Lin Li walked out of the noodle shop, having eaten five large bowls of beef noodles for lunch.
’BURP... My appetite is a lot smaller than yesterday. Looks like my guess was right. As ti goes on, this crazy appetite of mine will eventually go back to normal.’
Lin Li burped, tossed the napkin he’d used to wipe his mouth into a roadside trash can, and then hailed a taxi.
"Sir, to the Flower and Bird Market." Lin Li gave the address after getting into the taxi.
"You got it."
The car started up, and the taxi driver began to drive Lin Li toward the largest Flower and Bird Market in Rongcheng.
"Young man, what are you going to the Flower and Bird Market to buy?" The taxi driver, a friendly-looking man in his fifties, didn’t forget to chat with Lin Li in the back seat while he drove.
"I’m planning to buy so fruit tree saplings," Lin Li said with a smile.
"Buying fruit tree saplings?" the driver asked, his curiosity piqued. "Did you lease a whole hillside to start an orchard?"
After all, the news occasionally ran stories about recent college graduates who skipped the corporate route to start their own businesses.
So of the success stories involved graduates returning to their hotowns after college, leasing a hillside to start a livestock farm or an orchard, and making a fortune.
"Not really leasing, no," Lin Li said. "I just have a plot of land, about five hundred square ters. It’s just sitting idle, so I figured I’d plant a few fruit trees."
When the driver heard Lin Li’s plot was only five hundred square ters—hardly enough for serious farming—he figured the young man must just be doing it for fun. He then offered a recomndation.
"I know the Flower and Bird Market well. If you’re going to buy fruit tree saplings, I recomnd a shop inside called ’Old Zhang’s Saplings.’ Their stuff is great quality."
"Old Zhang’s Saplings, huh? Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks, sir," Lin Li said, repeating the na to himself and thanking the driver.
Lin Li’s original plan for the day had been to finish his physical at Rongcheng City First Hospital, then head to the produce market to find a buyer for the huge white radishes he’d harvested yesterday.
However, on his way to the hospital that morning, he had checked a map and discovered that the Flower and Bird Market was relatively close to the hospital.
So he changed his plans: he would go to the Flower and Bird Market first after his physical, and then head to the produce market to sell the huge white radishes.
...
「A little after three in the afternoon, at the main entrance of the Flower and Bird Market in Rongcheng East District.」
Lin Li slowly walked out of the Flower and Bird Market, carrying a bag of various vegetable seeds in his left hand and a bag of fruit tree saplings, each about forty centiters tall, in his right.
’Finally got that sorted. Those owners are sly as can be, but there’s no way they could rip off. I did my howork,’ Lin Li muttered, thinking back on his haggling sessions with the shopkeepers.
Carrying two large bags was pretty inconvenient, so Lin Li walked quickly toward a residential area next to the Flower and Bird Market and slipped into a small alley.
He glanced around, checking for security caras. After confirming there were none, he willed it, and the two large bags in his hands vanished into the Mysterious Small Island.
’Alright, next, I’ll head ho, grab the car, and go to the produce market to sell the radishes.’
After stashing the two big bags on the Mysterious Small Island, Lin Li turned to leave the alley and hail a taxi ho.
However, just as he turned and took a few steps, four figures entered the alley, completely blocking his way out.
’What’s with these four? They’re not here looking for trouble, are they?’
Lin Li frowned. He looked in confusion at the four tattooed n blocking his path and said, "Excuse , please let through."
With that, Lin Li started walking straight ahead, but he stopped again after only a few steps.
The tattooed n blocking his path showed no intention of moving aside; in fact, the look in their eyes was full of malice.
’So these guys really are here for ! Do they think I’m an easy target? Are they planning to shake down for protection money?’
A young man with a tattooed arm sneered at Lin Li. "Hey, kid," he taunted, "you want to get past? Sure. But you’ll have to crawl between our legs to do it."
"???" Lin Li processed the tattooed youth’s words, and a series of question marks popped into his head. He then stared at the man as if he were a complete idiot.
"The fuck you looking at?!" The tattooed youth was enraged by Lin Li’s contemptuous stare. "Believe it or not, I’ll knock all your goddamn teeth out!" He brandished a fist and was about to charge forward and beat Lin Li.
However, he had only taken one step before the big, bald man beside him pulled him back.
"Boss, what are you holding back for?" the goon demanded, turning to the bald man with a furious expression. "This kid has no respect, he’s just begging for a beating! I’m gonna teach him a lesson, show him not to be so damn cocky."
"Settle down," the bald man said, placating his subordinate. He then turned to face Lin Li. "Let have a word with him."
He was slightly surprised to see Lin Li’s expression remain perfectly calm and composed, but he didn’t give it much thought. He turned to Lin Li and spoke.
"Kid, you know why we ca looking for you?"
Lin Li was genuinely puzzled. He didn’t know these four tattooed n at all and hadn’t offended anyone recently. Why would four guys who were obviously trouble show up to corner him?
After hearing the bald man’s question, he retorted, "I don’t know any of you. We have no past grievances or recent grudges, so why are you coming to for trouble?"
"Hah... No past grievances or recent grudges?" the tattooed youth said with a sinister laugh. "Kid, if you hadn’t stuck your nose where it didn’t belong a while back and gotten our brother arrested, we wouldn’t be wasting our ti with you."
A look of sudden realization dawned on Lin Li’s face. "Oh, so you’re accomplices of that pathetic little thief from before!
That explains it. I’m always one to get along with others; I was wondering why soone would suddenly show up and block my path."
"So now that you know why, I’ll give you two choices," the bald man said to Lin Li.
"And what choices are those?" Lin Li asked, looking at the man with genuine interest. He was curious to see what options they would offer.
...
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