Whitaker Scarlett knew that the application rate of agricultural machinery was extremely low at this time. Before sowing wheat and rapeseed, the fields had to be plowed. Some people used hoes, others used oxen to plow the fields. The Miller Family didn’t have oxen, so Amanda had to ask others for help. Other people’s oxen weren’t free; it took a lot of effort to feed them. There was a price for plowing an acre of land, and even if they were reluctant, they had to pay.
The family lacked a strong laborer, so the farm work fell on Amanda. Elizabeth was also good at farm work, and since Elizabeth and Whitaker Scarlett’s land hadn’t been allocated yet, Elizabeth could help… but Elizabeth was busier than farming these days, so why would Amanda ask her sister-in-law to work in the fields?
Elizabeth and Whitaker Scarlett weren’t eating for free; Whitaker Scarlett secretly and openly contributed to the household expenses. They essentially had a place to stay at the Miller Family’s, not relying on Amanda and her husband for support.
Whitaker Scarlett was worried that her aunt didn’t have money. Her uncle William had previously given her 50 Dollars as capital, and since the family didn’t have that much eel stockpiled, Whitaker Scarlett returned the money.
She had borrowed 50 Dollars, but when she returned it, she prepared 10 10-Dollars bills.
“What are you doing?! Take it back! Your uncle said it was your pocket money, if you do this, I’ll be angry!”
Amanda refused to accept it.
50 Dollars was a lot, but not that much. Even if it were 5000 Dollars, if William, as her uncle, could give it, Amanda wouldn’t take it back. Husband and wife were one, and Amanda would certainly agree with William’s decision.
If it were 5000 Dollars, Amanda would feel bad, but she wouldn’t show it to Whitaker Scarlett.
Since her aunt wouldn’t accept the money, Whitaker Scarlett smiled:
“If you don’t want it, then fine. I’ll be starting another business soon, so this money is considered an investment from my uncle.”
Whitaker Scarlett was going into a different line of business.
Amanda thought, this girl is too restless.
“Once the yellow eels are no longer profitable, there’s still the oil residue. What other business will you start? Just focus on studying at home. Getting into university next year is the most important thing.”
The oil residue business wasn’t as lucrative as the eels, but it was stable. A few hundred kilograms of oil residue could be easily sold at the rural market every day. It was hard work, but for farmers who toiled the land, especially hardworking folks like Elizabeth, hard work was nothing new.
No matter how hard the work, earning a few hundred Dollars a month was more than what factory workers made . Amanda thought this business was simply fantastic!
What did a monthly income of several hundred Dollars mean in 1983?
In Amanda’s experience, she had never seen anyone earn more. Even her husband, William, though he claimed to make money outside, most of it was tied up in his “business,” and he didn’t bring home several hundred Dollars a month.
This income was more than enough for Whitaker Scarlett. And if Elizabeth couldn’t handle it, there was still William and Amanda.
Whitaker Scarlett thought for a moment, and didn’t hide anything:
“Aunt, I’ll definitely manage my time properly. Actually, I study much better on my own. If I’m in a classroom with others, I can’t focus… I want to give the oil residue business to my mother. It’s not about how much money she makes, but about giving her something to do. The new business I want to start is selling clothes.”
Whitaker Scarlett recounted her experiences at the Harborfield Farmers’ Market.
She had been running around Harborfield lately, naturally gathering more useful information. What kind of clothes to buy, what price range to sell them at, where to set up a stall—Whitaker Scarlett had a plan. She desperately wanted to succeed in the 1980s, to prove herself. Getting into university wasn’t her primary goal; she had already achieved that in her past life. Although she had reached a high position in her previous life, she was ultimately working for someone else. Whitaker Scarlett wanted to be her own boss!
Whitaker Scarlett spoke eloquently, leaving Amanda stunned.
How many rural girls knew about these things? That accident truly brought her good fortune; Whitaker Scarlett had truly blossomed.
Whitaker Scarlett was very decisive. Amanda worried that interfering too much would backfire, so she laid down three rules:
“If your school grades drop, you can’t do any business!”
Whitaker Scarlett readily agreed.
