Li Zhengtang and Li Zhengting reluctantly paid the fee and began setting up their stall.
"Selling fritillaria? Freshly dug?" Someone saw them setting up and came over to ask.
"Yes, freshly dug." Seeing someone come over to ask, Li Zhengting hurriedly said, "Genuine mountain fritillaria, just dug up. Works really well!"
"How much?" The man opened a sack and grabbed a handful to examine. "This fritillaria isn't dry."
"Well, it's just been dug up. It's fresh-that's how you know it's genuine." An idea struck Li Zhengting. "If it were dry, it might be fake. Four... five yuan a kilo. Much cheaper than the pharmacy! Take it home and dry it, and it's ready to use. Works wonders for a cough!"
"Five yuan? Are you crazy for money?" The man tossed the fritillaria back into the sack, turned, and left.
"Hey, hey, don't go! We can bargain! Four fifty... four yuan!" Having finally found someone asking the price, Li Zhengting could hardly let him get away. He called out urgently, but the man turned a deaf ear and walked faster and faster. Li Zhengting dared not follow too far and finally returned to the stall in disappointment.
Li Zhengtang had watched the whole thing from beside him. When Li Zhengting returned with his head hanging, he consoled him:
"It's all right. There are plenty of people in this market. Someone else will come along soon."
Li Zhengting sat in front of the stall, silently sulking. He was full of regret now.
Ten-odd minutes later, an old woman came over. After asking about the fritillaria and bargaining for ages, she bought one yuan's worth at four yuan a kilo.
Then another problem arose: neither brother had a scale!
How could they sell anything without a scale? Only then did the two realize