CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 144: ALREADY QUITE FAIR (BONUS CHAPTER 1)

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all. We’re off now. Xiwang, help your grandma back home first."

Xiwang still didn’t like Lin Xiang, who had taken her candy, but since grandma trusted her, even though she was angry, Xiwang obediently helped grandma home.

The ten-person team was ready to set off.

"Uncle Zhao, put your basket on the cart, I’ll help pull it."

Uncle Zhao quickly said, "No problem, no problem. I can carry it myself."

"Today we’re walking for nearly two hours; it’s better to put it on the cart. The weight won’t add much."

Unable to win against Fifth Uncle, Uncle Zhao had to put the basket on the cart.

As a token of gratitude, he knocked off a piece of Dingding candy for Chunya and Lin Xiang to eat.

"Thank you, Grandpa Zhao." Lin Xiang politely thanked him and popped the candy into her mouth.

She hadn’t tasted Dingding candy before.

In her previous world, elderly people carried baskets and sold candy, but it was very expensive. Just the small piece Uncle Zhao gave would cost ten yuan.

So Lin Xiang never bought any.

Compared to refined candy, this original flavor was ordinary, but Lin Xiang enjoyed it a lot.

Uncle Wang approached Fifth Uncle, "Fifth, can I put my basket up there too? It’s a long journey. My eldest and I can take turns pulling the cart, so everyone can rest a bit."

"Sure. But there’s not much space left, so you’ll have to find room yourself."

"No problem, no problem."

Uncle Wang found a gap and placed his basket, feeling much lighter instantly.

Aunt Chen saw this, "Fifth Uncle, can you put our basket up too? My daughter-in-law and I are all women, and we’re not strong."

Fifth Uncle frowned, "Aunt, it’s not that I’m unwilling, but there’s really no space left."

"Oh come on, just prop it on the chair. I’ll put it down."

Aunt Zhao was about to unload the basket when Lin Xiang spoke up quietly, "Go ahead, but if you break my chair, you’ll have to pay for it."

"Oh come on, it’s just a few chairs, girl, don’t be so stingy."

"Then give two flatbreads to my Fifth Uncle and Uncle Wang to share."

"Why should I?" Without thinking, Aunt Chen said, "I intend to sell these flatbreads. If they eat them, what am I going to sell?"

"Uncle Wang exchanged his basket for taking turns pulling the cart with his eldest. No one felt shortchanged. Grandpa Zhao exchanged his basket for giving me and Chunya a big piece of candy. No one felt shortchanged. But when it comes to you, you won’t part with the flatbreads, nor are you willing to pay for labor, just wanting to take advantage. I’d like to ask why."

"Hey, you..."

"Mom, forget it, forget it." The eldest daughter-in-law of the Chen family pulled the fuming Aunt Chen, "Since the girl isn’t willing to help us, we can’t insist. I and my sister-in-law will take turns carrying it with you."

Aunt Chen placed the basket on the ground, "Do I have to take turns carrying it with you? You two carry it yourselves!"

The basket wasn’t large, but it was filled to the brim with flatbreads and stir-fried potato slivers, quite heavy.

Watching the two daughters-in-law of the Chen family struggle, Lin Xiang asked, "Do you want to exchange two flatbreads for the chance to put the basket on the cart?"

Lin Xiang didn’t even ask for three, just two, which was already generous.

The eldest daughter-in-law of the Chen family smiled wryly, "I’d like to, but..."

Aunt Chen had already walked ahead, arms folded behind her.

Lin Xiang shrugged and didn’t say anything more.

If their own family doesn’t care, why should she care?

After nearly two hours of walking, they finally arrived at the market.

Lin Xiang paid the protection fee as usual, gave the manager a pack of cigarettes, and borrowed some bricks to set up a stove.

Uncle Wang asked Lin Xiang, "Girl, do you think we need to pay this fee?"

Having not yet sold a pound of twists, Uncle Wang was reluctant to pay a dollar up front.

After all, a whole basket of twists would only sell for one or two dollars.

"I pay a protection fee because I need to set up a stove. You just have a basket and a scale; you can leave at any time and take up so little space. No need to pay."

Uncle Wang was relieved and, along with his eldest son, started laying out the twists.

Considering the long journey, they didn’t bring tables or chairs, just the basket, and a basket with a scale in it.

They took the scale out, placed some twists in the basket, and the father and son sat down on the curb.

When Lin Xiang and Fifth Uncle set up their stall, they saw Uncle Wang and his son sitting idly on the curb and curiously asked, "Uncle Wang, what are you two doing sitting there?"

"Waiting to make the first sale?"

"Just waiting? You have to shout! If you don’t shout, how will anyone know what you’re doing? We need to call out the price of the twists. If people think it’s expensive, they won’t come close. But those who do approach are interested in buying, and we can then offer them deals. That’s how you sell twists, right?"

Uncle Wang looked as if he had learned something and started calling out, imitating Mrs. Lin.

Uncle Zhao was even more open and had started shouting early on.

"Dingding candy, maltose—"

The candy was much more attractive than twists, and Uncle Zhao made several sales just as Uncle Wang opened.

Only the Chen family daughters-in-law hadn’t made a sale yet.

Unlike Lin Xiang, they didn’t have a stall, nor like Uncle Zhao and Uncle Wang, who could sell with just a basket.

If they were only selling flatbreads, it would be fine, but they also had to add toppings, which wasn’t feasible sitting by the roadside, nor would customers be willing to buy like that!

Aunt Chen had to seek help from Lin Xiang.

Lin Xiang was busy cooking noodles and had no time for Aunt Chen.

"You can pay a dollar protection fee and borrow a table over there," she said.

Aunt Chen shouted, "I haven’t even started selling yet, and you want me to pay a dollar?"

Her stuffed flatbread was only priced at ten cents each, meaning she would have to sell ten to make a dollar. If she paid that, how would she earn anything?

"If you’re unwilling to spend, find your own way!" Lin Xiang shouted back and refused to talk to Aunt Chen anymore.

Aunt Chen returned, cursing, just as someone approached for inquiries.

"Are these flatbreads? How much?"

Aunt Chen immediately changed her tone, "These flatbreads were freshly made this morning, still warm. Ten cents each, how many do you want?"

"How much? Ten cents? Why don’t you just rob me!"

The person cursed, hastily walked away.

Aunt Chen extended a hand, "Don’t go, these are stuffed flatbreads, with toppings inside!"

But the person was already gone.

Aunt Chen turned to scold her daughters-in-law, "No foresight at all. How can you expect to sell anything? Hurry up and shout!"

The two daughters-in-law hadn’t shouted before, and looked at each other, unwilling to speak up.

But Aunt Chen watched them like a hawk, leaving them no choice but to resign themselves to shouting.