MMB Chapter 92: Some Success in Selling Wine
Chapter 92: Some Success in Selling Wine
Chapter 92: Some Success in Selling Wine
After the deal was settled, Xu Chunsheng continued working on the unfinished table with his uncle.
After the holes were drilled, Xu Chunsheng handed the prepared hardwood dowel to his uncle.
Xu Chunsheng watched as his uncle crossed and aligned the two table legs, threaded the wooden dowel through the round hole, and then inserted small wooden wedges at both ends to lock them in place.
After finishing all that, the uncle held one leg in each hand and tested its flexibility in folding. After testing, he glanced at his nephew next to him and said, "Chunsheng, why don't you try making that set of table legs?"
Xu Chunsheng raised an eyebrow and readily agreed: "Okay, I won't be able to become your 'master' when I was eleven or twelve. I'll learn from you again today."
Following his uncle's example, Xu Chunsheng wedged the table legs in place and then tested their flexibility himself.
"Um?"
Xu Chunsheng exerted more force before he was able to retract the table legs.
"Haha, it's not easy to control, is it? These things require skill."
Then I saw my uncle take the table leg from his hand and adjust it to the right tightness in a few quick movements, so that it could be folded up flexibly.
One person held a set of table legs, joking around as they repeatedly opened and closed the legs about ten times to ensure they opened and closed smoothly without shifting. Only then were the table legs considered complete.
Next, they had to assemble the table. Uncle Xu was in charge of the finer details, while Xu Chunsheng stood by, supporting the table frame and handing over the wood.
With a series of soft "tap-tap" sounds, Uncle Xu took a wooden hammer and gently tapped the tenon into the mortise.
In no time at all, a folding table was completed.
Xu Chunsheng couldn't wait to unfold the table. The table legs landed steadily on the ground, and the tabletop was flat and smooth to the touch, not sharp at all.
Xu Chunsheng pressed down hard on the table with both hands, but the table did not budge, only making a slight creaking sound like a new table.
Finally, he lifted his hand and folded the table up, the four legs folding together and pressing tightly against the bottom of the table, making it easy for one person to fold up.
The two of them took fine sandpaper and sanded the entire tabletop again, giving it a simple polish.
Finally, apply tung oil for maintenance.
Uncle Xu took out the tung oil, opened a plastic bag, and took out a cloth that had been coated with tung oil, handing it to Xu Chunsheng: "Blow off the dust, then you can apply the oil. Apply several coats. When applying the oil, be careful to apply thin coats and multiple coats, don't pile up the oil, don't let it accumulate, that way the table will be smooth and shiny."
Xu Chunsheng took the strip of cloth and, imitating his uncle, dipped it in tung oil and evenly wiped the table legs and tabletop along the wood grain, not even missing the crevices.
After applying the tung oil, Uncle Xu took the cloth strips back and put them back into the plastic bag. While squeezing out the air, he said to Xu Chunsheng, "The tung oil is done. Leave it here to dry for two days. Then I'll apply another coat of oil for you. Once it's dry, you can take it home. You can use it whenever the smell is gone."
"Okay, thank you, Uncle."
After saying that, Xu Chunsheng paid his uncle for the table.
Uncle Xu declined for a long time but couldn't refuse, so he only took half the money: "I don't need that much. I'll just charge for the board and the fuel. Besides, you're working with us, so let's not talk about the rest."
Time flies, and Xu Chunsheng's table has been used two or three times already. Every time he goes to sell wine, he puts the wine barrel next to the table, and on the table are some small bottles of wine, as well as some trinkets made by Uncle Xu.
-
After two or three visits, many people already knew about Xu Chunsheng's stall. Buying two ounces of liquor would get you a pair of chopsticks, five ounces would get you a bowl, and a pound would get you a set of chopsticks and a bowl, plus a wooden spoon.
If you don't want the bowls and chopsticks, you can exchange them for a small toy to appease the child.
It was market day again, and Xu Chunsheng and Cheng Runshu drove their tricycle to their usual spot early and set up their stall.
The two arrived early mainly because the roads in town are narrow, and since they were driving a tricycle, they needed to arrive early to find a suitable spot that wouldn't block the way.
Once the two had finished packing up their stalls, the market started to bustle with activity.
Before the two could even scoop out the wine they wanted to drink, someone immediately came over to buy some: "Boss, you're here really early! We've been looking forward to you setting up your stall these past few days."
The visitor smiled and joked, "If you hadn't come, I might have gone to someone else's house to buy wine today."
Xu Chunsheng smiled and placed the small bottles of liquor one by one on the table, replying as he worked, "Thank you for thinking of me. When I open a shop in town in the future, you are welcome to come and buy from me anytime."
The man leaned over the table, staring at the bamboo chopsticks, wooden bowls, small spinning tops, and small wooden swords on it, and said with a smile, "Your stuff is really good. Two ounces for a pair of chopsticks, five ounces for a bowl. My wife only buys from you, and she makes me buy wine from you."
An older woman on the other side chimed in, "That's right. My grandson is always thinking about the little trinkets you have here. Last time I got him a little spinning top, and he treasures it so much that he insists I come back and get him a wooden sword instead."
Everyone urged them to hurry up and get some wine, but Cheng Runshu smiled sweetly and said, "We're not in a hurry. We brought enough things today, so everyone who bought some will get some."
After saying that, he went around serving drinks to everyone.
As more and more people gathered around, many noticed the crowd surrounding the stall and came over to watch the spectacle.
After hearing what those who had bought Xu Chunsheng's liquor had to say, someone loudly asked, "Boss, is this all you can offer in exchange?"
Xu Chunsheng looked up and saw a stranger. He smiled and said, "Brother, this isn't an exchange, it's a free gift. There are other things besides these little trinkets."
After saying that, Xu Chunsheng pointed to the two bedside tables on the tricycle and said, "There are some big ones too. These cabinets are made of solid pine wood. As long as you buy 100 jin (50 kg) of them, you can get a practical and impressive cabinet like this."
These words caused a commotion in the crowd. At this time, a bedside table was not cheap. Buying one directly would cost fifty or sixty yuan, and even if you had someone make one, it would cost thirty or forty yuan.
Although it would cost 200 yuan to buy 100 jin of wine from Xu Chunsheng, on second thought, he would also give you a cabinet worth several tens of yuan, so it seems like you're actually making a good profit.
"Boss, you make it sound so easy. Who can buy a hundred pounds at once? You're probably just leaving it here for people to see."
Xu Chunsheng wasn't annoyed. He smiled and explained, "Brother, you've misunderstood. After you buy the wine, you don't need anything else. I'll write down how much wine you buy each time. Once you've bought a hundred jin, you can take this cabinet home."
Upon hearing Xu Chunsheng's words, the crowd erupted in another uproar: "That sounds good."
"This boss is probably going to lose money doing business like this; each cabinet costs forty or fifty yuan."
Although there were all sorts of things, more and more people came over to sell alcohol.
However, most people only buy a small amount, such as two ounces or half a pound, and there are no people who buy large quantities of alcohol.
"Boss, give me a pound, write it down in my notebook, I want to save it up to buy a new wooden basin."
"Hey girl, give me two ounces, I won't keep track of it, just give me a small wooden sword."
"Boss, I want a pound, I'll save it up to buy a new cabinet."
Cheng Runshu responded to each of them, picked up his pen, and carefully wrote down everyone's information and how much wine they bought: "Okay, I'll record everything clearly each time. How much you've accumulated is all clearly written in the notebook. I'll confirm with you every time you come to buy."
"You can see at a glance how much more you need to get what you want."
The sun was getting higher and higher, and Xu Chunsheng and Cheng Runshu were both unbearably hot. They figured that no one else would come to buy alcohol, so Xu Chunsheng went into the convenience store, picked up two popsicles, and handed one to Cheng Runshu.
"How does it feel? Did you get it?"
Two rosy blushes appeared on Cheng Runshu's fair face from the sun, and fine beads of sweat dampened the stray hairs on his forehead.
She took the popsicle Xu Chunsheng handed her: "Thank you, brother. I've learned it all. I really look forward to you opening a shop in town. Then more people will definitely come to buy wine."