Selling Street Food in Shrek City

(A few daily-life scenes)

"What kind of partnership? I'm only interested in food."

Wang Dong'er said she had left in too much of a hurry and forgotten to bring her gold card. She only had a few hundred Gold Soul Coins on her.

"Then you should keep those."

Wang Xiao turned to look for Ma Xiaotao, intending to borrow some Gold Soul Coins for the time being.

With his status, he naturally could not enter Sea God Island. However, there was an old man in the Outer Court specifically responsible for helping him contact Ma Xiaotao.

After hearing his request, the old man nodded and set off for Sea God Island.

In no more than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Ma Xiaotao arrived.

She was still dressed all in fiery red, her hair in a bun. She looked valiant and spirited, with a sweet round face, though her temper was exceptionally fiery.

When she heard Wang Xiao was short on money, she directly gave him a gold card, her generosity astonishing.

"There are ten thousand Gold Soul Coins in here. If it isn't enough, come ask me for more."

Ma Xiaotao spread her Phoenix Wings and soared into the sky without another word. She was utterly decisive.

Wang Xiao clutched the gold card, looking utterly bewildered. "So... am I still setting up a stall or not?"

He decided he still would. Living off a woman was nice, but he could not really let a woman support him.

"Hey, tell me honestly. What's your relationship with that pretty senior?" Wang Dong'er glared at him fiercely.

Wang Xiao waved a hand. "Don't worry. Xiaotao is a Soul Emperor. Why would she be interested in a small fry like me? Don't overthink it."

"That's true. You're not even as good-looking as I am."

Wang Dong'er relaxed, but her expression suddenly stiffened as she realized how inappropriate her behavior had been. She hurriedly explained, "What do you mean, don't overthink it? I was just curious! I'm warning you, don't get any weird ideas!"

"I didn't misunderstand anything." Wang Xiao was speechless and did not even want to expose her. She might as well have written I have a problem on her face.

Since it was still early before nightfall, he left the academy to buy what he needed for the evening.

"You're so rich now. Aren't you going to buy me a gift or something?" Wang Dong'er naturally was not about to let him off and stayed right by his side.

The two entered the city and bought a batch of fine tea leaves, milk, cups, and straws. They also commissioned a large cart and put an advertising sign on it.

To Wang Xiao, setting up a stall was nothing difficult. As long as the location was good, the stall was bright enough, and people could tell at a glance what was being sold and how much it cost, that mattered ten times more than the taste.

After all, the flavors of small businesses were more or less the same. What mattered was novelty and appeal.

That evening, night fell, yet Shrek City was bustling with excitement. The nightlife had only just begun.

By the time Wang Xiao and Wang Dong'er reached the snack street outside the academy's east gate, Huo Yuhao had already set up his grilled fish stall, with Tang Ya and Bei Bei helping him.

"Little Wang Xiao, over here!" Tang Ya called cheerfully, waving at him.

"Coming."

Wang Xiao pushed his cart over beside Huo Yuhao. Tang Ya had saved this spot for him, and it was fairly eye-catching.

"Brother Wang, where did you get all this equipment?"

Huo Yuhao was surprised. Compared with Wang Xiao's bright, polished cart, his own stall was like an unfinished house next to a fully furnished one.

Tang Ya circled the cart once, staring at the words milk tea on the sign. Confused, she asked, "Little Wang Xiao, what are you making? I've never heard of this drink before. Can it really sell?"

"It's fine. I mostly just like drinking it myself."

Wang Xiao gave a simple explanation. It was nothing more than roasted tea leaves mixed with cooked milk, blending the rich flavors of both into a drink that needed to be savored to be enjoyed.

"It's settled, then. The first cup goes to me. If you dare trick me, you're dead."

Wang Dong'er walked over carrying a barrel of steeped tea and slammed it heavily onto the stall.

When the lid was opened, a rich aroma of tea spread through the air.

Anyone who understood tea could tell that the ingredients were expensive.

Wang Xiao immediately made a cup. The rich fragrance of tea collided with the full-bodied aroma of milk, instantly releasing an irresistible scent.

"Ah, how do I drink this?" Wang Dong'er held the cup in her hands, completely at a loss.

Wang Xiao taught her step by step.

"Stick this in like this, then put your lips around it and gently suck. The milk tea will come up."

Following Wang Xiao's instructions, Wang Dong'er and Tang Ya took huge sips. The intense tea fragrance and mellow milk flavor burst across their tongues. It was incredibly delicious, with every mouthful leaving a lingering aftertaste.

"Wow, it smells so good!" Tang Ya held a hand to her cheek, her face full of satisfaction.

Wang Dong'er took several huge gulps, white liquid hanging from the corner of her mouth as she wore an utterly blissful expression.

Wang Xiao opened the container of prepared milk, and its rich aroma quickly drew a crowd.

"What smells so good? Boss, what are you selling?" someone asked curiously.

Wang Xiao said, "Milk tea. A cold drink. Twenty Copper Soul Coins a cup."

As soon as he said that, everyone thought it was a little expensive. But seeing Tang Ya and Wang Dong'er drink with such enjoyment, they paid to give it a try.

Others did not think it was expensive at all. One sniff of the tea leaves told them they were not cheap, so the price seemed reasonable.

Wang Xiao was not worried about being unable to sell it. On such a hot day, nothing felt better than a cup of iced tea.

"Boss, this milk tea is really good. It's flavorful without being sickeningly sweet, and it's nice and cold. I love this little thing," a burly man shouted.

Before long, a line had formed at Wang Xiao's stall. Female Soul Masters in particular came one after another, and everyone who drank it praised its taste.

At the neighboring Huo Yuhao's stall, where even lowered prices had failed to attract buyers, there was now enough attention for a long line to form as well.

In less than an hour, Wang Xiao sold a hundred cups of milk tea, using up all five large barrels of prepared milk.

"I'm exhausted! I've never been this tired in my life. Damn Wang Xiao, you have to compensate me!" Wang Dong'er dropped into a chair, drenched in sweat.

Wang Xiao was soaked in sweat too, so he quickly circulated the power of ice to cool himself down. Otherwise, the heat really would have been unbearable.

Just then, the crowd suddenly stirred.

The male students automatically split into two rows, their eyes going wide as they stared fixedly at the long-legged beauty who had appeared.

"Senior Jiang Nannan! The number one beauty of the Outer Court! Why is she here?"

Some of the men were wildly excited, unable to take their eyes off her fair, shapely legs. The leg ring beneath her skirt made their hearts race even more.

Jiang Nannan had long brown hair, a breathtakingly beautiful face, and a tall figure, standing around one hundred seventy centimeters. Her long legs were straight, and her fair jade-like feet rested on golden high heels, making her exceptionally alluring.

She paused briefly, raised her eyes to glance at Wang Xiao's stall, then walked toward the grilled fish stall beside it.

"Junior, how much is the grilled fish?" Her voice was gentle. She wore cute rabbit-ear accessories, yet she carried an air of cold detachment.

Huo Yuhao was completely focused on grilling the fish and did not even look up. "Five Copper Soul Coins each."

The people around them thought the boy was trying far too hard to play it cool. He was clearly trying to attract Beauty Jiang with a game of playing hard to get. They had seen this routine plenty of times.

"That's a little expensive." Jiang Nannan hoped he could lower the price.

Wang Xiao looked over. Just as the rumors said, her family was poor and her life was tight. A dignified Soul Elder actually had to worry over a few Copper Soul Coins.

How ironic this world was.

Huo Yuhao refused. "Sorry, my grilled fish has a fixed price. Besides, the last three have already been reserved for Brother Wang and Sister Xiaoya."

"Alright. I'll try it another time."

"Kid, how dare you refuse to sell!"

Just as Jiang Nannan turned around, a sharp whistle split the air. A Gold Soul Coin flew past her cheek and shot toward Huo Yuhao.

Clang!

A golden vine lashed out and blocked it.

"Xu Sanshi, you dare bully someone from my Tang Sect!"

Tang Ya flew into a rage and immediately released Bei Bei, charging forward to tear into Xu Sanshi.

The two collided, their Martial Souls appearing in an instant as Soul Power surged. The area was immediately filled with crackling lightning and dancing arcs of electricity.

The piercing force of this lightning seems inferior to Chidori. Wang Xiao silently assessed.

He immediately activated his Three Tomoe. Naturally, he would not miss an opportunity to copy battle experience.

Despite the thunderous commotion, the two merely exchanged a few moves before separating into a standoff.

"Bei Bei, if you keep acting so arrogant, we'll have no choice but to settle this in the Soul Arena." Xu Sanshi put away his iron fan, his expression turning serious.

Bei Bei said nothing, but he clearly intended the same.

Tang Ya said disdainfully, "Fine, let's go! Who's afraid of who? Little Yuhao, today your Sister Xiaoya will stand up for you!"

"Ah, but what about my grilled fish stall?" Huo Yuhao asked worriedly.

Wang Xiao walked over with a smile. "It's fine. I'll watch it for you."

"Thanks, Brother Wang."

With no more concerns, the group set off for the Soul Arena, determined to settle the score today.

The moment Wang Dong'er heard there was a fight to watch, she decisively abandoned Wang Xiao and followed them.

Wang Xiao could not be bothered to stop her and instead called out to Tang Ya.

"Sister Xiaoya, I need to tell you something."

He leaned close to Tang Ya's ear and quietly explained what would happen tomorrow.

After hearing him out, Tang Ya left with mixed feelings.

Little Wang Xiao had gone this far for her, yet she did not have a single proper gift with which to thank him. What else could she give him?

The battle between Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi quickly spread throughout the academy.

Ninety percent of the pedestrians on the snack street ran off to watch the match.

Jiang Nannan turned around and was also preparing to leave when Wang Xiao stopped her.

"Senior, if you can't have grilled fish, why not try this?"

Jiang Nannan looked back and smiled. "Junior, I can't afford your drink. It's too expensive."