Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 110

He Yuzhu asked, "I see. Are there any vegetables for sale in winter?"

"Yes, you may not know, but it was temporarily cut off for the past two years due to the war. However, the heating has been restored outside the city this year, so we will be able to eat fresh tomatoes and cucumbers this winter."

A greenhouse? This must be a vegetable greenhouse, right?

After a brief introduction by Mr. Chen, it turned out that the so-called "greenhouse" was indeed a vegetable greenhouse.

In the HD district, there is a Li Molin Greenhouse Production Cooperative. In his early years, he worked in the Prince's Mansion, mainly responsible for the greenhouse, supplying the Prince's Mansion with fresh fruits and vegetables in winter.

Currently, the Sijiqing Commune is vigorously developing greenhouses, with hundreds of greenhouses built, which can provide fresh vegetables to the city during the coldest days of winter.

However, due to the current outdated technology, the amount of vegetables produced is relatively small and they rarely enter ordinary vegetable markets. They are all pre-ordered by wealthy families and large restaurants. In the dead of winter, a pound of cucumbers can sell for one yuan.

Apples and pears, these out-of-season fruits, only cost about 50 cents.

He Yuzhu was secretly amazed; growing vegetables in greenhouses was really profitable at this time.

Then I thought that I had stored a lot of tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, watermelons, cantaloupes, pears and other fruits and vegetables in the summer. Couldn't I take them out and sell them during the coldest days of winter?

I was just thinking that I could eat them secretly, but I never expected that these fruits and vegetables would be sold in the market now.

If I take it out again around the Spring Festival, no one will suspect anything.

You should know that cucumbers and tomatoes can be bought for only one or two cents a pound in the summer when they are cheapest. But during the coldest days of winter, they can be sold for a dollar. Isn't that a profit of dozens of times?

At this moment, He Yuzhu felt very regretful. He hadn't stored much before; the cucumbers and tomatoes together weighed less than 1000 jin, while he had more grapes, watermelons, and other fruits.

If I had known they were for sale, I would have bought more.

Mr. Chen asked, "You're one of my big customers now. I wonder how much you'll need in the winter? If I know, I can stock up more."

"You can pack these frozen fruits for me, and I'll need about 200 jin (100 catties) to give away later."

"Okay, no problem, I guarantee all the fruit is fresh."

He Yuzhu left the fruit market inside Deshengmen with the fruit he had bought, entered a hutong, and first put the items into his spatial storage.

That's when he started thinking about how to make money from fruit.

The profit margin for braised meat is around 30% to 40%, which is less than half. Who would have thought that by buying seasonal fruits in the summer and then selling them in the winter, one could earn more than 50 times or even 100 times the profit?

I bought nearly 1000 kilograms of cucumbers and tomatoes before, which cost less than 20 yuan. If I were to sell them, they could fetch 1000 yuan.

Is there any business in the world with higher profits than this?

Chapter 97 First Meeting with Chen Xueru, Pushing Yi Zhonghai to Jump into the River

This business is not a one-off transaction, but a long-term business that can be done year after year.

When He Yuzhu entered the tavern, he was all smiles. He didn't even see Xiangcao greeting him and happily went into the back room.

"That's strange. Did Zhu Zi find some money today? He can't have gone mad, can he?"

Then he told Xu Huizhen about it, and Xu Huizhen was very surprised: "Really?"

"Go and see what's wrong with the shopkeeper. Don't get so excited that you've lost your mind."

Xu Huizhen laughed and scolded, "Pah, you're the one who's gone mad!"

"Pah, pah, pah, I'm a jinx, is that okay now?"

"Why aren't you going?" Xu Huizhen asked.

"Then you told me to go, so I'm going now."

Of course, Xiangcao could see the shady dealings between Xu Huizhen and He Yuzhu, so she used this remark to tease Xu Huizhen.

Xu Huizhen blushed immediately: "Go ahead, no one is stopping you."

Vanilla quickly said, "You go, I'm not going."

Many things can only be imagined in dreams, but cruel reality makes Xiangcao realize that she was just indulging in wishful thinking.

Xu Huizhen walked into the office awkwardly. He Yuzhu was still sitting in the chair, grinning foolishly. Xu Huizhen quickly walked over to him, took out five slender white fingers, and waved them in front of He Yuzhu's eyes.

"Wake up, did you find some money on the way?"

He Yuzhu was indeed getting happier and happier. Although it was too late this year, the tomatoes, cucumbers, and green vegetables in his space were enough to earn him over a thousand yuan.

There will also be plenty of fruit, which will be cheaper at the time, but the quantity will still be plentiful.

Overall, I should be able to earn more than 2000 yuan by then.

Keep in mind that these costs totaled less than 50 yuan; it was just for saving for half a year.

I was planning to buy a large quantity of these fruits and vegetables next summer, because that's when I'll really start making money.

Xu Huizhen's interruption brought He Yuzhu back to his senses. He was still very excited at this moment. Looking at the delicate and beautiful face in front of him, he excitedly hugged her and spun her around.

"what!"

Xu Huizhen was suddenly startled and quickly said, "You stinky pillar, put me down."

Then he pinched He Yuzhu's cheek with his fingers.

After feeling the pain, He Yuzhu regained his senses and calmed down.

Holy crap, what's wrong with me?

He actually picked Xu Huizhen up!

He quickly put the person down, smiling sheepishly.

"You stinky pillar, what's wrong with you?" Xu Huizhen said angrily.

He Yuzhu was quite embarrassed. He usually earned a good amount of money, several hundred yuan a month. Even if he sold two thousand yuan worth of goods in the winter, he could still make a living. Why was he so happy today, acting like he had lost his mind?

"Nothing's wrong, you're the one who's crazy!"

Since this matter couldn't be discussed with outsiders, He Yuzhu had no choice but to change the subject and ask, "How about I take you out to play?"

"Are you okay?"

"I was fine to begin with."

"Where to go?"

"How about I buy you a bicycle first?"

"No way, I'll buy it myself when I earn money."

The two are still partners, and they lent Xu Huizhen a storefront to open a bar without charging her rent.

Xu Huizhen was in charge of collecting payments and managing the daily operations. Although she was still young, she had already practiced quite well and was able to maintain the tavern's business.

He Yuzhu was only responsible for purchasing and braising the braised meat, and occasionally he would cook a few dishes for customers who ordered food.

"Then let's go out of town and have some fun."

"Okay, I want to eat something delicious."

"Okay, I'll buy you whatever you want."

He Yuzhu went out to tell his teacher's wife, and then took Xu Huizhen's hand and went out.

"These two children are really a joy to see."

Two days later, the weather grew colder and colder. He Yuzhu put on the thick vest that Xu Huizhen had made by hand, and he felt much warmer.

Then he remembered that he had promised to send Qian Datong a cotton-padded coat and trousers, but he hadn't sent them yet. So he went out, took a bus, and transferred twice before finally arriving at the Beijing Prison.

After registering and waiting for a while, He Yuzhu saw Qian Datong come over.

Compared to before, Qian Datong seems to have adapted to prison life. His complexion is much better, and he no longer looks dejected; instead, he has a lot of joy.

"The cotton-padded coat was just finished recently, and I took some time today to bring it over to you."

As He Yuzhu spoke, he handed over two sets of thick and thin cotton trousers, as well as several winter clothes to the other party.

Qian Datong didn't check it; he just took it and put it aside, then said with a smile, "Zhuzi, did you make Dongxu come in?"

"You could say that, since he's the one who encroached on your house!"

"No, I mean, you also helped me get him into my cell?"

"What? You said he was in the same room as you?"

"Yes, I thought you had someone deliver him right under my nose."

"I don't have that ability."

"That's true."

This outcome was unexpected for He Yuzhu. He had only intended to deliver clothes, but he never imagined that Jia Dongxu would be sharing a room with Qian Datong.

I wonder what Jia Dongxu is feeling every day.

However, his sentence is only a little over a year, so he should be patient; it will be over soon.

He Yuzhu didn't stay long and quickly left the prison. Although he was very happy, he couldn't share this with others.

Back in the courtyard house to clean, watching Qin Huairu busy at work, I couldn't help but wonder if Jia Dongxu could regain his virility and manly dignity after his return.

During these days, He Yuzhu was constantly pestered by Xu Huizhen to run to the front gate.

The most bustling areas outside Qianmen are Tianqiao and Dashilan, and there's a saying that you can play in Tianqiao and eat in Dashilan.