Chapter 50: Can

Su Ruan encouragedly pinched Yaya's little cheek, smiling, "Treat this as a fun game, see if you can sell the items at a cheaper price and faster, okay?"

Yaya listened to this novel and interesting selling method, her original timidity gradually replaced by curiosity and eagerness, and she nodded vigorously, "Hmm! Sister Su, I've got it! I'll have fun with it!"

Douzi and Jiang Ran were stunned.

Douzi thought the method was unheard of, yet vaguely felt it might actually attract people.

Jiang Ran was again shocked by his daughter‑in‑law's business mind; the "group‑buy" idea was simply brilliant!

He seemed to already picture Yaya surrounded by a crowd of women snapping up the goods.

Su Ruan handed the second cloth bag to Yaya and gave each of them a bit of change for making change and emergencies.

"Alright, I've taught you the method."

"Douzi, go wander near the Mechanical Institute family courtyard in the east city. Yaya, go to the department store entrance or a street corner with many women."

Su Ruan assigned them territories to prevent their own people from stealing business.

"Remember, safety first; it's fine if you don't sell everything. Return to Zhou Da Niang before nightfall. Brother Jiang Ran and I will watch over you from the shadows."

The two children nodded vigorously, clutching their own cloth bags tightly, their eyes filled with the nervous, uneasy feeling of earning a living with their own hands for the first time, and a hint of budding hope.

Douzi went to the area near the Mechanical Institute family courtyard in the east city.

The environment here was relatively clean; most passersby were well‑dressed officials' families or intellectuals.

Following Su Ruan's instructions, Douzi found a clean stone step under a tree shade and sat down.

Then he took out the pouch, Frog Button, and handkerchief from the cloth bag one by one, placing them carefully on a clean blue cloth.

He kept Su Ruan's words in mind—"Hold the price, sell to customers who value quality."

At first he kept his head down, not daring to call out; occasionally a passer would glance, and his palms sweated from nervousness.

After a while, a middle‑aged woman wearing glasses with a gentle demeanor stopped, picked up a handkerchief embroidered with emerald bamboo and examined it closely.

"Little friend, how much is this?"

Douzi took a deep breath, raised his head, trying to keep his voice steady: "A… Auntie, this is our new model, SuHang Handcraft, unique, three coins per piece."

The woman raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised by the price, but seeing the exquisite stitching and elegant pattern on the handkerchief, she hesitated.

Watching from a distant alley, Jiang Ran couldn't help whisper to daughter‑in‑law Su Ruan beside him, "Daughter‑in‑law, isn't that price a bit harsh? Look how nervous that kid is."

Su Ruan kept her gaze fixed on Douzi, replying softly, "Scarcity makes things valuable; our goods are worth this price."

"See that auntie; she's hesitating but not walking away, which shows she knows quality and is weighing the value."

Sure enough, the woman stroked the handkerchief for a moment and asked, "Little friend, can this be cheaper?"

Douzi recalled Su Ruan's admonition, shook his head firmly: "Auntie, sorry, no bargaining. The material and embroidery are worth this price."

The woman looked at Douzi's slender yet clear and resolute eyes, then at the handkerchief, and finally smiled, "Alright, young fellow, you're sincere; give me one."

She paid and left with the handkerchief.

Douzi clutched the three coins, feeling as if holding a red‑hot coal, his hands trembling with excitement!

He succeeded!

He followed Sister Su's method and sold his first item!

Jiang Ran clicked his elbow against Su Ruan, saying proudly, "Well done, daughter‑in‑law! You really got it sold! And that little Douzi is also catching on!"

Su Ruan's mouth twitched upward, and she felt a sigh of relief.

"Don't get too happy yet; this is just the beginning. Let's go see Yaya's side."

At the department store entrance, the crowd was woven like fabric.

Yaya chose a spot near the entrance that wouldn't block pedestrians.

She was young and well‑behaved, wearing the new clothes Su Ruan had made; her freshly washed, fair complexion drew many glances as soon as she stood there.

She didn't wait quietly like Douzi; instead she blinked her big eyes and actively sought potential customers.

Soon she zeroed in on a young lady in a fashionable Dress, looking at a shop window.

Yaya mustered courage, took small steps over, raised a pouch embroidered with orchid grass, lifted her face, and showed a sweet, slightly shy smile.

"Sister, you're so pretty! Do you like this pouch? There's a promotion right now!"

The lady laughed at the sudden cuteness, bent down to take the pouch, "Little friend, how much is this pouch?"

Yaya, using Su Ruan's script, said clearly, "Sister, it's three coins if you buy alone. But we have a promotion now!"

She deliberately paused, teasing, her big eyes flickering: "If you can find a friend to buy together, the two of you 'group‑buy', each gets five‑jiao off, only two‑point‑five! That's a great deal!"

"'Group‑buy?' the young lady, hearing the term for the first time, found it novel and fun, 'Can you really buy like that?'"

"Yes, yes!" Yaya nodded vigorously, pointing with a small hand at another aunt also browsing, "Sister, that aunt seems to like it too; shall I ask if she'd join you to group‑buy?"

The lady was amused by Yaya's cleverness and found the "group‑buy" idea interesting, nodding. Yaya immediately, like a happy little butterfly, fluttered to the aunt and repeated the "group‑buy" proposal in the same naive, enthusiastic tone.

The aunt had originally been just looking casually; Yaya's encouragement and the pouch's genuine delicacy and low price sparked her interest.

The two calculated together, both finding it worthwhile, and decided on the spot to "group‑buy".

Yaya successfully closed the first "group‑buy" deal; she deftly collected payment, gave change, handed each pouch to the two customers, her little face flushed with excitement, and sweetly said.

"Thank you, sister! Thank you, aunt! You're welcome to group‑buy again next time!"

Hidden behind the noodle tea stall, Su Ruan and Jiang Ran watched the scene in full.

Jiang Ran's eyes widened; he couldn't help to wrap his arms around Su Ruan's waist, whispering into her ear, warm breath brushing her earlobe, "Daughter‑in‑law, you're a little imp!"

"What kind of brain do you have? This 'group‑buy' you're playing… I see Yaya's momentum; I'm afraid it'll outshine Douzi's side!"