Reborn in 1981, starting by smashing my iron rice bowl.

Startled by Wang Shujuan's reaction, Liu Weidong frowned and asked, "Sis, what's wrong with you? Why are you so easily startled?"

Wang Shujuan was almost in tears, her eyes brimming with tears as she said, "You...you're going to sell melon seeds? That's speculation and profiteering, you'll go to jail if you get caught!"

"Sister, what you're saying is all ancient history!" Seeing Wang Shujuan's great fear, Liu Weidong quickly comforted her: "Now that we've reformed and opened up, the government not only won't prohibit ordinary people from doing small businesses, but will also strongly encourage it!"

Wang Shujuan said incredulously, "How can you let ordinary people do business on their own? You're not lying to me, are you?"

It wasn't that Wang Shujuan didn't believe Liu Weidong; it was just that his words were so astonishing. Although the reform and opening up had been underway for several years, people in rural areas were still quite conservative. They even sold a few of their own eggs secretly, and simply didn't believe the government would encourage them to do business.

"Why would I lie to you?" Liu Weidong said seriously, "There's a boss in Anhui Province who makes millions a year selling melon seeds. Even high-ranking officials know him, and he's doing just fine. I'm just running a small business. What could possibly happen to me? I wouldn't risk my future like that, so don't worry!"

Wang Shujuan felt much more at ease now, and nodded gently, saying, "Then be careful, and don't get into any arguments or quarrels, since we're in the wrong, understand?"

Liu Weidong didn't think he was in the wrong, but to reassure Wang Shujuan, he could only go along with her and say, "Don't worry, sister, harmony brings wealth, I understand that principle!"

"You know that's good!" Wang Shujuan smiled and said, "I'll make you some dumplings, so you can eat your fill and have a good journey tomorrow!"

Liu Weidong felt that these words were a bit ominous, but he also knew that Wang Shujuan definitely didn't mean it, so he just said cheerfully, "That's great! I haven't had my sister's dumplings in so long, I'm so hungry for them!"

Wang Shujuan said guiltily, "Yes, it's been almost half a year since we made dumplings at home. It's my fault for not taking good care of you!"

For Liu Weidong, it had been decades since he had tasted dumplings made by Wang Shujuan. When he tasted that familiar flavor again, he couldn't help but shed tears, secretly vowing to make sure this gentle and beautiful woman lived a good life for the rest of his life!

Early the next morning, Liu Weidong rode the borrowed old bicycle out with several large bags of sunflower seeds.

Thanks to the joint efforts of Liu Weidong and Wang Shujuan, 100 jin of sunflower seeds have been roasted. Now it depends on whether they will be popular with customers!

Liu Weidong remembers that there was already a market in the county town in 81, but it was very small, and both buyers and sellers were very discreet. Sellers, in particular, were extremely cautious, afraid of being labeled as speculators and profiteers, a crime that could land them in jail at that time!

With the Spring Festival approaching, the market was busier than usual. Local farmers brought their produce, which they couldn't bear to eat themselves, to exchange for money or grain coupons. After a year of hard work, they hoped to have a little spare cash at this time.

With money, I could go to the state-run store in the county town and buy a few yards of cloth to make new clothes for my wife and children. With the New Year just around the corner, I could buy some fruit candies for the kids. If I had a little more money, I could buy some bulk liquor to drink with the New Year's Eve dinner—just thinking about it made me happy.

These simple farmers sell their goods in a very simple way: they just put the items on the ground and stand silently to the side. If someone walks by, they will nervously look away, as if they are doing something wrong.

In contrast, Liu Weidong's method of selling melon seeds was much more direct. After setting up his stall, he took out a large piece of cardboard with several eye-catching characters written on it: Shanghai Fragrant Melon Seeds.

Unlike more than a decade later when everyone was blindly devoted to Hong Kong goods, in the early 1980s, most ordinary people trusted products from Shanghai. Whether it was clothing, pastries, radios, watches, candy, or bicycles, products from Shanghai were considered to be of the highest quality.

Liu Weidong also planned to capitalize on the fame of "Huhai" (沪海), so he named his sunflower seeds after it as well. Anyway, there aren't really any advertising or trademark laws these days, so he didn't need to worry about consumer complaints.

The hard-shell sign alone made Liu Weidong's sunflower seed stall the most eye-catching in the market, attracting a lot of attention.

But that wasn't enough for Liu Weidong, so he quickly started shouting: "Shanghai-style melon seeds! Four flavors, guaranteed to satisfy you, or your money back!"

These days, people do business secretly, but Liu Weidong was actually shouting loudly, which really startled everyone. The stall owners next to him quickly packed up their things and moved to another place, afraid of being implicated by him.

However, Liu Weidong's shouts were quite effective, and soon an old lady came over and asked, "Young man, are these sunflower seeds really from Shanghai?"

Liu Weidong enthusiastically introduced, "Grandpa, these sunflower seeds are roasted using the authentic Shanghai method. In the past, only people from Shanghai could enjoy them. There are four flavors: original, cream, salt and pepper, and five-spice. Would you like to buy some to try?"

"Even sunflower seeds come in so many flavors! No wonder they're from Shanghai!" The old lady nodded repeatedly. "In that case, I'll have to buy some to take home for my family to try. How much are your sunflower seeds?"

Liu Weidong told the old lady, "Eight mao for half a jin, one yuan and fifty cents for a jin!"

The old man frowned and said, "It's quite expensive. The sunflower seeds over there only cost one yuan per pound."

Liu Weidong said, "That's how things are in Shanghai. They're a bit pricey, but the taste is really good. You can try some for free first, and then decide whether you want to buy it."

This is a business trick for later generations; no one uses this kind of promotional tactic these days, and the effect is immediate.

The old lady asked in surprise, "Young man, is it really free to try it?"

Liu Weidong laughed and said, "Don't worry, try it. So many people heard it, it's definitely free."

"Then I won't be polite!" The old lady smiled happily, but she was too embarrassed to take too much. She carefully grabbed a few melon seeds and tasted them, and her face was immediately filled with surprise.

"It's really different from what I usually eat. I'm almost sixty years old this year, and I never thought that sunflower seeds could be roasted in so many different ways!" The old lady praised it endlessly and said loudly to Liu Weidong, "Give me half a pound each of the salt and pepper flavor and the five-spice flavor, and another pound of the cream flavor. I'll take it back for my family to try."

"Alright!" Liu Weidong agreed, quickly weighed out the melon seeds, and even grabbed a few extra, making the old lady nod happily.

Liu Weidong wrapped the melon seeds in old newspapers he had prepared beforehand and handed them to the old lady with a smile: "Two jin of melon seeds in total, three yuan for you!"

"Thank you, young man!" The old lady handed Liu Weidong three one-yuan bills, happily took the melon seeds, and left.

While the old lady was buying melon seeds, several other people came to ask about the price. After tasting them for free, they all decided to buy some to take home.

People love a good time, and led by these people, Liu Weidong's stall was quickly surrounded by layers of people, and business boomed. He was so busy he couldn't keep up. In just an hour or two, a hundred pounds of sunflower seeds were sold out!

Although Liu Weidong knew the idea would succeed, he didn't expect the sunflower seeds to be so popular, which truly delighted him.

Liu Weidong is now very eager to know how much money he made from those 100 jin of sunflower seeds. However, in the early 1980s, public security was not good; otherwise, a crackdown wouldn't have started after the New Year.

Therefore, Liu Weidong dared not count the money outside, as that would only cause him trouble. He could count it slowly at home.

So Liu Weidong packed his things and prepared to go home. However, as he rode his bicycle through an intersection, he unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance.