Chapter 19: Selling Shoes (Part 3)

“Two pairs?”

Chen Shi and Shen Shi both stared in shock, eyes slightly widened.

Even the egg-seller auntie fell silent mid-sentence.

Only the sweet potato vendor finally opened his mouth.

He began to “kindly advise” the woman buying shoes:

“Sis, what do you even need these for?

You can only wear them at home.

Who would wear shoes like that to work in the fields?

Shoes like those—step in water or mud, and it’ll seep right through.

Sand and dirt will get inside before you know it.

You’ll spend all day shaking it out.

Shoes like mine are better.

Look here—worn them for years.

Only a few holes.

Just patch them up with a needle and thread, and I can wear them for a few more years!”

After speaking, he even stuck out his foot to show her.

The shoes were ragged beyond belief.

The uppers were caked with grime so thick you couldn’t even see the original color.

Chen Shi quickly chimed in,

“That’s right! This old brother’s shoes are the kind that last.

Good for the fields, good for years.

Shoes like hers?

No one here wears anything like that.

If you went out wearing them, wouldn’t people laugh through their noses at you?

You simply can’t wear shoes like that!”

Zhao Ruhua: “…”

For heaven’s sake.

Are these people allergic to me earning a single coin?

It’s just twenty wen. Is that really expensive?

If I suddenly struck it rich, wouldn’t these people die from jealousy on the spot?

Still, with a customer present, Zhao Ruhua couldn’t start cursing Chen Shi and the others.

If she couldn’t control her temper now, how would she handle people like Chen in the future?

The buyer finally said calmly,

“I’m buying these shoes as gifts for my master.

Not to wear in the fields like you lot.”

Chen Shi: “…”

The egg and sweet potato sellers: “…”

Gifts?

People usually gift quality items.

Were Zhao Ruhua’s shoes really good enough to give as presents?

The buyer handed over the coins.

“Here’s your money, girl.

These shoes are nice—unique and fresh.

Plenty of people will like them.”

She took her two chosen pairs and left.

Chen Shi: “…”

Shen Shi: “…”

Both faces were ugly with disbelief.

They had never imagined Zhao Ruhua would actually make a sale,

let alone receive such high praise.

Zhao Ruhua beamed.

This was her first real earnings since arriving in this world.

Small as it was, she felt elated.

“Sorry,” she said sweetly,

“My shoes sold.

I see you two look so disappointed—makes me so happy.”

“If you don’t feel like leaving, you can keep standing here.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll sell another pair or two.”

Her good mood sharpened her tongue,

and she deliberately poked at their sore spots.

The two women were livid.

Hearing Zhao Ruhua’s words, they almost choked on their own anger.

“It’s just forty wen! What’s there to be proud of?

Our shop’s business is good.

A month of your shoes wouldn’t match a single day’s earnings for us.”

Chen Shi sneered with disdain.

Her shop in town brought in plenty of customers.

She made far more money than Zhao Ruhua and didn’t even brag.

So what was Zhao Ruhua so pleased about?

Zhao Ruhua said indifferently,

“I’m only eighteen.

You’re already over forty.

When I’m your age, I’ll definitely make more than you.”

Chen Shi: “You—!”

Zhao Ruhua snorted coldly and ignored her, returning to crocheting her sweater.

Seeing herself dismissed, Chen’s face went green.

She muttered threats, promising to make Zhao Ruhua “pay later,”

then finally left with Shen Shi.

Zhao Ruhua continued crocheting.

The weather was pleasant, with the occasional soft breeze.

The egg and sweet potato vendors had few customers and kept scanning the street,

calling out now and then to attract attention.

Zhao Ruhua didn’t shout.

She was busy enough; better to crochet a few more stitches than waste breath.

She had already sold two pairs.

Even if the rest didn’t sell, she wasn’t worried.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was midday.

The street was still lively with passersby.

The vendors next to her sold a few eggs and some sweet potatoes.

No one else came to ask about Zhao Ruhua’s shoes.

“Looks like you’ll only sell two pairs today,”

the egg-seller said sourly.

“The rest probably won’t ever sell.

No one’s that rich to waste money like this.

One fool already bought them as gifts—

don’t expect a second fool.”

Zhao Ruhua said mildly,

“Don’t worry.

Even if these shoes don’t sell, I won’t give them to you to wear.

I’m not worried about my shoes.

Funny how you’re more anxious than I am.”

The egg-seller: “…”

She really was anxious—

but only because seeing Zhao Ruhua make money while she didn’t made her unhappy.

Suddenly, a voice called from not far away,

“Here! Here—this is where I bought the shoes!”

Moments later, a small crowd of women gathered at Zhao Ruhua’s stall.

She noticed the previous buyer among them.

The customer came back?

To return the shoes?

*Fine, I’ll refund her.

But why bring so many people?

Planning to flip my stall?*

The nearby vendors and bystanders all looked over,

schadenfreude in their eyes.

They clearly expected trouble.

Even Chen Shi, who had returned to watch,

squeezed into the crowd, eager to see Zhao Ruhua humiliated.

But then—

“These shoes are so pretty! I want this pair!”

“I want one too!”

“I want three pairs, don’t anyone dare snatch them from me!”

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