Zhang Xixi never imagined that selling ordinary watermelons could earn so much money. By early afternoon, the remaining ten or so watermelons were sold out. The weather was too hot and even if they had fifty more, no one would buy them.
Fifty watermelons cost about 200 yuan in total without transportation fees. They sold each slice for two yuan and eight slices for 16 yuan. They sold around ten of the fifty watermelons, earning 640 yuan from those unsold forty watermelons and another hundred from the other ten, totaling to 740 yuan after deducting the cost of two hundred.
This is real gold and silver earned.
Unfortunately, they ran out of stock. Zhang Xixi called Li Ergou to bring a thousand kilograms of watermelon tomorrow while giving him today's earnings as well. Li Ergou agreed with a smile and said it wouldn't be a problem since he will trade at the fruit wholesale market in West City District.
They closed their stall and Zhang Xixi bought cigarettes for He Runxi as thanks before leaving with Jia Simiao.
Zhang Xixi wiped her sweat and asked, 'Jia Ge, do you think the 1,000 kilograms of watermelon we reserved with Er Gou is enough?' Jia Simiao replied, 'Don't worry. Let's not order too much. We'll try selling them first.' Zhang Xixi smiled and sat cross-legged on the bed. She counted the money in her purse carefully and said seriously, 'Jia Ge, this is our initial capital. We can't split it up for now. Let's earn more before we decide how to divide it later. What do you think?' Jia Simiao laughed and said, 'Okay. You're the boss lady; your decision counts.' Zhang Xixi was happy and couldn't stop smiling.
Shen Junao and Tang Ziyu were not spendthrift women either; they knew that earning money wasn't easy for Zhang Xixi. They had just made their first bucket of gold from scavenging items but they couldn't squander it easily so they decided to go to a food stall where prices were reasonable and food tasted good.
Zhang Xixi exclaimed,'How could that be? Tonight let's go to Nanjiang Snack Street for barbecue.'
When Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi returned home at Old Mansion of Jia Family , they saw a piece of paper stuck in the animal head-shaped door knocker with an official seal from City Demolition Office (市拆迁办). The content was simple: due to recent urban garden construction projects along Jiang River Road area by South Jiang city government which aimed at rebuilding/renovating old buildings into modern ones that fit better with new garden city style architecture，the Old Mansion of Jia Family must be demolished as it looked outdated compared to other buildings around there . The owner of the house must go to the Demolition Office to negotiate related demolition matters. The signature was from Ji Shihua, Director of Demolition Office.
Zhang Xixi angrily said,'What kind of Demolition Office is this? This is a conspiracy by Dongsheng Group.' Jia Simiao frowned and asked,'Dongsheng Group?' Zhang Xixi replied,'It's one of several major corporations in South Jiang city. Its chairman is named Huo Dongsheng who happens to be a relative of the deputy mayor responsible for transportation and urban construction. With such connections, most land demolitions and constructions in South Jiang city are done by Dongsheng Group. I've seen their bidding documents before; they won the bid for rebuilding/renovating projects along Jiang River Road area.'
Before going to New York, Jia Simiao had been living in Lingnan City and rarely came to Nanjiang City. He didn't really understand the power of Nanjiang City. However, he didn't care about any East Rising or West Rising. The Jia family's old mansion was a cultural relic, and he absolutely would not allow anyone to demolish it.
Jia Simiao put the demolition notice into his pocket and said with a faint smile: "It's okay. If someone provokes me, I will make sure that the East Rising Group falls to the west."
Zhang Xixi shouted: "Count me in! In order to protect our home, we must work together and resist firmly."
What do you mean by 'our home'? Why does it sound so awkward? That is my home!
Jia Simiao shrugged his shoulders and both he and Zhang Xixi were tired. They took a shower, lay down on the bed, slept until sunset, when Tang Ziyu and Shen Junao returned before they woke up again. Don't get me wrong; they couldn't sleep together. Zhang Xixi slept in the main room while Jia Simiao tactfully slept in another room.
After washing up briefly and waiting for Tang Ziyu and Shen Junao to change their clothes as well, they all went out together.
The street of Nanjiang snacks was not very wide with various small stalls lining both sides selling dozens of types of snacks such as fried food, boiled food with spicy sauce or hot pot soup base , sausages made from beef tripe , steamed buns filled with soup , dan dan noodles (a type of Sichuan noodle dish), hufentang (a kind of rice flour cake) , pan-fried dumplings etc., almost all famous delicacies from across China gathered here.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Walking along this street where the sour, spicy, oily and meaty smells mixed together, Jia Simiao, Zhang Xixi and the others who were already hungry couldn't help but salivate with their mouths watering. The crowds on both sides of the street were packed with people. From time to time they saw a few men drinking alcohol while playing dice games on stools which created a lively atmosphere.
At a barbecue stall, Jia Simiao, Zhang Xixi and others found a spot to sit down and ordered lamb skewers, squid, beef tendon, chicken legs, duck necks, chives and more. They also got several bottles of ice-cold beer for the table. All of these were put on the grill together and roasted over charcoal with barbecue sauce, cumin powder and chili flakes. In no time at all, the air was filled with an irresistible aroma of grilled meat.
The meat gradually turned yellow as oil dripped onto the charcoal making sizzling sounds that produced smoke which intensified the heat from the fire. Looking at these grilled foods made everyone's appetite soar; they didn't even use chopsticks but instead grabbed their beers in one hand while holding onto their skewers in another hand to devour everything.
After a few drinks, their faces became flushed red like flowers in bloom. Three beautiful women accompanied them drinking; what kind of happiness is this? Passersby looked at Jia Simiao with envy wishing they could kick him twice before sitting down surrounded by beauties left and right - it was truly heavenly.
Jia Simiao sincerely said: "I've been staying with you guys for two days now; thank you for taking me in. I'll drink to all of you."
Zhang Xixi giggled: "Alright already! We're all family here so why say those things? Just drink!"
It had only been two days yet how did these two become so compatible? Shen Jun'ao and Tang Ziyu felt something wasn't quite right between them when looking at each other - could this be fate bringing them together? Shen Jun'ao thought she would secretly observe them during their next mission just to see what exactly was going on between those two so that Jia Simiao wouldn't sell Zhang Xixi out leaving her counting money happily.
Tang Ziyu chuckled and said, "Let me say a few words too. I'll raise this glass to the two big bosses. By the time I graduate, you will surely have established a large corporation. Don't forget about me then." Zhang Xixi patted her shoulder and exclaimed loudly, "Don't worry, when that time comes, just tell us what job you want and it's done."
This little girl is straightforward and doesn't have any hidden agenda. Jia Simiao has already figured out her temperament in these past few days of getting along with her... Oh wait, he meant he understood her personality traits; don't get any wrong ideas. However, can someone who runs a roadside stall really expect to establish a corporation? Jia Simiao smiled and thought it was still possible.
Just then, a man's voice suddenly came from beside them: "Hey there! Isn't this Jun Ao? I never expected to run into you here. You're becoming more beautiful every day." Shen Junao had changed into casual clothes with loose hair tied up by hairpins on top of her head while letting some bangs fall over her forehead casually - she looked both capable and charming at the same time. Her slim skirt couldn’t hide her curvy figure though - front convex back warped- showing off both intellectual beauty as well as lazy temperament.
She usually has a stable disposition and rarely shows excitement or joy easily but now looking at this man made her face immediately darken as she coldly replied: "Who are you? I don’t know you so please go away and stop disturbing us drinking." The man was tall with thin build wearing glasses giving him an elegant yet handsome appearance accompanied by his slender companion carrying an LV bag whose cheekbones protruded sharply while having pointed chin making them somewhat pleasing to look at but after scanning them once Jia Simiao determined they were not even in the same league as Shen Junao and couldn’t be compared.
The slender woman glanced at Shen Junao and asked, "Lujianfei, is she your ex-girlfriend, Shen Junao? She's just an average person. You did the right thing by dumping her." Lujianfei immediately put on a flattering expression and said with a smile to the slender woman named Qingwen, "Qingwen, how can she compare to you? You are like the vast moon while she is only a small star. You are like the broad sea while she is just a grain of sand on the shore..." Dai Qingwen giggled and said, "Don't be so honest. Look how angry you made that trash you dumped." Zhang Xixi and Tang Ziyu were furious. Even Jia Simiao understood what was going on. No wonder when they mentioned Shen Junao's boyfriend that day, her face changed color and Zhang Xixi and Tang Ziyu kept signaling him not to say anything more. It turned out it was because of this man named Lujianfei! Even fools could see that he was climbing up high branches before dumping Shen Junao. If two people fall in love with each other naturally between men and women, no one can force anyone else. Even if you climb up high branches there is no need to ridicule Shen Junao like this! Before Jia Simiao could say anything more, Zhang Xixi smiled mischievously: "Ziyu, do you know what kind of men exist these days? I've seen someone who brushes his teeth with fecal water." The two of them had been working together for too long so Tang Ziyu naturally knew what Zhang Xixi meant as he deliberately exaggeratedly exclaimed: "Oh my god! Fecal water? How do you know?" Zhang Xixi looked up and down at Lujianfei then laughed: "I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I can smell it. If he didn't brush his teeth with fecal water, how could he spew so much crap here? He's really dirty, even dirtier than me." Tang Ziyu covered her nose and exclaimed: "Stinky! It's really stinky.