Chapter 47 Big Burden
“Alright, let’s eat quickly,” Bai Shuiliu chimed in. “Lixia, help Mom bring the food over.”
“Okay,” Bai Lixia agreed cheerfully, her tone noticeably upbeat.
Bai Zhuye hurried off to wash her face, while Bai Midou helped bring the food to the table.
There were pancakes, steamed bread, cornmeal porridge, cold cucumber salad, and stir-fried eggs with green peppers.
The green peppers weren’t spicy, adding a unique fragrance, complementing the savory eggs.
The four radishes ate with joy and gusto.
Watching them, Su Mulan felt increasingly complex emotions.
As the children trusted and grew closer to her, she felt the weight on her shoulders increase.
Selling dried sweet potatoes could earn a bit more than farm work, but it was still too slow. There were too many areas in life that needed improvement, and this alone was far from sufficient. She needed to quickly think of other ways.
Thinking this, Su Mulan shielded her troubled eyes with a coarse porcelain bowl.
After finishing the meal and tidying up, everyone went to bed early.
The next day, Su Mulan woke up early. After preparing breakfast and taking a few bites herself, she instructed Bai Zhuye to take good care of Bai Shuiliu at home. She called Bai Lixia and Bai Midou to go clear grass in the wasteland. Su Mulan then shouldered a large bamboo basket and headed towards the town.
This time, she went alone. There were also more dried sweet potatoes than before, filling over 30 kilograms in the bamboo basket. Initially, it felt manageable, but as she walked, the hemp rope straps began to strain her shoulders. The back and forth movement rubbed her shoulders raw, and when sweat dripped onto her skin, it stung.
Su Mulan took out a piece of cloth covering the dried sweet potatoes and padded it on her shoulder. She walked slowly, resting intermittently, making the journey to town somewhat difficult.
She walked slower than last time, but because she set off early, she arrived in town around the same time as the previous trip.
Finding a suitable spot to set up her stall, Su Mulan began selling like before.
“Soft and sweet dried sweet potatoes, three coins per pound, delicious and affordable…”
Her voice rose and fell rhythmically, pleasant to hear. The bamboo basket holding the dried sweet potatoes was neatly lined with clean cloth, making it look meticulous and complementing the bright and attractive colors of the sweet potatoes.
Soon, some passersby were attracted and stopped to look. With Su Mulan’s enthusiastic persuasion, they tried a piece.
As Su Mulan said, the dried sweet potatoes were soft, fragrant, and sweet without being greasy, perfect for leisurely chewing to pass the time. They were also a great snack for children—cheap and plentiful.
Su Mulan was also skilled in business; she used accurate scales, sweet words, and added enough extras.
Overall, about sixty to seventy percent of those who tried the samples ended up buying some, more or less. Among the buyers of dried sweet potatoes, approximately twenty percent had purchased from her at the previous market fair, which Su Mulan recognized.
The repeat purchase rate was quite good.
“Don’t mention it, these dried sweet potatoes get tastier the more you chew. They’re sweet but not overwhelming,” said a woman not much older than Su Mulan. “My mother-in-law loves them, so I’m buying a bit more this time.”
“That’s right. My kids love them too. They said that although sesame candy tastes sweet, it’s very greasy after eating two pieces, and it’s not as refreshing as this one. Last time I bought them, they were gone in two days. Now my kids are asking for more so they can share them with classmates at school,” added another woman of similar age.