"Madam, it weighs 72 jin in total. I'll charge you 70 wen."

The old lady was a little hunchbacked; even when she stood up straight, she still looked slightly hunched over.

Despite his advanced age, his eyes were not cloudy, but shone with a vibrant light.

He has a kind face.

Carrying dozens of kilograms of peaches, Yan Xia walked all morning and only sold them for 70 coins, yet she was so happy. This reminded her of her past self.

Aren't they also just barely surviving on a salary of 3,500 yuan?

"Auntie, how many peaches do you still have on your tree?"

Yan Xia wasn't in a hurry to pay; she planned to have the old lady supply the goods on a long-term basis.

"Oh dear, that's hard to say. I've only picked about 30% of this batch of peaches. The ones I sell to you, plus the ones I eat at home, will only weigh less than 100 jin."

"Okay, then I'll take all these peaches. As long as you can guarantee that the peaches taste the same as today's, it's fine. When the next batch is ripe, just bring them directly to my shop. My shop is on the street to the right, called Yan's Pastry Shop. It'll still be the same price as today, so you won't have to dry them in the sun here. Here's the money for today, and the rest can be considered a deposit."

Yan Xia immediately pulled out a string of coins.

One string of cash is exactly 100 coins.

"Oh dear, no, I can't accept a deposit, madam. Just give me the money for today, and I'll deliver it to your shop next time, then you can pay me back."

The old woman hurriedly declined.

He simply refused to accept it.

“Auntie, I was just worried you might break your promise. Consider the remaining 30 coins as a deposit. From now on, you can just call me Xia Xia. My shop isn’t far from here. It’s the second shop on the next street. Here, take it. We’re here to do long-term business. By the way, what’s your surname, Auntie?”

Hearing this, the old woman cautiously accepted the money.

“You can just call me Aunt Tao. My husband passed away a few years ago, and the villagers don’t call me Ma Wangshi anymore. My name has the character ‘Tao’ in it, and I love peaches. The four peach trees in my house were planted by my husband. So everyone in the village calls me Aunt Tao. You can call me that too. Xia, is Yan your husband’s surname? Your husband is so capable.”

Aunt Tao was intimidated when she heard Yan Xia mention the shop.

A pastry shop looks like it makes a lot of money.

Her family can only buy the cheapest osmanthus cake from Zhouji during the Chinese New Year to satisfy their cravings.

That osmanthus cake is so sweet and delicious, but a bag costs 28 coins, which is shockingly expensive. You could buy so much meat with that money.

It's only for the sake of the children at home that I can be so ruthless.

“I’m divorced. Yan is my surname. You can also call me Yan Shi. My given name is Xia. Okay, Aunt Tao, I’ll go across the street to buy some steamed buns. I’ll carry them to the shop in the bamboo basket later. I can’t carry these peaches anyway, so I’ll just show you the way.”

Yan Xia had just ignored how she carried so many peaches back and was still giving directions to Aunt Tao, afraid that she wouldn't be able to find them next time.

It's so hot I'm going crazy.

"Okay, go buy it, I'll wait for you here."

Aunt Tao said with a smile.

Yan Xia walked a few steps and saw a steamed bun stall across the street. It was too hot, so she didn't want to eat meat. She bought four vegetarian steamed buns for herself and two meat buns and one vegetarian bun for her daughter and daughter-in-law.

She has a larger appetite.

Eat one more steamed bun.

After paying, Yan Xia walked back to Aunt Tao's side.

She put the buns into the bamboo basket.

Once you pick up the carrying pole, you'll need to carry a bamboo basket.

"Oh dear, that won't do. I'll choose. There's no reason to let the guests do it themselves."

Aunt Tao quickly snatched the carrying pole.

Yan Xia looked at Aunt Tao in front of her. She was as thin as a dried-up human body, and her old hands were covered with a layer of wrinkled skin. Her fingernails were full of black marks that could not be washed off. It was obvious that she had been doing farm work for a long time. How could she let an old lady who looked almost 60 years old carry bamboo baskets? Anyway, she was strong.

This amount of peaches is about the same as a bottle of mineral water.

"It's alright, ma'am. I'm strong. If you keep being so polite, I'll melt in the sun. Let's go quickly."

Yan Xia smiled and propped up the carrying pole.

They easily picked out the peaches and left.

"Wow, you're really strong. You look so skinny, but you can do so much work."

Aunt Tao muttered under her breath.

She's beautiful, kind-looking, capable, runs a shop, and is very strong. Xia's ex-husband must have been out of his mind to divorce her.

If that were her son, he'd break his legs.

Seeing that Yan Xia was walking very fast, Aunt Tao stopped being in a daze.

Hurry up and catch up.

Walk around the river and into another street.

It only took two minutes to get to my shop.

"Xiaohe, bring a few bamboo baskets. Mother bought a lot of peaches. Call Guihua and Lamei to come out and help us take the peaches inside."

She carried the bamboo basket into the shop.

Xiaohe was standing behind the table, guarding the shop.

"Yes, I'll go right now."

The daughter-in-law had just lifted the curtain and gone to the backyard.

Yan Xia then saw Aunt Tao standing trembling outside the shop.

"Come in, Aunt Tao, let me get you some water."

A kettle and cups were placed on the table, to be poured for the customers in line.

It was the height of summer.

They are prone to heatstroke and must drink plenty of water.

She guessed that Aunt Tao probably didn't get a single sip of water on her way from the village to the town, since she hadn't seen Aunt Tao bring a water cup.

"No, no need. I'm dirty, don't get your shop dirty. I'll just stand outside."

Yan Xia simply helped Aunt Tao inside.

“Where is it dirty, Aunt Tao? You’re very clean.”

Although Aunt Tao had dark skin, her old, faded clothes were spotless.

Even the patches are completely clean.

Including the peaches, each one was washed until it shone.

"Come on, sit down and rest for a while, and have a glass of cool water to quench your thirst."

Yan Xia pulled her to sit on a bench and poured her a large glass of water.

"Gulp gurgle—"

Aunt Tao took the water and drank it all in one gulp.

They must be really thirsty.

"Manager Yan, can you finish eating so many peaches? These peaches don't keep for long. They're all overripe. You'll have to eat them in six or seven days at most."

She was a little worried.

Could it be that Manager Yan took pity on her and bought all the peaches?

Wouldn't that be a waste of her money? The peaches will rot and she'll have to throw them away. What a pity!

"It's alright, I'm using it to make pastries. I'll have enough to use, so just keep sending it to me."

Yan Xia offered an explanation.

These peaches can be made into seasonal flavors.

It should sell out in about seven days.

Even if they don't sell out, they can be made into peach jam and used to make other desserts.

There is no such thing as an inexhaustible supply.

"That's good. I'm relieved. The next batch of peaches will ripen in five or six days. Once two baskets are full, I'll bring them to you, Manager Yan."

Aunt Tao dared not call Xia Xia anymore.

The title was changed to Manager Yan.

Yan Xia didn't correct her; let her call her whatever she wanted.

"OK."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the peach was moved away.

The two bamboo baskets were empty.

"Then I'll go find my youngest son first. See you later, Manager Yan. I wish you booming business."