Chapter 33: Continuing to Sell

Ye Xin stepped into her room at the guesthouse and took a good look around. It was satisfactory—clean, with thick bedding, and thankfully, no lingering smell of smoke.

After spending a considerable amount of money today, her wallet felt significantly lighter. Originally, she had planned to book a double room, which only meant sharing one bed. However, she thought better of it, worried that Shen Zhuo might encounter an inconsiderate roommate that could disrupt his sleep. So, they both opted for single rooms instead.

She unloaded her backpack and took a moment to rest before the hot water arrived. This was included in the room fee, but it was only enough for a quick wash of her face and feet.

Ye Xin had no intention of bathing here, so after a brief freshening up, she entered her space. This was one of the perks of having a single room; she could use her space to get some work done.

The vegetable section was still vibrant and full of life, with a rich variety of produce. Ye Xin promptly harvested the ripe vegetables for drying while clearing away the withered ones to make room for new seeds. Thanks to her learning how to save seeds, she had no worries about running out. She was careful not to overexert herself, planting a small patch each day or a bit more every couple of days, ensuring the vegetables would mature in a staggered manner.

The cornfield was lush and green, thriving in its growth. This was the second season for corn, and she had planted an entire field this time. Currently, the only fully planted areas were the vegetable and corn fields; she had harvested the rice earlier but hadn’t had time to replant it yet.

In her previous attempts at growing rice, she had simply flooded the field without tilling the soil, but now, she noticed that some parts of the soil had become compacted. Even with ample nutrients, she couldn’t keep treating it so carelessly. She decided this time to till the land before replanting. It would be a massive undertaking, likely taking several days to complete.

The medicinal herb section was modest, with only a row of seedlings along the edge of the plot. Though the quantity was small, they were growing well. In the orchard, there were only two rows of saplings so far, sourced from wild bamboo and wild peaches. These had sprouted quickly from the seeds, reaching waist height, and some even up to her shoulders.

Ye Xin recalled what she learned in her high school biology class: straight seedlings would take several years to bear fruit, but grafting could speed up the process. However, she wasn’t in a rush. Thanks to the growth enhancement in her space, these fruit saplings might bear fruit sooner than she expected. Besides, she had more than enough vegetables from the outside garden.

Mainly, she just didn’t have the time…

After checking the conditions of her plots, she glanced at the remaining empty fields, shaking her head. She went to the wooden shed to fetch a hoe and began to till the rice paddy.

After completing about one-tenth of the work, she felt fatigued. Not wanting to push herself too hard, she stopped, walked over to the spring, took a few sips of water, and filled a scoop with more water. She took out the watermelon seeds she had bought earlier that day and soaked them in the water to encourage germination.

Standing up, she surveyed her plots and decided to plant the watermelons at the far end of the orchard. After all, it was all fruit, and there was no need to plant a bit in every field; walking around would be tiring.

Once she finished these tasks, exhaustion washed over her, and she collapsed into bed, falling into a deep sleep.

She slept soundly through the night.

Having developed an early-rising routine, Ye Xin woke up early again, but with a rare opportunity to relax since it was winter, she kept her eyes closed, snuggled in her blankets, and indulged in a few more moments of rest.

Before long, a knock at the door interrupted her tranquility. “Ye Xin, are you awake?” Shen Zhuo called from outside.

Ye Xin opened her eyes and replied, “I am.”

“I brought you hot water to wash your face. Can you open the door?” he said.

Ye Xin quickly threw off the covers, ran a hand through her messy hair, and opened the door just a crack, revealing a bright smile. “You’re so thoughtful!”

Hearing her compliment, Shen Zhuo felt his lips curve upward. Whenever he saw her smile, it instantly lifted his spirits.

Knowing she had just woken up, he didn’t linger in the doorway, handing her the hot water bottle. He also asked her to return the empty water bottle. Each room had its own hot water bottle, and it was important not to mix them up to avoid confusion when checking out. He had already been up early to fill the water and had made another trip down just to bring this to her.

As she took the empty water bottle, Shen Zhuo added, “Take your time washing up; it’s still early, so no need to rush.”

Ye Xin nodded, not wanting Shen Zhuo to wait too long for her. Before closing the door, she said, “I’ll take about ten minutes. You head back to your room; it’s cold outside. I’ll knock on your door when I’m done.”

Seeing him nod in acknowledgment, she finally closed the door.

After a big yawn, Ye Xin started rinsing her mouth and washing her face. She glanced out the window; it was still shrouded in mist, confirming that dawn hadn’t quite broken yet.

Once she finished freshening up, she felt more awake and began to comb her hair. Speaking of which, the original owner had very long hair; in this era, young women often wore their hair long, braided into twin pigtails that cascaded down their chests. However, due to malnutrition, the original owner’s hair had suffered. Since arriving, Ye Xin had found the length a bit cumbersome, so she occasionally snipped the ends but hadn’t made any drastic changes yet.

But now that winter was here, long hair had become a nuisance. As she combed her hair, static electricity made it crackle, and strands stuck to her clothes, creating a messy look.

After finally taming her long locks, she gathered a handful in front of her and examined it closely. After six months of proper care, the hair quality had improved significantly, now dark and glossy. However, some of the rough, split ends still remained, and she realized those wouldn’t improve.

She thought to herself that she might want to cut it shorter for convenience someday.

Once she was satisfied with her appearance, Ye Xin remembered something and headed back to her space to grab ten pounds of dried chili peppers, stuffing them into her backpack. Finally, she opened the door and called for Shen Zhuo to head downstairs to check out.

It was still dim outside, the morning fog thick, and the streets were eerily quiet with hardly any pedestrians in sight.

Shen Zhuo exhaled a puff of white mist and said, “I wonder if the restaurant is open yet. Shall we grab some breakfast first?”

At that time, the only restaurants were state-run establishments—expensive and quite formal. Most people were too intimidated to dine there, especially country folks who often brought their own food and water when they traveled. Only they dared to go without provisions, choosing to eat directly at a restaurant.

Before leaving, Shen Zhuo had planned to pack some dry food for the trip, but Ye Xin thought that gnawing on hard rations in the cold winter wouldn’t be easy to swallow, so he reluctantly abandoned the idea.

He didn’t have much money either; he had only three bucks left from selling vegetables yesterday. After paying for the bus ticket and lunch, he was nearly out of funds and could probably afford just a couple of buns at this point.

At that moment, Ye Xin wasn’t focused on breakfast; her eyes were scanning the street for any signs of life.

After a brief observation, her eyes lit up, and she turned to Shen Zhuo. “Let’s skip breakfast for now and go find out where the county’s vegetable market is!”

Shen Zhuo blinked in surprise, then followed her gaze to a woman carrying a basket of vegetables walking by. He nodded in agreement.

The two of them fell into step behind the woman, maintaining a respectful distance.

They walked straight down the street for a short while before turning left into a slightly secluded alley. After walking a bit further, they came across a historical stone bridge arching over a quiet river flowing gently beneath.

By the riverside, they could already see several vendors setting up stalls to sell their vegetables.

Yes, the county had its own agricultural market, primarily frequented by local villagers selling their produce, much like a bustling market day, except here it operated every day. The vendors sold only what they grew themselves, making this market a prime spot for fresh goods.

The woman in front had crossed the bridge and headed toward the riverbank, clearly up early to buy ingredients for breakfast.

Shen Zhuo jostled the basket on his back and, with a hint of excitement, said, “We can sell the leftover dried vegetables from yesterday!”

Ye Xin smiled and nodded. “Exactly! After the big spending spree yesterday, today’s a chance to make some money back.”

Hearing this, Shen Zhuo was instantly invigorated. They had spent far too much yesterday, especially with Ye Xin paying for everything at the department store, their dinner, and their lodging. He had watched her nearly blow thirty bucks and felt a pang of anxiety at the thought of not having enough for their return bus tickets.

Now that a money-making opportunity had presented itself, how could he not be happy?

He couldn’t help but praise her: “You’re so clever! I hadn’t thought of that.”

Ye Xin chuckled, “Well, I was just thinking about how much money we spent, so of course I’d pay attention to ways to earn it back.” She patted her backpack and added, “Actually, I also brought some dried chilies along yesterday, hoping to find a chance to sell those, too!”

“Here’s the plan: I’ll sell the dried chili peppers over here, and you can sell the dried vegetables over there. We’ll see who finishes selling first before we grab a bite!” Ye Xin proposed enthusiastically.

Shen Zhuo nodded eagerly, “Sounds good!”

They quickened their pace as they crossed the bridge, then split up to find their spots for setting up stalls.

Ye Xin took a quick look around the market to gauge the prices of dried vegetables and chili peppers. To her delight, she found that the prices here were significantly better than in the town, and she nodded to herself in approval.

As she turned, she noticed that Shen Zhuo had already found a place to set down his backpack. However, it was a bit on the outskirts, and there weren’t many customers around. Considering his shy nature, she figured he wouldn’t want to squeeze into a more crowded spot.

Seeing her approach, Shen Zhuo waved her over. “Hey, I just remembered, I have only one scale here. What are you going to do?”

Ye Xin realized the oversight as well but wasn’t too troubled. “No worries, I’ll just borrow one from someone nearby once I find my spot.”

He glanced at the bustling market, mistaking her arrival as a sign that she hadn’t found a place to set up. “Why don’t you just sell with me here?”

Ye Xin shook her head. “There are more people at the entrance; I want to sell over there.” She pulled out some change from her pocket and handed him two bucks. “Here’s two yuan. Keep it handy for change. I noticed dried vegetables are selling for four to five jiao per pound, and dried chili peppers for eight jiao. Make sure to sell well, and I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”

Finally realizing her plan, Shen Zhuo felt a bit inadequate but nodded vigorously, “Got it!”

With that, Ye Xin slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed back toward the entrance.

She was petite with a sweet voice and a radiant smile, exuding an innate charm that drew the attention of the local vendors. She quickly found a spot nestled between two friendly-looking aunties selling vegetables, placing her backpack down to showcase the vibrant dried chili peppers.

Once set up, she glanced to her right and saw a kind-faced auntie. With a bright smile, she asked softly, “Auntie, I forgot to bring my scale this morning. Would you mind if I borrowed yours for a bit? I can give you a dime when I’m done.”

The auntie waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t mention money! Just use it as you like.”

Ye Xin quickly expressed her gratitude, and as the morning light brightened, more and more locals began arriving to set up their stalls. The riverside market soon buzzed with activity.

Ye Xin arranged her eye-catching, bright red chili peppers on a bed of dry straw. Their vivid color and uniform size were impossible to miss, naturally drawing the attention of shoppers. She quickly got down to business.

High-quality goods, after all, sell themselves. Ye Xin had brought ten pounds of dried chili peppers, and before long, she had sold them all.

In contrast, the two aunties beside her were struggling to move their wares. However, since they were selling different items, there was no jealousy to be found.

After selling out, Ye Xin returned the scale to the auntie and handed her a dime. “Thank you so much! Wishing you lots of success with your sales today.”

The auntie accepted it with a smile, saying, “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders! Come back anytime you need to borrow the scale.”

Ye Xin laughed and agreed, then set off to find Shen Zhuo.

While Shen Zhuo had started in a relatively quiet spot, more vendors had set up nearby, and as the crowd grew, he managed to sell some of his dried vegetables as well.

Ye Xin squatted down beside him to help sell, excitedly sharing her success. “I sold all ten pounds of dried chili peppers for eight yuan! After giving a dime to the auntie for the scale, I have seven yuan and ninety cents left!”

Shen Zhuo beamed for her but felt a twinge of shame. “I’m still selling pretty slowly.”

“Don’t worry, we’re in this together!” she reassured him.

Perhaps due to the winter surplus of dried vegetables, sales had been slower than expected. Together, they continued selling until nearly nine o’clock, finally finishing off the last of the dried vegetables and earning just over six yuan.

With their combined earnings totaling nearly fifteen yuan for the morning, both of them were elated.

Ye Xin stood up, shaking off the stiffness from her legs, and exclaimed, “Let’s go grab some breakfast! I’m starving!”