Chapter 49: There Are More Ways to Show Gratitude Than Kneeling

The boy wiped his tears and whispered, "My name is Douzi, I'm twelve."

"My sister is called Yaya, she's eight."

"Our parents… last year the flood came, they're gone… only the two of us are left…"

The sorrow in his voice made Su Ruan and Jiang Ran both feel a heavy sinking in their hearts.

Su Ruan was silent for a moment, looked at Douzi's eyes that held fear and a hint of hope, and said slowly, "Douzi, there are many ways to thank others, not just by kneeling."

Douzi lifted his head and looked at her, a little bewildered.

Su Ruan continued, her voice clear and soothing, "I can give you a chance so that you two siblings can have enough to eat in the future, never starve or freeze, and have money for medical treatment when you fall ill."

"The only question is whether you are willing."

Douzi's eyes widened suddenly, looking at Su Ruan in disbelief, then at Jiang Ran, his lips trembling, hardly daring to believe his ears.

"Really… is it true? What can I do? No! I can do anything! Chopping wood, fetching water, running errands… I…"

"You don't need to do those heavy chores." Su Ruan smiled faintly, took a pouch she had previously crafted from her cloth bag, handed it to Douzi, "Look, a pouch like this, along with Frog Button and handkerchief, could you sell them?"

Douzi took the exquisitely crafted pouch he had never seen before, cradling it carefully as if it were a fragile treasure.

He nodded vigorously, "I will! If I can't… I can learn! I'm tongue‑tied, but I'm not lazy! I will sell them well!"

"Good child."

Su Ruan smiled and patted his head; she wasn't in a hurry to make the frail Douzi and Yaya start working right away, after all, sharpening the knife doesn't delay chopping wood.

Nourishing the two youngsters' bodies first is the top priority.

First, together with Jiang Ran, she rented a cheap, clean small house in a relatively tidy Alley not far but not too close to the Jiang Family.

Then, through the street neighborhood committee, she found an elder lady surnamed Zhou.

Her husband had died early, her children were married and lived elsewhere, she lived alone, was warm‑hearted, and willing to earn some pocket money to help with household expenses.

Su Ruan paid Zhou Da Niang a sum each month, asking her to look after Douzi and Yaya during the day, mainly to ensure they have three hot, clean meals a day and that Yaya takes her medicine on schedule.

After settling the residence and staff, Su Ruan cut cloth and personally made two new outfits for each of Douzi and Yaya.

Though just ordinary cotton, the styles were tidy, well‑fitted, and washed spotless.

When Douzi and Yaya put on the new, unpatched clothes, both children were so restrained they didn't know where to place their hands and feet; Yaya kept furtively touching the hem, her eyes sparkling brightly.

"Sister Su… this… this is too valuable…"

Douzi whispered, not daring to look up.

Su Ruan gently patted his head, "Wear it, stay lively; later when you sell things you'll look good."

"Now your task is to keep your bodies healthy, Yaya take her medicine on time, you eat more rice, regain your strength."

Under Zhou Da Niang's careful care and Su Ruan's occasional nutritional supplements, Yaya's fever had long subsided, and her complexion gradually turned rosy.

Douzi was no longer the emaciated, wind‑blown figure; though still thin, his eyes now had spark, and his back was a bit straighter.

Jiang Ran watched the siblings' changes, feeling even more admiration for Su Ruan, thinking his wife was not only clever but also kind‑hearted.

About ten days passed, seeing both bodies recovered well and spirits sufficient, Su Ruan thought the time had come.

That day, she brought Jiang Ran to the small house and called Douzi and Yaya over.

She took out two prepared small cloth bags, each containing the same number and pattern of pouches, Frog Buttons, and embroidered handkerchiefs, ten of each.

These little items were exquisitely crafted, with elegant patterns, shimmering with delicate luster in the sunlight.

"Douzi, Yaya, your bodies are healed; now Sister Su will teach you how to sell these pretty little things for money. That way you can support yourselves and never starve or freeze again."

Douzi looked at the items, which to him seemed as exquisite as artworks, feeling nervous and hopeful, and asked cautiously, "Sister Su, how much does each of these sell for?"

Su Ruan quoted a price.

Upon hearing it, Douzi's eyes widened instantly, and he inhaled a cold gasp, "This… so expensive?"

He had previously begged on the street, knowing an ordinary person earns only a few coins a day; this price was almost equivalent to several days' worth of meals for a commoner!

He worried that no one would buy them at all.

Yaya also timidly tugged Su Ruan's sleeve, her little face full of worry.

Su Ruan looked at their nervous expressions and couldn't help but smile, a smile carrying a reassuring mystery, "Don't worry, whether they sell or not, and how to sell, there is a method."

"From now on, listen carefully to what I say and keep it in your hearts."

She first picked up one of the cloth bags and handed it to Douzi, "Douzi, take this one."

"You sell at the price I told you, no bargaining. If anyone asks, say this is our Premium, SuHang Handcraft, unique, suitable for gifting or personal use, and it carries prestige."

"Your mission is to hold that price and sell to customers who appear well‑off and quality‑conscious. Understand?"

Douzi nodded as if half‑understood, clutching the cloth bag tightly, as if holding a daunting task.

Then Su Ruan picked up the other cloth bag but didn't hand it directly to Yaya; instead she crouched, looked into Yaya's eyes, and said in an even softer, more gently persuasive tone, "Yaya, your selling method will differ from your brother's and be a bit more fun."

Yaya blinked her big eyes curiously.

"Look," Su Ruan took out a pouch, "if one person buys this, it's at the price we just told your brother."

"But if they can find another person to buy together, the two 'team up' and each can get five mao cheaper!"

Yaya's eyes lit up slightly.

Su Ruan continued patiently, using the simplest straightforward words: "For example, if you see a pretty lady looking at your pouch, you can walk up, smile and say, 'Sister, do you like this pouch? There's a promotion now: one person pays this price, but if you can find a friend to buy together, the two of you split the order, each gets five mao off! That's a great deal!'"

She mimicked a child's naive and enthusiastic tone: "If that lady is interested but can't find a friend right away, you can also say, 'Sister, that's okay, I can ask that auntie over there if she wants to join,' or, 'Sister, you watch for now, I'll go ask others; once we have enough people we can get the cheap price!'"

Su Ruan gradually taught Yaya the pitch and techniques for team buying, how to attract the first customers, leverage people's desire for a bargain and herd mentality, and create a lively, in‑demand atmosphere.

She even devised simple "team‑buy" rules: two people form a group, instantly reduce five mao; three people, reduce another five mao!

"Yaya, you're young, cute, speak sweetly, smile more, and uncles, aunties, brothers… will all like you."