Siheyuan: Start with a Truck Driver

Chapter 404 Markets
Liu Changshun saw the cotton wrap on the rear seat, and stepped forward to hug it.

"Hong Chang, there are cucumbers inside? Wrapped in a quilt, it's too careful!"

Wang Weidong said with a smile: "This thing is easy to touch, if the skin is broken, it will be worthless."

Liu Changyi also went up to help, and the two took the cucumber from the quilt to the pick.

Then he carried the pick on his shoulders.

"Hong Chang, I forgot to ask you, how do you sell this cucumber? How much is it per catty?"

"It doesn't matter how much it weighs, or how much it's rooted to, it's only one yuan per piece."

"What?" Liu Changshun instantly felt that the pick on his shoulders seemed to be much heavier, and he couldn't breathe under the weight, so he quickly bent down and put the pick on the ground.

He picked up a cucumber, looked at it carefully, and rubbed the raised surface of the cucumber with his callused hands.

"This cucumber looks really strange, but it costs 1 yuan a piece, isn't it too expensive, can it be sold?"

Wang Weidong didn't explain too much, but just said lightly: "Don't worry, you can sell it, but before you sell cucumbers, if someone asks you, it's peach cucumbers."

"Peach cucumber? Is it a new variety?" Liu Changyi once worked with the agricultural technician sent by the top, so he knows a lot.

"Yes, it's a new variety. You will sell it at this price. Even if you can't sell it, don't lower the price. We will still meet here in the evening."

After a few words of advice, Wang Weidong left on his bicycle.

Liu Changshun looked at the cucumber in the pick, and scratched his head: "Brother, do you think Hong Chang is stupid, this thing can be sold more expensive than meat?"

"Do you think Hong Chang looks like a fool?" Liu Changyi raised the burden, "If he can marry two wives in a row, he must be smarter than the two of us combined. Don't think too much, let's hurry up and take a good position."

"Yes, yes" Liu Changshun hurriedly picked up the burden and followed behind Liu Changyi.

The two of them had come to Nancheng to sell rice eels, so they knew the way and soon came to the market.

The two brothers put the pick in front of them, then took out two buns from the padded jacket, and swallowed them with cold boiled water.

At this time, the residents visiting the morning market had already arrived, and the older girls and the younger daughter-in-law were all carrying vegetable baskets and rummaging in front of the stalls.

By the way, the market is full of yelling and bargaining.

Among them was a thin, mean-looking old lady who was particularly rowdy.

"Look, your cabbage is not fresh at all, it's 2% cheaper."

"Old lady, my vegetable has just been picked from the vegetable field, can it not be fresh? Besides, a catty of Chinese cabbage sells for 1 cent. If you want me to make it 2 cents cheaper, how can I make money!"

The old lady ignored the old vegetable seller, picked up two handfuls of cabbage from the stall and threw them into her basket, took out a dime and threw them in front of the old vegetable seller.

"What, you still want to make money, do you know what my son does? He is dedicated to punishing you speculators. If I give you money, I think I think highly of you."

The old man was so angry that he picked up the pipe and pot and took a few puffs, but there was nothing he could do.

The old lady was right. Selling vegetables in the market is indeed illegal. If you are caught, it will not be worth the loss.

The money lost should be used as medical expenses for the old lady.

The middle-aged man selling earthen gourds next to him seemed to know the old lady, looked at the old vegetable seller and said with a smile: "Uncle, don't be angry, this old woman surnamed Wang just likes to take advantage of it."

The old vegetable seller spit out a cloud of white mist, sighed, what can he do if he can't breathe, can he really beat the old woman for the few cents?
However, this Mrs. Wang seems to be very smart, and she only takes a few per cent every time she takes advantage, and never takes more advantage.

So although the vendors were unwilling, they didn't quarrel with her. They were doing business, making money with peace.

Mrs. Wang "buys" two beans for the owner's house and a piece of tofu for the west's family, and wanders unsteadily to the Liu family brothers' booth.

"Huo, this cucumber is really juicy and tender. Buy two cold salads and eat it. It must taste very good."

Mrs. Wang looked up at Liu Changshun: "Hey, how do you sell this cucumber!"

"One dollar each." Liu Changshun seemed to feel that the price was a bit high, so he replied a little embarrassed.

"One dollar? Why don't you grab it!"

Mrs. Wang rubbed her ears, and after confirming that she had heard correctly, her face drooped immediately, "Even if the cucumbers from the south cost only fifty cents a catty, if you sell them for one yuan per catty, aren't you cheating?"

Liu Changshun blushed suddenly, his neck was so thick that he couldn't answer, yes, who has seen cucumbers that are more expensive than meat?

He could only repeat what Liu Hongchang said: "Here, this is a peach cucumber, which is different from ordinary cucumbers, so it is naturally more expensive."

"What? Peach cucumbers, even old farmers can deceive people now!" Mrs. Wang laughed twice, picked up two cucumbers from the stall, and dropped 1 cents: "I know the door, even if it is from The cucumbers brought back from the south are only 5 cents a catty, and these two cucumbers are only half a catty, so if I give you 1 cents, it’s no less for you, right?”

Liu Changshun counted with his fingers for a long time, but he couldn't figure it out. Why is half of 5 cents worth 1 cents?

However, he understands one thing, that is, Liu Hongchang explained that cucumbers must be sold for 1 yuan a piece, and the 1 cents that the old woman paid was far from enough.

He stretched out his hand and snatched the cucumber from Mrs. Wang: "I'm sorry, I won't sell this cucumber to you. You can buy it wherever you want!"

How could Mrs. Wang have endured this kind of anger? In the past, no one dared to say no to her when she was picking up vegetables in the market.

She took a big look at the two commune members from the countryside. They were wearing tattered cotton jackets and slit shoes, looking pitiful.

"I buy vegetables, why don't you sell them!"

She was furious at that time, and wanted to rush up and scratch Liu Changshun, but Liu Changyi had been staring at her for a long time, stepped forward quickly, and stopped in front of Liu Changshun.

"Hey, you old lady is unreasonable. You like to buy it for 5 cents, so you can buy it casually. If we don't sell you cucumbers, why not? Are you still looking for trouble?"

He has a burly figure, and the faintly bulging muscles under the padded jacket make him look very powerful.

Although Mrs. Wang likes to take advantage, she is not a fool. She knows that people like Liu Changyi really dare to beat people.

Of course, she has a lot of ways to deal with this kind of muddy legs from the countryside.

Mrs. Wang took two steps back and shouted loudly: "Come and see, big guy, someone is cheating people here. Cucumbers cost [-] cents a catty and sell for [-] dollar a piece. Isn't he bullying people?"

There were a lot of people buying things in the market, and soon some people gathered around to watch the excitement.

"Whoever bullies others, dares to bully others here, I think he is tired of life!"

"It's those two countrymen who dare to buy cucumbers for 1 yuan!"

When Mrs. Wang saw someone surrounding her, she regained her spirits instantly, jumped on her feet, and even her hair stood on end.

A middle-aged man walked out of the crowd. He frowned and looked at Mrs. Wang: "Ma'am, cucumbers are different from cucumbers. Their cucumbers may be a special variety! They are willing to sell one for 1 yuan, but you don't buy it." No, why are you scolding others?"

Mrs. Wang turned cold: "Hey, young man, which side are you from? Why are you talking to these country people?"

"Ma'am, what I'm telling you is the truth. They clearly marked the price, even if you sell it for 100 yuan a piece, you'll be fine if you don't buy it. Is there any need to get angry with them here?" Hit her with your neck.

The onlookers nearby also understood this meeting, and immediately started talking about it.

"That's right, they sell cucumbers, but they don't force you to buy them. Is it necessary?"

"Oh, isn't this Mrs. Wang, who takes advantage of others in the market all day long, and when these two guys don't let him go, he becomes angry from embarrassment."

"This man is really disrespectful!"

Mrs. Wang is a frequent visitor in the market, and she was recognized after a while, and everyone began to criticize her.

Those words made normal people feel hot-skinned and run away, but Mrs. Wang has been in the market for so many years, relying on her thick skin.

She spat hard and squinted her triangular eyes: "Hmph, I'm going to stand here today and see who will buy your cucumbers."

After she finished speaking, she put her arms around her arms and stood in front of the booth in a daze.

This made Liu Changshun very angry. With such an old woman standing in front, who would come to buy cucumbers?

But there was no way to push him away, after all, he was just standing there, and the market was not owned by the Liu family, so no one could push him away.

Sure enough, as Liu Changshun expected, people who bought vegetables in the market walked around Mrs. Wang for nearly half an hour, and there was no one asking the price.

Liu Changshun was worried. If things continued like this, he might not be able to sell a single cucumber by nightfall. How would he deal with Liu Hongchang then?
"Hey, brother, let's just give the old lady two cucumbers, it won't be a problem if it goes on like this."

Seeing that Mrs. Wang showed no signs of leaving, but stood there humming a ditty instead, Liu Changshun couldn't stand it anymore, and elbowed Liu Changyi.

"Huh? Give it to her for free, that won't work. Hong Chang told me that it must be one dollar a piece. We can't break Hong Chang's rules." Liu Changyi shook his head, "I don't believe that the old lady won't leave, anyway we Wowo has a lot of headbands and enough water, so let's spend time with her here today."

Seeing that no one came to buy cucumbers, Mrs. Wang was very proud. This is the prestige of her Mrs. Wang.

Just as he was thinking about it, a middle-aged man in a gray tunic rushed over from a distance.

"Hey, I've been looking for it for a long time, and finally found it for me, cucumber, cucumber!"

Ignoring Mrs. Wang's existence, he ran to the booth and asked Liu Changshun, "Little comrade, is this cucumber the peach flavor?"

"Yes, yes, how do you know?" Liu Changshun was very happy to see the customers.

The middle-aged man is Liu Hong, the manager of the aquatic product company who bought cucumbers a few days ago. After he took the cucumbers back, he gave them to several friends,

After the friends finished eating, they were full of praise, and the effect was better than that of Moutai.

Only then did Liu Hong realize his negligence. He didn't leave the name and address of the cucumber seller.

So, he has been wandering around in the market for the past few days, but Liu Hongchang is busy getting married and divorced, so he didn't come to the market at all.

"Don't worry about how I know, is this cucumber worth a dollar a piece?"

"Yes, one yuan a piece, how do you know?"

"...Don't worry about how I know, can you taste it?"

"cannot!"

Manager Liu Hong, who was about to pick up the cucumber, was stunned by these words. The appearance of this peach cucumber is exactly the same as that of ordinary cucumbers. If you don't try it yourself, how will you know whether it is a peach cucumber or an ordinary cucumber.

Just when he was hesitating, Mrs. Wang said: "Comrade, I see that you are also well-dressed, and you don't really believe what these two guys say! Why can you ask for 1 yuan for cucumbers? It's definitely a lie." human!"

I thought to myself, if you don't give me cucumbers, I will definitely mess up your business this time.

But to her surprise, the middle-aged man ignored her at all, but looked at Liu Changshun and said, "This cucumber is more expensive, and it is understandable not to let you try it. How about it, I will buy one. If it’s a peach cucumber, then I’ll continue to buy it. If it’s just an ordinary cucumber, you have to refund me the money for this cucumber.”

Liu Changshun froze for a moment, then looked at Liu Changyi.

Liu Changyi was also a little puzzled, and muttered in a low voice: "Brother Hong Chang only said to sell one piece, and he didn't say that others are not allowed to return the product."

Liu Changshun also felt that a cucumber costing 1 yuan a piece was too outrageous, so he nodded: "Okay, I will do as you said."

The middle-aged man took out a dollar and handed it over, picked a cucumber at random, then took out a white towel from his pocket, and wiped it carefully.

These days, pesticides are rarely seen in rural areas, so he put a cucumber in his mouth and took a bite.

Cucumber juice splashes everywhere, and the unique peach flavor spreads along the taste buds in an instant.

The middle-aged man squinted his eyes with a look of enjoyment: "This is the taste, that's right!"

Even though he really wanted to eat it, he held back after taking two bites, and wanted to take the remaining half of the cucumber home for his daughter to eat.

He took out a stack of banknotes from his pocket and asked, "Comrade, how many cucumbers do you have here?"

"I lost this a long time ago. It was originally 53. Excluding the one you ate just now, there are still 52." Liu Changshun's eyes lit up when he saw the banknote.

The middle-aged man counted out 52 yuan from the banknotes and handed it to Liu Changshun: "Here is 52 yuan. You count it. I will cover all these cucumbers."

"All inclusive? Spend so much money to buy a bunch of cucumbers?" Liu Changshun gasped.

Liu Changyi glared at his elder brother, took the banknotes from the middle-aged man, and counted them.

"Yes, that's right, it is indeed 52 yuan. Brother, put it on the car for him."

"Great, comrade, you are so bold!" Liu Changshun also understood now, hurriedly found a rag to wrap the cucumber carefully, and helped Manager Liu Hong put it on the back seat of the car.

"Alas, comrade, why don't you listen to persuasion so much, you are being fooled."

When Mrs. Wang saw that the two farmers had sold the cucumbers, she couldn't accept it for a while, so she went up and grabbed Manager Liu Hong's clothes.

(End of this chapter)