The Lucky Farmgirl

Old Zhou, although he asked to buy many items, they were all general goods that were mostly available in three or four shops, and, luckily, those three or four shops were not far apart from each other.

Normally, things like vegetable seeds and jars would be for sale at the general store, and they wouldn’t be out of sewing needles either.

So, Zhou Silang and Zhou Wulang, carrying baskets on their backs, led them straight to the half-street of miscellaneous shops. They selected for a while and picked out everything their father needed. Then, it was time to bargain.

Zhou Silang was indeed skilled at haggling; he grouped all the items together, went back and forth with the shopkeeper a few times, and managed to knock down eight wen (coins) from the price.

Don’t just look at those eight wen. General stores operate on small margins, counting on volume rather than high prices, so eight wen was already quite a lot.

Zhou Silang was very satisfied, and so was Manbao.

Everyone put the goods in their baskets and carried them back to the ox cart. After handing them over to Zhou Erlang to watch, they went off happily to stroll the streets.

Zhou Silang touched his money pouch and said to Manbao, "I’m going to buy something for your Fourth Sister-in-law. Let’s go to the fabric shop."

"No, I want to go to the silver shop. You go ahead by yourself."

Zhou Silang was taken aback and asked, "What are you going to the silver shop for? To exchange small coins?"

"No, I’m going to buy bracelets," Manbao said. "I want to buy a big bracelet for Mother and Big Sister-in-law, and it has to be gold."