Chapter 19: Sold Out

Zhou Huaishan had been craving beggar's chicken, so Zhou Qing made one for him.

When the beggar's chicken was ready, Zhao had also finished preparing dinner.

Zhou Qing didn't want to cause trouble for himself, so she took his dinner back to their room to eat.

When she entered, Zhao Huishan's eyes were practically glowing with hunger.

"Alright, that's enough writing for today. Yao and Ping, go have dinner. I've saved some chicken for you and put it in your room."

"Big sister, you are the best in the whole wide world."

Zhou Ping jumped three feet high and quickly ran off.

Zhou Yao rubbed her wrist and left with Zhou Ping.

Once they left, Zhao Huishan sprawled out on the kang, "Daughter, I'm dying."

Zhou Qing knew he was really exhausted today. She tore off a chicken leg and handed it to his mouth, "Eat the chicken."

Just a moment ago, Zhao Huishan had been weak and listless, but now he revived with full energy, "Delicious! Daughter, you eat some too."

"We'll have half; the other half goes to third uncle's family."

Zhao Huishan had no objections, "Then you eat the chicken wing, daughter."

After eating the chicken and cleaning their hands, Zhou Qing started tidying up the writing materials.

The unused red paper was stored in the cabinet, and the finished "丰" (abundance) characters were sorted by size into large, medium, and small.

One hundred large characters, one hundred medium, and two hundred small. Each batch of twenty was rolled up and tied with straw rope, then placed into the basket.

Satisfied with her work, Zhou Qing smiled at Zhao Huishan, "Did you enjoy the chicken?"

Zhao Huishan, lying on the kang with his legs crossed, swinging his feet while sucking on chicken bones, replied, "Yes, it was delicious. Oh, how life has changed from being a marquis to savoring chicken like this! Life, indeed!"

"Do you want to eat it again tomorrow?"

The action of sucking chicken bones paused, and the swinging feet stopped. Zhao Huishan turned over and looked warily at Zhou Qing.

If he had said it, there would be no problem. 

Of course, a dandy wants to eat chicken every day. 

But hearing it from his daughter...

He had a bad feeling.

"Daughter, what are you planning?"

Zhou Qing placed the book of Analects on the table, smiling, "Finish copying the book after you eat."

Zhao Huishan...

"Are you a devil?!"

"Not studying at your age, do we own a mine? Do you plan to farm in the future? Do you know how? Do you plan to eat dirt for the rest of your life?"

Zhao Huishan...

In the end, the dandy Huishan, under the devil Qing's whip, finished copying half of the Analects.

Finally, Zhou Qing assigned the next day's homework, to finish copying the remaining half.

......

The next morning.

Zhou Qing specifically dressed in men's clothing and set off early with Zhou Huailin, carrying a basket on their backs.

The Zhou family didn't have an ox cart or a mule cart, so they had to walk.

Fortunately, there were many villages near Qingyang Village. By mid-morning, the two had arrived at a sizable village.

They met with the village elder, stated their purpose, and left three large, three medium, and three small "abundance" characters at the elder's home before setting up their stall.

Borrowing a small gong from the elder's home, Zhou Qing beat the gong to start selling.

"Everyone, take a look! Large 'abundance' characters promising annual surplus and bountiful harvests, price is fair and the quality is guaranteed. No need to waste time going to the town, no need to flatter scholars and ask for help."

"Spend less money than in previous years, get a fuller 'abundance' than in previous years. Come and see, 'abundance' characters for sale!"

The sound of the gong, coupled with Zhou Qing's festive shouts, quickly attracted the villagers.

"Young man, how much are these characters?"

Zhou Qing held up the large, medium, and small "abundance" characters.

"The large ones are three copper coins, the medium ones are two, and the small ones are one. The price is absolutely fair. You won't find it this cheap in the town. Madam, look at the quality of our paper and the characters. They are no worse than those in the town."

"This young man knows how to talk," the woman who asked took the paper from Zhou Qing's hand and touched it.

The quality of the paper was good, and Zhao Huishan's handwriting was impeccable.

"Alright, give me three large, two medium, and two small."

"Sure thing!" Zhou Qing responded cheerfully.

Zhou Huailin swiftly counted out the right amount and handed the characters to the woman.

When it came time to collect the money, Zhou Qing said, "You're buying so many and supporting our business so well. I'll give you the small ones as a gift, wishing your family a full granary and a bountiful autumn harvest."

The woman was delighted by these words.

"Give me five large 'abundance' characters and three medium ones."

"Sure, I'll give you two small ones for free."

"I want some too. Four large 'abundance' characters and five small ones."

"Madam, I can't afford to give five small ones for free. How about you buy four small ones, and I'll give you one for free?"

"Hahaha..."

......

Every household farms, every household harvests, and every household hopes for a full granary and a bountiful autumn harvest. Zhou Qing's characters were cheap, so naturally, everyone wanted to buy some for good luck.

In one village, they sold out all the characters they brought.

Even then, several families who came late didn't get to buy any, so Zhou Qing and Zhou Huailin happily promised to come back in a few days.

"Little brother, will you come back to sell spring couplets before the New Year?"

Zhou Qing laughed, "If you all remember me, I'll definitely come."

After some joking and chatting, Zhou Qing and Zhou Huailin left the village.

"Qing, I didn't expect our characters to sell so well! We wrote too few, too few."

Once they were out of the village, Zhou Huailin couldn't stop smiling and kept lamenting that they didn't write enough characters.

Zhou Qing smiled, "Let's have my father write more when we get back. We might be able to visit another village before it gets dark."

Zhou Huailin shook his head, "Let's sell more tomorrow. Today, let's go to town."

"Does Third Uncle need to buy something?"

"Now that we've made money, some people in the village will be jealous. Your grandparents and your eldest uncle..." Zhou Huailin paused, then said, "Let's go to town, buy some wine and snacks, and give them to the clan leader."

Zhou Qing immediately understood his intentions.

"Third Uncle thinks things through. In that case, let's have my father write a few more characters. We'll give them along with the gifts."

Zhou Huailin smiled and pulled a roll of 'abundance' characters from his basket, "No need, I set some aside earlier. Just like before, three large, three medium, and three small ones."

Zhou Qing...

Who says ancient people were foolish?

They were quite clever.

Third Uncle was sharp, but restricted by the farm work, and he had no money to even start a small business.

Now with the opportunity...

Zhou Qing looked at Zhou Huailin, her eyes shining.

If she could cultivate her father into a high-ranking official and her third uncle into a great merchant, what would she need to struggle for?

Life... is very promising!

As they talked, they went to town, bought things, and returned to the village, heading straight to the clan leader's house.

There were two trees in front of the clan leader's house.

One was a jujube tree, and the other was also a jujube tree.

Looking at the two jujube trees, Zhou Qing's mouth twitched.

She felt she should be carrying a pitchfork instead of a basket to match those trees.

While Zhou Qing's mouth twitched, the clan leader's eldest grandson, Run, walked out of the courtyard, carrying a large pitchfork on his back.

Zhou Qing...

"Run, where are you going?" Zhou Huailin greeted him with a smile.

"I'm going to the watermelon patch."

Zhou Qing almost knelt down.