Hello, Comrade. I'm Here to Marry You!

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Selling Apples

"Are you crazy? How dare you speak to me like that!" Zhang Jufang put down her chopsticks, stood up, and glared at Su Zhaozhao.

"Why are you so angry? If what I said is true, then it’s a fact, so what right do you have to be mad? If what I said is false, then since it didn’t happen, what’s there to get worked up about?" Su Zhaozhao threw the very words Zhang Jufang had said earlier right back at her.

"You!" Zhang Jufang glared, pointing a finger at Su Zhaozhao. "Don’t you go too far. Do you know who I am? I’m Li Lianzhang’s wife! And my little sister is going to be matched with Camp Commander Xie, with Xie Huaizheng! If you treat me like this, I won’t let you get away with it."

Hearing this, Su Zhaozhao immediately looked at the young woman beside Zhang Jufang.

She looked to be in her early twenties and resembled Zhang Jufang. Both had dark skin and slender eyes, but this one was younger.

The young woman was tugging on Zhang Jufang’s arm, her face a picture of coyness. "Sis, don’t say that. I haven’t even been set up with Camp Commander Xie yet. My brother-in-law just said he would introduce us."

’I can’t believe Xie Huaizheng is in such high demand.’

’With so many people vying for him, it’s truly remarkable that he could stay chaste for the female lead for so many years.’

’Luckily, I have a natural advantage. I’m his fiancée. Whether I admit it or not, we do have a childhood engagement, which gives me a better chance of getting close to him than these so-called potential matches.’

’Xie Huaizheng will be back soon.’

"So, you little vixen, you’ve offended me. I’m telling you, you’re finished."

"When Camp Commander Xie has some free time, I’ll have my husband introduce my sister to him. He’s on good terms with Chief Liu, and as long as he says the word to Chief Liu, you’ll definitely be kicked out!"

Zhang Jufang smiled smugly, as if victory was already in her grasp.

"Well then, I’ll look forward to that day. You’d better make sure you get me kicked out of here. I’m really looking forward to it!" Su Zhaozhao said before turning and walking away.

Zhang Jufang watched her retreating figure. She was wearing a linen-colored long dress, a very simple, rustic color. But because Su Zhaozhao had such a fine figure, the hem of her skirt swayed as she walked, revealing her slender calves below.

Her entire aura was one of classical elegance, making her seem as if she belonged to a completely different world from them.

Zhang Jufang spat. "What a vixen. Who is she trying to seduce, dressing like that on purpose!"

Zhang Julian bit her lip as she watched Su Zhaozhao’s back, filled with envy. ’Su Zhaozhao is so beautiful, so feminine.’

The next moment, Zhang Jufang turned to her. "You need to hurry up and put in some effort, you hear? Did you really think I brought you here just to help me babysit? Have some ambition, land an officer, and you’ll be set for life!"

"I..." Zhang Julian’s head drooped, but the handsome, dashing face of Xie Huaizheng appeared in her mind.

"But... he’s a man that even Jiang Manzhi couldn’t win over. Do I really have a chance?"

"What about Jiang Manzhi? Maybe Xie Huaizheng likes your type! You’re so pretty, Julian, you have to be more confident! When Camp Commander Xie gets back from his mission, bring him some food and drinks. When a woman chases a man, there’s only a thin veil between them. You can do it!"

Su Zhaozhao’s walk back was safe. The patrols had been increased significantly, as they were worried about a repeat of what had happened to her.

Back at the guest house, Su Zhaozhao entered her space.

She drank some spiritual spring water, letting it nourish her body.

The plants in the black soil had already sprouted, but as Su Zhaozhao looked at the verdant patch, she still couldn’t tell what they were.

’I’ll probably find out in a couple of days,’ she thought.

She now decided she would go out and sell the apples every day.

But to sell apples, she would have to get up bright and early every day to go to that market.

’I might run into people I know, so I’ll need to cover my face.’

Su Zhaozhao rummaged through her clothes and found a hat, a face covering, and a few dark outfits.

’I’ll wrap myself up tightly so no one will recognize me.’

She then grabbed a burlap sack. She could just pack the apples in the sack to sell them.

In this era, apples were thirty cents per pound.

But Su Zhaozhao didn’t have a scale, nor did she know how to use one of those traditional ones. So, she decided to simply price the apples individually.

Her apples were all fresh, plump, and large; each one weighed nearly a pound.

But to get her business started, Su Zhaozhao decided to price them at fifteen cents each.

’First, I’ll establish a market. Once people have tried them and think they’re delicious, I can slowly raise the price.’

’Since there’s no cost involved, I know I won’t lose money no matter how I price them.’

The next day, Su Zhaozhao dragged herself out of bed just after six in the morning.

She yawned and couldn’t help but frown.

’So tired. Waking up early really is torture for me.’

As a night owl, she could stay up late, but she couldn’t wake up early.

But she had no choice now. It wasn’t easy trying to earn a little money.

Su Zhaozhao knew that the wet market usually opened very early and was busiest between seven and eight.

She wrote a note and stuck it on her door, telling Xiao Yuanming that she was going out for a bit and he could just leave her breakfast at the door.

Then, Su Zhaozhao headed to the market.

Once she was nearby, she found a deserted corner, opened her burlap sack, and transferred the apples from her space into it.

Then she found an empty spot and set up her stall.

Soon, the wet market started to get busy.

People came and went, but most were there to buy vegetables.

They weren’t particularly moved when they saw the apples in front of Su Zhaozhao, but as they passed by, they caught the fragrance of the apples and couldn’t help but stop.

The apple scent was so fragrant; they smelled like they would be especially delicious.

Su Zhaozhao, her face completely covered, called out, "Apples for sale? Freshly picked from the tree, sweet and delicious! Tasty and cheap!"

She had also written the price on a sign next to them.

The apples looked so plump, brightly colored, and fresh—the price really wasn’t expensive.

"I’ll take two," one of the aunties said.

Su Zhaozhao bagged two apples for her.

Earning thirty cents made Su Zhaozhao very happy.

’Who would have thought that in this day and age, I’d be so happy over thirty cents?’

"Apples for sale, apples for sale! Fifteen cents each! Fresh, delicious, big apples!" Su Zhaozhao cried out, attracting more and more people.

This was the time of peak foot traffic, and Su Zhaozhao quickly sold all her apples.

She hadn’t brought many, worried she wouldn’t be able to sell them all. She had only taken thirty apples.

After she was done, Su Zhaozhao felt her bulging pocket and immediately went to buy two racks of pork ribs. If Zhou Xiaoyun came to see her later, she could give them to her to make some braised pork ribs.

Her mouth was watering just thinking about it.