146 Great Kindness
Su Binglan could never accept that. She shook her head and said, “I can’t do that, Grandma. We’re family, so why would you think I would be like the others? Besides, the baskets you guys made helped us a lot. Without them, I wouldn’t have thought of using them as packaging.”
She only wanted to help her uncle and grandparents and never considered earning from them.
At that moment, Su Fengchen said, “You can take a portion of our earnings, Binglan. Then I’ll feel more at ease because you’re helping us sell them in your shop. Also, you taught me how to make salted and preserved duck eggs. Making them isn’t tiring, so you can take some of the earnings. I’m just grateful to you.”
Old Master Su also said, “Binglan, we should treat you well because we’re your elders, but the roles seem reversed now. You are the one who’s helping your uncle and us. You don’t have a reason to keep helping us, so please take a portion of our earnings.”
Su Binglan did not want to take a share of their earnings, but she knew they would feel bad if she refused.
After some thought, she said, “How about this? I won’t take a share from the gift baskets. Instead, I will only take half a coin from each preserved and salted egg we sold.”
Su Fengchen argued, “Half a coin each is too little.” Old Master Su and Old Madam Su also wanted to persuade their granddaughter to take more.
However, Su Binglan interrupted them, “Wait, if I put the eggs on consignment sale in the shop, it can attract more customers, which will benefit us. Besides, I’m not putting in any effort other than putting it on sale in my shops. Don’t look at it as just half a coin each because it will all add up if we sell more.”
Under her insistence, the four decided that Su Binglan would only take half a coin from each egg they sold. She did not want a cent from the money she earned on the first day, but she would take half a coin for each egg later.
Old Master Su, Old Madam Su, and Su Fengchen understood that Su Binglan only wanted to help them and that Su Binglan was afraid they would feel bad. With that thought, they agreed to her terms.
Su Binglan spoke her mind, “I also thought about something else. The eggs are selling well, but Uncle Fengchen can’t manage to raise so many ducks, so I thought it would be better if Uncle Fengchen bought eggs from the villagers.
“That way, we will have more duck eggs to sell. After buying, marinating, and selling the eggs, we can estimate how much we sold and maybe raise the amount. Then we can earn more if we sell more.”
Old Master Su was thrilled when he heard Su Binglan’s suggestion. “Then we can help the villagers too! That’s an excellent idea!”
Su Fengchen nodded and added, “It’s a mutual benefit! Binglan is so clever!”
Previously, Su Fengchen was worried about the lack of eggs. However, he did not expect his niece to resolve that issue. Every household in the village raised ducks and chickens, and they would collect dozens of eggs every day.
Moreover, the villagers would be delighted to raise more ducks and chickens if they knew they could sell their eggs without even traveling to town. Then the number of eggs would also increase while Su Fengchen would not have to worry about the lack of eggs.
…
Su Binglan stayed for a while before leaving. When she finally prepared to leave, Old Madam Su said to her.
Su Binglan stayed for a while before leaving. When she finally prepared to leave, Old Madam Su seriously said to her son, “Fengchen, you must remember your niece’s kindness.”
Old Master Su echoed, “Binglan would’ve made a lot of money if she marinated and sold the eggs herself, so teaching it to you is equivalent to giving away her earnings. She is helping you and doing you a huge favor.
“It wouldn’t make sense for your second brother to help you since he has a family, so you shouldn’t take something like this for granted.”
Su Fengchen replied thoughtfully, “Don’t worry. I will never forget Binglan’s favor. I will also work hard to earn more money to treat Binglan even better.”