The morning haze greeted Maple Leaf Village. The village was located to the east of Basin Town. Its name came from the several maple trees it had within; and whenever the leaves fell in the weeks before autumn, the whole place was carpeted in red, yellow and brown. Kids would, then, make piles and jump into them, creating an explosion of colors everywhere.
In this picturesque village, something unusual was happening. A set of rhythmical claps sounded; first from far away, then closer and closer until the dweller could make out words from a man.
"Lemons! Lemons for the beautiful early risers, and for those just waking up! Come buy lemons! Come get your oranges!"
Peddling was not a strange sight in villages; quite a few people would pass with carts or on foot. Most, though, would knock on their doors to offer their stuff, and leave quietly when rejected. The way the man promoted the fruits was quite novel for those in Maple Leaf Village.
"Lemons! Oranges! For the old, the young, the beautiful ladies and handsome men!"
The cadence, the words and the simple curiosity made the villagers come out of their houses or peek from the windows at the peculiar individual. Those who lived on the village's main street were the first witnesses. Two men, one lean and the other rugged, carried big baskets on their backs. It was the lean one who called out the wares.
"Lemons! Oranges! For the old, the young, the beautiful ladies and handsome men! Buy lemons! Freshly picked for you!"
Many villagers stared at the pair, forgetting all about going to their patches to harvest or tend to the soil, preparing it to sow again. Others, who were on their way to town to work, would pause and also stare.
"You wanna buy some lemons? Use it in yer dishes, or in yer tea. We also have oranges. Can even make juice with 'em!" If one of the villagers made eye contact with the lean man, then they would be subjected to a focused promotion. Some would just scurry back into their houses and others would approach the two out of curiosity.
"How much are the oranges?" A pair of sisters eagerly asked, batting their eyelashes at the man who was promoting the fruits.
"Four oranges for 5 dimes." The man, Joseph, replied.
The two women hesitated; the others who had gotten close to ask also paused. "Don't they give eight at town markets?" Someone else asked, hinting at the high price.
"The town market is far." Joseph countered, hinting at the distance they had to walk to buy oranges. The argument successfully silenced the onlookers. "Ours are big, juicy and sweet. Better than what they sell at markets." He said, putting down his basket and showing the big yellow oranges he carried.
He was not giving false claims as the oranges they cultivated were indeed as he said. Many people from other villages sold their oranges when they were not ripe enough at markets, creating a low demand for oranges. Because of that, the selling prices were very low; giving between six to eight oranges for 5 dimes.
Selling six for 5 dimes at the market, villagers were getting quite an income but the chances of returning to their houses with wares was higher than those who sold them cheaper. Furthermore, people were used to buying stuff at a cheap price, so to be sold four oranges at 5 dimes was considered expensive. Even if the oranges were bigger than those at markets.
When Joseph and Lucas announced they were ready to peddle the lemons and oranges, Isabelle gave them a few instructions: to sell four oranges or eight lemons for 5 dimes, to get people's attention, to proactively offer the lemons and oranges and to never bargain. She had been very adamant at that last point as they were not in a position to be giving things almost for free; not when they were in need of money.
When asked why they were selling on the verge of expensive, Isabelle said they not only had high-quality products, they also were doing the effort of raising early to deliver the lemons and oranges at others' doors. The brothers were basically saving the villagers the effort of going somewhere else to buy them.
Thinking she was right, the brothers did not argue anymore.
"Can't you give us a small orange if we buy the four?" Another woman proposed, there were murmurs of agreement among the villagers thinking it was a good offer.
Joseph beamed at them. He put the lid back on the basket and hoisted it on his back. "I think today's not the day for you to buy oranges. How 'bout some lemons? He said, and gestured at Lucas to put his basket down. The words and actions left the onlookers stumped; however, the moment they saw the lemons in the basket, they perked up.
"How much are the lemons?" A middle-aged woman immediately asked.
"Eight lemons for 5 dimes. They're quite big." Joseph said, picking one of the lemons; it almost filled his palm.
The woman paused, much like the two young women, but she pulled out the money. "Give me the eight." She said.
Although Isabelle told them not to bargain, Joseph was grateful to the woman for being the first to buy, so he picked the biggest lemons in the basket. The woman definitely noticed and was more comfortable with the price. At the market, she would not be able to choose and be given small ones among two big ones.
"Here! Thanks for buyin', have a good day!" Joseph put the lemons in the little basket she extended, accepted the money, and radiantly smiled at the middle-aged woman.
The two younger women became smitten with such a sincere smile that they also bought lemons, even when they had no actual need for them. Seeing others buying, the herd mentality of the villagers kicked off and more people also bought lemons. Even when they were not as big as those from the first woman who bought, they were still bigger than those from the market.
After that first success, the brothers became more spirited and continued on their way through the village.
Most villages had the same layout: there was a main road packed with houses, also a few other narrow roads that led to more houses, and then the patches. Normally villages were not that big, so they did not think they would take more than an hour walking around the village. So, when they finished going all over the village, only three more ladies bought lemons and the village Chief bought 1 coin of oranges.
The brothers thought it was not that bad, but they also thought it could have been better. After all, the baskets still had quite a lot of lemons and oranges left. They did not want to return to the house with such a result.
"Should we go to another village?" Joseph asked Lucas. They had promised Isabelle they would only go to one village and return. Isabelle had a good mind for business, but the third brother thought she also played too safely; which was natural as she had no idea what the brothers were willing to do to get money. They would and could try anything!
"Which one?" Lucas inquired.
"Going around 'ere, there's Two Stone Village. It's basically on the other side of the mountain. If we wanna return, we can cross the mountain." Having had several affairs, Joseph knew all the nearby villages and all the shortcuts to get to them. He was not that proud of how he got that knowledge, but it still came in handy.
Lucas hesitated for a moment but nodded in the end and followed his younger brother. He was no business virtuoso, yet he also felt that the sales were on the low side. To get to the village, they used the longer way and offered their wares to the people they crossed on the road. Sadly, they sold nothing. On the bright side, they quickly arrived at Two Stone Village.
Villages' names were very distinctive. They were name by something that could identify them. Two Stone Village had two huge stones by the side of the road, right by the entrance. And, it was the only village that had its name written. Exactly on one of the big stones. The two brothers paused in front of the welcoming message and puffed in pride at being able to read it.
'Two Stone Village warmly welcomes you!'
There was another difference between Two Stone Village and the other villages around Basin Town. Since it was the village closest to Basin Town, it was the biggest. It had two main roads, and many more small roads; hence making it the most populated village.
However, less and less people cultivated the land; most opting to build houses in the bought land. There were rumors of Two Stone village aiming to become a town in the future. Which was not so far-fetched seeing the quite big houses on the main roads. And as the village quickly grew, it was becoming the hub of peddlers.
Not only Joseph, but many other men and women went around the main roads loudly promoting their wares.
They sold a few oranges; however, they thought that maybe going to the less transited roads would make them sell more. As the two walked through one of the narrow roads, they found group of teens gathered there, loudly laughing and pushing each other while looking at two young women at the end of the road. The two brothers shared a glanced and continued walking.
"Hey! Lemon loser!" Just when they passed the group, one of the teens called out. "How much for the lemons?" He asked. The two brothers ignored the teen and his group and even quickened their pace. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" The teen ran towards the brothers and put himself in front of them, blocking their way.
"Eight lemons for 5 dimes." Joseph said, not to the teen, but to the women who were clearly listening and watching the scene.
"Woah, so expensive! Aren't you ashamed of selling lemons at such a price?" The teen sneered, making the group of youngsters mumble words of agreement. He gave the brothers a once-over and spoke again. "You look so poor, yet you're so shameless." He accused.
"Are you buying or not?" Joseph frowned at the teen. He had identified the youngster as the son of some snotty scholar: well-dressed, wearing perfume, and with his nose in the air. Just the type of person Joseph hated the most, yet not wanting to get in trouble with them as he would clearly be on the losing side.
Lucas had never faced such a rude teen and could not help compare the teen in front of him with his youngest brother. Felix lacked many things, but he was polite and well-mannered, unlike like the kid in front of them.
The teen opened his mouth, but immediately closed it. His eyes shining with mischief. "Of course. Give me 2 coins of lemons." He quickly took out the coins, as if showing off that he had money. He also smirked to the two young women still looking at the scene.
Joseph and Lucas would have been dazzled at the amount if it was before. But, with a soon-to-be-wife that had actually been rewarded with 50 coins for embroidering a dress, their humble eyes were opened long ago. So, they just calmly counted the lemons. The two young women snickered, clearly realizing what the teen tried to do and how he failed to get the expected results.
The snickering embarrassed the teen. And who were the most obvious targets for his fury?...
"Where do you want us to put them?" Joseph asked, offering the thirty-two lemons to the teen.
"On the ground, where they belong." The teen rose an eyebrow, challenging Joseph.
Joseph had fought with married men, argued with shrews and even disobeyed the Chief village, so what were the words of a snotty brat to him? He did feel bad for the lemons being wasted like that, yet, once bought, he had no opinion on how the lemons were used. So, he put them on the ground as told.
Lucas pursed his lips at such a bad exchange but still extended his hand, asking for the money. The teen, though, retracted his own hand.
"You're giving me such dirty lemons; you think they are worth the 2 coins?" The teen sarcastically asked. Joseph loudly exhaled from his nose, picked the lemons and put them on the basket's lid. He took out his flask of water and washed them. "Now, that's better." The teen gloated, glancing triumphantly at his friends who were laughing at the whole exchange.
Just when he reached for the lid that held the lemons, he froze. Joseph did not bother offering the washed lemons and just put them back in the basket and gestured at Lucas to leave.
"Hey! Those are my lemons!" The teen yelled.
"Huh? Sorry, I'm too poor and humble ta understand what ye'r saying. Sorry, very sorry." Joseph put on a trouble expression and kept bowing his head in apology. The young women who had been watching giggled at Joseph's response.
The teen blushed in embarrassment yet again and gaped for a moment, not knowing what to say until he found a response. Lame at that. "That's right! You're poor and stupid!" He yelled.
"Yes, yes. I'm too stupid." Not turning to see him, Joseph just waved at the teen.
Apart from that unsavory encounter with that group of teens, the brothers sold more lemons and oranges in Two Stone Village than at Maple Leaf village as there were more people willing to buy lemons for the price they set.
When noon slowly rolled, they thought it was time to return. They had sold more than half of what they started with, so they were satisfied with their trip. With luck, they would sell the rest in other villages in the afternoon. For the time being, they had to quickly return home to eat their lunch.