Scarlett thought, *Not everyone in Larkspur Village is heartless.* She sincerely said, “Thank you, Grandpa Peter.”
Peter looked surprised. He glanced at Scarlett, then led his dog back to the cowshed, leaving them alone.
With the flashlight, they made quick work of raiding the wild duck nests. After hours of searching, they collected 70 or 80 eggs, filling their two reed baskets. Elizabeth was stunned.
They even found a nest of ducklings that had already hatched.
“We could raise them,” Elizabeth said, admiring the fluffy creatures.
Scarlett shook her head, thinking of their insecure, run-down house. “Even if we raise them, someone else might end up benefiting. Let’s sell them.”
Elizabeth hesitated but ultimately agreed. Feeding themselves was hard enough, and raising ducks would draw unwanted attention.
Back home, they inspected each egg. Including the 12 Scarlett had found earlier, they had 82 fresh eggs. Before sunrise, they set off for the city, their only provisions being two roasted sweet potatoes.
Roasted sweet potatoes were enjoyable at first, a rustic novelty.
By the second meal, Scarlett was already tired of them. Still, she had endured hardship as a child and could persevere in this situation. If someone pampered and privileged had been in her place, they would have broken down on the first day.
*Survival—only by surviving this era can I hope for a better life.*
With that determination, Scarlett focused on the road. By the time they reached the county seat, dawn was breaking.
Larkspur Village was impoverished, but Crescent County had some economic footing, with large meatpacking and agricultural machinery factories employing many workers. The cattle raised in Larkspur’s cowsheds were sold to the meatpacking plant.
Even meatpacking workers, who had access to meat, found it difficult to buy eggs. While Crescent County’s rural areas were known for livestock like pigs and cows, poultry farming was rare.
“Where should we sell these?”
Crescent County’s two factories were hubs of wealth, and the black market revolved around them. The meatpacking plant had high profits, and its workers had money. Elizabeth suggested selling near the plant.
Scarlett, however, had another idea.
“We’ll go check around the agricultural machinery factory,” Scarlett suggested.
The factory had more workers, and Scarlett felt more familiar with such places.
By the time they reached the agricultural machinery factory, the sky was fully bright. Workers were riding bicycles into the factory. Scarlett noticed a few others along the roadside selling goods—some with chickens, others with freshly dug sweet potatoes. Thankfully, there weren’t any competitors selling eggs today.
Finding a spot, Scarlett had just set up when a middle-aged woman carrying a vegetable basket approached.
“Are you selling eggs?”
Scarlett smiled without any pretense. “Yes, they’re wild duck eggs. All fresh! If you like them, I’ll sell them to you cheaper than chicken eggs.”
Wild duck eggs were about the same size as chicken eggs, and if they were cheaper, they were naturally a good deal. Who cared if the texture was finer or not?
The market price for chicken eggs was 1.2 dollars per pound, and they required ration coupons. Farmers selling their own chicken eggs bypassed the need for coupons but charged 1.5 dollars per pound. Scarlett had already asked around earlier, greeting people with a sweet and polite tone. No one saw egg prices as a guarded secret.
The woman stood there, clearly interested. Scarlett knew she had hooked a customer.
“If you buy fewer than 10, it’s 13 cents each. If you buy 10 or more, it’s 12 cents each. And for 20 or more, it’s 11 cents!”
Her tiered pricing strategy left the woman momentarily confused.
But the temptation of a good deal was hard to resist. Initially planning to buy just a few, the woman ended up purchasing 21 eggs. Of course, she wasn’t entirely swept away—her savvy instincts ensured she got the best value.
Scarlett collected 2.3 dollars, even waiving a single cent for change.
Handing the money to Elizabeth, Scarlett felt accomplished. Elizabeth, however, was still in a daze. Around them, other vendors were watching Scarlett. Her striking looks caught attention, but it was her efficient and confident manner that surprised them.
