Chapter 72: Selling Seafood at the Vegetable Market

Ye Cheng tried to make a call, but it showed powered off.

Damn it, Boss Qian this brat, even sleeping he has his phone off, I despise you.

Boss Qian's side isn't opening the door, Ye Cheng temporarily has no other way, so he can only...

I'll just go sell it myself.

Ye Cheng isn't very familiar with Donghai Shi, but last time he came he went to the market to buy things, and he knows the market, so he plans to go there to try.

After getting on his own motorcycle, Ye Cheng arrived at the vegetable market where Li Yong had previously tailed him—Donghai Shi's largest market, the Wei Family Well Vegetable Market.

Last time I came to buy things, this time I came to sell things, the mood is completely different.

Ye Cheng rode his motorcycle around in a circle, all he saw were people, there wasn't a single stall spot.

No way, those who properly sell vegetables have already taken their spots early, and now the market is starting to have management, so you can't just set up anywhere.

In the end Ye Cheng was also helpless, he could only stop his motorcycle in a spot on the outskirts of the market and start selling directly; worst case he sells slowly, as long as his goods are good he believes they'll still sell.

But there's still a problem: no scale and no plastic bags.

Fortunately the market sells everything, Ye Cheng first bought a scale then a roll of plastic bags before officially setting up his stall to start doing business.

Beside him was an old man carrying a pole selling vegetables; after looking at Ye Cheng like that, he was a bit curious: "Young man, what are you selling?"

"Oh, old man, I sell seafood, caught with my own fish trap, fresh." Ye Cheng unloaded the stuff from his motorcycle, opened the water tank, placed the snakeskin bag, then laid out the orchid crab first to attract customers.

"This crab is pretty big, young man, your luck isn't bad." The old man beside him, who also had no business, started chatting with Ye Cheng.

Hmm, not bad.

How much are you selling this for?

The old man's casual question stumped Ye Cheng; damn it, what price should I ask? I myself don't even know.

He recalled a moment: Boss Qian's purchase price, orchid crab seemed to be 38 per catty, pond shrimp 40 per catty.

Then I'll set a high price first and see.

This crab is big, 45 per catty.

"How much?" the old man widened his eyes, "That's so expensive?"

Old man, it's pure wild-caught, and it came last night, absolutely fresh.

Fresh... it is fresh, but it's a bit pricey, I don't think it'll necessarily sell well. The old man shook his head.

Ye Cheng looked at the old man's stall, selling just everyday vegetables like chives, cabbage, scallions and such.

After Ye Cheng had arranged everything properly, the old man was shocked again.

He stood up, looked at the things on Ye Cheng's stall, pointed left and right: "These, these are all caught with your fish trap? So much? You're not doing wholesale, are you?"

That comment made Ye Cheng chuckle: "Old man, look at any wholesaler, their stuff isn't this mixed; look, I have tiger shrimp, pond shrimp, slippery shrimp, orchid crab, small octopus—this obviously is my own catch."

That's right. The old man said sheepishly.

Not simple, with all this stuff you're gonna strike it rich today.

As he spoke, the old man pointed at his own vegetables: "Mine, if sold all, would only be a few dozen bucks at most, maybe not even as much as one of your crabs."

Ye Cheng gave a dry laugh; that's indeed possible, but he also couldn't say it outright.

Old man, do you have to pay money to sell things here? Ye Cheng changed the subject.

Yes, someone will come collect later, 2 yuan management fee, you pay 2 yuan for doing nothing, truly black-hearted. The old man complained a bit.

Hearing it was 2 yuan, Ye Cheng felt much more at ease.

As long as it's a normal fee, not a fine, that's fine.

Don't think the vegetable market has few people, but not many can make their way here.

After a long while, someone finally asked the price; he asked about the orchid crab, Ye Cheng quoted 50 per catty, the person looked at Ye Cheng like he was an idiot and walked away.

The old man beside him cheerfully sold a few bunches of chives, saying: "Young man, you're pricing too high, nobody will buy, you should lower the price."

Ye Cheng didn't speak; lowering the price is impossible, worst case I wait for Boss Qian to wake up and sell to him.

Moreover, good goods deserve good prices; as the saying goes, cheap grain hurts farmers, seafood is the same.

Messing with prices afterwards would only chaos the market, and he still has to do this long-term.

After over a dozen people asked the price and shook their heads, finally a plump-looking older sister showed some interest.

Holding the orchid crab, she looked left and right, clicking her tongue nonstop, her eyes just saying two words: like.

Oh, boss, 50 is too expensive, give me a discount. The older sister started haggling.

Beautiful lady, it's not expensive, this is truly fresh, I hauled it up just after midnight, it's only been a few hours, freshness is deadly.

That older sister originally still wanted to haggle, but being called "beautiful lady" by Ye Cheng made her a bit embarrassed, she unconsciously struck a pose, fixed her hair, and her voice softened.

The old man beside him secretly gave a thumbs-up: Young man, you're really something, you can call that looks a beautiful lady.

Ye Cheng then realized, in this era the term "beautiful lady" isn't really popular yet; unlike later times where men are called handsome guys and women of any age are all called beautiful ladies.

The older sister had struck her pose, wanted to buy, but felt it was still a bit pricey, mainly because she hadn't haggled, feeling dissatisfied.

Ye Cheng understood that feeling all too well.

Beautiful lady, how about this: you buy two crabs and I'll throw in a bunch of scallions, perfect for putting on when you steam them at home. Saying that, Ye Cheng snatched a bundle of scallions from the neighboring old man's stall.

That works, right? the older sister's face broke into a smile: Ah yeah, that's fine, you weigh them for me, two of them, bigger ones, my son loves eating these.

Alright, beautiful lady, come, two catties six taels, total 80 yuan, here's your scallions, take them.

The older sister lifted the crab to feel its weight, satisfied, took the scallions and carried the crab away, her mood was wonderful.

I'm a beautiful lady myself.

The old man beside him looked at Ye Cheng with astonishment: You actually sold it?

Yeah, old man, come, this is your scallion money; later if anyone buys seafood I'll say I'll throw in veggies, then your veggies will sell faster too, okay?

Okay, that's great.

The old man was overjoyed; he also wanted to sell out early and leave early, best to finish before the fee collector arrives.

Got the first order, then a few more came in one after another; all they bought were pond shrimp.

Ye Cheng also sold at 50 per catty, giving each customer a handful of vegetables, and the success rate went up considerably.

"Yo, this is tiger shrimp?" a surprised voice rang out.

Ye Cheng looked up and saw a middle-aged man.

"Yeah, big brother, just got this this morning, want some?"

"How much?"