Chapter 78 - 78: How Dare I Take Your Money?
Shopkeeper Liu rolled her eyes. “That’s the brat’s own troubles. She’s not even anxious herself. Why are you so anxious?” However, not long after he finished speaking, he asked, “Were you really not afraid at all when you saw that girl back then?”
Shopkeeper Xu laughed in his heart. He knew that Shopkeeper Liu was stubborn but soft-hearted. He sat down and told her in detail.
At this moment, not only was Xiaoxiao not anxious because someone had snatched her business, she even happily pulled Second Brother to a convenient corner to watch the show and watched Second Uncle Ning come out of the Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant.
Second Uncle Ning came to the Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant after he failed at the Fragrance Restaurant. Although he was unhappy that someone had suppressed the price, it was still profitable to sell this kind of business without capital.
There were many bamboo shoots on the mountain. He could dig as many as he wanted. The marinated materials were not worth much. He could use them again after using them once. Moreover, he could put in more water and less bamboo shoots when delivering the goods. Wouldn’t he earn back the suppressed price if he propped up the weight of the pickle jar?
At this thought, he happily went to meet Second Aunt Ning.
It was impossible for him to keep bringing such a big jar back and forth. It was tiring, right? Hence, when he went to negotiate, he relied on his glib tongue. He would send the goods for inspection after they were settled.
Judging others by his own standards, he carefully poured out all the soup before taking away the pickled vegetable jar. He ensured that no one could tell what ingredients were added. After confirming that everything was ready, he easily picked up the much lighter jar.
Xiaoxiao and Ning Erlang followed him all the way until they reached the alley where Second Aunt Ning was waiting. Ning Erlang panicked when he saw his second uncle coming out of the alley. He rolled up his sleeves as if he was about to fight. Fortunately, Xiaoxiao was quick to stop him.
Ning Erlang scratched his ears and cheeks. “Sister, why are you pulling me? Let me expose Second Uncle!” It was fine that he had never received their help, but he even wanted to poach their business. What kind of family was this? What bloody kind of family was this?!
Xiaoxiao raised her arm and patted Ning Erlang’s shoulder. “Second Brother, calm down. It’s fine if he can’t do this business. If he succeeds, only he and the Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant will be unlucky.”
Ning Erlang’s reaction was slower, so Xiaoxiao reminded him, “Have you forgotten the ingredients 1 added to the pickle jar?”
At the thought of this, Ning Erlang calmed down and obediently followed his sister and Second Uncle.
As expected, the latter went to the Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant again. Clearly, they had already negotiated the deal just now. However, a strange thing happened. Just as he stepped on the threshold of the Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant, he suddenly staggered forward. With a clang, the pickled vegetable jar fell to the ground and shattered, the entire jar of sour bamboo shoots scattering all over the ground.
Second Uncle Ning was dumbfounded. He turned around and scolded, “Which blind bastard pushed me?” However, there was no one behind him. Clearly, that fall just now was his own problem.
Falling was a small matter, but business was a big deal. The shopkeeper was still waiting inside to try the food. If this matter did not work, the price they had negotiated just now would be for nothing.
Second Uncle Ning was a quick-witted person when it came to money. Hence, when he saw the mess on the ground, his first reaction was to tell the shop assistant and run out again.
The shop assistant looked at the mess at the door and pulled a long face. However, the instigator had already run away. Moreover, the shopkeeper specially instructed him to be more polite to this person, so he could only mutter softly and bend down to clean.
However, just as he approached the pile of things, he could not help but feel like vomiting. What kind of strange smell was this? Was this thing really edible?
As this jar of sour bamboo shoots from the eldest branch was very useful, no one in the old residence had touched it except for Old Madam Ning who picked up a few chopsticks to taste it at the beginning. Hence, no one knew what was going on with the bamboo shoots inside.
Second Uncle Ning walked away too quickly, so of course he missed the opportunity to realize that something was wrong.
Xiaoxiao and the others continued to follow their second uncle. The more they walked, the more familiar they felt that this route was. Xiaoxiao quickly thought of something and quickened her pace as she muttered to her second brother. Relying on his familiarity with this area, Ning Erlang took a shortcut and quickly returned to his stall. When he arrived, he saw Rong Yan slowly walking over with Yun Yi.
He and Xiaoxiao went to deliver the goods today and let Ning Dalang take care of the stall. Dalang was a little surprised to see Second Uncle suddenly appear, and he was even more surprised to hear that he wanted to buy their sour bamboo shoots. Just as he was hesitating, he saw his second brother, who had not returned after delivering goods to Fragrance Restaurant with his sister.
His younger brother was impatient, especially when it came to matters related to the old residence. Ning Dalang hurriedly stood up and prepared to send his second uncle away before his younger brother said anything unpleasant.
Unexpectedly, Ning Erlang was faster than him. He took the spoon from his brother’s hand and filled two large spoonfuls of sharp bamboo shoots for Second Uncle before he started wrapping them with oil paper. Ning Dalang thought that he wanted to earn more money from Second Uncle. Second Uncle Ning thought so too and was already prepared to spend a lot of money. He even took out two copper coins in pain.
Unexpectedly, Ning Erlang changed his usual attitude and handed the oil paper bag forward. “Second Uncle, if you want to eat sour bamboo shoots, just say it.. How can 1 accept your money?”