But these aluminum basins are quite expensive. Su Yuanyuan painfully bought two, one of which she had to return to Hu Chunhua.
Looking at the large sea bowls nearby, these could actually be used like basins and are even healthier.
"Uncle, do you have bigger versions of these large bowls?"
"Yes, these are soup pots, and they come with lids, but they're a bit pricey."
Upon hearing that they were expensive, Su Yuanyuan felt a pang of concern; the word 'expensive' made her anxious.
"Uncle, how much for one of these soup pots?"
"One yuan each."
Su Yuanyuan's expression eased; that wasn't expensive at all, the price of one aluminum basin could buy three soup pots.
"I say, how could you just blurt out such a price? A bowl is only ten cents, yet you want a whole yuan for this clay pot? Who are you trying to fool?"
"It's not like that, you can't calculate it that way. I truly haven't marked up the price of these soup pots much."
"Uncle, how much for the clay pots?"
"The large ones are eight cents, the medium six, and the small ones three."
Su Yuanyuan didn't hear any aunts objecting, which indicated that he hadn't increased the price much.
"Uncle, how much for these plates?"
"Flat plates are two cents, soup plates two and a half, all are six-inch plates."
"Uncle, I want two of each kind of pot, two large sea bowls, four eating bowls. Give me four flat plates, four soup plates, how much for the soup pots?"
The seller looked at Su Yuanyuan, conflicted, and finally clenched his teeth, "At least a yuan, I'm telling you, I don't earn a penny from this, there are losses involved."
"I say, little boss, we're buying so much, why don't you throw in a few spoons? Don't be too stingy."
"Alright, I'll throw in two spoons. If you didn't buy so much, I wouldn't have given you anything."
Nowadays, porcelain is all coarse, not the immaculate, translucent bone china of later times.
And quite heavy, very substantial.
"Uncle, give me three soup pots for three yuan, four bowls for eight cents, four large sea bowls for one yuan sixty, four flat plates, two of each kind of clay pot, what's the total?"
Hu Chunhua was squatting on the ground, using a small stone to calculate.
The little boss did the same but was faster than Hu Chunhua.
"In total, it's eleven yuan. Just give me eleven, and I'll throw in two spoons."
"Girl, that's too expensive, no way. Don't buy so much," Meng Xiangtian's family immediately objected.
"My prices are absolutely the lowest. Little girl, you won't lose out buying from me."
The little boss looked at Su Yuanyuan's hesitance. Finally, he made up his mind and took out two bowls from inside.
"These two bowls have minor defects, just at the bottom, won't affect use. If you buy them, I'll throw these two in for free."
"Alright, deal."
The three women saw the girl had made up her mind and said no more. The three of them squatted down to help pick, the careful intensity of which made Su Yuanyuan find it amusing.
But she was also touched. No matter what, they genuinely cared for her.
After picking, they got straw from the bowl seller, laid it in the frame, and packed the purchases.
Su Yuanyuan took out eleven yuan and handed it to the uncle.
She suddenly saw long-handled soup ladles, "Uncle, how much for a ladle?"
"Ten cents each."
"Sell me one."
"Two cents for three."
"Alright."
"Yuanyuan, why do you need so many ladles?"
Su Yuanyuan couldn't say it was just because they looked nice, like the one Sinnan had.
The porcelain was placed in Hu Chunhua's basket. Su Yuanyuan felt quite embarrassed.
"Aunt, when you go to the market, just leave these here with the uncle, I'll wait for you here."
"Alright, don't wander around, there are too many people. We might not find you later."
"Mhm, I'll wait right here."
"Ladies, no worries, let this child wait here for you, I'm from Han Jia Sao, I sell bowls regularly."
"I know you. Alright, Yuanyuan, stay put."
The three melted into the crowd. This uncle was kindhearted, he placed both baskets behind the stall and gave Su Yuanyuan a small stool to sit on.
"Uncle. There are so many people at this market."
"Of course, this is the largest market around here."
"Uncle, are there sheep for sale? I want to raise one."
"The livestock market is on the other side; they have everything, even donkeys."
Su Yuanyuan's eyes lit up at the mention of donkeys. Back home, farming was mainly done with donkeys—they were faster than cattle and easier to manage than horses, with lower feed requirements.
But her mother and she hadn't raised one before. She didn't know how to take care of one.
With her small frame, managing two acres of land on her own was truly strenuous. If only she could have a donkey.
"Uncle, how much for a donkey?"
"I really don't know, but I heard the best ones went for about a hundred and twenty."
A hundred and twenty yuan? That's not cheap at all. She had enough money but how to explain it?
No way, she was too tempted. She'd wait for Hu Chunhua to come and discuss it.
"Uncle, how much for a sheep?"
"Lambs are cheap, five or six yuan each, but now it's winter, not easy to raise them."
"Not easy to raise yet not cheap?"
"I don't know. If you want to buy, you can inquire over there.
Little girl, if you want to wander, feel free. I'll watch over things, nothing will get lost."
Su Yuanyuan shook her head, "I want to wait for Aunt and the others."
Just then, an old lady came over to buy bowls.
Su Yuanyuan shifted her gaze elsewhere.
To be honest, there were more and more people, and with her small frame, squeezing in wasn't safe.
But she saw steamers for sale. Her current one was too shabby for cooking. Looking from a distance, the stall seemed well-stocked, she could make use of it. Su Yuanyuan was tempted. Lacking everything, if it weren't for the wild boar contributions, she wouldn't have been able to buy these in two years.
Everything looked good, felt like she needed everything.
Of course, there were hardly any vendors selling vegetables at this rural market. Everyone grew their own, who would waste money buying vegetables?
But she did see walnuts and dates for sale, which were dry fruits, exactly what Su Yuanyuan needed right now.
They weren't far, but she still didn't move because hardly anyone was buying. She decided she'd buy them before leaving.
There was also cotton for sale. She needed that too, but a donkey was more important. She could forgo everything else, but she had to figure out a way to buy a donkey. Otherwise, those two acres would wear her out.
She wondered if the women's director was willing to take the blame for her.