“You-” The chubby saleswoman turned beet red, her stubby finger trembling as she pointed at Shen Zhihuan, but she was so furious that no words came out.

“Let me give you one last piece of advice: if you’re going to insult someone, think before you speak. Don’t just spout nonsense. When you’re free, grab a mirror and take a good look at yourself. If you don’t have one, a puddle will do,” Shen Zhihuan said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“You sickly twig… you-” The chubby saleswoman’s rage skyrocketed, her round face flushing an unhealthy shade of liver red.

“I’ll beat you to death, you sickly ghost!” she roared, charging forward.

Sensing trouble, a middle-aged saleswoman who had been watching quickly stepped in to restrain her.

A verbal spat was one thing, but physical violence? If it escalated, everyone present would get dragged into trouble.

Besides, the woman in front of the counter looked like a stiff breeze could knock her over. One punch from this raging “pig” might lead to a serious accident-or worse. If that happened, as the group leader for the fruit section, she wouldn’t just lose her job-her career might be over.

“I think I saw Director Tang,” the middle-aged saleswoman whispered urgently.

The chubby saleswoman froze mid-rampage. In an instant, her aggressive demeanor vanished, replaced by a… bashful, almost coquettish expression.

Her sudden change in attitude was so absurd that Shen Zhihuan couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Her chuckles earned her a dramatic eye roll from the chubby saleswoman, who then threw her another sharp glare.

Sensing that the tension might escalate again, the middle-aged saleswoman quickly pulled the chubby saleswoman aside. Whatever she whispered in her ear seemed to do the trick, as the latter’s indignation melted into a saccharine smile.

At that moment, a young woman in a floral dress, carrying a small satchel, approached the fruit counter. She passed by the watermelons and peaches before stopping in front of the lychees.

A nearby saleswoman hurried over with a bright smile.

“Comrade, are you interested in some lychees? These just arrived yesterday. They’re as fresh as can be.”

Fresh…

Shen Zhihuan’s lips twitched involuntarily.

The lychee skins had already changed color. How could they still call that “fresh”?

“Do you have anything that arrived today?” the young woman asked, idly sifting through the lychees on display.

“No, we don’t,” the saleswoman replied, her smile turning apologetic.

The lychee farms were over a thousand kilometers away from the county. Even with two drivers taking shifts non-stop, it took nearly 24 hours to transport the fruit. Factoring in the round trip, it was a minimum of two days. That’s assuming the truck didn’t break down; if it did, a week’s delay wouldn’t be unusual.

“Why don’t you come back tomorrow? We’re expecting a fresh batch of lychees and peaches then,” the saleswoman added helpfully.

“Alright, I’ll come back tomorrow,” the young woman said before turning to leave.

Shen Zhihuan glanced at the saleswoman, who had her head down, busy arranging the lychees. Seeing that she wasn’t paying attention, Shen Zhihuan’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

The sun blazed overhead, and the streets were nearly empty. The few passersby hurried along, heads down against the heat.

“Comrade, I have fresh lychees. Would you like some?” Shen Zhihuan caught up to the young woman, her voice low as she furtively glanced around to ensure there were no suspicious onlookers.

The young woman’s eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing Shen Zhihuan from head to toe.

Seeing her hesitation, Shen Zhihuan quickly reached into her pocket, pulling out two plump lychees, and placed them into the woman’s hand.

“Try them first. Decide after you taste them.”