Chapter 31: Borrowing Money?
Chapter 31: Borrowing Money?
As noon approached, the streets became bustling with people.
The area around Jiang Cheng's stall was especially crowded.
Seeing two stoves set up on his tricycle, everyone began to talk.
This was to be expected, as many people had been unable to buy any sweet potatoes the previous days.
However, seeing Jiang Cheng expanding his business, a hint of jealousy surfaced in the onlookers' eyes.
The two stoves quickly sold out of sweet potatoes, and the area around the stall gradually returned to peace.
Jiang Cheng swiftly replenished the stove with raw sweet potatoes and added a piece of charcoal to each bucket.
Then, he had to wait for another forty to fifty minutes.
Yet, Jiang Cheng's face was filled with a radiant smile.
The two stoves of sweet potatoes had just sold for a total of one hundred and twenty yuan. If he could maintain this momentum, earning over a thousand yuan a day wouldn't be just a dream.
However, he noticed the envious gazes of the surrounding vendors.
Jiang Cheng didn't think too much of it.
After all, he was selling roasted sweet potatoes, while the other vendors sold different goods, so there was no direct competition.
Moreover, the crowd he attracted could also bring more business to the nearby stalls.
What he didn't expect was that not long after, a middle-aged man around forty years old, about one meter and seventy centimeters tall, approached him with a flattering smile, "Little Jiang, your business has been good lately, huh? You opened an extra stove today; you must have made a lot of money."
Jiang Cheng's smile froze.
The middle-aged man before him seemed familiar; he was the vendor selling stinky tofu just over ten meters away.
A sense of alertness arose within him, and he deliberately changed the topic, "Oh, it's Uncle Xu. Do you want to try some roasted sweet potatoes? They're very sweet."
"Ah, Little Jiang, I really want to buy your roasted sweet potatoes, but I don't have any money on me," Xu Hai sighed.
Jiang Cheng realized what was happening.
He didn't say anything further.
Seeing Jiang Cheng's reaction, Xu Hai's face turned bitter, "Little Jiang, I, Uncle Xu, rarely ask for help, but I really have no choice now. Business has been bad, and the money I earned with difficulty was even stolen. Now, I can't even afford to buy tofu. Little Jiang, can you lend me a thousand or eight hundred? Just to help Uncle Xu get through this emergency?"
Towards the end, he intentionally lowered his voice and glanced around.
Although Jiang Cheng had anticipated this, hearing it spoken aloud still gave him a headache.
His relationship with Uncle Xu was merely a casual acquaintance, as they were both street vendors in the area. Over time, they had learned each other's names.
How could he trustingly lend money with such a superficial relationship?
"Uncle Xu, I really want to lend you money, but I truly don't have much on me," Jiang Cheng replied.
"Impossible!"
Xu Hai's eyes widened. He had been observing Jiang Cheng's stall for the past few days, and today, with the addition of the extra stove, even a fool could tell that Jiang Cheng was making money.
"Uncle Xu, you should know about my high fever a few days ago, right?"
"Huh?"
Xu Hai was taken aback but quickly nodded, "Yes, I know. I was wondering why your grandma was manning the stall, and only then did I learn that you had a high fever. Thankfully, good deeds are rewarded, and you're safe and sound, Little Jiang."
When he mentioned the reward for good deeds, he intentionally emphasized his tone.
Unbeknownst to him, by the time he uttered that 'Ah', Jiang Cheng's heart had already hardened.
This man didn't even know about his high fever, yet he had the audacity to come and borrow money. His first request was for a thousand or eight hundred; he really thought Jiang Cheng was a fool with money to spare.
However, Jiang Cheng didn't plan to expose him publicly, as it would make everyone lose face.
So, he sighed heavily, "Uncle Xu, you only know one side of the story, not the other. During the three days I had a high fever, I visited the clinic every day. Each visit cost over a thousand yuan, and in three days, I spent over three thousand. Even then, I could only pay after borrowing money from others."
And in just a few days, it'll be the end of the month. By then, the stall fee and management fee will be due, adding up to four or five thousand. Uncle Xu, to be honest, if you're asking to borrow money from me, I'm also thinking of borrowing from others."
Xu Hai heard this and chuckled, "Little Jiang, are you joking with Uncle Xu? How could a common cold and fever cost so much? Uncle Xu is getting on in years, he can't take jokes like you young folks."
"Uncle Xu, I'm not joking."
Jiang Cheng's face turned serious.
Just a common cold and fever?
His original body went to the clinic to no avail.
Xu Hai looked around and stammered, "Little Jiang, why don't you lend Uncle Xu two or three hundred for an emergency? You must have at least that much on you, right? Since you started your stall, several groups of people have come by."
Jiang Cheng shook his head and stopped looking at him.
"Little Jiang, Uncle Xu is begging you, please lend him two or three hundred?"
"If it's really not possible, even a hundred will do. Uncle Xu promises to pay you back as soon as he can."
"Little Jiang, can't you be less heartless? We've been doing business for several years, and you won't even help with this small favor?"
Seeing Jiang Cheng's indifferent attitude, Xu Hai stomped his foot in frustration and pointed at Jiang Cheng, saying, "Fine, I see through you now. You won't even lend a hundred, go ahead, you're the tough one!"
After saying this, he stormed off.
"Jiang Cheng, was that guy trying to borrow money from you?"
Lu Zicheng, standing nearby, asked quietly.
"No."
Jiang Cheng shook his head.
"?"
Lu Zicheng was taken aback.
But he had heard clearly that the man was asking to borrow money.
Why did Jiang Cheng say no?
"He's here to rob me."
Jiang Cheng glanced at him and said calmly.
"Rob me..."
Lu Zicheng was speechless.
After thinking about it carefully, it seemed that this was indeed a possibility.
Everyone had witnessed Jiang Cheng's business over the past few days, and even he felt envious, let alone others.
However, after seeing Jiang Cheng's attitude, he quietly dismissed the idea of borrowing money.
In the distance, Xu Hai gathered with several stall owners, their faces flushed, pointing in Jiang Cheng's direction, spitting as they spoke.
The people around Xu Hai also looked indignant, and faintly, one could hear them calling Jiang Cheng selfish and heartless.
Jiang Cheng pretended not to hear.
First, he really needed money, preferably five thousand yuan at once, to open a premium membership at the Falcon Fist Gym.
If that wasn't possible, he could open a regular membership to avoid worrying about encountering those thugs connected to the Wild Wolf Gang.
Second, he couldn't start lending money.
Once he opened that door, even if he only lent a hundred to someone, it would likely lead to people coming to borrow every few days.
If he didn't lend, they would say, "You lent to so-and-so, why not lend to us?"
Lastly, and most importantly, they didn't have the qualifications to ask him for money.
If Aunt Chen encountered difficulties, he would lend her not just a hundred, but a thousand, without blinking an eye.
But these people were just casual acquaintances. Even if he sympathized with their situation, protecting his own interests was the top priority.
As it turned out, after failing to borrow money, the man showed his true colors, almost pointing at Jiang Cheng's nose, ready to curse him.
(End of Chapter)
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