Chapter 88: One Step to the Finish Line

There were sixty baskets in total. Fourteen were sold yesterday, leaving forty-six now. Today, they were redistributed: three for Da Dan, and with yesterday’s leftovers, Er Dan had nine. The remaining thirty-four all belonged to Su Qinghu.

After chatting idly with the kids for a couple of minutes, she left both the baskets and the tricycle with them, told Mrs. Meng she was heading out, and walked away from the alley with an easy, carefree air.

Er Dan stared blankly as she got into a taxi, blinked, and then finally went to check the tricycle’s cargo bed.

Inside, not too many, not too few—exactly twelve uniquely crafted decorative baskets.

So, did that taxi just carry off more than thirty handicrafts?

—So, where is New Mom going to sell them?

Er Dan was so envious he was practically drooling. Yesterday, she was the first to sell out, and at a higher price than any of them.

“Are you three okay on your own?” Mrs. Meng stood to the side, watching the youngest move over to the pedals to give himself a bit of height to peek inside, and couldn’t help but smile. “Do you need to move to another spot? If not, we’ll stand farther away.”

Her daughter-in-law had just said that letting the kids run the stall was for social experience, to train their adaptability and problem-solving skills, to see if they could quickly find breakthroughs and adjust strategies to sell their goods.

She’d especially emphasized that neither she nor Chen Yan should interfere.

Da Dan and Er Dan nodded. “We’re good.”

Qian Duoshu looked at Da Dan and Er Dan, realizing they hadn’t included him in their “we.” After a moment’s thought, he nodded too, his voice soft and earnest. “I’m good too.”

Chen Yan glanced at Da Dan and Er Dan, feeling a bit sorry for her son being left out. She wanted to say something, but under Mrs. Meng’s calm gaze, she held back.

The two adults retreated ten meters away, found a spot with a good view, and watched the three kids.

Da Dan and Er Dan scanned the crowd, searching for foreigners. Qian Duoshu looked at them, then around, noticing there weren’t any small stools nearby to borrow. He tugged at Da Dan and pointed at the edge of the tricycle bed. “Big brother, can you lift me up there?”

Seeing that it wouldn’t block the crafts, Da Dan picked him up and set him on the edge.

Half an hour later, Er Dan frowned. “There don’t seem to be many foreigners today...”

Even when there were, they didn’t even take a look before refusing.

Qian Duoshu nodded. “Three foreigners. All three turned us down.”

“…”

Er Dan shot him a look, feeling deflated. Was it really necessary to say it out loud again? He already knew, no need to rub it in.

Da Dan said nothing, just kept scanning the crowd, hoping to spot a buyer.

“Not all foreigners are rich,” Qian Duoshu piped up in his soft, childish voice. “Just like not everyone in our country is poor.”

He was still young, with a limited vocabulary, but he tried his best to express himself. “Big brother, look at their clothes, watches, and shoes. Foreigners and people who look a bit like us, look at them all…”

Er Dan blinked and turned to look at the little guy. “Asians?”

“Mm.” Qian Duoshu nodded. “Dad’s teacher said a lot of our compatriots are coming back to invest and do business now.”

Er Dan stepped forward and gave his head a rough, affectionate rub. “Once we sell these, big brother will buy you a soda!”

“Thank you, big brother.” Qian Duoshu beamed like a little sunflower.

Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa all said he couldn’t have soda, but now that he’d made friends, he needed to celebrate with something.

Before Qian Duoshu spoke up, Er Dan had already been watching not just foreigners, but also locals in long robes. Now, with Qian Duoshu’s reminder, he had a new idea—and suddenly thought of something else.

Everyone loves good fortune. In the tricycle bed, there were three especially unique pieces: a gourd-shaped stone planter with pennywort inside, a toad-shaped one also with pennywort, and a persimmon-shaped one with a woven grasshopper beside it.

The first two were obvious in their meaning, even without explanation. The last one could be described as “success right away”—businesspeople loved that!

A jolt ran through Er Dan, as if a tightly closed door had cracked open before him, and dazzling golden light shone through!

====

While the kids were brainstorming and gearing up, Su Qinghu had arrived at her destination.

She asked the driver to wait a moment, then walked straight into a teahouse. Seeing her enter, the receptionist was momentarily stunned, then quickly came out to lead her to the boss’s private lounge.

The boss had given special instructions: if a particularly beautiful woman came in—so beautiful she seemed to glow—bring her straight to the lounge.

At the time, the receptionist had wanted to laugh. Was the boss’s eyesight failing? Who could possibly glow like that?

Now she was sure—there really were people this beautiful in the world. She glanced at Su Qinghu, suppressing the urge to reach out and touch her, and tried to keep her voice steady. “Our boss has been in the lounge having tea these days. You’ll definitely find him there.”

Su Qinghu smiled and thanked her.

When she reached the lounge, the teahouse boss was indeed there. As soon as he saw her, he stood up with a hearty laugh, strode over, and cupped his hands in greeting. “Comrade Xiao Su, thank you so much. Come, come, sit! I’ve got pre-Qingming teas from several regions—have a taste!”

As he invited her to sit, he cheerfully asked about the handicrafts.

“I won’t sit, thank you,” Su Qinghu smiled. “My schedule’s packed today. Let’s catch up another time. The goods are at the entrance—I’ll have to trouble your staff to move them.”

The boss asked the receptionist to find someone to help, but still insisted Su Qinghu have a cup of tea. “You’re really patient—not even asking how my business is going?”

“Your receptionist looks radiant, and you’ve changed your prayer beads,” Su Qinghu replied with a smile. “It’s obvious things are going well. I’m afraid if I ask, you’ll get so excited you’ll tell me your whole day’s takings and leave me stunned.”

The boss burst out laughing. “Then, Comrade Xiao Su, come by often—your bill’s on the house!”

He’d met Su Qinghu by chance. He was at the teahouse when she, just finished with an interview and clearly tired and hungry, walked in. Their eyes met, and she turned into his teahouse.

He gave her a discount, she came back to thank him, and even proposed a business deal. That’s how they got to know each other.

To be honest, the crafts weren’t the real value—the true treasure was her ideas and strategies for running the teahouse.

After some small talk, seeing Su Qinghu was about to leave, he handed her a red envelope. “Thank you, Comrade Xiao Su. From now on, you’re always welcome here—no charge!”

Of course Su Qinghu knew what was really valuable. But in this era, most people still needed something tangible to attach value to—only then would they pay for your ideas.

“If you make it free, I might not dare to eat my fill here,” Su Qinghu said with a laugh, accepting the red envelope and gauging its weight and thickness. Her smile grew even brighter, and she didn’t hold back her praise. “I really love your tea snacks. I haven’t tried them all yet—still working on picking the very best!”"