The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 21 - Making Money is So Hard (1)_1

Pei Qin went into each one, browsing through them.

She was looking for something she could do, some work that could bring in money.

She had almost finished walking down the street market when Pei Qin had thought of countless methods, but they were all impractical.

It was impossible for her to work as a kitchen helper or waiter because nobody would hire her.

At the end of the town, there was a small dock; she could help carry things, provided that she was strong enough to carry them and could compete with the men who were always waiting there.

Even after a whole day’s work, she would hardly earn a few copper coins.

Pei Qin didn’t give up; she crossed the bridge to the other side to take a look around.

This side of the market was close to the town’s school, so there were more vendors selling snacks and stationery books.

One of Pei Qin’s hobbies was setting up a stall.

In her spare time, she had set up various stalls, and the business had always been quite good.

But setting up a stall now would be like earning money for the Pei family, who deserved a beating.

She was determined not to allow that!

What Pei Qin wanted now was to do something discreet, to quietly earn some private savings so that she could fool a few members of Lady Fang’s family and safely take away the silver she earned.

Having looked around the town and finding no economic opportunities, especially since it was not a market day, Pei Qin, who had no business acumen, failed to discover any subtle ways to make money, let alone do so quietly.

With some reluctance and a fierce glance at the street market, Pei Qin was about to turn around and leave when she saw a man in his forties carrying two loads of firewood walking through the streets.

A family opened their door, and an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy called out to him, buying two loads of firewood.

Pei Qin’s eyes lit up for a moment, but then she couldn’t help but feel disdain for herself.

Thinking of the extra money she could earn from setting up a stall, she now couldn’t find a suitable way in this lousy place and was considering chopping and selling firewood.

She felt utterly disgraceful for being so lacking in ambition; it was a real loss of face for her parents!

Shaking her head, Pei Qin continued to wander towards the head of the town with determination.

A strong scent wafted over, and turning her head, she saw an oil mill.

Next to the oil mill was a mill.

She wasn’t a donkey; what would she do looking at a mill?

Pei Qin turned her head in disdain, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of corn being shucked inside the mill.

Her gaze shifted, and she took a turn and went straight in.

A shop assistant called out to her loudly, “Hey girl, are you here to buy flour or what?

You’re not allowed in there!”

“I’m looking for your boss!” Pei Qin gave him a sideways glance and said with an air of superiority.

The shop assistant sneered, “With the way you’re acting, I thought you were a maid from some household.

Just look at you, in those clothes full of patches…

Ha!

What do you want with our boss?

If you want to buy flour, just deal with me!”

“You’re not up to the task.

Call your boss!” Pei Qin said, not even sparing him a glance, as she took in the mill’s interior and the flour that had turned somewhat yellow or black.

She had a sudden craving for the griddle cakes she had eaten that morning.

The shop assistant, feeling disrespected, frowned and started to drive her away.

But the shopkeeper in the back heard the commotion and came out, a man in his early fifties.

Hearing the shop assistant’s shout, Pei Qin didn’t leave but turned around instead, “You must be the owner of this mill, right?

I see there are people in the back husking corn cobs.

I was thinking…”