As Luo Ge and the others passed by the bustling Fuxin Shop on their way through Yiyang Town, they too witnessed the lively scene inside.
"This business is really thriving," Wang Sister-In-Law remarked in awe at the sight.
Luo Ge smiled upon hearing her words.
"Hey, hey, hey! The sugar is gone again? Shopkeeper, how do you operate like this? Don't you keep track of your inventory?" a customer exclaimed.
The small jar he held likely contained no more than a couple pounds of sugar at most, probably just a score or two of pieces.
"That's not nearly enough!" he grumbled, intending to take it as a gift.
"Exactly!" others chimed in hearing his complaint.
"That's way too little!"
At least that man managed to snag a jar, while they were left empty-handed.
Most of them were regulars at the Fuxin Shop.
For some reason, the new products the shop had rolled out recently were more delightful than the last, with novel and delicious flavors.
So as soon as they heard of the latest offering, they hurried over, only to find themselves unable to get their hands on any.
"Is there still any left inside? If so, bring it out quickly! Don't make us come all this way for nothing!" Those who missed out were reluctant to leave, craning their necks to peer into the back courtyard.
Seeing the customers' displeasure, Li Shopkeeper hurriedly apologized with a smile.
"My apologies, it was my inadequate preparation. These sugars and fruit teas were just imported from foreign lands, so the supply is limited."
"Today was meant to give our valued patrons a taste. But the stock is truly depleted."
"If you don't mind waiting, you can place an order. The next shipment should arrive in... around three days' time."
"However, it likely won't be much either."
In just a day, Luo Ge and the others had only managed to make about 10 pounds of candied pear paste and sugar in total.
They had planned for a couple of days' trial run, but the customers came in droves, depleting the stock in no time.
Glancing at the untouched supply of regular sugary products, Li Shopkeeper fell silent for a moment.
Three days... Mrs. Gu should be able to accumulate a bit more, but at this rate, the quantity would still be limited.
Overhearing this from outside, Luo Ge raised an amused eyebrow and turned to Gu Jinchen with a smile.
"Li Shopkeeper is quite the clever one."
His words skillfully highlighted the rarity of the products while appeasing the customers, building anticipation with a deft touch.
Smooth and unruffled as he misled the people - a trait worth learning from.
"I'll order some! Put me down!"
"Me too, I want some too!"
Hearing Li Shopkeeper's explanation, the crowd quieted down briefly before bursting into shouted orders.
The sugar wasn't exactly cheap, with a meager two pounds costing 500 copper coins per jar.
But these regular patrons were not wanting for money. Coupled with Li Shopkeeper's claim of foreign imports, they deemed the price worthwhile.
Exotic goods from beyond the borders, unavailable locally, immediately commanded a premium.
Owning such treats would be a status symbol, not to mention their genuinely delicious taste.
"And that fruit tea powder, order some for me too. If you're not selling it now, you'll sell it next time, right?"
The shop had offered them a taste of the fruit tea but didn't sell it, saying it was just a trial run this time.
Compared to the sugar, they actually preferred the flavor of the fruit tea a tad more.
But it couldn't be helped since the shop wasn't selling it today.
"Sure, sure!" Li Shopkeeper readily took their orders upon seeing the fervent interest.
Observing this heated scene, Luo Ge and her group quietly slipped away.
With the crowded shop interior and their secluded corner position, Li Shopkeeper hadn't noticed their presence.
As they left, Luo Ge glanced up at the loft, catching a glimpse of Jiang Feng's retreating figure.
Seeing Li Shopkeeper reflexively look towards the loft, she withdrew her gaze.
It seemed the discussion of a partnership wasn't far off.
After leaving the Fuxin Shop, Luo Ge and the others went to purchase supplies.
The next day marked the official apprenticeship ceremony for the children, while the day after, the first of September, was the scheduled start of construction on their new residence. With these two events in quick succession, they had quite a few items to procure.
Wang Sister-In-Law and the others also needed to buy household goods, so they parted ways midway, agreeing to regroup later at the town gate.
"Wife, why don't we buy a horse-drawn carriage?" Gu Jinchen suggested as they neared the horse market outside Yiyang Town.
With Luo Ge's pregnancy, long journeys on foot would be inconvenient, making a mode of transportation more practical.
Additionally, they had discussed passing off the fruits from her spatial realm as imports from elsewhere to explain their origins.
A carriage would make it easier to 'bring goods' from distant places.
They could even claim foreign sources, as Yiyang Town wasn't too far from the borders, following Li Shopkeeper's example.
Upon hearing his words, Luo Ge turned towards the nearby horse market. "Alright."
At the same time, she also glanced towards the area where oxen and donkeys were sold.
While oxen were more practical for farming in rural areas, horses were better suited for long-distance travel.
Moreover, their future endeavors would likely involve venturing outwards, making horses the wiser choice.
