After eating a roasted sweet potato with some fruit and drinking some hot water, Qin Nian finally felt some solid nourishment in her stomach, and her spirits lifted. Seizing the moment of improved energy, she immediately resumed her work.
Meanwhile, Aunt Wang’s son arrived, visibly excited as he expressed his gratitude to Yang Yufen.
"If it weren’t for your help, Auntie, I would’ve given up on growing these honey sweet potatoes next year."
Aunt Wang’s son had genuinely considered abandoning the crop—when the produce wasn’t accepted by the people, it lost its value and would naturally fade away.
"It’s because the honey sweet potatoes you grew are so good that everyone loves them. Those who’ve tasted them can’t forget the flavor. Next year, even more people will come to appreciate them."
Yang Yufen didn’t feel she had done anything extraordinary. Besides, while she sold these sweet potatoes to others for 0.13 yuan per pound, Nephew Wang only charged her 0.06 yuan per pound. In the end, she was the one profiting.
Out of the 15,000 pounds of sweet potatoes, after deducting what she sold and kept for herself, the remaining 13,000 pounds were sold—10,000 pounds at 0.13 yuan and 3,000 pounds at 0.15 yuan. Just from the raw sweet potatoes alone, she earned 850 yuan.
The roasted sweet potatoes brought even higher profits, but after accounting for the costs of the gasoline barrel and charcoal, she still managed to make over 1,000 yuan in just seven days.
She had entrusted Gui Xiang to tend her land, ensuring the annual harvest provided enough grain for their needs. She grew her own vegetables and raised her own chickens, so her yearly expenses were minimal.
The earnings from these seven days surpassed what she had made in the two years since land was allocated to households. Her confidence soared.
No wonder so many people were drawn to small-scale trading.
Nephew Wang wasn’t envious of Yang Yufen’s profits. All he cared about was that his research project could continue. Now, he wouldn’t have to worry about others sidelining him. In fact, he resolved to go straight to the dean to request more land—no one would snatch it from him!
Yang Yufen had assumed Little Zhang and his companion wouldn’t return until the next day, but shortly after she brought her daughter-in-law a meal, the security guard informed her that visitors had come looking for her.
Wang Dazhi and Little Zhang ran into each other again at the entrance of the residential compound, staring each other down.
"What are you doing here instead of selling sweet potatoes?"
"Old Wang, if you’re asking me, then what are you doing here?"
"You’re not trying to sneak in and snatch the sweet potatoes before me, are you?"
"Same to you."
The popularity of the roasted sweet potatoes exceeded their expectations. Thanks to Yang Yufen’s groundwork, all they had to do was shout, and curious onlookers flocked to them. Hearing the same affordable price, people eagerly bought some to try—after all, there was nothing to lose.
They couldn’t roast them fast enough. Some customers, unwilling to wait, even bought raw sweet potatoes to roast at home.
Wang Dazhi sold them for 0.18 yuan, and even the raw ones were snatched up. It was unbelievable.
If not for his restraint and long-term thinking, he could’ve sold out all the raw stock right then.
When Yang Yufen heard they’d come for more sweet potatoes, she called Nephew Wang over to save them the trouble of transporting the goods. The two buyers followed Nephew Wang directly to collect their stock.
Of course, Yang Yufen made sure to collect payment first.
Upon learning that the honey sweet potatoes were developed by the Agricultural Academy, Wang Dazhi was stunned. No wonder—ordinary folks like them would never have access to such specialized produce.
Any thoughts of haggling over the price vanished instantly.
Nephew Wang, suddenly sharp-witted, added,
"This is all we have left, and it probably won’t be enough for your sales. But our academy has other varieties of sweet potatoes, each with excellent taste and texture. You could sell them together—though the pricing is up to you to negotiate."
He wanted to secure funding for his colleagues too. Otherwise, when others tried to undermine him later, he’d have no allies—and borrowing help for weeding would be impossible.
"R-Really? That’s fantastic!"
The two men hadn’t expected such a windfall.
Professor Wang (Nephew Wang) gathered a few close colleagues to discuss the matter, including the pricing.
"Tsk, it just goes to show the power of the masses. Selling roasted sweet potatoes can solve such a big problem—next year’s funding won’t be so tight."
When they sold their produce themselves, the prices were pitifully low, and they often had to subsidize the research. Though they bore the respectable title of "professor," their pockets were always empty.
Since the pricing was agreed upon collectively, the negotiations went smoothly. Wang Dazhi and Little Zhang were satisfied, and so were the professors.
"Hey, kid, let’s divide up the territory."
Wang Dazhi, with his greater experience, pulled Little Zhang aside after leaving the academy.
"Old Wang, I was just thinking the same thing."
With just the two of them, they’d never sell all the roasted sweet potatoes in time to meet demand. But they could replicate how they’d started—by expanding their network.
Yang Yufen knew nothing of this. Her mind was occupied with cooking—she didn’t know many dishes, and pregnant women’s cravings were notoriously hard to satisfy.
Of course, in the countryside, people made do, but her daughter-in-law was different. She couldn’t bear to let her endure hardship, insisting she "tough it out."
So Yang Yufen began asking around the neighborhood.
Her previous confrontation with Yi Mengling had made her infamous. The moment she stepped into the residential compound, the women tensed up.
"Has anyone been spreading rumors about Researcher Qin lately?"
"No, no! It’s just that Qin’s husband has gone missing, and people fear the worst—"
"Ah! Shut your mouth!"
Yang Yufen went straight to the group of women gathered around the water tap.
"You’re all busy, but I’d like to ask you something."
"Y-Yang Auntie, of course! Whatever we know, we’ll tell you."
Sister-in-law Wang, caught in her path, trembled. The last time she’d witnessed Yang Yufen in action, the sound of slaps had echoed in her ears. She didn’t dare move.
"It’s nothing major. I just want to know what you ate when you had bad morning sickness during pregnancy. I’d like to prepare something for my daughter-in-law. I won’t take it for free—I’ll exchange eggs for it."
Since her daughter-in-law couldn’t stomach eggs right now, she might as well save them for later.
Sister-in-law Wang was stunned at first, then tempted, and finally envious.
But none of the women were malicious. Knowing this might be Yang Yufen’s only grandchild, they eagerly shared their experiences. Some even ran home to fetch remedies, refusing the eggs Yang Yfen tried to give them.
At heart, they were all women. While they admired such a devoted mother-in-law, they also pitied her—widowed young, and now her son missing.
In the end, Yang Yufen didn’t give away a single egg but returned with a basket full of food and countless tips for easing morning sickness. After thanking everyone, she headed home.
She didn’t have much else to offer, and it was unwise to flaunt wealth—but sweet potatoes were another matter. Though she’d lent out her oven, she’d rigged up a stove where she could roast them just as well.
The next day, Yang Yufen distributed roasted sweet potatoes to the compound.
Not much—just enough for everyone to have a taste. No one minded sharing a single sweet potato.
And just like that, Yang Yufen’s reputation in the residential compound grew even brighter.
