Chapter 71: A Hint of Shyness (Minor Revisions)

Chapter 71: A Hint of Shyness (Minor Revision)

After a couple of bites of the sticky rice cake, Lin Shu seemed to recall something and asked Zhang Qiaohua, "Third Aunt, would you like to try a piece?"

Zhang Qiaohua exclaimed, "Oh, dear niece! A Ye bought this specially for you. Keep it for yourself!"

Lin Shu felt a faint blush spread across her cheeks at the remark.

The sticky rice cake was not only fried but also coated with sugar and sesame seeds, clearly not cheap. Naturally, she was reluctant to share it, which was why she asked, knowing full well her aunt would refuse. If it had been someone thick-skinned enough to accept, she wouldn't have asked at all.

Lin Shu couldn't help but glance at Zhou Ye, only to find his expression unchanged, without a hint of discomfort.

Wouldn't most people feel a little embarrassed after hearing such a remark from Third Aunt?

Zhou Ye didn't think there was anything to be embarrassed about.

In his heart, A Shu was different from everyone else. He believed she deserved to enjoy good things.

Lin Shu nibbled slowly at her sticky rice cake, while Zhou Ye took big bites of his steamed bun. Though his bites were large, his movements were unhurried. After a few bites, he would take a sip of the cooling mung bean soup to soothe his growling stomach, which gradually felt more comfortable.

Unless it was mealtime, he would never let anyone see how hungry he was, no matter how famished he felt.

By the time Lin Shu had finished her two pieces of sticky rice cake, chewing slowly and carefully, Zhou Ye had already eaten five steamed buns.

Seeing that she was done, Zhou Ye handed her the last steamed bun skewered on the bamboo stick.

Lin Shu patted her stomach. "My appetite is small. I'm already full and can't eat any more steamed bun."

"Then have half. You can split it."

Lin Shu indeed still had a little room in her stomach, but after a day of walking around, her hands were sweaty and undoubtedly dirty from touching various things. How could she split the steamed bun with her hands?

Zhou Ye noticed her hesitation and said, "Just eat it directly. If you can't finish it, give the rest to me."

Lin Shu's expression subtly changed.

Although villagers weren't so particular—sharing a bowl of water or a piece of cake was common—who was it that had specifically transferred the mung bean soup from her bamboo cup into his own earlier?

Why wasn't he so particular now?

The only difference was that when Zhou Ye drank directly from her bamboo cup, he wasn't sure if she, as the owner, would mind. But when it came to her leftover steamed bun, Zhou Ye was certain he wouldn't mind.

The more Lin Shu thought about it, the more she felt like laughing.

Since Zhou Ye didn't mind her leftovers, she had nothing more to say. She held the bamboo stick and began nibbling at the steamed bun.

After eating about a third of it, she couldn't eat anymore. Zhou Ye then took it from her and finished the remaining steamed bun in a few bites, clearly showing not the slightest bit of distaste.

Lin Yushu, for his part, didn't keep the food to himself either. He shared one of the steamed buns Zhou Ye had given him with Zhang Qiaohua. After finishing it, he also ate a bit of the flatbread they had brought from home.

The flatbread looked exactly like the ones He Guixiang made, clearly learned from Old Lady Lin.

After hastily eating some food to fill their stomachs, Zhang Qiaohua said to Lin Shu and Zhou Ye, "The sun isn't as harsh now. It's a good time for you to head back to the village. I'll go back too after selling these few pairs of straw sandals."

Zhou Ye replied, "No rush. A Shu will take Old Man Liao's ox cart back. There's still plenty of time."

Although Old Man Liao's ox cart waited at the city gate early, it usually didn't depart until late afternoon. By then, villagers who had been at the market would already be heading back gradually. It was indeed still early.

Lin Shu also said, "Third Aunt, A Ye and I can help you sell the straw sandals for a while."

Zhang Qiaohua, of course, agreed. "If you're not in a hurry to go back, I'd be happy to have some company."

With someone to keep her company, chatting while selling shoes made time pass quickly.

In fact, what Lin Shu had told the shopkeeper's wife at the handkerchief shop earlier was true. It was only after she lost the embroidery work that she started seriously considering selling straw sandals as a proper livelihood.

Many villagers knew how to make things like straw sandals and palm-leaf fans, so few bought them at the market. However, the straw sandals she wove were particularly meticulous. Several families in the village who couldn't weave them would pay her a few copper coins to make a couple of pairs for them. So in her spare time, she would weave some straw sandals, accumulate a bunch, and take them to sell in town. But back then, the straw sandals she sold were like most others—hardly any sold.

Later, when she lost the handkerchief embroidery work and was truly short on money, she had a sudden inspiration and went to the shoe shop in the market.

The shoe shop had all kinds of footwear, even straw sandals that were more expensive than those sold outside. But the straw sandals in the shop were more sturdily woven and more refined.

When she asked about the price, she was surprised to find that a pair of straw sandals could sell for thirty copper coins, with some even costing forty or fifty!

So she spent some money to buy both men's and women's styles of straw sandals from the shoe shop. She took them home, dismantled them, and figured out how to weave them herself—and she succeeded!

Now, the sturdy and tightly woven men's straw sandals and the women's straw sandals with covered toes were both styles she learned from the ones she bought. Her weaving was no worse than those from the shoe shop.

From then on, her straw sandal stall truly took off, and she gradually became more skilled at hawking her goods, growing more proficient over time.

Just like now, when she spotted two young women carrying baskets passing by, Zhang Qiaohua immediately called out, "Straw sandals for sale, straw sandals for sale! Come take a look at my straw sandals, ladies—just as good as those from the shoe shop!"

The two women indeed glanced toward the stall but seemed uninterested and walked away after a look.

After hawking for what felt like ages, some people didn't even glance her way, while others inquired about the price but turned and left as soon as Zhang Qiaohua refused to lower it by even a single copper coin.

By now, the sun wasn't as intense, and more people were out strolling around. The market was experiencing its second peak crowd period. Yet, despite the crowds, not a single person came to buy straw sandals.

Zhang Qiaohua's throat was dry from shouting. She quickly took a drink of water and sighed, "Next time, I won't make covered-toe straw sandals. They're too hard to sell! I thought since the weather is getting hotter, they should sell better than before, so I made a few more pairs. I didn't expect them all to be left unsold. But forty copper coins for a pair—I wouldn't want to spend that much either if I were buying."

Lin Shu thought for a moment and asked, "Third Aunt, do you really not lower the price by even a single copper coin?"

Zhang Qiaohua explained with a pained expression, "It's not that I don't want to; I don't dare. Once, because I wanted to go back early, I sold the last pair of covered-toe straw sandals for thirty copper coins. Somehow, a previous customer found out I sold it to someone else for thirty coins. She came back with the sandals and insisted I give her a discount of ten coins too. When I refused, she called me a black-hearted swindler. After that, I never dared to casually lower prices again. I'd rather sell fewer pairs than have something like that happen again."

Lin Shu smiled. "Third Aunt, you can't be this straightforward in business. Today, I bought quite a few things, and almost every time I got a discount of a few copper coins. Why? Because I bought in bulk! Third Aunt, you can do the same. For a single pair, don't lower the price—keep it as is. But if someone buys two pairs at once, give them a 10% discount—sell it for 90% of the price. For three pairs or more, give a 20% discount."

At this point, Lin Shu suddenly turned to Lin Yushu and tested him, "Come on, Cousin Yu Shu, calculate how much that would be."

Lin Yushu scratched his head and replied, "For two pairs of men's sandals, the original price is sixty copper coins. With a 10% discount, it's fifty-four coins. For two pairs of women's sandals, the original price is eighty coins. With a 10% discount, it's seventy-two coins. For one pair of each, the original price is seventy coins. After the discount, it's sixty-three coins. For three pairs..."

Lin Shu praised him, then said to Zhang Qiaohua, "If you lower the price this much, would you be willing, Third Aunt? Selling sooner means you can go back earlier. You might make less money, but you save time. The time saved can be used to rest or weave new straw sandals. I think it's quite worth it."

Zhang Qiaohua nodded repeatedly. "What a great idea! A Shu, I'll do as you say!"

After a moment's thought, Lin Shu added, "Third Aunt, lend me a pair of straw sandals. I'll wear them to model them."

Zhang Qiaohua immediately said she would give a pair to Lin Shu.

Lin Shu tried to decline but couldn't win against her aunt. Thinking that sandals she had worn would indeed be hard to sell, she accepted them.

After getting a free pair of straw sandals, she became even more enthusiastic. She cheerfully said to Zhang Qiaohua, "Third Aunt, there's a trick to hawking too. Watch me."

With that, she raised her voice and called out, "Come, come, uncles, aunts, sisters, come take a look! Our family's traditionally crafted covered-toe straw sandals are comfortable and breathable—they won't make your feet sweaty! Made with solid materials, top quality, they can last one or two years! Buy two pairs, get them at 10% off! Three pairs or more, all at 20% off! The more you buy, the more you save! Only a few pairs left—if you come later, they'll be gone!"

This kind of hawking, sure enough, attracted many people, who came over to inquire about the prices.

"Only covered-toe women's sandals left. Our stall is popular—come earlier next time for men's sandals."

"Forty coins a pair, not a single coin less, but if you buy two pairs, you can save eight coins right away!"

"Ma'am, you've got a good eye. The pair I'm wearing is exactly that, real nice, right? It's the coolest to wear straw sandals in hot weather. Ma'am, you look like you're from a well-off family in town. If you feel wearing straw sandals isn't presentable enough, you can wear them in your own courtyard—being comfortable is what really counts..."

Five pairs of straw sandals, excluding the ones Lin Shu was wearing, were sold in a flash, with two people buying two pairs each.

Some who were slower and missed out asked her when she would set up shop again and if it would be in the same spot. Lin Shu patiently answered each one, using her smooth talking to secure a batch of customers for Zhang Qiaohua in advance.

Once the crowd dispersed, Lin Shu put her hands on her hips and laughed, "Aunt, see? They’re sold just like that!"

Zhang Qiaohua was dumbfounded.

C-could it really be done this way?

If she shouted and spoke like that next time, wouldn’t everything sell out in no time?

Lin Yushu was also amazed, looking at Lin Shu with growing admiration.

Sister A Shu not only is book-smart but is also so skilled at selling things!

Zhang Qiaohua wasn’t in a hurry to leave anymore. Since she packed up much earlier than expected, she could still browse the market!

Lin Shu said, "Aunt, go ahead. There are still plenty of vendors around now. Any later, and most will have left. Cousin Yu Shu’s school things can be carried back by A Ye. You can stop by the house to pick them up once you’re back in Tianshui Village."

"Alright, alright, thank you, A Ye. You have a lot to carry, so watch your step on the road."

After Zhang Qiaohua and Lin Yushu headed to the market, Lin Shu turned around and saw Zhou Ye holding the pair of embroidered shoes she had just taken off!

While Lin Shu was talking to Zhang Qiaohua earlier, Zhou Ye hadn’t said a word, but his gaze had been fixed on Lin Shu the entire time, barely looking away.

Only when Lin Shu suddenly turned around did he stir, her wide eyes shining brighter than night stars. "You could’ve just left my shoes on the ground. Why are you holding them? I’ve been walking all day, and my feet've been sweating—aren’t you afraid they smell?"

Zhou Ye’s eyes, which had hardly shifted, wavered slightly as he explained, "These embroidered shoes don’t look cheap. I was worried a thief might make off with them."

After a pause, he added, "A Shu, the shoes don’t smell."

Lin Shu’s cheeks instantly flushed with a faint pink hue, as if flustered and irritated. She snatched the shoes from his hand firmly, then turned her back to quickly change out of the straw sandals she was wearing.

The straw sandals she had taken off had only been worn briefly and were still clean. She could hang them on the backpack to keep her hands free, but she certainly wouldn’t hang a pair of women’s embroidered shoes out in the open on Zhou Ye’s backpack.

"A Ye, help me remember—is there anything else I’ve forgotten to buy?"

Zhou Ye had been wondering why she suddenly got angry, but seeing her return to normal so quickly, he relaxed and replied, "Probably nothing. A Shu, I’ll see you to the town gate."

"Why bother? Aren’t you going back?"

Zhou Ye hesitated. "I need to come back in a bit."

Lin Shu suddenly remembered that some aunties in the village had asked Zhou Ye to bring back some needles and thread, guessing he needed to buy those. Had he forgotten earlier?

By the time the two exited the small town’s gate, Old Man Liao was already waiting there with his ox cart.

The cart was now loaded with more everyday goods than before, and Old Man Liao looked like he had just woken from a nap and was stretching.

Zhou Ye greeted Old Man Liao and helped Lin Shu onto the cart. "Wait here on the cart. We’ll leave once everyone’s here."

Old Man Liao chuckled. "That’s right, we’ll leave once everyone’s here, by mid-afternoon at the latest."

"A Ye, you can go back now. I’ll take the basket."

Zhou Ye handed the basket he’d been carrying back to Lin Shu but didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he went back into town to buy a few more things.

When he returned, his backpack was topped with a large, coarse pottery water jar.

The jar was securely tied to the backpack with ropes, a seemingly simple but clever trick that made the jar almost part of the backpack, ensuring it wouldn’t fall off.

Before Lin Shu could ask, Zhou Ye explained, "Uncle Miao’s family needs a new water jar. If it’s placed on the ox cart, it would get banged up on the way. I told Auntie Miao I’d carry it back for her."

Only then did Lin Shu realize how Zhou Ye had earned his "fare."

She stared at the towering water jar on Zhou Ye’s back, her brows unconsciously furrowing, a complicated feeling stirring inside her.

Suddenly, she hopped off the ox cart and said cheerfully, "A Ye, I don’t want to ride anymore. I’ll walk back with you."