Lin Wan didn’t pressure him, just gave him the test paper. "It’s fine if you score more next time than this. I won’t blame you since studying is your own business." Besides, it’s something the mother-in-law should handle.
"So, Saozi is willing to help me," Hu Dong said with a grin.
"I can tell you a way to make money, whether you can earn it or not depends on you."
"Please tell me, Saozi."
"Every Saturday and Sunday, our city’s cinemas open. Many people watch movies on these days, you could sell some snacks."
"But what should I sell?" Hu Dong scratched his head, feeling puzzled.
"Setting up a stall outside, aren’t you afraid of classmates or acquaintances seeing you and feeling embarrassed?"
"What’s there to be embarrassed about? I used to work part-time with classmates often."
"That’s good, come on, I’ll take you somewhere." Lin Wan pushed her bike and led him out.
She took him to a small workshop not far from the distillery, where they specialized in roasting seeds. The elderly couple there only knew this craft. They usually sold around the neighborhood.
Lin Wan had tried their seeds before; they tasted great and were plump.
One dime could buy a pound.
Lin Wan pulled Hu Dong along and bought fifty pounds, which made the old man very happy. He even gave them extra.
"Grandpa, we’ll need a few dozen pounds every Sunday, could you give us a discount?"
"Young lady, grandpa won’t lie to you. I’ll add two ounces for every pound, it’s a small business here, can’t discount much."
"Alright, as grandpa says." When Lin Wan was about to pay, Hu Dong stopped her.
"Saozi, I have money," he said, pulling out five yuan from his pocket and handing it to the old man.
Afterwards, Lin Wan took him to the farm tools market and bought a piece of plastic cloth.
Bought more than a dozen pounds of corn.
Back home, Lin Wan used the plastic cloth to make a large bag like a sack. Made two smaller bags with the leftover.
After finishing, Lin Wan packed some corn and brown sugar, then led Hu Dong to the street corner in the front.
There happened to be an old man popping popcorn there. Lin Wan watched for a while; the old man set up his stall here every day.
"Grandpa, can we pop two batches of popcorn?"
"Sure, five cents a batch, young lady."
"Okay, Grandpa, can you not add saccharin when popping? We’ve brought our own sugar."
"Sure, as long as you’re willing to use your own," the old man smiled, happy not to deplete his own supplies.
For two batches of popcorn, Lin Wan used a pound of brown sugar.
Hu Dong watched from behind; the freshly popped popcorn needed to cool, or it would soften if put in a bag immediately.
The two batches of popcorn filled half a bag. They put two bowls inside as well.
Back home, Lin Wan didn’t explain much until after they had lunch.
Around two, Lin Wan poured the seeds into one plastic bag and the popcorn into another.
"Let’s go, time to earn some money."
"Saozi, can we make money selling these?"
Lin Wan raised an eyebrow, "You’ll only know if you try."
They pushed their goods on a bicycle to the cinema, and when passing the department store, Lin Wan also went in to buy some wax paper.
There were three movies today, two in the afternoon, one in the evening.
In front of the cinema, except for a soda vendor, there weren’t many stalls.
The two found a prominent spot and placed the two bags in front.
Started shouting, "Five-spice seeds, popcorn, delicious and cheap."