A man who can cook well? Shen Junao, Tang Ziyu and Zhang Xixi didn't have much hope. They said so on their lips, but they were all very kind-hearted in their hearts. After all, Jia Simiao was the landlord, which was an indisputable fact. While Jia Simiao went to cook, the three of them also cleaned up the wing room. In fact, there was nothing to clean up. Before Xiao Ya left, she lived in the wing room.

They just changed the bedding and laid a clean mat on the bed.

When they walked out of the room, they smelled the aroma of food coming from the kitchen. It was like a fish hook thrown into their mouths that hooked out all their cravings for food. This...this is what Jia Simiao cooked? They doubted whether they had smelled it wrong and walked over to check.

In the kitchen, Jia Simiao was chopping cooked pork with a clatter sound while oil sizzled in his pot. He threw ginger and garlic into it twice before adding diced meat pieces into it for stir-frying until slightly browned before adding soy sauce for further frying.

He added sugar, vinegar and salt as well as fried quail eggs...

The three of them were stunned; Zhang Xixi swallowed her saliva and asked: "Ziyu, didn't you say that Jia Simiao is a doctor? Why does he look like a chef?"

"I don't know," Tang Ziyu replied casually,"but his medical skills are really amazing! That old man's heart stopped beating completely but he managed to save him."

Suddenly,Jia Simiao turned around and asked:"Do you guys eat spicy food?"

"It's okay," Zhang Xixi answered loudly."We're not picky eaters."

"Okay then."

Jia Simiao continued stir-frying chili peppers until they turned red before finally pouring the braised pork into a plate. Then he immediately washed and cleaned his pot, stir-fried wood ear fungus and bok choy. The lotus root and pork soup on another stove was also ready to serve after being sprinkled with chopped green onions.

It was too hot inside so they all sat at the stone table under the grapevine arbor.

Jia Simiao smiled:"I'm not very good at cooking. I just made some simple dishes. I don't know what your taste is like, but you can try it."

If he wasn't good at cooking, how could he make such delicious food?

The three of them stared at him for a moment before sitting on the stone bench and eagerly picking up pieces of meat to eat. It was fatty but not greasy, sour, sweet and spicy with great texture when chewed. After swallowing it down while still hot, they forgot to talk to Jia Simiao as they ate persimmons and vegetables.

Still, Shen Junao reached out and knocked them both on the head, laughing: "Alright, look at you two with such little ambition. Jia Simiao is our...new tenant. Didn't we say we would welcome him? Xixi, go get a few bottles of chilled beer for us to drink."

"Okay." Zhang Xixi ran back to the room and quickly brought several bottles of beer.

At first, they were all a bit reserved because Tang Ziyu had known Jia Simiao for a little longer. After a few drinks, their faces turned red and under the setting sun's glow they looked more beautiful than flowers blooming in a lotus pond. They became more comfortable with each other and started talking freely.

Jia Simiao then learned that Shen Junao worked as a criminal detective at the North City Public Security Bureau while Zhang Xixi studied marketing and had just graduated with plans to start her own business. Tang Ziyu was studying traditional Chinese medicine at South Jiang Medical University but since there were very few people who studied it she privately took an exam for nursing certification instead. She planned on becoming a nurse after graduation like Florence Nightingale - saving lives and helping others.

Shen Junao asked: "Jia Simiao, Xiaoya told us about you before; you used to live in Lingnan city right? Why did you suddenly want to go to America? And now why have you come back penniless?"

If this was in the past Jia Simiao would have been excited but having gone through so much he has become indifferent towards many things now so he smiled: "Which man doesn't have secrets? If I ask if you have a boyfriend will you tell me?"

Tang Ziyu and Zhang Xixi exchanged glances urging him not to continue when he saw Shen Junao's expression darken slightly making him regret his words. It seemed like there was a story behind this. He quickly picked up his glass and said: "Come, let's drink to us being able to keep the Jia family's old house from being demolished."

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This had to be toasted.

The group raised their glasses and drank the wine in one gulp. Jia Simiao quickly changed the subject, telling them some interesting medical stories and sharing his experiences abroad with them while Tang Ziyu and Zhang Xixi made jokes on the side making for a lively atmosphere. After dinner, they rested for a while before Zhang Xixi shouted at Jia Simiao asking him to help her practice selling things.

It was just two big bags so Jia Simiao asked: "What's inside these?"

Zhang Xixi mysteriously replied: "Why are you in such a hurry? Wait until we get there then you'll know.

Shen Junao was at home organizing her work plan report. Tang Ziyu was considered light, as before, she used to help Zhang Xixi practice selling goods every day. Then, Zhang Xixi would set up a stall at the school gate while she went to study in the evening. When she finished class, they would come back together.

Now everything was settled; both big bags were handed over to Jia Simiao. He held one in his hand and carried the other on his shoulder, following behind Tang Ziyu and Zhang Xixi. Zhang Xixi was happy that there was someone who could help carry things and cook delicious food for them. If any small gangsters or ruffians came to harass them because of her beauty, this guy could also resist them.

Zhang Xixi jumped around happily and said proudly: "Others have sharp brothers but I have a labor brother..."

Tang Ziyu didn't forget to strike back: "Xixi, you're just beautiful now? Haven't you sold anything for several days?"

"Do you know what you're talking about?" Zhang Xixi replied loudly: "They don't recognize good stuff! Once I put my items out today, I'll definitely make a lot of money."

"Okay," Tang Ziyu shrugged: "As long as you don't go back slamming doors and complain with us."

"When I earn big money," said Zhang Xixi confidently: "I will let my sister know that I can live freely by myself even without relying on anyone else."

The weather in Nanjiang City is very hot; people are accustomed to night life here. At night time when everyone comes out shopping together as a family; it's common sight here in Nanjiang city where there are several universities nearby making student's money easy targets for vendors like Zhang XiXi.

When Jia Simiao followed Tang Ziyu and Zhang Xixi to the entrance of Nanjiang Medical University, there were many people selling goods on both sides of the street. Some even pushed carts to sell various snacks such as Shandong pancakes, Northeast dumplings, Xiaolongbao, grilled skewers and even stinky tofu. A few girls were eating with relish nearby.

This is the night life of college students; it's really colorful.

Zhang Xixi's location was under a street lamp on the sidewalk behind a flower bed. Behind the flower bed are several shops that sell clothing, restaurants, typing and copying stores etc., all doing good business. It was only during idle chat that Jia Simiao learned that having her own shop was Zhang Xixi's goal in life.

Jia Simiao smiled: "I believe you will soon be able to have your own store."

Zhang Xixi giggled: "I'm just an honest person who likes to speak my mind; I'll take your words as good luck.

Tang Ziyu smiled bitterly in her heart. She hadn't even opened her stall for several days, yet she was still thinking about opening a storefront? How much investment would it take and how much time would she have to spend? Sigh, at least this time she didn't have to torture herself, but poor Jia Simiao. Tang Ziyu looked at Jia Simiao with sympathy on her face as she helped Zhang Xixi set up the stall before throwing her backpack over her shoulder and hurrying off to school.

Jia Simiao finally realized what was inside Zhang Xixi's two big bags - all kinds of small accessories such as bracelets, hairpins, phone pendants, phone screen protectors and so on. There were quite a lot of things piled up into two large piles.

Zhang Xixi sat down triumphantly on the flower bed and said: "Jia Simiao, how are these things? They're not bad right?"

Jia Simiao couldn't help but laugh or cry. Whether it was doing big business or small trades, if you want to make money you must find a unique way and avoid following the crowd. Selling these small accessories at the school gate could make some money theoretically speaking; however there were too many people selling similar items around them. He looked around and saw several other vendors selling similar products.

The psychology of consumers who buy from street vendors is that they are looking for cheap prices. Therefore, street vendor goods are generally not priced very high. Even though Zhang Xixi had priced her products starting from ten yuan (around $1), most of them were priced around twenty or thirty yuan (around $3-5). To sell those items at those prices wouldn't be worth it for consumers when they could just go to a boutique store instead.

The so-called boutique stores, are just the same goods with a different brand and fancy packaging, which increases the price. This is normal as they have to pay for rent, taxes and other expenses, resulting in higher costs and naturally higher prices.

Jia Simiao asked: "What's the cost of these small accessories?"

Zhang Xixi was cautious: "Why do you ask? I am the boss and you work for me. How can I tell you everything?"

Jia Simiao almost laughed out loud. It's just us two here, what boss or employee? He smiled and said: "We are all on the same team. Can I really steal your business? If I did that, Jun Ao and Tang Ziyu would be the first ones to kick me out."

"Well that makes sense," Zhang Xixi looked around before lowering her voice as much as possible. She proudly said: "Let me tell you something. These small accessories were all bought by me at Nanjiang Market - our city's freight transportation hub for wholesale distribution center. Hey! You've lived in Nanjiang City too so you should know it well! The most expensive one only cost five yuan while the cheapest one was only two yuan each when purchased there. Pretty cheap right? When I sell them, I make more than ten yuan profit per item.