Witty Wife, Better Life
Chapter 519 - 509 will definitely be sold out

Chapter 519: Chapter 509 will definitely be sold out

When she found the time, Shen Yunfang relayed the situation to Sister Li, and Li Xianglian listened with pursed lips, saying nothing.

Although Shen Yunfang wanted to persuade Li Xianglian, Qiu Shuping was her biological mother after all, and some things were not appropriate for her, as a daughter-in-law, to say.

Sighing, she thought that since the money was earned by Sister Li, it was up to her how to spend it. She was just giving a reminder, hoping that Sister Li hadn’t been working for others this past month.

Thinking it over, Shen Yunfang still wasn’t sure about Sister Li’s character, although she was no longer as submissive as she used to be. But who knew if she would revert to her old self when faced with the Li family? So, just to be safe, she casually mentioned the matter to Liu Jianjun as well.

In the end, Shen Yunfang could only hope she was overthinking it and that her cynical expectations would prove unfounded.

In the following days, Shen Yunfang and Dashuan were constantly running to the big markets in the lower brigades. The stock of fireworks at home was nearly gone, and to avoid affecting the business, Ma Liguo went to stake out at the fireworks factory again.

But this time, his treatment was much better than before. The gatekeeper clearly remembered him, and after asking about his purpose, even made a phone call on his behalf, passed on the message, and Ma Liguo was let in, somewhat dizzily.

The rest of the dealings went unusually smoothly. When Ma Liguo met with Director Wang and explained that he needed more fireworks, the man thought it over and agreed. He said Ma Liguo’s timing was auspicious; had he come two days earlier, even as factory director, he wouldn’t have any stock to provide because they were working overtime to complete national orders. They had just finished up the day prior, so Ma Liguo coming in today was indeed fortunate.

After receiving the confirmation, Ma Liguo went back, discussed it with Yunfang, and that same day, they hired a big truck. Taking all the money they had made, they went straight to Director Wang to pick up the goods.

This batch was three times larger than the last, and Ma Liguo looked worried, "Yunfang, we’re about to celebrate the New Year, and we’ve taken in so much stock. Can we really sell it all?"

"We can," Shen Yunfang replied with certainty.

Even if they couldn’t sell it all before New Year’s Eve, they could still sell afterward. Firecrackers weren’t like couplets, which were mostly sold before the New Year. Who ever heard of a family buying couplets after the celebration? But there were many traditions associated with the Chinese New Year that required firecrackers, such as on the second day when married daughters returned to visit their parents, firecrackers had to be set off; on the fifth day, known as ’Breaking the Fifth,’ firecrackers were used to celebrate according to tradition; on the seventh day, which was Renri, the common man’s birthday, there was a custom of setting off fireworks and firecrackers, as it was also considered the birthday of fire; the thirteenth day was for lighting kitchen lamps, and the fifteenth day was the Lantern Festival. Even after the close of the first lunar month, various festivals required the use of fireworks and firecrackers for celebration, so Shen Yunfang wasn’t worried at all about selling off the second batch of goods.

Indeed, in the short four days from when they received the second batch of goods until the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, she and Dashuan ran to four big markets. Each time they left with a full load and returned with an empty vehicle, their pockets growing fuller with money.

Returning home on the evening of the twenty-ninth, Shen Yunfang announced at the dinner table, "Today is already the twenty-ninth of the twelfth month, and tomorrow is the thirtieth. We’ve worked hard for most of the month; after dinner tonight, we’ll settle the accounts and divide the money so we can enjoy a prosperous New Year."

She had thought everyone would be excited, for although they didn’t know exactly how much money had been made, they had seen the daily earnings. It was clear they had definitely made money.

But after a moment of stunned silence, Dashuan was the first to ask, "Yunfang, are we not selling anymore? What about all that old stock still in the warehouse?"

"That’s fine, we can still sell it after the New Year. It’s just the couplets that can’t be sold anymore, but I don’t think there are many left. We’ll store them well, and we can take them out to sell next year." This was the same situation as last year; after the thirtieth, no one buys couplets anymore, but as long as they were stored properly and kept away from moisture, they could still be sold next year. Besides, there really weren’t many couplets left in the warehouse, maybe about ten thousand at most.

"No, what I mean is, are we not buying tomorrow? Isn’t there still a big market in Xihe Village tomorrow morning?" These past days, he and Yunfang had been attending markets, and during their visits, they had learned about another market happening the next day. Thinking about how they could sell so many firecrackers each time and bring back so much money, if they missed this opportunity, how much would they lose?

"There is a market, but tomorrow is the thirtieth already, we’ve made quite a bit, and we’ve been working hard for almost half a month. We need to consider our health, so let’s start resting tomorrow and have a good New Year." Shen Yunfang meant well, fearing that everyone had been too tired during this period. Earning money was important, but it was also necessary to consider the body’s capacity for work. It’s all about balancing work and rest.

"I don’t feel tired at all, just standing there every day, chatting with people a bit—what’s so exhausting about that? It’s much easier than farming at home." Dashuan’s wife shook her head indicating she wasn’t tired. And it wasn’t like they had to stand all the time; when there were fewer people, they even had a chance to sit and warm themselves by the fire—hardly tiring.

Shen Yunfang looked around at the others.

"How about we go out for half a day tomorrow, try to sell some more couplets? Whatever we sell will be a bonus, and we can come back home for lunch. It won’t mess with anything." Liu Jianjun suggested.

"Great, if we’re setting up a stall tomorrow, then my husband and I can join in on the fun too." Mu Huazhen immediately raised her hand in agreement. They hadn’t set up a stall in two years, not because they didn’t want to, but because they were busy working every day and didn’t have the chance. If they were to set up a stall tomorrow, both of them would be on break, and they could have the experience too.

"Right, I’ll go and sell too in the morning. I have my pitch all planned out. With me in the game, business is sure to boom tomorrow." Ma Liguo was eager to try.

"I think you all shouldn’t bother with the market tomorrow. Why not just join us at the fair? Let me tell you, there’ll be loads of people there. You’ll definitely do better at the fair than in the market." Dashuan spoke up, inviting them.

"Hey, that works for me. I’ve always wanted to check out the grand fair you all talk about. Let’s take the kids along tomorrow. We haven’t bought them clothes for the New Year yet. We could look around, and if we find something suitable, we can get them new outfits." Mu Huazhen came up with a new idea.

"Yeah, I think that’s a good plan too. The adults will manage without much fuss, but if we have the means, we should still buy the kids new clothes for the New Year. It wouldn’t be right otherwise. People would laugh at us if they saw." At this point, Old Lady Wang chimed in.

Li Xianglian nodded in agreement too.

"Okay then, let’s all go to the fair tomorrow. Us men will mind the stall and sell stuff, and you ladies can take the kids to buy clothes." Ma Liguo saw everyone agreed, so he decisively called the shots.

"I’d rather not join you all. It’s too far for me, I can’t make it. You take the kids. I’ll cook at home; that way, when you come back for lunch, you’ll have food ready." Old Lady Wang shook her head, indicating she wouldn’t go. She’d stay at home and keep watch.

"It doesn’t have to be that way. If you can’t walk, you can ride. Don’t we have a tricycle? You sit in it, and we’ll all push you along." Liu Jianjun was a very filial person.

"It really isn’t necessary. You all just take more fireworks to sell. At my age, I don’t want to be in crowded places—it’s too chaotic."

Seeing that Old Lady Wang truly didn’t want to go, everyone stopped insisting.

"Yunfang, why aren’t you saying anything?" Dashuan’s wife looked at Yunfang, who just sat there eating without a peep, and asked curiously.

"What’s there for me to say? You all have spoken, leaving nothing for me." Shen Yunfang said with a pout.

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