Chapter 436

Hearing the name of the Water Company he was preparing to investigate, Li Ang's expression couldn't help but sink slightly, and then he quickly reacted. This should be a coincidence like his "Ryan," just one hitting the surname and one hitting the name.

Recalling the familiar company name, thinking of the hundreds of patients still lying in the hospital corridor, and the painful wailing he heard in the corridor when he went to see Anna, Li Ang's good mood suddenly dissipated by more than half.

He certainly couldn't afford the medical expenses for hundreds of people. After the public water pipe incident, the price of antidiarrheals in the Old District had more than quintupled, and the special supplements that could treat this epidemic were even more expensive; he couldn't buy many doses even if he emptied his entire year's salary.

And although there are only four or five hundred patients on Red Brick Road, these are severe cases with abdominal pain. I don't know how many patients in the old city who can't afford medicine are still holding on. 【436-5

The only thing to be thankful for was that this disease was not highly contagious. As long as one didn't come into direct contact with excrement or vomit, or stay in a confined space where these things were heavily volatilizing, one basically wouldn't catch the epidemic, and most people were still safe.

But the troublesome part was that this epidemic, which originated from dirty water, seemed very difficult to recover from on its own. At the very least, one needed an injection of alchemical supplement, but given the income level of the people in the Old District, almost no one could afford it.

And the only solution he could think of right now was to find evidence of negligence by the Charle Hydraulic Company and the Road Administration, and then, whether by reporting it to the higher levels of the Kingdom or providing the news to a fearless major newspaper, he had to blow the matter up and force them to pay for the medicine!

Also, if he found out in the end that it still couldn't be solved...

"Customer?"

Watching Li Ang, who had suddenly fallen into deep thought upon hearing his own name, his expression becoming uncertain, the profiteering boss couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise, then spoke up to call out:

"Customer, your meal is ready. That will be one and a half copper wheels."

"Oh, oh!"

Hearing the profiteering boss's call, Li Ang came back to his senses and uttered two "ohs." Then, while reaching out to pay, he shook his head with an unpleasant look on his face and said:

"Sorry, that name of yours reminded me of some things... Also, you're older than my father, so calling you by your name isn't quite right. I'd better call you Uncle!"

"Hehe, alright. Since you're willing to call a street vendor like me Uncle, what reason do I have to refuse?"

After bringing over the coffee and the plate with bread, the coffee stall owner looked at Li Ang, who was somewhat thin and estimated to be two years younger than his own daughter, smiled kindly, pulled over a stool with a wobbly leg to sit nearby, and asked gently:

"Since you called me Uncle, I'll take the liberty of asking two questions. When you mentioned the Charle Company just now, your expression didn't seem very good... Have you had any unpleasant experiences with that company?"

"Hmm... I suppose so..."

After hesitating slightly, Li Ang didn't say he was planning to investigate the Charle Hydraulic Company, but instead told him about Anna being injured because of the "gas pipeline explosion."

So that's how it is... You're the one who refused the compensation.

"Then your family really has had it tough."

After hearing Li Ang's words, the old man at the coffee stall couldn't help but blink, then sighed and said:

"Your sister is still sick, and then you ran into this kind of bad luck... How about this: because you called me Uncle, from now on, as long as you come to my place to order something, no matter what you order, I'll give it to you at half price. Are you willing?"

???

Ah, this... is my "Uncle" call this effective?

Looking at the coffee stall owner across from him who had suddenly exploded with sympathy, Li Ang couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in surprise, feeling somewhat at a loss for what to do about this sudden kindness.

However, before he could figure out how to ask, he saw the profiteer smile honestly, return half a copper wheel, and add:

"Of course, since you've called me Uncle, remember to come sit here often and support Uncle's business!"

"......" I get it. Calling you Uncle is equivalent to getting a membership card at your place, right?

Good grief, if I were the type who couldn't turn down a face, no matter how cheap other stalls were, I'd probably be locked into your stall from now on. If I ate breakfast at another place in front of you, I'd probably feel guilty for at least half a week... You've really gone to great lengths to keep customers; you truly deserve to make money!

Realizing that this was likely another tactic to attract customers, Li Ang smiled and didn't say much, but agreed directly.

After all, although this coffee stall was a bit more expensive, it was indeed the most comfortable of all the stalls on this street. Now that the owner was willing to give a discount to develop him into a regular customer, he naturally had no reason to refuse.

After finishing the bread and ham in a few bites and saying goodbye to his newly recognized cheap uncle, Li Ang, who felt warm from the inside out, wrapped the scarf Anna had woven for him back around his neck and walked once again into the biting cold wind of the late autumn morning.

After he left, a regular customer who had been watching the scene from by the stove came over with his coffee, winking and teasing:

"Old Charle! I've been drinking coffee at your stall for seven or eight years, and I've never seen you, a penny-pincher, voluntarily lower prices for anyone! Why the change of heart today?

Could it be that your daughter still can't get married, and you're in a hurry to scout for a son-in-law, planning to get familiar with the young man first?"

"Hehe, that's not it at all~

I just felt a connection with the young man. Seeing that he might be having some difficulties lately, I'm just taking care of him a little so he'll come by more often to support my business."

Waving his hand to indicate that the other was overthinking it, the coffee stall owner watched Li Ang's retreating back and chatted idly:

"Though, it's not entirely out of the question. I think the young man seems like a pretty good person. Although he's a bit thin, he's not short, and he looks quite refined.

And look at the direction he's heading; there are only those office buildings in the Municipal District ahead, so he should have a proper job. Also, he's always been very polite, even to a street coffee vendor like me... Hmm... he's a good kid."

Thinking about other situations he had heard from his daughter, Amy, the coffee stall owner raised his eyebrows slightly. After chatting a few more words with the regular customer, he sat back in his chair, looking up at the dark canvas roof of the coffee stall, and thoughtfully rubbed the graying stubble on his chin.

People, when facing familiar people and environments, always like to hide themselves.

Only when facing temptations within reach, and in front of strangers whose situations are not as good as their own and with whom there will almost never be any intersection, can they not help but let a little bit out.

What this child let out unconsciously is actually quite rare... Hmm... gentle and polite, earnest and steady, and his mind is quite sharp. If Amy likes him, then I really have no reason to object...

But the problem is, our family doesn't accept taking a wife, only accepting a son-in-law. I wonder if he would agree?

Unaware that he had been placed on a son-in-law candidate list, Li Ang arrived at the Bureau of Cleanup after braving the cold wind. As soon as he opened the door to his office, he saw the new anomalous object the red-haired director had mentioned—a black broom floating in mid-air.

【Name: Lazy Witch's Rental Broom (Fallen, Flight, Protection)】

【Appearance: A hardwood broom painted black all over, with a small number of crow feather pendants hanging from the tip. Besides the lingering, faint smell of pine oil, small cat paw prints often appear on the broom handle.】

【Ability: Magic Enhancement, Flight, Airflow Shield】

【Cost: Every Friday at 3:30 PM, a feline will knock on your door. Please be sure to entertain it well.】

【File: An old broom discarded by an unknown witch. The witch goes out to play flight-ball every Friday afternoon and doesn't return home until the early hours of the next day. Having no time to take care of her beloved cat, she specifically reached out to the Lion Branch of the Bureau of Cleanup to reach an agreement: by renting out the broom, she exchanges it for the broom user taking care of her cat one day a week.】

【Evaluation: A simple and practical anomalous object, and you can pet a cat for free. It is the favorite of Lion Branch Director Beverly.】

【Infection Value: 0.5】

(End of Chapter)