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Su Zhi’s proposal to collectively sell was aimed at benefiting everyone involved. By selling together, she could guide them through the process, ensuring they all profited. This approach would deepen their bonds.
As for future endeavors, Su Zhi couldn’t dictate if they would continue selling together. She anticipated that after a few times, selling the flowers might not be as easy as in the beginning. At that point, they would likely explore other means of earning.
Li Qing’s wife and the others agreed to Su Zhi’s suggestion.
“Let’s sell together. It saves us booth fees too!”
Selling things at the town market required payment – three coins per stall. Though seemingly trivial, this sum was valued by farming families.
The others nodded in agreement. They believed Su Zhi’s money-making idea was beneficial. Su Zhi provided the fabrics and taught them how to make the flower ornaments. It made sense to sell together rather than individually. Selling alone wouldn’t yield as much profit, so pooling resources was more profitable.
Su Zhi affirmed, “Since everyone agrees to sell together, we’ll continue this way. If we sell at multiple markets, there will be fewer buyers at each one. In the future, you might struggle to find materials. Let’s view this as a one-time opportunity, not a long-term business.”
Although a bit regretful, the women were grateful for Su Zhi’s guidance and the chance to earn some silver. Learning the intricate art of making and selling flower ornaments, Knots and Headbands was a gift in itself.
After explaining, Su Zhi proceeded to teach them how to make the flower ornaments. While it seemed both simple and complex, mastering the craft and enhancing the ornaments’ intricacy made the process easier. Demonstrating with a small piece of pink silk, she deftly twisted it to form a flower shape. A few stitches and a bit of wire secured the fabric, creating a basic yet elegant flower ornament.
Li Qing’s wife examined the ornament and exclaimed, “It’s truly beautiful! Your hands are so skillful. In my hands, this small piece of cloth would be nothing more than a tiny patch of fabric, but in yours, it turns into a gem!”
Shugen’s wife and the others took turns admiring it, all agreeing on its beauty.
Su Zhi chuckled, “When paired with wire, it may not be exquisite, but for the women and girls in our village who seek something attractive, it’s worth a couple of coins. The simpler ones can sell for two coins, and the more intricate ones for three. If it’s made of fabric instead of silk, the simple ones go for one coin, while the more elaborate designs fetch two. Let me create a lovely one for you.”
She then proceeded to craft a more intricate piece, with multiple flowers clustered together, exuding a sense of grandeur that captivated the women who were already mothers.
“See? It’s quite simple once you get the hang of it, just requiring a delicate touch. Once you learn, you can experiment with colors and designs to make each piece unique and more appealing. This will make them sell better. Now, give it a try yourselves.”
Su Zhi unpacked a bundle containing cotton fabric and placed the wire on the table.
Excitedly, the women began crafting, carefully selecting colors. As they progressed, their speed increased. In no time, over twenty flower ornaments adorned the table, arranged in small clusters, presenting a vibrant and charming display.
Su Zhi inspected each item with satisfaction, nodding approvingly. She said, “Everyone has done well today. Let’s call it a day; it’s getting late. We’ll continue working together tomorrow. With these large bundles, we should be able to finish in two days. Once done, we can make more headbands. Hopefully, by then, the snow will have melted.”
Shugen’s wife chuckled, “The next market day is in about six or seven days. By then, even if the snow hasn’t completely melted, it will have significantly reduced. Don’t worry. As it nears the New Year, the market will be bustling with people. Our village folks won’t stay indoors just because of a bit of snow.”
Li Qing’s wife added, “During the New Year, there will be more buyers for these ornaments, purchasing them as gifts for their daughters and daughters-in-law. Wang Shi, Li Shi, since you both have daughters, make sure to save some ornaments for them.”
Li Shi smiled faintly, while Wang Shi remained silent, both contemplating setting aside ornaments for their daughters. They also thought about Shen Zhu and Chunhua, realizing they couldn’t overlook them to avoid any potential issues.
Su Zhi left the fabric scraps and wire at Shugen’s house before preparing to depart.
The other four women stood up as well, walking out together.
As they walked out of the gate, the women spotted Shen Zi’an approaching.
Li Qing’s wife remarked, “Look, this timing couldn’t be better. It seems like the heavens are smiling upon you, sister.”
Su Zhi smiled, bid farewell to the others, and walked towards Shen Zi’an. He nodded at the women before taking Su Zhi’s hand, and together they strolled away.
Li Shi sighed, “Look at this young couple, they truly resemble a painted pair. Who would have thought it would turn out this way? It’s a blessing from above. May they remain healthy and prosperous.”
The others nodded in agreement, their affection for Su Zhi deepening after the events of the day.
Over the next few days, Su Zhi continued teaching the women how to make ornaments, preparing for the upcoming market day once the fabric bundles were used up.
Su Zhi suggested she and Shen Zi’an fry chestnuts together. The sand for roasting was already arranged, and she opted not to use sugar, considering it still a luxury. She believed sugarless roasted chestnuts were just as delicious, maintaining the authentic taste she had always enjoyed, finding them less sticky without added sugar.
Shen Zi’an helped Su Zhi roast chestnuts for a brief period, sampling them and finding the flavor delightful.
Su Zhi also prepared some hawthorn cakes, tangy and sweet, a treat that Shen Zi’an, being a man, particularly enjoyed. Su Zhi was pleased with the outcome but didn’t make a large batch due to the chilly weather, feeling the hawthorn cakes might seem too cold. She decided to make a small quantity for a trial sale.
On market day, with much of the snow melted, Shen Zi’an hitched the ox cart and loaded it with freshly roasted chestnuts, a basket of chestnuts, a crate of hawthorn cakes, Su Zhi’s new headbands, and several bundles of fur, remnants from the games Zi’an and the white wolves had hunted. The meat was fed to the animals at home, but the hides were kept.
Shugen’s wife, Li Qing’s wife, and Li Shi boarded the ox cart. However, Wang Shi and her daughters didn’t accompany them. Recent gossip in the village hinted that they were hoarding money earned from doing private work in others’ homes. This led to an argument, and ultimately, Wang Shi opted not to go to the market, entrusting the hair ornaments she made to Li Qing’s wife to sell them for her. Chunhua also delegated her ornaments for sale, as Shugen was unwell with a fever, requiring her presence at home for care, preventing her from attending.
On their way, they encountered several villagers from the same village, who joined them on the journey.
The villagers held a positive attitude towards Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi. They inquired about what the group intended to sell and buy at the market, creating a lively atmosphere with their conversations, making the chilly weather seem less harsh.
Upon reaching the market, Shen Zi’an guided the ox cart to a spot, parking it by the side. The group unrolled a straw mat and spread a blue cloth over it. They arranged several baskets on top, each lined with light green fabric. Different types of flower ornaments, made from various materials like silk or cotton, were placed in different baskets. Against the backdrop of the green fabric, the ornaments appeared vibrant and eye-catching, resembling a collection of blossoms, attracting attention in the cold winter.
Beside the baskets, Su Zhi displayed the roasted chestnuts and hawthorn cakes. The chestnuts looked bright and red, while the hawthorn cakes were small, round, and red-black, all appearing clean and appetizing.
With everything set up, Su Zhi planned to begin selling. Although new to this, she felt no embarrassment. Just as she was about to start, Shen Zi’an took the lead in calling out to attract customers.
“Come and take a look! Sweet and tangy hawthorn cakes, deliciously roasted chestnuts! Everyone, come and see what we have for sale here!”
Su Zhi smiled as she listened to Shen Zi’an’s lively calls, realizing he had a flair for selling. She used to think he just stood by and waited for customers to approach, but she was pleasantly surprised by his authentic salesmanship. She felt fortunate to have married a versatile husband who excelled in various skills.
Inspired by Shen Zi’an, Su Zhi began calling out about the flower ornaments, enthusiastically inviting passersby to take a look and consider their offerings.
Li Qing’s wife, feeling bold, joined in the selling calls.
The market was bustling with people that day, as the New Year was approaching. Many came to sell goods, hoping to earn money, while others were there to make purchases for the upcoming festivities. The crowd quickly gathered around the stalls as the number of visitors increased.
Approaching the stall first was a couple, the man holding a young boy. The woman gazed at the flower ornaments with evident delight in her eyes.
“Look at these! Look at these!” The young boy, clearly uninterested in the flowers, focused intently on the food, tugging at his mother’s hair and urging her to pay attention.
The man gently pulled the boy’s hand away, saying, “Son, wait. Dad will buy it for you. Don’t bother your mother.”
The woman lightly tapped the boy’s hand, saying, “You little glutton, you hurt Mom, so I won’t buy it for you.” Despite her words, she turned back and pointed at the hawthorn cakes, asking, “What are these made of? How much are they? And these roasted chestnuts, how much for those?”
Su Zhi understood that it was time to start selling in earnest. Excited at the prospect of a successful opening day, she thought to herself, “A prosperous start!”