North Family Letters

A secret recipe turned into nothing (Return to Guangzhou)

After three months of peaceful life back home, Qiuju's adventurous spirit never faded.

She knew that the small stall at the village entrance could only make a living; the real source of goods and the real opportunities were still in Guangzhou—the place where she first left home and learned to do business for the first time. The snow and wind of Northeast China, the market in Shenyang, and the stalls in Harbin could not compare to the bustling energy and abundance of goods in Guangzhou.

Second sister Xiahe understood this clearly and only instructed her: "We don't covet quick money, we don't touch secret recipes, we don't fall into traps, we only do business that we can see and touch."

Qiuju nodded vigorously: "Sister, I've got it."

Once again boarding the train heading south, Qiu Ju had shed her youthful naiveté and gained composure and maturity. She was no longer the young girl whose heart would race at the mere mention of "guaranteed profits," but rather, she returned to where her dreams began, carrying lessons learned and a newfound perspective.

Stepping into the streets and alleys of Guangzhou, the familiar hustle and bustle hits you right in the face.

The loudspeakers at the clothing stalls, the shouts at the wholesale market, the jingling of tricycles—everything is the same as before, yet different.

Qiuju didn't rush to rearrange the clothes and watch.

She walked along the familiar route from the thirteenth alley to the wholesale street of daily necessities at the end of the alley, looking around, taking notes, and pondering as she went.

Clothes and watches had long been oversaturated, with competitors scrambling to drive prices down to rock bottom, profits as thin as paper, and frequent raids, robberies, and delayed payments. Standing in the crowded clothing market, she gently shook her head—this path was no longer viable.

She stopped abruptly as she turned into an alleyway lined with wholesale shops selling daily necessities, cleaning supplies, and small general merchandise. Three months of peaceful life back home had passed, but Qiu Ju's adventurous spirit had never truly died out.

She knew that the small stall at the village entrance could only make a living; the real source of goods and the real opportunities were still in Guangzhou—the place where she first left home and learned to do business for the first time. The snow and wind of Northeast China, the market in Shenyang, and the stalls in Harbin could not compare to the bustling energy and abundance of goods in Guangzhou.

Second sister Xiahe understood this clearly and only instructed her: "We don't covet quick money, we don't touch secret recipes, we don't fall into traps, we only do business that we can see and touch."

Qiuju nodded vigorously: "Sister, I've got it."

Once again boarding the train heading south, Qiu Ju had shed her youthful naiveté and gained composure and maturity. She was no longer the young girl whose heart would race at the mere mention of "guaranteed profits," but rather, she returned to where her dreams began, carrying lessons learned and a newfound perspective.

Stepping into the streets and alleys of Guangzhou, the familiar hustle and bustle hits you right in the face.

The loudspeakers at the clothing stalls, the shouts at the wholesale market, the jingling of tricycles—everything is the same as before, yet different.

Qiuju didn't rush to rearrange the clothes and watch.

She walked along the familiar route from the thirteenth alley to the wholesale street of daily necessities at the end of the alley, looking around, taking notes, and pondering as she went.

Clothes and watches had long been oversaturated, with competitors scrambling to drive prices down to rock bottom, profits as thin as paper, and frequent raids, robberies, and delayed payments. Standing in the crowded clothing market, she gently shook her head—this path was no longer viable.

She stopped abruptly as she turned into an alleyway filled with daily chemical products, cleaning supplies, and small general merchandise wholesalers.

The air was filled with a faint scent of soap and fragrance. Each stall was piled high with laundry detergent, dish soap, bar soap, and scouring powder, neatly stacked in boxes and bags. People came and went, inquiring about prices, buying goods, and checking inventory. Unlike the noisy and bustling clothing market, it had a genuine, down-to-earth atmosphere.

Qiuju walked slowly down the alley, her ears perked up.

"Boss, pack me another fifty cases of that super-strong degreasing dish soap!"

How much is this bulk laundry detergent? Can I get a discount if I buy in bulk?

"Give me some new packaging for the stain remover powder; the small packets sell better!"

The more she listened, the clearer her mind became.

Every household needs to wash and clean, and restaurants, canteens, small workshops, and street shops all rely on these items. They are necessities, sold in large quantities, and are not seasonal, unlike fashionable clothes which easily go out of style and become unsaleable. More importantly, they are all practical daily necessities, cash on delivery, without any of those fancy gimmicks.

She stopped in front of an old stall that had been open for seven or eight years. The owner was a middle-aged man from Guangdong. He didn't talk much, but he was quick and efficient. He offered reasonable prices, and repeat customers could tell at a glance.

"Boss, I'd like to ask first, what's the minimum order quantity for these dish soaps and laundry detergents in small quantities?"

The man glanced at her, noticing her simple attire but steady gaze, suggesting she wasn't a novice just browsing. He put down his calculator: "Individual customers need at least one box. For long-term cooperation, mixed orders are also possible. Is this your first time?"

Qiu Ju nodded frankly: "Yes, but I'm not doing this blindly. I've worked in markets in the north before, so I know how to sell. I just want to take it easy first and not be greedy."

"It's best to take it easy," the boss said, unusually. "This business is about hard-earned money, a steady stream of income, unlike other businesses that promise overnight riches. Its strength lies in longevity."

These words struck a chord with Qiuju.

The first time she stumbled was because she was deluded by the dream of "getting rich overnight." That rosy recipe and those extravagant promises almost ruined her completely. Now, she just wants to stay grounded, earn her living through her own hard work, sleep soundly, and walk peacefully.

She didn't place an order on the spot, but instead asked for a price list and noted down the prices of several reliable stalls in the alley, comparing quality and calculating costs. She spent her days in the market observing the ins and outs, and her evenings renting a cheap little room to meticulously calculate profits: how much to buy a case of dish soap, how much to wholesale, how much to earn retail; the price difference between bulk and packaged laundry detergent, the risks of high volume versus warehousing…

In the stillness of the night, my second sister's words would always echo in my ears:

"I don't seek quick profits, I don't touch secret formulas, I don't fall into traps, I only do business that is tangible and visible."

Qiuju's grip on the pen tightened slightly.

The lights of Guangzhou shone through the small window; they weren't bright, but they were warm and comforting.

This time, she had no shortcuts to take, nor did she want to look for any more.

The false joy brought by the secret recipe has long since dissipated, but the wisdom she gained from the fall and the calmness she developed are what truly belong to her.

The next morning, Qiuju, carrying the money she had saved, went back to the old stall.

"Boss, I'd like to buy a mixed batch first, a few boxes each of dish soap, laundry detergent, and scouring powder."

The shop owner smiled, turned around and started preparing the goods: "Good. Honest goods and honest people are the keys to a long-lasting business."

As Qiuju watched the heavy boxes of daily necessities being loaded onto the small cart, her heart also felt heavy—it wasn't a vague dream of getting rich, but a life within reach, a path forward taken step by step.

The wind blowing through the alley carries the scent of everyday life.

Returning to Guangzhou, Qiu Ju abandoned her fantasy of getting rich overnight, but regained the most precious sense of security.

That empty dream sparked by the "secret recipe" has long since ended, and her solid business is just beginning.