Step by step, a gentle breeze leads to a smooth path

Chapter 109 Back Scratching

"What's wrong? Who got into trouble? Are you going to call someone a 'dad' again? Tell me!" Song Wanli glanced at Ting Nan. Everyone said this girl was steady and reliable, so why was she getting more and more boisterous in front of him?

Ting Nan took out the paper hidden behind her back and handed it to Song Wanli: "Uncle, look at this picture. This is called a back scratcher. I've seen some elderly people outside whose backs itch, but they can't reach the scratcher with their hands. They can only rub it against the door frame, and sometimes they even rub it until their skin breaks, but the itch still doesn't stop. Asking others for help is troublesome, and it's embarrassing if they're not close to them. Also, they can't find the right spot to scratch."

Song Wanli carefully examined the blueprints. This small object had a tiny claw-like handle, curved like a child's finger, connected by a long stick, presumably to replace an arm. Song Wanli looked at the blueprints and imagined what it might be; it seemed to make sense.

"You saw someone using it outside?" Song Wanli asked.

"By the way, the other day I was on the train and I saw an old man using one by the roadside. If the train hadn't stopped at the station and I hadn't been unable to get off, I definitely would have gone to buy one for you."

"Hmph, what's there to buy? It's not like I can't cook!"

"That's right, my uncle would definitely be able to do it after just one look!"

"Hmph! Would anyone even buy this?"

“Uncle, this thing is really convenient, but most of the users are probably people over fifty. Not many people will buy it, but it's enough for us to make a profit,” Ting Nan analyzed.

“You’re right. This thing is indeed novel and convenient, but we bamboo craftsmen who have made bamboo rakes before can all make them after seeing them. So I have to rush to make more at once. You should run around more and try to get the goods on the market as much as possible, so that others don’t just copy it.” Song Wanli was also good at seizing business opportunities.

“Okay, Uncle, let’s do this this summer. Also, Uncle, I was thinking, could you please divide it into two levels?”

"Two grades? How are they differentiated? By length? By thickness?"

“No, Uncle, we’ll make them all the same length and thickness, they all have to be suitable for use. I was thinking of engraving some simple patterns on the handles, like auspicious clouds or orchids... to make them look more elegant and refined,” Ting Nan explained.

"Hmm! That's true!" Song Wanli glanced at Ting Nan again and said that the whole family's brains were all in this girl's head.

"Uncle, could you name a price?"

"Hmm, let me think... the regular ones are 50 cents each, and the patterned ones are 1 dollar?"

“Uncle, didn’t you say that prices have gone up? These back scratchers are new items, and most of them are bought by old men with some spare money, or by children as gifts for their elders to show their filial piety. Besides, one can be used for a very long time. Since it’s a one-time purchase, I think the price can be raised a bit, so that all the work you did for me wouldn’t be in vain.”

"Okay, you know the market price, so you set the price."

"The regular ones are nine mao, and the ones with patterns are one yuan and fifty cents."

"Nine cents? You might as well just give me a dollar, it's hard to get change anyway."

“Uncle, you don’t understand, do you? The implications of this number are amazing! Nine cents, nine cents, buy an itching scratcher, no need to ask anyone for help anymore, less than a dollar, so cheap! Come and buy it!” Ting Nan shouted.

Song Wanli looked at Tingnan, a smile playing on his lips. This kid is clever. "Alright, that makes sense. I'll listen to you. Go and call your two aunts over to help. You go and study."

"Alright, Uncle, keep it up!" Now that Nan Xian's plan is complete, it's up to Song Wanli.