When they arrived at the market, the Wang family was still the first to arrive, with their stall already set up. Perhaps because it was a festival, the Wang family's stall was even bigger this time, with several members of the Wang family setting up their stalls.

When they saw Xia Chunmei set up her stall, the Wang family members came over to greet her warmly and told her that Wang Xiuxiu and Xiao Zheng had already exchanged birth charts.

"Miss Chunmei, I'm sorry about last time, I..." Wang Xiuxiu was a little embarrassed. Last time, she not only didn't believe her, but also called her a liar.

"It's alright, I'm young and don't really have much persuasive power," Xia Chunmei laughed. "Village Chief Wang, we have a persimmon with upturned lips today, would you like it?"

"She has pouty lips again."

"I was lucky, I caught one."

"Okay, I'll take it."

Of the mandarin fish from last time, the Wang family kept only one for themselves, and gave the remaining three to Wang Fuming as gifts.

He gave one to the academy teacher, one to the dean, and one to his wife's uncle, the clerk in the yamen. It is said that the clerk did not eat any himself, but gave them to the county magistrate, who was very happy.

If the magistrate is happy, the clerk will be happy too, and it will be easier for him to ask for anything in the future.

The Wang family didn't plan to eat the mandarin fish; they intended for Wang Fuming to give it to their advisor, who was their biggest backer.

"Uncle Wang, I don't need the fish either. I just need to buy something, so you can use it as a discount."

"Whatever you say. By the way, Miss Xia, my eldest sister's birthday is on the 23rd of next month. I'd like to ask you to make longevity peach buns. Do you have time? I estimate there will be 60 or 70 tables, and we'll need to make 600 or 700 longevity peach buns. You'll need to arrive in the city a day in advance."

The city gates only open at the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM) every day. If we need to make so many longevity peach buns, we definitely have to get there early, otherwise any unexpected situation might affect the normal start of the banquet.

"But don't worry, we'll take care of your food and lodging. As long as you make longevity peach buns, you'll need to go to town early this time. So, on top of the five coins per table, I'll give you an extra twenty coins. How does that sound?"

"Okay, no problem. Just have someone let us know when we're leaving."

Five coins per table, even if there are sixty tables, that's three hundred coins.

She was already quite familiar with the Wang family, so she didn't accept a deposit this time.

While there weren't many people around, Xia Chunmei quickly picked out four pairs of trousers from Wang's stall, bought eight feet of soft cotton cloth to make underwear and socks, and also bought three thin jackets, spending 1,880 coins.

The main problem is that thin cotton-padded jackets are too expensive; even the cheapest one costs 380 yuan.

The two fish were worth 1120 coins, and Xia Chunmei still paid 1760 coins.

Immediately afterwards, Xia Chunmei traded a five-pound grass carp for a palm-fiber blanket.

A six-pound grass carp was traded for half a pound of dried shiitake mushrooms.

They traded two five-pound grass carp for two pounds of fatty meat, six pounds of spare ribs, and a pig's stomach. Spare ribs and offal were relatively cheap at that time.

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there are many people buying fish. They have surrounded Xia Chunmei's stall in layers.

"Oh my, it's Chunmei selling fish here. How much are your grass carp?" The person who came was actually Fan Baowen's aunt, Jin.

Jin looked at the big fish in front of Xia Chunmei and her eyes lit up: "Chunmei, weigh a fish for your aunt, I'll take this big grass carp."

"It weighs six catties and two taels in total. I'll charge you six catties, which is forty-eight coins. Thank you."

Jin took out her purse: "Oh dear, I only have two copper coins left. Chunmei, how about this? I'll take the fish with me first, and I'll send the money to your house later."

“Auntie, we sisters have no parents and no land, and we rely on this to make a living.”

This person has ears like a mouse and a low, narrow forehead; they're clearly someone who likes to take advantage of others. They took the fish and now they want money? They're dreaming!

Upon hearing this, Jin became furious: "What do you mean? Do you think I would steal your fish?"

Hearing this, Xia Xiumei, who was buying things at the next stall, immediately chimed in, "Chunmei, why are you being so stingy? It's not like she's not going to pay."

"Why don't you have Xiumei pay for her first, and then have her send the money to your home later? You can afford the cost of a fish."

Xia Xiumei choked and couldn't speak for a moment; she had no intention of paying for the Jin family's money.

“If you can’t do it, don’t be generous with other people’s money,” Xia Chunmei said. “Since this aunt doesn’t have any money, she can use something else to pay for it. I think those two pairs of shoes you have are pretty good. My second and third sisters can definitely wear them.”

Jin tightened her grip, afraid that Xia Chunmei would snatch it away. These shoes were made by her own hands for her two nephews from her maternal family. They were filled with cotton, making them soft and comfortable, perfect for winter. A pair would cost at least twenty-five or twenty-six coins outside.

"Why are you so stubborn, girl? You even have designs on my shoes! Two pairs of my shoes cost at least fifty coins. You're trying to take advantage of me!"

"The fish is worth forty-eight coins, and your shoes are worth at most fifty-two coins. Give me the shoes, I'll give you the fish, and I'll also give you four copper coins. You won't lose out." Don't even think about taking your fish for free.

Jin was furious. She originally thought that Xia Chunmei would be too embarrassed to refuse, after all, she was Fan Baowen's aunt. She thought that if she took the fish and left, Xia Chunmei would also be too embarrassed to ask the Fan family for the remaining payment. But who knew that this brat would actually refuse!

"The fish here are so big! I want this one."

"Give me this one."

"Then I want this one."

As more and more people arrived, Xia Chunmei's fish, all large ones, became very popular, and her stall was surrounded by a crowd.

Three or four were sold out in one go.

"Auntie, if you don't want the fish anymore, I'll sell it to someone else. It's a holiday today, and everyone wants to buy big fish," Xia Chunmei said.

Jin felt extremely embarrassed, sensing that everyone was looking at her strangely and that she was deliberately taking advantage of them. She stormed off, cursing Xia Chunmei to death in her heart.

Xia Chunmei knew that Jin was definitely scolding her; people like her always blamed others for not getting any advantage.

If she had honestly bought and paid for the items, Xia Chunmei might have been able to remind her and help her avoid an accident.

But now…!

Heh, it's none of my business.

Not long after Jin left, Xia Chunmei sold out of fish, earning 520 coins.

Xia Qiumei and Xia Dongmei, along with Yaomei, guarded the supplies they had bought. Xia Chunmei wandered around the market again and spent eight coins to buy a bunch of pickled cabbage. Dongmei had never eaten pickled cabbage fish before, and every time she heard Qiumei say how delicious it was, her mouth would water.

But this girl is sensible and knows that her family is poor. Even though she is very hungry, she never asks Xia Chunmei to buy sauerkraut to make sauerkraut fish.

The sauerkraut weighed more than half a pound. Xia Chunmei planned to save half to cook fish tomorrow and use the other half to stir-fry pork belly today.

When they returned, there were fewer people, because Aunt Lihua, Chen Jinlian, and others had all gone back to their parents' homes for the festival.

Xia Huohua helped Xia Chunmei bring back all the items she had purchased.