At the end of November, the young couple finally made enough paper bundles, planning to take advantage of the last peak season of the year in the twelfth lunar month to warm up their new products.
On the day when the three kinds of paper bundles were neatly placed at the door of the Chu family's funeral, even in the coldest month of winter, it really attracted a lot of people to stop and look at it. The weather was too cold, and Chu Yi didn't want his wife to get cold, so he stood at the door of the shop. Answer your questions beforehand.
"This is my newly made grain basin. Can you guys see how it is done?"
"Grain basin?" An old man who was joining in the fun hurriedly took two steps forward after hearing this, and took a closer look: "The grain basin in your house is not the same as the ones we usually use. It has been colored. ?”
Chu Yi nodded, picked up a home-made grain basin and placed it in the middle of the crowd: "It's colored. After all, it's for sale. It has to be made more carefully. This one looks more like real grains." , without wasting food.”
The uncle looked at it for a while, nodded in agreement and said, "Don't tell me it's very similar. You can still see grains of grain on it. It's much finer than the white paper ones we make at home." It looks much better.”
The aunt on the other side said: "This thing is good-looking, but it doesn't look cheap. Every family uses that white paper. I have been here for so many years, and I just use things that will be burned soon. It’s too expensive and not worth it.”
Others made some sense when they thought about it. If the price was too high, it would be better to just use real whole grains, which would be a waste.
"How do you plan to sell this grain basin?"
Just as Chu Yi was about to speak, he saw Shen Luzhu opening the door and walking out, handing him a bowl of hot tea, and then said: "Our family plans to sell this grain basin for sixty cents each."
The aunt, who just thought it was not worth it, frowned when she heard the price: "Sixty cents? Look, look, what am I talking about? It's obvious that I can make something by just pasting a few pieces of white paper into it." It has to look better and it’s so expensive.”
"Since Auntie said it looks good, that doesn't mean it's different from our own white paper. Although this grain basin is made of paper, what's rare is the craftsmanship and care."
The aunt only thought that the young couple were deceiving others, and said with disdain: "It doesn't matter what craftsmanship you have in mind, it's not all burned in the end. Whether it's white paper or colored paper, it's all ashes after burning. What difference does it make?" .”
Shen Luzhu was not annoyed, and said with a smile: "What the aunt said makes sense, but our family runs a funeral shop. Everything will be burned in the end, otherwise it would be taboo to keep it at home if you buy it, right?"
As soon as these words came out, the people who were originally looking a little serious were instantly amused, right? Whoever buys paper money and these things are not to burn them. If they don't burn them, they won't buy them.
Seeing that everyone finally stopped worrying about whether it was worth the money after being burned or not, Shen Luzhu continued to say seriously: "Let me tell you, let's buy these paper money sacrifices and invite a band during the funeral. They are hosting banquets. To put it bluntly, it is not the filial piety of the descendants. Regardless of whether it is true or not, they all hope that the people who have left can live a better life there. The four festivals every year, major and minor festivals and anniversaries are nothing more than thinking. Do your best to be filial and tell the family over there that life is good and that they are all in your thoughts."
After thinking about it, everyone nodded, isn't that what happened?
"Who doesn't know that the coffin will rot after being buried in the soil, that only a handful of ashes will be left after the paper money is burned, and that the sacrifices placed on the grave will fall into ashes, but the children of any family will not try their best to buy them A good coffin, the best band invited, paper money and sacrifices for the death anniversary festival are prepared early, isn't it just that kind of heart and thoughts.
In fact, this grain basin is the same. It is just a good sign that there is plenty of food and clothing. Who wouldn’t want to use a good one? But most funerals happen suddenly, and there is no place to buy this thing. It’s not too late to be sad. If you can force yourself to do it, The grain basin came out pretty good, but I didn't bother to carve it carefully and add color, but I couldn't bear to waste the grain, so I made a white one made of paper to express my feelings. "
The uncle who asked the first question nodded and said: "It's the truth. Those who are alive should always leave a thought, otherwise why would they go to worship every year."
"It's true that we make money from these paper money sacrifices, but after thinking about making this grain basin, we really want to make it more convenient for everyone. It's more refined and beautiful, and it's more like that. Not to mention, some of these things will be sold in the future. If you don’t, you don’t have to just paste it up with white paper just because you’re anxious.”
Seeing that his wife had finished speaking, Chu Yi quietly shook her hand behind his back. His palm was still warm, and then he allowed her to continue standing outside.
"That's true. You don't have to do it yourself. It does look more like this than the white paper. Ordinary people like us can't really hold a pot of grains to burn."
"The main thing is a pot full of grains. It would be a pity to burn it like that. But you two are good at doing business. There are so many shops selling paper money in the county. You alone have figured out so many tricks. That copper coin Burnt paper and paper ingots are indeed much easier to burn than yellow burnt paper."
"No wonder, it's no wonder that you can carry out business all the way from the village to the county seat. This is really a big deal. By the way, there are two more kinds you have on display here. Are they also grain basins? It doesn't look like it."
Chu Yi motioned Shen Luzhu to go back to the shop, and he continued to introduce to everyone: "Those two are similar to grain basins, with some changes in appearance, but except for funerals, they can also be used for daily sacrifices, just like paper money. Similarly, one is made of a cornucopia, and the other is a money tree, both with good meanings. Our family calls these paper baskets, and the price is the same as the grain basin."
"Paper tie? Is it because they are all made of paper?"
Chu Yi was stunned for a moment and nodded: "That's pretty much what it means."
"This is both a cornucopia and a money tree. It's much richer than our original grain basin. It's like replacing the copper plates at home with gold ingots!"
"But no, from a rich man in the village, he directly became the richest man in the county!"
Chu Yi was a little funny. When the couple was making these paper tie-ups, Shen Luzhu had talked to him before and said that these were called "upgraded versions". He didn't quite understand it at the time, but now when he asked the neighbors to explain it, it became more vivid. Quite a few.
Then he said: "Today I will take it out to show everyone my newly made paper tie. If the neighbors think it is good, just come to the shop and buy it if you need it in the future."
After watching the excitement, most people left in front of Chu's shop. However, an aunt stopped Chu Yi who was about to go back to the house and asked: "That paper tie at your house can be burned when really offering sacrifices to the grave, just like paper money." ?”
The young couple had discussed this issue a long time ago. The locals would only use the grain basin during funerals and would not use it when visiting graves to offer sacrifices. However, the source of customers would become relatively single, so they decided to The paper bundles are made into sacrificial items, and it is precisely for this reason that three kinds of paper bundles must be placed together in front of the shop.
"Auntie, do you want to buy it?"
"Then bring me a cornucopia."
Shen Luzhu really didn't expect that on the first day after the paper bundles were put out, when she went back to the house to warm herself up, Chu Yi actually sold one: "Chu Yi, you are so awesome!"
Chu Yi was also surprised: "It's just a coincidence."
However, Shen Luzhu was very optimistic: "It will take some time for everyone to accept it. Besides, even if things like paper ties are completely accepted in the future, they probably won't be as popular as paper money, so they can be sold today." Going to one is already a good sign!”
In this way, the paper bundles in front of Chu Ji's funeral shop seemed to have become a fixed attraction on Changqing Street. The first thing the young couple did when they opened the door every day was to place the paper bundles in front of their shop, which they did not close until the evening. Then he moved back to the shop. Pedestrians passing by, whether he had seen it or not, would stop and take a look. Chu Yi would stand in front of the shop door from time to time to explain to everyone.
Although the sales volume has remained at the same level as on the first day of the exhibition, within half a month, no one in the entire county knew that Chu Ji’s rice basin was tied with paper. This was a good thing for the young couple. , after all, when facing new things, you must first know and understand them before you can talk about accepting them.
The young couple estimated that their wholesale business would be able to make more money in the peak season before the Spring Festival, so they specifically asked Jiang Quan to take Lin Ji's fleet and deliver paper ingots to the county town twice before the Spring Festival. The warehouse behind the shop was full, so I opened a room in the west courtyard for storage. Even if I didn't sell out all the goods a year ago, I wouldn't be afraid. Anyway, I have room to store them, so I can just sell my shop in the future.
As expected, two days before the Lunar New Year, the owners of the paper money shop began to arrive one after another to purchase goods. They all said that the paper ingots purchased before were almost sold out, and they wanted to take advantage of the Lunar New Year to purchase more.
On weekdays, a large-scale market in the county takes place every ten days, extending from East Street to West Street. There are numerous stalls on both sides of the street. If it happens before a festival, it will be opened additionally. On such important days as the Spring Festival at the end of the year, the market will be open from the New Year to the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. At that time, people from surrounding villages and towns will also go to the city to attend the market. For example, in Changshui Town I don’t know how much more lively the big gathering will be.
People from the county town, plus people from surrounding areas who come to the city to go to the market, make the paper money business particularly prosperous during the Spring Festival. The young couple originally planned to keep the shop open until the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, and pack up on the 29th to buy some new year goods. I just returned to the village, but not only did I empty out all the paper money I had prepared for sale or wholesale on the morning of the 27th, but I also sold two paper cornucopias along with it.
The inventory was cleared one day earlier than planned. The young couple did not plan to ask their family to send more paper money, but closed the shop directly. After taking a break at noon, the family went to the market and strolled from East Street to West Street. , New Year paintings with blessing characters, couplet stickers, food and drink, and New Year gifts for each family, I carried my hands full before returning to the east courtyard.
