Chapter 19: I’ll Listen to You

The couple didn’t slack off. They finished making the braised meat they would sell tomorrow morning before they considered themselves done. Xu An also went to bed early so she could wake up early.

The next day, she woke up early again. Xu An found that she was getting used to this biological clock. This wasn’t a good sign. She was getting further and further away from a comfortable life.

She rolled out of bed. Zhou Yu had already prepared everything that needed to be prepared. Seeing her wake up, he gestured towards the boiled water with his chin. Xu An quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth. The two of them rushed to the early market.

As soon as they arrived at their spot from yesterday, they found that even that remote spot was taken. Xu An frowned and tilted her head to look at Zhou Yu beside her, “We probably have to come earlier tomorrow.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Zhou Yu’s face harden. He stared fiercely at the vendor who had taken their spot, about to charge over.

She quickly stopped Zhou Yu, who was about to go and cause trouble, and shook her head slightly.

“We don’t have our permits yet. It’s not good for us to get into trouble.”

They had only started setting up their stall for the first day. They didn’t know anything about the other party, nor did they know if they had anyone backing them. They couldn’t rashly get into a conflict with them.

Zhou Yu’s face was cold as he stared at the man who had taken their spot, his expression unreadable.

He felt his sleeve being gently tugged by the woman beside him. Zhou Yu glanced at the woman’s worried expression, saw her slightly shaking her head, as if she was afraid he would cause trouble for someone else. He snorted and went with Xu An to find another empty spot to set up their stall.

The stall owner who had taken their spot saw the two of them coming over, but he didn’t look at them, as if he hadn’t seen them. He didn’t intend to give it up.

He felt a chill run down his spine as he was stared at by Zhou Yu. He was shivering all over, but he gritted his teeth and looked straight ahead, refusing to look at the menacing couple, as if not looking would prevent anything from happening.

He didn’t show any guilt for taking someone else’s spot, only fear of being confronted by this couple.

He had seen how good business Xu An and Zhou Yu had done yesterday, so he came early this morning and secretly took their spot.

Fortunately, the couple were sensible and didn’t come to cause trouble.

Until now, many of the regulars who had bought braised meat yesterday came over and saw the new stall. They didn’t even look at it and left. The stall owner was both angry and anxious.

Xu An had no choice. She and Zhou Yu found a new spot. The early market was already open, they couldn’t waste time. They had to set up their stall quickly.

As she was putting things away, she said to Zhou Yu, “Our reputation in this area isn’t very good. If things get out of hand, we don’t have our permits yet, and we don’t have anyone to help us. We won’t get anything good out of it.”

“If we cause trouble, in the current situation, we’ll just be punished equally. If our stall gets shut down, we’ll lose several days of business. It’s not worth it.”

She stared at Zhou Yu. Remembering that this man was a year younger than her, she unconsciously softened her tone.

“Those narrow-minded people won’t have any great abilities.”

“We have to protect ourselves first.”

“We can’t act impulsively.”

Zhou Yu glanced at the woman beside him, who was moving quickly. Hearing her chatter, he snorted, “Coward.”

Xu An didn’t get angry at being called that. She smiled, her watery eyes looking at Zhou Yu, “Being a coward isn’t a bad thing. It’s important to live our own lives well.”

If being a coward could avoid conflict and trouble, what was the big deal with being a coward?

She tilted her head and looked at the vendor on the stall in the distance, nudging Zhou Yu with her elbow. “He’s the one who took our spot. He doesn’t seem to be doing any business. It’s just hurting others without benefiting himself.”

Zhou Yu followed the woman’s gaze, coldly glanced over at the stall that had been moved and was still deserted. He snorted, just quietly doing his work without speaking, neither confirming nor denying Xu An’s statement.

As soon as the couple set up their stall and opened the lid, the aroma of braised meat filled the entire street. They had just started cooking, and customers who had bought braised meat yesterday came over.

“You moved? It took me a while to find you.”

Xu An smiled at her and said, “We’ll get our permits and pay the stall fees in the next few days. Then we should be able to stay in one spot.”

“What would you like today?”

Fang Shu had also been to the stall where they were yesterday. She probably knew what happened. Disputes over spots on the street were common.

Once this couple got their permits, this kind of thing would happen less.

She waved her hand casually, “Don’t be so formal. Just call me Fang Shu.”

“The same as yesterday, three pounds of meat and one pound of vegetables.”

“These offal, they taste strange, but those who like it find them more precious than meat.”

She had taken them home yesterday and her husband had finished them off. It seemed like he was still wanting more. Fang Shu came over early this morning. Fortunately, this couple was still here. She had to have a taste. It seemed delicious. Even the soup in it could be used to soak two bowls of rice. It was simply mouthwatering.

Hearing that she liked it, Xu An thanked her repeatedly and responded enthusiastically. She quickly took the bowl with the plastic bag from Zhou Yu’s hand and packed it for the customer.

Fang Shu smiled and handed over the box in her hand, “Don’t use plastic bags. I brought my own box.”

She didn’t like plastic bags. She came over today and even brought her own box for the braised meat, big enough to hold the amount she needed.

“Okay, I’ll weigh it for you first.”

Xu An readily agreed. After weighing it, she helped her pack it into the box and, as usual, filled a bowl of soup for her.

She handed the box to Fang Shu.

Fang Shu took her box, her smile bright and generous, “You two should get your spot settled quickly. You can’t make me search for you like this every day.”

Xu An immediately smiled and assured her, taking the money Fang Shu handed over. She smiled and sent her away.

They had just opened yesterday, and they already had a returning customer. Xu An turned to look at Zhou Yu, her eyes clearly happy, “We have regular customers on our second day. It’s definitely going to get better and better.”

Zhou Yu nodded lightly, putting plastic bags on the bowls next to her.

Customers came to buy things one after another. Xu An smiled brightly, keeping a brilliant smile on her face, busy as a bee.

Zhou Yu stood beside her and helped. He suddenly felt a strong gaze and looked up.

Zhou Hongguang was almost blending into the crowd in the distance, staring at their stall.

He met Zhou Yu’s gaze, avoided his eyes, and glanced down at his own bun. He didn’t come over and turned around and left.

Xu An reached for a bowl from Zhou Yu’s hand. Seeing that Zhou Yu was staring at something else with an unclear expression, she frowned slightly, followed his gaze, and saw only a back.

That was…

Zhou Hongguang?

What was he doing here?

Xu An’s brow furrowed with confusion, until she was urged by a customer, and then she suppressed her doubts and continued to enthusiastically serve customers.

Zhou Yu retracted his gaze and snorted briefly.

They closed up earlier today than yesterday. After selling out the braised meat, Xu An didn’t move. She sat on the stool next to the stall, resting, looking up at Zhou Yu beside her, “Why did Zhou Hongguang come?”

They had never seen him before when they went to the early market.

“He came to find trouble for himself.” Zhou Yu said sarcastically.

Xu An was silent. Zhou Hongguang couldn’t be afraid that she and Zhou Yu would live a good life, could he? This man always pretended to be a good big brother, but his heart was narrower than a needle?

“Doesn’t he have a stable job? We’ve only set up a stall for one day, and he can’t help but come over and watch us. He even pretended to find you a job before. Just pretend better. What’s going on?”

They were just getting started, and they hadn’t achieved anything yet. Zhou Hongguang was already losing his patience?

Zhou Yu cleaned up the stall, took a broom, and swept the spot where they had set up their stall. He said in a low voice.

“Right now, he’s just watching. Based on the eldest’s character, he won’t sit idly by.”

He had always acted like the eldest son since he was a child. He was most like his father. He couldn’t tolerate any threat to his position.

Xu An walked beside Zhou Yu, carrying things back home together, quietly listening to Zhou Yu’s words, and said softly, “Could he be trying to steal our business?”

Zhou Yu’s throat rolled. The aroma of braised meat still lingered on his lips and teeth. It was a taste that no ordinary restaurant could make. He curled his lips and said softly, “He doesn’t have your talent.”

Xu An lightly touched her nose, coughed lightly, and said, “Then what do you think he’s planning to do?”

Zhou Yu turned his head and glanced at Xu An, saying softly, “The situation now, there’s a lot you can do. It’s not like you have to do this. He’s in the factory, his connections are far wider than ours.”

As he spoke, Zhou Yu’s dark eyes dimmed slightly. He stared at Xu An and said in a low voice, “Once your stall is stable, find someone to help you.”

His meaning was…

Xu An bit her lip and tentatively asked, “You’re not going to do it with me?”

The couple walked into the alley together. Xu An carried things, waiting for the person beside her to answer.

Zhou Yu’s voice, for once, was gentle. He explained softly, “I have other plans.”

He then turned his head and looked at the woman beside him, who had no expression. His thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, “We’ll talk about it after you hire someone who can help.”

Xu An nodded lightly, “I know. I’ll think about hiring someone.”

Seeing that she really didn’t think there was anything wrong, Zhou Yu let out a breath of relief. Then, as he realized his body was relaxing, he stiffened slightly, the breath he had let out stuck in his throat, making him uncomfortable.

Xu An didn’t pay attention to the man beside her. She walked ahead silently, lost in thought, considering hiring someone.

The couple walked back home in silence. After Zhou Yu put away his things, he stared at the woman sitting on the chair, not saying a word.

His face was slightly dark, his expression even had a hint of consultation in his tone.

“Not happy? Then I’ll continue to do it with you, but we won’t be able to increase the amount much.”

Besides needing to spare time to do this with her, he had other things to do, and he couldn’t spare too much energy.

Hearing his voice, Xu An snapped out of her thoughts. After understanding what Zhou Yu had said, she immediately shook her head at him, “No need, you can go about your business.”

“I was just thinking about hiring someone.”

The woman’s sincere, soft voice reached Zhou Yu’s ears, along with those innocent and clear eyes.

Zhou Yu’s face darkened for a moment. He avoided her gaze and impatiently hummed.

Xu An didn’t notice Zhou Yu’s cold tone. She actually had someone in mind, but she didn’t know if they would be able to handle it.

She tilted her head to look at the impatient man beside her. Zhou Yu often had this expression. She didn’t think anything was wrong. She discussed it with him, “Zhou Yu, I have someone in mind. Can you help me see if it’s feasible?”

Zhou Yu pulled out a chair. The chair, not treated gently, wobbled slightly. Zhou Yu sat down with a thud, his leg crossed, and said nonchalantly.

“Who?”

“The little boy from the other day.”

That half-grown boy who stole things, what could he do?

He tilted his head slightly, his scrutinizing gaze falling on the woman beside him.

“Looking for help? Xu An, you’re asking for trouble.”

He rarely called Xu An by her name. Every time he did, Xu An felt inexplicably nervous. Hearing the meaning in his words, Xu An was afraid that he thought she was being unrealistic. She explained to Zhou Yu,

“He’s only twelve years old, but he can do things. If you teach him, he can learn.”

As she spoke, Xu An looked up at Zhou Yu, nervously saying, “There shouldn’t be any laws against child labor, right?”

If there were, she would have to make other plans.

“He said he was twelve, does he look like it? Don’t let your sympathy get the better of you. You can’t help him. You’ll just get yourself into trouble.”

Zhou Yu stared at the pot they had used for their stall this morning, stating facts.

“Don’t even mention the fact that we’re getting a bigger pot today. He can’t even handle this pot.”

“It’s only the second day, and someone is already taking our spot. It’ll be even worse in the future. His little arms and legs won’t be able to protect you.”

Zhou Yu was telling the truth. He wasn’t exaggerating or embellishing. The reason she could think of that little boy was mostly because she wanted to improve the living conditions of him and his sister.

If he had nothing to do, the little boy would probably steal and rob again. He would get into trouble sooner or later. He was so young, and his sister was even younger. She couldn’t bear it.

But Zhou Yu was also telling the truth. She couldn’t argue with that. What should she do?

Xu An sat quietly on the stool, her head lowered, not speaking.

The room was silent for a moment.

Zhou Yu’s gaze slanted at the woman. From his perspective, he could only see her curled, slightly trembling eyelashes and her white, plump earlobes.

She really wanted to help those siblings?

Zhou Yu’s knuckles tapped rhythmically on the back of the chair, the sound irregular, indicating his annoyance. He hadn’t done anything like this, anything that would get him into unnecessary trouble, since he came out of prison.

As the woman slightly raised her head to look at him, Zhou Yu quickly clicked his tongue, his voice impatient.

“Alright, if you want that little brat to help you, let him help you. Then have Yaowu follow you.”

Stop staring at him with those eyes.

Xu An didn’t know why Zhou Yu suddenly changed his mind, but thinking of Zhou Yu’s brother who had just come out, impulsive and fearless, if he could help, the number of troublemakers would probably drop drastically. He was definitely a good choice.

Xu An, who had been about to reconsider, her eyes lit up. She stared at Zhou Yu and said loudly, “Okay.”

Then she assured him,

“Don’t worry, if he really can’t help with anything, I won’t let him follow us forever. Besides, you’re going to follow us for a few more days, right? You can supervise him yourself then. If he can’t do anything, you can fire him.”

“Just give him a trial period.”

Zhou Yu responded impatiently, “Tsk, I know, troublesome.”

Even if it was troublesome, he still agreed. Xu An’s eyes were filled with a faint smile, the corners of her eyes slightly raised as she looked at Zhou Yu. Her tone was light.

“Yes, let’s go to their house first and see if he’s willing to help us. Then we’ll go to the market and buy the things, and bring the pot we ordered back home. Okay?”

Zhou Yu tilted his head slightly, avoiding Xu An’s eyes. The corners of his lips twitched slightly. He hummed and then warned in a low voice.

“Let’s get this straight. I won’t go easy on him. If he’s useless, don’t even think about doing this kind of thing again.”

Some people are born to learn how to survive early on, and hardship is the norm. Xu An believed that the little boy wouldn’t disappoint her.

She replied softly,

“Yes, I’ll listen to you.”

Tsk, she’s so good at saying nice things. She’s getting more and more troublesome every day. Zhou Yu’s thin lips moved slightly, silently spitting out a few words.

I’m the one who’s been inexplicably listening to you every day. Annoying.