Fan Zehao mulled it over, but he leaned more towards the provincial capital. After all, the provincial capital had the most wealthy people. Selling there would undoubtedly fetch a good price!
"Then we'll go to the provincial capital to sell!"
The village chief was delighted. "I knew you were a smart kid, thinking along the same lines!"
"Then who will go sell?"
This was another problem. The village chief had started to consider it. He hadn't been to the provincial capital in many years and wondered what the situation was like there now.
"I'll go to Hexinzhou with you. My son lives there, and I want to see him this time, and incidentally, give my grandchildren a few dolls!"
Fan Zehao had no objections. It didn't matter who went, as long as he could go, but he had to bring his wife!
"What about you aunties? Are you going?"
Liu Qinshi waved her hand. "It's fine for your uncle to watch the children. I'll stay home and keep the house. This place won't be warm without a fire going all day!"
Wang Zhangshi had a semi-paralyzed mother-in-law at home who needed her care, so she naturally couldn't leave. "I won't join the fun!"
Meng Sunshi and her husband had fled to this place, so they naturally wouldn't go out easily. Let alone the town, even leaving this village, they would do so in the middle of the night!
"It's so cold outside. I'd rather stay home with Granny Li and sleep on a warm kang. You all go!"
Seeing that only the three of them were going, Fan Zehao said, "Alright, then we'll set off early tomorrow morning. I'll ask my wife to make some dried rations for us to eat on the road!"
The matter was settled. After the meeting, everyone went home.
That night, Fan Zehao's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He didn't know if it was a good or bad omen. He pressed them hard with his hand, and finally, they stopped twitching.
In the early morning, they didn't even wait for the roosters to crow. The couple got up and finished their preparations as the sky began to lighten.
For breakfast, Zhao Jiaqi made a little extra. After the three of them ate, Granny Li stayed home to tidy up, which greatly relieved Zhao Jiaqi's burden.
Fan Zehao hitched the horse and carriage. He put on his old cotton jacket and another heavier, old coat over it. This time, Zhao Jiaqi had specifically asked Granny Li to make him a pair of cotton gloves with separate thumbs and fingers so that he could drive without problems and stay warm!
He had been to Hexinzhou once before, so he knew the road. They didn't take many detours on the way. The journey that originally took over two days was completed in a day and a half this time!
Perhaps it was the urgency to sell, or perhaps this trip was exceptionally smooth.
They arrived at noon. The three of them found a wonton stall, ordered four large steamed buns and three bowls of wontons, and ate to their heart's content.
Feeling warm, they found a relatively prosperous spot. Zhao Jiaqi spread an old bedsheet on the ground and arranged the toys one by one. The two men helped her. Before they had even finished arranging them, a young lady out shopping for rouge and powder caught sight of them.
The woman wore a pink cloak embroidered with half-bloomed peach blossoms. Her clothes were perfumed, and her feet were shod in pink shoes of the same color, adorned with pearls.
Looking up, she saw a great beauty, with a face like a hibiscus and bright, white teeth. Even as a woman, she was stunned!
"You, madam, my young lady is asking what these things are and how much they cost. Why are you spacing out!"
The maid behind the young lady was quite formidable. Seeing her young lady asking a question and the other woman staring blankly at her, she stepped forward and pushed Zhao Jiaqi!
"No!" Fan Zehao slapped the maid hard in the street. "Who do you think you are, daring to point at my wife!"
Zhao Jiaqi tugged at him. "I'm fine. It's just that I saw how beautiful this young lady is and was momentarily distracted. It's not her fault!"
Fan Zehao listened to his wife and glanced at the woman. Then he calmly withdrew his gaze, looking at her dotingly instead. "You're the beautiful one!"
A single sentence made the woman cover her mouth and chuckle. "My dear sister-in-law, please forgive me. My maid is impatient. Don't mind her!"
"Why would I mind!" Zhao Jiaqi pointed to the items behind her. "These are cloth dolls. They can be held for play, used as decorations, or hugged while sleeping. They are also suitable gifts for friends and family!"
"These are the twelve zodiac animals, a complete set. The ones behind are also complete sets, just in different styles!"
The young lady picked up a rabbit. Seeing its long ears and cute appearance, she found it truly lovely. It wasn't heavy in her hands, and it even felt a little warm!
"These are quite lovely. Do you sell them as a set, or individually?"
Zhao Jiaqi observed her elegant attire and refined taste. Her bearing was comparable to that of a lady from a prominent family; she was neither pretentious nor artificial, and she didn't act like a spoiled young lady. Setting aside the brief unpleasantness, Zhao Jiaqi felt an instant liking for her.
"We sell them as sets, and also individually. However, the individual price will be a bit higher!"
Miss Chu looked at all the beautiful items laid out on the ground. Thinking of the upcoming New Year, she realized they would make excellent gifts for her close friends.
"Then how much for a set?"
Zhao Jiaqi replied, "One hundred and fifty taels for a set. If you are sincerely interested, I can offer a slight discount, but not by much!"
"It's not cheap, it's more expensive than a jade hairpin!" Miss Chu said with a smile.
Yet, she was reluctant to let go of the rabbit in her hand.
Zhao Jiaqi paused for a moment and then said, "It's worth the price. How can you compare two different things?"
"A jade hairpin can look gaudy on a young woman, as it doesn't showcase its elegance. It's suitable as a gift for elders at home!"
"If you want to give it to someone of the same generation, then a set of these for one hundred and fifty taels, and currently unique in the inner city, is excellent value whether for its size, quantity, rarity, or as a gift or for personal enjoyment. It all depends on one's choice!"
Miss Chu listened to this entire explanation, and she wasn't surprised. What caught her attention were the words "unique in the inner city."
She smiled and said, "So, you've just come to Hexinzhou to sell cloth dolls?"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded and told her truthfully, "We just arrived at noon, had a few buns, and came straight here to sell!"
After hearing this, she waved her hand grandly. "One hundred and fifty taels, I'll take them all!"
"Ah? You'll take them all?" Zhao Jiaqi knew she would buy some, but she hadn't expected her to want them all at once!
Zhao Jiaqi quickly regained her composure and secretly wondered who this person was.
At this point, people had gradually gathered around, but before they could get a good look, Zhao Jiaqi and her husband bundled up the bedsheet and threw it into the carriage.
"On my carriage, there are ten sets of the large dolls, five sets of each of the two styles. For the smaller ones, there are seventeen sets. However, their quality is slightly inferior, at ten taels of silver per set. Are you sure you want them all?"
A shrewd smile flashed across Miss Chu's eyes. She nodded seriously. "I want them all!"
"However, my servant and I cannot carry them all. We will need Madam to deliver them, and I will give you the silver notes then, how about it!"
Zhao Jiaqi raised her eyebrows subtly. "Alright!"
Fan Zehao led the horse and carriage, calling out to the village chief twice. The village chief finally came to his senses and hurried to follow behind the carriage.
Those who knew would say he was the village chief, but those who didn't would think he was an old steward following the couple!