Chapter 196: Straight to Taoyuan Village
Translator: Lonelytree
Due to the big sales, more people knew about Taoyuan Village Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. More importantly, people knew that the vegetables sold here were magical.
With the huge sale of vegetables, many people became aware of the green and fresh fruit and vegetable shop in Taoyuan Village. It could fix picky eaters and anorexic patients. It helped people sleep better and feel better.
Once the parents of the students sitting for the exam found out, they spread it among other parents. All the parents came and squeezed the store to its bursting point.
“It’s only five or six days left to the university entrance exam. More people came to patronize us. Those who failed to get the vegetables went crazy and made a scene. There were even a few close fights. We can’t allow this to continue.” Mother Xiao said with a frown. Other vendors had to worry about not having enough stocks to sell, but they had it the other way round.
“1000 catties per day is not enough. The parents are crazy.” Liu Chunhua said.
They had been selling for more than ten days already. They were used to the large crowds by now. It was common for the shop to be crowded daily.
“Yu ‘Er, what should we do?” Liu Chunhua said nervously. “Even though the fights didn’t really happen, they are not good for our reputation.”
Xiao Lingyu frowned and thought for a moment, then said, “We’ll start limiting the purchases from tomorrow!” She chose to open on the 21st because it was close to the exam.
“Limit the purchases?” The other three were shocked. Then, they nodded, “Yes, that is the most appropriate way to deal with this.”
“But, Yu ‘Er, how do you plan to do that?” Xiao Mingyang asked, “If you limit too much, we might have leftovers; if you limit too little, it’ll not change anything.”
Xiao Lingyu smiled, “Fourth uncle, even if we limit too much, there won’t be leftovers.” At this point, her expression became serious, “I’ve sat through the university entrance exam before. The students are anxious and stressed. They can’t sleep or eat well. It’ll affect their performance. So, what we can do is to help them get through this difficult period.
“However, we have a limited supply. Every parent only wants the best for their child. They will do everything for their child. Thankfully, our vegetables will work their wonders even if the portion is small.”
Mother Xiao nodded and said, “Then how much should we limit per customer each day?”
“Four catties!” Xiao Lingyu thought for a moment and said, “They can only get four catties of vegetables each, no matter the type. We won’t sell any extra.”
“Okay, we’ll try that tomorrow.” The other three agreed unanimously.
Before they could put that into action, someone had directly driven to Taoyuan Village to buy the vegetables.
“I have to buy as many vegetables as I can to stock up. Or else, I’ll be too late when I get to the shop.” A fashionably-dressed mother said. “Yue ‘Er is taking the exam soon. I’ll cook for him daily to nourish his spirit. He will definitely do well in the exam.”
Miao Fangfang thought the road to Taoyuan Village would be rough so she was surprised by the tarred road. ‘Taoyuan Village is quite rich,’ She thought. ‘Or else why would they have a tarred road?’
Since she was unfamiliar with the drive, Miao Fangfang departed from Xing Yin County around noon but only arrived at Taoyuan Village around 2 pm. When she reached the entrance of the village, she stopped and asked a man who was herding the crows. “Hello. May I know how to get to boss Xiao’s house?”
Xiao Xiaohui had study so the job of the cowherd fell on Xiao Zhengyang. He was leading Big and Little Light back home when a car stopped beside him. Then, a woman got out to ask him about Boss Xiao. Xiao Zhengyang noticed the woman’s way of dressing. He knew she was definitely not from another village. He asked confusedly, “Which Boss Xiao you’re talking about? Everyone here has the surname Xiao!”
“It’s Boss Xiao who owns a fruit and vegetable shop. She’s a girl in her twenties,” said Miao Fangfang.
The only family in Taoyuan Village who owned a fruit and vegetable shop in the county town was his Yu ‘Er.
Xiao Zhengyang nodded and asked, “I’m that Boss Xiao’s father. Do you need anything?”
Miao Fangfang’s eyes lit up. She didn’t expect her luck to be so good. She found Boss Xiao’s family directly. She said, “Hello. I’m from the county town. My name is Miao Fangfang.”
“Yes, Miss Miao. Hello!” Xiao Zhengyang greeted politely.
Miao Fangfang said, “It’s like this, Mr. Xiao. I actually came here to buy vegetables.”
“Buy vegetables?” Xiao Zhengyang frowned in confusion. “You’re from the county town. Don’t they have vegetables in the county town? Why did you drive here to buy vegetables?”
Miao Fangfang smiled awkwardly and said, “Actually, boss Xiao’s vegetables sell out too easily in the county town. I don’t even have the time to grab them. Therefore, I came directly to the village. That way I can buy more.”
Xiao Zhengyang nodded. “Oh! In that case, Miss Xiao, do you mind driving to follow me? Or can you wait here while I drive the cattle back? Then, I’ll come back to lead you to the fields.”
Miao Fangfang looked around and said, “I’ll wait here then.”
“Okay! I’ll be back soon!” Xiao Zhengyang drove the cattle away. The cattle were very obedient. It was as if they could understand Xiao Zhengyang’s command.
After Xiao Zhengyang left, a villager passed by and saw a parked car with a woman in a red dress standing beside it. He asked curiously, “What’s the matter?”
Miao Fangfang said, “I’m here to buy vegetables.”
Xiao Chengcai asked curiously, “You’re here to buy vegetables? Where did you come from?”
Miao Fangfang assumed everyone in the village knew each other, so she said, “Boss Xiao’s vegetables sell too well in the county town. I can’t get them, so I came here directly to buy it from the source.”
Xiao Chengcai was shocked. “You mean Xiao Lingyu had sold all her vegetables in the county town?” Xiao Lingyu’s family harvested 1000 catties every day but that was still not enough? People actually came directly to the village to buy from them?
Miao Fangfang explained, “Yes. The crowds are so large every time Boss Xiao’s shop is open. In fact, there have been a few fights already.”
This was the first time Xiao Chengcai heard about that. He admired Xiao Lingyu. The girl had been smart since she was young and had good grades. That was why she became a famous university student.
The villagers felt it was a pity that she had to come back. However, Xiao Chengcai was surprised that she managed to even make a success out of selling vegetables. The top scorer was definitely different. She managed to accomplish things others couldn’t!
Xiao Chengcai offered, “Shall I take you to her house?”
Miao Fangfang shook her head and said, “Thank you, but I just met Boss Xiao’s father. He asked me to wait here for a while. He’d come back for me after he drove the cattle back.”
“Okay.” Xiao Chengcai nodded and left.
Soon, Xiao Zhengyang walked over. He had the vegetable basket in his hand. He walked up to Miao Fangfang and said, “Miss Miao, you should park your car here. The field is too narrow for cars.”
“Okay!” Miao Fangfang nodded.
“Remember to lock the car properly!” Xiao Zhengyang reminded her again. Even though only Xiao Lingyu and Xiao Mingyang knew how to drive, it was still better to be safe than sorry.
After Miao Fangfang locked the car, she followed Xiao Zhengyang to the fields. However, along the way, she received a lot of scrutiny from the villagers. People were suspicious when they saw a beautifully dressed woman walking with Xiao Zhengyang. After all, Chen Qiuying had been absent recently. Xiao Zhengyang wasn’t cheating on his wife, was it?
Sensing the strange gazes, Xiao Zhengyang explained to a passing villager. “This is Yu ‘Er’s client from the county town. She came to buy vegetables.”
“A client?” The village nodded. “She came from the county town to buy vegetables? That’s unbelievable!” But that was the truth.
When Xiao Fangfang arrived at the field, she was surprised. The fields were more like greenhouses. No wonder they tasted so different.
Some villagers heard Xiao Zhengyang had brought a city woman over so they came to check on them.
When they reached the vegetable shed, Xiao Zhengyang asked, “Miss Miao, these are the vegetables. May I know what you want and how much you want?”
Miao Fangfang said, “I want leeks, tomatoes…”
She told Xiao Zhengyang all the types and quantities of vegetables she needed.
“Ten catties of leeks, 20 catties of tomatoes…” Xiao Zhengyang counted them one by one. “This is already 300 catties.”
‘So much?’ Xiao Zhengyang asked, “Miss Miao, are you buying these for yourself or planning to sell them?”
Miao Fangfang was confused. “I’m buying them for myself. What’s wrong?”
Xiao Zhengyang explained to her, “My family brings 1000 catties of vegetables to the county town daily. But you’ve bought more than 300 catties in one go. I’m afraid this mean my family won’t get a 1000 catties harvest tomorrow. If Miss Miao is buying these for yourself, then I can sell them to you, but if Miss Miao is buying them to do business, then I’m sorry. We don’t supply other vendors.”
They didn’t even have enough to sell, so how could they supply others?
Miao Fangfang immediately reacted. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Mr. Xiao, I’m really buying them for my family. I have a son who is sitting for the university entrance exam. I need to cook for him daily. I will stock up on the vegetables too.”
Xiao Zhengyang was a little puzzled. “Can’t you go to Lingyu’s store to buy them? And why the need to hoard them?” Hoarded vegetables wouldn’t be fresh.
Miao Fangfang laughed, “Mr. Xiao, I’m afraid you don’t know how hard it is to get vegetables in Boss Xiao’s store. The stock flies off the shelves like they are free. Many people fight for them. I did try to go a few times, but I always came back with only a little. That was why I thought to come to Taoyuan Village directly.”
The other villagers were shocked when they heard Xiao Lingyu had really opened a vegetable shop and her business was exceptionally good. They couldn’t believe it.
However, what this woman said next made them even more incredulous and shocked.
Miao Fangfang said, “And that is despite the fact your vegetables are ten times more expensive than the vegetables on the market.”
“Ah?” The villagers widened their eyes in shock. Someone then calculated, “We sell cabbages for 3 cents per catty. If it’s ten times as expensive, isn’t that 3 RMB per catty? Doesn’t this mean Lingyu is exceptionally rich now?”
Miao Fangfang smiled. 3 RMB was actually the cheapest price at the shop. Miao Fangfang was smart. From the reaction of the villagers, she knew they didn’t know the prices of the vegetables sold at Boss Xiao’s shop. She decided she should stop talking lest she offended Boss Xiao.
Xiao Zhengyang knew the price of the vegetables in the shop.
He didn’t say anything.. He asked someone to carry the vegetables and went back to weigh them.