Chapter 157: Refusing a Toast, Drinking the Penalty

Chen Sao and her daughter set up their stall at yesterday's spot.

Lin Yue glanced at the residential complex entrance and whispered, "Mom, why do those two guards at the gate keep staring at us? Just now when we came out, they were still smiling at us, that smile..."

"You child, they were just saying hello."

Chen Sao said, turning her head to look toward the gate, and indeed, a guard was looking at her; seeing her look over, he smiled again.

She hurriedly turned around, the smile on her face froze.

"Right?"

Lin Yue was a bit afraid: "Could it be we've run into bad people?"

"Don't overthink it."

Chen Sao looked around; besides the stall vendors, there were also some pedestrians, and she suddenly felt a bit safer.

"Do business properly; we mother and daughter can't truly rely on Xiao Cheng to support us, we also need to be self-sufficient."

"Mm-hmm, I know."

Lin Yue nodded repeatedly.

But she quickly thought of something: "Mom, if that older sister comes later, should we turn her down?"

"Mm."

Chen Sao nodded.

After Jiang Cheng's prompting, she thought it over again that night, the more she thought, the more she felt Jiang Cheng was right.

"If such a good thing really existed, could it happen to us?"

"Setting up a stall at the gate, even if we earn less, it's still something to do."

Time passed minute by minute.

Just after finishing mending a piece of clothing for someone, a middle-aged woman in red clothes, carrying a leather bag, appeared.

"Ladies, how's business?"

She wore a kind smile and sat on the small stool in front of them.

Chen Sao and Lin Yue both lifted their heads, instantly feeling ashamed and embarrassed.

The woman before them, though somewhat plump, was dressed very elegantly, especially the small bag she held in her hand.

At a glance, it was clearly valuable.

This is also why they didn't feel deceived yesterday; after all, someone dressed like that must be wealthy, and would a rich person cheat them?

"Business is just like that."

Chen Sao lowered her head, a bit embarrassed.

"Hehe, I told you yesterday, what kind of business could there be here? Making twenty or thirty a day is already impressive; frankly, with your skills, it's a waste to be here."

"Sister, you're too kind; my skills are just average," Chen Sao hurriedly said.

"Women, you need to have a bit more confidence in yourself; I say you can, you can."

"Thank you, sister."

Chen Sao felt a surge of emotion inside.

"It's fine; by the way, I came today to see you—you should know what this is about, right?"

The middle-aged woman glanced at her delicate nails, pretending to be nonchalant.

Chen Sao and Lin Yue exchanged a glance.

"We know, we know."

"Good that you know; how's your consideration going?"

The middle-aged woman raised her head, appearing completely assured.

"Um, I'm really sorry," Chen Sao said, feeling even more embarrassed, "Thank you for your kindness, sister, but we'd rather keep our stall here."

"???"

The middle-aged woman's eyes widened.

What did she hear? The other party actually refused? How could they refuse? Clearly yesterday these two were quite moved, saying they'd go home and discuss with family, then give her an answer.

Could it be that someone at home disagrees? "Um, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly." the middle-aged woman asked.

"I'm really sorry."

Chen Sao gathered a bit more courage, looking into the woman's eyes and said: "The job you mentioned, we're not going; we'll just keep our stall here."

"Mm-hmm."

Lin Yue also nodded repeatedly. The middle-aged woman took a deep breath.

"Do you know what you're talking about? This job is something ordinary people can't access; only because I have some connections could I get it. If it weren't for your honesty, I wouldn't have introduced this job to you."

Upon hearing that, Chen Sao actually let out a sigh of relief.

"Sister, since it's like that, you should introduce this job to someone you know; we've just met, and we really feel bad taking such a big favor from you."

"You?"

The middle-aged woman was dumbfounded.

She had intended to retreat to advance, but ended up being forced with no way out.

"I'm really sorry, sister, for making you make a special trip." Chen Sao apologized again.

After that brief interaction, she felt that this sister in front of her was actually quite nice.

But since Jiang Cheng had already told her to refuse, she certainly couldn't make the decision on her own and agree.

"You, you really thought it through?"

The middle-aged woman was very unwilling.

You only earn a few bucks a day here; if you went to the place I'm introducing, you'd at least make five thousand a month, and together you two would make ten thousand! If you perform well, making over ten thousand or even twenty thousand is not impossible.

Oh oh, I get it—are you guys not reassured? Or is it the people at home who oppose? You think I'm a con artist?

No, no.

Chen Sao's gaze darted away slightly.

After all, that's what Jiang Cheng said.

The middle-aged woman keenly noticed, opened the bag's zipper, and counted out ten hundred-dollar bills from inside.

"Big sis, what are you doing?"

Seeing the other party shoving money into her hand, Chen Sao was frightened and panicked, her hands continually shrinking back.

Others saw this and also cast their gazes over.

After seeing clearly, each of them showed envy in their eyes.

"Take this money for now; consider it an advance on your wages."

The middle-aged woman said, "You're not worried I'm a scammer, are you? What scammer would give you advance pay before you've done any work?"

Chen Sao and her daughter, hearing this, were both ashamed.

"Big sis, we didn't mean it that way."

"What do you mean then?"

"It's because we have an old person at home who needs care, and we really can't get away."

"The old person could come back in the evening to take care of things; it's not far from here, you could come back every day."

"Really, we can't, big sis."

Chen Sao realized that if she didn't take a clear stance, this matter would never end.

Thus, the next moment she put away her smile, adopted a serious tone, and said, "Big sis, we really appreciate your kindness, but we won't take this job; we'll just set up a stall here, earn a little money, and that'll be enough for us."

The middle-aged woman's smile also froze.

"Have you really decided? I'm reminding you one last time—once you pass this village, there won't be this shop."

"Mm!"

Chen Sao nodded firmly.

"Good, good, good."

The middle-aged woman was so angry she gritted her teeth.

"You're refusing a toast only to drink a penalty, huh? I meant well, yet this is the result—fine, you can set up your stall here; see how much you can earn in a month."

After saying that, she let out a cold snort, stuffed the money into her bag, zipped it up, stood up, and walked away angrily.

"Mom, she seems really angry."

Lin Yue muttered softly.

"She also meant well; we refused her, so her being angry is normal, sigh."

Chen Sao let out a sigh.

She felt even more guilty inside.

(End of chapter)