The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 153 - 149: Selling Couplets

Chapter 153: Chapter 149: Selling Couplets

Ruo Xuan visited the grain store, but since it was still early, the old Shopkeeper asked her if she wanted to go and see the rouge store in the city, as well as the manor and workshop.

Ruo Xuan declined, "No need, those aren’t urgent. We can just buy them directly. I’ll go see if my uncle and second brother have finished selling their couplets, and then I’ll head home!"

The grain store needed renovations, which was why she came to take a look.

After inspecting it, and after hearing some of Zhang Qian’s thoughts, Ruo Xuan had a clear idea of how to remodel and decorate the bookstore.

Among the children, Zhang Qian was the one who frequented bookstores the most. His advice was the most practical, and Ruo Xuan took note of everything he said.

Zhang Qian then said, "Coincidentally, our household hasn’t bought any couplets yet either. Let’s see if we can find any suitable ones."

Zhang Lian, who always spoke his mind, commented, "Aren’t the couplets for the big brother’s house always written by you and father in previous years?"

Zhang Qian, "This year father is quite busy and probably won’t have time to write them. Maybe this year, second brother, little sister, and I could write them together?"

He always felt that the ink used by the Ruo Family to copy books was different from others’, that the scent of the ink could quicken one’s thoughts and make the spirit soar, as if infused with a magical power.

He had an intuition that the couplets from the Ruo Family were different as well.

Zhang Jie refused to write, "This year dad is so busy, and big brother also has to prepare for next year’s challenges. Who has time to write couplets? If second brother you don’t buy them, go ahead and write them yourself! I definitely won’t be writing!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lian immediately said, "Then we should just buy them!"

Are you kidding? With his scrawling handwriting, how could he write couplets? If his father, coming and going every day, saw them, he would surely become so angry that he’d have him practicing his writing every day. He wouldn’t have any good days to look forward to for the next year!

Ruo Xuan said, "Qian brother, if there is any kind of couplet you want, there’s no need to buy it. Just take what you like. If you don’t like any, just tell me what kind of couplet you want, and I’ll have my dad write it for you, free of charge."

Zhang Qian laughed, "I have no specific requirements. Uncle Ruo Si’s literary grace is outstanding. Whatever he writes will certainly be better than what I could imagine."

Zhang Lian couldn’t help but tease, "Aren’t couplets all the same? What’s this about literary grace?"

Zhang Jie glared at him, "If second brother doesn’t speak, nobody will think you’re mute! Someone who can’t even recite the Thousand Character Classic, of course you don’t talk about literary grace!"

Zhang Lian retorted, "I can’t recite it, can you? You probably can’t even memorize all the characters in the couplets!"

As the two siblings bickered, they arrived at Ruo Chuan’s stall where he was selling couplets.

By this time, almost all of the couplets in the two baskets had been sold, leaving only a few pairs hung up on strings. People were haggling over these remaining pairs.

"Only these last few pairs are left; there is no choice, and they’ve hung here all morning. Can you make them cheaper, two coins for a pair? Sell a pair to me," a middle-aged woman pleas as she touches the couplets, seemingly unable to let them go, as for some reason, she just couldn’t bear to part with that set of couplets.

The other two customers also said, "Right, only these few pairs are left, make it cheaper and I’ll buy three pairs!"

"Make it cheaper, and I’ll take two pairs. That will just finish them off, right?"

Ruo Chuan insisted, "Four coins per pair, that’s the cheapest, can’t go any lower. I’ve been selling them for five coins all morning. These pairs are cheaper because I plan to sell out quickly and go home."

Ruo Xuan stepped closer to lend a hand, "Ladies, look how well our couplets are written. The red paper is of the highest quality, the ink is the finest Hui Ink, and even the water used to grind the ink has been infused with osmanthus. Smell the scent of the ink; it even has the lingering fragrance of sweet osmanthus. With the best red paper and finest ink, we hope our villagers can hang up new couplets to ensure a prosperous, lucky, and wealthy new year!"

Xuanyuan Que glanced at the couplets and then at Ruo Xuan.

This flower actually applied a Little Fairy Technique to the couplets, which would enhance the buyer’s luck and help them more easily fulfill their wishes.

She was really going to great lengths to earn silver!

Ruo Xuan met Xuanyuan Que’s gaze and gave a guilty smile before silently saying, "This Little Fairy Technique only works for kind-hearted people. That’s all right, isn’t it? Heavenly Dao won’t punish me, will they? This counts as a good deed! Good deeds bring good karma, and evil brings evil retribution. I’m helping the Heavenly Dao, right?"

Xuanyuan Que gave her an indifferent look, signalling her to interpret it as she may.

She has become bolder and bolder, but who asked her to meddle so much? Does Heaven need her to?

It was obviously for her own desire to make silver, yet this Little Fairy Technique indeed only manifests for those with a kind heart, so he let her be.

The vendor from the neighboring stall couldn’t help but shout loudly, "Couplets for three coins a pair! Three coins a pair! Many meaningful couplets to choose from – whatever you want, we have it! Just three coins per pair! Three coins per pair! Come pick and choose, esteemed guests!"

The stall next door had been set up with Ruo Chuan in the morning. By mid-morning, the father and son had only watched Ruo Chuan selling couplets, one after another. Two baskets full of couplets, one of window decorations, and a pile of New Year pictures sold out in no time. In comparison, they had only sold a few sets and now couldn’t help being anxious.

With that shout, a few people turned their heads to glance at the neighboring stall’s couplets. The red paper wasn’t as vibrant as this stall’s, and the calligraphy wasn’t as attractive, resulting in some disdain.

Zhang Lian, seeing someone competing for business, immediately spoke up loudly, "Are you all buying these couplets or not? If not, I’ll take them all! I’ve looked around this entire street, and I’ve found that this stall has the best couplets."

At this moment, some passersby were drawn to the displayed couplets and couldn’t resist asking, "How much for a pair of those couplets? I’ll take them all!"

Zhang Jie promptly replied, "The top-quality red paper ones are four coins a pair, and we only have a few pairs left. Once they’re sold, we’re heading home!"

"Deal! I’ve looked at many stalls’ couplets, and yours are written the best and use the finest red paper. Roll them up for me! I’ll take them all."

The customers, who were originally contemplating bargaining, started taking out their copper coins upon hearing this, "Four coins, right? Here, roll them for me!"

"I’ll take these three pairs for twelve coins! Here, hurry and roll them up for me, I need to get back home to cook."

"Here’s eight coins, please roll them up for me!"

Ruo Hang and Ruo Bo quickly took down the couplets and rolled them up for the customers.

In an instant, the remaining few pairs of couplets were sold out.

Ruo Chuan apologetically said, "Sorry, these last few pairs have been taken by these ladies. Our couplets for today are sold out. If you still want some, please come back tomorrow!"

The vendor from the neighboring stall was busy calling out, "Esteemed guests, I have some here! I have many couplets for you to choose from!"

The customer glanced at the next stall, then asked Ruo Chuan, "Will you be here tomorrow? And the day after tomorrow, will you still set up your stall?"

Ruo Chuan: "We will, we will. For the next few days, right up until the day before Chinese New Year’s Eve, we’ll be here!"

The customer, reassured, said, "Alright, I’ll come back the day after tomorrow!"

Ruo Chuan smiled, "Alright, when the time comes, I’ll certainly reserve a few pairs for you."

The customer nodded and left.

Zhang Qian, seeing this, left with his siblings.

Before leaving, Zhang Jie couldn’t resist asking, "Xuanbao, will you be here tomorrow? If you come tomorrow, I’ll also help you sell couplets!"

"Sure!" Ruo Xuan replied.

"Then it’s a promise!" She thought selling couplets was quite fun.

After selling all their couplets, Ruo Chuan began to pack up the stall to buy more red paper to take home. He wasn’t sure if his second and fourth brothers had finished writing, and he planned to go back to the city in the afternoon to sell some more.

Ruo Xuan felt that closing the stall so early meant missing a lot of customers, so she suggested, "Uncle, why don’t you let dad and my second uncle come to the city tomorrow as well? They can write on the spot while you sell."

Ruo Chuan’s eyes brightened, "That’s a great idea!"

Writing and selling on the spot would allow them to sell all day long!