Edward and Kelly eagerly took the items An Xin offered, their eyes lighting up with excitement. Kelly couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked,

“Oh, Sara, these things look like they’re of great quality. Would you consider selling them to us?”

They had been in the country for a while and hadn’t come across high-quality chocolate or rich coffee in ages. As for chewing gum, it was practically non-existent here—or at least, they hadn’t found any. They’d been longing for such luxuries, and now that they were within reach, they were desperate to buy them. After all, they’d earned a good amount of money here and wanted to enjoy a better quality of life.

An Xin shrugged indifferently.

“Oh, why not? Since it’s fate that brought us together, let’s make a deal. I’ll give you a 50% discount—how about that?”

Edward and Kelly exchanged glances, seeing the glint of getting a bargain reflected in each other’s eyes.

Edward immediately pulled out his wallet, took out some foreign exchange coupons, and handed them to her with a cheerful smile.

“Sara, thank you so much!”

These items would cost around $100 in the United States, but the products An Xin had were clearly superior. It was obvious they were getting a great deal.

An Xin swiftly pocketed the foreign exchange coupons and cast a glance at the overjoyed pair. Inside, she sneered:

Hah! With the stash I’ve got, I could sell to you forever. My magical warehouse refills itself automatically, an endless treasure trove. I’m simply making easy money off you guys.

As her thoughts mocked them, her face remained calm and friendly. She watched as the two eagerly stuffed their purchases into mesh bags, then couldn’t help but offer,

“You’re planning to stay in the country for a while, right? One tin of coffee won’t last long. Why not take advantage of the 50% discount and stock up on a few more tins?”

To make her suggestion sound more selfless, she quickly added,

“Of course, as your friend, I’m only thinking of your convenience. What if you finish your coffee and can’t find me right away? Where else would you get coffee this good?”

These few words were enough to sway Edward and Kelly. Edward pull his wallet out again and retrieve even more foreign exchange coupons and hand them over to An Xin.

“You’re absolutely right. Let’s take a few more tins of coffee,” Edward said enthusiastically.

Kelly chimed in, “And let’s add more chocolate and chewing gum too!”

An Xin couldn’t have been happier. By the time they left the café, she had over 200 yuan worth of foreign exchange coupons in her pocket.

At the door, Edward and Kelly reluctantly said goodbye, insisting she leave them her address so they could visit her later. An Xin politely declined but gave them the village’s phone number, resolving to inform the village chief later. Maintaining this line of business could come in handy.

Though An Xin didn’t plan to rely on selling goods forever, she wasn’t sure what challenges might arise in the future.

With the foreign exchange coupons safely in her pocket, An Xin returned to the train station. This time, she approached a minivan driver, who wasn’t getting much business. After giving him a pack of cigarettes, she learned about Liu Junkai, a leader in the provincial minivan business, known by the nickname “Kai Zi.”

Though the nickname seemed harmless, An Xin always feels that this nickname sounds a bit like a pimp.

Her ultimate goal? To rent a minivan and start a taxi service in the provincial city. It might seem small now, but in a few years, as cities expanded and transportation needs increased, the taxi industry would become a lucrative and enduring market.

After slipping the driver (driver’s name- Xiaoqing) a 10-yuan foreign exchange coupon, she persuaded him to drive her to a run-down alley where Kai Zi operated.

The alley was old. Walking on its weathered stone paths, An Xin felt a deep connection to the past, as though the stones themselves whispered tales of bygone eras. Following Xiaoqing’s lead, she arrived at a dilapidated courtyard.

As the gate creaked open, Xiaoqing shouted,

“Kai Zi! Someone’s here to see you!”

Moments later, a young man in a short jacket emerged from a pile of scrap metal, shouting back,

“Who’s looking for me in broad daylight? Is it a woman?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes met An Xin’s. His face froze for a moment before he quickly looked away, clearly embarrassed.

The man, Kai Zi, stepped out of the scrap heap, covered in grime but exuding a rugged air of street smarts and camaraderie.

After thanking Xiaoqing and sending him on his way, An Xin approached directly.

“You’re Kai Zi, right?”

As she spoke, she finally got a good look at him. His face was youthful and bold, with sharp features that radiated a wild, untamed energy. He didn’t look like someone easy to deal with.

But so what? An Xin had already decided to break into the taxi industry, and it wasn’t a business for the faint-hearted.

Kai Zi sized her up, his eyes scanning her like a machine gun. He seemed both curious and wary. Taking his time, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it with a match, and exhaled a smoke ring before responding lazily,

“What brings a young girl like you here?”

Despite her youthful appearance, An Xin’s demeanor was strikingly mature, her eyes carrying a calm, frosty sharpness. She seemed pure yet formidable, like a pristine snowcap on a remote mountain.

For someone like Kai Zi, accustomed to a gritty, perilous lifestyle, her clean, straightforward presence was both disarming and intriguing.

An Xin, unfazed by his scrutiny, got straight to the point.

“I heard you have minivans for rent. I’m here because I want to rent one to start a taxi service in the city.”

She envisioned herself driving the minivan, speaking fluent English to attract foreign passengers, and occasionally selling high-quality items from her portable warehouse. It was, in her mind, the quickest way to earn money.

Her mother’s illness couldn’t wait, and An Xin was determined to earn enough to get her treated before it worsened.