After settling matters with his uncle, Chen Yang also told Qin Kaiyun that he would come to his home tomorrow to prepare to learn how to sell radios.
Selling things requires no technical skill, just diligence and enthusiasm.
Little Taozi could also be taken to his home to play. The baby and Chen Yang were at home anyway, so the children would have companions.
Chen Yang's arrival, both giving money and solving the survival problems of Qin Kaiyun and her son, made Qin Youtian's wife extremely happy.
She bought nutritional supplements and called him "cousin" left and right, sounding incredibly affectionate.
Chen Yang couldn't say much. Every family has its own difficulties. He could understand her dislike for Qin Kaiyun.
The main breadwinner of the family was injured and confined to bed for months, possibly with lasting after-effects. Now there were two more mouths to feed, so Qin Youtian's wife's unhappiness was understandable.
After leaving his uncle's house, Chen Yang returned to his grand-uncle's house.
Qin Yousheng and Qin Youshui, his two older cousins, wanted to do business themselves upon hearing Chen Yang's idea, which was not unexpected.
After all, they made the business themselves; whether they earned a lot or a little, it was their own. They were Chen Yang's older cousins and felt awkward following Chen Yang's lead like Qin Kaiyun.
Chen Yang, recalling how a late-night snack stall made Jianbing, used his grand-uncle's iron wok to make them some.
He used lard residue, lettuce, a little salt, and chili powder. The taste was surprisingly good.
The two cousins tasted it themselves and felt the business could work. Chen Yang calculated the costs: flour was two mao five per jin. One jin of flour could be made into twenty to thirty pancakes.
The cost of each pancake wrapper was about one fen. Eggs were nine mao per jin, about ten eggs, costing nine fen each.
As for the vegetables, two fen per jin at most, the cost was negligible. Later, when conditions improved, they could use diced carrots, bean sprouts, and other vegetables, which could be grown in their own fields in the countryside.
Without lard residue, a pancake with an egg cost a little over one mao. Of course, there were also costs for charcoal for fuel, oil for frying, and seasonings, which could not be precisely calculated per pancake.
Chen Yang's suggestion was to price the pancakes with eggs and vegetables at two mao five each.
Adding lard residue would cost an extra one mao. Pork was one yuan per jin, and fat was even more expensive.
However, they might not always use lard residue in the future. They could learn from Roujiamo, braising the meat with seasonings, chopping it, and adding some green peppers. That would be incredibly fragrant.
Tea eggs would be sold for one mao five each. The cost of a raw egg was nearly nine fen, and even with the brine being reusable, the cost would likely be close to one mao. Selling them for two mao would be too expensive, so one mao five was more reasonable.
For two to three mao, one could have a Jianbing, and for one mao five, a tea egg. For children in the city, this was affordable.
Of course, eating it every day would be impossible unless their parents had high salaries and generous pocket money. But occasionally, every few days, or once a week, if the children saved their pocket money, it was feasible.
His grand-uncle, being a carpenter, made a cart with the two cousins overnight. It took about an hour to walk to the city from his grand-uncle's house, and pushing the cart would take even longer.
But people of this era were truly hardworking. As long as they could make money, they would wake up before dawn and push the cart to the city.
Chen Yang had also researched it carefully. He suggested that the two cousins should only set up their stall near schools.
State-run factories would definitely have more workers and money, but most factories nowadays had canteens. People knew the hardship of earning money and were reluctant to spend several mao on such food.
After helping the two cousins analyze how to set up their stall and call out to customers, Chen Yang still suggested that Qin Yousheng and Qin Youshui try frying Jianbing themselves first.
Making food relied on skill. If it tasted good, more people would come to eat.
Chen Yang subtly revealed Zhao Weimin's intentions, giving the two cousins peace of mind. He told them to write large signs and hang them on the cart with clearly marked prices.
When the pot of tea eggs was placed at the school entrance, the bubbling aroma would surely attract many children.
Similarly, when frying lard residue, they should target students finishing school. They would spend their pocket money on candied hawthorns, popsicles, and other snacks. Spending it on a Jianbing and a tea egg was also spending money.
After eating a Jianbing, their stomachs would at least be somewhat full. Those with smaller appetites might even save a meal. This business had potential.
By the time he returned from his two uncles' places, it was almost dark.
Chen Yang had originally planned to visit his aunt's house. His younger cousin, Zhang Shugen, always wanted to do business with him to earn money and find a wife. Now, Chen Yang's business was developing in Jinling.
It was better to pay relatives for their help than to hire outsiders.
People like Qin Kaiyun and Zhang Shugen were at least trustworthy.
Unlike Qin Yousheng and Qin Youshui, Zhang Shugen was still a young man who hadn't married. He wouldn't be as steady in his actions as they were.
Therefore, Chen Yang didn't intend to let him run an independent business from the start. He wanted him to help him manage the shop and sell radios first.
Once he interacted with more people and experienced more things, and became more mature, Chen Yang would then consider guiding him in business ventures.
However, he had spent too much time at his uncles' places. If he didn't go home soon, it would be dark. Chen Yang dared not waste more time.
By the time he got home, it was almost time for dinner. Fortunately, he returned a little earlier, otherwise, there wouldn't be any food for him.
"Xiao Yu, how have your classes been these past few days? Didn't Teacher Zhu say there would be a placement test when school starts? How did you do?"
Chen Yu lay leisurely on the rocking chair. After her sister and brother-in-law went back to work, that lazy cat was also taken away. When it was time to eat, the rocking chair became her exclusive seat again.
"Just so-so. If I don't get first place, who else dares to?"
Chen Yu pouted and pulled out her report card from her bag. Chen Yang glanced at it and saw that she was indeed first. Well, comparing a scholar like him who took years to get into university with a gifted student like Chen Yu was simply asking for humiliation.
"Can't you be a bit more humble, you brat?"
"Keep up the good work and strive to get into a good university. If you can get into Jinling University, I'll be satisfied."
Their father sat on the long bench and took a sip of tea. After speaking, he glanced at Chen Yang.
"Didn't you say last year that you would continue to take the exam this year? I heard that someone has already proposed that married people should not be allowed to take university entrance exams anymore. You should also hurry up this year and at least get into a university, and return to the city first."
Given Chen Yang's situation, the return of educated youths to the city was unlikely. However, Chen Liming still hoped he could return to the city by taking the university entrance examination.
This way, they could at least see their adorable grandchildren every day.