What she needs are furniture that can be integrated into ordinary life; they are simple, practical, yet warm.
After careful selection, her shopping list finally included: a sturdy wooden bed, a slightly mottled but still stable table, a few simple stools, and a wardrobe with scratches on the surface but in good structure.
She believes that these are enough to meet daily needs without appearing out of place.
"Grandpa Qian, these are the ones I've chosen. Please help me calculate the total amount I should pay."
Grandpa Qian originally thought that she would choose the best items, but he never expected that she only preferred those old objects that had been weathered by the wind, and even favored the table that looked shaky but was extremely sturdy.
It's really hard to guess what this girl is thinking.
The sun shines obliquely on the narrow old street, and a brand new and shiny bicycle is parked quietly on the side, forming a sharp contrast with the vicissitudes of life on the surrounding second-hand stalls.
Xu Qinghe stood in front of a pile of seemingly insignificant old items, and her choice made Qian Ming next to her curious.
"Why are you picking out these bad ones? There are so many good ones in there, take a closer look."
Qian Ming reminded him kindly, with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Xu Qinghe smiled slightly, his eyes gentle but firm, as if he saw value in these shabby things that others had not noticed.
"These are enough. My husband is often not at home, and keeping too many nice things at home will only lead to gossip."
When Grandpa Qian heard this, a hint of surprise flashed across his old face, and his brows were full of disbelief that the young woman was married.
"Girl, are you married?"
Xu Qinghe nodded gently, her eyes gleaming with the sweetness of a newlywed couple, "Yeah, it wasn't long ago!"
Her answer was simple, yet filled with happiness.
These words were like a gust of wind, blowing away the joy that had just risen in Old Man Song's heart. He had thought that Xu Qinghe might be the ideal candidate for his future grandson's wife, but now it seemed that everything was just his wishful thinking.
Qian Ming, on the other hand, acted calm and composed. It was only their second meeting and there was no deep friendship between them. He was more concerned with how to increase his income and those romantic matters seemed far away from him.
He nodded in agreement. "Clean these things up and apply a coat of tung oil. They'll look as good as new."
Xu Qinghe nodded repeatedly after hearing this, laughing crisply, "Haha, that's what I meant too!"
Then, she frowned slightly, looking troubled. "It's just that I picked too many things today. I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to carry them all home by myself. How about this? I'll pay first, and let my husband help move tomorrow. What do you think?"
As she spoke, she raised her head, looked earnestly at Old Man Song, and asked, "Grandpa Qian, how much do you think is a reasonable amount to take for this pile?"
Old Man Song looked at the pile of messy old things in front of him, his eyes filled with helplessness and kindness.
If she had chosen those in good condition, he would have been able to easily quote a price, but these old and shabby items made him feel at a loss for a moment, and he didn't know how to start the conversation.
Qian Ming was just about to suggest that they just do a favor and give it away for free, but Xu Qinghe's previous concerns flashed through his mind, so he tactfully remained silent and waited for his grandfather's decision.
After a moment, Old Man Song finally spoke, his words revealing a bit of open-mindedness and kindness: "For good luck, just give me six dollars. If you need anything in the future, come back and I won't charge you any more."
Xu Qinghe's heart was filled with gratitude. He quickly counted out six coins and handed them to Old Man Song with both hands, thanking him repeatedly: "Thank you so much! Next time I come, I'll bring you some homemade snacks!"
Buying so much for six dollars, and with future discounts, Xu Qinghe knew he had gotten a great deal.
Considering the family bond between Old Man Song and Qian Ming, as well as the possibility of frequent interactions in the future, Xu Qinghe did not feel any psychological burden about this. Instead, he felt a sense of closeness and peace of mind.
Seeing Xu Qinghe pay the bill promptly and with such a kind attitude, Old Man Song liked her even more. "Don't bother your husband. My cart happens to be empty. Xiao Ming, please take it back for her."
Anyway, my grandson came home early today, so this little thing was not a difficult task for him. Instead, it was an opportunity to deepen the relationship with neighbors.
Qian Ming's thoughts coincided with his grandfather's, and he said readily, "That's right, this cart will come in handy. I'll help you move these furniture back safely. This little bit of hard work is nothing."
Xu Qinghe pondered for a moment, and a look of approval flashed in her eyes. She thought that the only bicycle in the house, even with Yin Yunjie's strength, would not be able to bear such a heavy load. Delivering the goods directly to the door would undoubtedly be more convenient and worry-free.
"Thank you so much for your kind help, little brother!"
Her voice was gentle and contained a hint of sincere gratitude.
"Don't be so polite. Compared to the big problem you helped me solve earlier, this little thing is really insignificant. Your idea has made my small business flourish a lot. I was just thinking about when I could thank you properly!"
Qian Ming's words were full of sincerity.
As he was talking, Qian Ming had already quickly and skillfully moved the selected furniture one by one onto the cart and tied them up carefully.
His agility and skillful techniques clearly showed that this was a daily routine for him.
Xu Qinghe's eyes lit up with interest when he mentioned business. "Really? That's great. But the weather's getting hotter, and eating melon seeds can easily cause a sore throat. If you have a wide network of contacts, perhaps you could consider selling popsicles and sodas at movie theaters or in front of schools. They're guaranteed to be a big seller."
Qian Ming was stunned for a moment when he heard this, wondering why Xu Qinghe would make such a specific suggestion.
He knew that this was undoubtedly an excellent business opportunity, but the friendship between them did not seem to be that deep. They were just a chance acquaintance. Why would Xu Qinghe take the initiative to come up with such an idea for him?
Moreover, in the current strict economic policy environment, individual business is still in a gray area, and Qian Ming himself is often ridiculed as a typical example of "speculation and profiteering."
Not only did Xu Qinghe not avoid this point, but he also generously gave him advice, which made him feel a little suspicious.
"That's a brilliant idea, but I'm curious why you didn't do it yourself instead of telling me."
Qian Ming pushed the cart forward steadily as he spoke, without looking back at Xu Qinghe. It seemed as if there was something else behind his words that was profound and meaningful.
Xu Qinghe heard this and smiled with a hint of mystery, "I am naturally eager to try it myself, but the time is not right yet."
She temporarily suppressed the idea of wanting to cooperate deeply with Qian Ming, knowing that she was not yet fully prepared. Proposing cooperation at this time would inevitably seem empty and powerless. The right way was to wait until the time was ripe and win recognition with actual achievements.
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