C10 Dinner

Qin Fen's face turned beet red as Zhao Mengqian's strong grip made it difficult for him to breathe. He coughed violently, yet it was clear that Zhao Mengqian was not about to let him off the hook so easily.

From the sidelines, Zhao Mengyue watched with concern and suggested, "Sister, how about we go have a meal first? We can clear up the earlier misunderstanding over dinner."

Looking at Qin Fen, she chided, "And you, Qin, what were you thinking saying something to upset her? Make sure you apologize properly later."

Struggling for air under Zhao Mengqian's hold, Qin Fen finally managed to gasp out, "No, I need to sell off the rest of the merchandise at the stall first. Otherwise, I won't even have a meal to eat."

Hearing this, Qin Fen noticed Zhao Mengqian's hold on him relax slightly, while Zhao Mengyue's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Brother Qin Fen, you've had such a tough life these past years," Zhao Mengyue resolved to help Qin Fen leave his difficult days behind.

A decade earlier, in the refugee camp, Qin Fen had looked after her with great care. Now that she was capable, it was only right to repay Brother Qin Fen for his kindness.

Eager to assist Qin Fen in selling off the goods, Zhao Mengyue grabbed a stylish coat and began to hawk it, "Hey there, folks passing by, anyone in need of some trendy new clothes? They're going for a steal!"

Her words instantly drew in the crowd of students who had been watching from a distance.

What they really wanted wasn't just the affordable, trendy clothes, but the attention of a gentle, beautiful young woman with long legs.

One freshman lamented the unfairness of it all, "Life's so frustrating when you see others have it better. When will I find someone so kind and understanding to help me run a stall?"

Seeing her sister lower her pride to help with the sales, Zhao Mengqian felt compelled to lend a hand too. Despite her lingering grievances against Qin Fen, she had already forgiven him deep down. Her previous outburst was simply a reaction to the frustration of being duped by him before, coupled with Qin Fen's cheeky and playful nature.

Since her sister was already helping Qin Fen with his sales, she naturally felt compelled to lend a hand as well.

The other students gathered around were buzzing with excitement.

"Look at this, two beauties running a stall together. If I post this online, I'm sure to rake in a ton of views," remarked a shrewd student who seemed to have spotted a lucrative opportunity.

"You're kidding, right? You're thinking of going live and posting videos now? You should be buying something and getting up close with the beauties instead," his roommate chided, giving his head a playful slap before darting forward.

"You're right, hold on for me!" the young man quickly realized and hurried after his friend.

Elsewhere, a similar scene unfolded as people swarmed the area like starved animals suddenly presented with a feast of fresh meat, unable to resist the allure.

"Hey, beauty, I'll take two bottles of the Nine-Taste Decoction," a muscular man declared, striding up to the stall with a wad of cash in hand, clearly not short on funds.

"Big brother, why do you need two bottles of Nine-Taste Decoction? You're already in great shape; buying so much seems like a waste," inquired a leaner young man, stepping forward with a look of curiosity.

"It's none of your business if I have a use for it or not. I just want to buy the Nine-Taste Decoction. So, what do you say, beauty, will you sell it to me?" the burly man retorted, giving his quick-witted but sometimes foolish little brother a swift kick before turning expectantly to Zhao Mengyue.

Zhao Mengyue and Zhao Mengqian were momentarily taken aback. They hadn't anticipated such enthusiastic patronage and were puzzled by the man's purchase.

"Of course, big brother. If you need a larger quantity, like more than three bottles, we can offer you a 10% discount," Qin Fen chimed in, standing tall.

The burly man nodded, pleased with the offer. Then, with a secretive air, he patted Qin Fen on the shoulder and murmured, "Little brother, there's something I'm really keen on buying, but I'm not sure if you're selling it."

Qin Fen paused, taken aback by the man's request, and found himself at a loss for words.

Upon seeing that Qin Fen remained silent, the muscular man grew impatient. "Hey, are you going to sell that Love Saint Manual or not? Even if you don't sell it, at least give me a few tips on how you befriended these two stunning ladies. I'll make sure you're well-compensated for your help."

Qin Fen's expression darkened further, but Zhao Mengqian, standing nearby, was not as patient. With a swift kick, she sent the man soaring through the air.

"Rage points from Wang Tiezhu, +999," announced the system's voice in Qin Fen's mind, leaving him torn between laughter and tears. He had hoped that this encounter might boost his sales, and indeed it had—just not in the way he expected, with all the gains accruing to the system.

Although the burly man failed to purchase the Nine-Taste Decoction, the spectacle drew in a crowd of onlookers eager to buy. They were motivated by the chance to impress the beauties and to discuss the Nine-Taste Decoction in their presence, reveling in the thrill of the moment.

As the saying goes, "Where there's one, there's more." The crowd swarmed Qin Fen's stall, clamoring for the Nine-Taste Decoction and then for the latest jackets. Whatever Qin Fen had for sale, they bought without a second glance at the price, their attention fixed on Zhao Mengqian and Zhao Mengyue.

In under half an hour, Qin Fen's merchandise was sold out, fetching top dollar. He even sold two barrels of the Nine-Taste Decoction.

In that brief period, Qin Fen had raked in a staggering twenty-two thousand taels!

"The allure of a beautiful woman is truly formidable," Qin Fen mused with a sigh. "I could shout myself hoarse and not draw a crowd, but the moment Zhao Mengqian and Zhao Mengyue show up, my stall is cleared out. If only I had known to enlist their help sooner." He reflected on the changing times, recognizing that in this world, appearances truly do matter.

Qin Fen decided to hold onto the remaining barrels of Nine-Taste Decoction for now. It appeared to have some utility, and he thought it might come in handy later on.

Once he had stowed away the Nine-Taste Decoction, he caught the astonished looks from Zhao Mengqian and Zhao Mengyue.