Previously on Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation...
Yin Yu stole chicks from Butcher Zhang and was confronted, while Jiang Ning and Tongtong debated the nature of justice and profit. Later, at their fried fish stall, Xue Yuantong faced a rude customer, asserting the quality of their product over polite service, which led to a swift sell-out and inspired envy in a neighboring sushi vendor.
Nanhong Road.
A white BMW glided into a nearby parking space. An Chan exited the driver's seat, closing the door with a flick of her wrist. Her gaze drifted towards the river dam, where a faint cluster of people could be seen.
She had a high school acquaintance, with whom contact was infrequent, who was currently operating a stall at the night market.
Furthermore, she retained a certain fondness for the Huishui River, having visited relatives there during her childhood and having once run through the fields bordering the Yao Wang River.
"A pity Uncle Bi is imprisoned now."
This thought prompted a gentle sigh from An Chan.
She ambled along the riverbank alone, the breeze caressing her face, lending a sense of tranquility to her mood.
'Perhaps residing in a small town isn't such a poor life choice.' An Chan observed the languid flow of the Huishui River, finding the persistent longing in her heart gradually subsiding.
She proceeded towards a lively section of the market, where various stalls materialized before her eyes. Yet, An Chan’s steps remained unhurried, maintaining the detachment of an observer.
Finally, guided by the details provided by her close friend, she located the sushi stall.
"Ni Ni."
An Chan offered a smile.
Ni Ni, who was perched on a stool, lost in thought, looked up upon hearing An Chan's voice. Surprise flickered across her features, quickly replaced by a smile. "Your Mandarin is remarkably fluent, isn't it?"
An Chan shed her usual reserved demeanor. "Naturally, I'm a teacher now."
"A teacher like you must be very popular with your students," Ni Ni remarked.
At this, Xue Yuantong, occupied with frying fish, cast a curious glance in their direction.
An Chan also noticed Xue Yuantong but failed to recognize her.
The reason was simple: Xue Yuantong invariably slept through An Chan's classes, preventing her from ever seeing her face clearly.
However, beside Xue Yuantong, Jiang Ning struck her as somewhat familiar.
Her recollection of Jiang Ning was limited to him seeking out Guo Ran, nothing more.
To find him here, setting up a stall... An Chan’s gaze fell upon the considerable queue of customers lining up before the stall.
Ni Ni followed An Chan's line of sight, her tone tinged with a hint of melancholy. "Their business is certainly thriving."
Compared to her own sparsely attended stall, Ni Ni remembered her earlier act of offering guidance, feeling a flush of embarrassment.
"Jiang Ning," An Chan called out.
"Teacher An," Jiang Ning replied.
Xue Yuantong appeared perplexed. "Is she a teacher you recently met at the office?"
"She's our class's new biology teacher," Jiang Ning clarified.
"Could it be a parallel universe?" Xue Yuantong exclaimed, astonished.
Jiang Ning playfully ruffled Tongtong's hair and made an introduction. "This is our class's diligent student, Xue Yuantong."
Recognition dawned. Teacher An Chan recalled, "Hello..."
Their conversation continued as Tongtong sprinkled fragrant sesame seeds onto a forming bun. The freshly fried fish emerged from the hot oil, drawing immediate attention.
An Chan glanced from her students' bustling stall to her old friend's quiet one, a slight twitch playing on her lips.
"Alright, I understand what you're thinking, but please, spare me the lecture," Ni Ni said.
'How unfair the world is!'
"Their family circumstances must be difficult, setting up a stall even on weekends," An Chan mused softly.
After all, much like herself, they weren't extraordinarily wealthy, but they had never been reduced to operating a simple market stall.
Perceiving An Chan's sympathetic expression, Ni Ni couldn't resist a wry retort. "Don't pity them, please. At this rate, they're making two to three thousand a day. Pity me instead, won't you?"
"I truly regret it. During university, an uncle offered me 50,000 a month for my patronage, and I refused. Why was I so self-righteous back then?!" Ni Ni lamented.
An Chan shook her head. "You wouldn't have."
Ni Ni's family wasn't well-off; her mother was bedridden, and she had a younger brother. Consequently, after graduating, she returned to Yuzhou to become an elementary school teacher.
However, being solely a language instructor, she couldn't offer tutoring and resorted to operating a stall on weekends.
An Chan caught up to her, consuming seven or eight pieces of Ni Ni's sushi, causing Ni Ni's eye to twitch.
Jiang Ning offered her a small portion of fried fish. As An Chan savored it, she expressed admiration. "Your technique is superb! It's incredibly delicious, far more authentic than the fried fish I had in Shen City!"
"We're the most authentic!" Xue Yuantong declared proudly.
"How much for a portion like this?"
"15 yuan."
"That's incredibly cheap. I believe you could charge fifty, and people would still buy it," An Chan offered her perspective, now accustomed to driving a BMW 330, a vehicle valued at nearly four hundred thousand yuan, making this sum trivial to her.
Xue Yuantong had initially considered the pricing somewhat high, but upon hearing An Chan's assessment, she pondered, "If I charged fifty yuan, would people actually purchase it?"
"Absolutely," An Chan affirmed.
She added with conviction, "If it doesn't sell, the loss is on me!"
While arranging fish for a patron, Xue Yuantong subtly observed from behind the stall. An Chan was engaged in a discussion about increasing prices, leaving the customers before the fried fish stall utterly astonished. 'Hey, isn't that a bit excessive?' they grumbled amongst themselves.
Despite their silent complaints, no one dared voice their displeasure, for the fish was undeniably delicious, and the owner possessed a formidable temperament.
Following their negotiations, Xue Yuantong and An Chan reached an agreement to implement a price hike on the spot. Small servings would increase from 15 to 30 yuan, while large servings would be priced at 60 yuan.
In the bustling street vendor landscape of 2015, such pricing was considered exorbitant. Those who missed out on purchasing were seething with frustration, yet the sight of Jiang Ning brandishing a cleaver left them swallowing their curses.
Some disgruntled customers indignantly turned their backs, vowing to refrain from eating there any longer!
Nevertheless, the market had prospered in recent years, attracting a considerable number of affluent individuals, which ultimately served to retain a significant base of high-net-worth patrons.
A flamboyant aunt, her tone laced with displeasure, declared, 'How much can you possibly earn by merely increasing prices? My two apartments in Nan City could generate wealth for you over a lifetime!'
Xue Yuantong retorted, 'You rejoice when your properties appreciate in value; why can't you be happy when my fried fish does the same?'
Jiang Ning added, 'Consider carefully whether you've truly been putting in your best effort.'
The aunt, torn between her desire to purchase and her reluctance to pay the new price, found herself in a predicament. At her age, this indulgence was one of her simple pleasures, compelling her to suppress her anger and make the purchase.
