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Chapter 435: Chapter 303: Catch Together..._2
Seeing the atmosphere stagnating, Jiang Ning said, "You can pinch its claw, yank it out, or if you touch the shrimp’s back, make it turn over in the hole before pulling it out."
"But I usually don’t bother with those complicated methods, I just pull it straight out, nothing beats speed, and it’s pretty normal to get pinched while catching crayfish."
Compared to the half-baked Xue Yuantong, Jiang Ning was obviously more professional.
Listening to this, Xue Yuantong felt quite embarrassed.
But then again, she felt proud; look, although she couldn’t do it, Jiang Ning could!
Geng Lu asked, "Are there really crayfish in this weather?"
It was now nearing May, temperatures had risen, already hitting over 20 degrees.
Jiang Ning said, "There are by the river."
Down by the Huishui River below the dam, connected to many small ponds, those places were teeming with crayfish.
Geng Lu grew up in the city and had no experience in catching crayfish. She was quite interested and asked many questions.
The group chatted animatedly until Zhang Chi came over from the back row, his heart still set on his quest, he asked:
"Geng Lu, do you know of any part-time jobs online that I could do?"
Geng Lu replied, "I’m not sure, I only know how to draw."
She had heard of other ways to make money, but she hadn’t participated, only focused on her drawing.
Geng Lu knew she wasn’t the brightest; without Jiang Ning’s tutoring during high school, at best she could have been mediocre in her class.
Finally discovering her talent in drawing, Geng Lu was determined to excel in this field.
Zhang Chi asked once again about Geng Lu’s income from drawing. Geng Lu did not hide it, and once again told him that she now made an easy one or two thousand a month.
With self-doubt, Zhang Chi left.
After he was gone, Geng Lu said with a hint of helplessness, "Zhang Chi really wants to make money, he’s asked me several times now."
Jiang Ning remarked, "His family isn’t well off; it’s not strange for him to be thinking about earning money."
Geng Lu changed the subject back and continued discussing crayfish with Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning said, "How about this, are you free this week? I can take you to catch crayfish."
Geng Lu paused, her rosy lips slightly parted in surprise.
It seemed, it was the first time he had invited her...
Her eyes sparkled with joy, scarcely believing it; a smile tugging at her lips, "Really?"
Jiang Ning smiled, "Of course it’s true."
Great! Geng Lu agreed immediately: "I’m free, let’s catch crayfish together!"
Her eyes shone with excitement, "You’ll teach me how to catch them, right?"
Jiang Ning’s gaze dropped, glancing at her tight, filled-out form, he paused for a moment, and then said:
"You might not be quite suited for catching crayfish."
Geng Lu: "Ah?"
...
The dissatisfied Zhang Chi returned to the back row.
He was fed up with being penniless, he wanted to become rich!
If he had money, he could use a hundred-dollar bill today to humiliate the old man selling hot water bottles.
Instead of being dismissively chased away.
Zhang Chi joined Cui Yu and Ma Shicheng, who were chatting in the back row.
"Brother Ma, Brother Ma, did you hear? Shen Xu from class nine has started a new business recently."
At the mention of Shen Xu, Guo Kunnan said, "Is that the guy who fought with Miao Zhe?"
Cui Yu: "Yep, that’s the one."
Shen Xu had a time when he went around their class selling small goods every day and even dated a pretty girl from the experimental class, making Cui Yu jealous.
However, later, when Cui Yu saw Shen Xu negotiate business with Pang Jiao, compromising his dignity for money, his resentment vanished.
Shen Xu, life wasn’t easy for him!
Guo Kunnan asked, "What kind of new business did he start?"
Cui Yu said, "Phone rental."
"You know Director Yan, right? Once he confiscates a phone, he just takes it and only gives it back at the end of the semester."
And with this, Cui Yu glanced at Zhang Chi, who was one of the students who had had a phone confiscated, approaching them.
"Our class is okay, but in other classes, even more are taken."
"So, Shen Xu set up a used phone rental business. If you want to play on a phone, look for him; you pay an 80 Yuan deposit and rent it for 10 Yuan a week."
Wang Longlong commented, "Not bad, makes me want to give it a try."
He occasionally played on Brother Ma’s phone; Brother Ma was generous, but Wang Longlong always felt bad if he played too much.
Ma Shicheng asked, "What are the specs like?"
Cui Yu: "It’s an Android 2.3 system, a mix of second-hand phones, but playing light games like Temple Run and Shadow Fight 2 is no problem."
Guo Kunnan: "That’s a bit old, Brother Ma and my phones are Android 4.0 systems."
Ma Shicheng thought for a moment, then asked, "People are renting them, aren’t they?"
Cui Yu: "Yep, to my knowledge, several people already have."
Ma Shicheng: "And if the phone gets lost, the deposit is forfeited?"
"Exactly."
After understanding the situation, Ma Shicheng nodded, "He might actually make it work."
The eavesdropping Zhang Chi leaned in: "Ma Shicheng, how much can Shen Xu earn?"
Ma Shicheng replied, "It depends on his skill, but doing it normally, earning a living wage is no problem."
Ma Shicheng judged that the original cost of Shen Xu’s old phones absolutely wasn’t worth 80.
Once someone rented a phone, he received the rent and immediately bought another used phone to rent out, then kept snowballing from there.
"I didn’t expect Shen Xu to be this clever," Ma Shicheng thought to himself; he hadn’t considered this money-making method.
Once Zhang Chi heard that it only involved the level of living expenses, his interest dwindled.
You must know, a girl like Geng Lu could easily earn a thousand or two just by painting each month!
Zhang Chi said, "That little?"
Ma Shicheng: "If you do well, you can break a thousand, maybe even more."
Zhang Chi perked up immediately: "Can I do it?"
Ma Shicheng glanced at him and realized Zhang Chi was interested. He didn’t discourage him but said,
"If you can find a cheap source for mobile phones and then rent them out, then you can do it."
"Right, you also need some capital."
Hearing the word ’capital,’ Zhang Chi couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. He was most lacking in capital and hadn’t yet paid back what he owed to the class monitor.
Nowadays, every other day, Zhang Yifei and Li Shengnan would come knocking on his desk.
Zhang Chi was freaking fed up!
Zhang Chi returned to his seat, remembering that today was Thursday, and the weekend was close.
Last time, someone from a crematorium had asked him to move stuff for 500 a day.
Zhang Chi had thought it unreliable before and didn’t dare to go.
But now, stimulated by Shen Xu, he fiercely decided:
"Damn it, Shen Xu is about to take off, how can I fall behind!"
"Can I really just watch, with my own eyes, as those I once looked down upon get ahead, one by one?"
He was not willing to accept that!
Zhang Chi fiercely pressed his phone and sent a message: "I’ll do it, I’ll do it, are you free this week?"
He anxiously waited for a reply.
Right before class started, finally, Zhang Chi received a message:
"Sorry, we’re full."
Zhang Chi missed the opportunity.
...
During the second period of evening self-study, it was a self-study session.
Partway through the session, Huang Zhongfei went to the podium and called out, "A few of you, come with me to Building 4."
"The Tai Chi clothes from the school have arrived."
Fourth Middle School was rare in its generosity, giving out free Tai Chi clothes to ensure uniformity for the school anniversary performance.
Free stuff is always appealing, getting clothes for nothing!
Classmates were brimming with enthusiasm, creating a buzz as a group rallied.
Huang Zhongfei quickly said, "Too many, too many!"
"Dan Xiao, Dan Kaiquan, Guo Kunnan, you guys and a few others, come with me."
Having confirmed who was going, Huang Zhongfei led the way. In the meantime, the transport teams from classes 9 and 10 passed by class 8’s door, frequently looking inside.
Chen Siyu said, "The school anniversary is set for the 28th, just 4 days left."
Bai Yuxia was quite happy: "Next week we only have classes for 3 days, the rest are for the school anniversary and sports day."
Xue Yuantong added, "After the school anniversary, we’ll have the May Day holiday."
Chen Siyu continued, "Then we come back for two more months, and it’s summer vacation."
"Before we know it, one-third of high school is over. Soon I’ll be in grade two!"
She was both looking forward to it and feeling nostalgic.
When Jiang Ning heard their conversation, he too began to ponder.
In his previous life, at this age, how had he felt as he faced the passage of time?
Jiang Ning only remembered that when he later joined the workforce, as his age kept increasing, he always felt an inexplicable fear.
Back then... he feared growing old.
While chatting, the classmates who went for the Tai Chi clothes returned, everyone excited.
Huang Zhongfei said, "Everyone collect your clothes according to the sizes you previously reported."
Classmates approached the podium one by one.
Standing at about 183 cm, Jiang Ning was among the tallest in class 8.
Guo Kunnan and the others sitting in the back were the second group to get their clothes.
After getting their clothes, Hu Jun stroke the fabric and pondered over the texture, saying,
"The fabric doesn’t feel as good as... Wu Xiaoqi’s basketball uniform."
Wang Longlong added, "Of course, Wu Xiaoqi’s basketball uniform costs 888 yuan!"
Guo Kunnan remarked, "The school is giving it out for free, don’t be so picky."
Wu Xiaoqi received his Tai Chi clothes.
"Class monitor, I asked for size 165, why did I get a size 160?"
Wu Xiaoqi, who was between 162 and 163 cm tall, thought size 160 just didn’t suit him.
Pang Jiao responded, "You should be glad you even got clothes to wear."
Wu Xiaoqi thought about it and figured she was right, after all, it was just a piece of Tai Chi clothes.
Then, he pondered, "This Tai Chi clothes are loose and baggy, I wonder how they’d be for playing basketball?"
