The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 143 - 139: Discovering Business Opportunities

Chapter 143: Chapter 139: Discovering Business Opportunities

Ruo Shui thought about how the Academy had closed for the holidays, so even if they wanted to sell books there, they would have to wait until after the New Year, "With several idle days over the New Year, I’m not sure if we’ll still print books."

Originally, he and his brothers had planned to take advantage of the free time during the New Year to print more books and slowly sell them to bookstores later.

Ruo Xuan wasn’t worried at all, "Of course, we’ll print. I’m still waiting to open a bookstore! We can print a wider variety of books."

Their family’s books had a touch of immortal charm, unlike those from other families, so they weren’t worried about sales.

Ruo Shui replied, "It would be good to print a selection of different books, but if bookstores don’t accept the books, and we have no other books to use as references for typesetting. Buying books to print is too costly in terms of silver."

Financial resources were not that strong indeed!

That was not a problem for Ruo Xuan though, "Brother Xuanyuan has many books, and so does Master Han. I’ll borrow them one by one from them."

The reason Master Han was delayed for several days when he originally came from the Capital City to Shaxi County was firstly because he was of old age and dared not rush the horse carriage, and secondly because he was transporting many boxes of books, which slowed down the journey.

Upon hearing this, Ruo Shui felt reassured.

Ah, my daughter is only three years old, yet she seems more capable than me, her father!

It feels like nothing is a problem when it comes to her.

Father and daughter rode the horse carriage through the city’s main streets.

With the end of the year approaching, many street vendors had set up their stalls on the main streets. Xuanbao didn’t return to the carriage compartment; she sat next to her father, looking at the roadside stalls. The goods for sale were varied and more bustling than any market day she had previously seen in the city.

The most common items were candies, nuts, couplets, New Year paintings, window paper-cuts, and potted flowers for the New Year.

Especially the couplets—during the New Year, even the poorest families would buy a pair of couplets to hang at home, which not only made the home look festive but also represented their hopes for the new year.

In the past, the Ruo brothers would write some couplets and draw some New Year paintings each year, and Granny Lei, Madam Liu, and Madam Jiang would cut some window paper-cuts to sell in the city.

Their family members were good at writing and drawing New Year paintings, and the window paper-cuts they sold were more beautiful and meaningful than those of others, which usually brought in three to five taels each year.

Tomorrow was only the beginning of the festive period, with several days left until New Year’s Eve. Ruo Shui decided to buy some red paper and special New Year painting paper and write some couplets and paint some New Year paintings to sell in the city.

Although Xuanbao wanted to open a bookstore, no shop space had become available yet, and it was uncertain when the bookstore could be opened. The book printing work could be put aside for now, and they would first focus on earning this wave of silver.

Moreover, their own home needed to prepare couplets, and so did the people in the village. Every year, the villagers would buy couplets from their family, and they also needed to give some to friends and relatives.

Just ahead was a bookstore. Ruo Shui simply stopped and went in to buy a large pile of pre-cut red paper and paper specially for drawing New Year paintings.

After buying the paper, Ruo Shui also purchased some maltose, candied haw, sugar figurines, and sesame cakes—snacks that both Xuanbao and the few boys at home liked to eat.

As for candies, nuts, dried goods, and other items needed to entertain guests during the New Year, Ruo Shui didn’t buy them on the main street. He intended to go to his sister-in-law’s grocery store to make purchases, and by doing so, support his relatives’ business.

It would also be an opportunity to deliver New Year presents.

"Dad, these New Year flowers are being sold for such a high price. They’re so expensive. Yet, many people are buying them, and mostly, they’re being carted away by horse carriages," Xuanbao noticed the many New Year flowers for sale, with some going for a tael of silver per pot, and some rare ones selling for up to a hundred taels per pot.

I hadn’t realized flowers could be so valuable. It’s just that I don’t know if Xuancao flowers are of any value.

However, why isn’t anyone selling Xuancao Flowers?

Ruo Xuan craned her neck, searching for others of her kind.

Ruo Shui: "New Year’s potted plants are something only wealthy families can afford, which naturally makes them expensive. The mansions of the rich have large courtyards and numerous rooms, as well as cloisters, so buying more to decorate the rooms and beneath the cloisters adds to the festive atmosphere. Additionally, New Year gifts are necessary, and many affluent households send expensive plants as presents."

Ruo Xuan thought of the backyard of Bogu Pavilion and the villa where Xuanyuan Grandmother now lived. Except for those flowers planted in the ground of the courtyard that hardly changed, the potted plants surrounding it were changed with the seasons.

It seemed, therefore, that even when it wasn’t New Year’s, those wealthy households would likely buy flowers regularly.

And recently, associating more with people like Zhang Jie and Yan Jiaojiao, she learned that their families frequently hosted events like flower-watching parties. The literati, too, would hold poetry gatherings, meetings over tea, and flower-themed gatherings, basically converging for discussions on poetry.

She also learned that their homes in the Capital City even had greenhouses!

People in Xuanyuan Country mostly loved flowers!

She decided that after spring came, she would grow more flowers to sell next year.

The flowers she cultivated would definitely be better than those being sold here, and she was sure to earn more Silver.

As father and daughter scanned the stalls on both sides of the street, they both mulled over how to earn Silver, and before they knew it, they had arrived at Yongxinglong Grocery Store.

This grocery store belonged to Xuanbao’s Aunt, also run by the family of Madam Liu’s elder sister.

In front of the grocery store, two or three horse-drawn carriages and wagons were parked. Their own carriage was parked a bit farther from the store. It could still be seen from the entrance, so there was no fear of theft.

Ruo Shui got out of the carriage, then lifted Xuanbao down, and handed a paper-wrapped baked bun to the Coachman of the wagon behind them, saying, "Uncle, could you please keep an eye on the carriage for me? I need to buy some things at the grocery store. This baked bun is freshly bought, still warm. It’s so cold, Uncle, have something to warm you up."

The Uncle glanced at the bun in his hand and waved his hand, "I don’t need the bun, I’ll keep watch for you. It’s just a small favor. But you’d better be quick, as I’ll be leaving soon."

"Alright, Uncle, don’t be shy. I bought plenty of buns. Have one while they’re warm, and thank you for the trouble. When you need to leave, just go ahead, I’ll be out shortly," insisted Ruo Shui, pressing the bun into the other’s hands.

After some polite refusal, the Coachman finally accepted it. In the deep winter, having been out since early morning for shopping, he was frozen through, and having a baked bun to warm his stomach wasn’t a bad idea.

Ruo Shui took out two bags of New Year’s gifts she had prepared for Xuanbao’s Aunt from the carriage—they still had more on it—and then ushered Xuanbao into the grocery store.

The grocery store was packed with people.

In recent years, with no wars to bewail, people lived peacefully and contentedly. Hence, at the end of every year, every family’s grocery store was overcrowded, all with folks preparing for the New Year.

Zhang Yecheng saw customers coming in and, out of habit, greeted: "Dear customers, welcome..."

The words had barely left his mouth when he recognized it was Ruo Shui, and a flicker of delight crossed his eyes: "Oh, Lao Jin, Xuanbao, you’re here!"

Ruo Shui smiled and said, "Brother-in-law."

Ruo Xuan, having been advised on proper greetings beforehand, sweetly said, "Uncle-in-law."

"Oh, Xuanbao can really talk now, calling me Uncle-in-law! Wenyao, Wenyao, come here quickly, your brother-in-law and Xuanbao are here!" Zhang Yecheng turned and yelled excitedly towards the inside.

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