Zhao Yougui thought for a moment and realized that she would definitely regret carrying such a heavy load and would walk back to catch the bus herself.

He waited for what felt like an eternity, until Yuan Doudou's figure disappeared from sight, before he finally believed that this girl was stubborn and simply wouldn't do it.

Zhao Yougui looked around but saw no one coming. He shook his head, sighed, and drove off.

After walking for a short while, I caught up with Yuan Doudou at the bend in the road. She strode forward, her feet barely touching the ground.

"Girl, come on up, I won't give you extra money." Zhao Yougui grinned, looking quite embarrassed.

Yuan Doudou heard the sound of horses' hooves behind her early in the morning. Her legs were sore from walking, but she still forced herself to speed up and keep going.

She pretended not to care, raising her eyebrows. "You're not trying to trick me, are you? You'll try to charge me more when we get there, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yougui's face turned bright red. "Miss, how could I be such a person? Don't worry, if I really did that, you can report me at the post station."

He was an employee of the post station and was under the management of the post station staff.

Yuan Doudou frowned and sighed, "Alright, I'll sit down then."

Zhao Yougui happily got out of the car, took out a foot pedal and put it on the ground for Yuan Doudou to step on.

Yuan Doudou thought it was strange that she hadn't received this treatment last time she rode in the car. When she got on the car and found it empty, she suddenly realized what was going on.

For ten coins, you get a chartered car service, which does seem like taking advantage of the situation. When you get off the car, Yuan Doudou grits her teeth and gives Zhao Yougui twelve coins, saying, "I'll give you the extra two coins for tea."

Zhao Yougui took the money with trembling hands, both surprised and delighted, his eyes reddening with emotion.

"Miss Yuan, from now on, we won't let you be without a car, no matter who else is without one." Zhao Yougui made this solemn promise, making it hard not to believe him.

Yuan Doudou responded indifferently, nodding a few times as a reply.

She asked Zhao Yougui, "Where there are many people and it's lively?" and then she carried the bundle of straw to that place.

From the post station to the market, you have to walk through a street and three or four intersections. When you arrive, the sun has just risen, and the sunlight shines on the alley entrance, enveloping you in a sense of tranquility.

"Young lady, what are you carrying?" An older woman wearing a blue cloth skirt and blue coarse linen pants asked curiously.

There are vendors selling candied hawthorns in town, but this looks much smaller than candied hawthorns.

Yuan Doudou greeted with a smile, "Auntie, these are strawberry candied hawthorns, would you like a skewer?"

On her way here, she had inquired about the price of candied hawthorn skewers, which were five coins a skewer, and she planned to sell them for six coins.

Behind the old woman stood a little boy, his eyes filled with longing; he wanted to try this different kind of candied hawthorn.

"Grandma, I want to eat! Buy me some." The boy tugged at his grandmother's sleeve and swayed her from side to side, which melted her heart.

She only has one grandson, and it's not like her family can't afford these little trinkets; they're still novelties.

How much does it cost?

“Six coins a string,” Yuan Doudou said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the old lady immediately took out her money and bought a skewer.

Yuan Doudou was secretly delighted; the old lady didn't even haggle, she was so straightforward.

Holding the warm copper coin in her hand, Yuan Doudou's eyes were filled with a smile.

Before coming here, she was a student who asked her family for money every month. This was the first time she had earned money on her own, and Yuan Doudou couldn't contain her excitement.

"Grandma, it's so delicious, I want more!" The little boy finished eating and pulled his grandma to walk back.

When Yuan Doudou saw them return, she knew that the little boy had taken a liking to the taste of wild berries, and said kindly, "Auntie, if you buy a lot, I can give you a discount."

The old lady, at her wits' end with her grandson's persistent pestering, asked helplessly, "How much do I need to buy for a discount?"

"Buy five skewers and get one free." Yuan Doudou held up five fingers.

People walking on the main road heard this and swarmed over, saying, "Girl, how much is a skewer? Give me five."

"Six coins."

Some people dispersed immediately upon hearing the price, leaving behind a few well-dressed individuals who pondered the matter for a while, remaining hesitant and uncertain.

“Mine tastes much better than candied hawthorn berries. You can try it if you don’t believe me,” Yuan Doudou said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll try it before I buy it." Why not give it a try?

Yuan Doudou took a bunch of wild berries, used the small knife she carried with her to cut off one, and handed it out.

There were five or six people in total, and each person got one. Those who tasted it showed surprise in their eyes.

"What kind of fruit is this? It tastes pretty good. Give me five skewers." Thirty coins can get you six skewers, which is the same price as hawthorn, but tastes better.

"Okay, come back when you're done eating." Yuan Doudou quickly handed over six bunches of wild berries while taking the man's money.

Five or six people, three bought five skewers, and three bought one skewer.

Seeing that the wild berries on the bundle of grass were dwindling, the old woman panicked and quickly bought five bunches.

"Young lady, I see there's something else in your basket?" the old woman asked curiously, craning her neck.

Yuan Doudou quickly took out a cloth bag, turned the basket over, placed it on the ground, put the cloth bag on the bottom of the basket, untied the cloth bag, and revealed the golden fried oyster mushrooms.

"Wow, Grandma, what is this? It looks delicious!" The little boy's mouth watered at the aroma.

"Little friend, these are fried oyster mushrooms. Try them, and if you like them, you can buy more." Yuan Doudou picked up a oyster mushroom with her chopsticks and handed it to the little boy.

The old woman thought that if her grandson tried a bite and didn't like it, he would obediently leave.

Who knew?

After finishing his meal, the little boy grabbed his grandmother's hand and refused to leave, insisting that she buy him more.

"Auntie, fried oyster mushrooms are delicious and affordable. You can buy a little and heat them up at home; they taste even better that way," Yuan Doudou persuaded the old lady, suggesting she consider her a major customer.

"How much?" the old woman asked, frowning.

"Three for one coin, buy ten coins and get three free." Yuan Doudou had just tasted the sweetness of the deal, so the more she bought, the more she got freebies, which was useful everywhere.

Another ten coins would have to be spent, the old woman sighed inwardly.

"Girl, give me ten coins' worth too." The person who had just bought a bunch of wild berries turned around and came back.

"Okay, I'll wrap them up for you." Yuan Doudou tried her best to speed up. Each oil paper package contained thirty-three pieces. She thought that next time she would wrap them at home and then bring them out to sell.

Most of the people who came later bought both. When the lunch service was about to end, Yuan Doudou saw that there were still some left, so she changed the promotion plan: buy a bunch of wild berries and get three fried oyster mushrooms for free.

Soon, both items were sold out.

Yuan Doudou carried the empty bundle of straw towards the post station.

"Miss, please wait."