The exhaustion was real.
But so was the happiness.
The Xidan store’s first day brought in over 8,700 yuan, and while the Xiushui Street location didn’t have Xidan’s prime position or foot traffic, it still managed to earn more than 5,500 yuan.
On the first day, the two stores combined for over 14,000 yuan in sales.
This figure reflected both the effectiveness of their flyers and business from acquaintances.
After accounting for the inflated sales from friends and family, the difference wouldn’t exceed two thousand yuan.
Until the 20th, they weren’t sure how many customers would come with flyers in hand. Once the grand opening promotions ended, they’d see who their real customers would be.
Weekend dormitory inspections were mandatory, so Xia Xiaolan returned to the dorm with Yang Yonghong and the others. Everyone in Room 307 was completely exhausted.
No one mentioned how much money Xia Xiaolan’s family could earn; instead, they discussed how demanding running a business was.
“This is nothing. When we started with no capital, my mother and I took turns carrying oil residue on our bicycles to sell in the countryside. Sure it was hard work, but the money we earned was soaked in our sweat, so we could spend it proudly without guilt.”
Xia Xiaolan wasn’t trying to lecture her roommates; she was simply reflecting on her own experiences.
There were many ways to make money, but with no initial capital, they could only save penny by penny.
Now that she had capital, Xia Xiaolan remained cautious about certain business ventures.
She avoided grey areas, ensuring every step of her success could be traced and verified. Anyone trying to cause her trouble would find it difficult.
Yang Yonghong had always known there were wealthy people in the world, like the Hong Kong businessman who donated millions to the school for scholarships.
But today’s sales at the Xidan store had quite an impact on her. While million-yuan donors seemed distant, someone earning thousands a day was sleeping in the same dorm room. The spare change from Xia Xiaolan’s family’s clothing store today exceeded her family’s entire annual income… Even after graduating from university, she wouldn’t earn anywhere near this much.
Yang Yonghong felt lost.
After so many years of study and getting into China’s top university, she still couldn’t match the income of a private business owner.
Yang Yonghong had idealistic goals of serving the country and building socialism.
But realistically, her hometown was truly poor.
Could she pursue her ideals while also helping her family live a better life?
Yang Yonghong barely slept that night, and the next morning she spoke with Xia Xiaolan.
“Xiaolan, I’m not jealous, I just can’t figure things out. Could you help me understand?”
There was a saying that perfectly captured the social phenomenon of the early Reform and Opening-up period. As soon as Xia Xiaolan heard Yang Yonghong’s confusion, she thought of it: “For a while, people used to say that missile scientists earned less than tea egg vendors, and surgeons earned less than barbers.”
Businesspeople were making money while researchers lived in poverty. Even with future improvements in benefits, news often reported street vendors earning tens of thousands monthly while college-educated white-collar workers made just a few thousand, sparking widespread online debates. Many complained that after studying for over a decade, they earned less than those who started working early.
Xia Xiaolan felt Yang Yonghong had fallen into this mindset.
“Let’s talk while we eat. By your logic, Senior, I should just focus entirely on business with my mother. Since I could earn more in a month than a year’s salary after graduation, why am I working so hard to attend Huaqing? Think about how much time I’m ‘wasting’ spending five years here for my undergraduate degree?”
Indeed, how much opportunity cost was there?
Yang Yonghong could see clearly that if Xia Xiaolan stayed at the clothing store daily, with her sales skills, the business would certainly flourish.
Yang Yonghong began to understand.
Xia Xiaolan asked her: “Do you enjoy studying?”
Yang Yonghong nodded vigorously: “If I didn’t love studying, would I have repeated three years and taken the entrance exam four times?”
She not only loved studying but wanted to attend the best school.
Xia Xiaolan spread her hands, “I love studying too and want to learn more at university. Private business owners make money, but do they have status? Our dormmates are open-minded and don’t look down on me, but do you know how society views private business owners? The academicians at the Chinese Academy of Sciences don’t earn as much in a year as our clothing store, but who contributes more to society? Who earns genuine respect? Do I need to spell it out?”
Even for Yang Yonghong, without education, she couldn’t have left her rural hometown in Hebei Province.
She might have married and had children in the countryside, never touching Xia Xiaolan’s world—so what right did she have to feel lost?
Only a frog in a well doesn’t feel lost, believing the world is only as big as what it can see.
“Senior, you’ll be able to help your family live better through your efforts. We’re only freshmen, what are you worried about? If you’re interested in business, just ask me. We can discuss what you might do without affecting your studies.”
Wanting to improve family circumstances wasn’t wrong, and Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t keep secrets.
But if it affected academics, Xia Xiaolan felt it would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
Yang Yonghong was different from her. Xia Xiaolan was an old hand at this, supported by foreknowledge, family help, and previous life experience, which allowed her to sustain the business. Yang Yonghong wasn’t stupid, but trying to balance both would inevitably lead to setbacks.
After some thought, Yang Yonghong rejected Xia Xiaolan’s suggestions:
“No, I definitely can’t handle both.”
Human energy is limited, and what Xia Xiaolan could accomplish, Yang Yonghong lacked confidence.
Moreover, everyone had their business secrets, and Yang Yonghong wasn’t thick-skinned enough to ask for Xia Xiaolan’s help.
If she could maintain her studies while discovering profitable opportunities herself, that would show talent… If not, she’d better stick to studying diligently, working toward her 200 yuan monthly salary.
Yang Yonghong suddenly felt clear-headed.
How could someone not feel any envy or jealousy? She wasn’t a saint. Yesterday’s impact had been too great, and she’d gotten stuck in a mental loop!
“Xiaolan, don’t laugh at me. Life back home is just too poor.”
Poverty hadn’t humiliated Yang Yonghong.
But poverty did make her anxious. Even though she’d gotten into the best university and usually lived more sensibly than anyone else, she occasionally felt lost and wavering.
Xia Xiaolan linked arms with Yang Yonghong, “I’m not laughing at you. There’s something I’ve wanted to say for a while but worried you wouldn’t agree. Senior, you’ve seen how busy the store is today and experienced the atmosphere. If you don’t think running a private business is shameful, I’d like to invite you to work part-time at the store on weekends and holidays… but only if it doesn’t affect your studies. Otherwise, the economics don’t make sense—we can’t lose your scholarship.”
Work part-time at the store?
Yang Yonghong didn’t ask about the salary.
She’d been discussing life philosophy with Xia Xiaolan, how did it turn into asking for a job?
If she worked this part-time job every weekend, could she handle it? Understanding that Xiaolan was looking out for her, Yang Yonghong needed to think it through carefully.
Xia Xiaolan didn’t pressure Yang Yonghong—everyone chooses their path in life. Xia Xiaolan would help when she could but never force anything. She had once persuaded Gong Yang to work with Liu Yong, but that had been Gong Yang’s choice.
Art students going into design made sense professionally.
But a Huaqing civil engineering student helping Xia Xiaolan sell clothes? Even she felt embarrassed about that.
Part-time work could only be part-time!