Lin He was so angry upon hearing this that she wanted to strike her master then and there. Her eyes sharpened as she said, "Before my brother arrived, you agreed on one hundred large coins a month. We don't want this month's wages, but you must give us last month's pay, which you’ve already issued."

Lin He knew how Da Bao's blacksmith shop handled wages: they paid on the twenty-fifth of every month, but it was always for the preceding month, meaning the current month's pay was held back. This system was common in Lin He's past life, but it was entirely unacceptable in ancient times.

People in this era valued trust highly; wages were typically paid on the very last day of the month for that month's work. This boss, however, possessed a rather forward-thinking business sense. Da Bao’s master was quite astonished that such a young girl understood these matters, yet he still hesitated, unwilling to pay, stammering nervously. Lin He pressed, "If you refuse to pay, I will take this matter to the magistrate and see what explanation you offer there."

Da Bao’s master grew fearful upon hearing this. Not out of fear that the girl would actually report him, but the concern was that making a big scene over one hundred large coins might reveal his stinginess toward his apprentices to others, which would damage his reputation. Though reluctant, he counted out one hundred large coins and handed them to Lin He. Lin He instructed Da Bao to pack his belongings. After a moment, Da Bao emerged with a small bundle slung over his shoulder. As they left, he even offered the bundle for his master to inspect. Little Bao and San Ya followed Lin He out of the smithy.

Da Bao trailed behind Lin He, dispirited and filled with regret. He should have stood up for his sister. Although his sister claimed things were better at home this year, he knew the reality of their family's situation. As he stewed in his frustration, Lin He stopped him. "Big Brother, I’ve thought of a way to earn money. I planned to sell things on the street today, so don't worry."

Da Bao’s eyes brightened for a moment, then dimmed again. He thought his sister was merely trying to comfort him; what valuable possessions could their family possibly have to sell? If they did, he wouldn't have had to apprentice at the blacksmith shop in the first place. Lin He pulled Da Bao aside and took a small, yellow bear from the bundle to show him. Da Bao’s eyes truly lit up. While the craftsmanship was somewhat rough and the fabric just ordinary coarse cloth, the design was utterly novel and remarkably lifelike, with colors that immediately caught the eye. After a moment, however, he looked down again, thinking it unlikely that such a doll could sell for much—perhaps a few hundred large coins at best. How could that solve anything?

Seeing Da Bao’s crestfallen expression, Lin He didn't speak much more, merely asking him, "Big Brother, are there any shops in this town that sell these kinds of cloth dolls? Ones that are very large, with a good reputation?"

Da Bao nodded. "Yes, I can take you there."

This town was called Tianxin Town, more than twice the size of Lin He's home, Huayu Town. There were considerably more wealthy people here, naturally more inclined to spend money on such novelties. Lin He followed Da Bao to a storefront. The plaque above the entrance read, "Cai Die Xuan." The shop was vast, and business inside was brisk.

Lin He wandered through the shop. The shop assistant, seeing three small, ragged children, did not show disdain but greeted them warmly, asking what they wished to purchase. Lin He was reasonably satisfied with the establishment and said, "I need to see your proprietor. I have something to sell him."

The assistant was observant, though he treated it as a childish fancy. "What is it you wish to sell? May I take a look?"

Lin He countered, "Can you make the decision, or can you offer a price? If so, I will show it to you."

The assistant’s face flushed with embarrassment, unsure how to respond. After a pause, he said, "The proprietor is momentarily absent. Could you wait a short while? I will fetch him."

Lin He nodded. The assistant asked another worker to attend to them while he went to find the proprietor.

The assistant secretly hoped the children truly had something worth selling, lest he face the proprietor’s anger upon his return. He noted that Lin He seemed quite decisive; her demeanor carried an air different from that of ordinary young girls.

Moments later, the assistant returned, followed by a man around thirty years old. The man was tall, with a slight paunch, dressed in a deep purple robe overlaid with a dark blue, short-sleeved outer vest. He wore deerskin boots. His face held the shrewdness of a businessman, yet he possessed a surprisingly pleasant demeanor.

The proprietor raised an eyebrow upon seeing the three children and asked with a smile, "I am the manager of Cai Die Xuan. My surname is Wen, given name Shijie. How may I be of service?"

Lin He withdrew her gaze and nodded. "Greetings, Boss Wen." Wen Shijie noticed the young girl and curved his lips upward; this girl was certainly interesting.

Lin He continued, "I have an item I wish to sell to your esteemed shop—something, I guarantee, you have never heard of or seen before. Could we perhaps discuss this in a more private setting?"

Wen Shijie led them to a side room in the rear courtyard and asked, "What is it?" He was quite surprised that such an unassuming young girl dared to make such a bold claim. Naturally, he was intensely curious about the object. Lin He took the bundle from San Ya and produced several small bears, handing them to Wen Shijie.

Wen Shijie took the bears, his eyes lighting up. The three bears in his hands, though made of simple coarse cloth and not perfectly stitched, were vivid and captivating. The bears seemed to be part of a set, each with a different posture—one sitting, one standing, and another playfully winking. Furthermore, the fabric used for each bear featured different colors skillfully blended, achieving a perfect effect.

Wen Shijie smiled. "These little bears are quite interesting. How does the young lady intend to sell them?"

Lin He replied, "These are just samples. I can produce many more cloth dolls like these, guaranteed to be unlike anything you usually see. If you are interested, we can establish a long-term partnership. I will only provide you with samples—one of each color and style—and nothing more. For each sample you agree to take, I will charge fifty taels."

Behind her, Da Bao’s jaw dropped. For such a ragged toy, his sister was demanding fifty taels—wasn't she extorting them? However, Lin He had warned him not to speak without permission before entering the shop. Da Bao opened his mouth but ultimately remained silent. San Ya, being too young, was left outside with the shop assistant. Wen Shijie knew that while fifty taels per doll was a high price, the business potential was boundless. If the girl weren't constrained by a lack of capital, she wouldn't offer him such a deal; selling them herself would yield far greater profit.

Wen Shijie tested the waters. "Isn't fifty taels a little too high a price?"

Lin He simply looked at him and said nothing more. "If Boss Wen feels it's not worthwhile, we can take our business elsewhere." Lin He made a move as if to rise and leave.

Wen Shijie quickly stopped her, laughing. This young girl, despite her age, was formidable. "Miss, let’s discuss this calmly."

Lin He stated, "Boss Wen, you see this doll; you must know its value is far more than fifty taels. If managed well, achieving five thousand, or even fifty thousand taels, is entirely possible."

Boss Wen frowned briefly, then quickly smoothed his features. "I can agree to this price, but you must guarantee exclusive supply to my shop, and you cannot sell to anyone else."