6: Chapter 6 almost got turned into soup

The next day.

Zhao Jian made a rare change to his diet, switching from tofu with scallions to freshly steamed buns.

Not used to being watched while eating, he didn't take the bus.

He rode a shared bike all the way to Qili Village.

It was late summer, and as a lakeside fishing village, Qili Village had no shortage of anglers.

Zhao Jian saw many as he passed by.

They were fully equipped, with various exquisite and expensive fishing rods and fish keeps.

Except for the fact that they couldn't catch any fish, everything was perfect.

He parked the shared bike at the village ferry and returned it.

Going any further would exceed the service area and incur extra charges.

There weren't many people at the ferry; the boatmen had long since taken tourists out onto the lake to pick lotus flowers.

Only a few newly arrived tourists were tasting crayfish under parasols.

There was also an elderly Woman picking up mineral water bottles.

"Elder Sister, I'd like to ask you about someone." Zhao Jian helped pick up a few bottles and handed them over.

The Woman was overjoyed at being called Elder Sister.

Coupled with the bottles handed over, the impression that this Young man was sensible and polite was formed.

"Go ahead, I've lived in Qili Village for a long time, I know everyone."

"I want to buy a soft-shelled turtle to stew for my partner to build up her health, but it's too expensive at the market. I heard there's someone named Zhou Mancang in your village who supplies others."

"It might be cheaper."

The Elder Sister didn't stop what she was doing, but her smile grew even brighter.

"Then you've found the right person. The one you're talking about is my husband. I'm his wife."

"Follow me."

Zhao Jian carried a sack of bottles, following behind the Elder Sister.

Her house wasn't far, and they arrived quickly.

"He went out to net fish early this morning. There are a few turtles at home, pick one yourself, 200 each."

The Elder Sister pointed to a large plastic bathtub.

There were indeed six in the basin.

But they were all healthy and completely intact.

Zhao Jian pretended to like one of them and asked: "Elder Sister, can you sell me this one for 100? I just graduated and haven't made any money yet."

If there were a three-legged turtle, it should have been brought out by now.

You get what you pay for.

If there wasn't one, he could use the excuse that they couldn't agree on the price to slip away.

"Alright, I'll give it to you for 100."

Oh no, the Elder Sister was a straightforward person.

The turtles in the tub could sell for at least 300 at the market.

"Do you have any that look a bit worse? It'd be a waste to use such good ones for soup at home."

Zhao Jian's reason was plausible.

The Elder Sister clapped her hands, as if remembering something, and hurried back into the house.

She brought out a plastic bucket from inside.

Inside was a three-legged soft-shelled turtle.

"I was thinking of stewing a turtle soup for dinner tonight and had forgotten about it. If you want this one, take it for 80 yuan."

The turtle weighed about six jin.

Its natural defect didn't affect its appearance; instead, it added a layer of beauty in imperfection.

"Elder Sister, you're really selling me such a big turtle for 80? That's so embarrassing."

Although he said it was embarrassing, his hand gripped it tightly.

The Elder Sister laughed heartily and said: "It's fine. Restaurants don't take these. We catch so many in a day, just selling it for some pocket money is enough."

He took out a hundred-yuan bill and handed it over.

"Then thank you, Elder Sister. Sell me the bucket too, that's 100 total, no need for change. It's convenient for me to carry."

"That won't do, I'll give you the bucket, wait while I get you twenty yuan."

This bucket would cost about twenty at the market.

Zhao Jian quickly refused.

He had already made a sure profit on this turtle; there was no need to take advantage of a small twenty-yuan benefit.

Besides, the Elder Sister was straightforward, and leaving a favor might be useful in the future.

Carrying the plastic bucket, he returned to the ferry.

He was stunned.

"Where's my bike?"

The cost of a shared bike wasn't lower than the bus, and there was no shortage of bicycles and electric scooters in the countryside.

He thought no one would ride it away.

"If I'd known, I wouldn't have returned it!"

He took the bus back to Chengxi District; the flower, bird, fish, and insect market was right near the bus terminus.

It was originally a wetland park, a place for local residents to relax.

Seeing that the trade in flowers, plants, and ornamental fish had reached a certain scale, the authorities were happy to support it and designated a special area.

The market grew larger and larger.

When Zhao Jian arrived, the flow of people hadn't reached its peak.

He didn't know which shop bought rare items, and asking everyone would be too conspicuous and make him seem impatient.

It would be easy to get lowballed.

He found a spot with some fallen leaves and put down the bucket.

He waited for a person with affinity.

"Hey Young man, how are you selling the turtle?"

The surrounding area was full of ornamental fish sellers.

Even if there were turtles, they were small; only cute things were easy to sell.

One as big as Zhao Jian's was rare.

"Five thousand." This was Zhao Jian asking an exorbitant price.

His psychological expectation was two thousand.

The old man who asked turned and walked away.

After a few steps, he turned back and asked angrily: "Are you crazy with poverty? If this quality is worth more than a hundred yuan, I'll take your surname!"

"For this quality, I won't sell it for a penny less."

Watching the excitement is human nature.

Attracted by the old man's shouting, quite a few tourists gathered around.

Seeing people arrive, the old man simply didn't leave.

He scolded Zhao Jian for being black-hearted and for being a Young man who didn't respect his elders.

"You tell me, he dares to ask for five thousand for a three-legged turtle, can we common folk still afford to eat?"

In this day and age where even someone saying shit tastes good would find people to agree, the old man had no shortage of supporters.

"I say, Young man, business must be done with a conscience. Is what your uncle says true? Are you really selling it for five thousand?"

An auntie wearing an armband also came over to ask.

She wasn't an Administrator; the armband said Wetland Park, Sanitation.

It was probably printed by the park itself.

Zhao Jian nodded.

"Is there some trouble at home? Auntie has a hundred yuan here; if you're really in a tight spot and need money, take it first."

"Auntie, I'm fine. I'm selling this as a pet, so it's a bit more expensive."

Zhao Jian hurriedly stopped the auntie from taking out money.

The old man was watching this side the whole time.

"No matter how much you treat it as a pet, it's still a turtle. Even if you go to a restaurant to eat one freshly made, it wouldn't be this expensive!"

"Then go buy one at a restaurant."

Zhao Jian didn't understand.

Since they were at a flower, bird, fish, and insect market, why equate food prices with pet prices?

The old man was choked into silence.

He stammered a few times, then, like a rebooted artificial intelligence: "Restaurants aren't as black-hearted as you!"

"Then go buy one at a restaurant."

"You're so black-hearted you won't sell it!"

"What if I do sell it?"

"If you sell it, I'll take your surname!"

Zhao Jian couldn't be bothered to pay attention anymore; it was the same few sentences over and over.

The only difference between him and a bot was that he could spit while talking.

Just as he was about to take out his phone to listen to some music, a chubby Middle-aged Man squeezed in, took a look into the bucket, and asked: "Five thousand?"

"Yes, five thousand." Zhao Jian was expressionless.

His patience had already been worn away by the old geezer.

"Give me the bucket too, I'm afraid it will bite me."

The Middle-aged Man took out his wallet, counted out fifty bills, and handed them to Zhao Jian.

Only then did a smile appear on Zhao Jian's face: "Alright, take it all."

The chubby Middle-aged Man happily carried the bucket away.

Zhao Jian had thought the old man had sneaked away while he was making the transaction.

He didn't expect him to still be there.

"Didn't you say earlier that if I sold it, you'd take my surname?" He teased him.

At the household registration office, a vow isn't a valid reason to change one's surname.

"I said it." The old man was red-faced.

"What was your original surname? From now on, you'll have to take my surname..."

"My original surname is Zhao!"

"Huh?" Zhao Jian was stunned in place.