Chapter 112 - Repeat Customer
Chapter 112: Repeat Customer
After Grandma Song and Grandma Li finished their purchases, they left.
Xiao Lingyu rode her tricycle happened to the market. As soon as she exited the alley and went up the slope, she heard a series of exclamations, “Big Sister! Mom, Big Sister is here!”
Xiao Lingyu turned to the voice. It was the little boy who was her first customer. He and his mother were standing not far away from the slope.
“Little friend, it’s you!” Xiao Lingyu greeted with a smile, “You’re going to school so early?”
It was only slightly past 6 am. What kindergarten opened so early?
Li Junxuan shook his head. “Big Sister, I’m not going to school yet. Mom and I were waiting specifically for you, right, Mom?”
Yang Yan, who was behind Li Jinxuan, smiled in embarrassment. “Miss, ever since my boy had your vegetables, he had been talking about them every day. He urged me to buy more from you, but we hadn’t seen you for days. I heard the news that you were coming today, so my boy came out early to wait for you. I’ve never seen my boy so eager about something before. Haha.”
Xiao Lingyu was surprised. She grabbed two tomatoes and gave them to the boy. “Here, these are for you for coming out to wait for Big Sister!”
Li Junxuan accepted the tomatoes and said, “Thank you, Big Sister!” Then, he put them into his mouth without even wiping the skin. This time, Yang Yan didn’t stop him.
Yang Yan glanced at the vegetables on the tricycle and commented, “You have more selection today.” She bought too little vegetables last time and regretted it for days. Therefore, she decided to buy more this time not to repeat her mistake. After asking the prices, Yang Yan bought some of each. Yang Yan had a small family of three. Other than her son, they were not picky eaters.
Xiao Lingyu saw the large purchase Yang Yan wanted, and she said, “Actually, I’ll be selling vegetables and fruits in the county town for the next three to four days. If you don’t mind, you can come to my rental house to buy the stuff directly. You can reach my rental by turning left and then right at this alley. The house with the red iron door is where I stay when I’m in the county town.”
Yang Yan thought about it and asked, “When will you be at your house? What time will it be suitable for me to go?”
Xiao Lingyu answered, “Every day about this time!”
“Okay!” Yang Yan said, “Then, I’ll visit your place early in the morning to make my purchase in the future!” After knowing where Xiao Lingyu stayed, it would be more convenient for Yang Yan. She and her boy didn’t need to wait out in the open anymore.
Yang Yan added, “Miss, are you planning to settle here?”
Xiao Lingyu shook her head. “Probably not so soon. I’ll come when I have a harvest. I’ll probably come to the county town once or twice every week.”
“I see.” Yang Yan nodded. “Miss, can you give me your phone number? Or I can leave you mine. Give me a call when you’re in town to sell your crops, okay?”
Yang Yan’s husband was an executive in a big company and had an annual salary of 300,000 to 400,000 RMB. Yang Yan was a working-class woman, and she earned around 8000 RMB per month. Her family could afford Xiao Lingyu’s vegetables and fruits.
Moreover, Yang Yan’s boy refused to have vegetables from other vendors after he had Xiao Lingyu’s products. He became so picky. For her son, Yang Yan was willing to buy from Xiao Lingyu every day.
Xiao Lingyu had no problem with this. She nodded. “Okay, my number is 13…” Soon, her phone rang. Xiao Lingyu took out her phone to look.
Yang Yan smiled, “That is my phone number. Remember to call me when you come to the town with a harvest. My name is Yang Yan.”
“No problem!” Xiao Lingyu saved Yang Yan’s number. Since Xiao Lingyu was going to set up her business for the next few days, Yang Yan only bought the day’s portion. She planned to return early the next morning.
Xiao Lingyu continued to ride forward after Yang Yan and her son left.
She was immediately recognized when she reached the tree where she and her mother stopped last time. “Miss!” Auntie Lin ran over. “Miss, it has been almost ten days since you were last here! I have been walking around looking for you! Did you move your tricycle to somewhere else?”
Xiao Lingyu greeted Auntie Lin. “Auntie, it’s you.” She smiled, “Auntie, I told you my crops are organic and flavorful. Now, do you believe me?”
Auntie Lin laughed, “I believe you now. Both my daughter and I can’t forget the tastes of your vegetables. Even my daughter, who is such a picky eater, has high praise for them!”
Xiao Lingyu nodded. “Auntie, what do you plan to buy today?”
Auntie Lin looked at the cute vegetables and said, “Your tomatoes can be used in dishes or eaten raw. My daughter also likes them. Give me twenty tomatoes and then…”
Xiao Lingyu weighed and bagged the stuff. Xiao Lingyu added, “Auntie, I’ll be here to sell my crops for the next three to four days.” In other words, Auntie Lin didn’t need to buy so much at once. She could come back tomorrow.
Auntie Lin chuckled. “Oh, in that case, I’ll return tomorrow. Miss, will you come to this place tomorrow? Or you’ll set up elsewhere?”
Xiao Lingyu replied, “I plan to sell at the market. I am only passing by this place!” Xiao Lingyu didn’t give Auntie Lin the address of her rental. There were too many unknown people around. It would be troublesome if she were targeted.
“Okay, I understand.” Auntie Lin was straightforward. “Help me bag these vegetables and fruits! I’ll buy more to give my friends!”
Xiao Lingyu nodded. She handed Auntie Lin her bag. “Auntie, it’s a total of 103 RMB. You’re my repeat customer, so I’ll give you a 3 RMB discount.”
Auntie Lin paid. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning.” Auntie Lin decided to come early tomorrow or else everything might be sold.
Xiao Lingyu had a few more repeat customers. They didn’t mind the price and started buying. “Miss, give me ten tomatoes and half a catty of this…”
“I want the tomatoes too. I only got to taste some last time. This time, I’ll get more. I’ll also need one cabbage, and…”
These repeat customers knew Xiao Lingyu’s crops were worth the asking price.
In a short while, nearly a third of the vegetables in Xiao Lingyu’s tricycle was gone. Like last time, tomatoes were the most popular. The tomatoes could be eaten raw, stir-fried, or even in salads.
The other fruit vendors glared at Xiao Lingyu with envy. If their stock sold equally well, they wouldn’t need to wait so long under the hot sun.
One of the vendors sold pineapples, another sold tangerines, and the last sold all kinds of fruits. They gathered to whisper to one another, “Is the girl’s fruits that delicious? Look at how expensive they are but how fast they sell!”
“That’s right. Other than tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants, the other vegetables are sold for more than 10 RMB per catty.”
“And on the market, tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants are considered expensive produce.”
“Who knows how much she can earn after she had her whole tricycle of stock sold?”
“With her prices, she can get at least one or two thousand!”
“And that is in a day. That will be almost several ten thousand in a month! That’s enough to pay for a house’s downpayment.”
Back in this era, the housing price was still low. A house that was 120 square meters was only around 200 to 300,000 RMB.
“I wonder where she gets her stock.” If they knew, they would buy from her supplier too.
“Who knows. This is only the second time I’ve seen the girl around here.”
“I heard her stuff are all organic. Perhaps she grows them herself?”
“Maybe.”
As the three vendors discussed, Xiao Lingyu rode her tricycle and left. The moment she arrived at the market entrance, she was recognized by her repeat customers again.
“Miss, where have you been for the past few days? I’ve been looking so hard for you!”
“Miss, me too! Ever since my children had your vegetables and fruits, they refused to eat any other vendor’s products. It’s such a headache that I grew a few more white hair!”
“Miss, my pregnant wife threw a big tantrum because I couldn’t find your crops for her again. It caused an unusual tension between my wife and mother. After my mother found out how expensive the vegetables and fruits were, she complained that I never spent so much on her. Finally, you’re here. Now, I need to buy two portions. One for my wife and another for my mother so they would stop chewing my ears out!”
“After my great-grandfather had your vegetables, he became like a child, clamoring for your vegetables every day. When I told him you were not at the market, he insisted on coming to look for himself. He is old already, if something happened to him, I’d be scolded by the whole family!”
“Haha. The older one gets, the younger they act. My grandfather is also acting like this.”
“You’re right. Now my whole family is trying to coax my great-grandfather. Even my youngest four-year-old son tried to chip in by offering my great-grandfather candy. He was trying to bribe his great-grandfather so he’d stay safe at home. It’s too funny.”
“Haha…”
Laughter filled the space around Xiao Lingyu’s tricycle..