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“It looks like you’re going to make a lot of money this time,” Su Jiu said, leaning on his chin and raising an eyebrow as he watched the people below.
“Yeah, we’ve already guessed that.” With Qian, the shopkeeper’s approach, not making money would be difficult.
The two of them leisurely watched from upstairs. The people below stood in a long queue, waiting. Once the shop opened, everyone rushed in, targeting the strawberries and vegetables.
One batch finished, then the next batch went in.
Qian, the Shopkeeper, and his assistants didn’t stop; they were busy and tired.
“Shopkeeper Qian, if there are no more strawberries, bring some more.” One of the stewards, seeing the strawberries running out, hurriedly urged.
“There are only so many strawberries today. Come early tomorrow,” Qian, the Shopkeeper, replied when the remaining people wanted to buy strawberries.
Hearing that there were only so many today, everyone’s faces turned dark. They expressed their frustration, saying, “If you have them, why not bring them out? Why hide them?”
Qian, the Shopkeeper, smiled and said, “This is what our young master said. Today, there are only so many.”
Seeing the situation, many stewards could only give up and decided to come back tomorrow.
When Qian, the Shopkeeper, closed the shop and began settling, the assistants were also in the storage room cleaning up the remaining vegetables and strawberries.
Su Jiu and Su Yu only watched for a while and then left.
This kind of frenzy buying was within their expectations, and there was nothing they cared much about.
The same situation occurred the next day, with even more people coming. Because Qian, the Shopkeeper, had informed them yesterday that there would be no more today, some who couldn’t buy yesterday came today.
After another round of crazy buying, all the vegetables and strawberries were sold out. “There are none left.”
“When will Shopkeeper Qian have more?” Some hadn’t finished eating what they bought, but they were already asking when there would be more.
“After the New Year. I will inform everyone when there are fruits and vegetables,” Qian, the Shopkeeper, replied.
“Okay, thanks, Shopkeeper Qian.”
After sending away all the customers, Qian, the Shopkeeper, and his assistants began to organize the money received today and yesterday. After finishing, they were very satisfied. Following Su Yu’s instructions, each person received ten taels of silver and some vegetables. “This is what the young master told me to give to everyone. You’ve all worked hard these past two days. Go back and celebrate the New Year. We’ll reopen on the ninth day.”
“Thank you, Shopkeeper. Thank you, Young Master.”
After the assistants left, the Shopkeeper took the income from these two days to find Su Yu.
“The Young Master’s income for the past two days has come out. The strawberries totaled about fifteen thousand catties, selling for three hundred thousand taels. The vegetables were over fifty thousand catties, selling for over fifty thousand taels. This is a total of three hundred fifty-four thousand eight hundred taels, excluding the red envelopes given to everyone as per the Young Master’s instructions.” Qian, the Shopkeeper, placed the money box on the table and reported the situation of these two days to him.
“You should go back for the New Year. You’ve worked hard these past few days.”
“Not hard. Master, today many people were asking when the next batch would be available. I told them it would be after the New Year. Can Young Madam supply them then?” Qian, the shopkeeper, asked anxiously.
“Even if she can’t, let them wait,” Su Yu said, leaning on his chin and looking at the money in the box.
Now it wasn’t them chasing after others to buy; it was others chasing after them.
Qian, the shopkeeper, thought about it. Indeed, these people couldn’t bargain with them now.
“After they finish this batch of fruits and vegetables, the effects of nourishing their bodies should be even better. Next year is when we can really shine.” He had already set ambitious goals for himself these past few days.
Next year, he must open fifteen Four Seasons around and cultivate the people he had to become Shopkeepers.
Rubbing his chin, Qian, the shopkeeper, shared his thoughts and goals with Su Yu.
Su Yu nodded in satisfaction after hearing it. “That’s good. Follow your plan.”
“Okay.”
Qian, the shopkeeper, reported some other matters before leaving.
In these two days, the news of the big families in the capital rushing to buy strawberries and vegetables had swept through the entire city. People who found them expensive felt they were being ripped off.
On the day before New Year’s, during a private gathering, someone asked those who had bought the fruits and vegetables.
“Why spend so much money on these vegetables and strawberries? It’s such an expensive thing.”
“What do you know? These vegetables and strawberries are not ordinary. They can nourish the body. Although it’s only been a few days, the effect is not very obvious, but there is an effect.”
“How is that possible? Are you joking with me?” Someone nearby asked in astonishment.
“Am I joking with you? Recently, my mother’s legs have been constantly aching due to the cold. Nothing worked until she ate the Four Seasons’ fruits and vegetables for just a few days, and her legs weren’t as painful. Besides the medicine she always takes, my mother only ate vegetables and strawberries. If it were due to the medicine, my mother wouldn’t have suffered so much. It must be the vegetables and strawberries. Is it expensive for vegetables and strawberries that can nourish the body? Not at all.
Our family started to prosper with my generation. When my parents were young, they suffered a lot for us siblings. Even in their old age, they still suffered. Now, with just daily meals and eating fruits, they can maintain good health without having my mother drink medicine every day. Even if it’s expensive, I’ll still buy it.”
Similar situations occurred in the households of those who managed to buy the first batch of fruits and vegetables. Those who missed it also planned to buy some when the next batch was available, just to taste and see if it was really as good as they heard.
Several friends who were good friends with Su Jiu heard this news and came to him. “Su Jiu, Four Seasons is run by your brother, right?”
“Yes.” Su Jiu nodded. “What’s going on?”
Those who came to find Su Jiu had dark faces. “You still have the nerve to ask us what’s going on? Your brother has such good stuff, and he didn’t tell us earlier?”
This guy was too unkind. He didn’t regard them as friends at all.
Su Jiu looked at them with a hint of a smile. “I thought you knew, especially since it caused such a big sensation.”
“…” They did know, but they found it too expensive and didn’t buy it.
Thinking about it now, they felt extremely regretful. “Su Jiu, are we still good brothers?”
Seeing their appearance, Su Jiu said with a smile, “You guys look really ugly right now.”
“Don’t mind that. Just tell us if your brother still has some left. If he does, give us a bit, and we’ll settle the score with our families when we get home.” Since they found out that Four Seasons’ vegetables and strawberries could nourish the body, their elderly at home began to criticize them for being unfilial.
As soon as they heard it was Su Jiu’s brother, they came directly, hoping to buy some from Su Jiu’s brother.
“Ask Su Yu about this. He’ll know.” Su Jiu sent his subordinates to ask Su Yu.
Half an hour later, they came back. “Young Master Su said there’s still some, but not much.”
“Then let Su Yu prepare some for them. You take them over.” Su Jiu instructed his subordinates.
“Su Jiu, if you’re free, we’ll treat you to a meal. Thank you for saving our lives.”