Chapter 110: The Old Trade Still Pays Off (Part Two)

She certainly had no intention of dealing with the wealthy districts here; she had just been observing the goods in the marketplace.

She realized that what sold best in winter was vegetables. Because fresh vegetables were so scarce in the cold season, the market was actually overflowing with meat. Raising pigs was not seasonal; it could be done year-round, so there was never a shortage of meat unless there was an outbreak of swine fever. Vegetables, however, were entirely dependent on the seasons; one could not simply grow them whenever one pleased.

"I’ve thought of a way to make money, and it’s a method that won’t go wrong."

Hearing her confident tone, Chu Chengjin was somewhat curious about what kind of business plan could make her so certain.

"My wife is truly confident."

Thinking of this temporary way to earn, Gu Xiaoyao lifted her chin and replied in high spirits.

"That goes without saying. After all, I am the one who has to provide for you."

Chu Chengjin smiled and did not refute this. After all, it was true that he was penniless. Everyone assumed he possessed a fortune, but in reality, he did not have a single copper to his name.

"My wife, I have some business to attend to at the teahouse. Why don’t you continue to look around here?"

Gu Xiaoyao agreed. After watching him leave, she felt that this man was sometimes quite mysterious. She did not dwell on Chu Chengjin’s affairs, simply believing that if there were things he wanted to say, he would say them in time. Even if she were to pry now, it would only lead to resentment.

To ensure the viability of her plan to sell vegetables, she walked through the market again. As she suspected, most of the people bringing goods into the city in baskets were selling items that were easy to preserve, such as dried corn or sweet potatoes. Because these could be stored in cellars, they were not particularly rare. Fresh vegetables, however, were scarce, and the ones available were withered and thin, looking as if they were about to perish—a truly pathetic sight.

"Why do these vegetables look so wretched today! This is just too unsightly. I buy from you every single day; how can you try to fob me off with such things!"

A sharp-looking woman, followed by a young maid carrying a basket, squatted down, pinched the heart of a vegetable, and questioned the vendor with a sour expression.

"Ma'am, I truly am not trying to insult you with such produce. It’s just that vegetables haven't been growing well lately; it’s a blessing from the heavens that they are growing at all."

"Look at the others' produce. Whose vegetables aren't even uglier than mine, all yellow and shriveled? These of mine are already the best greens available."

The man at the vegetable stall retorted immediately. Throughout the market, his vegetables were the best-grown of them all!

Hearing this, the woman spat out in disdain. His words sounded nice, but the produce was indeed getting worse by the day.

"It’s not that I want to be difficult, but my master loves fresh vegetables. If I were to serve him these, I’d likely face his wrath."

She had been quite annoyed lately; none of the vegetables in the market were fit to be seen. She knew that finding good-looking vegetables in winter was sometimes harder than ascending to heaven.

"Ma'am, are you looking to buy some better-looking vegetables? I happen to have a way to get them. I wonder if you would be interested?"

Hearing this exchange, Gu Xiaoyao squeezed her way through and began to pitch her idea with bold confidence.