Chapter 6790
A small arm can't twist a big thigh
The proprietress held skewers of meat in her hands, the iron skewers weaving back and forth in her rough yet skillful hands, as if she were weaving a beautiful dream.
But reality is so cruel. She sighed, her voice like a leaf falling in the night wind, filled with endless sorrow, and said, "Son, do you think we're really being targeted on purpose?"
“If we listen to them, we can move to that new district. Even though it’s not very lively there right now, it shouldn’t be this bad.”
"Look at this shop now, it's deserted and there's not a soul in sight. How are we supposed to make a living like this?"
Her eyes were filled with worry and regret, as if she could already see the day the shop would close down.
Zhang Fei puffed on his cigarette, the cigarette butt flickering between light and shadow at his lips, just like his anxious and uneasy mood.
The smoke rings slowly dissipated before his eyes, blurring his youthful gaze and making him look more weathered.
He exhaled a puff of smoke, which filled the air, carrying with it his worries and helplessness. He said, "Mom, I still believe in him. Besides, didn't he say he would bring his friends to support us?"
"Maybe a lot of people will come soon, and our shop will suddenly become lively."
Even so, he was still unsure. A small pile of cigarette butts lay at his feet, just like the worries that had accumulated in his heart.
They all knew that although this place had a large flow of people, if someone deliberately targeted you and wanted to cut off your business, you really would cut off your business.
Those who sabotage things behind the scenes are like demons lurking in the darkness, ready to devour their hopes at any moment.
It's been almost half a day, and not a single person has come to inquire. The shop is eerily quiet; not even a fly bothers to fly over.
Occasionally a few pedestrians would pass by, all in a hurry, their steps quick and forceful, as if something terrible was chasing them.
They didn't even glance at Zhang Peng's barbecue shop, as if the shop didn't exist at all.
The proprietress and Zhang Fei could only watch them leave, their hearts filled with disappointment and despair.
The proprietress was extremely anxious. In order to attract more customers, she even went to the street corner to hand out hundreds of flyers.
She designed this flyer herself, and every detail, from image selection to layout, reflects her hard work.
The packaging featured various barbecue images: glistening, golden-brown lamb skewers sizzling with oil; crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside chicken wings with an enticing sheen; and fresh, juicy, vibrant green chives.
Each picture is exquisitely taken, making one's mouth water and greatly increasing one's appetite.
She started posting at 2 PM and continued until 4 PM, under the scorching sun. Sweat soaked through her clothes and streamed down her face, blurring her vision.
She didn't even bother to wipe her sweat as she handed out flyers, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Come and try it tonight! The freshly grilled lamb skewers are delicious, fresh, and affordable!"
The sound went from being crisp and clear at first, to becoming hoarse and dry later, as if it had been sanded.
Even with her efforts, it was all in vain. Most passersby just glanced at the flyers and threw them on the ground, or simply refused to answer any inquiries.
The proprietress looked at the discarded flyers on the ground and felt a pang of pain in her heart, as if those flyers represented her shattered hopes.
If things continue like this, forget about making money, we might not even be able to earn enough to cover the property management fees.
The property management company is like a relentless nagging knapsack, constantly calling and visiting every few days, driving her to the brink of despair. Her husband is still in the hospital, waiting for money for treatment; every penny is as precious as a lifeline.
The proprietress was burning with anxiety, feeling as if a fire was raging in her chest, making her restless and helpless.
She could only watch helplessly as the night grew darker, like a giant black curtain slowly enveloping the entire food street.
One by one, the streetlights came on, casting long, yellowish shadows that resembled their heavy burdens.
Zhang Fei looked up at his dejected mother. She looked exhausted, her eyes filled with despair and helplessness, as if all her strength had been drained away.
A wave of bitterness washed over him. The cigarette in his hand had burned to the end, and he helplessly threw it to the ground. The sparks flew up and then went out instantly.
His tone was weary and resigned as he said, "Never mind, I guess we won't have any customers today."
"Let's pack up our things and start a takeout business later."
"With the store in this state, we can only rely on takeout to stay afloat."
"The market is really bad this year. The economy is sluggish, and people don't have much money to spend."
"If this continues, we won't even be able to raise enough money to save my dad's life."
As he spoke, he glanced into the store. In the dim light, the empty beer crates piled high in the corner looked like a silent mountain, making it hard for him to breathe.
The advertisements on the box were wrinkled from being soaked in the rain, and the originally bright colors became mottled and discolored. The words "Cool Summer" faded into a blurry gray-white, just like their bleak lives at this moment.
Several cockroaches were crawling in and out of the box through the cracks, moving freely in the darkness. They were startled by Zhang Fei's soft cough and retreated, but soon poked their heads out again to continue their "exploration".
Looking at the cockroaches, Zhang Fei felt a deep sense of powerlessness, as if he were just like them, struggling in this predicament but unable to find a way out.
The proprietress slowly withdrew her hand, her movements sluggish and weak. Her hands, which had been skillfully skewering the meat, now seemed to have lost all their vitality.
She stared blankly at the unfinished skewers of meat in front of her, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart, realizing that hardly anyone would come.
This deserted shop is like an isolated island forgotten by the world. Without customers, no amount of effort will be of any use.
She could only sit there helplessly, her arms crossed over her chest, sulking, her brows furrowed, her lips drooping, her eyes filled with despair and helplessness.
"Let's pack up and go. Maybe we'll have to think about doing something else in the future. We can't fight against their big guns."
The landlady's voice was low and hoarse, as if squeezed from the depths of her throat, carrying endless weariness and resignation.
She knew that in the face of this cruel reality, her persistence was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, utterly futile.
Zhang Fei silently picked up the half-smoked cigarette from the ground. The cigarette was already deformed from being stepped on, but he still put it back in his mouth and took a deep drag.
The smoke rings slowly dissipated before his eyes, like gray clouds, mingling with the smell of barbecue oil from the alley, drifting into the dark night sky and quickly disappearing without a trace. (End of Chapter)