For several consecutive days, it had been raining in the village.
It's the weather in August, and the village was bustling with activity as everyone was busy picking Sichuan peppers to sell for money. Perhaps because of the rain, these past days people couldn't get into the fields, and they all sat together complaining.
Thanks to the store Lin Zhou introduced, Tian Xin sold several batches of "jujube walnut wraps" and made quite a bit of money. At least life at home could improve a little!
Her mom was busy all alone, taking care of Xiao Xu, and couldn't work. They could only rely on the little harvest from the fields to survive.
Every penny Tian Xin earned from selling jujube walnut wraps was handed over to her mom for household expenses.
"Save some pocket money for yourself!" Her mom took out a few dozen yuan and handed it to her: "Girls grow up and need money for various things!"
"I don't need it!" She handed the money back: "Use it to buy new clothes for Xiao Xu later!"
Aunt Zhang, who came to visit, saw this and praised her: "Xinxin is so sensible, she even knows to earn money to honor you, unlike my daughter who hasn't returned in years!"
Aunt Zhang lived across from them, and the two families had a good relationship, often sharing delicious food with each other first. Aunt Zhang's daughter was married far away, and she often mentioned it. She was particularly fond of Tian Xin!
"She's about to go to college and we don't have money for her, she has to earn it herself!" Her mom said with a smile to Aunt Zhang: "It's tough on the child!"
While they were talking, Uncle Guo shouted from outside: "Quick, the merchant has arrived!"
Aunt Zhang and her mom immediately got up and went outside: "Where is he?"
"At the village entrance!"
After speaking, Uncle Guo drove off in a "putt-putt" of his tricycle.
Aunt Zhang and her mom quickly went out, and several neighboring families also followed the sound to the village entrance.
What are they all doing?
Curious, Tian Xin also ran to the village entrance.
At the roadside at the village entrance, a crowd surrounded an agricultural tricycle, shouting loudly. A man in his fifties or sixties was surrounded in the middle.
"You're pressing the price so low, how can we sell? Hail has reduced the yield this year, and you're doing this, what are we supposed to live on?" Uncle Guo shouted at the man on the tricycle.
"Exactly, your price is too low, we can't sell at all."
After listening for a long time, Tian Xin finally understood. It was because of the consecutive rainy days that the merchant had lowered the price of the Sichuan peppers. The villagers were unhappy, which was why the argument started!
"If you don't sell, then don't sell. I'm not forcing you to sell to me. That's all I'm going to say, I won't come to your village to collect anymore. The market isn't doing well this year, and everyone is buying at a low price, you need to understand." The merchant shouted.
"How can we understand when your price is too low to sell?"
"Exactly!"
The merchant wanted to leave helplessly but couldn't because he was surrounded by the crowd.
"Even if you surround me, it won't solve anything, let me go!"
"You can't leave, at least increase the price a bit to let everyone recoup their costs. This price is too low, we can't sustain it!" Uncle Guo pulled on the merchant to negotiate, not daring to let him go.
This situation isn't a good thing, we need to help everyone!
Tian Xin took a deep breath, climbed onto the agricultural tricycle, and shouted into the loudspeaker on the tricycle.
"Uncles and aunties, everyone, listen to me, let's not sell our Sichuan pepper to him!"
"..."
With one shout, the surroundings suddenly went quiet! Everyone stared at her with wide eyes.
What's this kid up to?
Tian Xin's mom stepped forward trying to pull her down, but didn't succeed.
"Listen to me," Tian Xin picked up the loudspeaker, which emitted a harsh "zzz" sound.
She tossed the loudspeaker aside and used her hands as a megaphone.
"Listen to me, let's not sell our Sichuan pepper to him and let him leave."
"Xinxin, come down quickly, don't let him leave, otherwise the Sichuan pepper can't be sold!" Uncle Guo shouted at Tian Xin.
Tian Xin saw that there was no immediate solution, so she sat on a sack and slowly explained to everyone: "Doing business since ancient times, we don't force and buy.
If he's unwilling to offer a decent price, then why sell our Sichuan pepper to him?
There are many places where we can do business. Holding onto him won't help, and even if we sell to him today, what about in the future? We still won't get a good price, will we?
Trust me, let's not sell to him and let him go!"
As she sat on the sack and talked, the crowd below listened with wide-eyed disbelief.
"Child, we can't afford to say this, we can't sell because of the rain, and everyone is anxious for money!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"Selling even at a low price is better than keeping them at home!"
"Yes, yes!"
The crowd made various sounds, but Tian Xin, sitting on the sack, showed no sign of getting up.