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As Shen Zhuo learned about Ye Xin’s plan to sell vegetables, the night before their trip to town, he asked if they should pick the vegetables early to ensure they wouldn’t run out of time.
“No, we need them fresh, so I’ll pick them in the morning,” Ye Xin replied confidently. “You don’t need to worry; just check the bike.”
With that, Shen Zhuo reluctantly set off to inspect the bicycle. It had been a month since he last rode it, and it needed a little air.
After checking the bike, he took out the old scale from their home. It had been bought by his late father and was mainly used for weighing herbs—helping them keep track of what they had gathered and dried. They also used it to weigh meat and grains to ensure they weren’t getting shortchanged. It was still usable after a good cleaning, which saved them from buying a new one.
Seeing him with the scale, Ye Xin approached and asked how to use it. She had noticed that this type of scale was common, even at the herbal shop, and she wanted to learn.
Shen Zhuo patiently explained, “The large scale measures one pound, and the smaller one measures one ounce. It can weigh up to six pounds. Just take your time to find balance when weighing—don’t let the weight fall on your foot!”
It wasn’t too complicated, and Ye Xin grasped it quickly.
The next morning, before dawn, both of them were awake. Shen Zhuo grabbed a bamboo basket to head out to the vegetable garden, but Ye Xin stopped him. “I’ll go; I know the garden well,” she insisted, taking the basket from him. “You should prepare breakfast.”
Reluctantly, Shen Zhuo headed to the kitchen to start the fire and cook. It was still quite early, with the backyard shrouded in darkness and the sounds of insects making the mountain village eerily quiet.
Ye Xin yawned and mumbled, “Up earlier than a pig,” then listened for sounds from the kitchen before slipping into her space.
Once inside, it was brightly lit. She hurried into the vegetable garden, picking an array of vegetables: mustard greens, cabbage, water spinach, eggplant, cucumbers, carrots, chili peppers, peas, and tomatoes.
She had to be cautious, keeping an ear out for any sounds outside, feeling a bit like a thief in the night.
Meanwhile, Shen Zhuo was washing rice and getting the fire ready when he stepped outside with a kerosene lamp. He was surprised to see that Ye Xin had already filled a basket with vegetables.
Before he could set down the lamp to help, Ye Xin handed him two eggplants. “Take these back and cook them with lots of oil and some pickled vegetables for breakfast,” she instructed.
“But the rice isn’t ready yet. I’ll help you pick,” Shen Zhuo protested.
“I can handle it,” Ye Xin replied. “You don’t know which vegetables are ready to pick. Why don’t you double-check what we need to take? We can’t forget anything.”
With no argument left, Shen Zhuo returned to the house. He went through the herbs, checked the scale and bicycle, and prepared a backpack. He even pulled out some straw for good measure. By the time the water was boiling, he had already cooked the rice, washed the pot, and chopped the vegetables.
Meanwhile, Ye Xin continued her harvest in the garden, eager to make the most of this rare trip to town. She aimed to collect as many vegetables as possible to sell for extra money. However, in her enthusiasm, she ended up picking quite a lot—roughly seventy to eighty pounds!
Fortunately, she had built up some strength, and despite the weight, she could manage it. Still, her basket wasn’t large enough to hold everything. She quickly layered some of the heavier items like tomatoes, peas, and bitter melon at the bottom, covering them with wilted vegetable leaves to conceal them.
For any excess, she placed the remaining vegetables into Shen Zhuo’s backpack. The dried herbs were securely wrapped at the bottom, protected from moisture, and weighing them wouldn’t be an issue.
Both of them were determined to carry as many vegetables as they could to sell, so they prepared two backpacks—one for each.
Once Ye Xin finished packing her basket, Shen Zhuo announced breakfast was ready. They enjoyed fluffy, white rice paired with savory pickled vegetables and oil-braised eggplant, leaving them satisfied and ready to hit the road.
After Shen Zhuo rolled out the bicycle, Ye Xin handed him the backpack filled with herbs. “This one is heavier; you take it,” she said.
Without suspicion, Shen Zhuo hoisted it onto his back, adjusting it comfortably in front of him to make room for Ye Xin.
Holding onto herself, Ye Xin felt more at ease now, no longer awkward about their closeness. She adjusted the other backpack on her back, which threw her off balance, almost making her stumble. Quickly, she steadied herself and hopped onto the bicycle.
Shen Zhuo felt the weight shift on the back seat before she leaned against him, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist. A blush crept onto his face, making him feel a mix of fluster and warmth.
“Let’s go! We need to get to town quickly and grab a good spot!” she urged excitedly.
“Okay,” he replied, pushing off the ground and pedaling downhill.
At that moment, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and the air was thick with morning mist. As they sped through the fog, a cool breeze brushed against their faces, invigorating and refreshing. The narrow mountain paths were eerily quiet, and the grass beside the road was lush, with dew droplets sparkling in the dawn light.
Feeling a chill, Ye Xin pressed her cheek against Shen Zhuo’s back, absorbing the warmth radiating through his shirt. Suddenly, she felt a wave of tenderness wash over her. “Is this too heavy? I might have brought too many vegetables this time.”
Blushing from the sensation of her skin against his, Shen Zhuo replied softly, “Nope. I can handle it.”
Ye Xin chuckled lightly, “If you get tired, just tell me, and we can take a break.”
“But aren’t we in a hurry to secure our spot?” he countered.
“True, but I don’t want to wear you out,” she said, her words making him feel even sweeter inside, causing a smile to curl his lips.
Although it felt heavier than before, he was more physically capable now, able to keep pedaling without issue. Yet, he couldn’t shake the thought that her backpack might be overstuffed and wondered if he should switch with her. Ye Xin, of course, wouldn’t agree to that.
They set out before six o’clock and reached the town by around six-thirty, just as the first light broke through. As they approached the town entrance, they noticed it was still quiet, with only a handful of farmers gradually appearing from all directions. Some carried baskets, while others pushed wooden carts, all heading towards the western part of town. Clearly, it was the vendors who were up so early.
They hurried towards the bustling marketplace, where many familiar faces were already setting up stalls. This area had become a small farmer’s market, organically formed among the locals. In this time of planned economy, there were no strict rules or fees; it was simply a matter of first come, first served.
Most of the vendors were selling vegetables. Ye Xin spotted a gap between an elderly man selling green onions and a woman peddling pickled vegetables. She quickly darted over, dropping her backpack to claim the spot.
Once settled, she took a moment to catch her breath—it was indeed heavy!
Originally, she had planned to sell in the black market, but her last visit to the Chen brothers’ stall revealed that they didn’t deal in vegetables. She guessed that with an abundance of produce in summer, people wouldn’t need to resort to the black market for greens. Prices there might only rise in winter when vegetables were scarce. So, for now, selling here seemed like the best option.
The vendors on either side glanced at her wares but found no conflict, so they said nothing.
Shen Zhuo rolled his cart over and noticed beads of sweat forming on her forehead, feeling a pang of regret. “Your load is too heavy; you should have let me carry it.”
Wiping her brow, Ye Xin smiled brightly. “It’s fine! We made it here, didn’t we? Just put down the vegetables.”
Following her instructions, Shen Zhuo unloaded his backpack.
Ye Xin lent a hand, shaking out a tattered cloth that she laid on the ground, then began to arrange the fresh vegetables neatly on top. Finally, she retrieved the scale and waved him off. “Alright, you should go sell the herbs now!”
Shen Zhuo hesitated, surprised. “Aren’t we selling the vegetables together?”
“No need for that,” Ye Xin replied confidently. “I’ll manage here. You go take care of the other things and come back.”
He considered her words and agreed, slinging the backpack back on. As he turned to leave, he couldn’t shake his worry. “Do you know how to use the scale?”
Ye Xin smiled brightly, “I know how to use it now. You taught me last night, remember?” She wanted to keep him away a little longer, so she added quietly, “I noticed you and Dr. Xu seem to be pretty close. Why not ask him about the training program? He lives in town and probably knows more than we do.”
Shen Zhuo nodded thoughtfully and, with a backpack full of herbs, he pushed his cart away.
As soon as he left, Ye Xin rubbed her sore shoulders, then pulled out the fresh vegetables from the top of her backpack, revealing the heavier melons, eggplants, and beans beneath.
Just then, a woman selling pickled vegetables on her right leaned over and exclaimed, “Wow, young lady! Your tomatoes look amazing!”
Ye Xin beamed at her, “I just picked them this morning! They’re super fresh. Would you like to buy a couple of pounds?”
The woman inspected the vegetables closely—bitter melons, cucumbers, eggplants, carrots—all vibrant and plump, even the leafy greens looked particularly lush and inviting. However, she shook her head. “Oh, I can’t buy anything yet. I need to sell some of my stuff first before I spend any money.”
Ye Xin nodded, turning back to organize her vegetables.
On her left, an old man selling green onions leaned over curiously and said, “These are really impressive! Did you grow these at home?”
Ye Xin smiled and nodded, choosing not to elaborate.
At that moment, a few shoppers passed by, drawn in by the sight of her fresh produce. One crouched down and asked, “How much are these tomatoes?”
Having already researched the local prices, Ye Xin confidently replied, “Tomatoes, eggplants, and peas are five cents a pound; bitter melons are three cents, and leafy greens are two cents.”
The customer frowned, “Isn’t that more expensive than others?”
Ye Xin replied cheerfully, “It is a bit pricier, but my vegetables are of much higher quality!”
The customer straightened up, saying, “That’s too expensive. I’ll check elsewhere.”
“Feel free to go! I’m not worried; I know my good produce will sell,” Ye Xin said with unwavering confidence.
As luck would have it, just as the customer was leaving, a woman appeared, holding a child’s hand. She looked at the vegetables and said without hesitation, “I’ll take two pounds of tomatoes and one pound of eggplant.”
“Sure thing!” Ye Xin’s spirits soared as she swiftly got to work on the scale.
In these times, the use of pesticides and fertilizers was still low, and there was no confusing packaging. Good vegetables stood out clearly; it was obvious when they were fresh and when they weren’t.
As more people stopped to buy, they quickly became curious, noticing how fresh and appealing Ye Xin’s vegetables were. Though the slightly higher prices deterred some, many were more than willing to pay a bit extra for quality.
“How many tomatoes do you have? Let’s see five!”
“I’ll take two eggplants, please.”
“Bitter melon is good for cooling off; give me two pounds…”
Ye Xin hurriedly weighed and calculated prices.
During her first experience selling, she felt a bit flustered at first, but as she got used to the scale, she quickly found her rhythm. The numbers flowed easily, and soon, vegetables were flying off the table, and cash was accumulating in her hands.
The first items to sell out were the tomatoes, eggplants, and bitter melons. Most other vendors focused primarily on leafy greens, so even if they had tomatoes, they didn’t look nearly as good as Ye Xin’s.
She was delighted; for one, those were the heavier items, and for another, she wanted to clear out her stock before Shen Zhuo realized how much she had brought.
As her sales flourished, envious glances from neighboring vendors kept coming her way.
The woman selling pickled vegetables had initially hesitated at the prices but couldn’t resist the vibrant, plump tomatoes. Just as she was about to negotiate, they were gone! She slapped her thigh in frustration, exclaiming, “Oh no, they sold so fast!”
Ye Xin had only brought a few dozen pounds of vegetables, with each type in small quantities. Selling two pounds of this and two pounds of that made for quick sales. The tomatoes sold out first, followed by the eggplants, while the leafy greens—affordable and fresh—were also selling well.
When Shen Zhuo returned, a group of customers had just left. Ye Xin casually placed two handfuls of leafy greens on top of her remaining vegetables and greeted him, “You’re back?”
“Yeah,” Shen Zhuo said as he parked the cart and squatted beside her. “I made over nine bucks.”
Ye Xin nodded appreciatively. “Great! You should head to the supply store now for salt, sugar, and a kitchen knife…”
Shen Zhuo replied, “The supply store isn’t open yet. Let’s finish selling the vegetables first.”
Ye Xin slapped her forehead and said, “Then just wander around here and see if you can find any vendors selling eggs or duck eggs. Buy them if you see any. I can handle selling the veggies—I’ve already moved quite a bit!”
Seeing that she was doing well, Shen Zhuo stood up obediently and went off to hunt for the prized eggs.
Ye Xin continued selling, and soon the bitter melons and peas were sold out, leaving only a few carrots, cucumbers, and chili peppers behind. She managed to sell a few more leafy greens as well.
Before long, Shen Zhuo returned with a bag of around twenty eggs.
“Too few!” Ye Xin exclaimed. “That’s not enough for us. Go look around some more; more villagers are setting up their stalls.”
Shen Zhuo complied and took off again, eventually returning with another bag of eggs and a bag of duck eggs.
By then, Ye Xin had sold most of her vegetables, but a little remained. “The supply store is about to open! Go ahead while there are still fewer people. You won’t have to squeeze through the crowd.”
Shen Zhuo shot her a slightly annoyed glance but complied and left again.
By the time he returned from the supply store, Ye Xin had finally sold all her vegetables. She exhaled in relief and began packing up the scale and the leftover scraps into her backpack. As she counted the crumpled coins, her eyes widened in disbelief.
She had sold dozens of pounds of vegetables but only earned a little over two bucks?!
This was not how she envisioned it!
Her produce was so fresh!
She worked so hard!
But after some mental calculations, it seemed like that was all she could get…
With tears of frustration welling up in her eyes, Ye Xin realized that no matter the era, making money was an uphill battle.
The old couple nearby watched with envy. For them, selling a few dimes was a good day’s work, while this young girl managed to sell two bucks’ worth in such a short time. To them, it was remarkable—though they felt only admiration, not jealousy, since Ye Xin’s customers also helped their own business.
“Wow, young lady, you’re closing up so early! No need to endure the whole day,” one of them remarked.
“You’ve grown some good produce; no wonder it sold out so fast!” the other added.
Ye Xin quickly composed her expression and politely replied, “I’m off now. Wishing you both prosperous sales!”
Shen Zhuo asked, “Shall we head to the post office now?”
Ye Xin nodded. “Yes, to send a letter.”
Thinking it over, she realized that while making money was challenging, prices in this era were relatively low. Two bucks could buy quite a lot. It just seemed inadequate compared to the expenses she had to cover.
Selling vegetables wasn’t exactly a high-profit business either. Her first experience selling had gone surprisingly smoothly; she needed to be grateful for that.