With a basket of fresh cabbages and scallions secured on her back, Li Qingyun walked toward the town market. The morning air was crisp, and the dirt road was already bustling with villagers heading to sell their goods.
But Qingyun wasn't the same helpless girl from her past life.
This time, she would not repeat her past mistakes.
Past Mistake #1: Trusting the Wrong People
In her previous life, Qingyun had been naïve and kind-hearted, thinking that honesty and hard work were enough to survive. She had trusted a fellow village woman, Aunt Liu, to help sell her vegetables, believing the woman's sweet words.
But Aunt Liu had cheated her, taking most of the money while claiming that the produce had been sold cheaply. In the end, Qingyun had earned only a few coppers, barely enough to buy rice.
This time, she would sell her produce herself.
She quickened her pace, gripping the basket straps tightly.
Past Mistake #2: Selling in the Wrong Place
Last time, Qingyun had set up her stall at the edge of the market, where few customers passed by. She had thought it was safer to stay away from the aggressive merchants in the central area.
But this had been a terrible mistake.
By the time people reached her stall, they had already bought everything they needed from the more popular vendors. Her vegetables had gone unsold, and she had been forced to lower her prices to almost nothing.
Not this time.
This time, she would set up in a strategic location—near the entrance, where foot traffic was the heaviest.
As she reached the market gates, she carefully chose a spot next to an older woman selling fresh eggs and a butcher selling pork.
People buying eggs and meat would likely need vegetables to complete their meals.
Perfect.
Past Mistake #3: Not Knowing the Value of Her Goods
In the past, Qingyun had blindly accepted whatever price the customers offered. She had no experience in bargaining, and the seasoned buyers had taken advantage of her ignorance.
Today, she was prepared.
She had observed market prices carefully on previous visits. Ordinary cabbages sold for 2 copper coins per head, and scallions for 1 copper per bunch. But her vegetables were different—they were larger, greener, and smelled fresher than anything else at the market.
So instead of undercutting herself like last time, Qingyun set her prices:
5 copper coins per cabbage (more than double the usual price)
2 copper coins per bunch of scallions
Some might call her greedy, but she knew her produce was worth it.
The First Customers
Qingyun spread out a clean cloth on the ground and arranged the vibrant green cabbages and scallions neatly. The moment she did, passersby paused and stared.
An elderly woman approached first, eyeing the cabbages with interest.
"These look fresher than anything I've seen today," she murmured. "How much?"
"5 copper coins per cabbage," Qingyun said confidently.
The woman's eyes widened. "5 coppers? That's too expensive! The other stalls are selling them for 2!"
Qingyun smiled politely. "You can buy those if you like, but try smelling mine."
The old woman hesitated, then bent down and took a sniff. Her expression immediately changed.
"This… this smells so fresh," she muttered.
She picked up a cabbage and squeezed it lightly. The firm, crisp texture was unlike the limp and wilted ones sold by other vendors.
Another customer—a plump middle-aged man—walked over and did the same.
"Miss, did you use some special fertilizer?" he asked suspiciously. "These look too perfect."
Qingyun remained calm. "No fertilizer, just careful farming."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Hmph, 5 coppers is still too much."
Qingyun didn't argue. Instead, she picked up a knife, sliced a thin piece of cabbage, and handed it to him.
"Try it raw," she said.
The man looked skeptical but took a bite.
His eyes widened in shock.
"It's… so sweet!" he exclaimed. "Even without cooking, it tastes better than what I usually buy."
Hearing this, the old woman quickly handed over 5 copper coins. "Give me one! No, two!"
Soon, more villagers gathered around. One by one, they tested the vegetables—and just like that, Qingyun's cabbages started selling faster than she expected.
Even the butcher next to her bought some. "If I stir-fry this with pork, my wife will love it," he chuckled, handing her 10 copper coins for two cabbages.
Within an hour, she had sold out everything.
She counted the coins in her hand—a total of 40 copper coins.
In her past life, she had only earned 10 coppers at most for the same amount of vegetables.
Qingyun clenched her fist, determination burning in her chest.
This time, I won't be the fool who gets taken advantage of.
A Threat from a Jealous Vendor
Just as she was about to leave, she heard an angry voice behind her.
"You! Who do you think you are, selling cabbages for 5 coppers?"
Qingyun turned around and saw Aunt Liu—the same woman who had cheated her in her past life—storming toward her. The woman's stall, filled with wilted vegetables, sat nearby with barely any customers.
Qingyun kept her face calm.
"Good morning, Aunt Liu," she said politely.
"Don't 'good morning' me!" Aunt Liu snapped. "You raised the price and took all the customers! You're ruining my business!"
Qingyun tilted her head. "I didn't force anyone to buy my vegetables."
"You—!" Aunt Liu's face turned red with rage. "If you sell at this price again, I'll make sure no one buys from you next time!"
In her past life, Qingyun had backed down, afraid of causing trouble. She had lowered her prices, allowing Aunt Liu to crush her.
But this time?
Qingyun smiled, but her voice was icy cold.
"Aunt Liu, instead of complaining, why don't you improve your vegetables?"
The surrounding villagers gasped. They had never seen the quiet and timid Qingyun talk back before.
Aunt Liu turned pale with fury. "Y-You—!"
Qingyun didn't waste another second on her. She turned on her heel and walked away, her basket filled with coins instead of regret.
This life would be different.
And no one would stand in her way.
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