Selling Tangerine
T/N: Chapter (1/6) sponsored by Madam Daim! Thank you so much for the continuous support and sponsoring so many chapters!
The time pa.s.sed quickly, and very soon, it was already the end of the seventh month.
By this time, the tangerines have already sweetened, and even Ji Liu Feng could finish an entire tangerine at once. Du Xiao Li went and picked an entire basket of tangerines, borrowed Han Ming Yi’s horse carriage, and attempted to have the fruit taken to the county seat to sell.
The sound of horse’s hooves resonated. Du Xiao Li was sitting inside the horse carriage. This was her second time riding Han Ming Yi’s horse carriage. The first time was when Leng Er went to go pick up Ji Liu Feng. That time, she only sat on the outside, and when she’d opened the curtains, she only saw Ji Liu Feng and didn’t see the decorations inside clearly. That’s why seeing the grandly decorated horse carriage, then looking again to her own worn-out basket, Du Xiao Li felt extremely out of place.
Especially since the owner of the horse carriage is also inside!
Du Xiao Li looked to his silent appearance, inwardly wandering if she were to dirty his horse carriage would he jump up and yell at her, and then regret agreeing to her request? Also, why didn’t he just obediently stay at home, coming along for what?
“Never seen selling tangerines before, going together to gain some knowledge.” Du Xiao Li thought of his excuse and almost replied with, “You’re just bored out of your mind, right?!”
Luo Qi was left at home by her, because she didn’t know if there will be people in the county seat that will recognize him. If it was his allies, then it would still be good, but if it was an enemy, then it’ll be troublesome. That’s why, it was still better to not come out.
Ji Liu Feng said he wasn’t interested in selling things, so he didn’t come out either. Tagging along were just Leng Yi and Leng Er, who were driving the horse carriage outside.
“Aren’t you worried that your tangerines won’t sell?” Han Ming Yi saw that Du Xiao Li had a face full of excitement, not the least bit worried, and asked.
In her past life, although she’d planted tangerines before, the outside buyers would come directly to her relative’s village to purchase. That’s why, selling things, for her, was also a first. Hearing Han Ming Yi asking herself, Du Xiao Li smiled and said, “The people her have never seen a tangerine before. Not being able to accept it at first is also very normal. That’s why I already made mental preparations. Once the market opens up, it’ll get better.”
“You sure are optimistic.” Han Ming Yi said, and then didn’t speak again, only reclining back on the couch to rest.
Leng Yi and Leng Er directly had the horse carriage driven to the fruit market that Du Xiao Li mentioned. When the horse carriage steadily came to a stop, Du Xiao Li pulled open the curtains and asked, “Have we arrived?”
“En. We’ve arrived.” Leng Er replied, and jumped off first, helping her bring down the basket.
Leng Yi looked around with his brows furrowed and said to Han Ming Yi, “Young master, it’s too dirty here, it’s best if you stay in the carriage.”
Du Xiao Li glanced at the vendor’s booths in the marketplace and said, “Big brother Yi, how about you go stay somewhere else for a while.”
Han Ming Yi pulled open the curtains, glanced around, and then calmly got down from the horse carriage, saying: “No matter.”
Du Xiao Li went and paid the fifty copper coins for the vendor’s booth fee over at management. Afterwards, she had Leng Er take the basket to an empty spot near the outside of the market, and took out a piece of cloth to spread over the straw. Then, she had the tangerines individually taken out, piled them up like a little mountain.
“What fruit is this, why have I never seen it before?” Someone saw Du Xiao Li setting up the tangerines and curiously asked.
“This is called a tangerine. Does aunty want some?” Du Xiao Li asked with a smile.
That older woman looked for a bit, but ultimately still shook her head, saying: “A never seen before fruit, what if I get a stomachache from eating? Forget about it.”
This first transaction wasn’t a success, but Du Xiao Li wasn’t discouraged either. She stood behind her own booth and continued to wait.
“Young master.” Leng Yi had the horse carriage properly parked somewhere, and then brought over a stool for him. Han Ming Yi sat behind Du Xiao Li, watching the customers come and go one by one. About two hours in, not a single tangerine had been sold.
“Girl, don’t tell me you’re going to stay here all day, and not sell a single tangerine?” Leng Er crouched down next to Du Xiao Li and asked.
Du Xiao Li picked up a tangerine, peeled the skin, and shared half with Leng Er, saying: “Even if I don’t sell a single one, it wouldn’t be that strange either. The people of this world have low tolerance, momentarily unable to accept is also very normal. Did you think they would all be like you all?”
Because she was bored, Du Xiao Li began eating tangerines one after the other. A twenty some year old married woman saw her eating, and thus also wanted to try. Du Xiao Li handed her a piece of the one she was eating. That woman felt the taste was quite good, and thus asked the price.
“Ten copper coins for one catty.” Du Xiao Li said.
“Ten copper coins for one catty, isn’t this price of yours too high?” The woman said.
“This is already the lowest price. In this entire marketplace, do you see another place selling this tangerine of mine? If you come buy again in another two days, it won’t be this price anymore.” Du Xiao Li explained with a smile.
It was only ten copper coins, where was it expensive!? Eh, she seemed to have overlooked this current society’s production capability. However, since she already said it, then will just have to sell it like this.
That woman thought for a moment, and felt it was still acceptable, so she spent ten copper coins to buy a catty. Du Xiao Li said she was her first customers, and thus gave her two additional ones.
“Take care, aunty.” Du Xiao Li said with a smile, cheerfully putting away the ten copper coins into her own little satchel.
With someone as the start, more people came to try in succession. Some people didn’t like the taste, while some people felt it was expensive. However, she finally sold another few catties.
Just then, two girls dressed in servant’s clothes came into the marketplace. But, even if they were dressed as servant girls, their clothes were still much better looking than an average person’s.
“Hong Jie, in this season right now, where are there still plums for sale!” One servant girl anxiously said.
The one called Hong Jie’s face was also filled with worry. “Xiao Cui, are you certain there aren’t any plums right now?”
Xiao Cui nodded and said, “The season for plums have long past already. Furthermore, there aren’t any sour fruits for sale lately.”
“Madam’s morning sickness have been terrible lately, and want to eat sour things. What should we do…” As soon as she heard, she felt even more anxious and pulled Xiao Cui to go further into the market. “Let’s first go see what all is there for sale.”
The two of them circled around the marketplace, yet didn’t find any sour fruits. They couldn’t help feeling a bit dejected.
“Hong Jie, what will we do if madam gets angry?” Xiao Cui was nearly about to cry from worrying, “Ever since madam got pregnant, she seems to have completely changed, we……”
“Shut up, is madam someone we can casually discuss?” Hong Jie berated in a low voice.
“Xiao Cui is wrong.” Xiao Cui got scolded, and thus lowered her head.
“What fruit is this, why is it this sour? Can this thing even be eaten?!” Just then, a voice was heard.
Sour? Hong Jie’s attention was immediately drawn over, as she said, “Let’s go over and see.”
Du Xiao Li saw Hong Jie and Xiao Cui walking over. She then looked to the person in front that was obviously trying to nitpick and patiently said, “Big sister, this is called a tangerine. Before you ate, I already told you, the flavor is sour.”
“Is it really sour?” Hong Jie came before her, picked up a tangerine, and smelled it.
“That’s right. Right now, at this time, tangerines are still sour. After a while, it’ll be sweeter. Does big sister want to eat a sour one or a sweet one?” Du Xiao Li had the half peeled tangerine handed over and said, “Does this big sister want to try?”
T/N: I just realized ever since Luo Qi appeared even Silver’s screen time have decreased. I miss Silver already ?
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