Chapter 18: Even Pigs Can Fly

Dong Pengfei’s entrepreneurial success could not have been achieved without the support and help of the original owner. Yet, after he succeeded, the Dong family held the original owner in great contempt, viewing her as useless and someone who couldn't be shown in public. Beyond the chaotic affairs of her own family, her low level of education was also a fatal flaw.

Now that Ji Sisi has taken her place, she certainly won't give up on her education so easily. Taking advantage of the fact that the policies are not yet strictly enforced, she plans to find a way to return to high school and eventually take the college entrance examination. For now, she doesn't intend to reveal this to her mother-in-law or her husband; she wants to get the household settled first.

Logically, sixteen-year-old Gu Wei and fourteen-year-old Gu Ning should still be in school. However, seeing that both children were always at home doing chores, Ji Sisi felt it was strange and asked about it. At the mention of this, Lin Jinghua’s expression turned dim. "Their grades were poor, and their grandmother and second uncle felt it was a waste of money to keep them in school, so they didn't let them continue." Lin Jinghua felt deeply disheartened; even though she was uneducated, she knew that more schooling was surely beneficial.

Gu Yu heard this for the first time as well. Previously, the old woman had told him that his younger brother and sister were unruly and unwilling to attend school. Damn it—for the first time, Gu Yu felt incredibly useless. He had always believed that by working hard away from home, earning promotions as quickly as possible, and taking on extra missions for bonuses, he was taking good care of his mother and siblings. Yet, in the places he couldn't see, his dearest ones were being tortured by those so-called family members—starved, left without proper clothing, and barred from their education.

He had originally married Ji Sisi out of a sense of responsibility, but now, Gu Yu felt incredibly fortunate. It wasn't just because Sisi had saved his life, but because her determination to separate the household had given his loved ones a chance at a better future.

Ji Sisi was unaware of her husband’s inner turmoil, and for now, she had too much on her mind to worry about it. She said earnestly to Lin Jinghua, "Mom, after the term starts, we should send them back to school."

Lin Jinghua waved her hands repeatedly. "We can't. Schooling costs money. You and A-Yu should focus on making your own lives comfortable first."

"Money can be earned slowly, but school cannot be neglected." As she spoke, Ji Sisi was already thinking. She was fortunate that she had arrived in the 1980s, just before the economy began to flourish following the Reform and Opening-up. If one grasped the direction and acted boldly, even a pig could fly. Lin Jinghua was deeply moved, her eyes brimming with tears; this daughter-in-law was truly wonderful. Gu Yu watched from the side in silence, a warm sensation flooding his heart.

He had not expected that Ji Sisi, who others perceived as having lost her mind, would be so kind to his family. A life-saving grace should be repaid with one's life; for the rest of his days, he would cherish his wife and follow her lead.

In reality, Yunchuan County was just a small town with no unique products. In that period novel, Dong Pengfei had merely relied on the help of his family and wife, using Yunchuan as a starting point to make a fortune and eventually become a titan of industry. Ji Sisi was skeptical; the author had never described Dong Pengfei’s path to success in any detail. Perhaps the author felt embarrassed because they couldn't come up with a plausible story?

Because government policy was already encouraging the development of individual businesses, a few shops and a farmers' market had opened in the county over the past year. However, due to the restrictions of ration coupons, everyone was still accustomed to buying goods at state-run supply stores or department stores.

Ji Sisi had originally gone out with Gu Yu, but after leaving the residential compound, Gu Yu told her he had to meet a friend for some business and suggested she stroll around the county on her own. "Take this." He handed her ten red bills and some industrial coupons.

Ji Sisi blinked, then blinked again. "You... how much more money do you have?" She had thought that the one thousand yuan had truly emptied Gu Yu’s savings; after all, according to the current standard, his monthly allowance shouldn't have exceeded one hundred yuan.

Gu Yu smiled bitterly. "No more. I borrowed this. But don't worry, if you see something you want to buy, just buy it. It doesn't matter if the money runs out." He then assured his wife, "I will definitely work hard to earn more for you."

He was meeting his friend to discuss some matters. In the past, the private missions Gu Yu took on brought high rewards, but the risks were immense; he had brushed shoulders with death several times. Now that he had a family, at the very least, he didn't want his wife to become a young widow. He had to treasure his own life, which meant he would inevitably have to change his career path.

Ji Sisi nodded. "Then go and return early, and take care of yourself." She knew Gu Yu’s profession was unique and that some of his friends had connections that couldn't be spoken of openly. After Gu Yu left, Ji Sisi first went to the bank. After spending ten points, she saw the red exclamation mark appear in the air as expected. One hundred yuan secured!

Next, Ji Sisi went to the department store, which was also a check-in point. [Check-in.] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining three cans of milk powder, five cans of malted milk, ten pieces of adult women’s clothing, and a pair of watches.]

Ji Sisi clutched her chest, nearly overwhelmed by this huge surprise. As it turned out, the items obtained were more upscale depending on the check-in location. She felt her luck was off the charts today, and she had plenty of points left—not just a measly few, but dozens. She decided to take advantage of her free time to check in at several more places.

She intended to start a business to accumulate initial capital. If nothing else worked, she would start with food. After all, in her previous life, Ji Sisi had been a foodie and had honed excellent culinary skills. Furthermore, the system’s inventory function was powerful, making it convenient to store the items she obtained.

She first went to the grain station. It cost her two points, but her haul was substantial: rice, white flour, peanut oil, sesame oil, salt, and various dried goods, all in quantities of several dozen catties. Next, she went to the slaughterhouse. This time it cost her five points, but the yield was excellent, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat. There were even one thousand eggs.

Seeing the thousand eggs, Ji Sisi immediately thought of what business she could start. My goodness, she was so wealthy—she had a thousand eggs! This was the sentiment of Ji Sisi in the 1980s; if she were in the future, she would likely be laughed at, as eggs were not worth much by the 21st century.

Nearly two hours later, Gu Yu returned to meet up with her. Looking at his expression, it seemed he had handled his business successfully, and Ji Sisi didn't press for details. Just as she wouldn't tell anyone about the system, she felt it was only natural for Gu Yu to have his own secrets.

Because she had such an abundance of ingredients, Ji Sisi prepared a grand feast that evening, and everyone ate happily. After dinner, Gu Yu helped his younger siblings clear the table, while Ji Sisi sat down with her mother-in-law to discuss the business.