Chapter 6 Discovering Business Opportunities

  "After a few simple sentences, Zhi Xiao asked out of curiosity: "Why do we still have to pay when entering the city?""

  The little beggar had a stifled smile on his face, "You didn't pay the entrance fee when you came into the city, did you?" He paused for a moment, seeing that Zhi Xiao looked somewhat embarrassed, he became even more spirited, "You really didn't pay the money, then how did you sneak in!" After finishing speaking, his two eyes shone with a brightness like a million lanterns, and he leaned in to look at her, seemingly very interested in knowing.

  She could only lower her head, feeling a little embarrassed, which she hadn't felt earlier. She herself was the clearest about how she had entered the city, and it would be hard for her to explain it to him.

  Knowing hehe silly smile, ready to muddle through.

  "I know a way to get into the city for free. Do you want to know?" The little beggar looked at her with a pleased expression, not bothering to ask how she had snuck into the city.

  "Really? What can I do, I don't have any money on me now!" Zhi Xiao emphasized that she had come in today, and if she were to come in again tomorrow, it would really be a bit of a waste, so she should spend the little money she had on hand.

  "I'm not cheating you, it won't cost you any money, but you have to promise that from now on, whenever we meet, you'll let me be your boss. How about it?" The little beggar asked with a sly tone, his two shining eyes staring straight at her without blinking.

  "Big Brother?" Zhi Xiao's mouth twitched slightly, what was he trying to do? Was he trying to pull me into the Beggar Gang? Or was it a request from the gang to join this ancient black society? He didn't seem like a bad seed either? Although his two eyes sparkled too brightly.

  Knowing but unwilling to answer immediately, staring at him.

  "Hey, don't worry, I'm not a bad guy." The little beggar patted his chest with sincerity, blinked his eyes and said with a hint of mystery.

  Zhixiao thought to herself: You may not look like it, but who would say they're a bad person? Zhixiao pursed her lips and didn't speak. She had only been in this godforsaken place for one day, all alone by herself, so she'd better be careful, or else she might end up selling herself out without realizing it.

  "Hey, you're being too cautious, forget it. But next time you see me, you'd better call me Big Brother, haha...". The little beggar seemed to have thought of something funny and couldn't stop laughing with a twitching belly.

  She raised an eyebrow, looking at the little beggar, he seemed to have some purpose, she couldn't be deceived, was this little kid mixed up with some gang?

  Just about to think of an excuse to slip away, secretly thinking about how to escape, sneaking a peek around, hoping not to be stared at by anyone.

  The little beggar, who had been laughing enough, rubbed his face twice and became serious. "There is a small hole next to the willow tree on the east side of the city gate in the north of the city, you can come in from there. Remember?" The little beggar raised his hand as if he still wanted to touch her head, but was blocked by her cautious sidestep, and had to put it back again, turning around in mid-air before returning to its original position.

  Wei had some reservations, seeing him waiting for his answer, slightly nodded and didn't make a sound.

  The little beggar ran away quickly, shrinking his head and covering his mouth, disappearing from sight in an instant.

  A moment of speechlessness, with a feeling of breaking out in cold sweat.

  He looked around again and was sure no one was watching before he finally put his mind at ease.

  As I got up and prepared to leave, a well-dressed, round-faced man with a good fortune came to the door of the store opposite, seemingly familiar with the shopkeeper, shouting in a loud voice:

  "Boss Wang, quickly tell me all the specialty dishes in your store, I'll take care of business for you, haha." This was a loud and clear voice, with an extremely loud tone, ringing out in front of everyone.

  "Ah, Mr. Liu, please come in quickly." The shopkeeper was obviously standing at the door to welcome customers.

  "Our store's signature dishes include clear stewed beef, braised pork trotters, stir-fried duck necks, steamed perch, and pepper salt shrimp. These are the most popular dishes in our store, what would you like to try?" A man wearing a red embroidered robe with dark patterns enthusiastically greeted him and rattled off many menu items.

  The shopkeeper was apparently a bit too enthusiastic, knowing that he quietly approached, sneaked a peek inside the store, stroked his chin, nodded straight, and thought to himself, no wonder, there were hardly any customers in the store, now is meal time, it can be seen that this store's business is really not good. It seems that thinking about working here is not possible, so I should give up on this idea early.

  After settling the bill, he suddenly remembered that this person was a regular customer of their store. What else could he ask? The shopkeeper muttered to himself, "Is there something in our own store that he doesn't know about?" Isn't this unnecessary?

  The slightly chubby Liu Yiwai looked worried, rubbing his chin and furrowing his brow: "These dishes are delicious, but look at my mouth." He tilted his head and pointed to a red swelling on the corner of his mouth with a pained expression. "I've got a fire in my mouth, can't eat these anymore, bring some fresh vegetables instead."

  "Oh dear, my brother-in-law, aren't you making things difficult for me? We do have vegetables, but they're all stored in the cellar from last year. You know as well as I do that we'll have to wait another month or two before we can eat them."

  "Why wait for another one or two months, isn't it available now?"

  A clear and crisp voice came from behind Wang's head, Liu saw that it was the little girl who had just come up to him earlier, curiously looking at the festering wound on his mouth.

  The restaurant owner was about to respond when he noticed that the voice didn't sound right, and it still came from beside and below Liu Yuanwai, who also had a sly smile on his face as if waiting for him to answer.

  It was this little girl who spoke, and suddenly became somewhat unhappy, but seeing Liu's playful and teasing expression, he was waiting for him to answer. Based on the business principle that customers are gods of wealth, he still replied:

  "Little girl, you're still young and probably don't know, in the past we never grew vegetables in the fields during winter. The vegetables we ate in winter were all stored in the cellar from autumn. I've heard that some places have them, but those are grown near hot springs, and only rich people can enjoy them. Our place is poor and remote, and I've never heard of any nearby hot springs growing vegetables."

  Liu Yuanwai was also nodding his head on the side, smiling and looking at this little girl who suddenly appeared, apparently he also agreed with the shopkeeper's words.

  But Wang Zhuang was standing behind him and secretly rolled his eyes, thinking, "You know it, yet you still ask."

  Zhixiao suddenly remembered the wild vegetables she ate yesterday, so she went up to ask them, but they didn't know what she was saying. Zhixiao guessed that the people here hadn't eaten wild vegetables before, or maybe they just didn't know about it.

  "What I have, do you want it, boss?" Zhi Xiao asked directly, her two big eyes shining as she looked at Wang Zhuang.

  "Don't talk nonsense, what are you stirring up? One side goes, one side goes." Wang Zhuanggui was somewhat angry, a troublesome Liu Yuanwai came, and another little girl came, his head was really big now. The business in the store is not good, but don't come to make trouble, hinting at the small second to quickly drive this girl away.

  This girl is talking nonsense, it's not too early to get rid of her, but thinking about it, I know this isn't possible, which family's daughter likes to talk big like that. Looking inside the shop, business is indeed very slow.

  "Honestly, I ate it just yesterday! Don't drive me away." Zhi Xiao waved off the shop assistant's hand that was reaching out to him, and seeing that the boss didn't believe him, he became somewhat anxious.

  "If you want, I can let you try it for free first, but the quantity might not be much." Zhi Xiao said with certainty, looking at the shopkeeper with a sincere face. In her heart, she was secretly pleading. This is a good opportunity, she couldn't miss it.

  Wang stood by silently, he didn't believe that this girl could bring out any fresh vegetables. If she really had some, his shop's business would definitely boom, but in all the years he'd been running the shop, he'd never heard of anyone around here having a hot spring, so how could they eat fresh vegetables in the middle of winter? But the girl spoke as if it were true, leaving him bewildered.

  But Liu, who was standing next to Wang, became interested and walked over with a sly look on his face: "That sounds great, Wang. I'll come by tomorrow, you must save some for me, this freshness is something I'd love to taste too."

  Wang the shopkeeper wouldn't have believed it, but the employee on the side was also urging him to agree. The girl had spoken so confidently and it was free, so there was no need to hesitate. He nodded his head, thinking he would deal with it when she brought it tomorrow.

  But Wang couldn't believe the girl's words, and tomorrow he would wait for her to come. He wanted to see if she would show up or not. He reckoned that her lies would be exposed tomorrow. He didn't mind waiting another day either, so that Liu, who loved to meddle in other people's business, could put his mind at ease early on.

  Knowing that the shopkeeper nodded, he was overjoyed in his heart and repeatedly promised that tomorrow would definitely be there, and would definitely bring it.

  ……

  Knowing that she can rush back and forth, her mood is much more relaxed than when she first entered the city. At least for the time being, she should be able to live without worrying about making a living.

  Didn't see the little soldier who just collected the toll from her at the city gate, felt slightly relieved and in a better mood.

  He walked in the direction of the little beggar girl and the willow tree, and unexpectedly found a small hole in the grass, very small, tried it out, barely able to crawl in, this time he could finally put his mind at ease, tomorrow he would be able to save five cents, and could eat five more buns. He was delighted in his heart. This bargain was probably going to be hers temporarily, otherwise with her current situation, spending those five copper coins would have been very painful for her.

  Knowing the mood is great, tiptoeing along the way back home