad, I think this is a good idea. I miss my mom too."
"What a bullshit." Although Father Lin missed his wife, he didn't like going out. In modern terms, he was a stay-at-home. "Why don't you go by yourself?"
Lin Luming shrank his neck: "Forget it." He didn't dare to do it either.
Grandma Lin looked at the father and son and said, "Look at what you have accomplished."