The newly opened shop was named "Tian Xia Liang Cang" by Su Xiaoqi.
It was chosen to open on a market day.
As soon as the poster, personally inscribed by Shen Yun, was put up, it immediately attracted frenzied purchasing from numerous people from various townships.
Chen Jin Ji and the supermarket also saw booming business.
This was due to the previous success with the high-yield rice and wheat seeds, which had been a revelation to them.
With almost no hesitation, they chose to trust the new seed varieties sold by these two established shops.
Furthermore, Su Xiaoqi had been thoughtful, anticipating that they might not know how to cultivate the seeds. She and Shen Yun had taken the time to compile "Agricultural Notes, Volume 1."
It detailed the planting times, methods, and key points for rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, and bitter buckwheat.
Su Xiaoqi was responsible for the text, while Shen Yun handled the illustrations.
He helped to include many vivid pictures.
The result was a text rich with illustrations, easily understandable even for those who couldn't read.
After the book was compiled, Su Xiaoqi had Shen Erdan deliver it to the academy where Zhao Liushun taught, so the children studying under him could copy it.
Over ten days, each child drew ten copies for her.
She accumulated a total of 180 copies.
Su Xiaoqi didn't let them work for free. She paid them ten wen per copy, and the children earned a little extra.
Shen Yun asked her why she didn't have it printed at a bookshop.
Su Xiaoqi shook her head, "The cost of printing at bookshops is too high. Besides, a sharp mind is no match for a dull pencil.
After copying it once, they deepen their understanding of the content. After copying it ten times, some of the clever ones can recite it from memory.
In the future, if there are no other avenues, they can learn to farm. It's better than begging on the streets."
Hearing this, Shen Yun understood. Su Xiaoqi was considering their future and prospects.
That's why she was helping them so wholeheartedly.
Shen Yun smiled, wondering what his young wife was thinking.
These people were clearly connected to the previous "Su Xiaoqi" and should have no relation to her.
Yet, when they came to her, she didn't even utter a word of refusal and immediately offered her help.
He wondered if she was too kind or a little foolish.
Su Xiaoqi didn't care what Shen Yun thought.
She took out 150 wen, allocating fifty copies to each of the three shops, to be sold alongside the grain seeds at a low price of thirty wen per book.
This was completely at a loss, as the labor alone cost ten wen, paper and ink cost more than thirty wen, not to mention her and Shen Yun's intellectual property.
But Su Xiaoqi didn't focus on the money.
She wanted to encourage as many people as possible to plant high-yield corn and potatoes.
This was to ensure they wouldn't go hungry in the coming year of famine.
Of the remaining thirty copies, Su Xiaoqi took one, along with ten catties each of corn and potatoes, and personally delivered them to Zhao Xiaomei's home in Yujia Village.
Zhao Xiaomei, upon receiving the book and seeds, was deeply grateful, tears immediately welling up and spilling out.
Su Xiaoqi thought she had been wronged again and quickly pulled her to a corner of the yard to quietly inquire.
Seeing her delicate features, and though her skin was darker and rougher, there were no obvious injuries like last time.
Su Xiaoqi, not reassured, rolled up her sleeves to check; there were no wounds, only then did she relax.
Zhao Xiaomei then realized Su Xiaoqi had misunderstood.
However, she was very grateful for her concern and was about to cry again.
Su Xiaoqi quickly comforted her.
Finally, she managed to calm down the tearful Zhao Xiaomei.
It was then she learned that the crops planted by the Yu family the previous time had also yielded a good harvest, making the elder Mr. and Mrs. Yu very happy.
Yu Jiansheng took the opportunity to speak highly of Zhao Xiaomei in front of them.
Coupled with Su Xiaoqi occasionally having Zhao Ye send some rice, flour, and fish over.
Her life in the Yu family was now quite good.
Of course, Su Xiaoqi knew that the more profound reason was:
The one who couldn't have children was Yu Jiansheng, and it had nothing to do with her, Zhao Xiaomei.
Thus, the attitude of the entire Yu family had changed.
After a brief conversation, they heard Yu's mother, Madam Huang, loudly calling Zhao Xiaomei from the kitchen.
Seeing that Zhao Xiaomei was fine, Su Xiaoqi let her go with relief.
Soon, Madam Huang's sharp voice echoed from the kitchen: "Daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law, tell me quickly, do these seeds they sent us cost money?
I heard they're selling for fifty wen a catty on the street outside.
I just weighed them, oh my heavens, this is twenty catties in total.
And that booklet, it's quite expensive when you calculate it."
"Mother, don't worry. Sister-in-law Yun told me these were gifts for us. But if we plant them and they grow well, we have to return some grain."
"We have to return them?" Madam Huang was a little displeased.
Weren't they free gifts? And now they had to return them? What kind of relatives were these?
"Mother, think about it. I heard that an acre of these potatoes can yield ten shi.
What's wrong with returning ten or twenty catties?" Zhao Xiaomei, ever since she learned that the issue of not having children wasn't her fault, and after being instilled with Su Xiaoqi's "theory of female dignity," had straightened her back.
She no longer spoke timidly to Madam Huang.
Now, her arguments were logical and well-founded, leaving Madam Huang speechless.
Especially Zhao Xiaomei's last sentence, which hit Madam Huang's weak spot: "Think about what Sister-in-law Yun said in Zhaojia Village, 'A good loan deserves a good repayment, and then you can borrow again.'"
At the time, the matter had caused a great stir in Zhaojia Village, and even the nearby villages had heard about it.
Those who repaid the grain tenfold as agreed had received even greater benefits.
And those who, with a dishonest intention to take advantage, repaid the grain received their due punishment.
Su Xiaoqi had handled that matter impeccably.
I borrow fairly, you repay fairly, and we openly offer discounts and free seeds.
Anyone who harbors the idea of "a dog that eats the meat bun never returns" will, unfortunately, have to purchase at the original price.
Madam Huang stood on tiptoe, stealthily glancing at Su Xiaoqi standing in the yard.
She could disregard Zhao Xiaomei's words.
But she couldn't afford to offend the one standing in the yard.
She had witnessed her capabilities.
Moreover, her son's inability to bear children had to be treated by her.
She quickly nodded, saying that as long as they were planted well, she would definitely return the grain.
Zhao Xiaomei's steps were light as she went out, intending to convey her mother-in-law's message.
But Su Xiaoqi stopped her with a raised hand, winked at her, and pointed to her ear.
Her hearing was sharp, and she had heard everything.
Zhao Xiaomei, realizing that Madam Huang's calculations had all fallen into Su Xiaoqi's ears, felt embarrassed.
Su Xiaoqi didn't mind; she already knew what kind of person Madam Huang was.
However, what pleased her was that Zhao Xiaomei could now hold half the decision-making power in this household.
This was a good sign.
Born human, all beings are equal, and no one is inferior to another.