The Fat Wife of the 1980s Awakens

Xu Xiufang has her own plans for these seemingly insignificant "wastes".

She decided that after accumulating a certain amount, she would personally take them to the steel mill in the city, believing that there, the scrap iron could also be exchanged for real silver and contribute to her small business.

In order to start this project, which she called the "Scrap Metal Recycling Plan," Xu Xiufang generously advanced one hundred yuan to Li Guifang.

After just two days, their total expenditure was controlled within 40 yuan, and their cost-effective management strategy began to show results.

Li Guifang was completely unaware of this and thought that Xu Xiufang was only buying the items at scrap prices, so she always tried to lower the price during the transaction, trying to squeeze out the last bit of value from every old item.

When faced with customers who tried to bargain, Xu Xiufang and Li Guifang would sometimes work together tacitly, pretending to accidentally damage the items for sale due to the dispute, and use this as "evidence" that the price could not be lowered.

If Li Guifang knew that those electrical appliances that seemed to be accidentally damaged during the quarrel were actually "victims" that Xu Xiufang confirmed were beyond repair, she might be so surprised that she would be speechless.

In Xu Xiufang's mind, a brand new TV set would cost at least three hundred yuan on the market. Although owning a TV set is a luxury for most families in the village, for those urban dual-income families with better financial conditions, such consumption is not out of reach through frugality.

Especially at this time point in 1985, in the prosperous Yangtze River Delta region in the south of the Yangtze River, industry flourished like mushrooms after a spring rain, family income levels generally increased, and the pursuit of quality life increased.

Xu Xiufang estimated that even if the repaired televisions were sold at fifty yuan each, the profit margin would still be considerable.

Once one unit is sold, the costs are quickly recovered. Plus, with the promise of providing after-sales service to ensure that customers have no worries, there is no need to worry about market acceptance.

In addition, once all the repaired radios, electric fans and various other small electrical appliances are sold, the accumulated profits are expected to exceed three hundred yuan, which is undoubtedly a business with bright prospects.

Just as Xu Xiufang was immersed in her vision of her future small shop, a rapid and panicked cry of a child suddenly broke her thoughts.

Without any hesitation, she immediately dropped the work at hand and rushed out of the yard, only to see the village chief walking slowly towards them, supporting three sobbing little ones, patiently comforting them as he walked, trying to calm their emotions.

Xu Xiufang's heart suddenly rose to her throat. Worry and maternal love drove her to quicken her pace and run towards the children.

Xu Xiufang frowned and walked forward quickly, as if even the air was filled with her anxiety.

The sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows between her light steps, but her heart was now covered by dark clouds, full of worries.

"What's wrong? You were just playing outside, why did you cry like a little kitten?" There was a hint of gentle reproach in her voice, but her eyes were full of pity.

The children's faces were covered with tears and they sobbed. Their childish voices seemed filled with grievances. "We really didn't mean to do that..."

"Who knew things would turn out like this." These words spilled from their trembling lips, full of innocence and confusion.

The endless crying almost overturned the quiet little village, and the naughty looks that usually appeared on their faces were completely gone, leaving only fear and uneasiness, as if they were afraid that the mother who gave them infinite warmth would be disappointed because of their mistakes.

The village chief shook his head, with a hint of helplessness between his brows, and slowly said: "What happened is this, a few of them followed other friends to the pond to pick up duckweed to feed the ducks, with good intentions. Who knew that while playing, they accidentally picked up a slippery eel. What was even more unexpected was that the eel was swallowed by the ducks of the old man who raised ducks next door."

Hearing this, Xu Xiufang's brows slightly lifted, and she smiled in a somewhat indifferent manner, "Oh, what's the big deal? It's just a small episode of the kids playing around with duckweed."

In this small village, the duckweed in the pond is known as the "green elves on the water" and is especially loved by ducks.

The duck shed of the outsider duck farmer at the end of the village has also become a paradise for children's daily adventures.

There, flocks of ducks swam leisurely among the reeds, and the children were either sneaking around looking for duck eggs or chasing the ducks and playing, carefree and free.

Today's fun of catching duckweed was probably because these three little guys were driven by curiosity and imitated the duck farmer's every move to find fun in life.

The village chief looked a little anxious: "The problem is that the duck choked to death, and the duck farmer is asking for compensation."

When they heard the word "compensation", the three little ones' tears surged even more violently like a river bursting its dam.

In their young hearts, what they fear most is not physical pain, but the loss of their mother's love.

In their eyes, their mistakes seem to be unforgivable crimes, and if this gentle maternal love disappears as a result, it will be a pain more unbearable than any punishment.

The family was not well-off to begin with, and this sudden "debt" undoubtedly made the situation worse.

"Hahaha..." Xu Xiufang couldn't help laughing in her heart. The emotions of these three little troublemakers changed so quickly. They learned guilt and fear, which also meant that they were growing up.

Recalling the scene of teaching Shitou a lesson in the past, that stubborn little figure would never bow his head even if he was wrong, and would never cry easily.

Now, seeing the children's sincere transformation, her heart is filled with relief and joy.

She slowly squatted down and gently stroked their tear-stained faces with her delicate fingers: "You didn't mean it. Just correct it if you know you were wrong. Don't cry anymore. Mom will feel bad for you."

Her words were like a warm spring breeze, instantly calming the waves in the children's hearts.

The crying on the three little faces stopped abruptly. Tears were still lingering in their dark eyes, which were flashing with incredible light. They looked at Xu Xiufang, as if to confirm whether all this was real.

Xu Xiufang gently wiped away their tears, and thought the storm was over.

Unexpectedly, this gentle comfort seemed to open the floodgates of emotions. The three children cried even harder and rushed into her arms, seeking the reassuring shelter.

For a moment, Xu Xiufang felt helpless and amused, but she also deeply realized how difficult it is to be a mother.

After finally calming the three little babies down, she turned to the village chief and said, "Then I'll go take care of this matter now and buy the duck and bring back some duck eggs."