Chapter 32: Pitying Oneself

There were three ways to get from the Steel Mill Residential Compound to the Seed Market.

The first was the most time-saving and effortless, but also the most expensive: taking a taxi.

The second was the most common and not too costly: taking the bus.

As for the third, it was the most economical but also the most helpless choice: walking.

Shen Yi’an and Li Beichen weren’t short on taxi fare. As soon as they left the Family Compound, they hailed a taxi.

On the way to the Seed Market, the extroverted taxi driver struck up a conversation as if they were old acquaintances. “You two are also heading to the Seed Market area to see the excitement, right?”

Without waiting for a reply, he continued on his own, “You’re going to the right place!”

“Things are different now compared to before.”

“Back then, regulations were strict, and that area was dead silent. The only people coming and going were leaders from various communes and brigades, there to purchase seeds and collect subsidized fertilizers from above.”

“Now the market is lively, and private business is allowed. That area is getting busier and busier.”

Hearing the driver’s thick Lancheng accent, Shen Yi’an naturally chimed in with a smile, “We heard the area has expanded again, so we’re going to join in the excitement.”

“Now that we’ve heard what you said, we’re even more interested in going to take a look.”

Hearing this, the driver glanced in the rearview mirror and laughed.

“Oh, locals!”

“Alright, since you’re one of us, let me tell you about the situation over there.”

“Ever since the Seed Market started expanding, business on Antique Street has been affected…”

Listening to the driver’s explanation, Shen Yi’an grew even more curious about the new Seed Market and Antique Street.

She knew both places.

In the past, with the Abandoned Factory blocking the way, they basically developed independently, neither bothering the other.

Later, as the city began new construction, some unnecessary places were demolished entirely, and the Abandoned Factory was one of them.

With the obstacle gone, the Seed Market expanded into the area of the Abandoned Factory Building, which Antique Street wasn’t happy about.

After discussions between the two sides’ managers, they simply divided the original land of the Abandoned Factory Building equally, leaving only a road in the middle.

Because of this, the customer flow between the Seed Market and Antique Street began to overlap.

Customers who had chosen their needed seeds could go to Antique Street to try their luck, and those who had finished browsing Antique Street could also go to the Seed Market to buy what they needed.

As a result, business in both places grew better and better.

The better the business, the greater the customer flow, and the more people opened shops or set up stalls nearby.

With more people, transportation naturally had to keep pace.

But bus stops were fixed. Even if new stops were to be built, it would require layer upon layer of approvals, and it would take several years for the project to be implemented.

Taxis were different.

Because this industry had only emerged not long ago, it was in a stage of vigorous development.

There were no geographical restrictions or stop limitations; taxis could go wherever passengers wanted.

For this reason, all taxi drivers liked taking fares around the Seed Market.

First, the distance was long enough that their income would increase accordingly.

Second, the earnings from a round trip could equal several times their usual daily income.

Most importantly, in conversations with passengers, they could hear stories and news from all walks of life and various places.

Some time ago, a taxi driver on a long-distance trip brought back a batch of Electronic Assembly Products to sell along the way.

Wow, buying the parts cost less than 200 yuan, and after assembling and selling them, I actually made over 2300 yuan. Even after deducting costs, that’s still a net profit of more than 2000.

In the 1980s, the most lucrative jobs in the transportation industry were taxi drivers and freight logistics.

Especially taxi drivers.

Their base income far exceeded that of ordinary professions, with monthly wages ranging from 2000 to 3000 yuan—already 20 to 50 times higher than the national average income.

Now, the extra money they could earn from a single delivery trip could even match their usual monthly salary. It was safe to say they were making a killing.

After tasting the sweetness of success, one particularly successful driver stopped driving altogether. He partnered with someone to buy a small truck and started buying and selling goods for profit between two or even multiple locations.

No one knew exactly how much profit he was making, but whenever familiar taxi drivers ran into him, they always saw him grinning from ear to ear, looking utterly delighted.

This sparked envy among others. They thought, since they were all taxi drivers, there was no reason their acquaintance could do it while they couldn’t.

A few younger drivers quit the taxi business and followed suit, diving into the trade of buying and selling goods for profit.

However, most drivers stuck to their steady jobs behind the wheel.

In their eyes, although driving a taxi didn’t pay as much as buying and selling goods for profit, their wages were still significantly higher than those in most other industries.

As the saying goes, contentment brings happiness, or perhaps one shouldn’t be too greedy—both truths applied here.

But no matter how grounded they were, the taxi driver’s tone still betrayed a hint of undeniable envy.

“…There’s nothing I can do. I’m just a timid person.”

“I’d rather drive my car steadily than take risks for a bit more money.”

“Even though it’s hard-earned money, it’s enough to support my whole family.”

After listening to the driver’s heartfelt reflections throughout the ride, Shen Yi’an smiled but didn’t respond further.

At this point, she still didn’t know how much the driver’s so-called “hard-earned money” amounted to. If she had known, she probably would have pitied herself.

After all, as part of a family that everyone envied for having full-time jobs, their combined monthly income was only around 500 yuan.

It wasn’t until after getting out of the car and hearing Li Beichen mention the income of taxi drivers that she glared at the departing taxi with a look of disdain for capitalists and stomped her foot angrily. “If I’d known taxi drivers had such great benefits, I should’ve… I should’ve…”

She didn’t know exactly what she should’ve done, but she was definitely filled with envy and jealousy.

Seeing her like this, Li Beichen chuckled and ruffled her hair. “Don’t be discouraged. My future salary will all be yours.”

“Even if it’s not as much as what taxi drivers make.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an’s indignation faded, and a smile spread across her face again. “You said it yourself!”

“If you withhold even a single cent, just see how I deal with you.”

She even raised her little fist in a playful show of intimidation.

Seeing this, Li Beichen raised an eyebrow, amused. “Alright, I’ll be waiting for you to deal with me.”

Just don’t end up being the one who gets bullied instead…

Tsk, it looks like life is going to be even more interesting from now on.

At this moment, Shen Yi’an didn’t notice the deeper meaning in his words. Instead, after dodging another wave of the bustling crowd, she sighed helplessly and complained, “When did the Seed Market get so crowded?”

“When I came here with my family before, this area outside was usually almost empty.”

“Now it feels like it’s already bustling with New Year’s energy.”

At the end, she muttered softly, “Aren’t they hot? It’s only early September!”

Hearing this, Li Beichen held her securely in his arms while responding, “The past is the past, the present is the present.”

“Have you forgotten what the taxi driver said?”

Taking advantage of his height, he observed the situation on the adjacent street from a distance. “There’s an Antique Street over there. How about we go take a look?”

“We can come back here when the crowd thins out.”

Mentioning Antique Street brought a renewed sparkle to Shen Yi’an’s despondent eyes. “Sure, let’s go to Antique Street then.”

“I’ve never been there before. I wonder if it’ll be interesting.”

Noticing the anticipation in her eyes, Li Beichen immediately guided her toward the neighboring street. “If you want to go, then let’s go!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you!”

He had visited antique streets in Jingshi more than once, but this was his first time in Lancheng’s.

However, the fundamentals remained the same.

Since it was the same industry, the tricks of the trade were likely similar.

Having reached an agreement on their destination, the two walked a few more steps with the crowd before breaking away from the main flow at a fork in the road.

Arriving at the entrance of Antique Street,

they could still see a continuous stream of people, but it was noticeably less crowded than the Seed Market.

After all, one was a place where you could buy whatever you wanted freely, while the other was just for looking and satisfying your eyes.

It was Shen Yi’an’s first time at an antique street, and honestly, she was a bit worried. “Will we get ripped off if we go in?”

“I’ve heard the waters here run deep, and I’m a complete novice.”

So novice that she couldn’t tell an antique from a fake at all.

As the old saying goes, experts appreciate the craftsmanship while amateurs just watch the excitement.

She was afraid she wouldn’t even understand the excitement.