Inside the house, Zhao Yunlin eagerly took out the money from his pocket and had her count it.
Cheng Tao counted it, and it was a full one thousand five hundred!
This was an astronomical sum for them at the time.
"So much money, did you earn it all? What about the goods I asked you to bring back, did you bring them?"
Zhao Yunlin shook his head, "They took me to do another kind of business, it was inconvenient to bring back goods. We won't open a general store, and we don't need to do that. After the New Year, I'll take you to Yan City, and we'll start a new life there."
Cheng Tao was stunned for a moment. Zhao Yunlin wasn't making money by reselling goods, so what was he doing?
"What did they have you do to earn so much from just one trip?"
Zhao Yunlin avoided her gaze and took out something wrapped in cloth from his pocket.
"This is what I brought back for you. See if you like it."
She opened it and found a jade pendant.
The jade pendant was carved with a phoenix, and the pattern was very exquisite.
Even though Cheng Tao didn't understand jade, she could tell that this jade pendant was translucent and moist, and of excellent quality.
"What a beautiful jade pendant. Where did you get it?"
Zhao Yunlin said, "We sold all the other goods we brought back this time. I thought this one looked nice, so I kept it for myself."
Cheng Tao's eyes narrowed, "What goods?"
She had a vague feeling that what Zhao Yunlin was doing was not a good thing.
"Cheng Tao, I can't tell you. Just rest assured, I can make money this way and provide a better life for you and our daughter."
Zhao Yunlin had been afraid at first. He thought he shouldn't do anything illegal.
But Brother Chen said, "Is it breaking the law that's scary, or is poverty scarier?"
Zhao Yunlin felt that it was the latter.
He was poor, looked down upon by his family, and lived like a failure.
He wanted money! No matter what the method!
So, he took the risk and went along with Brother Chen for one deal, earning over a thousand.
Brother Chen said that these goods could be sold at a higher price in big cities.
So they chose to go to Yan City.
"We'll go together."
Cheng Tao swallowed nervously, completely surprised that Zhao Yunlin would dare to do such a thing.
This was smuggling!
She was well aware of how strict the control was on such matters. If anything went wrong, what if she was accused of being a spy and shot?
She wanted to be a wealthy wife, but not at such great risk.
"Zhao Yunlin, you're crazy! You can't do illegal things!"
Zhao Yunlin's face contorted, he lowered his voice, and gritted his teeth, "I know I can't do it, I know better than anyone! But Cheng Tao, think about it, how much can you earn by opening a general store? When can we get our investment back, and when can we catch up to Cheng You! Don't you want to live better than her!"
Cheng Tao stared at him blankly. The man eroded by greed seemed utterly unfamiliar.
But these crazy words were like a large cake placed before a starving man, a tangible temptation.
Zhao Yunlin snatched the money from her hand, "Only by doing this can I earn so much money with just one trip! Didn't you say you wanted to buy a house in Yan City? I couldn't do it before, but I will buy it for you in the future!"
Cheng Tao was tempted. She had already agreed in her heart.
Fortune favors the bold. If you don't take a risk, how will you know if it works?
"Then when do we go to Yan City?"
"After the New Year."
Cheng Tao put the money away and quickly said, "Change your clothes, don't catch a cold."
...
The next day, almost the entire Wujing Village heard Wang Hongxia's booming voice.
Zhao Yunlin went out for a trip and came back with money.
No one knew how much he earned, but judging by her demeanor, it shouldn't be too little.
However, she only said she was doing business, but not what kind of business.
Whenever someone asked, she would retort, "Why should I tell you, so you can steal my trade secrets? After the New Year, our Zhao family will be going to Yan City to become city dwellers."
She hadn't considered that Zhao Yunlin and Cheng Tao had no intention of bringing her along.
Cheng You thought and thought, but couldn't figure out what kind of business could make someone rich overnight.
She didn't have a clear memory of things from her dreams. Occasionally, she could recall fragments, but they were very limited.
Unlike Cheng Tao, who could take advantage of every opportunity.
If Cheng Tao wasn't so foolish and solely focused on dealing with her, she probably wouldn't be in such a miserable state.
"How do you think Zhao Yunlin made his money?" she asked Qi Chengyan.
Qi Chengyan frowned, clearly pondering the same question.
Although the college entrance examination had been reinstated and policies had loosened, there were still many limitations to doing business.
Just like Cheng You, if she didn't have Ying Tianyun's support, it would have been impossible for her to easily obtain a business license.
Moreover, after Zhao Yunlin went on his trip, he didn't bother with setting up a shop, so doing business could be ruled out.
Then, what else could have allowed him to earn so much money in such a short period?
Cheng You guessed, "Could it be that the source is not legitimate?"
Qi Chengyan said, "The Brother Chen who went with him, I tried to investigate him, but he ran away quickly."
He had a keen sense for certain things and was definitely not simple.
However, he didn't have many people and had to do everything himself.
In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Cheng You let the matter go and stopped thinking about it.
"Whatever they do, it has nothing to do with me."
With the college entrance examination fast approaching, she was worried about the medicinal herbs in the courtyard.
The potted ginseng and polygonum multiflorum could be taken away, but the other medicinal herbs still in the ground could not.
After much deliberation, she could only ask Sixth Grandma's family for help in taking care of them.
One thing after another was resolved, and December arrived as scheduled.
On the day of the college entrance examination, it began to snow heavily. The roads were covered with a thick layer of snow, reaching past their boots.
The villagers spontaneously organized themselves to shovel the snow from the roads, so that those taking the exam could proceed more smoothly.
Cheng You was afraid of the cold. Even though she was bundled up like a ball, she still felt cold after walking a few steps and was out of breath.
Her hands, in particular, were as cold as popsicles.
"Don't follow me. It's so cold, go back and wait for me. I'll be back after the exam."
The weather was freezing outside, and she really didn't want Qi Chengyan to wait at the school gate like a worried parent.
But he insisted on following.
Especially when he saw Cheng You shivering with cold, his brow furrowed, and his aura turned grim.
He knelt down on one knee and said, "Get on, I'll carry you."
Bicycles couldn't be ridden. Everyone had woken up early and walked to the examination hall.
Cheng You shook her head, "No, no, I'll walk myself. You should go back quickly."
"I heard you, get on!"
Cheng You hesitated for a moment, but under his persistence, she climbed onto his back.
Although the ground was slippery, he took every step steadily.
It was as if he wasn't carrying anyone.
As they passed by the youths from the educated youth point, Song Jingtang almost cursed.
Qi Chengyan's actions made him feel useless!
He lowered his head and met Sun Xiaowan's suspicious gaze.
Look at other people's partners, their physique, their strength.