I Returned to the Day He Brought His First Love Home-Chapter 108: New Yearโs Eve, Ideas
The college entrance exam results were out by late January. ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐.๐๐จ๐
Due to high shipment volumes, the textile factory had everyone working right up until New Yearโs Eve before breaking for the holiday.
Every employeeโs salary was fifty percent higher than in previous years.
Beaming with joy, everyone took their pay, along with the rice and meat distributed by the factory, and headed home for the New Year.
Grace Winslowโs pay was higher than anyone elseโs.
In the past six months, because the textile factory had started producing ready-made clothing and gotten into exporting, its profits had multiplied several times over.
Not only did they avoid a new backlog of unsellable fabric, but they also managed to sell off all the old, previously unsold stock.
Oscar Osborne had received a Model Worker Award, the textile factory had won an Outstanding Enterprise Award, and they were even featured in the newspaper.
Grace Winslow received a whopping 5,632 in year-end pay.
Added to what she already had, her savings now exceeded ten thousand.
Just as she reached the gate, carrying the rice and oil from her workplace, she saw Nolan Winslow waiting to pick her up.
Grace ran over, holding her things. "Nolan, what are you doing here?"
"I had nothing to do at home, so Dad sent me to get you. Arenโt Brandon and Hayley busy with their business? Theyโre still swamped; business is great right before the New Year. Their shop is the first of its kind in Prospera Town."
Brandon Winslow and Hayley had opened a clothing store in January, and business was now booming.
Because you didnโt need ration coupons to buy the clothes and the styles were fashionable, everyone was willing to spend a little extra for beautiful new outfits to celebrate the New Year, even though the prices werenโt cheap.
This was especially true for young women.
Hayley had a silver tongue and a knack for making customers happy, so business was naturally thriving.
In just over half a month, they had not only earned back their entire initial investment but had also cleared two hundred in profit.
That was almost half a yearโs salary for an average worker.
Although Nolan looked a little envious, his desire for a stable "iron rice bowl" job remained unshaken.
He was already a senior worker at the factory, earning eighty to ninety a month. Lily Callahanโs salary wasnโt high, but she still made over forty a month. Bringing in over a hundred a month together was already quite good.
Even with two children to raise, that was more than enough.
On the way, Nolan told Grace about what had been happening with the family recently, and she listened attentively.
The family hadnโt told her what was going on at home lately, not wanting to distract her from her exams.
Even on the day of the exam when she came home for lunch, no one distracted her with idle talk.
Sitting on the back of the bicycle and holding onto Nolanโs shirt, Grace couldnโt resist asking, "Nolan, seeing how much money Brandon and Hayley are making... arenโt you tempted? Have you considered quitting your job to go into business?"
She was genuinely curious.
Nolan laughed. "Hayley has a silver tongue. The fact that sheโs a good businesswoman is her own talent."
"And you know Lily and meโweโre not smooth talkers like her. If we went into business, thereโs no guarantee weโd have such a good income."
"Besides, Lilyโs due date is almost here. I donโt want to wear her out."
"Iโll think about it more after the baby is born."
Nolan was a cautious man who thought things through carefully before acting.
Grace didnโt press the issue and just nodded.
The house was bustling with activity when they arrived.
It was New Yearโs Eve, so everyone was home for the big family dinner.
The three little ones were already dressed in their new clothes.
The familyโs finances had improved this year, so Irene Lynch had been willing to splurge, buying several bolts of fabric and making two new outfits for everyone.
The Winslows were a good-looking family to begin with. Although the three little ones were still young, their handsome features were already evident, and it was clear they would grow up to be heartthrobs.
The three little ones were the most excited to see Grace return.
Grace hadnโt come empty-handed, either.
She hadnโt had time to go to the general store, but sheโd previously stocked up on plenty of snacks that she hadnโt finished yet, so she brought them all home.
She shared them with the three little ones, who immediately scampered off to play happily.
Grace washed her hands and went to help in the kitchen.
The house was always busiest during the New Year.
Not only did they have to prepare the New Yearโs Eve feast, but they also had to make traditional holiday treats.
Prospera Town was in the south, where the most common New Yearโs foods were treats like yau gok and jian dui.
The older generation had an old saying: "As the jian dui roll, may wealth come rolling in."
Right then, Irene Lynch was in the kitchen preparing the fillings for the yau gok and jian dui.
Grace and Hayley both came in to help.
Outside, the men were kneading dough for the wrappers.
Gregory Winslow and Brandon Winslow had already finished putting up the New Yearโs couplets.
The house was decorated everywhere with red paper, some of which had been crafted into beautiful window paper-cuts, creating a very festive atmosphere.
Looking at the window paper-cuts, an idea struck Grace. She asked, "Hayley, youโre closing the shop for the New Year holiday, right?"
"Yeah, the markets are all closed on the first day of the New Year. We wonโt open again until the fourth. Why?" Hayley replied with a smiling nod.
She grew more and more fond of Grace.
Whenever Grace found a way to make money, she always shared it with her family, never holding anything back.
"I see those window paper-cuts outside are really well done. For the Lantern Festival, why donโt we make some lanterns and have Ryan and the other kids sell them on the street?"
"The markets wonโt be open on the first day, but the second day should be fine. I have an idea, though Iโm not sure if itโll work. Iโd like to hear what you think, Hayley."
"Lanterns, huh? That could work. Dad and Nolan are both handy. We can all make them together and split the money. We can have the kids sell them, or the adults can go along, too."
"Just tell me your idea. Youโre the one with all the brilliant thoughts; Iโm all ears," Hayley said, her interest immediately piqued.
She stopped what she was doing, her ears perked to hear what Grace would say.
Seeing the two of them busy talking business, Irene Lynch simply shooed them out of the kitchen.
Hayley pulled Grace into her room. "Come on, Grace, tell me. If we make money from this, Iโll give you a big bonus."
"Okay, so we can get some small goods, like towels, shampoo, cups, drinks, and stuff like that. Then we take them to a crowded place, set up a stall, and run a ring toss game."
"We could charge one for five rings, or maybe ten. Whatever you loop, you win. What do you think?"
Grace knew perfectly well that there was no way this business could lose money.
In her past life, every time she went grocery shopping, she saw people setting up this exact game in the park, and crowds would always gather to join the fun.
Even if you missed with all ten rings, people still did it just for the fun of it.
It was a game that was hard for anyone, adult or child, to resist.
Hayleyโs eyes lit up. "Thatโs brilliant! We still have some unsold socks and things at the shop; we can use those as prizes! I think this is a great idea. But if we want to set up on the second, thereโs no time to order more stock. I have to go out now. You go help Mom, okay?"
With that, Hayley hastily took off her apron and rushed out the door.
