nycdaug Chapter 144 Competing in the Market and Displaying Might
Chapter 144 Competing in the Market and Displaying Might
Showing its might in the market
When Su Yunlan and Xiao Yuhan arrived at the market, a tense atmosphere immediately enveloped them.
The sounds of hawking and bargaining rose and fell, but the usual hustle and bustle was gone, and an undercurrent was surging in the air.
In the center of the market, a newly erected stall stood out, with colorful flags waving and a large crowd gathered.
The stall was filled with all kinds of fresh fruits, bright in color, plump in size, and exuding an enticing aroma.
A shrewd middle-aged man was enthusiastically introducing his products to customers: "Take a look! The freshest fruit, cheap and plentiful! Don't miss it!" He was Wu Guoshang, the new competitor.
Su Yunlan casually picked up an apple; it felt heavy in her hand, with a smooth and delicate peel and a faint fragrance.
She took a bite; the flesh was crisp and sweet, juicy, and of excellent quality.
“It’s really good,” Su Yunlan said to Xiao Yuhan, but there was no worry in her tone. Instead, there was a hint of excitement that was hard to detect.
Not far away, Chen Guonong's stall looked particularly deserted.
He looked at the bustling crowd with a worried expression, clutching a handful of copper coins tightly in his hand—his only income for the day.
Young Master Xiao paced anxiously in front of the stall, but couldn't think of any solution.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, what should we do? If this continues, we really won't be able to sell our fruit!" he said anxiously to Su Yunlan, his voice trembling slightly.
When Wu Guoshang saw Su Yunlan approaching, a smug smile appeared on his face.
"Oh, isn't this the fourth young mistress of the Xiao family? What, you've come to the market to experience life too?" he said sarcastically, his tone full of provocation.
Su Yunlan ignored his sarcasm, merely glancing indifferently at the fruit on his stall before turning to Chen Guonong and asking, "Brother Chen, how much do you plan to sell the fruit today?"
Chen, the fruit farmer, sighed and said helplessly, "How else can we sell them? Wu, the fruit merchant, is offering such lower prices than us, so we have no choice but to lower our prices as well, otherwise they'll just rot in our hands."
"Price reduction?" Su Yunlan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a mysterious smile.
"No, we won't lower the price."
As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked.
Xiao Yuhan looked at Su Yunlan, while Chen Guonong and Young Master Xiao Seventeen looked puzzled, not understanding what Su Yunlan was up to.
Su Yunlan looked around, her gaze settling on the market entrance, and slowly said, "Today, we're giving away free..."
Su Yunlan's slightly upturned lips revealed fearlessness and disdain. She continued slowly and firmly, "Today, we will give away free samples of fruit to every customer so they can judge for themselves whether it is good or bad."
This statement immediately changed the atmosphere in the market.
Whispers arose from the crowd, who all showed great interest in this bold move.
At the same time, although Chen Guonong still had some doubts, his inner unease was gradually replaced by a glimmer of hope.
He handed some plump, round fruits to passersby, forcing a smile onto his face.
As soon as the first piece of fruit was tasted, praise immediately spread through the crowd, almost as if by magic.
Those bright and shiny apples shimmered with a healthy glow in the sunlight, attracting the attention of many.
As the customers savored their food, they couldn't help but share their tasting experiences.
"The flesh is juicy and sweet but not cloying!" "The taste is truly impeccable!" Such praises gradually gathered into a force that headed straight for Wu Guoshang's stall.
Wu Guoshang's heart sank, and his smugness vanished without a trace.
He watched as his customer traffic visibly decreased, and the mountain of fruit piled on the fruit platter became a burden.
He paced back and forth anxiously, tapping the corner of the table, mentally calculating how to deal with this sudden shock.
At this moment, Xiao Yuhan stood quietly behind Su Yunlan, without saying a word, yet he was like a silent mountain, and everyone was drawn to this perfectly harmonious couple.
His unwavering gaze would occasionally fall upon Su Yunlan, while Su Yunlan's occasional glances back were always filled with tenderness and determination.
Through this unspoken understanding, the passersby were all impressed and full of admiration.
Not far away, Miss Sun and Young Master Xiao were busy helping out at the stall, distributing fruit, their faces beaming with youthful energy and unwavering trust.
Behind them, more and more people stopped to sample the food, as if drawn by an invisible force, and gathered around.
As the clamor in the center of the market receded, new voices began to take over around Su Yunlan and the orchard's stall.
Researcher Zhao had to admit his bias, and his attitude gradually turned to approval as he began to ponder the mystery behind it.
As Wu Guoshang watched the changes in customer traffic, his expression shifted several times. Finally, unable to suppress his inner panic, he clenched his fists.
Zhou, the peddler, also began to hesitate about whether to continue buying fruit at low prices.
The setting sun cast a hazy yellow hue over the market, bringing a transitional tranquility, but everyone knew that this was only the prelude.
Su Yunlan's smile was not concealed; she whispered to Chen Guonong, her gaze firm and distant.
Behind her, Xiao Yuhan held her hand tightly, conveying trust and strength.
"Sometimes, the key to victory lies in making an extraordinary move." Su Yunlan's whisper was like a falling feather, silent yet striking straight to the heart.
Her gaze swept past the market's clamor, as if she had sensed something, while Wu Guoshang's subtle unease at that moment was beyond words.
The market's clamor seemed to have returned to the starting line, with Su Yunlan's determination and composure on one side and Wu Guoshang's unwillingness and anxiety on the other.
Amidst the surging crowds, Wu Guoshang, unwilling to accept defeat, spread rumors that the orchard's fruit production was insufficient to meet market demand.
Although his voice was not loud, it was like a pebble thrown into water, stirring up some gossip.
Hearing this from the side, Miss Sun was extremely anxious and decided to step forward to expose the rumors.
She weaved through the crowd, fearlessly walking to the center of the market, and raised her voice, saying, "Fellow villagers, I can testify that these rumors are false!" She waved the ledger in her hand, "This is the true record of the orchard. Our fruit production is sufficient, and there will be no shortage of supply!"
Whispers rippled through the crowd, some casting questioning glances at Ms. Sun, but many more began to doubt Wu Guoshang's claims after hearing her words.
Undeterred, Miss Sun continued to explain how meticulous the orchard's management was and how the well-organized plan contributed to the bountiful harvest.
When Wu Guoshang saw that his conspiracy had been exposed, he was furious and could only grit his teeth and retreat to his stall. Meanwhile, the market's favorability toward Su Yunlan's orchard continued to rise.
Meanwhile, Su Yunlan and Chen Guonong discussed how to deal with this situation.
“We need to increase supply to meet market demand,” she said firmly.
Fruit farmers expressed their support and decided to spare no effort to meet the demand for fruit.
Fresh fruit is flowing into the market every day like a gentle stream, and customers no longer hesitate to come and buy it.
Soon, Su Yunlan's orchard became famous in the market, earning widespread praise. Fruit sales reached new heights, and profits were substantial.
Amid cheers from the crowd, Su Yunlan became the focus of everyone's praise, and the chorus of praise in the market was like a surging spring tide, all expressing admiration for her.
Amidst the noise and merriment, Su Yunlan's gaze occasionally swept over the outside of the market, where a weathered old academy stood.
Its dilapidated state, intertwined with the gradually descending night, touched a chord deep within her heart.
She thought to herself that if those walls, which bore witness to hope and a thirst for knowledge, could be given a new lease on life, they might bring opportunities for change to many more people.
The story came to a still conclusion at this moment, but the lingering aftertaste behind the curtain seemed to foreshadow a new beginning.
The cheers of celebration lingered in the market for a long time, but what shone in Su Yunlan's eyes was no longer just the victory at hand.
Under this starry night, the seeds of her vision for the reconstruction of the academy were quietly sown in her heart, awaiting the future.