Lin Lan shook her head. "Don't worry, Mom. I'm prepared to work hard for a couple of years, then I'll hire people to do it." Even if the policies loosened up next year, they would only allow small-scale private businesses. If she hired people, she'd be accused of exploiting the laboring masses.
She remembered the man who sold sunflower seeds; he had been arrested and released several times for that very reason.
After Lin Guoliang and his brother finished peeling the pumpkins, Lin Lan sent them off to bed. Wu Shufen insisted on staying with her until all the spicy fried fava beans were done and packaged, and only then did they go to bed together.
Early the next morning, Lin Lan got up to make the kidney bean rolls, while Wu Shufen helped mix the dough and form the raw pumpkin cakes. After the mother-daughter duo finished the pumpkin cakes, they started steaming buns and mantou.
