Chapter 126: “A Business Rival Appears”

Zhou Xinyue knelt on the ground sincerely. Before Lu Zhiyuan could speak, she wiped her tears and stood up by herself: “During this period, I will work hard to find a job. I was trapped in past pain, which also hurt Xiaowei. Now I have figured things out.”

Lu Zhiyuan looked at her with mixed feelings. Xiaowei was her biological son; she would rather give up her own child than let Xiaowei suffer…

“If you really repent, then focus on taking care of the child. Nowadays, the government supports individual businesses a lot. Yunshu lost her job but can still live selling boxed meals. As long as you’re willing to work hard, you won’t starve,” Lu Zhiyuan said before taking Xiaowei to the hospital.

Zhou Xinyue watched them leave with tears and a faint smile, but as soon as the door closed, her expression darkened. There was no way she would just leave quietly from this hypocritical Lu family!

After the Lantern Festival, the last firework was set off — marking the official end of the New Year. Every industry gradually resumed work. Haicheng Train Station was crowded with people carrying bundles, all coming here to find work.

Construction sites resumed as well, and the motorized tricycles really made things easier.

When Xie Yunshu came out of the project department, she noticed a tricycle parked at her original food-selling spot. A middle-aged woman was occupying her place, and there were several pots on the vehicle.

Since the area outside the construction site was public, anyone could come sell food. Xie Yunshu frowned slightly but said nothing, and just parked her vehicle across from the woman. It was the first day back at work; she wasn’t sure how things would go and didn’t dare to do much. Competition was expected, but she wasn’t afraid she wouldn’t sell anything.

The middle-aged woman was the first to speak: “Young lady, you selling meals here too?”

Xie Yunshu nodded with a smile: “I was already selling here before the New Year.”

The woman rolled her eyes and laughed: “You look young. Just call me Aunt Li! Aunt Li will tell you, this ‘exclusive business’ isn’t for you. I cook well and sell cheaper. When my business is better than yours, don’t get mad!”

Her smile was friendly but carried a bit of sarcasm. Xie Yunshu stayed quiet.

Feeling okay? Of course not. But from the beginning, she understood that selling boxed meals, a low-skill business, naturally had competition. People nearby who saw her doing well would definitely be jealous.

But business wasn’t hers to decide alone — no one could stop others from doing the same. Everyone must make money on their own merits, no “first come, first served.”

A new year had passed; the workers on the site had changed. Around lunch time, many people came out. Aunt Li’s loud voice echoed: “Pork stewed with cabbage, smells delicious! Forty cents a scoop!”

Some workers who were buying food from Xie Yunshu heard it and turned toward Aunt Li’s side, muttering: “She only sells for forty cents, your fifty cents is too expensive!”

Honestly, fifty cents for a meat dish was not expensive, especially since Xie Yunshu gave free small pickles and extra chili oil, and used plenty of meat. The workers here were ordinary people doing hard labor, earning sweat money — not like those at the securities trading center.

Xie Yunshu was running on a low-profit, high-volume principle at first. The new competitor probably already knew her prices and deliberately undercut them. One cent may sound small, but for workers who count every penny, it made a big difference.

Old acquaintance Li Shengli led about ten people toward Xie Yunshu’s stand. Aunt Li immediately shouted: “Brothers! Forty cents a meal here! Come try!”

Her aggressive shout was basically a blatant attempt to steal business. Unless Xie Yunshu dropped her prices to forty cents, she wouldn’t win today.

Li Shengli didn’t stop and led his group to Xie Yunshu: “Sis, happy New Year! Same as before, one meat, one vegetable, two steamed buns!”

Xie Yunshu hadn’t expected Li Shengli to come to her side; her heart warmed: “Brother Li, want extra chili oil?”

“Yes!” Li Shengli laughed heartily and raised his voice: “Sis, how do you put so much meat in these dishes? Fifty cents is worth it! Plus the free pickles and chili oil, I’d even pay sixty cents here!”

The people behind him were the same group as before the New Year. Hearing this, they all nodded: “Yeah, when you pay for food, you gotta eat well. Otherwise, might as well just drink cold water — that’s free!”

Many workers who had gone to Aunt Li for cheaper meals now regretted it when they saw the big chunks of fat meat in Xie Yunshu’s bowls. Regardless, the food from the young girl across was definitely better.

Some who were about to get food from Aunt Li turned around and walked back to Xie Yunshu.

Xie Yunshu winked at Li Shengli: “Brother Li, I’ll add more meat for you tomorrow!”

This made Aunt Li’s face dark with anger. She threw down her rag and sneered: “A little girl surrounded by a bunch of grown men — shameless!”

Xie Yunshu ignored her and continued selling. She had already built up a loyal customer base, and with Li Shengli’s half-shout, her food sold out quickly.

At that moment, Qiangzi strolled out of the construction site. His complexion looked better than before the New Year. He took out thirty cents and gave it to Xie Yunshu with a shy smile: “Today, I want a vegetable dish, two steamed buns, and more chili oil.”

Xie Yunshu showed him the bottom of the pot: “Why did you come out so late? There’s only this left. It’s not enough for a full portion, so you’ll have to make do.”

It was usually like this; she’d save the leftovers for Qiangzi, add some broth and pickles, making a simple meal. For these meals, she only charged ten cents.

Qiangzi politely put the money down: “Still have to pay; I can’t always take advantage.”

Then his eyes brightened: “Tiantian’s illness is getting better. My mom said she’ll start school in the summer. I’ll earn enough for her!”

Tiantian was the girl he had taken in. Because she was sick, Qiangzi had struggled financially. Now that medicine wasn’t a worry, it was like a weight had lifted from his shoulders.

Xie Yunshu was happy for him: “That’s good.”

She accepted his thirty cents without hesitation.

Aunt Li watched for a long time. Xie Yunshu had sold out, but she still had some portions left and yelled loudly: “Young man, come eat here! It’s cheaper — meat dishes are forty cents, vegetables one fifty!”

Qiangzi was honest and smiled at her: “Auntie, I just like pickles. You don’t have pickles there.”

With Li Shengli in front and now Qiangzi too, those who had gone to Aunt Li now regretted it more. Seems like saving that one cent isn’t so easy after all — tomorrow, they’d better eat at the young girl’s place!