Twenty-three, I want to go into business.

After they left the handicraft market, Su Wan took two large-denomination bills from her purse and handed the rest of the money to Su Chen.

Su Chen, startled, waved his hands frantically and whispered, “No, sis, I don’t dare. What if I get robbed?”

Su Wan realized he had a point. She went over to a trash bin, picked up a bag that had held pig intestines, tossed the money inside, and then handed it to Su Chen.

Once Su Chen took it, Su Wan threw in a few rotten celery stalks as well, making sure some of the leaves stuck out.

“If anyone asks later, just say it’s pig feed for home.”

Su Chen nodded obediently.

Su Wan shook the bills in her hand. “Let’s go, sis will take you shopping.”

The two of them went to the mall, buying a set of clothes and a straw hat for Grandpa Su. His old sunhat was in tatters. Su Wan also purchased toiletries, a jar of cold cream, and lip balm.

When Su Wan asked about the lipstick that all young women adored, the salesgirl’s eyes widened in surprise. “You even know about lipstick?!”

Su Wan shot her a sharp look. Was the salesgirl looking down on her? Never mind that she was plainly dressed and reeked of pig intestines—she was now a wealthy woman with more than fifteen thousand in cash.

“Of course I know about lipstick! Who doesn’t?”

The salesgirl, noticing her indignation, quickly waved her hands and explained, “Don’t get me wrong. Around here, hardly anyone even knows what lipstick is.”

“And even if someone does, there’s none to be had.”

Su Wan’s interest was piqued. “You mean there are people who want to buy lipstick, but it’s unavailable?”

The salesgirl nodded. “Yes, most people have never used makeup, so lipstick’s never caught on. There’s nothing produced through proper channels. As for what’s on the street, it ruins your lips—none of us dare to stock it.”

Su Wan suddenly smelled an opportunity.

Lipstick!

In 2020, all the young ladies were obsessed with it, yet now it was scarcely manufactured.

What if she opened a cosmetics factory? Wouldn’t she make a fortune?

She chose her words carefully. “So, if I could get a supply, would you stock from me?”

The salesgirl looked skeptical—this chubby girl, dressed poorly and smelling foul, could she really have a lipstick supply?

“Is your source reliable? It’s not some industrial waste, is it?”

Su Wan feigned offense. “What are you saying? Who’d use something made from industrial waste?”

She patted her chest with confidence. “Don’t worry, my relative does business in the capital—it’s just lipstick. I’ll bring you one, you can try it for a few days. If you like it, you can order from me.”

The salesgirl’s eyes lit up. “Alright, if your supply’s reliable, I’ll buy from you. To be honest, my family owns several stores, with plenty of customers. I can sell what others can’t.”

Su Wan agreed happily.

When they left the daily goods store, Su Wan found Su Chen sitting alone on the steps outside, looking rather lonely amid the bustling crowd.

“What are you doing out here? Why didn’t you come in?”

Su Chen looked up. “I’m holding this stinky bag—wouldn’t people mind if I went inside?”

Su Wan pulled him up. “What are you saying! You’re a customer, it’s not like you’re going to fling the contents everywhere. Why should they mind?”

“Come on, let's get you some new clothes and something good to eat.”

They each bought some clothes, then enjoyed a delicious meal.

Before leaving the market, Su Wan also purchased a large bucket of camellia oil, a big box of beeswax, and some roselle flowers.

When they returned home, Su Wan immediately took out the things she’d bought for Grandpa Su.

Grandpa Su glanced at all the large and small bags in their hands, surprised. “Where did you get the money to buy so much?”

Su Wan was about to answer cheerfully when Su Chen blurted out, “We used the money Wang Luo gave us before.”

Grandpa Su nodded in understanding. “Did you buy something for yourself, too?”

Su Chen replied, “We both did.”

He then picked up the money bag and nudged Su Wan upstairs.

Once they were in the room, Su Wan could finally speak. “What was that for?”

Su Chen motioned for her to be quiet. “Keep your voice down.”

“You really plan to tell Grandpa about this?”

Su Wan was puzzled. “Why not?”

Su Chen sighed in exasperation. “Are you crazy? Grandpa despises any kind of profiteering.”

“Especially since you got that fabric from Aunt Wang’s place under questionable circumstances!”

“He’ll definitely be angry.”

Su Wan was shocked. “What should I do? I still want to do business and make money!”

Su Chen looked even more shocked than she was. “You still want to do business?!”

He stared at her as if she’d gone mad. “Have you forgotten what happened to our little aunt?”

Little aunt?

The original owner actually had an aunt!

Su Wan was startled and quickly asked the system about her aunt’s story.

After a pause, the system slowly recounted the tale.

[Su Wan’s aunt was named Su Huiwen. She dropped out of school in her youth and secretly trafficked in fabric. Grandpa Su found out and they had a fierce argument. In a fit of anger, Su Huiwen left home and never returned.]

Su Wan was devastated. “Why wouldn’t he let Su Huiwen do business?”

[It wasn’t allowed at the time, and Grandpa also thought it was unseemly for a girl.]

Grandpa was a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist!

The image of her grandfather in Su Wan’s heart shattered.

If he didn’t approve, then she’d just… do it secretly!

But if she did it at home, Grandpa would surely find out.

Was there somewhere else she could dry her things?

Just as Su Wan was brooding, Grandpa’s voice sounded from downstairs. “What are you two doing up there? I got a box of ginseng—who’s going to take some to Xiao Jiang?”

Su Chen’s temper flared at the mention of Jiang Mochen. “I’ve got summer homework to do, I’m not going.”

So Grandpa called for Su Wan.

Su Wan had no choice but to go to Jiang Mochen’s house.

She took the ginseng and knocked hard on his door.

“Come in,” Jiang Mochen’s voice called from the courtyard.

Su Wan pushed open the door and saw that Jiang Mochen had pulled up all the vegetables in the yard.

“What are you doing?”

Jiang Mochen glanced back at her and shook his head in silence. “Nothing.”

Su Wan went over and handed him the ginseng. “My grandpa sent this for you.”

“Why did you pull up all your vegetables?” She couldn’t help her curiosity, even though she knew he didn’t want to talk.

Jiang Mochen took the box. “They weren’t growing well.”

Su Wan looked at his empty courtyard, bathed in bright sunlight, and was suddenly struck by inspiration. “Since you’re not growing vegetables here anymore, could I use the yard to dry some things?”