The First Transaction

So that was how it was.

He had been thinking wrong the entire time.

The advantage he had painstakingly built up in the Library wasn't that physical space, but rather the hundreds of friends in his WeChat.

Those people were his real customers, his mobile, living market.

Being barred from the Library was merely a physical barrier, but demand would not disappear.

They still needed to drink water, eat snacks, and wanted cheap, genuine goods.

And he was the person who could satisfy their demands.

Perspective.

Right, it was all about perspective!

Returning to the dorm, the sky had already grown somewhat dark.

The dorm was very quiet, with only Li Jun's computer screen glowing, accompanied by the clacking of the keyboard and the occasional mouse click.

Wang Xiaoliang didn't disturb him; after finishing his wash, he sat down and began to think.

Fat Boss had opened a door for him, but he had to walk the path himself.

He couldn't just post randomly on Moments, as that would get him blocked like a micro-vendor.

He needed an opportunity, one that could naturally showcase his "new business" to everyone.

Just as his thoughts were surging, a notification popped up at the top of his phone screen.

A new friend request.

It was recommended by Wei Zijin.

Wang Xiaoliang immediately clicked accept.

The other person's profile picture was a classic anime character, and the nickname was simple-just a single letter "S".

As soon as they became friends, the other person's message came through.

[I want to commission you to write a few characters, paid.]

The other person's style was extremely direct, getting straight to the point.

Paid?

Now, someone was actually actively coming to him to spend money to buy things.

He felt a bit at a loss.

[This... I've never sold any, I don't know how to charge.] He replied honestly.

[Four characters, four hundred yuan, how about that?]

Four hundred!

Wang Xiaoliang looked at the three words on his phone screen, thinking he had misread.

One hundred per character?

This money was way too easy to make!

He felt his breathing grow somewhat hurried.

He forcefully suppressed the overwhelming joy in his heart, trying his best to make his reply appear calm.

[Alright.]

[Okay, then sorry for the trouble.] The other person replied very quickly, [Write them vertically: I love Xiaoxiao.]

I love Xiaoxiao.

Four very straightforward characters.

It seemed this was yet another infatuated young man deeply mired in passionate love.

[How should I give it to you after I write it?] Wang Xiaoliang asked.

[Tell me when you're done, I'll come find you to pick it up.]

[Okay.]

The simple conversation ended, but Wang Xiaoliang held his phone, unable to calm down for a long time.

Four hundred yuan.

Just like that, easily obtained?

He suddenly remembered that he was still worrying about what content to film for short videos.

Wasn't this ready-made content?

It was just the right time to practice.

Yet this thought merely flashed through his mind before he ruthlessly snuffed it out.

No.

"I love Xiaoxiao"-this content was too personal and involved someone else's privacy.

He'd better drop it.

He immediately went downstairs to the stationery store near the school.

He didn't buy that kind of expensive Xuan paper, just getting the cheapest roll of practice Xuan paper, a huge roll for only a dozen or so yuan.

Returning to the dorm, he looked at his desk; it was too small and completely unable to be unrolled.

With a surge of resolve, he fetched a rag and meticulously wiped the floor in the center of the dorm three times, until not even a trace of dust could be felt when touched by hand.

Then, he cautiously spread the Xuan paper out on the clean floor, weighting down the four corners with ink dishes.

This was his first time earning money through writing, and his mood was completely different from when he had written for Wei Zijin before.

Nervous, yet carrying a trace of a sacred sense of ritual.

He took a deep breath, fully saturated his brush with thick ink, and suspended the tip over the paper.

"I".

The moment he laid down the first stroke, he felt his wrist grow somewhat stiff.

Too nervous.

The characters he wrote had form, but their spirit was scattered.

No, this was completely not worth a hundred yuan.

Wang Xiaoliang unhesitatingly crumpled this sheet of paper into a ball and tossed it aside.

Again.

He adjusted his breathing, forcing himself to calm down.

The second piece.

It was somewhat better than the first, but he still felt the connections between the strokes lacked fluidity, falling short of that effortless feel.

Still no good.

Crumple it up.

The third piece, the fourth piece...

He became completely immersed.

Until the fifth piece, the moment he finished writing the final character "Xiaoxiao", lifted his brush, and gathered his breath, did he let out a long sigh of relief.

This was the feeling!

This piece of calligraphy had steady brushwork and a fluent flow; the four characters from top to bottom seemed as though they were organically integrated.

Looking at it himself, he found it pleasing to the eye.

This four hundred yuan was well worth it.

He stood up, took two steps back, and scrutinized his work from top to bottom, a satisfied smile blooming on his face.

"Who is Xiaoxiao?"

A blunt voice rang out behind him.

Wang Xiaoliang was startled into a jolt, nearly jumping up.

He whipped his head around to see that Li Jun had already stood behind him at some point, lowering his head to look at the characters on the floor.

When had he come over?

"Don't know her."

Li Jun raised his head, glanced at him, and didn't speak.

That look plainly spelled out, "Do you take me for an idiot?"

Wang Xiaoliang felt somewhat guilty under his gaze, yet didn't know how to explain.

Li Jun didn't pursue the matter either, merely snorting, turning around to walk back to his desk, putting on his headphones, and re-entering his game.

Wang Xiaoliang could sense that Li Jun was angry.

He felt that he was being fobbed off.

Wang Xiaoliang sighed and didn't explain further.

He cautiously waited for the ink to dry completely, then took out his phone and snapped a clear photo of the characters on the floor.

He sent it to the buyer.

After playing games for about half an hour, Li Jun suddenly removed his headphones again and swiveled his chair toward Wang Xiaoliang's side.

"Xiaoliang, I really don't want to lecture you."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet dorm.

Wang Xiaoliang raised his head.

"Other people start dating in their freshman year, all lovey-dovey, and now, close to graduation, they're all busy breaking up, looking for jobs, and chasing their futures."

Li Jun leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Look at you, throughout college I never saw you chase a single girl, and now that you're about to clear out, you've suddenly seen the light?"

"Is your physical development late, or is your brain development slow?"

Hearing these words, Wang Xiaoliang felt a wave of speechlessness in his heart.

He desperately wanted to slap the chat history and transfer records from his phone onto Li Jun's face and tell him this was business.

But he held back.

Li Jun's jealousy was too heavy.

If he let him know that writing a few characters could easily earn four hundred yuan, there was no telling how he would use sarcasm, or even possibly go outside and talk nonsense.

Better to avoid extra trouble than to court it.

"I really don't know her, believe me or not." Wang Xiaoliang could only repeat himself.

Hearing this reply, a trace of impatience flashed across Li Jun's face.

He seemed to think Wang Xiaoliang was fooling him like an idiot, too lazy to even fabricate a plausible excuse.

"Suit yourself, then."

He coldly dropped these words, turned around, put his headphones back on, and left Wang Xiaoliang with his back.

Wang Xiaoliang shook his head helplessly and sent the photo to the buyer "S".

[It's written, take a look, is this okay?]

The other person replied almost in seconds.

[Yes, absolutely fantastic! Even better than I imagined!]

Immediately following that, a WeChat money transfer notification popped up.

[Transfer 400 yuan]

Wang Xiaoliang swiftly clicked accept.

The prompt sound of money arriving was crisp and pleasant.

[Where are you? I'm coming over to pick it up now.] The other person sent another message.

Wang Xiaoliang gave the address of his dormitory building.

[Right, bro, could you do me one more small favor? We'll talk when we meet.]

There was more?

Although Wang Xiaoliang felt somewhat puzzled, having just collected four hundred yuan from the person, it wouldn't do to refuse.

[Okay.]

He carefully rolled up the Xuan paper, gently secured it with a rubber band, and went downstairs.

Waiting downstairs at the dorm building for just a few minutes, a fresh and handsome boy jogged over.

Dressed in name-brand athletic wear, his skin was a healthy wheat color, and a warm smile hung on his face.

"Are you Senior Wang Xiaoliang? I'm S, I'm also from this school, a sophomore this year."

"Hello." Wang Xiaoliang handed the paper roll in his hand over.

The junior didn't take it immediately, instead pulling a chilled bottle of Pulse out of the backpack behind him and handing it over.

"Senior, thanks for the effort, it's hot out, drink a bottle of water."

Wang Xiaoliang was stunned for a moment, but still took it.

This junior really knew how to handle things.

The junior took the paper roll, impatiently untied the rubber band, and unfolded the Xuan paper.

"Wow! Too awesome!" He praised from the bottom of his heart, his eyes glowing.

Then, he made a move that took Wang Xiaoliang completely by surprise.

He held that piece of "I love Xiaoxiao" calligraphy up beside himself, and then handed his phone to Wang Xiaoliang.

"Senior, this is the small favor I wanted to ask of you. Can you help me take a few photos? And record a video of just over a dozen seconds will do."

Wang Xiaoliang finally understood.

He took the phone, aimed it at the junior and the calligraphy, and pressed the shutter.

In the photo, the junior smiled brightly yet with a hint of shyness, the four large characters beside him bold and passionate.

Following that, Wang Xiaoliang helped him record a video.

The junior held the calligraphy, faced the camera, and said earnestly, "Xiaoxiao, I love you."

After recording, he took the phone back to check it once, looking immensely satisfied.

"Thank you, Senior! Thanks a million!" He carefully rolled the Xuan paper back up and stowed it in his backpack.

"Oh right," he said to Wang Xiaoliang, as if remembering something, "My girlfriend saw the photo Senior Wei Zijin posted on her Moments earlier and was insanely envious, saying that calligraphy felt so atmospheric. Now it's great, she's got one too."

He scratched the back of his head and smiled with a bit of embarrassment.

"Senior, if I need anything written in the future, I'll come to you again! I'm leaving first."

Wang Xiaoliang stood in place, still holding the bottle of chilled Pulse in his hand.

He watched the younger schoolmate's departing back, feeling happy along with him in his heart.

It was not only because he had easily earned four hundred yuan, but even more because he admired that schoolmate's creativity.

As it turned out, this piece of calligraphy was not just calligraphy, but a meticulously planned romantic prop.

What he sold was a way to express affection.

This matter gave Wang Xiaoliang a new understanding of the business of "selling things."

Over the next few days, one after another, a few more people added his WeChat.

Without exception, they were all recommended by Wei Zijin.

This made Wang Xiaoliang have to sigh with emotion that the influence of a pretty top student was truly massive.

With the experience of the first time, he was no longer timid.

Yet when the other party asked about the price, he still had no idea how to quote it.

Simply, he ended up following the successful precedent of the first time.

One hundred yuan per character.

Fair to young and old alike.

However, this price clearly was not something everyone could accept.

"Isn't that too much? Just writing two characters costs two hundred?"

"Senior, make it cheaper. I'm a student too and don't have much money."

"One hundred per character? Why don't you just go rob someone?"

Most people backed out after hearing the quote.

In the end, only one person successfully negotiated an order.

The other party wanted the two characters "idiot" written.

Wang Xiaoliang collected two hundred yuan, wrote it carefully, and delivered it over.

It seemed that the calligraphy business was viable, but the market was not large and the prices were sensitive.

He could not treat it as his primary source of income.

His focus still had to return to the path Fat Boss had mentioned.

Moments.

He needed to forge his Moments into an Online Grocery Store where anything could be bought.

Just as he was pondering what content his first Moments post should have, his phone vibrated once more.

Yet another friend request.

Wang Xiaoliang clicked it out of habit.

This time,

the recommender was not Wei Zijin, but the customer who had bought the water.

Wang Xiaoliang did not think much and clicked accept.

He glanced at the other person's profile.

The avatar was a pig.

And that WeChat nickname made him freeze in place.

A Good-For-Nothing.