"Don't panic. It's not that we can't afford food. We just came to the wrong place."
Xie Mi waved a hand and led them through the streets and alleys to a storefront. "I have a friend who'll make sure you all get fed. My friend's already inside waiting for us."
Liu Woxing glanced at the Production Team, hesitating. "But didn't the rules say we couldn't ask for..."
She swallowed the word "help" before it left her mouth.
It turned out Teacher Xie's friend was a master surnamed Kang.
At three yuan a tub, seven people came to twenty-one yuan. The shop even added hot water and prepared the noodles for them, and there were seats outside where they could eat.
It was practically a lavish feast at an unbeatable price.
Even those who normally never ate instant noodles were too busy enjoying the aroma to talk, shoveling down one mouthful after another.
After all, sixteen hours had passed since last night without any of them eating a bite.
Xie Mi watched them wolf down their food with a beaming smile and said gently, "Fifteen thousand each. Remember to transfer it to me later."
Lai Bingxuan said between bites, "I'll send you thirty thousand!"
"Xie Mi, buy me a bottle of water. Put it on my tab, and I'll transfer the money later," said Qiu Chengye, who was so thirsty he was gulping down the broth.
Xie Mi said, "Sure. A bottle of water costs two yuan, so transfer me fifty-five thousand later."
Qiu Chengye paused mid-gulp. "Shouldn't it be twenty-five thousand?"
He was pretty good at math.
But Xie Mi said, "For those two yuan for the water, your exchange rate is one to twenty thousand."
"Why?" Qiu Chengye wasn't short of money. He just couldn't stomach the indignity.
Xie