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Back to the 80s: A Marriage of Convenience
It must be said that the mall places great importance on Zhao Jin's clothing.
Given the previous collaboration with the County Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Zhao Jin chose to go with a profit-sharing model this time as well. However, compared to the profit-sharing ratio offered by the County Supply and Marketing Cooperative, the mall's share was significantly less. It was an eighty-twenty split, with Zhao Jin taking twenty percent and the mall taking eighty.
Zhao Jin was not a greedy person. Because the mall's pricing was much higher than that of the County Supply and Marketing Cooperative, even with just twenty percent, she would still earn a considerable amount.
However, Zhao Jin was not foolish either. Her contract with the mall was not long-term; it was only signed for six months.
This six-month period served as a test from the mall for her and also as a buffer period for herself.
Just like Sister Lan, once her clothing gained recognition in the city, if the mall continued with such a profit-sharing ratio, there would naturally be no room for negotiation, and they would need to part ways.
Zhao Jin had discussed these considerations in detail with Qi Zheng. Qi Zheng's reaction was entirely expected: one word—good.
From Qi Zheng's perspective, regardless of what decision Zhao Jin made, he would undoubtedly support her and not oppose her.
Thus, what Qi Zheng told Zhao Jin was: "With me around, you can do whatever you want."
Whatever she wanted to do? Zhao Jin blinked and replied very seriously, "I don't have anything specific in mind at the moment. However, in three years, I hope my clothing will be in high demand. At the same time, I also hope our first Furniture Store can establish a presence in the city."
This was Zhao Jin's first mention of the Furniture Store matter. However, it felt quite natural to her, and she held absolute confidence and trust in Qi Zheng.
It should be noted that in her previous life, Qi Zheng had owned a furniture city. Now he was only running a Furniture Store; for him, this was certainly not a difficult task.
"Good." The Furniture Store was something Qi Zheng had not considered until now. However, since it was what Jin hoped for, he would definitely work hard to help her achieve it.
Therefore, Qi Zheng seriously contemplated that he should discuss this matter with Uncle Tao once they returned.
Having come to the city rarely, both Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng now had money in hand and were not financially strained. Thus, they bought quite a few things to take back.
It just so happened that Qi Yuehong and Qi Rui were on summer vacation, while Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng returned to the county and went directly to County Junior High School to pick up the two children before heading back to Willow Leaf Village.
Now, Qi Yuehong was no longer referred to as a junior high school student but rather as a prospective high school student.
With Qi Yuehong's grades, getting into high school was undoubtedly an easy task, with no unexpected hurdles.
Before the results of the final exams were even released, Zhao Jin had seriously discussed Qi Yuehong's high school plans with the Qijia Family.
There was no doubt that she would attend high school. However, which high school to attend became a topic of concern and discussion among everyone.
Originally, Zhao Jin planned to send Qi Yuehong to study high school in the City, thinking that the high schools there were better and had higher teaching standards.
As for the higher tuition and living expenses, Zhao Jin did not care.
As long as it meant providing Qi Yuehong with better educational opportunities, spending a little more money was worth it.
However, this idea was met with opposition from other members of the Qijia Family, including Qi Yuehong herself.
According to them, there were high schools in the county, so there was no need to go all the way to the City. They argued that Qi Yuehong might not adapt well to living there and that it would cost more money, making it impractical.
Qi Zheng stood by Zhao Jin's side but was ruthlessly suppressed by Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju.
What ultimately changed Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng's minds was Qi Yuehong's own statement.
That day, Qi Yuehong stood in front of them with red eyes, her voice choked yet particularly firm.
Qi Yuehong expressed her desire to study but did not want to add unnecessary burdens to her family. Attending high school in the county was also a good option; there was really no need to go to the City.
She acknowledged that her family's situation had improved significantly. However, all her classmates and friends were attending high school in the county, and suddenly transferring to the City felt too unfamiliar; it would put a lot of pressure on her.
In truth, both Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng understood that Qi Yuehong's most important reason for opposing the move was her concern about money and not wanting to add a burden to her family.
However, looking at the tears in Qi Yuehong's eyes, Zhao Jin was the first to compromise.
This girl really understood too well. However, aside from being understanding, Qi Yuehong also had her own opinions and principles.
Well, the original intention was simply to let Qi Yuehong continue her studies happily. If this matter added pressure and burden to her, it would be detrimental to her.
To put Qi Yuehong's mind at ease, Zhao Jin ultimately made the decision that Qi Yuehong would stay in the county to attend high school.
Fortunately, the county high school and middle school were not far apart. Although Qi Yuehong was going to high school, she could still go to school and come home with Qi Rui during holidays, which reassured the adults.
During this time, the changes in Qi Yuehong and Qi Rui were also evident.
In the past, due to family matters, there were traces left in both of their hearts. Unconsciously, this would show in their eyes, faces, and even in their daily behavior.
For example, when they went to the cafeteria for meals, the siblings always ordered the cheapest dishes. They would always save as much as possible and never spend a penny more than necessary.
But now, because Zhao Jin had set a monthly budget for their living expenses, when they returned home at the end of the month, they would be seriously checked by Zhao Jin. If anyone had leftover money from their budget, they would face criticism and reprimands from the elders at home.
After a few instances of this, Qi Yuehong and Qi Rui no longer dared to deliberately avoid spending money.
The siblings gradually began to stop being so hard on themselves. Although they still lived simply, they no longer counted every penny as they did before.
These external changes might not be significant. What truly reassured the elders of the Qi Family was the gradual improvement in the siblings' mindset.
Both siblings were good students who loved learning and consistently achieved excellent grades. As their family situation continued to improve, smiles began to appear more frequently on their faces, and an aura of vitality and joy gradually radiated from them.
This transformation made Zhao Jin feel more heartwarming and happy than sending Qi Yuehong to City for high school.
"Qi Zheng," halfway home, Zhao Jin suddenly asked, "don't you think we should buy a Tractor?"
Zhao Jin's words were not whimsical or impulsive. It was just that seeing the four of them rushing home with their hands full made her feel a bit nostalgic about the necessity of having a vehicle for convenience.
In the end, it was because Zhao Jin had money in hand that she had the confidence to speak up.
If it had been a year ago when Zhao Jingang married into the Qi Family, even if Zhao Jin had more money, she wouldn't have had such thoughts.
There was no way around it; at that time, the Qi Family had too many places where money was needed.
However, the current Qi Family, with Qi Feng gradually recovering and with her and Qi Zheng earning money bit by bit, was no longer what it used to be; they were now in a completely different situation.
"This matter is still under discussion." Zhao Jin's words happened to align with what Qi Zheng was planning to negotiate with her. It was just that during this period, Zhao Jin had been busy with the collaboration in City and hadn't been able to focus, so Qi Zheng had temporarily put it on hold.
At the same time, Qi Zheng spoke frankly: "I mentioned this to Dad a while ago. With so much land at home and the woodwork constantly coming in, it's hard to manage everything. If we had a Tractor, it would save us a lot of trouble. However, Dad opposed it, saying it wasn't necessary."
"How is it unnecessary? Isn't there land at home that needs to be farmed? You have too much woodwork to handle and can't keep up?" Zhao Jin didn't think about why Qi Zheng was only bringing this up now. It wasn't a big deal; it would come up sooner or later.
However, regarding Qi Dayong's refusal to buy a Tractor, Zhao Jin was quite puzzled: "Does Dad think the expense of buying a Tractor is too great? Didn't you tell him that we have enough money?"
This year, even during her pregnancy, Zhao Jin didn't neglect making clothes. Plus, her finished garments sold for the highest prices at the County Supply and Marketing Cooperative, so naturally, she earned quite a bit.
Not to mention Qi Zheng's furniture; once transported out, they were all pure profit. Now Zhao Jin had more than enough money to spend.
Zhao Jin thought that since they lived under the same roof, Qi Dayong must be aware of this. How could it be that he was completely uninformed?
"Dad, that money is all yours. Just take it; don't spend it recklessly." At this point, Qi Zheng felt somewhat helpless.
He wasn't unwilling to give money to Zhao Jin. It's just that money is meant to be spent and earned back; holding onto it won't generate more.
Moreover, they weren't spending money recklessly right now. Buying a Tractor was intended to provide a better life for the family; it was entirely necessary and essential.
For Qi Zheng, they had always been committed to improving their living conditions; wasn't that the goal of making life more comfortable?
If they were like Qi Dayong, earning money but not allowed to spend it, they would still struggle and feel exhausted—undoubtedly putting things in reverse order.
With the same thought as Qi Zheng, Zhao Jin also did not believe that money needed to be held tightly in hand to count as a good life.
Especially after hearing the reason conveyed by Qi Zheng, Zhao Jin couldn't help but laugh and cry: "Why is it my money? Isn't my money our family's money? If we go by Dad's way, does that mean if I go out and buy the Tractor, Dad won't oppose it?"
Faced with Zhao Jin's question, Qi Zheng responded with silence. Based on his understanding of his father, the answer was likely just as Zhao Jin thought.
Or perhaps, his father wasn't opposed; he just found it difficult to oppose.
After all, in his father's mind, money was gold. How to spend that gold was something he didn't want to manage or interfere with.
Realizing the practical answer from Qi Zheng's silence, Zhao Jin's eyes widened: "Is that true? Then why don't we just buy the Tractor and bring it home without telling him? Dad won't oppose it then?"
Qi Zheng thought seriously for a moment and nodded earnestly at Zhao Jin: "Feasible."
Since Qi Zheng said it was feasible, then it must be fine. A few thoughts turned in Zhao Jin's mind as he silently began calculating the expenses for buying the Tractor.
Walking beside them, Qi Yuehong and Qi Rui exchanged glances, remaining in a state of shock, not uttering a word.
Had their family really become this wealthy? They could even afford a Tractor? Listening to their older brother and sister-in-law speak without any hint of difficulty or hesitation made it seem as if buying a Tractor was an easy task for their family.
For the current Qi Zheng and Zhao Jin, buying a Tractor was indeed not as difficult as they had imagined.
After receiving Zhao Jin's suggestion, Qi Zheng quickly bought a Tractor and drove it back to Willow Leaf Village.
Willow Leaf Village was not exactly a wealthy place. The sudden appearance of this Tractor immediately attracted public attention.
When they discovered that it was purchased by the Qi Zheng family, many villagers became lively.
It should be noted that just a year ago, the Qi family was so poor they couldn't even marry off their son. But now, the Qi family had raised their status significantly; they were experiencing a remarkable turnaround.
Just like that, Qi Ze's marriage prospects were brought up immediately and quickly gained the favor of several villagers' families. There was no need for the Qi family to propose; several families had already sent people to introduce potential matches for Qi Ze.
Compared to Qi Zheng, Qi Ze's marriage was obviously much easier to arrange. However, the difficulty lay in the fact that Qi Ze himself did not agree.
For this matter, Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju had scolded Qi Ze quite a bit. Even Zhao Jin was sent out to talk to Qi Ze.
In front of Zhao Jin, Qi Ze did not pretend to be aloof anymore; instead, he expressed his thoughts honestly.
After hearing Qi Ze's answer, even Zhao Jin was at a loss.
Qi Ze's exact words were that when his family was poor, he did not see these people being so proactive. Now that they saw his family doing better, they immediately came to take advantage of the situation. What was the point of such a marriage?
Qi Ze also did not insist that the girl must marry him and suffer hardships together. It was just that the contrast was too stark, making it hard for him to get over this mental hurdle.
Zhao Jin did not think there was anything wrong with Qi Ze's words.
After all, when the Qi Family's conditions were poor, no one came to propose to them. This was a fact that could not be questioned or argued against.
As for the gap in Qi Ze's heart, from Zhao Jin's perspective, it was completely understandable and acceptable.
However, if he were to never get married for such reasons, that would not be right. After seriously considering it for a while, Zhao Jin looked at Qi Ze earnestly and said, "We can't always look back; we need to look forward more. I'm not saying you have to get married immediately, but at the very least, this is a process you must go through in life. Whether early or late, you will eventually need to find a wife and bring her home."
"Or you can think of it this way: in the past when our family conditions were not good, you didn't have the chance to marry the girl you liked. But now that our family's situation has improved significantly, you can freely pursue the girl you love without any obstacles or suffering. What do you think?" Zhao Jin was not forcing Qi Ze to accept her views; she was just trying her best as an elder sister-in-law to help him understand.
"I agree." Qi Ze fully supported Zhao Jin's words. However, when it came to marrying a wife, he shook his head and honestly told Zhao Jin, "I don't have a girl I like."
"Eh?" Suddenly receiving such an answer left Zhao Jin stunned. After hesitating for a moment, she voiced her confusion, "I heard from Grandma that you used to like a girl from our village and even went to deliver cabbage to her."
If Grandma Qi hadn't mentioned it to Zhao Jin, she would have been completely unaware of this.
It happened one winter when the snow fell particularly thickly and the cabbages in the Qi Family's vegetable garden grew exceptionally well. Qi Ze unceremoniously grabbed a snake-skin bag and filled it with cabbages to deliver to that girl.
Hearing Grandma Qi's words, Zhao Jin thought that Qi Ze and that girl were mutually attracted to each other.
Upon hearing the past, Qi Ze smiled bitterly and shook his head. Because he regarded Zhao Jin as family from the bottom of his heart, Qi Ze did not feel embarrassed; he just replied dejectedly, "That was many years ago. I was young and ignorant back then, thinking that sending a bag of cabbage would win me a wife. I didn't expect that the girl had such high standards; she never even looked at me."
Ah? This point was not mentioned by Grandma Qi. Grandma Qi only recalled that Qi Ze happily sent the cabbage and returned empty-handed with joy. They truly believed that there would soon be a wedding in the family, and Qi Ze would be the first to marry. However, after that, there was no further news.
According to Grandma Qi's perspective, Zhao Jin assumed that Qi Ze and that girl had mutual feelings. Regardless of whether they ended up together or not, at least their emotions were genuine when he sent the cabbage. But upon hearing Qi Ze's response, Zhao Jin couldn't help but frown and instinctively asked, "What about the cabbage? Did she accept it?"
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