Chapter 10: What Is He Doing in Town?

"Well, well, what's the matter? Is your man too scared to show his face today?"

The lead thug circled Fang Ning and her mother, eyeing them with a sleazy, insolent gaze.

"In broad daylight, what do you think you're doing?" Liang Anrong shielded Fang Ning behind her, glaring at them furiously.

"What do you think? Let’s see what kind of goodies you’ve brought to pay your respects to us brothers." The thug reached out to snatch the basket from Liang Anrong.

"Which one of you hit my father yesterday?" Fang Ning pulled Liang Anrong aside, stepping forward to face the thug. "Was it you?" She pointed directly at the one trying to grab their basket.

The man found this amusing and laughed loudly. "What? Do you think your old man is too pathetic, so you want me to be your father instead? Your mother isn't bad-looking, so I suppose I could reluctantly take you on as my son!"

"You’re mistaken. I’m here to be your ancestor!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the bamboo rod in Fang Ning’s hand moved as if it had a life of its own, striking exactly where she aimed. Though Fang Ning didn't have much strength, she knew exactly where to strike to cause the most pain.

The five thugs let out howls of agony. Liang Anrong was terrified, having never expected Fang Ning to strike first, and paced anxiously on the sidelines.

"Grab that brat and beat him to a pulp!" the leader roared. "No, beat that woman instead... ouch!"

But Fang Ning didn't give them a chance to get anywhere near her mother. Relying on her small frame, she darted around with agility. In less time than it takes to brew a cup of tea, she had beaten the thugs until they were curled up on the ground, clutching their legs and begging for mercy. "Little ancestor, please stop! I know I was wrong, please, no more!"

Fang Ning shook her aching hand and poked the leader’s throat with the bamboo rod. "Are you going to do this again?"

"Never again, I promise! Little ancestor, please let me go!"

"Remember your words. Be a decent person and stop shaking people down. If there’s a next time, I’ll break your legs!"

"I’ll remember, little ancestor, please let me go... wuwuwu, it hurts so much!"

Only then did Fang Ning retract the bamboo pole and walk over to Liang Anrong. "Let’s go."

"Ningning, won't beating them up like this cause trouble for us?"

"Mother, don't worry. As long as I'm here, you'll be fine. Your daughter is a special forces soldier; dealing with a few thugs is nothing," Fang Ning whispered.

Liang Anrong, who was used to trusting the state's powerful machinery, felt an immense sense of relief upon hearing the words of her daughter, who had come from a military background.

It happened to be market day. Because Shichuan Town sat at the junction of three counties—Changping, Guining, and Donglin—it was much livelier and more prosperous than an average town.

Fang Ning first bought oil paper to wrap the candied bayberries, then found a spot with the most foot traffic and began to call out, "Candied bayberries! Sweet and sour, delicious and cheap! Come take a look, everyone!"

Her voice was crisp and pleasant, quickly drawing a crowd.

"What are candied bayberries?"

"Are they really made with sugar?"

"Let me see, can we taste them?"

Liang Anrong used a pair of chopsticks to offer a sample to those gathered. "Here, they’re homemade. Try them and see if you like them. Remember to spit out the pit, don't choke on it, and don't give a whole one to a child."

Seeing their eyes light up after tasting the treat, Fang Ning asked with a smile, "Delicious, aren't they? One bag for thirty wen. Today is our first day selling, so it’s buy-one-get-one-free! First come, first served, today only."

Each bag weighed about one tael, and Fang Ning had prepared fifty. Given that a bag of malt sugar alone cost fifty wen and weighed less than a tael, it was a bargain. Those who had tasted them immediately rushed to buy. "Give me a bag, quick!"

People are prone to herd mentality; once someone bought, others followed.

Fang Ning’s bayberry business had officially begun. Under the promotion of buy-one-get-one-free, the fifty bags sold out in no time. She gave the remaining loose ones to the onlookers, planning to sell the rest elsewhere.

"These candied bayberries have pits, so don't give them directly to small children, or they might choke," Liang Anrong carefully reminded the customers. "It’s best to remove the pit before giving them to a child."

Those who hadn't managed to buy any but had tasted the bayberries saw there were still some left in the basket and wanted to pay for them. "Young lady, sell me the rest, will you?"

"Ma'am, we aren't selling these, but we’ll be back for the next market day. Come find us then—I’ll remember you, and I’ll give you the buy-one-get-one-free deal!"

The woman was disappointed, but the promise of the deal cheered her up. "Alright, I’ll come back next time. You’re such a sweet-talker, you’d better remember me!"

"Don't worry, Ma'am. You have such an elegant air about you, I’m sure I’ll recognize you at a glance."

"Hahaha, you really know how to talk! It’s a deal, then!"

"You got it."

After the crowd dispersed, Liang Anrong was thrilled. She whispered to Fang Ning, "These bayberries are a real moneymaker. Let’s go up the mountain tomorrow to pick more!"

"You go buy the seasonings we need. I’ll go walk around and see if I can find a big client."

"Alright, we'll split up and meet here later."

"Okay."

Fang Ning handed all the money to Liang Anrong and carried the basket toward the town’s restaurant.

"Excuse me, are you the manager?" Fang Ning stood on her tiptoes, leaning over the counter to ask the middle-aged man who was busy calculating accounts.

"I am. What is it, child?"

Fang Ning placed the basket on the counter. "Manager, please have a taste. This is my mother's candied bayberries."

The manager was bewildered, but seeing the expectation in Fang Ning’s dark, shining eyes, he subconsciously took one and popped it into his mouth.

It was the perfect balance of sweet and sour—unexpectedly delicious. He couldn't help but take another.

"Is it good? Would you be interested in doing business with us? Don't you offer small snacks to your dining guests? Our candied bayberries are one-of-a-kind."

"You want me to buy these from you?"

"Yes," Fang Ning nodded. "I guarantee they are clean and hygienic."

"Why should I trust you?"

Fang Ning hopped behind the counter. "Manager, do I look like a child who would lie? My mother made these herself. If you want them, we can deliver them to you tomorrow."

The manager had indeed never tasted candied bayberries; the sweet-and-sour flavor was quite unique. But he hesitated.

"Child, why don't you wait a moment? Our proprietor happens to be here today. I’ll go ask him, how about that?"

"Okay."

Fang Ning asked the waiter for a clean plate and put the remaining bayberries on it, handing it to the manager. "Manager, you take these."

The manager was surprised. It was rare to see a child so generous and unafraid.

"Then you sit here for a moment, I'll be right back."

The manager, having a very good impression of Fang Ning, carried the plate to the back.

"You say that Fang Ning is in town?" Si Yuheng, who had been practicing calligraphy, looked up at You An.

"Yes, young master. And Fang Ning is currently in the restaurant's main hall."

"What is he doing here? Does he know I’m the owner?"

"I don't think so. It seems he’s here to sell some kind of candied bayberry."

Si Yuheng immediately recalled the wild fruit from yesterday, and his teeth began to ache. "Make him leave at once!"