Chapter 4: Making Money
“Dang—dang—dang—”
At 8 o'clock in the morning, Tian Xin was sleeping soundly when someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it! Disturbing my sweet dream——" She muttered, yawned, and turned over and fell asleep again!
"Xinxin, get up!" Mom called out at the door, "Didn't you say you were going to the county today? It's almost 8 o'clock, and there won't be any cars soon!"
8 o'clock?
Damn it!
It’s too late!
She quickly turned over and sat up, picked up her clothes and put them on. She had something important to do today, and if she was late she would be too late!
Now that I had my acceptance letter, it meant I could go to college! But my family was still broke. Xiaoxu was about to start elementary school, but he was still wearing his old clothes. I had to get him some new clothes so he could go to elementary school clean.
So, she has to make money!
Their village, Xiaowan, is located in the northwest, where the land is arid and barren, and they can only grow relatively drought-resistant crops like peppercorns. With no water, they rely on the weather for their livelihoods, and most families are very poor.
Ever since her father passed away, her mother has been busy running the household errands alone. They don't have much peppercorns, and the family is extremely poor.
If you want to make money, there are only two ways: either work or do business!
She had no extra time and wanted to make money quickly, so she had to do business.
This wasn't difficult for her; she had plenty of experience from her previous life. The only problem was that she didn't even have the capital... which was embarrassing!
After much thought, she could only find inspiration from her family's orchard.
She was busy until midnight last night and finally prepared for her first business!
After a quick wash and breakfast, about ten minutes later, she was wearing a loose cotton shirt, black pants, cloth shoes, and a straw hat on her head! She set off with a basket on her shoulder!
The weather was hot, and she was going to the farmers' market in the county town. What she was selling today was something special. She placed her basket in a shady spot, took out some samples and set them aside, then began to shout at the top of her voice:
"Come, come, take a look, the sweet 'dates with walnuts'—"
"Purely handmade autumn pear paste, specially for treating children's coughs! Don't miss it if you pass by -"
The farmers' market was bustling with people at this hour, rushing to buy vegetables. After a few calls, a passing woman was drawn in: "What is jujube with walnuts?"
"This is it." She pointed at the contents of the box. "These dates have been pitted and drizzled with honey. They're very sweet. Try some first."
She was working hard to introduce the food to the old lady and giving her some samples, and people soon gathered around her.
"How is it?" She waited for the aunt to give her evaluation.
"Sweet!" the old lady asked, "How do you sell it?"
"3 yuan per pound!" she responded quickly.
"Oh!" Everyone shook their heads: "It's a bit expensive!"
The old lady stuffed the half-eaten date in her hand into her mouth and said vaguely: "Cheaper, I will buy it if it is cheaper!"
How can this be cheaper?
In my previous life, this stuff sold for dozens of yuan per pound, okay? Although the current prices are not that high, but honey is expensive!
She begged the village beekeeper to buy it on credit. If she can't sell it, she'll be screwed!
What should I do? I can't just leave it here, right?
"Buy two pounds and get half a pound free. Buy three pounds and get one pound free. The more you buy, the more you get. We also have autumn pear paste, which moistens the lungs and relieves coughs. Children can drink it to prevent coughs."
She made up her mind and decided to sell them first. After all, the dates and pears were from her own family. She didn't spend any money, so it didn't matter if she made less profit!
The old lady took a look and said: "If you can make it cheaper, I will buy it, otherwise I won't want it!" Then she turned around and was about to leave!
Haha, this routine is so fresh!
But if it were any cheaper, all her efforts would be in vain!
"I can't sell it cheaper, Auntie. I can't sell it any cheaper. I'm basically losing money. Please give me some money for the labor!"
The old lady didn't show any mercy. Seeing that she was not cheap, she turned around and walked away! What was funny was that the old lady walked very slowly and looked back every few steps, as if she was waiting for her to change her mind.
She smiled, sighed, shook her head, and continued shouting!
There were some people gathered in front of the stall, some of them were ready to make a move, but no one was leading the effort.
She didn't care and continued, "Come, take a look, take a look, fresh dates——"
"Give me a pound!"
She was shouting loudly when she suddenly heard someone shouting above her head.
Is this... opening soon?
Ah! Namo Amitabha!
A living Bodhisattva has appeared in the world? What a good person!
She quickly raised her head and saw a young man squeezed in front of the crowd and said again with a smile: "Give me a pound!"
The young man looked about her age, but he was a head taller than her. He had delicate features and a clean complexion. His casual sportswear made his legs look so long that he looked like he was all legs from the neck down. He looked… pretty good!
Seeing that Tian Xin didn't respond, he said softly again: "Give me a pound!"
"Oh, okay!"
She responded quickly, picked up the scale and weighed the dates for the young man.
When the people around saw someone taking the lead, others immediately followed suit, saying, "I'll take one pound too!" or "I want two pounds, you have to give me half a pound!"
"No problem, wait a moment, I'll do it one by one!" She happily got busy: Done!
Seeing her frantic, the young man squatted down to help her hold the bag: "Don't panic! I'm not in a hurry. Give it to someone else first and take your time!"
His voice was soft and gentle. Tian Xin, who was always impatient, suddenly calmed down when she heard him say that. She slowed down and carefully put the dates into the bag.
The two people were only a few inches apart, and she smelled a faint minty fragrance, which seemed to be the scent of the young man.
She looked at her hand and carefully moved it aside, afraid of accidentally touching him.
"What are you doing? Who asked you to set up a stall here?"
The two were busy weighing dates for everyone when a "yellow-haired gangster" suddenly mixed in with the crowd and asked her for protection money: "You are setting up a stall here without paying, who gives you the courage!" As he said that, he was about to grab Tian Xin's basket.
"What are you doing?" Tian Xin pushed away the yellow-haired man's hand and said, "What money do you want?"
"Don't worry about the money, just give it to me! If you pay me, I'll leave immediately. If you don't..." He tilted his mouth: "Just wait!"
"Get lost!" Tian Xin said coldly and concisely, then continued to weigh the dates with her head down.
Neuropathy!
Seeing that she ignored him, Huangmao got angry all of a sudden: "Do you know who I am? Did you set up a stall here with my permission?"
"I don't know, and I don't want to know. I've already told the market! Whoever you want is yours!" She weighed the dates for the young man, handed them to him with both hands, and said softly, "Take them!"
"It's okay, give it to someone else first!" The young man said, pushing back the dates that Tian Xin handed over: "I'm not in a hurry!"
"It's okay, it's the same. You take it first and I'll weigh it for them!" Tian Xin insisted on giving it to him first. After all, it was the first order after opening the store, so she had to give it to him first.
"Hey, I think you're really brave. You dare to talk to me like that?" Huang Mao saw the two of them pushing and shoving each other, not taking him seriously at all. He was so angry that he grabbed the bag she handed to the young man and threw it to the ground, and the round dates fell to the ground.
Ahsi!
Tian Xin couldn't hold back her anger any longer!
“Give me…”
"Don't worry about him, this bag is mine. You continue with your work, I'll help you!" The young man pushed Tian Xin to calm her down!
That’s right, we finally opened the business, we can’t let this brat mess it up!
She gritted her teeth and continued to squat down and weigh dates for others with the young man.
But just as she held back, the yellow-haired guy started to get angry: "Hey, who's talking to you? Say something back!"
She ignored him and continued weighing the dates.
"Hey, I'm talking to you! Are you deaf? Get up and speak!" The yellow-haired man kicked the basket.
ah! ! !
What does the saying go?
It happens once or twice, but not three or four times, right?
If you keep holding it in any longer, your lungs will explode!
Tian Xin gritted her teeth, put down the scale, and said to the young man with a smile: "Wait a moment! I'll be back soon!"
He turned around with a changed expression, grabbed the yellow-haired man's collar and walked out: "Get out of here before I get angry--" and then pushed him out of the market door.
"Sorry!" Tian Xin returned to the stall and grabbed another bag of dates. This time, she handed it over without weighing it: "I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. This is for you. No charge. Let's go!"
The young man didn't leave. He took the dates and handed them to another person who had been waiting for a long time and was already shouting that he was leaving: "I'm not in a hurry. Give it to someone else first!"
"This..." Tian Xin was a little embarrassed: "Alas..."
"It's okay, you go ahead and do your thing! I..."
"How dare you touch me? I think you are tired of living..."
Before the young man could finish his words, the yellow-haired man came back and walked towards Tian Xin, shouting all the way. It looked like he would not give up until he got the money today.
Tian Xin was so angry that she was about to explode when the yellow-haired man suddenly cried out in pain: "Ah! Ah! Ah! Let go, let go, let go, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts."
The young man probably couldn't stand it anymore, so he grabbed the yellow-haired man's arm and twisted it and walked out: "Hurry up and leave, don't disturb others doing business!"
"I think you're looking for death, aren't you?" The yellow-haired man was even arrested, but he was still shouting. Not only did he not restrain himself, he also kept kicking the young man.
This bastard has to be taught a lesson. Tian Xin put down the scale and slowly rolled up her sleeves.
A customer who had been waiting for a long time was a little unhappy when he saw her leave: "Are you still selling or not? If not, I'm leaving!"
"Yes, weigh it for me quickly, I'm in a hurry to leave." The crowd shouted!
The young man glanced at Tian Xin and said, "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of him! You just go about your business!"
"How can this be? It has nothing to do with you..."
"Don't panic!" the young man said softly, "Don't be impatient, take your time, everyone is waiting! You go ahead and do your thing, I'll take care of him!"
The words "Don't panic" calmed Tian Xin down. She glanced at the young man, whose eyes were gentle and without any impatience. The yellow-haired man was still shouting, and he grabbed the man and walked behind Tian Xin!
this……
"Thank you..." Tian Xin whispered a thank you to the young man from behind, turned around and got busy quickly!
More and more people gathered around her, and she worked non-stop. Soon, most of the things in the basket were gone. The crowd gradually dispersed, and she was the only one left.
"Ah! I finally made some money!" She looked at the stack of banknotes in her hand and smiled softly: "It's really not easy!"
The young man didn't know where he had gone with Huangmao. Did he leave?
The money has been paid, but he hasn't been given any dates? He even helped for most of the day!
Tian Xin felt a little guilty, so she looked around and saw two people in a corner.
This sight made her laugh out loud.
I’m really impressed! Hahahahaha…
The young man found a chair to sit on from somewhere, and the yellow-haired man squatted on the ground with his hands handcuffed behind his back like a pug, unable to move.
She quickly ran over and handed over a bag full of dates: "I'm so sorry to have troubled you for so long today!"
"It's okay, you go ahead and do your thing. I'm not in a hurry to leave now." The young man took the dates and put them on the chair without letting go of Huangmao.
"Hey, can you let me go? Can't I just leave?" The yellow-haired man twisted his arms and shouted.
"Want to leave now? No, you have to wait until she finishes selling!" The young man said, pulling the yellow-haired boy.
"Hey! No, no, big brothers and sisters, I was wrong. I won't bother her anymore. Please let me go! Okay?"
"Apologize!" the young man said to the yellow-haired girl with a serious face: "Apologize to her!"
"Sister! No, beautiful sister, I was wrong, I was really wrong, please let him let me go! I just wanted to find some money to spend, I didn't want to do anything to you."
"Looking for money? You're an adult with hands and feet, but you can't make money? You come here to look for money!" Tian Xin glared at him unhappily.
"I'm leaving now, tell him to let me go!"
"That won't work. What if he lets go and you cause me trouble again? What should I do?"
"I won't look for it anymore. I'm leaving. Is it okay if I leave?" Huangmao looked helpless.
"no!"
"So what do you want?"
"What do I want? You want some money, don't you? I'll give you a chance!"
"ah?"
"come over!"
Tian Xin waved her hand, and the yellow-haired man leaned over to her ear...
Five minutes later—
"Come, come, take a look, take a look, these are the fresh 'dates with walnuts'! Don't miss it if you pass by! Buy two pounds and get half a pound free, buy three pounds and get one pound free, buy more and get more free, come and have a look!" Huangmao was shouting with all his might!
“…” The young man glanced at Tian Xin and couldn’t help but turned his head and smiled.
"Um, what's your name? My living Bodhisattva..." Tian Xin asked with a smile, and almost called out the name of living Bodhisattva in her excitement!
"Lin Zhou!"
"Oh, Lin Zhou!" Tian Xin muttered softly, then immediately realized: "My name is Tian Xin, today... thank you!"
"You're welcome!"
"Well, I mean, I'll treat you to a meal later. Thank you for helping me out!"
"No need!" Lin Zhou said: "It's not easy for you either!"
"How about we have a meal together? I...well...don't like to owe favors to others. You helped me, so I must thank you! Otherwise, I will feel bad!" She smiled at him sincerely!
I really feel sorry!
"Can I go? I'm hungry too." asked Huangmao.
"What do you want to do? Hurry up and shout! We're having a sale now! Buy two pounds, get one free. Buy one pound, get autumn pear paste free. Don't miss this opportunity! Hurry!"
"..." Lin Zhou turned his head again, smiled for a while and turned back: "Tian Xin..."
"ah?"
"You...are quite humorous!"
“Ah… hehe…”
Life forces me! Life forces me!
The farmers' market was bustling with people, and Huangmao's shouting attracted many people to come and see. The two baskets of dates and autumn pear paste were quickly empty, so she packed up her things and closed up her stall.
The yellow-haired man was still being held captive by Lin Zhou, sitting there in a daze!
She walked over, picked up a bag of dates and handed it to Huangmao! She also handed him 5 yuan: "Here you go!"
"Please give me money, thank you! Can I come again in the future?" asked Huangmao.
"Tsk?" Before she could say anything, Lin Zhou glared at her: "Go away! Don't do this again!"
"Just go, why are you so fierce?" The yellow-haired man rolled his eyes at Lin Zhou, grinned at her, turned around and left!
"Well...thank you!" Lin Zhou stood up and raised the dates in his hand: "Then...I'll leave first!"
"Hey, don't!" She stood up and called him.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Didn't I promise to treat you to a meal?"
"No thanks!" Lin Zhou turned around, smiled slightly, and said softly: "You're welcome. It's not easy for a girl like you to come out. I'm just helping you. Don't take it to heart! Let's go!"
Without waiting for Tian Xin's response, he walked out of the market.
Tian Xin stared at the figure for a few seconds, then suddenly chased after him: "Hey! Lin Zhou——"
Lin Zhou turned around: "Huh?"
"Do you know if there's a store around here that sells dried fruits?"
“…”
Lin Zhou was stunned for a second, then quickly came to his senses: "I know... it's my... friend's house!"
"Could you please take me there?"
“…”
Lin Zhou didn't say anything, but turned back: "Uh...you want to..."
"Oh! It's like this." Tian Xin quickly explained to him: "I want to find a few dried fruit shops and take this to see if they will accept it. I... am going to school soon, and I want to help with the family income."
"Home use?" Lin Zhou frowned: "Then... I'll take you there to have a look!"
"Thanks!"
What a good person I met! "Living Bodhisattva" is absolutely right! Tian Xin looked at Lin Zhou who was helping her carry the basket and smiled slightly.
The shop Lin Zhou mentioned was very close to the farmers' market. The two explained their purpose to the owner, who, upon seeing the "dates with walnuts," immediately sensed a business opportunity and agreed on a price, allowing her to deliver the goods directly.
"Let's go, let's go eat, my dear!" After the two of them came out of the dried fruit shop, she said to Lin Zhou with a smile on her face: "Don't refuse!"
"A distinguished guest?" Lin Zhou was puzzled for a moment, then raised the corner of his mouth: "Just now it was... a living Bodhisattva, and now... another distinguished guest!" He smiled: "You really are very humorous!"
"We just met by chance, and yet you've helped me so much. If you're not a benefactor, what else could you be?" Tian Xin said, "I just prayed to the gods to let me open my shop as soon as possible. I hadn't even finished praying when you showed up!" She laughed and said, "Tell me, is this a living Bodhisattva? It's my first time making a wish and it came true!"
"Really?" Lin Zhou said with a smile: "Then... let's go!"
The two had a meal in a noodle restaurant, and Lin Zhou talked about how he was attending university in the ancient city and was about to start his junior year.
"Which university?" she asked.
"National Chiao Tung University!"
Is it... a classmate? It's such a small world!
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