Today, the weather was exceptionally hot and stuffy.
In this kind of weather, fish and shrimp die quickly, so by noon, Jiang Xiaobai had only received half the usual amount of live shrimp that still had a breath of life.
By following the same method, those originally almost-dead lobsters magically regained vitality after Jiang Xiaobai sprinkled some water on them.
Because there weren’t many shrimp today, Jiang Xiaobai didn’t ask Zhao Sanlin to help transport them to the city.
Jiang Xiaobai and Moron took turns pedaling the three-wheeler into the city.
The weather was exceptionally hot and stuffy.
The clouds were low, as if you could touch them by raising your hand.
When Jiang Xiaobai and Moron pedaled into the city, their clothes were soaked with sweat, sticking damply to their bodies.
Jiang Xiaobai was fine, but Moron’s face was flushed red from the heat, waving his hand to fan himself.
Passing by a street-side convenience store, Jiang Xiaobai hurriedly bought Moron an ice cream and a cold drink.
Moron chugged down a big gulp, finally feeling much better.
The two of them rested for a while under the shade of a tree.
Just as they were about to set off, Jiang Xiaobai’s phone suddenly rang in his pocket.
Jiang Xiaobai looked at the number, and it was actually Qin Xianglian calling.
“Moron, your mom’s calling.
She’s probably urging you to go home.”
Moron, chewing on his ice cream, mumbled, “Xiaobai, tell my mom I’m not going back.”
Jiang Xiaobai answered the phone and said, “Auntie, what can I do for you?”
Qin Xianglian said, “Xiaobai, where are you?
I’ve come to the city.”
Jiang Xiaobai was taken aback.
Yesterday, he had just mentioned it casually, and Qin Xianglian actually took it seriously.
It seemed that Qin Xianglian still didn’t trust him enough.
Jiang Xiaobai told Qin Xianglian his location, and after a while, Qin Xianglian jumped down from a human-powered three-wheeler, giving the driver two yuan.
“Mom!”
Seeing Qin Xianglian, Moron immediately ran up to her, offering the remaining half of his ice cream to her mouth.
“Mom, you must be hot.
Try it, it’s delicious.”
“Xiao Lang, you’re so sweet.
Mom doesn’t want it, you eat it.” Qin Xianglian’s eyes were filled with deep maternal love as she looked at her son.
Then she turned to Jiang Xiaobai and said, “Xiaobai, today let me see how you sell shrimp.”
Jiang Xiaobai sighed and said, “Auntie, your distrust makes me feel like I’m in an ice cave on this hot summer day, chilled to the bone, especially my heart, frozen through and through!”
Jiang Xiaobai pointed to his heart, showing an exaggerated expression.
“Get lost!
Stop using such pretentious words with me!
Hurry up!
If I find out you’ve been lying to me, you’ll see how I deal with you!” Qin Xianglian raised her eyebrows and said angrily.
Jiang Xiaobai pushed the three-wheeler to Food City, with Qin Xianglian and Moron following behind.
They arrived outside the Another Village Lobster Restaurant, just as Lin Yong came out with a briefcase.
When he saw Jiang Xiaobai and the others, his eyes were glued to Qin Xianglian.
“You rascal, didn’t you say you had something urgent to do?
Why haven’t you left yet?”
Inside came Zheng Xia’s voice.
Despite his burly appearance, Lin Yong was actually afraid of his wife.
Hearing Zheng Xia’s voice, he immediately averted his eyes from Qin Xianglian.
“Xiaobai, delivering lobsters again?
I’m in a hurry to go out.
Just balance the account with your Sister Xia.” Lin Yong walked over and patted Jiang Xiaobai’s shoulder, then got into his Range Rover and sped away.
Zheng Xia saw Jiang Xiaobai and immediately greeted him with a smile.
Upon seeing Qin Xianglian, she was taken aback and asked, “Xiaobai, who is this?
So beautiful!”
Jiang Xiaobai said, “This is my auntie.
She came to town on business and we ran into each other.
Sister Xia, today’s lobsters are all here.
I’ll give you as many as you want.”
Zheng Xia smiled and said, “Give them all to me.
Honestly, this might not even be enough for my needs.
Xiaobai, next time you get any, deliver them here first.
Sister Xia won’t let you suffer a loss.”
As she spoke, Zheng Xia had already called over the store employees to unload the lobsters from the cart to weigh.
After weighing, Zheng Xia said, “Xiaobai, Sister Xia will still give you yesterday’s price.”
Zheng Xia pressed the calculator, got a number, and showed it to Jiang Xiaobai.
“Sister Xia, I don’t need the small change, just give me a round number.”
“Alright, Sister Xia won’t stand on ceremony with you.” Zheng Xia took out a thick wad of 100 yuan bills from the drawer and counted them out for Jiang Xiaobai with a money counter.
Qin Xianglian witnessed the entire process herself.
Jiang Xiaobai sold over 500 kilograms of shrimp at fifty yuan per kilogram, earning twenty-five thousand yuan from Zheng Xia.
“You all look so hot.
Take a few bottles of cold drinks with you.”
Before leaving, Zheng Xia gave them a few bottles of cold drinks.
Exiting Food City, Jiang Xiaobai parked the tricycle by the roadside and said with a smile, “Auntie, now you should believe that my money is earned honestly and legitimately.”
Seeing it with her own eyes, Qin Xianglian, though still somewhat skeptical, had to believe that Jiang Xiaobai’s money was legal and proper.
“Xiaobai, what’s the cost price of your shrimp per kilogram?” Qin Xianglian asked.
Jiang Xiaobai said, “Auntie, to be honest, the cost of that cart of shrimp was less than a thousand.”
“How could it be so cheap?” Qin Xianglian showed a look of disbelief.
“They were all almost dead.
If they didn’t sell them, they’d have to throw them away.” Jiang Xiaobai said.
“But,” Qin Xianglian frowned, “just now, the lobsters were all lively.”
Jiang Xiaobai chuckled and said, “Auntie, that’s my secret to making big money.
I discovered a potion that can bring dying fish and shrimp back to life.
Don’t tell anyone!”
“Is it true?” Qin Xianglian’s face was full of disbelief.
Jiang Xiaobai shrugged and said, “If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”
Qin Xianglian said, “You’re always full of tricks.
Even as an adult, I can’t guess what you’re thinking.
Xiaobai, don’t blame me for not trusting you.
You know my Xiao Lang’s situation.
As his mother, I have to worry more than others!”
“I understand.” Jiang Xiaobai looked up at the sky and said, “Auntie, I still have to go to the antique market.
Do you and Xiao Lang want to come with me or go back first?”
“Mom, I want to follow Xiaobai!”
Moron clung tightly to the three-wheeler, afraid Qin Xianglian would drag him back.
“Sigh, I’ll wait and go back with you all.” Qin Xianglian said.
The three of them soon arrived at the antique market.
Jiang Xiaobai entered a jade shop, carrying two snakeskin bags of jade fragments.
“Manager, check the goods.”
The young man behind the counter turned his head, moving his eyes from the computer screen.
Seeing Jiang Xiaobai’s poor appearance, he sneered coldly.
“Stop bringing fake stuff to fool people.
Do you even know where you are?”
“Bang!”
Jiang Xiaobai grabbed a piece of jade and slapped it onto the counter.
“Is this jade fake?”