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“Little girl, where is your family?” Jiang Mixia inquired. Although the little girl was dressed more elegantly than most, she was still quite young. Jiang Mixia worried that she might have secretly left home to buy the figurines with such a large silver coin.
If her family disagreed and came later to ask for a refund, and Jiang Mixia had already closed the stall and left, it would all fall on the little girl…
“My mother is over there,” the little girl pointed to the side and said with a smile, “You don’t need to worry, I didn’t sneak out to spend money. I told my mother that I wanted to buy things and she agreed, so I came.”
Following the direction indicated by the little girl, Jiang Mixia indeed saw a carriage not far away, with a woman and a maid, both looking over with smiles.
There are several manors to the west of Shanglin Town, known to be owned by wealthy and noble families. During the summer, family members of officials and nobles often come here to enjoy the scenery.
Judging from the attire of the little girl and the woman, they were likely from such a family, visiting the town fair for the day.
What luck to encounter such a family today, willing to purchase all the figurines.
Jiang Mixia smiled, “I understand, I feel relieved now. Let me get your change.”
Having sold around twenty needlework baskets, she had collected enough copper coins. Jiang Mixia counted them, strung them into small bundles with hemp rope, wrapped the figurines, and handed them all to the little girl. “Take the figurines and the change.”
“Um… do you need me to help you deliver them?”
“No need, I can manage,” the little girl picked up the small package that Jiang Mixia had prepared for her and raised her chin. “I’m already eight years old this year, I’m very strong, I can carry these things.”
“Alright, just walk slowly then,” Jiang Mixia smiled as she watched the little girl return to her mother, before happily closing her stall with Song Jingyun and heading to the West Street to find Jiang Youcheng and Jiang Chunshi.
The little girl carried the small package and boarded the carriage with her mother.
The coachman cracked his whip, urging the carriage to move forward slowly.
“Come, let me see what Yan’er has bought for me,”Madam Zheng smiled as she carefully untied the tightly wrapped small bundle.
“These things are all so beautiful, I’ve never seen anything like them before. Mother will surely love them,” Qiu Yuyan smiled and, once Madam Zheng unwrapped the package, proudly presented the items to her.
“Mother, look, it’s the first time I’ve seen a chubby deer like this, it’s so round and cute.”
“And this little dog, it’s so unique, and this little cat…”
Madam Zheng carefully examined each figurine and nodded in approval, “They are indeed very nice.”
Upon first glance, it may seem a bit peculiar, but upon closer examination, it feels quite unique. After a while, it starts to appear rather cute and interesting. The longer you look at it, the more beautiful it becomes, and you can’t help but love it.
“Madam, I think these wooden figurines are quite novel, though the craftsmanship is somewhat lacking compared to the masters in our shop. It’s a pity that such unique designs don’t have better craftsmanship,” commented the maid, Yinxing, with a smile.
“Perfect things are hard to come by in this world. Achieving such unique designs is already quite rare. We’ll take these back to let the people in our shop have a look, it will be a novelty for them,” Madam Zheng said, reaching out to pat the head of Qiu Yuyan. “Pick one or two that you like and take them to play with.”
“Okay,” Qiu Yuyan crisply replied, smiling coyly.
The dimples on her cheeks were particularly adorable.
Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun walked cheerfully towards the West Street.
“I told you, these wooden figurines will definitely sell,” Song Jingyun said, somewhat proudly.
“Yes, yes, you’re right. You are the lucky star of our family,” Jiang Mixia praised, having sold everything and earned so much money. But she truly believed it.
Jiang Mixia always felt that as long as Song Jingyun was by her side, her luck would be especially good.
It never fails.
“What would you like to eat? I’ll buy it for you,” Jiang Mixia felt that practical actions were better than just verbal praise.
“Done.” Jiang Mixia paid for the food, then glanced at the fried dough sticks nearby. “Let’s get some fried dough sticks to take home. We can make tofu soup for lunch when we get back.”
This way, they wouldn’t have to prepare lunch in the heat of the day.
“Great.”
Song Jingyun was happy to buy more food, and he helped Jiang Mixia carry the bamboo basket and other items.
Thinking about Jiang Chunshi, Jiang Mixia bought some extra fried dough sticks.
When they arrived at the West Street, Jiang Youcheng and Jiang Chunshi were also packing up. There were no surplus bamboo baskets, bamboo containers, or stools, indicating that they had all been sold.
Upon learning that Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun had sold out of both the needlework baskets and the wooden figurines, the two brothers were quite pleased. Especially Jiang Chunshi, who was so excited that the tip of his nose turned slightly red.
Since leaving the carpenter, apart from the previous visit from Jiang Youcheng’s family seeking his craftwork, today was the first time he had made things himself to sell, and business had gone so well.
Especially with the wooden figurines, which didn’t require much wood and sold for a good price.
“It looks like we’ll have to sell more wooden figurines in the future,” Jiang Chunshi remarked on the way back.
“I was just about to discuss this with Big Brother,” Jiang Mixia mentioned the fact that while there were many people looking at the wooden figurines in the market today, very few actually bought them. “It’s fortunate that we were able to sell them today, but it was really just luck. If it happens again, it might be tough.”
“However, the wooden figurines are definitely popular. Big Brother might as well continue making them. By August, when we go to the temple to light incense, we can take them along and sell them there. They should sell well there.”
To the east of Fengyang County, there is a temple called Deyin Temple, which is said to be blessed by Bodhisattvas and is known for granting wishes. Consequently, it attracts a large number of worshippers.