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Jiang Mixia shook her head helplessly and smiled as several carts made their way to the county town, enduring the chill. Upon arriving at Zheng’s grocery store, they sought out Sun, the shopkeeper, to inspect and receive the goods.
The quantity matched the order exactly, and the quality received Sun’s nod of approval.
Groceries, by their nature, were everyday items, and while reasonably priced, their quality often varied. However, the products from Jiang Mixia’s workshop were meticulously crafted. The bamboo strips were free of any rough edges, and the finished products were comfortable to look at and reassuring to use.
Originally, this grocery store was merely a favor from the Zheng family, giving them a reason to visit. The entire Zheng family, including Zheng Yuanhe, hadn’t paid much attention to the store.
Their aim was not to make a profit each year but to minimize losses, and in this regard, the shopkeeper had done a good job.
As a result, the shopkeeper sometimes felt that his work was unfulfilling. Without pressure, there was no motivation, leading to a lack of enthusiasm in everything he did. He even felt a sense of disheartenment and lack of achievement.
However, now, Zheng Yuanhe had suddenly arranged a source of goods for the grocery store.
This revitalized the shopkeeper, making him feel that the Zheng family was now taking the store seriously, and that he finally had a chance to shine.
Especially considering the quality of the products from the Jiang family’s workshop, which justified the price, Sun, the shopkeeper, became even more enthusiastic.
It was time to make a big move!
Suppressing his inner excitement, after confirming the goods, Sun looked at a few items that weren’t part of the order and asked, “Madam Jiang, what are these?”
“These are hand-woven vases made by my husband. They are quite exquisite, available in various sizes as a set. We thought of placing them in your grocery store and using them to display dried flowers as decorations,” Jiang Mixia explained. “This also serves as a showcase of the craftsmanship from our workshop and a gesture of goodwill from us to Zheng’s grocery store.”
Most importantly, this also revealed to Zheng’s store their workshop’s capabilities. They weren’t just capable of producing basic household goods, but also innovating further, demonstrating their potential as long-term partners.
“If that’s the case, I won’t hesitate. I’ll accept them on behalf of our store,” Sun replied upon seeing the set of woven vases, finding them quite appealing.
Although not fully woven and featuring a hollow design, there was nothing particularly special about the craftsmanship, as they were woven in the usual manner. However, their smooth and rounded shapes made them very pleasing to the eye.
In any case, the more he looked at them, the more appealing they became.
Seeing Sun’s satisfaction with the items, Jiang Mixia felt confident that she had made the right choice in offering these. She settled the payment with Sun and then left Zheng’s grocery store.
After leaving Zheng’s grocery store, Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun, along with a few fellow villagers who drove the carts, went in search of a place to eat.
Usually, when hiring carts, paying the fare was sufficient. However, on this cold day, with an early start, Jiang Mixia decided to treat everyone to lunch.
After searching around, they ended up at a bustling lamb soup restaurant, where each person enjoyed a steaming bowl of lamb offal soup.
In terms of value for money, a bowl of lamb offal soup with two baked buns was enough to satisfy even the heartiest of appetites and was reasonably priced.
This approach allowed her to appear considerate as an employer without overspending, making it a win-win situation.
Jiang Mixia felt that this was a wise move, and the lamb soup, with its fragrant aroma and bustling atmosphere, seemed to be a place where one could get a good deal. So, she and Song Jingyun decided to sit down and each ordered a bowl.
The lamb soup restaurant was lively and crowded, with every seat inside occupied, and even the long tables and benches outside were filled with people.
Jiang Mixia and her group enjoyed their lamb offal soup outside, adding a bit of chili to make it warm and spicy, causing them to break a sweat despite the winter chill.
As winter approached, the county town was bustling with people coming and going, creating a lively atmosphere.
The most lively spot was a shop across the street, where a burly and imposing man with a fierce look was continually calling out to attract customers, standing out prominently among the row of shops.
“The place is a gambling den,” Jiang Mixia replied calmly, “It’s where people specifically go to gamble.”
Song Jingyun had heard Jiang Mixia mention gambling before. It was a place where people who harbored fantasies of getting rich quick and making a fortune overnight ended up falling victim to the gambling den and its dishonest players, ultimately squandering their hard-earned money and ending up penniless.
Despite being a foolish pursuit, people continued to come and go, making the place quite lively.
It seemed there were quite a few foolish individuals around.
As they were talking, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the gambling den.
A young man was pushed out and tumbled on the ground, eventually kneeling and repeatedly kowtowing to the burly man who had pushed him out, pleading, “Please give me another chance to play a few more rounds?”
The imposing figure of the leader, standing at seven feet tall, loomed like a wall, emanating an intimidating presence.
Especially daunting was a scar on his left cheek and the visible tattoo on his forearm, making him all the more fearsome.
Seeing the situation, people around began to step back, even those passing by on the street hurriedly averted their eyes and left.
The burly man sneered, “Give you a chance? What can I possibly give you? You owe our gambling den money, and it’s a substantial sum. You can’t even pay it back, and yet you still expect me to give you a chance? Are you dreaming, kid?”
“In this matter, if you can return home and steal or beg to gather the money to repay your debt, we can still discuss it. But if you can’t, then we’ll strip you naked and toss you into the street!” he threatened.
The young man kowtowed repeatedly, “I understand what you mean, Master Qin, but my parents at home would rather see me dead than help me. They truly can’t produce the money…”
“If your family can’t provide, don’t you have your in-laws’ family? It shouldn’t be difficult to ask them for some money. I’ve heard that even though your in-laws are just farmers, they still have some wealth. Moreover, they don’t discriminate against daughters. If you go and ask for money, you’re sure to get it,” Qin admonished.
“Master Qin, perhaps you don’t know that while I have my in-laws’ family, it’s not official yet. My betrothed hasn’t even entered the house…” The young man paused, his eyes darting around.
Gambling can be deadly. Let’s take this as a lesson, shall we~