Xu Xian is greedy. He not only keeps an eye on his neighbors' money bags, but also wants to take advantage of others' influence. The experience of buying saltpeter made him understand that it is not easy to do even a small business in this troubled world.

He took advantage of the situation not only externally but also internally. In this cruel era where people's bones are boiling for oil, who would dislike having little money? Small business may not necessarily be stable.

Unless they can regard Xu Xian as one of their own, it may not be easy, but Xiaocan can create a good situation, and so can he. Xu Xian believes that people who can bring benefits and hope to others are always easy to be betrayed.

Acceptable.

After Zhang Dutou got the cane, he was excited for a moment. What he said about the old uncle and wise nephew may not be sincere, but it was better than the previous encounter where one swaggered with his nostrils in the sky and the other slumped behind the wall with a frown and droopy eyes, like Mr. Xu

Then there will be no real friendship in twenty years.

This didn't happen overnight. Now Xu Xian threw out the bait and waited for the fish to take the bait. But he waited from noon to night, but there was no movement at all.

Xu Xian almost lost his confidence. He felt no motivation to work the next day. He only hoped that the sun would rise higher and higher and the weather would get hotter soon, but there was still not a single person in the sky.

Xu Xian couldn't help but mutter in his heart, if everyone ate happily yesterday, wouldn't they want to eat it in this hot weather today? It makes no sense at all!

"Is there anyone at home?" Jiubao's annoying voice sounded to Xu Xian like the beautiful singing of an angel.

Xu Xian walked to the yard with a smile on his hands behind his back, "It turns out you are brothers Jiubao, how dare you come to my house, and you are not afraid that I will chase you away with a broom."

"If you dare to hit me, let my father take care of you. His legs and feet are flexible now. Let me ask you, do you still have the ice you gave me yesterday?"

"Yes, it's in the house. I wonder what flavor Brother Jiubao would like to eat?"

"Just eat the peach flavored one!"

"That's easy to say, Chenghui Sanwen!" Xu Xian smiled and held out three fingers.

"What? You still want money!"

"Brother Jiubao doesn't know that I mortgaged my house at the temple and borrowed 50 guan of money in order to sell popsicles. I fell ill some time ago, and thanks to the care of the neighbors, I made some to give to everyone to express my gratitude.

But today I can't do it. I want to take it to the street for profit. If I give it to you for free, in the future, if I don't pay for the money to go to the temple, my house will be confiscated. I'm afraid Xiaocan will sleep on the street with me. Can you bear it?

?”

"I can't bear it!" Jiubao scratched his scalp and then spread his hands, "But I have no money!"

No money? How dare you say so confidently.

"Then I have no choice! Go home to your father, and your grandma will ask for it!"

Jiubao shook his head in embarrassment, "They won't give me money, they will even spank me. That's all, that's all, it's as fun as playing in the pond!" He turned around and walked out the door.

Are you leaving now? Isn’t this the quality that a naughty child should have? Shouldn’t it be like asking his father for money?

While Xu Xian was muttering blindly, Aunt Liu had already brought her son to the door. Sure enough, she also came to ask for popsicles. But when Xu Xian told her that a cream popsicle cost five cents, Aunt Liu immediately exploded.

"A pound of pork is only eight cents, and a plate of date cake is only four cents. How dare you sell an ice cube for five cents? You are really evil!"

"Aunt Liu, you can't say that. It's true that the popsicles are ice popsicles, but they are made with goat's milk and icing sugar. What's more, they are ice popsicles in summer. Don't you think it's worth it? I shouldn't charge you money, but I

I still owe money from the temple. You have such a Bodhisattva heart and you can't watch me and Xiaocan sleeping on the street."

"Hmph! You have chosen to sleep on the street, Xiaocan can't do that!" Aunt Liu said and was about to leave. Erzhu showed the necessary skills of a naughty child, but it was of no use and was ruthlessly pinched by his mother.

Took away at the creaking nest.

Next, people continued to come to the door one after another. They all took the bait yesterday, but like Jiubao and Aunt Liu, no one was willing to pay for the popsicles.

Xu Xian was very angry about this. You rich people are so stingy. How can businesses in the world live? When will the economy be prosperous and when will we create a prosperous world?

Xu Xian is very disappointed with the stingy neighbors, but Xu Xian is not yet discouraged with his own business. If he visits brothels, Chuguan, teahouses and gambling stalls more often, he will not lose his money. At worst, he will be exploited by tax collectors and gangsters a few times. Think about it.

It all makes people feel sore.

Xu Xian was already ready to take out the popsicles and pack them into boxes when he saw Jiubao limping over, holding his buttocks, and stuffed a handful of copper coins into Xu Xian's hand, "Bring me three peach-flavored ones! I

Dad, my grandma and I have one each."

Xu Xian gave him a sugar-water popsicle, "Brother Jiubao, I'm giving this to you. Remember to promote it to the little kids in Liuhewan. You bought three popsicles today. I'll record them for you. Wait.

If you buy a hundred popsicles, I will give you a Big Mac ice cream."

Jiubao chewed the popsicle and asked vaguely: "What is Big Mac ice cream?"

There is no real thing, but it does not prevent Xu Xian from using paper and pen to draw a beautiful thing to give Jiubao a beautiful fantasy. The look on his face full of longing shows that his painting is not in vain.

"Then you must remember it clearly and don't try to coax me!"

Just as Jiubao walked away slurping the popsicle, the second pillar of Aunt Liu's house came, with tears hanging on her long eyelashes. She stretched out her little hand and gave the copper coin to Xu Xian, saying in a sweet voice: "I want ice!"

"Where's your mother?"

Erzhuzi looked back, shook his head and said: "My mother is not here, please give me ice!"

Xu Xian gave him a cream one and a sugar popsicle, and showed him the picture that could bring people beautiful longings before letting him leave.

Erzhuzi had just walked out of the door with his short legs when he heard a woman outside the yard whispering: "Erzhuzi, give me a bite!"

There are twists and turns, and the neighbors say they don't want it, but it is always no match for the honesty of the body. The adults can keep their mouths shut for a while, but the children can't. The key is that the family is rich, otherwise it will be useless to make trouble.

With Jiubao and Erzhu at the beginning, the naughty kids who had eaten the bait before took the bait one by one, and also brought many new friends. At the age of curiosity, I wish I could dip my fingers in dog poop and taste it, not to mention the sweetness

Here are the refreshing popsicles.

Xu Xian always responds with the greatest enthusiasm to these potential customers. Even if he has no money, he will not say anything bad. He will give them a small trial version to give them a try. Xu Xian will take the initiative to go home and ask for money without even asking. As for whether he will

If Xu Xian gets beaten, he won't care about it.

In less than three days, all the naughty children in Liuhe Bay knew about popsicles. Those who had eaten them kept showing off how delicious and refreshing they were, while those who had never tasted them were full of longing.

Picking out bird eggs, throwing mud, riding bamboo horses, these usually interesting activities suddenly became eclipsed. Being able to sip popsicles and lean against the big willow tree to enjoy the coolness in the hot afternoon was the greatest luxury.

Therefore, after noon, there was a commotion in Liuhe Bay. Soon, children with tearful eyes and smiling faces would come to visit the Xu family. Of course, there were also many greedy adults who took the initiative to take their children with them.

Here to buy, for example, this sister-in-law holds one in her arms and holds two in her hand, and it costs twenty cents at a flick of the hand.

"Sister-in-law Li is generous!" Xu Xian handed the popsicles to the children one by one, and put the remaining ones into the basket, "It is ice after all. Even in summer, you cannot give too much to children to avoid diarrhea."

"What are you talking about, brother? Is it possible that my sister-in-law can't eat it? You men are allowed to gamble, drink, and go to the brothels outside. Why should we women have to live frugally at home?" Looking at her smeared face, it would probably be a waste to future generations.

Chopped hand party.

"Sister-in-law Li, go slowly!" Xu Xian diligently sent the big buyer to the door. Just as he was about to turn around, he saw a child standing in the corner, swallowing his saliva while looking at Sister-in-law Li's son who was eating a popsicle.

Xu Xian saw that this must be his first time here, so he greeted with a smile: "Hey... little brother, do you want to buy popsicles?"

The child turned his head when he heard the sound, and saw that he was about ten years old, with a horned head, a red face, and a pair of piercing black eyes. He was wearing a round-neck short shirt, barefoot and a pair of hemp shoes.

Standing straight, he looked up at Xu Xian and said, "I have no money!"

"You can have food even if you don't have money!" Xu Xian has always spared no effort in exploring potential customers. The child hesitated for a moment and then followed Xu Xian into the house.

Xu Xian gave him the popsicle directly. This boy's family was well off and he would definitely be a big buyer if he was raised well.

How can you see it? You can tell just by looking at the clothes. Children of ordinary families are considered to be very particular if they are given a crotch cloth in the summer. There are many twelve or thirteen-year-olds running around with their little birds exposed. Jiubao's family is well-to-do.

Xian had never seen him wearing a shirt before. Seeing how well-dressed this kid was, his family's financial situation would not be bad.

The child took a bite of the popsicle and then breathed out, "It's so refreshing!"

"Hehe... If you think it tastes good, you can buy it with money in the future!"

The boy shook his head, "I don't have any money!" Seeing Xu Xian staring at him as if he understood what Xu Xian was thinking, he continued to shake his head, "My family doesn't have any money either."

"How could that happen? Are you not a military dependent?"

"They are military dependents, but my father has not fought in many years." The child sighed with a sad look on his face, "My eldest sister died of illness a few years ago, and she owed a lot of money for soups and medicines. My second brother left home and wandered around for two or three years.

I came here just to save a pair of bowls and chopsticks at home, and I haven't come back yet. My nephew also died of illness last winter, and he owed another sum of money for soup and medicine. My father heard that Guo Taiwei had a reward for this Western expedition, so he took the initiative to accompany the army.

It’s to earn more money to pay off debts, since my family really doesn’t have any money.”

"You don't have any money but you still dress so neatly!"

"My clothes are made from my second brother's old clothes. My mother said that I am a scholar, so naturally I have to dress decently." The child seemed to have thought of something, "Oh, I understand. Give me a popsicle.

I know its benefits, so I asked my family for money to buy it. Now that I know my family has no money, you just broke a popsicle in vain, so you are angry, right?"

Well, I didn’t expect that a kid would see through my method of attracting customers. It seems that this method is not very clever. What’s annoying is that this little bastard actually exposed it in front of you, forgetting that the popsicle in your hand was given to me for free.

.

Seeing Xu Xian's unkind look, the boy became more aware and handed the popsicle over and said, "How about I give it back to you?"

Looking at the drooling popsicle, Xu Xian waved his hand, "That's it!" He pointed at the courtyard door, "Get out of here quickly!"

"Oh!" The child stopped walking after leaving the room, "By the way, I want to tell you that it is too inferior to only respect Luo Yi but not others!"

"How dare you teach me a lesson? I won't beat you until you cry for father and mother!" Xu Xian picked up a broom and tried to beat him, but the child immediately giggled and ran away without a trace.

Xu Xian was so angry with the little bastard that his liver ached. He suddenly felt that a middle-aged boy like Jiubao was much cuter. In the future, when looking for his sister-in-law, he would look for such a warm-hearted guy. If he was too smart, the little silkworm would suffer.

Xu Xian took a popsicle and put it in his mouth. Just as he calmed down the fire in his stomach, he heard the banging sound of the courtyard door. When he looked up, he saw a young girl standing by the door.

She was only about thirteen or fourteen years old, with her hair in a double bun, pretty features, a beautiful nose and a beautiful mouth. She was wearing a pink half-sleeved shirt tied at the waist with a knee-length white skirt. Xu Xian couldn't help but his eyes lit up. Not that this girl was so beautiful.

She is beautiful, but in fact she is only sixty-seven, and she is really a good foil to a group of gray-headed women in Liuhewan.

However, looking at her posture with arms akimbo, it seems that she is not here to buy anything, but rather to cause trouble. Could it be that the child at home is feeling sick after eating popsicles?

Xu Xian lowered his attitude and stepped forward and asked, "What do you want me to do, little lady?"
To be continued...