As the saying goes, you can’t catch wolves without sacrificing the kids. If you want sales, you must first invest. Zhang Jie is a businessman, and he naturally sees the business opportunity here. So when Ma Lu makes such a suggestion, instead of thinking it’s unrealistic, he feels it’s very grounded. Although the investment might be a bit larger, as long as there are results, it’s worth it. Once we push the first one out, will we still worry about selling the ones that follow?

Ma Lu doesn’t care about these social interactions; she also has an agreement with Zhang Jie not to disclose her name and address. She only focuses on writing, and he handles the rest. She is also willing to share the extra social expenses with him.

Zhang Jie didn’t expect Ma Lu to be so transparent and becomes increasingly assured of her.

Ma Lu can’t stay in the study writing all day at home; she needs to refresh her mind. So in her extra time, besides tidying up the small vegetable garden and cooking, she thinks about doing some business. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a waste to live in such a good location?

That afternoon, when Li Man returned home from work, she bought six hens that were still quite small.

"I noticed there’s a chicken coop in the yard, we shouldn’t waste this place. Raise some hens so it will be good for your nutrition later. Your mind is constantly moving, how hard it is!"

"Mom, is your work difficult? If it’s not good, come home, and I’ll think of some business for you to do on the side."

Li Man shakes her head, "I just started, just picking vegetables, washing dishes, doing the rough work I’m used to. Those people don’t say much to me; when they cook, we helpers can’t go in. It’s not tiring, and I haven’t sensed any intrigue there yet. It’s fine, I’ll keep working; if it doesn’t work, we’ll talk. So, have you thought of any good businesses?"

"It’s not exactly a good business. I’m just thinking that if working under someone isn’t good, then we should be our own bosses. Whether we make more or less, it’s up to us, right? I don’t have any other ideas, maybe just push a small cart, sell some snacks. While there’s freedom, the days of wind and rain aren’t easy either. If you can keep working there, then do so. When you have time off, I’ll teach you to make some snacks. We’ll always be prepared, and with skills, you might even stand out in the kitchen someday!"

Li Man looks at Ma Lu somewhat surprised, "From what you’re saying, are your skills pretty good?"

Ma Lu smiles shyly, "My adopted Grandma used to travel around with her husband preparing banquets, and she’s quite skilled in Sichuan and Henan cuisine."

Li Man is momentarily speechless, "I feel like I didn’t just find a daughter, I found a piece of gold!"

From finding Ma Lu until now, it has only been a few days, and she has already moved out of the shed where she lived for years, passing each night in worry. This is simply unbelievable and makes the effort of dragging her back home worthwhile, as they say, good deeds are rewarded, right?

People with good intentions, no matter where they go, their luck won’t be too bad. Because they expect nothing in return, one day their luck might just explode?

Sky is watching!

Ma Lu has been tinkering at home for a few days and created an old-style oven. The clay used to make the oven was specially hauled from outside the city, modeled in the European style. She even made guides and trays using iron bars because she’s planning to sell pastries and cakes. That’s why she made a fairly large oven.

In the city, there are already pastry shops, but they mainly sell our traditional pastries. The Western pastries are only available at Western Restaurants, and not only are they expensive, ordinary people can’t really taste them. What she’s planning isn’t complicated, simple cake without a mixer, doing it all by hand is too exhausting. Home baking is fine, but if you want to sell it, you’ll have to work harder, so she’s focusing on making everyday bakery items like toast, traditional bread, egg tarts, and meat floss buns that are simple and easy to make.

Taking advantage while year 37 hasn’t arrived and Chongqing is still somewhat safe, she plans to earn more money. Using money to stock up on supplies, she’ll have a support for the latter half of her life.

She never minds having too much money at hand; starting from year 35 to year 15, twenty years is enough time for her to strive.

Because there’s space, Ma Lu eventually decided to shift her writing battleground to the time-rich space to work. Outside of space-time, she had someone make a handcart. By two or three in the morning, she starts making delicious sauce pancakes, keeping part of the baked pancakes warm in a wooden box wrapped in quilts, and another part stored in the space, later taking some out to cut into pieces, offering free tastings and selling them along the street.