Chapter 172: Preparing to Sell Water

Chapter 172: Preparing to Sell Water

Every day, harvesting around four hundred pounds of bean sprouts was a gratifying sight, but it required a lot of effort and busyness from the daughter-in-law.

From sieving the seeds to soaking them, followed by watering and nurturing the seedlings.

The four greenhouses needed constant attention, leaving little time for rest.

"Understood, Mother. I know what to do." Qin Xiaoyao responded with a smile.

Indeed, she didn't plan to do everything herself anymore.

The demand for straw shoes had temporarily decreased, so Yun'er and her younger sister could help with growing the bean sprouts.

With more hands, the workload would be divided, and each person wouldn't have to spend too much extra effort.

"Go back to your room and rest; we'll wash the dishes." Lady Liu looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

Knowing that her mother-in-law was concerned about her, Qin Xiaoyao did not refuse.

"Yes! Thank you!" She replied and left.

Everyone watched Qin Xiaoyao's departing figure with smiles on their faces.

Back in the room, Qin Xiaoyao approached Song Que.

Song Que pulled her to sit beside him.

"You've done well with the bean sprouts!" He praised Qin Xiaoyao with a smile.

Qin Xiaoyao's lips curved upward. "Who do you think is handling it?" she replied proudly.

Song Que also smiled.

"My wife is truly talented; I admire you."

Turning her head, she was immediately captivated by his good looks.

"Hehe, my husband has such a sweet mouth—"

"Uh—"

Time flew by, and soon it was late July, nearing autumn.

While the Song family lived a busy yet fulfilling life, the drought outside worsened.

In the villages surrounding Lingquan Town, most crops had already dried up, with only a few fields that were usually water-rich remaining moist.

Meanwhile, the water shortage in the villages and town became increasingly severe.

Several households in the alley had approached the Song family, asking to buy water from them.

"I've already discussed this with my husband. We can sell water from our well, priced at three copper coins per bucket."

Qin Xiaoyao said to Lady Liu and the others.

"We'll use our own buckets as a measure."

"Each household is limited to buying four buckets per day, and no more than that."

"Water collection will be divided into four time slots: dawn, noon, dusk, and night. There will be forty slots at dawn, thirty at noon and dusk, and twenty-five at night. Outside these times, we won't sell any water."

This was to ensure more efficient use of the spring in their well.

After all, even if the spring produced plenty of water, it couldn't withstand continuous extraction. Time was needed for the well to replenish.

"When the neighbors come to queue, my husband, please keep track of the numbers. If there are too many, remind those who arrived later to wait until the next scheduled time." Qin Xiaoyao looked at Lady Liu.

Yes, she planned to have Song Que assist Lady Liu in managing the water-selling business.

Selling water was simple; they just needed to place two buckets by the well.

Those buying water would fill their own buckets directly from the well and pay per bucket.

Mother and son only needed to ensure the numbers didn't exceed the limit and collect the money.

My husband, with his limited mobility, can sit by the stone table and help with counting the numbers.

As for my mother-in-law, she can stand by the well to collect the money.

Well, this is really the only option.

Given our limited manpower, we need my husband's help.

"Alright." Song Que agreed.

"Afterward, I'll write an announcement to post on the door. Also, you and Mother should visit Aunt Sun again. Ask her to help notify every household about our water-selling service." She added.

Aunt Sun comes to fetch two or three buckets of water daily, and we never charge her.

Asking her to help with this task is no problem.

"Okay!" Qin Xiaoyao agreed.

Then, after further discussion with the family, they finalized the plan.

After lunch, everyone began to act accordingly.

Song Que returned to the room to write the announcement, while Qin Xiaoyao accompanied Lady Liu to the neighbor's house.

Aunt Sun was surprised to see Lady Liu and Qin Xiaoyao at her door.

She quickly asked Sun Xiaoyue to make some tea.

The mother and daughter did not waste time with pleasantries and soon conveyed the purpose of their visit.

"This is wonderful news! Done! I'll take care of it. I'll go door-to-door to inform everyone right away!" Aunt Sun readily agreed.

Some people had approached her recently because of her good relationship with the Song family, asking about the water they were selling.

Now that the Song family was offering to sell water for just three coins per bucket, this was indeed great news.

What was even more important was that the Song family didn't charge Aunt Sun for the water.

Her family used three buckets of water a day, which would amount to nine coins based on the Song family's price.

Saving nine coins every day was no small matter!

"Thank you so much, Aunt Sun!" Qin Xiaoyao quickly expressed her gratitude.

"What for?! You're too polite, girl!" Aunt Sun replied with a smile.

She knew well that the Song family was managed by her old friend's daughter-in-law.

Initially, she felt a bit unfair towards Lady Liu, thinking she shouldn't have given the household management to her daughter-in-law.

But the more she interacted with the Song family, the more she understood and admired Lady Liu.

Her old friend not only had good judgment but also possessed wisdom in simplicity.

It was a pity she had no son; otherwise, she would have wanted a daughter-in-law like this!

As they were talking, Li Danni and Liu Xiaomei arrived.

Upon learning why Qin Xiaoyao and Lady Liu had come, both immediately offered to help pick bean sprouts at the Song residence in the morning.

Since moving to town, they had received considerable assistance from the Song family.

Not only in business matters but also with water.

They went to the Song family daily to fetch water, and the Song family never charged them.

Water was now scarce not just in the village but also in town.

The water sellers had raised their prices to five coins per bucket, and the buckets were not even large. Water was truly precious these days.

"Danni, you don't need to. If Xiaomei has time, she can come over to help tidy up. We can sort out the vegetables you need," Qin Xiaoyao said.

"Sure!" Liu Xiaomei promptly agreed.

After chatting for a while, the mother and daughter returned home, followed by everyone except Aunt Sun.

This had become a routine.

Sun Xiaoyue was accustomed to following her mother to the Song residence to do embroidery with Lady Liu.

Li Danni and Liu Xiaomei would also go to the Song residence after lunch to weave straw shoes.

Mainly because the alleyway at the Song residence was cool, and it was livelier there.

Back home, Qin Xiaoyao went to her room to find Song Que.

Song Que had already written the notice and called Qin Xiaoyao over to review it.

After reading it, Qin Xiaoyao was once again amazed by her husband's calligraphy.

"Your handwriting truly reflects your character. If your calligraphy were to be passed down, it would surely be adored by many."

Song Que smiled and looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

"No need for many admirers; as long as my wife likes it, that's enough."