PCJ – Chapter 219 Goods are Hard to Sell

“Uncle, where is the department store?” Zhang Jiaohua asked along the way.

“Over there. Why are you, a little kid, going to the department store? Did you steal money from your parents to buy toys?” The passing uncle enthusiastically gave directions to Zhang Jiaohua but, seeing the stack of money in Zhang Jiaohua’s hand, asked worriedly.

“My parents are testing me. They asked me to go to the department store to buy a box of tea leaves as a birthday gift for a guest.” Zhang Jiaohua casually made up an excuse.

“Your parents are quite bold. Letting a child carry so much money around, aren’t they afraid of you being robbed by bad people?” The uncle frowned.

“My parents said there are more good people than bad people. With so many people on the street, how could a bad person rob a little kid like me?” Zhang Jiaohua replied.

“That’s true.” The uncle nodded but continued to follow Zhang Jiaohua.

“Uncle, you don’t need to accompany me. My parents said I can’t let anyone help me, or I’ll fail the test.” Zhang Jiaohua looked curiously at the uncle.

“I won’t help you buy anything, but I need to see you to the department store entrance. If a bad person robs you, your parents might think there are more bad people than good ones.”

Well, the uncle’s reason was strong. Zhang Jiaohua could only let the uncle follow him.

“What do your parents do? Using this method to test a child?” The uncle asked curiously.

“My parents do a little business.” Zhang Jiaohua vaguely replied. Telling one lie often requires ten more to cover it up.

“So that’s it. It seems they’re really preparing to train your business skills from a young age.” The uncle shook his head, clearly disapproving of this educational method.

When the uncle had escorted Zhang Jiaohua to the department store and was about to leave, he couldn’t help but say to Zhang Jiaohua, “Little one, tell your parents that cultivating a child requires proper methods. At your age, you should be learning more knowledge, not starting business so early. To succeed in business in the future, you need education and knowledge.”

Zhang Jiaohua felt a little guilty for deceiving such a kind person. But once inside the department store, he was dazzled by the plethora of goods and forgot about it.

Zhang Jiaohua wandered around several times and came to a place selling tea leaves.

“Little one, what are you doing here? This is not a place for kids. Toys are over there. Where are your parents?” The salesperson asked curiously.

“Hey, who let a dog in here? What if it bites someone?” Suddenly someone exclaimed.

Zhang Jiaohua turned and saw that Zuan Shanbao (his dog) was calmly looking at a startled middle-aged woman. The woman wore the same uniform as the salesperson. The department store had many goods, but it seemed there were more salespeople than customers.

Zhang Jiaohua quickly walked over, “My dog never bites people.”

“So you brought it in? Little one, dogs aren’t allowed in the department store. You should quickly find your parents.” The young salesperson’s attitude was less friendly now.

“I didn’t know. Shanbao, wait for me outside the entrance.” Zhang Jiaohua patted Zuan Shanbao’s head. Zuan Shanbao obediently trotted out, relieved himself under a tree near the department store entrance, marking his spot.

The dog’s obedience piqued the curiosity of the onlookers.

“Little one, how did you train your dog to be so obedient?” The young female salesperson asked, unaware that her earlier attitude shift had annoyed Zhang Jiaohua. Kids are petty. Just because she was pretty didn’t mean he’d care. Kids don’t have developed aesthetics yet.

“My Shanbao doesn’t need training.” Zhang Jiaohua pouted and ran to the tea counter.

“Little one, why are you looking at tea leaves?” The young, pretty salesperson, perhaps bored, persisted even though Zhang Jiaohua clearly disliked her.

Zhang Jiaohua had questions for the salesperson, so he forced a smile, though his acting was poor, “Sister, can we sell our tea leaves in your department store?”

“What kind of tea do you have? We only sell branded tea here. Look, these are all top-quality teas only county leaders can afford.” The young, pretty salesperson said.

“Our tea is also very good. Better than the ones here.” Zhang Jiaohua had never tasted the tea here, but he was confident in his own tea.

“Still no. We only sell top-quality branded tea here. And it’s up to the store manager to decide what to sell.” The young, pretty salesperson shook her head.

Zhang Jiaohua wanted to find opportunities here but realized there were none. The department store seemed to have many goods but few customers. Selling tea here might not attract buyers.

“Sister, where else can I sell tea?” Zhang Jiaohua scratched his head and asked.

“Your family really sells tea? Try the farmer’s market. People usually buy loose tea there; it’s cheap and practical.” The young, pretty salesperson said.

Zhang Jiaohua noted the place and left the department store. Outside, Zuan Shanbao had already befriended two stray dogs. Seeing Zhang Jiaohua, he quickly left the dogs and ran over. The other dogs glanced at Zhang Jiaohua and then dispersed.

The county market was much cleaner and larger than the market in Gezhuping Town, with many more types of goods. But Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t interested in those. In a dried goods store, he found loose tea leaves that were far inferior to Master Zhong Jinxiang’s tea.

“My tea quality isn’t great, but it’s cheap. People in Xintian drink tea to quench their thirst. The department store has good tea, but who buys it? They come here for cheap loose tea. This year’s quality is good, brought in from other places, better than the tea from Gezhuping Town’s factory.” The shop owner laughed, not minding Zhang Jiaohua’s criticism.