Xiao Wang lowered his head and saw that there were indeed quite a few of these bags under the table. Upon closer inspection, he saw they contained Spring Festival couplets and red envelopes, which, of course, were just the covers without money. It wasn’t possible that Jian Zhiqing would give them money as a New Year’s gift.
Moreover, their New Year’s gifts had already been distributed. These must have been brought by Secretary Jian himself.
Xiao Wang smiled so wide his mouth almost split; he was just short of thumping his chest to guarantee that anyone who wouldn’t take these was a fool.
Xiao Wang carried these Spring Festival couplets and distributed one to each person, even to the gatekeeper grandpa. Of course, they also prepared a pair for their office’s main gate, which he would come and stick himself later. Everyone had just received their New Year’s gift, and now they got the Spring Festival couplets as well; they were really happy. They even said they were planning to buy some in a few days, but now they didn’t need to. Moreover, those with thicker skin and sweeter mouths could even grab an extra pair. At this moment, Mr. Wang didn’t mention anything and was easygoing, giving them to anyone who asked, as long as he kept enough for himself.
Over ten thousand Spring Festival couplets were busily distributed over several days by a few people. Qin Xiangnuan also shared some with Teacher Wang who, seeing them packed in these hard paper bags, immediately praised the idea as excellent.
Nowadays, people’s living standards have gradually improved, and they are becoming more particular about what they eat, wear, and use. In the past, there were no brightly colored clothes, but now the colors on the streets have increased. The clothes worn by young women are becoming more fashionable and revealing, and many foreign brands have entered the domestic market. In this rapidly changing era, even their Spring Festival couplets were starting to evolve into various styles. Actually, Teacher Wang had thought about this since last year; selling Spring Festival couplets for one yuan or two wasn’t very profitable. If there were some unique ones that everyone liked, exclusive only to them, then couldn’t they earn much more money?
Qin Xiangnuan thought of a good method — this bag could probably sell for 10 yuan. It included blessings characters, large and small Spring Festival couplets, and ten red envelopes.
Teacher Wang happily took over two thousand sets back home, prepared to sell them at a high price. Everyone has money during New Year, so a difference of 10 yuan wasn’t a big deal.
Qin Xiangnuan originally thought about selling them for five yuan, but after listening to Teacher Wang’s suggestion and considering the costs, it made sense. A large Spring Festival couplet along with a small one alone costs three yuan, and with this year’s price increases, perhaps the large ones could sell for three yuan, and the small ones for two yuan. Two "Fu" characters were one yuan and red envelopes, considering the cost, were 50 cents. They would probably also buy one or two yuan worth of additional things, which would add up to nearly seven thousand yuan in total. Selling them for five yuan would indeed be a loss.
Thus, they sold them for 10 yuan each. Everyone has money during New Year; no matter what, the money was meant to be spent during the festival.
From the 26th day of the Lunar New Year, the Qin family was ready to go out and sell Spring Festival couplets. Early in the morning, everyone in the household went out. Qin Xiangnuan distributed three hundred bags to Taotao and Jian Zhiqin, along with two hundred separate Spring Festival couplets for them to sell. The money earned would be theirs.
The two kids made quite a bit of pocket money last year and were financially more comfortable, able to buy things they wanted. Although Taotao still didn’t quite understand the use of money, under the influence, he knew making money was a good thing; it could be used to buy lots of good things. So, he eagerly followed Jian Zhiqin around.
The children picked a good spot and hung up the Spring Festival couplets, ready to earn their first pot of gold this year.
Qin Xiangnuan, Granny Lu, Jian Zhiqing, and Qin Xiangyang occupied two stalls together. There was no helping it; they had prepared too many this year. Even after giving away several hundred, and giving two thousand to Teacher Wang, and another three hundred to Taotao and Jian Zhiqin, Qin Xiangnuan still had five or six thousand sets. Those ten thousand bags had to be used, otherwise, they’d be waste paper by next year, or she’d have to wait another twelve years. But in those twelve years, everything would have changed; the custom of writing one’s own Spring Festival couplets would be gone, replaced by electronically printed ones. What would she sell then?
Therefore, she worked so hard, writing tens of thousands of couplets—giving out all of them. Jian Zhiqing’s unit, Qin Xiangyang’s school, Granny Lu’s friends, and the regular customers from that breakfast店, were each given some, but they still piled up like a mountain.
Seeing this, Qin Xiangnuan only felt a headache coming on. She just wanted to keep giving and selling, because looking at them every day, she really couldn’t eat well or sleep well.
She and Granny Lu, together with Qin Xiangyang and Jian Zhiqing, watched as Jian Zhiqin and Taotao set up not far away, supervised by Jian Li. Even though the adults were doing business, they were still worried about the children.
Gradually, more people gathered here, and the sun rose, adding a bit of warmth to the cold weather. The light fell on everyone, and regardless of their work or life situation, the joy of New Year was already in everyone’s heart.
For the Chinese, the obsession with celebrating New Year runs deep. Going home for the New Year, out of the 365 days a year, there’s just this one New Year. In a person’s lifetime, how many New Years can one have? The previous incarnation of Qin Xiangnuan only had about forty New Years, with nearly ten that she barely remembered. Even then, when she was alone in a simple rented room, earning just enough money for food and drink, she would still indulge a bit during New Year.
And Spring Festival couplets are a must-buy item for every household in Capital City. No matter whether it’s one’s own house or a rented one, during New Year, there’s always a need to add some festivity, and these festivities definitely include a pair of Spring Festival couplets.
Now, at this peak time, and at this place famous for selling Spring Festival couplets, people who wanted to buy them came straight here. Most were old gentlemen who personally ground the ink and wrote the couplets on the spot, giving a feeling of culture and causing much envy. Of course, Qin Xiangnuan in her previous life also envied this. Sometimes, she even imagined how nice it would be if she could write well herself, then how much appreciation she would receive at these times.
But in this life, she could really write, though she didn’t fancy showing off as much as she liked making money. She sniffed herself.
Her clothes were freshly washed. Why is there a smell?
Seeing Qin Xiangnuan’s actions, Granny Lu quickly came over to adjust her clothes for her. "Is there something wrong?"
"It’s not that," Qin Xiangnuan pulled up her sleeve and took a sniff, speaking seriously, "I’m smelling to see if there’s a scent of copper on me. I always wanted to be a cultured person in my last life, but in this one, I seem to be reeking of money."