Lucky Peasant Woman: Raising kids and making wealth

Chapter 40: Seeking trouble

Translated by: NekoCat

--

After eating simple sweet potato gruel and fried pig offals for dinner, the children washed and were sent to bed.

Gu Chunzhu took the rabbit meat hanging under the eaves inside . It was the meat of the three little bunnies that hadn't been sold in the county last time.
Without the care of the mother rabbit, Gu Chunzhu still thought about eating meat in the cold winter.

But this meat was very small, like a mouse when it's dried. She's afraid people misunderstood when it was hanging outside.

The vegetable she brought from the county town was also picked and put in a sealed jar filled with salt water. After checking it, she went to see Su Wangqin. "Brother Wang, it's late, we should go to sleep. "

"Okay, I'll be right away." His fingers were moving quickly, strips were placed at his hand and the basket begun to take shape, after a while, more than half of it had been made.

Seeing that he was still weaving, Gu Chunzhu went to bed first.

Early the next morning before they leave, Gu Chunzhu saw their new back basket.
Its strips were thin and polished smooth. The belt on the back was also wide and thick and not too heavy.

When they set off,
Gu Chunzhu insisted to carry the basket.
The two barrels add up to 30 or 40 catties

On their way, her steps got heavy and almost unable to move. Su Wangqin noticed and forcibly took her basket. He carried the basket on his back, used the shoulder pole and hung the barrels on both ends even if his legs and feet were in not good condition.

Gu Chunzhu was walking beside him with her hot (teary) eyes . Thinking of his previous promise, she inexplicably believes this man can do it.

In town, Uncle Zheng reserved their spot but more and more people are now selling river shrimps. Gu Chunzhu and Su Wangqin looked at each other and realized the incoming problem.

"Chunzhu, let me go to the county! I'll take three barrels. If I can't sell them, I'll take them back to the restaurant in town? "Su Wangqin swept a look in the row of streets. There were at least three or four stalls selling river prawns.

Gu Chunzhu was also worried. Yesterday,  a town restaurant brought a bucket of river shrimps but if they couldn't sell it, they will lose their capital .
"Then, be careful."

After he left, Gu Chunzhu set up the stall and shouted, "fresh river shrimps five coppers per bowl."

The thin man opposite them saw Su Wangqin leaving with three buckets of shrimps, He threw a disdainful look and began to shout, "Prawns 3 coppers per pound!"

In addition, some of the stalls are selling 4 coppers per bowl, and some for 4 coppers per pound,
All wanted to attract customer's business.
Gu Chunzhu couldn't help but want to reduce her price but under Uncle Zheng's reminder, she knew her business skills so there's no need to follow the price reduction.

But today's sales were really sluggish. Except for the regular customers who come to buy directly, all the other customers come to pick on the price and go to other stalls.

Fortunately, there are only a few prawns on the other stalls. After they sold out, they all left.
Gu Chunzhu still has half a bucket of prawns left and decided to stay.

She happened to meet Luo Xinlan, the seamstress, who was buying vegetables in town. She bought two steamed buns and asked her to take them back to the children to eat and to tell them that their parents will go home late today.

She sells River shrimps in town at ease. Waiting for Su Wanqing's news.
She also bought a steamed bun for lunch, nibbled on it and asked some water to the shop auntie.

"Is little sister-in-law setting up a stall in town?" Seeing that she bought two steamed buns to take home for her children today, the aunt said a few more words.

Gu Chunzhu carried her basket while eating steamed bun. "I'm selling River shrimps in town. Try wrapping and mixing some shrimps in your buns, You'll definitely swallow your tounge!"

"How can I eat steamed buns if I lose my tongue?" Auntie smiled and looked at her.

Seeing that she had some interest, Gu Chunzhu personally held the river shrimp for the aunt to see. The river shrimp jumped and splashed a lot in the water.

"Oh,look at its freshness." Looking at the fresh shrimps, it'll be really delicious to add it in the stuffing, so the Auntie decided to buy.

"Five coppers for a bowl, I'll fill it up for you." Gu Chunzhu took two or three bites of buns,swallowed it with some water, and started her business.

She fished out a bowl of prawns for the aunt who took a bucket from her shop.

She didn't expect to buy some buns and be able to do a business. Gu Chunzhu's mood was very good. When she returned to the stall, Uncle Zheng also went home to eat and came back.

Many people in the village get up early in the morning to have meal and feed their live stocks. It was already afternoon when they arrived in town. The Business was not that good, but was still okay.

    The half a barrel of river prawns in her basket gradually sold out, and only a few tails of shrimp were swimming in the water. Before Su Wangqin came back, another unexpected guest arrived.

"How can a woman come to the public to do business? You embarrass your man."
A thick leg of the coming man straddled to Gu Chunzhu's wooden barrel, stroking his nose in dissatisfaction with an arrogant look.

This man looks like a troublemaker. Uncle Zheng next door was shocked. He was even more stunned when Gu Chunzu yelled out "brother"

 Gu Chunzhu looked helplessly at the man in front of her, Gu Chunyang, the brother of the original owner.

When she was a kid, the relationship between brother and sister was quite good but under Hao's eccentricity, Gu Chunyang was getting worse and worse. He had learned everything from eating, drinking,whoring,gambling, and often stole the original owner's money. The relationship between the siblings now was not good.

The idea of ​​marrying Gu Chunzhu to Su Wangqin with two children was also Gu Chunyang's idea, because there was twelve silvers for the bride's price ,so it was certainly not good thing for such a person to come.

"What's the matter? Want to buy shrimp?" Gu Chunzhu poked his feet away, the smile on her face disappeared.

Gu Chunyang clapped his hands and was not angry. He smiled and said, "You made a lot of money selling shrimps. I heard that you set up a stall in the town before I came here. You should invite your brother to have lunch at a small bar."

    "I'm busy." 
If he wanted to ask her for a drink, there no was chance. Gu Chunzhu defined him as a rotten gambler and a rotten drinker.

"Whatever you are busy with, I'll take care of it for you." Gu Chunyang holds her hand, but Gu Chunzhu doesn't believe he has such kindness

As expected, the next sentence was, "you robbed everything away from mother the day before yesterday. She said she would not let you go back to her mother's house. If you give me the prawns and give me some money, I will help you to say a good word."

"If I don't return, then I don't. Even if you die, I won't give you a penny."
Gu Chunzhu rolled her eyes. She has changed core. Even if she was the original owner, she would not pay much attention to her family.

--