19

Just as Xiao Jian was about to step forward to ask a question, an elderly woman selling fruit nearby squeezed in first: "Young man! You can't do business like this!! You're losing money to gain publicity. If you do this every day, our business will be ruined. You can't do this!"

“Auntie, please calm down,” a girl stepped out from the crowd. “This young man is new to business and is building his reputation. We’re all in business, and we’ll inevitably run into each other often in the future, so please don’t take it to heart.”

Xiao Jian turned around and saw Wang Ting winking at him. He felt a little more at ease, since there was a peacemaker there, and everything was easier to discuss.

Li Muqing smiled and said, "Auntie, this is my first time, so please give me some face. I won't do it again next time, okay?"

Xiao Jian stepped forward and said with a smile, "Yes, ma'am, please calm down."

"What's going on? Why is it so chaotic? What are they all doing?" Xiao Jian looked in the direction of the voice and saw the two construction supervisors from last time had reappeared.

"Hey you, pancake vendor, it's you again? You're getting cocky now that I didn't bother you last time?"

Another supervisor said to the others, "You guys, go do what you're supposed to do, don't all pile up here, go away."

The middle-aged woman who had just arrived and was standing next to Xiao Jian quickly scurried away upon seeing the construction manager, disappearing in less than a minute.

"What, are you going to stop me from doing business?" Li Muqing stepped forward at this moment and said irritably.

"Who are you... Oh, isn't this Young Master Li? Hehe, no, no, I just got your license processed a couple of days ago. Pretty fast, right? As soon as we heard it was the son of Captain Li's boss who handled the license, the speed was absolutely amazing! It was done in no time! You can continue selling your fruit. Well... we'll be going now. You're busy, you're busy."

Li Muqing rolled her eyes at the construction manager and continued to shout, "Come buy fruit! Fresh fruit! Bananas are five yuan a pound, lychees are ten yuan a pound! Come buy fresh fruit!"

Xiao Jian had just finished thanking Wang Ting when he heard Li Muqing shout like that, and his legs almost went weak with fright. This wasn't doing business; it was wasting money! If they kept selling like this, no one would come to buy before dark!

Xiao Jian quickly packed up his stall and told Li Muqing to pack up her fruit stall as soon as possible. Then, he dragged Li Muqing to the shade of a tree next to the school gate and questioned her, "Where have you been these past few days? I couldn't find you anywhere!"

"Didn't you just hear me? I went to get my documents processed," Li Muqing replied nonchalantly.

"You...you still call me stupid, but you're not smart either...what kind of permit do you need to sell fruit? Do you have too much money to burn?" Xiao Jian looked at Li Muqing with heartache. He just didn't understand how these rich kids could act on a whim, doing whatever they wanted without hesitation.

"Why are you being so fierce? I've been working so hard all this time, and who am I doing this for? I almost had a falling out with my mom over setting up this fruit stand, and I'm always chasing after my dad, pleading with him to let me earn my own money and do part-time jobs. Do you think I'm just bored? Do you think I've had my head squeezed in a door like you? Do you think I'm stupid? Huh?!" Li Muqing rattled off a whole bunch of things in one breath, making Xiao Jian almost fall to the ground. Luckily, there was a tree behind him that he could lean on for support.

"I...I was just worried you'd waste money, and you've said so much all at once...I, how can I possibly argue with you..." Xiao Jian was too embarrassed to look Li Muqing in the eye, so he simply lowered his head, as if he were the one who had made a mistake.

Seeing Xiao Jian's submissive demeanor, Li Muqing didn't say anything more. He stomped his foot, walked towards his tidied-up fruit stand, and said without turning back, "Fine, I won't sell fruit anymore, okay? Are you satisfied?"

"No!" In his haste, Xiao Jian grabbed Li Muqing's wrist and held it tightly, saying in a flustered tone, "No, no! I, I won't say anything more, but, but you have to sell it at the market price! You can't just ask for whatever price you want, can you? Listen to me, don't mess with me. I don't know how to coax people, really. You, you, anyway, you definitely know what I'm thinking, right?"

Li Muqing felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing Xiao Jian's words. Indeed, she understood Xiao Jian well; Xiao Jian truly meant well. The reason she was throwing a tantrum was because she couldn't stand the way Xiao Jian and Wang Ting were so intimate earlier. Now, Xiao Jian was practically begging to be trampled on. She wasn't an unreasonable person, so Li Muqing turned around and smiled helplessly: "What a complete idiot!"

"Hehe, it's good that you're not angry." Xiao Jian scratched his head, then suddenly realized that he was still holding Li Muqing's hand, so he quickly let go and looked away somewhat embarrassedly.

Li Muqing didn't mind, and said in a less than friendly tone, "Well, this is my first time, and I'm not very good at selling. Can you teach me?"

"Chengcheng, whatever you say is fine," Xiao Jian quickly replied, as if afraid that Li Muqing would change her mind.

Seeing Xiao Jian's obsequious manner, Li Muqing couldn't help but burst out laughing. Seeing Li Muqing laugh, Xiao Jian felt a weight lifted from his heart. This young master was truly someone he couldn't afford to offend!

That evening, neither Xiao Jian nor Li Muqing set up a stall. Instead, they found a roadside stand, ate noodles with soybean paste, and planned how to sell fruit. Xiao Jian offered Li Muqing many ideas. Li Muqing actually had no interest in selling fruit, but seeing Xiao Jian so diligently brainstorming ideas for her, she felt incredibly flattered and listened very attentively. By the end of the meal, they had already planned how to start a business together.

After a satisfying meal, Xiao Jian and Li Muqing paid the bill and were about to leave when Wang Youai rushed over from across the street: "Xiao Heizi!! Xiao Heizi!!"

Looking at the panting Wang Youai, Li Muqing said, "Are you going to a funeral? Why are you in such a hurry? What's wrong?"

"Boss, I...I'm looking for Xiao Jian. His mom just called the dorm and said there's an emergency at home. She told him to...to call his neighbor, Aunt Zhang, right away!"

"What's the rush?" Before Li Muqing could finish asking, Xiao Jian had already run towards the dormitory. He knew that unless it was something serious, he usually communicated with his family by phone. If he made a phone call this time, something terrible must have happened.

"Xiao Jian, you idiot! I have a phone here, why are you running?!" Li Muqing shouted in the direction Xiao Jian ran.

Chapter 020