The 5%

Mary's business quickly grew, she went from selling trash alone on the main street to employing all of the homeless kids and ruffians of the back alleys to collect said trash for her and wash it. One copper coin dragged another and after a year she had finally managed to open a half-decent stall selling refurbished goods.

The woman who first bought from her soon returned a few months later, finding that Mary's condition had gotten far better. She at least now has a carpet on which she puts her goods and a decent roof above her head that's made of old rugs and sticks.

"Welcome, it's been a while." Mary looked at her with a large smile.

"A while indeed." The woman replied, pulling a necklace from her pocket, "But…I didn't come to sell or buy from you this time. But to give you this." She threw the necklace to her.