Standing Next To You-Chapter 271: Selling Rice Cakes and Fish

A/n: This Chapter is now fixed. Thank you for waiting.

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"...What do you need?" the youth managed to ask.

Annoyed by his demeanor, Lin Sunji squinted. "I can’t hear you. Speak up."

The youth: "...."

He turned away and resumed walking.

Lin Sunji’s expression shifted. It seemed she had offended him again. Despite his timid appearance, he possessed a short temper. If Zhong Cheng weren’t so irritating, Lin Sunji wouldn’t bother engaging with someone like him.

"Wait, I have something to say," she called after him.

The youth stopped and turned to face her once more.

Lin Sunji withdrew some bills from her wallet. "Go back to my booth. Use this money to buy all the cakes, and the rest is yours."

The youth glanced at the bills, estimating they amounted to several thousand.

He was stunned. "...Aren’t you selling rice cakes for money?"

Why would she give money to a customer to buy her products and even offer extra? It seemed strange to him.

Lin Sunji waved her hand dismissively. "That’s none of your business. Anyway, I’m offering you a good deal. You’ll get free rice cakes and even money. You won’t incur any loss."

The youth remained doubtful. Such a generous offer without any apparent reason seemed suspicious.

"...Is there something wrong with the rice cakes? Are they poisonous?" he asked cautiously.

"No, there’s nothing wrong with them. You can eat them or throw them away if you want. So, will you accept the deal?" Lin Sunji pressed, aware that she couldn’t stay away for too long, lest Zhong Cheng grow suspicious.

The youth considered the bills. They were tempting, and he could certainly use the money right now.

He accepted the bills, and Lin Sunji’s expression brightened. She smiled. "Great, then let’s go."

The youth was momentarily taken aback by her smile and looked down.

"Oh, and one more thing. When you buy the rice cakes later, act casual and pretend the money is yours, okay?"

The youth: "..."

This girl was indeed strange. Nevertheless, easy money was hard to resist, so he didn’t complain.

In shock and disbelief, Zhong Cheng watched as the returning youth bought all the rice cakes in Lin Sunji’s booth. Those rice cakes could feed at least a hundred people!

Lin Sunji regarded him with smugness. "I’ve completed the quota. Can I go home now? Ah, my legs are sore," she said, yawning and feigning a limp. This shamelessness was a lesson Lin Sunji had learned from Zhong Cheng over the past weeks.

Zhong Cheng: "..."

He cast a dubious glance at the departing youth carrying several boxes and then at Lin Sunji. He suspected she had done something, but seeing her cheerful mood, he decided not to dampen it.

At least she seemed more animated now compared to earlier.

Zhong Cheng caught up with her and handed her the drink he had reserved earlier for Lin Sunji. "I’m sure you made some kind of deal with him. But I’ll let it slide this time. Here."

Lin Sunji hesitated to accept it, it was a drink from an unknown shop. But Zhong Cheng pressed it into her hands.

Retorting, she said, "What deal? Didn’t you see him pay me? There’s no deal."

"Yeah, right. Anyway, I hope next time you sell rice cakes, you’ll rely on your own abilities," Zhong Cheng remarked.

"What’s the point of selling these useless pastries? I’m a daughter of the Lin family. I have no need for this," Lin Sunji retorted, convinced that Zhong Cheng was trying to make her suffer.

"No need? I know someone who established a company, expanded it across the city, and even set up a headquarters in the capital—all by selling fish."

"Selling fish? A fisherman became that wealthy?" Lin Sunji was incredulous. If someone could establish a headquarters in the capital, they were undoubtedly wealthy, though still beneath the hegemonic families like the Lin and Fei.

But to ascend from the bottom through selling fish? It seemed improbable.

"Impossible," Lin Sunji concluded.

"It is possible. The man was a fisherman, and his wife helped him sell their catch at the market. Initially, they sold their harvest only in their village. Then, with the income they saved, the man bought a new boat and hired others to fish with him. As their fish supply increased, so did their customer base.

"With the earnings from selling fish, they bought more boats until the entire village became a community of fishermen under the man’s leadership. Their supply grew, and they became the primary fishery supplying the entire local market." Zhong Cheng was immersed in the story and continued,

"The wife excelled at networking and sought out new markets for their products. As they found new clients, they expanded beyond just fish to include crabs, squids, and various other seafood varieties. They processed their products into dried, marinated, or snack forms. Their business expanded to other cities and eventually reached the capital." Zhong Cheng smiled as he reminisced,

"Of course, they faced many struggles initially and lived frugally to save money for their business. But their hard work and sacrifices eventually paid off," Zhong Cheng concluded with pride, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.

Lin Sunji found the story unbelievable. Could someone truly start from nothing and build a company that reached the capital? Without connections, backing, or luck, but solely through hard work and determination?

Seeing Lin Sunji’s incredulous expression, Zhong Cheng felt compelled to add, "What I’m saying is, if you can learn to sell rice cakes without relying on your Lin family name, their money, or connections, you too could achieve something similar. Wouldn’t it be more satisfying and remarkable to build your own company from scratch with your own effort and perseverance? With such skills, you won’t need to fear your future wealth, because you’ll have the ability and wisdom to start anew."

Zhong Cheng’s words caused Lin Sunji to pause and reflect deeply.

Without the Lin family, her connections, and her wealth, would she be able to survive?

Lin Sunji glanced at the bustling street filled with vendors passionately calling out to attract customers. Until now, she had viewed them as impoverished, lacking in capability, and unworthy. In her mind, their existence was a testament to their inability to provide for their needs and desires.

However, after hearing the story Zhong Cheng shared, Lin Sunji’s perspective shifted. She realized that these individuals were actually acquiring the skills and wisdom necessary to build something from nothing, to start a business, and to create opportunities for themselves.

Lost in thought, Lin Sunji absentmindedly took a sip from the drink in her hand. As the flavor filled her mouth, she was taken aback by its unexpected quality. She had always been accustomed to drinking beverages from high-end establishments or homemade drinks. How could she have underestimated the appeal of such an inexpensive drink?

Observing Lin Sunji’s quiet enjoyment of the drink, Zhong Cheng felt a twinge of disappointment that she didn’t inquire further about the story. He had anticipated her curiosity about the couple’s identity, ready to respond with satisfaction.

Nonetheless, he held onto hope that this stubborn, prideful, and arrogant young woman would one day come to understand the lesson hidden within the narrative.