Chapter 187 - Business Preparation
Chapter 187: Business Preparation
Translator: Lonelytree
The sky was still not too bright, but there were already people busying themselves around the shed in the mountains of Taoyuan Village.
“Say, we’re all planting vegetables, but why do Lingyu’s vegetables grow so well? Look at them. They are so precious.”
“Indeed. Look at this cole leaf. It’s bigger than our face!”
“The radish is white and tender. It’s very crispy and sweet even when eaten raw.”
“Ah, you’ve eaten it before?”
“I have. Two days ago, Qiuying plucked a radish from the field and sliced it. I was curious, so Qiuying shared one with me. It’s so delicious. It’s crispy and sweet and full of water. It’s even more delicious than normal fruits!”
“This eggplant is like a gem. It’s so shiny.”
The group harvested the vegetables as they chatted.
“But where are they going to sell these six Mu of vegetables?”
“I heard that Lingyu has opened a vegetable shop in the county town. Plus, she is working with a big hotel that has made a big order already.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Chunhua told me two days ago.”
Liu Chunhua wasn’t a big mouth, but too many people looked down on Xiao Lingyu, so it was why she told them about the hotel business and the vegetable shop.
“Oh, no wonder Lingyu never seems worried about sales.”
At this point, someone seemed to have thought of something and asked curiously, “Have you noticed that Xiao Lingyu’s stomach is a little bigger?”
Someone joined in. “Perhaps she has gained weight? Xiao Lingyu has been staying at home. Even her face is rounder!”
“I don’t think she has gained weight. Like what third sister said, only her stomach has gotten bigger.”
Then, the working women became silent. They recalled what the Chen Family said that night. Therefore, they suspected that Xiao Lingyu was pregnant. However, with how strict Chen Qiuying was, she wouldn’t have allowed Xiao Lingyu to keep the child. Otherwise, the child would be born as a bastard child. How would Xiao Lingyu plan to marry someone with a bastard child? Would Chen Qiuying allow Xiao Lingyu to give birth to this child?
Of course, it was possible that Chen Qiuying didn’t notice her daughter was pregnant. Then again, even the outsiders had noticed that Xiao Lingyu’s stomach had gotten bigger, so how could Chen Qiuying and her husband not notice?
The outsiders couldn’t tell the truth.
“Anyway, let’s get back to work. Lingyu said we have to harvest everything before 5.30 am. It’s not good to talk bad about others. If Qiuying heard about this, she’d be so mad.”
When the other women heard this, they piped down.
Xiao Lingyu and her family were in another shed. Today was their first harvest so they were more than a little excited. They could overhear the women.
The women understood Chen Qiuying very well. Mother Xiao wouldn’t mind others insulting her, but she would never accept others talking bad about her daughter. If she was mad and refused to hire them anymore, they would lose their income. It was now the resting period for farmers as they waited for the paddy to grow. So, this job was perfect. They worked for a day and would earn 20 RMB. Even if it was just 10 RMB, that was better than most vegetable farmers would pay.
The women picked up speed and harvested the vegetables.
Xiao Lingyu went to check on every farm. She heeded Mother Xiao’s advice and told the women which vegetables could be picked and which couldn’t.
“Yu ‘Er, I’ll stay here. You should go back to rest. You can come back when it’s done.” Mother Xiao glanced at Xiao Lingyu’s slightly bulging stomach, her face full of worry and concern.
A pregnant woman’s stomach would start to expand at the fourth month, and at the sixth month, it would expand like a balloon.
Xiao Lingyu was four months pregnant. As the weather turned warmer, she couldn’t wear so many layers anymore. It would be impossible to hide her stomach. People would start to gossip.
Mother Xiao sighed softly and said to herself, ‘Since I’ve promised Yu ‘Er to let her keep the child. I mustn’t let her and her child suffer.’
Xiao Lingyu saw the worried look on Mother Xiao’s face and smiled. “Mom, I’m not tired. I’m not that fragile.” She looked outside and looked at the sky. “The sky is already bright. We need to weigh these vegetables and have Fourth Uncle transport them to the county town.”
At that moment, Xiao Mingyang ran over. He asked excitedly, “Second sister, Yu ‘Er, how many vegetables are we moving today? Can my small truck hold them?”
A few days ago, Xiao Mingyang bought a new car from Teng Fei Car Dealership. The owner, Yuan Xuanhao was good friends with Yu ‘Er, so he gave them a big discount. He chose to pay in 3-year installments. Over the past few days, Xiao Mingyang had been familiarizing himself with the truck.
Finally, he could take it on the road, so how could he not be excited?
Xiao Lingyu nodded and said, “We have around 800 catties of vegetables, so it should be fine.” If the truck couldn’t transport 800 catties, they might as well return it. The truck her fourth uncle bought had a carrying capacity of two tons, which was 4,000 catties.
After a while, Liu Chunhua came over. “Yu ‘Er, we’ve picked all the vegetables. Should we weigh them now?”
Xiao Lingyu nodded and said, “Yes!”
Xiao Lingyu planned to bring 800 catties to the county town. As for the supply for the Gu Family Hotel, Xiao Lingyu would supply them with the vegetables grown in the farming space. There was still a taste difference between them.
The 800 catties of vegetables were all meant for the vegetable and fruit shop. She would take out another 200 catties from the farming space for the high-end clients. Xiao Lingyu wondered if she could sell all of them, considering this was her first day. Thankfully, the vegetables could last for fifteen days. They would look like they had just been picked for all fifteen days. So she was not worried.
The vegetables were placed in plastic baskets. Of course, the weighing process would eliminate the weight of the baskets.
By the time all the vegetables were weighed, it was almost six o’clock.
There were not that many cars on the road in the morning. If they drove fast, they could reach the county town around 7 am. Xiao Lingyu estimated they would open for business at around 8 am after arranging everything.
Xiao Lingyu frowned. ‘Will that be too late? Most people would have finished their morning shopping by 6 or 7 am. O well, we’ll take things slow.’
When Xiao Lingyu and Xiao Mingyang arrived at the county town, the time was six-fifty. There were already crowds. They felt quite uneasy when they passed the noisy market. They were late.
After getting out of the car, fourth uncle Xiao, fourth aunt Xiao, and Mother Xiao immediately carried the vegetables down.
Xiao Lingyu was strictly forbidden by Mother Xiao to carry heavy items.
However, Xiao Lingyu did not stay idle. She quickly arranged the vegetables and sorted them into categories.
Fortunately, 800 catties of vegetables was not a lot. With all four working together, they were fast. After moving all the vegetables, the three helped Xiao Lingyu.
Xiao Lingyu asked her fourth uncle and aunt. “Fourth aunt and uncle, can you help with the inventory? Mom and I will go to the warehouse to bring the high-end products.”
Liu Chunhua asked, “Lingyu, will they be heavy? Why don’t you let your fourth uncle help you?”
Xiao Lingyu shook her head. “It’s not that much, just 200 catties. Fourth uncle, please help fourth aunt. Mom and I will be back before you know it.” She was going to withdraw the vegetables from the farming space, so how could she let them see it? Xiao Lingyu and Mother Xiao didn’t really return to the rental. They drove around, and the vegetables magically appeared. Even though this was not Mother Xiao’s first time seeing this, she was still shocked every time Xiao Lingyu made things out of nothing.
“Yu ‘Er, I still don’t think you should keep on doing this!” Mother Xiao disagreed. “If someone saw this, they’ll think you’re a monster!”
“Mom, it’ll be fine. No one will discover it if I’m careful.” Xiao Lingyu comforted, “Plus, you’ll be with me every day.”
“But…” Mother Xiao said worriedly, “What if I’m not around anymore?”
“Mom…” Xiao Lingyu didn’t know what to say.
It was a fact that the farming space was hers. She wanted Xiao Tong to grow up happily, but with his background, he would definitely be treated unfairly.
She didn’t want Xiao Tong to grow up under the strange eyes of others. For that, she had to become a strong mother so that no one dared to insult and look down on her and Xiao Tong.
Furthermore, Xiao Tong technically did have a father. In fact, his dad was the richest man in China. In her previous life, Xiao Lingyu had no idea who Xiao Tong’s father was until he died. However, she recognized him in this life.
Even more, coincidentally, he was her friend, and his grandfather had chosen to settle at Taoyuan Village.
1
It would be best if Old Master Gong healed and left Taoyuan Village before Xiao Tong was born. After all, if Old Master Gong were still there after Xiao Tong was born, he would eventually find out the truth. Xiao Lingyu didn’t dare to gamble with Xiao Tong’s fate when she didn’t know the intention of Gong Tianhao and his grandfather. So the only way for her to protect Xiao Tong was to get stronger.
Then, when the truth was exposed, she wouldn’t be powerless. The only way she could do that was through the farming space. But she couldn’t tell Mother Xiao all that yet.
Mama Xiao looked at Xiao Lingyu’s anxious expression and sighed lightly. “Then forget it. I won’t stop you.” Mother Xiao added, “But you have to promise me to be careful. I don’t want money and wealth. I just want our family to be safe and happy!”
“Okay, Mom!” Xiao Lingyu said gratefully. She was really thankful to God for giving her a pair of parents who were very tolerant and loved her.
Xiao Lingyu and her mother soon returned to the shop.
“Second sister, you’re so fast!” Liu Chunhua was surprised to see them return so soon. Xiao Mingyang walked over to help remove the vegetables from the trunk. Xiao Lingyu explained, “There are not that many people on the road!”
Xiao Lingyu glanced around and realized her fourth uncle and aunt were very efficient. All the stock had been laid out.
Xiao Lingyu looked at the time. It was 7:30 am.
It was her first day of business. She wanted to find an auspicious time. 8.18 am was a perfect time.
Xiao Lingyu was a university student, but she decided it was better to follow these cultural habits than not.
The four of them made some preparations and looked at the time. There were still thirty minutes left.
Xiao Lingyu said, “Mom, fourth uncle, fourth aunt, there’s still half an hour left. Let’s go eat something first!”
The group of them had woken up at three or four in the morning. They had been busy since then and had not eaten anything. They must be hungry.
Mother Xiao nodded and replied, “Yes, it’s still early. Chunhua, Ming Yang, let’s go eat breakfast.”
They were even more superstitious than Xiao Lingyu. When a shop opened at the auspicious hour, business would be better!
Just as the four of them were about to leave, a woman who was passing by the shop took a look and said with a slightly surprised expression, “Eh, when did a vegetable shop open here?”
After saying that, she directly stepped into the shop and took a look. She found that these vegetables were all fresh.
Just as she was about to buy some, she saw the price and was extremely surprised. “Why are these vegetables so expensive?!” She was talking about the high-end vegetables on the shelves.
Xiao Lingyu immediately came over to explain, “Dear customer, the vegetables in our store are all purely natural and pollution-free vegetables. Therefore, they are a little more expensive than the ones sold in the market outside.”
She waved at the high-end shelves. “As for the vegetables here, they are all top-grade varieties. You will get your money’s worth, trust me.”
The middle-aged woman did not believe her at all. She snorted coldly and said, “Humph, just say that you’re off to scam people! Why all the excuses?” Then, she said, “I’ll take these ‘higher-grade’ ones if you sell them to me at the same price as the other vegetables!” She didn’t even want to buy the vegetables.. She only made this offer because she saw how fresh the products were.