Unusual Vegetable Sales
Steward Xiao Yuan said, "This book is full of all kinds of business tricks. It will take quite some effort to study it on your own. But since Sister Bailu is so smart, I'm not worried. However, business wisdom must be combined with practice. Sister Bailu hasn't done much business outside, so if there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask me. I've traveled with the master doing business in many places, seen a lot of the world. Though I may not explain it well, I can always give you some insights."
Bailu nodded and said, "Brother Yuan is right. Our lady often says that business requires flexibility and can’t be rigid. You can't just blindly follow what's written in books."
Seeing Bailu's keen interest in business, Steward Xiao Yuan picked the simplest and most beginner-friendly parts of "The Business Classic of Tao Zhugong" to explain to her slowly.
Xiao Yuan, having seen the world, was very eloquent, and soon Bailu was completely fascinated by his words.
Normally, Bailu would have asked why Xiao Yuan went to the fields again, but today she was so engrossed in the book that she forgot to ask. One telling the story, the other asking questions, they moved along in perfect harmony, unknowingly arriving at the mushroom house.
Bailu was surprised to find they had already arrived, not expecting the journey to be so short today.
"Ah, I have to get to work now," Bailu said reluctantly, carefully tucking the book close to her chest.
"Mm, Sister Bailu, go ahead. I'll take a stroll around the fields and keep an eye out. There's a buyer coming to the fields today to collect vegetables, so I'll go greet them. I'll come find you at noon, and on the way back, we can continue discussing 'The Business Classic of Tao Zhugong,'" Steward Xiao Yuan said with a smile.
Bailu was so captivated by the business classic that she wished to hear more as soon as possible, nodding quickly, "Okay, I'll wait for you at noon." With that, she turned and went into the mushroom house.
Yuan Yu clenched his fists, a burst of joy welling up as he watched her back.
Indeed, his Bailu was different from ordinary girls—not interested in clothes or jewelry, but fond of reading and eager to learn. He catered to her interests, and all his efforts to bring the "Business Classic of Tao Zhugong" from afar were not in vain!
Meanwhile, at the Su family, Old Zhou Liù respectfully brought the recent records of villagers buying vegetables and placed them in front of Su Li.
Su Li carefully examined the records and stopped when she saw the purchase records of the Su Sanyun family.
Old Zhou Liù said respectfully, "Master, following your instructions, I’ve been paying special attention to the Su Sanyun family these past few days. At the start, their vegetable purchases were steady, about sixty to seventy jin daily. But three days ago, they suddenly started buying around a hundred jin every day."
Su Li looked at the records and confirmed they matched what Old Zhou Liù said. The Su Sanyun family’s vegetable purchases had suddenly surged. Other families also bought more, but only by about ten to twenty jin at most. No family had nearly doubled their purchase like the Su Sanyun family.
"Was there anything unusual when they bought the vegetables?" Su Li asked.
Old Zhou Liù thought for a moment and said, "Oh yes, originally Su Sanyun and his son came to the fields in the morning to pick vegetables to sell. But since three days ago, they’ve been coming to the fields twice."
"Twice? Explain in detail," Su Li frowned and thought deeply.
"Yes, twice. The first time, as usual, Su Sanyun and his son came and took sixty-seven jin of vegetables. Then after about half an hour, Su Sanyun’s wife, Mrs. Sun, came by herself and said the vegetables weren’t enough, asking for another forty jin," Old Zhou Liù explained.
Taking vegetables twice—what is Uncle San’s family up to? Su Li lowered her head, deep in thought.