Chapter 57: A Benefactor (Bonus Update 3)

Hua Daling was indeed a chatterbox, but there was no denying she was a hard worker. Besides, Chu Xuan still needed her to occasionally report on Feng Chunhua’s movements.

“Of course they can come! Everyone can come. We need to process 2,000 jin [about 1,100 lbs] tomorrow morning. I’ll go to the docks in a bit and let Li Tong know so he can get ready.”

No one was afraid of hard work—they were only afraid of not making money.

The happiest of all was Widow Niu. An extra thousand jin of fish meant more water to carry and more firewood to chop. Not only would her wages double, she’d also get overtime pay.

This was the longest job she’d ever held; she’d never worked more than two days at a stretch before.

Widow Niu volunteered eagerly, “I’ll go tell Li Tong! Xiao Xuan, you stay home and take care of things!”

She was more than happy to run errands.

Chu Xuan nodded in agreement.

Widow Niu trotted out the door, not the least bit afraid even though it was pitch dark outside.

Other women might worry about being harassed by unsavory men, but not Widow Niu—she was stronger than most men and had plenty of muscle.

Once, a foolish man tried to take advantage of her and ended up with his teeth scattered all over the ground.

Since then, no man dared lay a finger on her.

Miao Dacui stayed behind to watch the roasting oven, while the others headed home.

At around three in the morning the next day, Chu Xuan set up her stall at the city’s farmers’ market.

Today, she’d brought 300 jin of roasted fish fillets and took the second stall by the entrance, as usual.

Zhang Dong’s wife had arrived early and taken the first stall. She’d lowered her price again—one yuan per jin, and no tasting before buying.

Chu Xuan’s price was still two yuan per jin, exactly double Zhang’s.

Many new customers, wanting to save money, bought from Zhang’s stall.

Business was slow for Chu Xuan, but she called out loudly, “Freshly roasted fish fillets! Taste before you buy—guaranteed satisfaction!”

It was her way of telling customers: if you don’t taste first, you’ll regret it.

Even so, some bargain-hunters still went for Zhang’s fish fillets.

When Mu Chenze finished his deliveries and came to find Chu Xuan, she still had over 200 jin of fish fillets left.

Zhang’s had already sold out.

Zhang Dong’s wife shot Chu Xuan a provocative look as she left the market.

Mu Chenze pointed at her back. “That woman looks familiar. Oh, right! When I was following Zhang Qiu, I saw her go into the Zhang house.”

Chu Xuan sighed. “That’s Zhang Dong’s wife. She’s deliberately competing with me. She sells her fish fillets for one yuan a jin. I didn’t lower my price, so I’ve got a lot left.”

Mu Chenze was surprised. “How can she make money selling so cheap?”

“She uses stinky fish that nobody wants. The cost is rock-bottom.”

“With that kind of quality, people might buy once, but never again.”

“Let’s hope so. I can’t go back with you today. I need to renew my stall fee and try for another two or three hours.”

“I’ve got nothing to do back home. I’ll help you watch the stall. No need to pay me—just buy me breakfast.”

“Deal.”

Ten minutes later, Chu Xuan returned after renewing the stall fee and saw a customer standing in front of the first empty stall, holding a bag with about five jin of fish fillets.

“Where’s the stall owner? I want to return these fish fillets! What the hell is this? The top layer is fine, but underneath it’s all stinky and foul!”

Chu Xuan kindly reminded him, “She’s already sold out and left. I kept shouting ‘taste before you buy, guaranteed satisfaction,’ but you didn’t listen. She’ll probably be back tomorrow, but knowing her, I doubt she’ll give you a refund.”

The customer kicked the stall. “She’d better! If she doesn’t, I’ll flip her stall!”

He left, carrying the bag of fish fillets.

Chu Xuan returned to her own stall.

Half an hour later, business was still slow.

By a little after six in the morning, she still had 180 jin left.

Chu Xuan told Mu Chenze to watch the stall while she went out to buy some steamed meat buns.

She’d only just left when a man in a suit walked into the market.

He happened to hear Mu Chenze hawking the goods.

“Freshly roasted fish fillets! Taste before you buy—guaranteed delicious!”

The man followed the sound and thought, Huh? This stall owner looks familiar.

It was the young man he’d almost run into a few days ago.

He approached and greeted him. “Hey there, young man! Remember me?”

Mu Chenze thought for a moment before recalling, “Oh, I remember! How’s your mother?”

“She got timely treatment and is out of danger now. I’m really sorry about that day! I must have scared you and your friend. I was in a hurry and didn’t leave any contact info. My name is Hou Mingliang. You and your friend are okay, right?”

“We’re fine. I’m Mu Chenze. My friend is Chu Xuan—this is her stall. She just went out to buy breakfast. Are you here to shop?”

“Yeah! I lease a shop at the airport and come here to restock from time to time.”

Mu Chenze quickly grabbed a piece of fish fillet with a clean napkin. “Try this—see if it’s something you could sell in your shop?”

Hou Mingliang took it, drawn in by the aroma. He tasted it—it was spicy and numbing, and he couldn’t help but eat a few more pieces.

“Delicious!”

Mu Chenze beamed. “Try the other two flavors too.”

He handed over the salty-sweet and fragrant-spicy flavors.

Hou Mingliang accepted them without hesitation and finished them quickly.

“Really tasty. The quality looks good and they keep well. As long as the price is right, I’ll buy everything you’ve got here.”

He could repackage them and sell them for a good price.

Mu Chenze explained, “Retail is two yuan per jin, but if you buy more than five jin, it’s 1.8 yuan per jin. For bulk orders, it’s 1.6 yuan per jin. Of course, there are stalls selling for one yuan per jin, but that’s made from stinky fish nobody wants. My friend’s fish fillets are all made from freshly caught fish, so the quality is guaranteed. By the way, I’m a fisherman—I have my own boat. If you ever want any seafood, just let me know.”

Hou Mingliang’s shop catered to relatively wealthy customers, so he was fine with paying for quality. “Great, I’ll take it all.”

180 jin, for a total of 288 yuan.

Mu Chenze wanted to give him a three-yuan discount and sell for 285, but Hou Mingliang insisted on paying 288, saying the number was lucky.

Just then, Chu Xuan returned. Before she could figure out what was happening, Mu Chenze called for her to borrow Liu Chao’s cart to help move the fish fillets.

After they finished, they introduced themselves to Hou Mingliang.

Mu Chenze handed all 288 yuan to Chu Xuan.

Hou Mingliang also placed an order with Mu Chenze for a batch of fresh sea cucumbers and abalone, to be delivered in two days—he’d call when they were ready.

These premium seafood items, once processed and packaged, could fetch even higher prices.

After exchanging contact info and addresses, Chu Xuan and Mu Chenze caught the bus back to the county, eating their fragrant steamed meat buns on the way.

They hadn’t bought any goods today, so they could go home and rest early.

Back in the county, Chu Xuan wanted to check with Uncle Long about how the shirts were selling, so she parted ways with Mu Chenze.

Mu Chenze didn’t hurry home either, but went to see a friend to pick something up.

As soon as Chu Xuan entered Uncle Long’s shop, he greeted her, “I was just about to call you! Your Aunt Liu said the Dacron shirts are selling well and asked if you could get more men’s shirts. She has a lot of male colleagues who want some too. The money from yesterday’s shirts is here with me. Here, count it.”

Uncle Long pulled out a wad of bills from his pocket, all ten-yuan notes.

Chu Xuan took them and counted—twenty bills, a total of 200 yuan, all settled.

Just as she put the money away, Uncle Long handed her another wad, also about 200 yuan.

Chu Xuan looked puzzled. This money…"