The leader of the thugs leered at Shen Jingyan, "Little sister, you're so pretty, why are you setting up your stall alone? Where's your brother? Where's your dad? Aren't they with you?"

He looked around, clearly trying to confirm whether Shen Jingyan had any help.

"If you're not buying Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls), then go somewhere far away and don't delay my business."

Shen Jingyan didn't even bother to lift her eyelids, and continued stirring the glutinous rice balls in the pot.

The thug, feeling ignored, scoffed in annoyance.

"Little sister, how much money can you make selling glutinous rice balls? It hurts my heart to see you standing in this cold wind."

He grinned and reached out to touch Shen Jingyan's face. "Come on, come on, let your brother treat you to a meal at the state-run restaurant. Braised pork knuckle, mutton buns, and soft drinks. How wonderful!"

Shen Jingyan's eyes sharpened, and her fingers, hidden in her sleeve, clenched so tightly they made a cracking sound.

"bite--"

The system's voice rang in his mind, "Dear Master, this man's name is Liu Haisheng. He's a local tyrant, and his brother-in-law is a town official. Nobody dares to mess with him!"

Shen Jingyan gave a dismissive smile: "So what?"

"Here's a task assigned to the master."

The system's voice carried a hint of excitement, "Making Liu Haisheng look bad in public will earn you two thousand points!"

Shen Jingyan gripped the spoon in her hand tightly: "Oh, what a coincidence, I was just looking at him with displeasure."

She had a sudden inspiration and came up with a great idea.

"Are you going to treat me to dinner?" she asked, feigning interest.

Liu Haisheng smiled smugly. He knew that the girls in the village were short-sighted. Give them a good meal and a drink, and they would be grateful to him and do whatever they wanted.

"Hehe, do you think I'd lie to you when I'm rich?"

Shen Jingyan pointed to the glutinous rice balls in the pot: "But this pot of glutinous rice balls has just been cooked. If we can't sell them, it will be a waste."

A few of Liu Haisheng's henchmen gathered around, wrinkling their noses and sniffing the sweet aroma wafting from the pot.

"Brother Haizi, these glutinous rice balls look delicious."

Liu Haisheng said without hesitation, "We brothers will buy all your glutinous rice balls for the Lantern Festival! After we finish eating, come with me to a restaurant, okay?"

"Really? You can finish it all?"

"A piece of cake!"

"Not a single one left?"

"Of course!"

Shen Jingyan smiled happily and said, "Please sit down, everyone. I'll serve you some Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls)!"

Liu Haisheng and his four little followers sat down at the small table with smiles on their faces.

Where else in the world can you find such a good deal: beautiful girls to date and free glutinous rice balls?

Shen Jingyan sneered, turned around and exchanged a bag of salt from her spatial storage, then sprinkled it all into the pot.