Chapter Eighty-One: The Business Canon

  ………

  "Who is it?" Zhang replied in a low voice, afraid of startling Lian Shou and also not daring to speak loudly.

  "It's Spring Pillar Aunt." Little Seven climbed up to the window and looked outside.

  "Quickly let Spring Pillar Auntie come in." said Zhang Shi.

  Lian Zhi'er hastily got down from the kang and went out to greet Chun Zhu's wife.

  "Fourth brother has fallen asleep? Well, I'll come again tomorrow then." Chun Zhu's wife came in and saw Lian Shou Xin sleeping on the edge of the kang, and she lowered her voice to say.

  "What's he afraid of? He sleeps his, we talk ours." Zhang said with a smile, "Look at him sleeping like that, thunder can't even wake him up."

  Chun Zhu's daughter-in-law smiled and sat down on the edge of the kang.

  "My husband Chunzhu is the same, after coming home, he doesn't even wash his face, takes off his shoes and doesn't care if his clothes are clean or not, lies down and falls asleep. When I ask him to get up for dinner, he doesn't even respond." said Chunzhu's wife.

  Yesterday evening, Chunzhu was with Lian Shouxin together. This morning after having breakfast, he followed Lian Shouxin out to look for something all day.

  "This time it's really troublesome for Chunzhu." said Zhang Shi.

  "We live next door, what's the bother?" Chun Zhu's wife said.

  "Wait until tomorrow, after a good rest, the old man will say that we should properly invite Chunzhu and others." Zhang said. This was not even mentioned by the old master, but according to etiquette, it should be arranged this way.

  "We're all our own people, everything is easy to say. If the flower hasn't been found, you must be worried about going upstairs, just forget it." Chun Zhu's wife said.

  "Even if we didn't prepare for the upstairs, I still have to prepare a table. When the time comes, you bring Chunyan and Chunni over." Zhang said, "Just in time to help me cook. Spring pillar and the others, this time following the child's father, are exhausted. The father came back and nagged for half a day. He said that everyone is sincere and kind to us, making people feel warm in their hearts."

  Those who followed Lian Shouxin out were usually on good terms with him. Zhang had planned this long ago. If the upstairs didn't invite them, they would invite themselves.

  Lian Man'er listened to Zhang's words beside her, secretly nodding in agreement. Zhang was always considerate of others in social interactions. In rural dialect, it means being good at interpersonal relationships. Such people are very popular in the countryside. Lian Shouxin and Zhang had a good temperament, and they were well-liked by many people in Sanli Village.

  "That's alright." Chun Zhu's daughter-in-law heard Zhang Shi say so, taking her as one of their own, and readily agreed.

  "Er Ge and them..." Chun Zhu's daughter-in-law glanced towards the east wing, but naturally couldn't see anything. However, Zhang Shi immediately knew that Chun Zhu's daughter-in-law had something private to discuss with her.

  "Just had lunch. They are all upstairs, saying they are settling the wages for the workers with his uncle." Zhang said, "I heard they hired thirty or forty people."

  Chun Zhu's daughter-in-law moved her body closer to Zhang Shi's side.

  "Third Brother and Fourth Brother are honest men," said Chun Zhu's wife. "Over there... Second Brother's side, didn't he go to Xi Village to find Old He? Old He found a few people, more than ten, all of whom were on good terms with him."

  At this point, Chun Zhu's daughter-in-law stopped talking.

  Lian Shouyi said there were thirty or forty people, was that a false report? Lian Man'er thought immediately.

  Zhang thought otherwise.

  "What's so good about He Lao's relatives? Can they be trusted?" said Zhang Shi.

  He Laoxu's reputation is not very good, simply put, he likes to eat and be lazy, and has some improper behavior.

  "Who said it wasn't that. Fourth sister, you still don't know about that. It's those people. They said they were going to find Lian Duo'er, but instead they left the village and went to the river valley on the other side, then ran off to town to drink." Chun Zhuang's wife said.

  "Did second brother go too?"

  "Second Brother didn't go, he arrived at Old Man He's house and didn't leave the door, sleeping until sunset, why hasn't he come back to report?"

  "Is this true?" Zhang was shocked, "Spring Pillar's wife, who told you?"

  "I went to the general store at Miao Tou and ran into Zhang Zhong's wife from Xi Village. We know each other, so we chatted for a bit, and she told me." Chun Zhuang's wife said.

  Chun Zhu's daughter-in-law and Zhang Shi sighed once more, chatted a couple of sentences, and then left.

  …………

  The next morning, Lian Wan and several others got up early, had breakfast, and packed the peanuts they had collected yesterday into baskets, planning to head to Qingyang Town.

  "Daughter, we're going to the market, think again, what else do you want to buy?" asked Lian Man'er of Zhang Shi.

  "There's nothing much to buy," said Zhang. "You guys go and come back early, be careful. If the peanuts can't be sold, bring them back, we'll eat them ourselves at home. There's no place to spend money at home now either."

  Mr. Zhang was worried that they wouldn't be able to sell the peanuts, so he got anxious and took a preventive shot ahead of time.

  "Don't worry, mom, it's nothing, let's go."

  Four children carried baskets of peanuts and headed to Qingyang Town. Entering the market, many vendors had already set up their stalls. The food stalls were mostly located on the east side of the market. Lian Wan'er looked around and placed the basket of peanuts next to a shop selling sugar and pastries.

  More and more people gathered above, and some even passed in front of them, but no one stopped.

  "We can't just stand here like fools, we have to shout." said Lian Man Er.

  Lian Zhi'er and Wu Lang exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit embarrassed, while Xiao Qi was completely unaware of what was going on.

  "Selling fragrant peanuts, the best-tasting fragrant peanuts, crispy and delicious, 10 cents for half a catty, 20 cents for one catty." Lian Man'er started shouting loudly:

  Lian Yuer felt that Lian Maner's scolding was interesting, but also a bit embarrassing, so she covered her face.

  Xiao Qi was the youngest, but learned the fastest, and started shouting along with Lian Man Er. Wu Lang coughed twice and also shouted loudly along with them.

  "Sister, why don't you drink?" Little Seven thought this was very strange and asked Lianzhi.

  "I, I'm a bit tongue-tied." Lian Zhier said with embarrassment.

  "Sister, don't shout. Just say it's good and that will do." Lian Man'er said. Lian Zhi'er was already 14 years old, and the young lady was too shy to speak up, so Lian Man'er decided not to make things difficult for her.

  "How much does this flower cost per catty, is it roasted?" A middle-aged man walked over and asked.

  Lian Man'er saw that this person was wearing silk pants and a jacket, with a gold hairpin on his head, looking like a rich man.

  "Uncle, this is fragrant peanuts, it's more delicious than roasted peanuts, and it's only 20 cents a catty. It's the best match for wine." Lian Man'er hastily said, "Xiao Qi, grab a handful to let this uncle try."

  "Ah." Little Seven obediently grabbed a handful of peanuts and handed them over to the middle-aged man.

  A middle-aged man received it, split open a peanut and threw the peanuts into his mouth.

  Lian Man'er observed the expression on his face and continued to promote at the right time.

  "...made with over thirty kinds of spices, look uncle, boiled peanuts are a mess to eat, getting water all over your hands, and roasted peanuts get your mouth and hands all black. Look at our peanuts, they're so clean to eat and the flavor is definitely better than other peanuts."

  The middle-aged man ate several in a row, and when Lian Man thought he was just "tasting", the middle-aged man finally nodded, putting the uneaten peanuts back into the basket.

  "The taste is really good." said the middle-aged man.

  "Uncle, let's get some takeout to eat at home, or we can bring some back for Aunt and the siblings to try." Lian Man'er said immediately.

  "The little girl is quite capable. Alright, weigh two catties for me." said the middle-aged man.

  "Alright." Lian Man'er hastily agreed, and indeed she hadn't misjudged him - this was a wealthy and straightforward master.

  Lian Zhier weighed two kilograms of peanuts, which were piled high. Lian Maner grabbed a handful to add on top, and Er Lang took a large leaf from the basket next to him, wrapped up the peanuts and handed them over.

  The man counted out forty cents and handed it over, Wu Lang hastily accepted it.

  "Uncle, walk slowly, eat well and come back next time to buy." Lian Man'er said again.

  The middle-aged man laughed twice and then left.

  "I didn't know it could sell for so much money."

  Looking at the forty cents in the money bag, all four children showed surprised expressions. The first transaction went smoothly, which was a good omen.

  "Vines, isn't it that before selling peanuts, you have to let people taste them first?" Wu Lang asked Lian Mian'er while there were no customers.

  "Hmm, it's all about who you look at." Lian Man'er said nonchalantly, "It depends on the person."

  Their peanuts are sold for twenty cents a catty, which can be exchanged for two catties of good rice. Ordinary rural households would not be willing to buy them.

  "...looks like it's worth some money, looks like you want to buy it, let him try a little bit." First of all, use your eyes to screen potential customers.

  "Well, there must be some who have tried it and didn't buy it," said Gorō.

  "Of course there are such people, so I let Xiao Qi catch peanuts for them." Lian Man'er laughed.

  "Ah? Ah!" Lianzhi and Wulang looked at Xiaogui together, from Xiaogui's head to his hands, and suddenly they understood.

  "We are just a few, and Xiao Qi's hands are the smallest." Lian Man'er smiled. Xiao Qi's hands could hold only a few peanuts, but they looked like a full handful.

  "Xiao Qi, remember, don't grab too much at once, just a few is enough." Lian Man'er reminded Xiao Qi again.

  "Uh-huh." Little Qi nodded, indicating she remembered.

  "Peas should be tasted, and my reputation is already high enough. Why do you still add to it? Won't we lose out?" asked Lianzhi.

  When people buy things, they have a psychology that feels like getting extra is a bargain. This little extra will leave customers with a very good impression and get many repeat customers in return.

  "Even if we earn a little less from each customer, he will buy more times, and more people will come to buy, so we can earn more." said Lian Man Er.

  The children were all very clever and thought for a moment before they all understood.

  Several catties of peanuts were sold one after another, and Lian Piao felt that both he and Lian Zhi had become skilled. Looking at the time, Wang Youheng should have finished his breakfast.

  "I'll give some peanuts to Young Brother Heng." Lian Man'er took the basket of peanuts prepared for Wang Youheng and walked towards the outside of the market.

  Just as they were approaching the entrance of the market, Lian Zhier hurriedly caught up with them from behind.

  Released four chapters first, looking at the weak and hardworking typing, that... pink is watching, okay.