Chapter 25: Making Money
Grandma Su paid a deposit of one hundred cents for Su Guilan, which would be refunded only if Su Guilan filled Su Yaoguang’s family’s cesspit.
Su Guilan left for several days without any intention of returning to fetch water. The more Grandma Su thought about it, the more uneasy she felt and decided to go to Su Guilan’s in-laws’ house to find her, only to discover that she had used illness as an excuse to leave, saying she wouldn’t be back in the next few days.
Grandma Su, being thrifty herself, understood Su Guilan’s intention. Since she couldn’t find her, and wanting to get the hundred cents back sooner, she had Su Grandpa and Uncle Su fill Su Yaoguang’s cesspit. Of course, she could also order Su Yaoguang to return the money, but that girl was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with. If she just threatened a little, Yaoguang would put on a big scene, as if accusing her own grandmother of bullying her while her mother was away.
Su Yaoguang looked at the overflowing cesspit, smiled as she returned the one hundred cents to Grandma Su, and said loudly, "Grandma, you’re so kind to Auntie. Next time when Cousin comes over to jump into our cesspit, for the sake of you and Grandpa, I won’t charge him."
Grandma Su glared at Su Yaoguang angrily. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Zhou Wangshu sharpening his knife in the yard, felt her neck turn cold, and had to leave quickly.
Grandpa Su and Uncle Su each carried five loads of water, not only tiring themselves out but also picking up a smell, and had no mood to bicker with Su Yaoguang, just wanting to go back to rest early.
Afterwards, Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu enjoyed a few peaceful days. Taking advantage of these peaceful days, they made a batch of face creams and other items.
It was market day again, and Su Yaoguang took Zhou Wangshu into town.
Zhou Wangshu carried a bamboo basket, covered with wild mushrooms.
When they rode the ox cart, there were many fellow villagers on it. They took an interest in the things Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu were carrying and tried to lift the basket while talking, but Zhou Wangshu stopped them.
"Auntie, these are freshly picked mushrooms. We’re planning to sell them in the city for one cent each. If you’d like to buy, we can give you a deal, two for one cent," Zhou Wangshu said, spreading his palm open, looking hopefully at the aunt across from him.
The aunt looked awkward, "You’re charging me for things that grow everywhere on the mountains? You must be crazy for money!"
"Auntie, that’s not fair. Mushrooms are delicious. We’ve been eating them for three or four days," Zhou Wangshu said, "We couldn’t finish them, so we’re taking them to town to sell. Also, we’re out of cornmeal at home, using the money from selling mushrooms to buy cornmeal will last us until Mother returns."
"Is your family’s situation that difficult?" the aunt said, "Yao Guang, mushrooms aren’t worth much, you’d be better off learning midwifery from your mom."
"How could an unmarried girl learn midwifery?" said an older woman next to her, "Does she still want to get married?"
"She bought herself a little husband, just waiting for him to grow up to have the wedding ceremony. Yao Guang’s little husband, don’t you think I’m right? Even though Yao Guang bought you for only ten cents, you’re still a young guy who needs to eat! I’m afraid your family’s situation can’t support you!"
"I don’t eat much; I’m easy to support," Zhou Wangshu said, looking at Su Yaoguang, "Yao Guang, you can’t sell me. I can help you work."
Su Yaoguang patted his head and said, "Don’t worry, I won’t sell you. As long as you don’t want to leave, I won’t drive you away."
The women of various ages on the ox cart: "..."
This little husband was really good-looking. Apart from his top-notch appearance, he was sweet-talking and knew how to coax people but...
He’s not as capable as Xiao Yanci!
After getting off the ox cart, Su Yaoguang got off first. Just as she turned around to lift the basket, Zhou Wangshu had already carried it down.
They first went to the Rouge Shop to present her newly made face cream for the shopkeeper to try, also explaining the benefits of these items.
The shopkeeper listened and, with little interest, asked, "What price do you plan to sell for?"
"The small bottles are five hundred cents, the medium bottle is one tael, and this largest one is two taels," Su Yaoguang introduced the prices.
The shopkeeper applied a bit on the back of his hand, spread it, then put it to his nose and sniffed, pouting, "We have specialized craftsmen, every box of rouge and powder we make is of the finest quality. Judging by your looks, I’m afraid you haven’t even used rouge and powder before. Our shop is the best and largest in town, frequented by moneyed people. Looking at your outfits, you haven’t even seen the likes of our shop’s items. For the things you’ve made, you may dare use them, but I can’t afford to let my customers try them. Take them away, don’t disturb our clients."
"Shopkeeper, won’t you really try it?" Su Yaoguang asked.
"Take it away, don’t block the path for my customers."
Su Yaoguang took the trial bottle of face cream from the shopkeeper’s hand, gathered her basket, and left that rouge shop.
Standing under the eaves, she was exasperated and said to Zhou Wangshu beside her, "I don’t believe there’s no insightful rouge shop owner in this town."
In fact, there really wasn’t.
The two went consecutively to five or six rouge shops, big and small, and not one was willing to take her goods.
She felt a little defeated.
"Wang Shu, do you think I set my prices too high?"
"No," Zhou Wangshu said, "it’s just that they lack vision."
"You’re right," Su Yaoguang said, "Wang Shu, since no one will take our goods, we have two paths ahead of us: one is to go back dejectedly and try to find a washing job when we come back to town another day, earning one cent for washing a piece of clothing. The other is to sell the goods ourselves."
"Of course, choose the second."
"You think the second?" Su Yaoguang hesitated. "But, I don’t have the confidence."
"When you were making those face creams, you were glowing. As long as you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything."
"You’re supporting me?"
"Of course."
"Then later on, if I ask for your help, you’ll help me, right?"
Zhou Wangshu was silent.
For some reason, he felt there was a trap waiting for him ahead.
He looked at the girl before him.
The girl, with her previously desolate appearance, was now looking at him with bright eyes, waiting for him to nod.
It seemed he had no other choice but to nod; he couldn’t refuse her request.
"Yes."
"Come with me." Su Yaoguang took Zhou Wangshu and walked into the clothing shop across the street.
Chun E was leaning on the counter asleep and was startled awake by the sound of footsteps. She suddenly stood up, instinctively putting on a smile, and drowsily greeted, "Dear guest, what do you need? Our shop has all kinds of clothes, do you want something inside or outside?"
The clothing shop’s business wasn’t good. Recently, a huge clothing store opened in town, offering the latest styles, which took away business from other clothing shops. Chun E, as one of the owners of the clothing shop, was also one of those affected.