Chapter 26: Background

"Is that so? Hahaha, I forgot, sorry."

Xiao Yuanqing was startled, then quickly recovered, turned and looked at Jiang Cheng, "Vendor, how much is your sweet potato per piece?"

He wasn't actually reluctant to spend the money; rather, he thought it odd to have to pay when eating at a roadside stall. Still, this time he had finally managed to go out for a meal with his junior sister, so he naturally wanted to leave a good impression.

"Six yuan each."

Jiang Cheng looked at Bai Wei with a hint of surprise.

He thought to himself, this girl does have a bit of conscience.

"Here you go, no need for change."

He handed over a twenty‑yuan bill.

Everyone's gaze turned toward Jiang Cheng.

Lu Zicheng, standing nearby, also widened his eyes.

In his view, it would be best not to take the money.

After all, no one knows what the fellow handing over the money is thinking; if he gets upset, he might cause trouble later.

Jiang Cheng didn't think any further.

Since you gave it, I'll take it, but only what's appropriate.

He took the twenty‑yuan bill with his left hand and eight yuan in coins with his right.

"What does that mean?"

Xiao Yuanqing narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing up the young man before him.

"Two sweet potatoes for twelve yuan, here's eight yuan back."

Jiang Cheng said.

"Hehe."

Hearing that, Xiao Yuanqing laughed.

"Sweet potato seller, are you stupid? Or is something wrong with your ears? Didn't you hear me say no change needed?"

"Hehe, it's a bit silly."

Bai Wei covered her mouth and laughed.

"Right?"

Seeing his junior sister amused, Xiao Yuanqing laughed even louder, waved his hand toward Jiang Cheng, and then left.

Jiang Cheng was speechless.

Damn, it's like who cares about your eight yuan.

And this guy, at a glance, doesn't seem like a good fellow; if it weren't for his junior sister's reminder, he would have already brushed himself off and left.

When the two left, the atmosphere relaxed.

"Boss, congratulations, you made an extra eight yuan."

"Hahaha, yeah, but boss, the people from that martial arts hall—whether you or us—we can't afford to provoke them; if there's a next time, it's best not to charge them."

"Right, even if they pay, don't take it."

Hearing everyone's advice, Jiang Cheng quickly agreed.

In any case, they meant well.

Immediately afterward, the freshly baked Roasted Sweet Potatoes were all sold.

Those who hadn't bought any, seeing this, could only leave for a few minutes, planning to return after the crowd thinned.

Before leaving, someone suggested that next time Jiang Cheng bring an extra oil barrel, so he could roast two batches at once.

To be honest, Jiang Cheng did have that idea.

After all, who would turn down money? For safety, he planned to wait two or three days, and decide once the situation cleared up.

Time passed, and before he knew it, evening arrived.

Jiang Cheng was just finishing the sale of the last batch of Roasted Sweet Potatoes, beginning to pack up, and would later need to go to the grain shop to buy raw sweet potatoes.

Lu Zicheng, seeing this, was first a bit surprised, then fell into melancholy.

He had specially bought some high‑meat‑content starch sausages today; they could be sold at the same price, but throughout the day, he didn't sell many more.

Of course, if you say the sales were a bit higher, it's only by a dozen or so, and that's thanks to Jiang Cheng's influence.

People gathered nearby, hearing his shout, came over to buy one, eating while they waited.

But thinking that Jiang Cheng would finish a batch and sell it out, then another batch and sell it out again, made his heart feel uneasy.

"Jiang Cheng, you sold quite a bit more today than yesterday, right?"

Hearing the voice beside his ear, Jiang Cheng sighed inwardly; what was meant to come, did come.

"It's okay, just a little more than yesterday."

"Is that so?"

Lu Zicheng said slowly, "I counted; since I arrived, you've sold nearly eighty Roasted Sweet Potatoes, and including the morning, it must be over ninety."

Ninety, at six yuan each, equals 540 yuan.

Half the profit, 270! That's what he could earn in two or even three days.

Jiang Cheng managed it in a single day.

"More or less, right?"

Jiang Cheng gave a wry smile.

The kid was indeed correct.

"Sigh, this is already the limit; the roasting time is fixed, and at most we can only roast this many in a day."

Lu Zicheng was about to say something, thought again, and swallowed his words.

If it were spoken out and, after Jiang Cheng went back, he really got two buckets to roast, then watching Jiang Cheng earn money would feel worse than losing money himself.

"It's getting late, I'll head back first."

Jiang Cheng laughed.

"Alright, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Jiang Cheng pushed the cart away.

He thought, this person shouldn't always compare himself to others; he should compare himself to himself. Always comparing to others, how can one be happy?

It's like, at the same age of twenty, some people live in the city over there, enjoying a good life, while they are barely scraping by under the gang's control.

Coming out of the grain shop, the sky was dim, and there were far fewer people on the street.

Jiang Cheng pushed the cart and turned into an alley.

Although he was no longer worried about thugs blocking the way, and even felt a vague anticipation, he still dared not be careless at all.

It was just like yesterday.

The shadows lurking in the dark, after seeing that it was him approaching, slipped away quietly.

After passing through many alleys, suddenly a cry came from a fork ahead.

"Gentlemen, I have no money, truly no money. You just searched us, didn't you? Please, be kind and let me go." an Old Man's voice sounded.

"No money? Fine, then leave the goods behind; when you have money, you can redeem them."

"Don't, this is my livelihood; my whole family depends on it. Gentlemen, please let me go. Business has been bad these two days, few people buy stinky tofu. After a couple of days when business improves, I'll definitely pay what I owe you. Please."

The Old Man sobbed, tears streaming.

The surroundings were eerily quiet.

"You damn old thing, do you think we're idiots? Wait another two days? Today, either you leave the goods behind, or honestly hand over three hundred coins."

"Three hundred, sir? Even if you sold me, I couldn't come up with that much."

"Then leave your tricycle and everything on it!"

"No way, gentlemen, please be kind."

The Old Man cried out.

Jiang Cheng, hearing this, couldn't help but stop, his heart swelling with anger.

These people were downright beasts, not even sparing the Old Man!

"Ah!"

A wail.

A painful moan sounded.

"You old thing, you have no face!"

A voice full of hostility rang out, and the culprit behind the Old Man's earlier wail was him.

Yet that voice sounded somewhat familiar to Jiang Cheng.

Or rather, it triggered the original body's memory.

In this Poor District, most thugs are ordinary people who come out at night to rob and bully those weaker than them.

A few thugs have backing, like those a short distance away; they have someone from the Wild Wolf Gang supporting them. They not only rob ordinary people but also other thugs, splitting the loot—half to their superiors, half to themselves.

The original body had run into these people many times, and on several occasions his tricycle had been impounded; once he borrowed money from Chen Sao to buy it back.

Jiang Cheng broke out in a cold sweat instantly, withdrawing the hand he had placed on his back.

Fortunately he hadn't acted on impulse and rushed forward; otherwise, a clash with these people could have led to unknown consequences.

He wasn't afraid of these guys, but what about the Wild Wolf Gang?

They were a band of desperados.

"Sorry."

Jiang Cheng whispered, as if speaking to the Old Man and to himself.

He pushed the cart, turning into a side alley.

It wasn't that he didn't want to intervene; he simply lacked the ability right now.

(End of Chapter)