The surrounding merchants were all a bit confused. They wondered why the girl was offering free samples when not a single fruit had been sold yet. Was this girl perhaps a bit simple-minded?
The system was also a bit hesitant.
[Host, what if these people don't buy after trying the fruit?]
Li Zhichen shook her head with a smile and said calmly,
"Customers who try the fruit for free may not necessarily buy, but they can attract more people to our stall."
As the saying goes, free things are the most appealing. Even if people have never tasted the fruit before, there will always be some who are willing to give it a try. And the free-taste activity can quickly stimulate customers' desire to consume, attracting a large number of people.
The tomatoes Li Zhichen was selling were quite big. In total, she only used two tomatoes for the free samples. So even if the customers didn't buy, Li Zhichen wouldn't lose money.
Sure enough, as soon as the onlookers heard the word "free", their eyes lit up immediately.
"What a good deal! I have to try it!"
Suddenly, several people picked up a piece of tomato and examined it carefully.
The fruit had a shiny exterior and a bright red color. Picking one up and taking a light sniff, a faint fragrance of fruits and vegetables filled the air.
After a moment of hesitation, these people dipped the tomato in sugar and put it into their mouths.
At first, they frowned because it was something new to them, and their expressions were a bit strange. But after chewing a couple of times, their expressions instantly turned into ones of delight!
"The taste... is so novel!"
"It's a bit sour at first, but the more you chew, the sweeter it gets!"
Those who had tasted it kept discussing and popped a couple more pieces into their mouths.
This exotic fruit melted in the mouth and left an endless aftertaste. People just couldn't get enough of it!
At the same time, Qi Lixiao smoothly handed over a food box and said softly, "You can also try this, sour-tomato fish soup."
Several young women in the crowd were startled when they saw Qi Lixiao. Then their cheeks turned a bit red. They didn't say a word but grabbed each other's arms and shook them vigorously, communicating only through their expressions and eyes.
Li Zhichen saw this scene and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Sure enough, good-looking people were always the center of attention wherever they went. Fortunately, this wasn't an era where people threw fruits at handsome men, or else the two of them might have been knocked unconscious!
When Li Zhichen opened the food box, a rich and sweet smell instantly wafted over, making the customers on the opposite side of the stall couldn't help but swallow their saliva.
Those who had just tasted the tomatoes immediately picked up their chopsticks without hesitation and took a piece of the well-cooked tomato and fish to taste.
The moment the food entered their mouths, the freshness of the fish and the sourness of the tomato burst on their lips and teeth. It was sour, appetizing, and not spicy, with a unique flavor.
"Delicious, delicious!"
"How on earth was this made?"
"How much is this tomato per catty?"
Li Zhichen pointed at the sign and smiled, "Eight copper coins per catty."
Sure enough, as soon as Li Zhichen announced the price, some of the people who had tried the fruit started to bargain.
"Eight copper coins per catty? That's a bit expensive. Can you make it cheaper? None of us have bought this before. You, the boss, should give us a discount."
Li Zhichen hooked her lips silently.
Bargaining was not only an art but also a skill. It was normal for customers to bargain. The price they initially proposed was actually just a test.
For example, if you were selling a piece of clothing and quoted a price of one hundred copper coins, some customers might try to bargain it down to eighty, while others might go as low as thirty.
If the merchant accepted the customer's bargain immediately, they would probably end up losing a fortune.
So Li Zhichen patiently asked, "Then how much would you like it to be?"
The man immediately cut the price in half.
"Can you sell it for four copper coins per catty?"
Li Zhichen seemed a bit embarrassed and said in a light tone,
"Everyone knows that things are precious because they are rare. This foreign fruit is particularly difficult to grow. We've worked so hard to grow just this little bit. We've been getting up early and going to bed late every day. It's really tough... right, husband?"
Everyone's gazes instantly fell on Qi Lixiao. The latter was a bit stunned. When he met Li Zhichen's eyes, he saw her wink playfully.
Qi Lixiao's Adam's apple rolled for a moment. Actually... what Li Zhichen said was true. She had been watering the tomatoes with spiritual water and infusing them with special energy every day. She had really put a lot of effort into it.
So he smiled and cooperated,
"Yes, my wife has been working day and night to grow these tomatoes."
System:......
[Detected that the task target has triggered an intimate nickname. Two hours have been added to the host's life!]
Li Zhichen nodded in satisfaction and then continued,
"So selling these fruits for eight copper coins per catty is actually a normal price. Moreover, I'm the only one selling this in the county. If you miss this opportunity, you may not know when you'll be able to buy it again..."
The people around hesitated for a moment. The fruit did taste good, was big in size, and could be paired with various dishes...
Li Zhichen seized the opportunity and added, "Today is the opening day of our stall. How about this? Let's see how much each of you wants to buy. If you buy a large amount, I'll give you a discount."
Someone was tempted and asked tentatively, "How much of a discount can I get if I buy two catties?"
Li Zhichen smiled sweetly.
"Eight copper coins per catty, fifteen copper coins for two catties. Get a three-copper-coin discount for every twenty copper coins spent, and a four-copper-coin discount for every fifty copper coins spent... The more you buy, the bigger the discount!"
When the people around heard this, their eyes instantly lit up!
The only thing left in their minds was the word "discount". They immediately scrambled to take out their money and pay.
"Boss, give me two catties!"
"Also give me one catty!"
"Don't fight with me. I was here first. I want two catties!"
........
Pedestrians came and went in an endless stream. Thanks to the free samples, there were always a lot of people in front of Li Zhichen's stall.
Moreover, most of the people strolling in this market were neighbors. You could see an acquaintance every few steps. When they saw someone buying this strange fruit at Li Zhichen's stall, the others would curiously gather around and also try to buy some to take home.
And the people passing by in the back saw a group of people queuing up in front of Li Zhichen's stall. They were also curious and gathered around. After tasting a bite and inquiring about the price, if they found it acceptable, they would also join the queue.
Li Zhichen was in charge of greeting the customers, while Qi Lixiao deftly weighed the tomatoes and collected the money with a weighing scale.
The system was stunned and murmured,
[There are so many people... How did the host anticipate that there would be so many people?]
Li Zhichen smiled. "Do you know about the herd mentality? This is how it is when doing business on the opening day. As long as a few people say it's good first, others will follow suit."
The merchants selling fruits and vegetables in the surrounding stalls were all dumbfounded. They had thought that this strange fruit would definitely not sell, but they didn't expect that Li Zhichen not only sold it but also sold it like hotcakes. They were extremely envious!
The old hunter stared blankly for a moment. While he let out a sigh of relief, he also found his previous worries rather funny.
Just based on Li Zhichen's determination and toughness when hunting the wild boar that day, it was destined that she would succeed in every aspect!
Thinking of this, the old hunter quickly went up to help collect the money. Looking at the long queue of people, he finally experienced what it meant to count money until his hands cramped!