Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 45 - 44 - Big Sale

Chapter 45: Chapter 44 – Big Sale

Chapter 45 -44 – Big Sale

During the farming off-season, more people came into the city for market day, causing Xiao’er and her family to wait for a quarter of an hour before they could access the city.

Once inside, Shen Chengyao had to search for a long time before he found a middle-aged man who had just sold his game and was preparing to leave.

With keen eyes and nimble hands, Xiao’er quickly jumped off the bull cart with a bag of herbs to claim the spot.

An uncle who was a split second late couldn’t help but lament, “This girl is really quick!

Even though I’m closer, I wasn’t as fast as her.”

“I’m small and nimble, that’s why.

Uncle, there’s an aunt over there who’s about to sell out of eggs, you should go and wait.

Otherwise, you won’t have a spot again.”

Upon hearing this, the uncle looked over, and sure enough, she was nearly out of eggs.

Without wasting any more time, he shouldered his basket and ran over.

He had already circled this street twice.

Shen Chengyao helped them unload their wares from the cart before he had to leave.

He needed to find a contractor he knew from his previous working days who specialized in building houses.

Because they had worked together before, he knew the contractor was skilled and congenial, never cutting corners.

Thus, he decided to engage the contractor to build his own home.

He needed to find the contractor before he left for work, otherwise, he’d have to wait until he returned in the evening to meet him.

Mrs.

Liu strapped the little sister to her back, while Xiao’er and Jingrui set up the table.

They then laid a cloth on the table and placed a variety of silk flowers, hair ornaments, and rag dolls on it.

Next to their stall were an old lady who sold bamboo goods and her daughter.

The little girl’s eyes widened when she saw their goods, exclaiming, “Wow, so pretty!”

Hearing this, Mrs.

Liu smiled at them, “Sister, your bamboo items are also very exquisite.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao’er looked over and noticed several floral baskets.

They were indeed well-crafted, delicate, and aesthetic.

An idea came to her, “Auntie, how much are you selling the floral baskets for?”

“Are you referring to this one?” The lady asked, lifting a floral basket.

Xiao’er nodded, “Yes—how much?”

“This floral basket is three coins each.”

Seeing that there were only five left, Xiao’er decided to buy them all.

The old lady was overjoyed at selling all her baskets at once and even let her daughter choose a hair ornament.

The little girl was delighted.

By now, several people had gathered at Xiao’er’s stall, browsing their goods.

Since the family had already discussed the prices for each item and prepared answers for potential customer questions, Xiao’er let Mrs.

Liu handle the selling.

Jinghao kept a watchful eye on the stall to prevent theft, while Jingrui handled the money.

Xiao’er, on the other hand, took some silk flowers and rag dolls and began to play around with the baskets.

Flower arranging is a skill that many noblewomen learn to pass the time.

Now, Xiao’er was going to decorate the baskets with silk flowers and sell them.

“How much is this hair ornament?” A young woman asked.

“Since this hair ornament is made from silk, it’s six coins each.”

“That’s expensive—the others are selling them for three coins.”

“Our hair ornaments are one-of-a-kind in Minze Country.

They are a new design that we just came up with.

You won’t be able to find them anywhere else.

You can rest assured that your item won’t be duplicated.

Six coins each is quite reasonable.”

“Five coins—if it’s five coins, I’ll buy it.”

“If she’s not buying it for six coins, I will!” A young girl next to her chimed in hastily.

The young woman, upon hearing someone else wanted the hair ornament, stopped haggling.

“Who said I’m not buying it?

Here’s six coins, take it!”

Despite her reluctant glance at the pink rose hair ornament and a huff, the young girl ended up picking up three rag dolls and five hair ornaments.

Apparently, she came from a fairly well-off family.

Ordinary fabric hair ornaments were three coins each, while silk and satin ones were six coins.

Small rag dolls were thirty coins, medium-sized ones sixty coins, and large ones a hundred coins.

Despite being expensive, many people bought them.

The smaller and medium-sized rag dolls were bought the most, with fewer people buying the large ones.

The silk hair and flower ornaments sold out quickly because everyone had never seen such lifelike hair ornaments and silk flowers before.

They were irresistibly charming.

Once Xiao’er had finished decorating the five floral baskets, she placed them on the table, and immediately people inquired about the price.

Upon hearing they were three taels each, they hesitated.

The floral baskets were decorated with silk flowers made from silk, and they also had a medium-sized rag doll placed on top.

There was a Mashimaro rabbit, a pink pig, a kitty cat, and two Mickey Mice.

The floral baskets were brilliantly colored, lively, lovely, and dreamy beautiful.

Many young girls liked them.

However, the price was too high, unaffordable to them, and all they could do was admire from afar.

Just then, a four-person litter passing by stopped.

The young mistress inside lifted the curtain and spotted the floral baskets.

Her eyes instantly lit up and she instructed her maid to buy all the remaining floral baskets.

The lady from the stall next to them was astounded, her eyes filled with jealousy.

Her veritable three-coin floral baskets were embellished with a few silk flowers and resold for three taels!

She was infuriated with the comparison: when compared with people, one could die out of jealousy; when compared with goods, goods should be thrown away!

Her daughter had bought a common hair ornament for three coins.

The sight of her daughter’s hair ornament gave her an idea.

When they returned home, they would disassemble the hair ornament to learn how to make it.

Then, she too would be able to sell three-tael floral baskets.

With this thought, she regained a cheerful smile.

While Xiao’er and her family were doing a roaring trade, two young men were sitting in a private room on the second floor of a restaurant opposite them.

They were both handsome and dressed in brocade and jade, with their servile minions standing behind them.

Di Zhaowei saw Shangguan Xuanyi looking out the window and curiously followed his gaze, “It’s them!

What a coincidence.

What are they selling?

It seems very popular.”

“Items that girls like.”

“Ah, women’s money is the easiest to earn.”

“What do you think about selling those rag dolls down there in Jubao Pavilion in the Imperial Capital?”

On hearing this, Di Zhaowei’s eyes lit up, “Forget about one tael each, as long as the craftsmanship is meticulous and the materials are high-grade, they could sell for ten taels each.

Those bored women in the Imperial Capital love to buy novelty items.”

“Xiao Fuzi.” Shangguan Xuanyi casually called out.

“Master, please wait a moment.” Xiao Fuzi bowed and left the room.

“Who would have thought that a common rural family could come up with such unique rag dolls and silk flowers?”

Common?

Shangguan Xuanyi watched the seven or eight-year-old girl on the street below, with her warm smile and charming manners, even amidst the bustling market.

In her every move, he saw elegance and charm.

Yet, she was clearly just a little girl.

Xiao Fuzi arrived at Xiao’er’s stall: “Madam, I’ll buy all the remaining rag dolls.”

Xiao’er packed the remaining rag dolls and handed them to Xiao Fuzi, “That will be 500 coins.”

After paying the 500 coins, Xiao Fuzi said, “Madam, my master has invited you and your family to meet him upstairs.

He has some business to discuss.” He then subtly indicated with his eyes the private room on the second floor.

The three of them looked over and recognized the two men they had met on the mountain.

Xiao’er nodded at Mrs.

Liu, “The two men Dad helped on the mountain last time.”

Mrs.

Liu nodded in agreement.

“Madam, gentlemen, and Miss, please follow me.”

Mrs.

Liu led the three little ones upstairs.