Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Selling Spring Couplets
An Ning pointed a finger at the laughing Jiang Xia, wagging it twice, then shot him a fierce glare. These were the two most agile parts of her entire body.
"Hey," Jiang Xia said, "if you need to use the restroom, you’d better start heading there early."
Jiang Xia turned and ran, his movements absurdly practiced.
Sure enough, he had only run a few meters when An Ning threw a clod of dirt at him. But constrained by her sleeves, her first throw went wide.
Seeing the clod land beside him, Jiang Xia’s laughter grew even more brazen.
"So long, Pot Spirit!"
Jiang Xia gave a salute and ran off.
An Ning muttered, "If I were a Pot Spirit, you’d be the first person I’d castrate and then pickle like sour cabbage."
An Ning had just finished muttering when An Guoqing came out. He’d only caught the last part of her sentence and asked, "You want to eat sour cabbage, sis?"
"I’ll go tell Mom!"
An Ning watched as An Guoqing, who had been moving things, dropped what he was holding and took off running.
An Ning watched suspiciously. ’Why doesn’t Big Brother have to wear so much?’
’Oh, right. Lin Cuihua said girls can’t get cold.’
"Mom—! Sis says she wants buns with sour cabbage and pork cracklings!"
An Ning, standing by the door, blinked.
’Since when was that what I wanted to eat?!’
An Guoqing came panting back and gave An Ning a goofy grin.
"Big Brother, you’re not the same Big Brother you used to be."
"Nonsense! Your sister-in-law says I haven’t aged a bit, that I’m just as handsome as ever!"
An Ning was suddenly hit with this public display of affection. Not only was she full, but it also left a strange taste in her mouth.
After several trips back and forth, the group finally finished loading everything. An Guoming got behind the wheel, and with An Ning alone taking up half the cargo bed, they set off.
「About ten minutes later, they arrived at the main market.」
The sky wasn’t even fully light yet, and the only people there were other vendors.
An Guoming had already scouted out a good spot. After parking the truck, they started setting up their stall.
After getting out of the truck, An Ning shed her heavy outer cotton coat, thick leather pants, and oversized shoes to get to work.
She climbed onto the truck and tied the poles they’d brought from home to the top of the vehicle.
Once the poles were secured, they hung large, red lanterns high up on all four corners, instantly creating a festive atmosphere.
Not only that, but they also hung a ring of red couplets and "Fu" characters around the truck. Glimmering gold couplets, New Year paintings of large red carp, and several portraits of the God of Wealth were all hung up high.
In front of the truck, they set up a long stall table, which they divided into three sections.
The largest section was for couplets and "Fu" characters. The middle held daily and monthly calendars, as well as various smaller couplets with phrases like "Safe Travels" or "Pigs Fattening the Pen." On the very end was a pile of colorful candies, an even greater variety than the supply and marketing cooperative.
The five of them had their roles. An Guoming was on top of the truck with a megaphone, in charge of shouting advertisements and restocking goods.
An Guoqing was at the candy section, equipped with an electronic scale that An Guoming had specially prepared, plus a stack of pre-opened plastic bags, ready to sell candy.
An Sancheng and An Guoping stood at the couplets and "Fu" character section, while An Ning was in the middle, ready to support either side.
Everything was in place. They were ready to begin.
The market-goers hadn’t arrived yet, but quite a few of the other vendors had been drawn over.
It was mainly because their stall, at a single glance, radiated a New Year’s atmosphere that was simply too enticing.
It was a sea of crimson, impressive in height and well-stocked with goods.
"How much are these couplets?"
"Depends on what you want. This size here, the black-ink ones are ten cents a pair, and the gold-ink ones are fifteen. The next size up is twenty cents a pair. For the main gate, the gold ones are twenty-five cents a pair."
After An Sancheng stated the prices, the person asking seemed a bit hesitant.
’That’s a little expensive.’
"It’s the New Year, after all! These are so festive. When guests come over, they’ll see your home looks completely different."
With just a few more words from An Sancheng, a pair of couplets was sold.
In no time, much of what they had just laid out on the table was sold, and this was just to the other vendors.
Around nine in the morning, the market-goers began to arrive in droves.
An Guoming started up his sales pitch.
"Couplets and ’Fu’ characters! Don’t just pass by, don’t miss out! Come and take a look!"
"Lucky baby posters, welcoming the God of Wealth! We’ve got it all, we’ve got it all!"
"The newest, best-looking couplets! Whoever hangs these will get rich!"
An Guoming had a whole string of rhyming pitches, never repeating himself.
The crowd below grew larger and larger, to the point that even An Ning started to feel nervous.
It wasn’t just her; the whole An family was on edge. If someone were to swipe something, they’d have a hard time noticing!
"Third Uncle, you’ve got quite a crowd! Need a hand?"
Jiang Xia had arrived.
An Sancheng wanted to say no, but with such a huge crowd...
"Thanks. Come over to my place for dinner later."
"That sounds great! I love the big buns your wife makes."
Jiang Xia put on a vivid performance of a simple, hardworking, and warm-hearted young man.
He positioned himself between An Ning and An Guoqing, earning An Ning’s scorn and An Guoqing’s enthusiastic welcome.
It had to be said, having an extra person really did save them a lot of trouble.
"I’ll take three pairs of couplets, six ’Fu’ characters, and one of those God of Wealth posters, too."
"Just a moment. That’ll be one yuan and fifteen cents. Here you go."
An Ning deftly grabbed a piece of string, tied the items together, and handed them to the woman.
"Wow, you’re quick! You calculated that in a flash."
An Ning didn’t have time for pleasantries; she was already tying up the next order.
The New Year’s couplets were cheap, true, but they couldn’t keep up with the sheer number of people.
That whole morning, forget about using the restroom—they didn’t even have time to take a sip of water.
An Ning felt like all she did was calculate totals, tie string, calculate totals, and tie more string.
It wasn’t until around one in the afternoon, when the market was about to break up, that they finally sat down.
An Guoming finally climbed down from the truck and sat with everyone, eyeing the stools they had specifically brought along.
"Brought these for nothing. AHEM, HEM, HEM."
An Guoming quickly took a couple of gulps of water. His throat was practically smoking from shouting all morning.
After resting for a while, everyone started packing up to go home.
After the truck arrived back home, An Sancheng said one more thing to Jiang Xia.
"Come over for dinner in a bit."
"Yes, sir! Got it, Third Uncle. I’ll definitely be there."
"Bring your grandpa along."
After giving these two instructions, An Sancheng walked into the courtyard, his steps heavy with fatigue.
As for the things still on the truck, everyone was too exhausted to deal with them for now. Eating came first.
"How did it go? Did you sell anything?"
Lin Cuihua asked worriedly, standing in the kitchen with one hand white with flour.
She had been afraid they wouldn’t sell. Couplets were pretty, sure, but didn’t they cost money?
An Ning placed the cash box she was holding directly on the table.
"Mom, see for yourself."
Lin Cuihua wiped her hands and opened the cash box.
When she lifted the lid, a flurry of small bills and coins sprang out.
"This... you sold all this?"
"Not all of it. We still have enough for another market day or two."
An Guoming had bought a large inventory, having anticipated this kind of explosive demand.
"There’s more."
An Guoqing heaved a schoolbag onto the table as well.
"This is money too?"
"Yes!"
A cash box and a schoolbag, both stuffed to the brim with money.
"How much is all this?"
"We don’t know. We’ll count it tonight," An Sancheng said. "This time, you can count to your heart’s content."
As soon as An Sancheng finished speaking, he earned a glare from Lin Cuihua.
"Alright, all of you get some rest. Dinner will be ready soon."
"Oh, right," An Sancheng said. "Jiang Xia came to help, so I invited him over for dinner."
Lin Cuihua didn’t think it was a big deal at all. "Okay," she said. "I’ll just make a couple of extra dishes."
