Ye Xiaoli had changed locations again to do business.
Her radishes were simply too expensive. If she kept selling in the same place, the factory workers would not be able to afford them.
Today, she went to the coal mine in town.
Because of the demanding physical labor, the miners generally worked three shifts.
During shift changes, workers came and went in an endless stream.
Ye Xiaoli laid the radishes on top of a burlap sack, arranging them neatly in rows.
Although plenty of people looked at them, very few showed any interest in buying.
Most of the men focused on earning money and paid little attention to cooking.
Radishes were not fruit, and they did not taste especially good when eaten raw, so naturally there was little interest.
Ye Xiaoli refused to give up.
Using the same strategy as before, she sliced the radishes and offered free samples.
The results were still disappointing.
People became more interested, but no one stepped forward to try them.
“Radishes that taste even better than fruit! Sweet, crisp, and guaranteed to leave you full of energy!”
Ye Xiaoli shamelessly shouted the slogan Ye Jin had given her.
Only then did a few people approach and casually toss pieces of radish into their mouths.
At first, they were only giving the young girl some face.
To their surprise, the radish was genuinely sweet and crunchy. It quenched thirst and stimulated the appetite.
Most importantly, after eating it, their exhausted bodies, worn out from a day of labor in the mine, seemed to regain their strength.
“Wow, this radish is really good!”
“It doesn’t even taste like an ordinary radish. It’s still crunchy, but it doesn’t have that spicy bite!”
“That’s nothing. This radish really hits the spot. Next time I work the night shift, I’ll just bring a whole one with me. It’ll definitely keep me energized!”
The miners earned high wages and tended to be rough, straightforward men.
Although they were generally uninterested in shopping, they did not mind spending money on a radish like this.
“The radishes in your basket are the same as the one we just tasted, right? How much for one? Name your price!”
“The radishes are one yuan per jin. Five yuan per radish. Feel free to pick whichever one you like.”
Every time Ye Xiaoli quoted the price, her voice unconsciously became softer.
The radishes were so expensive that even she felt guilty selling them.
The men were all wearing work uniforms.
Even after showering, traces of dirt still lingered on their faces and bodies. Some even had wet hair, clearly having just gotten off work.
“What? Radishes are this expensive now? I work myself to death for a whole month and still can’t afford a radish?”
The man was shocked.
When business at the mine was good, a worker could earn nearly fifty yuan a month with bonuses included.
In a small town, that kind of income ranked among the highest outside of management positions.
Yet it was only enough to buy ten radishes.
Since when had money become so worthless?
“Get lost. Stop being so stingy. With a salary like yours, you’re still reluctant to spend money on something good.”
“Is this an ordinary radish? This is a radish that fills you with energy. If you don’t want it, I’ll buy it myself.”
One of the miners had injured his back earlier when a piece of coal struck him.
His back had been aching ever since.
After eating a bite of radish, whether due to psychology or not, the pain seemed to disappear entirely.
A radish this delicious and effective was worth the high price.
One hundred jin of radishes amounted to only about twenty pieces.
Once one person bought one, the rest quickly followed suit.
The radishes sold out rapidly, earning Ye Xiaoli another tidy profit.
The moment she sold the last one, she took off like the wind.
Everyone found it a little strange and worried they might have been tricked.
Some quickly took more bites of their radishes.
Fortunately, the taste was just as good as before, and they genuinely felt more refreshed afterward.
What began as curiosity quickly turned into addiction.
Some employees from the Glass Factory happened to pass by the coal mine after work.
Seeing so many people carrying radishes, one woman hurried over excitedly.
“Are those the one yuan per jin radishes?”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“How do I know? Because I bought some yesterday! Where’s the young girl selling them? Take me to her right now!”
The factory worker’s face was filled with excitement.
The miners looked at her curiously.
“You’re so excited. Is there something wrong with the radishes? Are you looking for that girl to demand compensation?”
The people who had bought radishes immediately became suspicious.
After all, a radish costing one yuan per jin was expensive.
If it caused problems, it would truly be an intelligence tax.
“Of course not! Yesterday I bought two radishes. I ate one raw and cooked the other into soup. Guess what happened?”
The female employee widened her eyes, unable to hide her smile.
“What happened?”
“My eighty year old mother had been coughing so badly it felt like her lungs were about to come out. After drinking the radish soup, she was completely fine!”
“The radishes are expensive, but they’re absolutely worth it. I planned to buy two more today to make soup at home. I waited outside the Glass Factory for ages but never saw the girl. Who knew she’d come to the coal mine to sell instead?”
The woman’s smile was impossible to hide.
If the radishes had not genuinely been so good, everyone would have assumed she was a paid shill.
“Are these radishes really that magical? To me they just look a little bigger and taste a little better than normal radishes.”
The people who had not bought any regretted it deeply.
Those who had bought them were all smiles.
Now they would not be mocked as fools who wasted money.
After all, spending five yuan on a single radish sounded ridiculous to anyone who did not know the truth.
Now that the Glass Factory worker had personally confirmed their effectiveness, everyone felt their purchase had been worthwhile.
“The wonderful thing about these radishes is something you only understand after eating them! Does anyone want to resell theirs? Five yuan each. I’ll buy two. I don’t even mind if they’ve already been bitten!”
The female worker immediately set her sights on the miners’ radishes.
Everyone quickly stuffed their radishes into their jackets and guarded them like treasures.
After changing her appearance, Ye Xiaoli returned to the entrance of the coal mine.
She found a large crowd gathered there, making a tremendous commotion.
“What’s going on? Why are so many people gathered here? Don’t tell me someone got sick from eating my radishes?”
Ye Xiaoli felt nervous.
She hid nearby and listened carefully.
Only after confirming that nothing had gone wrong did she finally relax and leave.
Instead of heading home immediately, she stopped at a roadside stall and bought a decorative hair flower.
She had admired it for a long time but could never bring herself to spend the money.
Now that she had earned some income, she no longer had to be as frugal as before.
Wearing her new hair ornament, Ye Xiaoli skipped happily all the way home.
The moment she entered the house, she noticed many gifts piled up in the main room.
The village matchmaker, Liu Meipo, was smiling as she looked her over.
She even grabbed Ye Xiaoli’s hand in a familiar manner.
“The girl isn’t particularly pretty, but she’s cheerful. The muscles in her arms are firm too. One look and you can tell she’s a hardworking girl. The groom’s family will definitely be satisfied.”
Ye Xiaoli was completely confused.
Her father, Ye Zhifeng, nodded with a smile and, for once, offered her praise.
“The daughters of our Ye family are raised with great care. Of course she won’t disappoint anyone.”
“Xiaoli, remember to visit often after you’re married. Your mother will miss you.”
Only then did Ye Xiaoli realize what was happening.
Without even asking for her consent, her parents had already accepted the groom’s betrothal gifts.
“I would rather die than marry that old bachelor!”