Some vases that my wife doesn't use were sold at the seafood market, 14 in total. Previously, one was sold for five yuan. There are still 13 left. My wife sent me photos, and while they could be anything, there were no dimensions. I took out a steel tape measure, found a piece of paper, and sketched a rough outline. According to the family photo of the vases, I measured each one: for the round ones, I noted the diameter and height, and for the square ones, I marked the length, width, and height. The markings were not on the actual photos but on my sketch, which saved more time.
Packing all 14 vases costs 50 yuan. Now there are only 13 left, so packing costs 45 yuan. Someone might say they want them on Friday; we'll see if they have time to pick them up on Sunday.
I just finished cooking and had some time. I checked the seafood market app and saw messages from around ten o'clock. They asked if I was free at noon. I replied that I was and apologized for the wait. By then, it was already noon.
After I replied, I hurried to eat. The 13 vases still weren't packed in bags for easy transport.
About half an hour later, I received a call from a local phone number. A man with a local accent said, "I'm the one buying the vases. I'll arrive around one o'clock; are you free?" I said yes, I was packing them up, and it would be convenient to carry them down when he arrived. We agreed to meet at the bus stop we had previously arranged.
I used all the spare plastic bags at home. If that wasn't enough, I also grabbed two black plastic bags. I combined everything into three large plastic bags. I put on my coat, hat, and gloves, then went downstairs straight to the bus stop.
At the bus stop, no one was waiting, so after a few minutes, I texted him to ask where he was. I then put my phone in my pocket. About 20 meters away, I saw a man who seemed to be taking pictures. I didn't check my phone; I had a feeling it was him since it wasn't convenient to park at the bus stop.
I walked directly toward him, holding bags full of vases in both hands. I nodded at him and said, "Are you here to pick up the vases?" He replied, "Yes." I said, "Okay, let's open them to check the quantity and quality." He took my bags and walked straight to his SUV. He opened the right rear door and placed the bags inside. I noticed his car was filled with green plants and various items; I only recognized the green plants. He took the other two bags from me and placed them in the back seat as well.
Then he said, "While my phone is charged, please transfer the money quickly." He didn't haggle and transferred the money directly.
I asked him how long he had been in this business. He said he hadn't been doing it for long, just a few months. I asked what he did before, and he said he worked on projects with his father-in-law but couldn't recover too many debts, so he was transitioning to selling flowers, birds, insects, and fish. He said it was hard to make a living.
Regarding the vases, he mentioned that flower prices were too high now; even adding a thermal preservation film costs an extra five yuan per bunch, which is a hassle. I asked if the flowers were local or from Yunnan, and he said they were all local because out-of-town flowers might be hard to keep alive. I asked how the prices compared between Yunnan and local flowers, and he said Yunnan flowers were cheaper, while local ones were more expensive. However, local flowers were more resilient in the long run.
I mentioned that I also kept a few parrots, and he said parrots were hard to care for because their calls could be annoying and disturb the neighbors. I told him I watched videos about hatching eggs and hand-feeding, and he said it was exhausting to do that every two hours. I asked what was easier to take care of, and he said he raised guppies because they breed quickly and sell well. He buys fish for fifty cents each and sells them for ten yuan for eight in a plastic bag, which sells quickly. He also mentioned breeding pure strains, including a type of fish called "ladyboy," which I didn't understand. He talked about how to feed baby fish with fish worms, mixing them until they were finely crushed to provide nutrition. The thought of fish worms made me feel uneasy, and I casually mentioned that every time I tried to keep fish, they all died. He agreed, saying that if one fish gets sick, it could wipe out the whole tank. He prioritizes fish he raises himself over those soaked in chemicals, as the latter are harder to keep alive.
Continuing with the topic of parrots, he said that sun conures and monk parakeets no longer require certificates and can be kept freely, but their prices are high. I agreed, and he said parrots are messy and need frequent cleaning. I acknowledged that sun conures can hold their waste, and he confirmed that it seems their intestines have a bend at the end, allowing them to store it. I admitted I hadn't studied the principle behind it.
He concluded by saying that if one wants to make money, it's better to raise the more expensive ones since the time cost is about the same for all.
To be continued.