Read Novel Full Chapter 114
Chapter 114 : Rumors
Jiang Li smiled and glanced at Qin Xiaoting. She knew that whenever Qin Xiaoting lied, she pinched her little finger, so it was impossible for Jiang Li not to notice. However, she didn’t expose her.
After getting the sewing machine, Jiang Li used all the new hairband designs she had drawn overnight and even launched a white and pink double-layered hairband specially for the occasion.
The two chose a Saturday to set up a stall near the school’s family quarters. There happened to be a movie theater nearby, and it was also close to the supply and marketing cooperative, so there was a good flow of people both during the day and at night.
As soon as Qin Xiaoting’s braised meat was put out, the aroma attracted many aunties who had come to buy vegetables. The retired employees in Haicheng were generous, and many of them bought some after tasting the sample braised meat.
Only one lady with a perm wanted to buy but was a little hesitant, asking, “Is this thing of yours hygienic? Last time, I bought some meat buns from outside and brought them home for my daughter. The whole family got diarrhea. The vendor was really careless.”
“Don’t worry, big sister. My food is kept clean. If you get sick from eating anything, come find me. I’m just setting up my stall here and won’t go anywhere else,” Jiang Li assured her.
Even so, the old lady didn’t buy anything. She looked at the stall one last time, then called her dog, “Le Le, let’s go home.”
There weren’t many people at Jiang Li’s stall because it was too early. In the early morning, there were only old men and women eating breakfast or taking a walk, and workers rushing to their jobs. Young girls were relatively few.
As the sun gradually rose higher, more people came out of the school, and Jiang Li’s stall became busier.
Female students surrounded the stall, some trying on clothes, others looking in the mirror. Quite a few were buying things, mainly because the average purchasing power of Haicheng residents was much stronger than that of people from Yongfang County.
It was almost time for dinner, so Jiang Li decided to close the stall first and have lunch with Qin Xiaoting before coming back.
Qin Xiaoting said apologetically, “Lizi, I can’t go to dinner with you. I haven’t seen the kids for the whole morning, and I’m really worried.”
Jiang Li understood, “Okay, then I’ll take care of the remaining items on your stall and help you sell them this afternoon.”
“No, it’s just this little. It’s not enough if we split it half between you and me.” Qin Xiaoting quickly packed two bags and stuffed one into Jiang Li’s hand. “Consider it my compensation for standing you up.”
Qi Shaoqiang also had to be on duty that day, so there was no one to eat with Jiang Li. She just had a bowl of noodles and went back to continue setting up her stall.
The sun was shining brightly in the afternoon, and more students came out for activities. Jiang Li also saw several familiar classmates from the same department. Two of them even helped her with her business, so Jiang Li gave them a discount.
Around mid-afternoon, all twenty hairbands were sold out. Jiang Li closed the stall with satisfaction and prepared to come back the next day.
After deducting the costs, she made $17.50 that day. This was at the beginning, with no promotions, relying solely on new customers.
Sun Yulian, who was passing by, wiped her eyes. Isn’t that Jiang Li? Why is she setting up a stall?
After seeing it clearly, Sun Yulian felt relieved, as if she had drunk a glass of ice water in the middle of summer. It turned out that Jiang Li’s wealth was all an illusion, and she had to rely on being a small vendor to make a living.
Doing this kind of speculative business… bah! It’s only now that the trend has relaxed. If it were a few years ago, she would have definitely reported Jiang Li.
No, how could she be the only one to know such a big secret? She had to spread the word to her classmates at school and let those blind people in the art department see how worldly and materialistic the so-called pure goddess they admired really was.
In the afternoon professional class of the Art Department, Teacher Ma was reading from the textbook at the podium. Everyone was drowsy, and Jiang Li was also listening absent-mindedly.
The main reason was that the teacher only said old-fashioned things and read them directly from the textbook, which was really boring.
“Lizi, the homework you handed in last class, was it your own work?”
Jiang Li was a little dazed when her name was suddenly called, but she quickly stood up and answered, “Yes, teacher, what’s the problem?”
Ma Jingshan pushed up his wine-bottle-bottomed reading glasses and snorted, “The work is good, and you scored first place in the class test. But the teacher wants to advise you that you’re still young, so don’t be so greedy for money, otherwise, it will ruin your current spiritual energy, and you’ll regret it when you’re older.”
Jiang Li was very surprised, but at that moment, the bell rang signaling the end of class. Ma Jingshan took the textbooks and walked out of the classroom with his hands behind his back, leaving Jiang Li no chance to ask anything.
The students in the class also glanced toward Jiang Li, and groups of three or four began discussing something in whispers.
Wang Hong couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled Jiang Li aside, finally saying, “Lizi, have you been short on money recently? I heard you’ve been setting up a stall near the school. If you’re in need, I can help you. I can’t give you a large sum, but ten or twenty dollars should be enough for an emergency.”
Jiang Li was both amused and confused. “I’m not short of money. As for borrowing, if I need it, I’ll ask you in the future. And yes, I have been setting up a stall. I’m selling hairbands.”
Zhu Zhu pointed to a red knitted rose hairband fluttering in the wind on the head of the girl in front of her. “Is this it?”
“Jiang Li, did you make all these? You’re so skillful.”
Zhu Zhu’s eyes lit up. “A lot of girls at our school are wearing these. I didn’t expect it was you setting up the stall. I went there several times but couldn’t buy anything. You closed the stall long ago.”
“Lizi, my good roommate, you’re the first to get the moon! Can you open a back door for me and sell me one?” Zhu Zhu grabbed Jiang Li’s arm, pleading.
“Okay, I’ll give you one, as long as you help me promote it.”
Zhu Zhu jumped with excitement. “Lizi, you’re so kind. But I’ll still pay for it. I want a red rose one.”
Wang Hong was shocked by their easy-going attitude. “Is anyone going to report this? Previously, a family in our factory exchanged some of their dried bacon for vegetables and got 50 cents. They were reported by jealous people and lost their jobs.”
“Things are different now. My dad said we might be more open in the future!” Zhu Zhu had insider information, so what she said was most likely the news circulating inside Haicheng.
Wang Hong sighed in relief. “Well, it’s good that everything is fine.”
Sun Yulian, who had been pretending to pack up her books but was actually eavesdropping, was stunned.
How come, after all this, the people in the dormitory didn’t dislike Jiang Li but actually grew closer to her? Shouldn’t speculation and profiteering be condemned by everyone?
Jiang Li noticed Sun Yulian’s unwilling expression. Logically, the whole stall business shouldn’t have spread so quickly, but it had even reached the teacher’s ears. Someone must be gossiping about her, and it might be Sun Yulian.
Jiang Li silently made a note of this in her mind. After dinner, she went downstairs to her dormitory. The dorm manager called her over and said, “Student Jiang, you’re from 302, right? There’s a letter from Sun Yulian in your dormitory. Please take it to her.”