Chapter 17 - I will be a peddler. For a total of two month, Wu Suowei stayed at Jiang Xiaoshuai's clinic reflecting on himself, reflecting on his tragic life as well as drawing lessons from past experience to build a foundation for starting a new life.
During daytime, he would buy meals for Jiang Xiaoshuai, sweep the floor, tidy up the room...... By night, he would stay over at the clinic. Jiang Xiaoshuai wanted to pay him wages but he refused. He only asked for accommodation and food. Every morning after Jiang Xiaoshuai came to the clinic yawning hard, Wu Suowei had already completed jogging 5km and tidied up the room.
In Jiang Xiaoshuai's eyes, Wu Suowei seemed like a different person.
After losing so much previously, and doing workouts all these while, the loose fats had turned into firm muscles. His facial contours were more evident. The ruthless look from his eyes always excited Jiang Xiaoshuai.
"I decided to start off as a peddler. After I've had enough savings, I'd open a shop.
Jiang Xiaoshuai gently tapped his pen on the table. His keen eyes were overwhelmed with approval.
"That's a good path, but just a little harsh. Oh right. Do you know how to hawk*?
"That's easy!"
"Try hawking a little. I want to gave a listen."
"Sharpen your scissors—— And your kitchen knives——"
Hawking from the olden days was bringing back memories. Jiang Xiaoshuai chuckled in amusement. Wu Suowei grinned along too. Jiang Xiaoshuai paused, it had been ages since he last heard Wu Suowei's hearty laughter.
"Sigh, I wonder if this is helping you or jeopardizing you letting you to change your life." Jiang Xiaoshuai recalled when Wu Suowei first came to the clinic. Although a little dense, he was always happy.
Wu Suowei said to Jiang Xiaoshuai with a serious tone. "It's better to live a transparent life, but rest assured, I'm still the old me to you. So long as you're not annoyed, I will smile at you everyday. Only for you alone."
Jiang Xiaoshuai supported his forehead by placing his hand on the table. Why the heck was I touched by it?
"Oh yes. It's not easy to be a peddler. Are you fully prepared for this?"
Wu Suowei was determined "I've been preparing all these while."
Jiang Xiaoshuai paused. "What preparations have you made? Why didn't I see anything?"
"Aren't I jogging everyday? Long runs, short sprints, running with sand bags, running while carrying a pot......"
"Stop stop stop......" interrupted Jiang Xiaoshuai. "Stop thinking of escaping from the urban management officer, think of what you're going to sell first. You need a plan at least, right?"
Wu Suowei stopped to think. He spoke slowly, "I'm thinking of doing the easier ones first. Fashion industry needs high capital and it's tedious for stocking. Transporting vegetables and fruits are inconvenient. They will rot if not sold. I'm thinking of selling breakfast, but I don't have any skills. I can't fry dough sticks and can't bake stuffed pancakes. Giving it a thought, I can only sell porridge."
"That's not bad." Said Jiang Xiaoshuai. "It's easy to make porridge. Half a kilogram of rice for a whole pot. You will just need to prepare a huge bucket, a ladle and some plastic cups. The cost is also not high."
Wu Suowei nodded. "That's exactly what I'm thinking of."
He went ahead with the plan. At night, Wu Suowei carried back a sack of rice from the store. Jiang Xiaoshuai helped him to get the utensils. After all had been ready, the two of them made their first attempt in the clinic.
Although Wu Suowei didn't come from a well off family, he had two elder sisters and his academic grades were good throughout. So he didn't do much house chores. Let alone Jiang Xiaoshuai. He's the only son of his family. Who would dare to order him around. The two of them fumbled before the stove, and finally the rice was rinsed clean. They poured in some water and the boiling started.
"Put some baking soda. My mother always used to do that." Said Wu Suowei.
Jiang Xiaoshuai put a spoon of baking soda into it.
"I think it's too thick, so add some water."
Wu Suowei added a bowl of water.
"Too watery. Why don't we put more rice into it?"
Jiang Xiaoshuai grabbed a handful of rice.
"You see, is it too much? Should we add water again?"
The two of them started adding in things one by one. Initially, they had decided to make two servings, however it turned out to be an entire pot of porridge.
"I think it's ready." Said Jiang Xiaoshuai.
Wu Suowei rubbed his hands together and scooped a bowl of porridge for Jiang Xiaoshuai first.
"How's the taste?" Asked Wu Suowei.
The porridge was still hot. So Jiang Xiaoshuai had to gently sip it.
"Slightly watery. But the smell is good."
Wu Suowei had a taste as well. He approved Jiang Xiaoshuai's opinion. "Indeed it's a little watery. I will add more rice tomorrow."
"Stop adding in anymore. Do you think you will make a profit if you continue adding? We used up 200g of rice to cook only one pot of porridge. If you continue to cook like this, even one sack of rice won't be enough for a pot of porridge. With the addition of plastic cups and bags, your effort for the whole day is all gone to vain."
Wu Suowei frowned, "Those selling on the street are all quite thick. Could it be that the time we took is not long enough?"
Jiang Xiaoshuai remarked bitterly, "It's because of the addition of food gelatin."
"You mean to say that......" Wu Suowei narrowed his eyes.
Jiang Xiaoshuai lean against the door frame. With his coolness, he remarked, "What's there to be afraid of? Most of the food gelatin out there are proven to be healthy and beneficial for our body. At least I am a doctor, do you think I would fool you?"
If it was in the past, Wu Suowei would hold his virtue and reject Jiang Xiaoshuai. How could I do this inhumane act? People buy porridge from us because it's convenient for them, and they believed it's safe. How could we fool them? Business is all about integrity, we can't deceive people. The trust between people is even more important than value of money......
However, right now he heck care about anything! Money is everything to me right now, who are you to judge me?
Bang bang bang...... He was at the door in a few steps.
"Hang on, I will go get us a carton of it!"
Jiang Xiaoshuai shouted after him. "Remember to get the cheapest!"
T/N
*hawk - to hawk means to sell goods informally in public places by shouting to attract attention.