Chapter 193
You just need to stay with us!
Chapter 193 You just need to stay with us!
In the evening, Fang Shi, who had spent another day surveying the terrain, returned to Emerald City, but was stopped by a small hand as he entered the city.
"Big brother, can I have something to eat? I'm so hungry."
A child who looked only seven or eight years old held a broken wooden bowl, his clothes were tattered and his face was covered in dust, but his clean big eyes were full of expectation and timidity as he looked up at Fang Shi.
Beyond the children, at the foot of the city wall not far away, there were several other children huddled together, also watching this side. They and the child who stepped forward must be a group, and this child was the oldest among them.
Unlike other refugees, these children were not accompanied by adults.
So Fang Shi squatted down and asked, "Where are the adults in your family?"
Upon hearing this, the child lowered his head, looked at the broken bowl, and said, "The village is gone, and so are my father and mother. A kind uncle took us from afar to the edge of the city."
This short sentence encapsulates the plight of every orphan during the ordeal caused by wild animals.
Fang Shi sighed softly, took out some fruit, gave several to each child, and then asked, "What are your plans for the future?"
The child shook his head in confusion. He stared at the fruit in his hand, his mouth watering. He just wanted to take these back first so that everyone could fill their stomachs.
So Fang Shi said, "You can't live by begging forever. Let me show you a way. See those people who frequently come and go from the city gate? Ask those uncles and aunts who look like they're doing odd jobs if they need any help. If they do, ask what kind of work it is. As long as you can do it, seize the opportunity. You can at least earn enough to eat and stay at home."
2.— .
One is considered a good thing.
"Oh—thank you, brother." The child seemed to understand but not quite, clearly not fully comprehending the meaning.
Fang Shi was helpless. Looking around, he saw hundreds of meters of city walls lined with refugees.
"Remember to eat these fruits right away, don't leave too many."
After offering a final, well-intentioned reminder, Fang Shi still went into the city.
"Big brother! Thank you." The child didn't know much about etiquette, but he knew that when he saw his parents for the last time, they taught him to say thank you often so that he wouldn't starve to death.
Fang Shi did not turn back and walked into the city.
"Xiao Fang is back?" As soon as Fang Shi entered, Zhu Huan'e pulled him over to sit next to her and showed him the accounts from recent times.
The hot pot restaurant's business results were very encouraging after being summarized. Although the items circulated in the store were only low-grade or even ordinary, the turnover had caught up with the alchemy store in less than two weeks. It was as if a needle had punctured the pockets of those wealthy people, allowing wealth to flow into Zhu Huan'e's name.
This is also because there are too few forms of entertainment in the mortal world and the mystical realm. No matter how much those rich young men go to brothels to listen to music and seek out wine and pleasure, they can...
There's not much to spend money on.
Even before the hot pot restaurant has been fully promoted throughout the entire Emerald City, the only concern is that the amount of ingredients purchased is much larger than that of Dandian, requiring more accounting records. However, given the current results, it doesn't matter, and surpassing Dandian is just around the corner.
This is what makes the lower-tier market so formidable: the advantage of sheer numbers is amplified to an extreme degree, enough to cause a qualitative change from a quantitative one.
Recently, Zhu Huan'e has used her pharmacological knowledge to improve the original prescription of Fang Shi, creating a fragrant soup recipe for different ingredients to match various ingredients with different zodiac signs.
"Look, if we can keep earning this much for a few years, what can't we accomplish? When that time comes, I'll definitely take you and Xiaozhu home in style and let those old blockheads see what's what."
"Um."
Fang Shi listened quietly as his master explained the accounts to him, and secretly saw the joy on her face. Even though there was still pressure, it was much better than the day before.
As long as you know that your efforts have not been in vain, then all the sacrifices have been worthwhile.
"Xiao Fang?"
As she was talking, Zhu Huan'e noticed that Fang Shi was looking at her, not at the account book, and she became somewhat puzzled.
Fang Shi then said, "Master, if the hot pot restaurant wants to grow bigger and stronger in the future, it will still be a bit difficult to purchase ingredients."
Even though his master only reported good news and never bad news, he still saw through him with a single sentence.
Zhu Huan'e had no choice but to admit, "Yes, after all, we're just starting out. There's no rush. We'll take it slowly and things will get better eventually."
But Fang Shi shook his head and said, "Master, the situation is turbulent and the beasts are in disarray. We cannot delay."
"That----"
"I have an idea." Fang Shi had been thinking about it for a long time these past few days and finally came up with a suitable reason to leave: he would go out and develop a business to provide ingredients and materials for hot pot restaurants.
Of course, he didn't say directly that he was going to establish a village; he only said that he was going out to make his way in the world.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Huan'e immediately disagreed.
"No, Xiao Fang, you've planned so much for this shop. In terms of merit, you've done more than me and Xiao Zhu. How can we let you go out and suffer any more? I'll find someone to handle this. You just need to stay with us."
"But Master, this is the only way to ensure that nothing goes wrong."
To his surprise, his master refused to agree, even putting on his usual aloof demeanor, and no amount of pleading or cajoling could change his mind.
Having no other choice, he silently called upon his savior, Zhu Zhu, and sure enough, when he thought of Zhu Zhu, she appeared.
The girl came in looking angry again. When she looked up, she saw Zhu Huan'e holding Fang Shi with a serious expression. She immediately clicked her tongue and said, "Sister Zhu, how dare you say I'm not proper?"
"That's right, that's right." Fang Shizhi thought Zhu Zhu would be on his side, so he immediately revealed his plan in an attempt to gain her support.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Zhu raised her eyebrows and grabbed his other arm, shouting, "Are you trying to dump all this mess on me and Sister Zhu? You think you can run away so easily! Stay with us obediently. Even if Sister Zhu doesn't need you, I do."
Recently, Zhu Zhu has been managing the alchemy shop quite well. She has shed her naivety as a newcomer and has gained some of the dignified demeanor of a boss lady. Coupled with her face, which is quite similar to her master's, she is simply a young version of her master.
With both the big and small masters holding him back, Fang Shi was essentially caught by his two masters, unable to move or get up.
It's truly a case of: an insect mistakenly entering a spider's web, becoming trapped and cocooned.
"No way—"
Very well! Let me use my silver tongue to persuade them with emotion and reason.
So after a full hour, he finally silenced both his master and his aunt.
"Tell me, is this really necessary? What if all our efforts are wasted? All three of us would have worked for nothing, and it would be a huge loss. We have to minimize the risks."
Fang Shi used almost all the intimidating speech techniques he had learned in his previous life. He didn't want to add any more pressure, but only pressure could suppress their reluctance.
"All right----"
"Um--"
Finally, Master relented, and Zhu Zhu nodded in agreement.
>