Chapter 194: Strong Backing
Translator: Lonelytree
“Hmm, why isn’t the boss here yet?”
A large group of customers gathered outside Taoyuan Village Fresh Fruits and Vegetables early in the morning.
Someone checked the phone for the time and said, “It’s already past seven am. Why isn’t the shop open yet? I came at 6 am to wait. I was afraid that the vegetables would be sold out if I was late.” But, she had waited for an hour and the shop was still not open.
“Shouldn’t vegetable shops be open as early as possible? The other vegetable vendors came so early in the morning. In the summer, they came to sell at around 5 am. But this place is still not open even though it’s already 7 am.”
“Haha. We know Boss Xiao is quite lazy.”
“But, she has a reason to be lazy. Her stuff sells so well. Which other shop sells better than she does?”
“That’s true. But how come the vegetables here are so different from the others?”
“The vegetables here are very fragrant and have an unforgettable taste.”
“Miss Xiao said it’s because their vegetables are all organic. They don’t use pesticides and chemical fertilizers. That is why they are so different from the others.”
“But many countryside farmers also grow organic vegetables. However, the taste is still wildly different from Boss Xiao’s.”
Since Xiao Lingyu’s vegetables tasted so special, there were naturally some doubts.
“You’re right. Also, Boss Xiao’s vegetables can make you feel refreshed and energized. It can improve people’s appetite. I suppose Boss Xiao has her secrets why her vegetables are so different.”
“Indeed. My rheumatism would kill me whenever it rained. However, after having Boss Xiao’s vegetables, the pain is not that bad anymore.”
“So that is why? I was wondering why my muscles don’t feel so sore anymore lately. Even my in-laws said their bones didn’t hurt as much as before. We all thought it was the change in the weather!”
“Oh! I used to get colds easily. But since I had Boss Xiao’s vegetables, there is this constant warmth in my stomach.”
The customers shared their experiences. When Chu Mingjiao heard this discussion, she immediately thought about the heat flashes she had been having recently. She was angry for no reason, and there was like a ball of fire in her body. She roared at her husband and son. However, after having the leeks from this shop yesterday, the fire was doused. It felt like a gentle spring was washing through her.
It was the effect of the leeks!
Chu Mingjiao immediately joined in the discussion. “I have the same experience. Recently, I can’t stand anything. I couldn’t control my temper at all. Everything just doesn’t look right to me.”
“Hmm, that sounds like menopause to me.” An old lady pointed out.
“Oh?” Chu Mingjiao was confused. “Is that menopause?” She had heard about that before. She didn’t think she would be going through it.
“Hey, aren’t you the one who came to cause trouble yesterday?” A customer recognized Chu Mingjiao. “You accused us of being actors, and you wanted to get the people from the Commerce Bureau to seize the shop!”
“Yes!” Someone said angrily, “What are you doing here so early today? Are you here to confirm whether we are hired actors or not? Where are the people from the Commerce Bureau?”
“Exactly. What are you doing here? Let me tell you. It’s useless even if the Commerce Bureau is here. All the vegetables in Boss Xiao’s shop are clearly priced! She isn’t scamming anyone!”
“We’ll tell you again that we are not hired actors! We are Miss Xiao’s old customers. We started to buy from her a month ago. You can leave now.”
Facing the public ire, Chu Mingjiao smiled awkwardly and said, “Please forgive me. It was my fault yesterday. I came here today to apologize to all of you and to Boss Xiao. I finally understood that you were right. There is a reason why Boss Xiao’s stuff is expensive. She is not deceiving her customers.”
“You get it now!”
“Yes. Boss Xiao’s vegetables are too delicious, and they have many benefits, so I came here early to wait for her to open too.” Chu Mingjiao then added with embarrassment. “I’m now an official fan of this shop.”
“A fan?” Some were confused. Then someone immediately concurred, “Yes, I’m a fan too!”
Everyone became fans of Taoyuan Village Fresh Fruits and Vegetables!
“The prices here are high, but we can skimp somewhere else to buy more vegetables here.”
“Yes, I do the same thing!”
The vegetables here were good for the body.
“I really want to know how Boss Xiao grows these vegetables. If everyone can grow similar vegetables, then they’ll be cheaper.”
“Haha. You really have high hopes. Boss Xiao must have used some technical methods to grow her vegetables. They are not easily grown, or else, we would have similar vegetables on the market already.”
“You’re right.”
Someone said, “Boss Xiao must have her secrets to be able to grow such beautiful, fragrant, and nutritious vegetables. Do you think Boss Xiao will share her trade secrets openly with others?”
“Correct.”
“I heard the Gu Family Hotel has their vegetable supply from Boss Xiao.”
“The Gu Family Hotel’s business was horrid last month. People said the hotel would close down. But once the hotel released their vegetarian sets, the hotel revived in a few days! Their business was unprecedentedly good!”
“Actually, Mr. Gu from the Gu Family Hotel came yesterday to congratulate Miss Xiao on her shop’s grand opening.”
“Not only that, even Young Master Zheng from our biggest real estate developing company, and Boss Yuan from Teng Fei Car Dealership were here. There were also a few elders who looked very familiar. Oh right, Chief Jiang Tao was here too!”
“Wow, Boss Xiao has some strong backing.”
“Haha. And someone wants to complain about her to the Commerce Bureau!”
The customers brought this up because they wanted to give some people present some reminders. Boss Xiao’s vegetables were expensive. Only those who were rich and powerful could afford her high-grade vegetables.
Boss Xiao came from a farming family, and she grew all the vegetables herself. In essence, she was a farmer.
People would be envious of Boss Xiao’s business, and they’d think they could easily take down a farmer.
Gu Ziye and his friends thought of the same thing. It was why they came in person yesterday. It was to remind these people with ill intentions that Boss Xiao had very strong backing.
At that moment, two vehicles arrived.
“Hmm, is that Boss Xiao?”
“That is Miss Xiao!”
Xiao Lingyu was so surprised to see the large crowd at her shop. She glanced at her watch. It was 7.30 am. She was late again. But she had a valid reason. She was pregnant, and she was extremely sleepy. If Mother Xiao didn’t come to wake her, she would continue to sleep.
After Xiao Lingyu got out of the car, the crowd gathered around her. “Boss Xiao, you’re late again. We’ve been waiting here for more than an hour already.”
“Boss Xiao, unlike other vegetable vendors, you’re so relaxed. You were late on opening day, and you’re also late today.” Someone joked. “You’re the most chill vegetable seller I know.”
Xiao Lingyu said with embarrassment, “Sorry, everyone, I didn’t know you would come here so early.”
“Boss Xiao, what time does your shop open?” Someone asked, “At first, we thought your shop opened at five or six am like the others.”
Xiao Lingyu considered her health condition and said, “I’ll open at eight am in the future. So you don’t need to come so early anymore.”
“Haha. Boss Xiao, you really are the most relaxed vegetable seller!” Someone laughed.
Xiao Lingyu just smiled, took out the key, opened the door, and said, “Please wait. I’ll open once I set up the shelves, okay?”
“Boss Xiao, you can unload directly on the corridor. You don’t need to arrange them on the shelves.”
Xiao Lingyu looked around. The corridor in front of her shop was large enough. Plus, she was embarrassed that she had so many people waiting for her.
However, this was a large crowd. What if people snatched her stock and ran away without paying? That was every business owner’s concern.
Someone saw Xiao Lingyu’s hesitation and immediately said, “Don’t worry, boss Xiao. We are all very self-aware. We won’t steal from you!” They were not offended. After all, Boss Xiao’s vegetables were expensive. Someone could get a huge profit running off with a full bag.
Xiao Lingyu nodded and said, “Okay!” Then she looked at her fourth uncle. “Fourth Uncle, Fourth Uncle, can you help me move the vegetable boxes? Place them on the corridor. The customers can pick themselves. Mom, I need you to man the weighing station.”
Liu Chunhua looked at the large crowd and was worried. Would someone take the opportunity to steal from Yu ‘Er? Then again, since they would be unloading, they could keep an eye on things.
Liu Chunhua and Xiao Mingyang moved the boxes. Some of the customers couldn’t wait anymore and came to help.
There was strength in numbers.
Soon, all the boxes were arranged neatly on the corridor. Then, the customers picked what they wanted.
When An Ming, Sun Li, and Zeng Yanhong rushed over, they saw such a bustling scene.
Zeng Yanhong found it unbelievable. She said in surprise, “Wow, why are there so many people?”
Sun Li said, “Let’s hurry up. Otherwise, these vegetables will be sold out again.”
“Ah, so soon?”
“Of course! Can’t you see the crowd? I need some cucumbers. Oh, we also tried some tomatoes yesterday. They are really delicious. We need to grab some today! An Ming, you’re on tomato duty! Yanhong, you’re on radish duty! I’ll handle the cucumbers!”
This was divide and conquer!
“Okay!”