Chapter 30: Doubling

With less than ten days left until the end of the month, gathering the three thousand yuan for the Wild Wolf Gang is already not an easy task.

On top of that, another two thousand yuan is needed to purchase a membership at the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall.

How could that be easy?

If we wait until next month, based on the current revenue from selling Roasted Sweet Potatoes, it wouldn't be difficult.

The key question is whether those people will give him that much time; what if, a few days later, I run into those people myself?

Jiang Cheng furrowed his brows.

Putting it another way, even if they grant me that much time, the total I pay each month to the Wild Wolf Gang and the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall would already be five thousand yuan, which is still not as good as directly buying a Senior Member of the latter, at least it gives a chance to access Secret Martial Arts.

"Money, money, I must get more money!"

A resolve flashed in Jiang Cheng's eyes.

I had originally thought to open another stove to sell Roasted Sweet Potatoes in a few days, but now it seems I must do it earlier.

After a stove of Roasted Sweet Potatoes was sold out, the crowd around gradually dispersed, and as they left they whispered about what Bai Wei had said.

Becoming a Martial Arts Hall member not only spares one from being bullied by the Wild Wolf Gang, but also allows one to learn skills—a win‑win, yet the price is too high; how many people can afford it?

Time passed; Jiang Cheng sat in his cart eating, and from a distance saw Lu Zicheng pushing his cart toward him.

Strangely, the other kept his head down, looking as if he didn't want to be seen.

"Arrived?"

Jiang Cheng greeted him proactively.

"I'm here."

Lu Zicheng kept his head lowered, and after parking his cart, silently took out various items from it.

"What's wrong? Bad mood?"

Jiang Cheng found it odd.

In his impression, this was a very outgoing fellow.

Why has he become so silent today? Could it be that my behavior these past two days has upset him? Upon hearing this, Lu Zicheng froze his hand, then slowly turned his head, and half of his face was swollen.

Jiang Cheng's smile froze, "What's wrong?"

"What else can I do."

Lu Zicheng lowered his head, unpacked a bag, and said, "Bad luck last night; I was blocked, and if I didn't pay they beat me. I had no choice but to give them the money I had; yesterday was a total loss."

Hearing that, Jiang Cheng fell silent.

The original Jiang Cheng's relationship with Lu Zicheng was merely ordinary; because our stalls were close, we chatted.

And his relationship with Lu Zicheng was even more distant.

But their circumstances were the same, and he could empathize.

"Actually it's nothing; I've gotten used to it."

Lu Zicheng chuckled self‑deprecatingly, "I told you my eyelids were twitching yesterday, that something bad would happen; in the end it really came true, sigh."

He sighed, "I just don't know if looking like this will affect today's business; those kids won't be scared, will they?"

Jiang Cheng heard that and didn't know what to say.

Perhaps now is a good time to offer help.

But those people stay in the shadows; ordinary folks have no idea where they live, so trying to find them for settlement is difficult.

Unless I spend the coming time escorting them back… that's asking too much of anyone.

He thought it over but said nothing more; as it stands, even ensuring his own safety is hard, so helping others will have to wait until he's stronger.

In the blink of an eye, it was evening.

Jiang Cheng calculated that today's earnings were similar to yesterday's, about six hundred yuan, with a net profit of roughly three hundred.

Lu Zicheng was in a lower mood and, unlike yesterday, merely nodded when Jiang Cheng greeted him.

After buying raw sweet potatoes and returning home safely, Jiang Cheng brought up again at the dinner table the idea of opening another stove.

The old man, after hearing this, thought it over and agreed, because Jiang Cheng's point made sense.

If we end up running two Roasted Sweet Potato stoves, good business would double the earnings; if business is poor, we can remove one, after all a single stove doesn't cost much.

Early the next morning, Jiang Cheng bought a stove made from an oil drum for less than thirty yuan; according to the owner, that stove had previously been used by someone else to sell sweet potatoes, but they couldn't make profit and eventually sold the whole cart with the drum.

Back home, Jiang Cheng cleaned the drum, added some earth to seal it, and finished the modification.

The three‑wheeled cart now has two stoves installed and looks a bit cramped.

Jiang Cheng wiped the sweat from his forehead; because he was busy with all this, he hadn't practiced with his Short Staff this morning. Glancing at the time, it was already past ten, nearly eleven.

"Grandma, it's getting late, I'm heading to the street," Jiang Cheng said, after quickly finishing lunch, looking at the old lady beside him.

"Xiao Cheng, roasting two stoves at once—can you handle it? How about Grandma goes with you?" the old man said, putting down his chopsticks.

"What's so hard about it?"

Jiang Cheng smiled, "It's only two stoves, not three or four, and Grandma, if you go with me, who will watch the house? I can't keep bothering Chen Sao."

"That's true."

The old man sighed, "Then you must be careful, especially when you return at night. If you really encounter those people, just give them what they ask."

Saying that, she glanced at the new stove on the cart, her eyes showing both anticipation and worry.

Good business is naturally a good thing.

But if others find out, it's not certain.

Those thugs aren't fools; seeing Jiang Cheng's cart with two stoves, they'll surely think he's making a lot of money.

"Got it, Grandma. Don't worry, I know the situation. I'm leaving."

Jiang Cheng pushed the cart and headed toward the street.

Sure enough, more eyes gathered along the way.

There was curiosity, surprise, doubt, and suspicion.

Jiang Cheng kept his eyes straight ahead, pushing the cart onto the street; what he hadn't expected was that Lu Zicheng had actually arrived first.

When he saw Jiang Cheng pushing the tricycle, his eyes instantly widened, "Jiang Cheng, you—what is this?"

"Heh heh, it's just that business has been going okay lately—thinking of expanding the scale a bit?"

Jiang Cheng said with a smile.

"Is that so?"

Lu Zicheng moved his lips, then nodded, saying, "Quite good, quite good."

"Heh heh."

Jiang Cheng didn't say any more, fearing he might discourage him.

However, he was a bit nervous inside now.

Even though business had been good the past two days, with many people queuing and unable to buy, in theory he shouldn't worry about sales.

But at this moment, he felt a bit uneasy.

"What are you afraid of? If business is average, just revert the cart back."

Thinking that way, Jiang Cheng felt much better and began Proficiently roasting sweet potatoes.

After a while, someone walked over, exclaiming in surprise, "Eh? Boss, you set up two stoves?"

"Yes, aren't there always people complaining that they've waited too long and can't buy? So I added another stove, and the two stoves bake together," Jiang Cheng said with a smile.

"Indeed, one stove roasts too few sweet potatoes, two stoves are much better. But boss, you're on a wealth‑making rhythm," the newcomer said cheerfully, sounding very envious.

But he also knew that Jiang Cheng's skill was truly unmatched; it wouldn't work with anyone else.

Just like a few other shops on the street, whose business is far worse than here.

"There's no such thing; as long as I can make a living, that's enough," Jiang Cheng said with a wry smile.

Lu Zicheng, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned, then looked at Jiang Cheng, wanting to ask whether he had any misunderstanding about the two words "make a living." (End of chapter)