Chapter 11: Adding a Few Things

The red amaranth is a deep crimson when scooped out, with a slightly slippery texture and an excellent mouthfeel. Most people enjoy this vegetable, and it has no unpleasant odor.

It is succulent, with bright red patterns on green leaves, making it very pleasing to the eye.

People like Boss Zhu, who have been in business for a long time, certainly wouldn't be growing vegetables at home.

As soon as Mei Xue laid out her vegetables, the surrounding vendors took notice.

The corn, in particular, caught the eye of the poultry vendor across from Mrs. Zhu after she finished her purchase.

"Little girl, how much are you selling these vegetables for?" Since he started his business, he hadn't eaten such fresh, succulent vegetables in a long time.

In the past, his elderly mother used to farm, but now that she was older, she had moved to the town to live with them, and there was no longer a place for her to farm. The family's vegetables were all bought from outside.

By the time they finished their business and went to buy groceries, they were only left with the leftovers that others hadn't picked, so how could they be fresh?

"Whichever one you fancy, Boss. I picked these all this morning. Look, they are still very tender and fresh," Mei Xue immediately began to praise her own produce.

"For the corn, follow my sister's count—thirty cents a jin. This is early corn; every kernel is plump and full of juice, sweet and delicious. It's perfect for both the elderly and children."

"The chilies are also freshly picked; they are tender and don't have that raw green taste. The price isn't expensive either—eight cents."

"For the eggplant, let's say ten cents."

"The amaranth should be a bit cheaper; I'll give it to you for five cents, a bit less than the chilies."

Mei Xue's prices had been personally calculated by Grandma He, based on a casual inquiry she had made during their last trip to the town market.

At the time, Mei Xue couldn't understand why Grandma only asked and didn't buy anything, but now it seemed Grandma had likely made up her mind long ago.

Upon hearing this, the poultry boss thought it was true; the price wasn't expensive and was about the same as what he paid his wife for those leftover vegetables.

"Alright then, give me a bit of everything. There are many people in my family. Don't sell the corn to anyone else—give it all to me. Our family eats chilies, so give me three jin. The eggplants look tender too, give me four or five."

The poultry boss snapped an eggplant in half and took a light bite to test the flavor; it was indeed good.

As for the amaranth, it was a good item with blood-replenishing properties, making it ideal for the elderly and children.

"Give me more amaranth. In this weather, it can last for a day or two. Give me half of it."

The poultry boss was a big customer, and Mei Xue's manual dexterity was impressive. As soon as he spoke, she began moving the vegetables to the side for him.

Now, it was time to weigh them.

"The corn is seventeen jin and three liang; I'll charge you seventeen jin, Boss." After saying this, Mei Xue placed the corn into an empty basket, then picked up the eggplants, taking four first, checking the scale, and then taking more.

"The eggplants are three jin and three liang; I'll charge you three jin." Mei Xue also imitated Boss Zhu from earlier, pulling the scale until it tilted.

"Five jin of chilies and three jin of amaranth." After weighing everything and showing it to the poultry boss, Mei Xue began to calculate the total.

Seeing him nod, Mei Xue smiled and stated the price: "That will be five yuan and ninety-five cents in total." Her heart bled a little—all that produce for only five yuan.

In her opinion, these were priceless treasures.

The poultry boss frowned slightly but said nothing more. "Alright, I'll go back and get the money."

Mei Xue was a clever girl. Hearing him say this, she picked up a basket. "Then let me deliver it to you, Boss."

Even if the distance wasn't far, one had to provide proper service.

Sure enough, the poultry boss smiled. "Alright."

Arriving at his stall, he called out loudly to the person inside, "Yuelan, come out and settle the vegetable bill!"

A woman plucking feathers from a chicken soon walked out of the house, her clothes somewhat stained with blood; she had likely been slaughtering or prepping poultry just now.

"What is it? Where did you go to buy vegetables at this hour?" the woman asked as soon as she emerged.

The poultry boss explained to his wife with great patience.

Upon hearing this, the lady said, "That's wonderful! Let me see."

When she saw the succulent vegetables in the basket, her face lit up with joy. "We have corn already at this time? Not bad, not bad. Little girl, here is your money."

With that, she pulled money from her pocket.

She handed a five-yuan note and a one-yuan note to Mei Xue. "Thank you, little girl."

Those in business are often accustomed to wearing a smile, and Mei Xue took five cents from her bosom to give change to the lady. "Don't mention it, Auntie. Where should I put these? I'll carry them inside for you."

"No need, no need. Just leave them here, and I'll take them in myself in a moment," Auntie Chicken politely declined.

However, Mei Xue didn't truly intend to go inside; after all, the back was their home, and she couldn't actually enter.

"Alright then, I'll leave them here for you, Auntie."

In such a short time, Mei Xue had sold half to two-thirds of her vegetables, which was truly a joyous thing.

There were many other vendors around, and Mei Xue planned to wait a little longer. If no one came to buy, she would go to the other vendors to sell her vegetables to them.

Since she had finally managed to come out and wander on her own, she wanted to look around.

Many people were coming by to buy meat or savory dishes.

Seeing Mei Xue's small vegetable stall, people noticed how fresh the produce looked. One person bought a jin, another two jin, and soon the last of the vegetables were sold out.

Mei Xue estimated the time and found that it had only been a little over an hour, which was truly gratifying.

After finishing her sales, Mei Xue counted the money and found she had made about seven or eight yuan in total.

This made her think of her large bucket of eels—thirty yuan. *Wuwu*, life is hard.

"Thank you, bosses, my vegetables are all sold out." Mei Xue packed up her stall, thanking Boss Zhu and the poultry boss who had been her first customers.

Boss Zhu nodded with a smile in response; he still had customers at his stall.

Since there were fewer people at the poultry boss's side, he called out to Mei Xue, "Sister, next time you come to sell vegetables, bring some to my house. We're so busy every day that we don't have time to go out and buy any."

"That would be great! I'll come back here during the next big market day," Mei Xue replied with a smile.

Carrying two empty baskets, Mei Xue walked toward Auntie Meilian's direction.

She wondered how Auntie Meilian's sales were going.

Mei Xue hadn't expected that her vegetables would sell out so soon after the rain stopped. She had to admit, the people in town were truly wealthy, unlike in the village where every household ate what they grew themselves.

As she walked toward the market area, she stopped when she saw the supply and marketing cooperative.

She thought about how when she left home early today, there was only one straw raincoat and not even a single umbrella; everyone used the bamboo hats made by the village elders, which could last for many years.

There was plenty of bamboo in the mountains; if one brought a few stalks back, a bamboo hat could be made in a few days.

Even things like their family's stools or the bamboo beds they slept on outside in the summer were all handmade by the family.

It had to be said, the villagers were all masters of craftsmanship.

(End of Chapter)