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Since he noticed that his business always improved after transporting Jiang Youcheng’s family, the cart driver had developed a great fondness for helping them.
Jiang Chunshi didn’t have much to carry, so he shared the same cart with someone else for the trip.
As they headed out of the village, they encountered several others from the village also on their way to the fair.
“Zhao Shi, are you off to the fair?”
“Yes, I’m going to sell some duck eggs,”Zhao shi responded cheerfully.
“I don’t remember your family raising ducks. Where did you get the duck eggs from?”
“It’s quite a story. A few wild ducks flew into our yard and started competing with the chickens for food. At first, it was quite a hassle and we wanted to chase them away. But the next day, we found a bunch of duck eggs. Seeing this, we decided to keep them, and now, we’ve gathered quite a few eggs. We’re planning to exchange them for some soy sauce and vinegar in town.”
“Wow, it’s like money falling from the sky, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely, when luck arrives, there’s no stopping it…”
As they continued on, they encountered Sun shi. She was carrying a basket filled with fish and shrimp, explaining that she had set shrimp traps in the river. Previously, catching a few shrimp was considered lucky. However, the previous night, when she checked the traps, they were filled with small fish and shrimp. Unable to consume them all at home, she decided to sell them at the fair.
Later, they encountered Jiang Liushun, who had gone into the mountains to gather wild produce. He had discovered a wild peach tree laden with large, red, and sweet peaches and had returned with two large baskets full of them.
…
As the people traveled to the fair, they chatted with each other. As they conversed, they realized that they all had unexpectedly acquired items to sell at the fair. It was as if unexpected fortune had come their way, like a pie falling from the sky.
“Ah, if it was just one family in our village, that would be one thing. But with so many families all suddenly experiencing such good luck, it’s hard to believe, isn’t it?”
“Why is it hard to believe? When the heavens bestow good fortune, it’s not just for one person, it’s for everyone.”
“I realized, have you noticed that our families all helped Jiang Youcheng build his house recently?”
“You’re right, we did. Every family pitched in to help those last few families.”
“Do you think our sudden good luck and unexpected windfall could be because we’ve somehow absorbed the good fortune from Jiang Youcheng’s family?”
“It’s hard to say. Haven’t you noticed how prosperous Jiang Youcheng’s family has become? His daughter has recovered, and they’re making a lot of money. They built a new house, and it’s massive. If that’s not good fortune, what is?”
“So, are you saying we should get closer to them from now on, to absorb more good fortune?”
“Well, it’s better to believe it’s there than to doubt it. We’re all from the same village, so it’s good to socialize more. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“True, but let’s not talk about it too much. If we talk about it too often, the good fortune might disappear.”
“You’re right, we won’t talk about it.”
Third Jiang was preparing to take on more work, and the cart was moving swiftly. Therefore, Jiang Youcheng, Jiang Mixia, and the others were walking ahead and didn’t hear the conversation. They were all thinking about how to set up their stalls once they reached the town.
They decided that items like bamboo baskets, stools, and similar goods should be taken to the West Street, while more delicate items like needlework and carved figurines should be sold in the East Street.
After discussing, Jiang Youcheng and Jiang Chunshi took the larger items to the West Street, while Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun took the smaller items to the East Street.
Both groups set out separately.
The East Street was livelier and appeared cleaner and more prosperous than the West Street. They arrived early enough to find several good spots, and Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun found a suitable location to set up their stall.
The needlework baskets were essential for almost every household, so as soon as they arranged their items, people started inquiring about the prices.
“For those with lining, it’s forty wen, and for those without, it’s thirty wen. We don’t bargain,” Jiang Mixia replied.
“Your items are quite expensive,” remarked a middle-aged lady. “Over there, they’re selling for only twenty-five wen.”
“We price our items based on their quality. Look at the weave of our baskets. They are smooth and tidy, and the joints are all hidden inside. They won’t snag the thread or hurt your hands. Also, look at the base of the baskets. It’s thick, durable, and resistant to dirt and water. Even if you accidentally place it on a wet table, it won’t soil the needlework,” Jiang Mixia explained. “You might think it’s a bit more expensive, but our products are truly convenient. Cheaper items may seem like a good deal at first, but using them can be quite frustrating. How long would that be bothersome?”
The middle-aged lady examined the needlework basket as Jiang Mixia had described. She couldn’t help nodding in agreement but said, “Don’t think you’ve swayed me. I’ll just go and have a look elsewhere, and I’ll come back later.”
“Sure,” Jiang Mixia replied, not attempting to persuade her further, only watching as the lady walked away.
After a short while, the same lady returned without saying a word, simply took out her purse and counted the money. “I’ll take two, one with lining and one without.”
“Alright, that’s seventy wen in total,” Jiang Mixia said, taking the money and giving her the items.
The first transaction of the day at the fair went remarkably smoothly, as expected.
This wasn’t surprising considering Jiang Youcheng’s skill, and at Jiang Mixia’s suggestion, he had added an extra border at the base, making the needlework baskets almost like having a stand, making them resistant to water and dirt.
In rural areas, while most food comes from the land, many clothing items and necessities have to be bought. Fabrics, threads, and such items aren’t cheap, so people generally cherish them. With this considerate design, it naturally became popular.
Jiang Mixia felt a sense of accomplishment and her calls became even louder than before. Soon, a group of people swarmed around the stall.
“Not bad.”
“Looks like it’s very durable.”
“The weaving is quite intricate.”
“I’d like one without lining.”
“Two with lining.”
“One with lining, one without…”
Watching the group of women, young and old, clamoring to buy the needlework baskets, Jiang Mixia found herself wide-eyed.
“Ladies, what’s going on here…”
“Are we buying in bulk?”
“Don’t be alarmed, young lady. We’re all just buying normally,” a middle-aged lady said with a smile. “We saw Bai Shi purchasing these needlework baskets, so we’ve all come to buy them as well.”
Since Jiang Mixia had set up her stall, only the one lady who compared prices at other stalls had made a purchase. The “Bai shi” mentioned by the lady must have been her.
However…
“May I ask, why is Bai shi buying these needlework baskets, and why are all of you buying them as well?” Jiang Mixia inquired.
“You must be new to setting up a stall in the East Street,” a slightly younger woman chimed in. “You seem unfamiliar, so it’s no wonder you don’t know what’s going on.”