Chapter 148: A Blessing in Disguise

Most people in Chaos City had heard of Dou Xing’s fearsome reputation. Now, seeing him approach, even the poorest folks who’d been packed so tightly at the front that not even a sliver of space remained, somehow managed to squeeze aside and open up a path just wide enough for one person to pass. They watched Dou Xing stride through, heads held high, with a mixture of awe and fear.

When Dou Xing entered and saw who was inside, a flicker of surprise crossed his face—it was them.

Xu Le, basking in the glow of Dou Xing’s presence, grinned like a mouse that had stolen lamp oil and followed in right behind him.

Inside, Yun Qimu and the others had spread out a clean, dark green cloth on the ground. Wu Xingyu was slowly taking things out one by one.

On the left was a pile of apple samples, all about the same size. Next to them sat a basket of bright red strawberries. In the middle were several green cucumbers, and on the right, pumpkins, white radishes, sweet potatoes, onions, and other vegetables.

Once everything was laid out, there was barely any room left on the cloth.

Yuan An and Yun He hurried over to help rearrange things, shifting items around to free up some space. Only after they’d added a pot of orchids, a few pieces of green jade, and a plate of danmu soft candies was the cloth completely covered.

Yun Qimu was a bit regretful—the cloth was too small, and there were still things they hadn’t put out yet.

But the onlookers were already stunned by the things they’d taken out.

“Wait, am I seeing things? That pumpkin’s as big as a millstone! Even the elves have never grown pumpkins that size.”

“And what are those long green things? Anyone know? Someone explain!”

“Wow, just wow! Mom, I can’t believe I’m seeing such fresh fruits and vegetables here on this exile planet. They’re expensive, sure, but they look even better than the ones grown by the elves!”

The wealthy folks, faces flushed with excitement, waved their hands grandly. “Buy them all! I want everything!”

Even those with only a little money felt their hearts itch. Missing out on such fresh, juicy fruits and vegetables would be something to regret for ten thousand years.

So as Wu Xingyu set out each item, the crowd started shouting, pooling their money together.

“Kid, go tell your mom to bring all our money—we’re buying fruit! She’ll definitely fork out the energy coins for this.”

“Hurry, go tell the captain!”

“Go tell the boss—there’s fresh fruit and vegetables for sale here!”

Once again, word spread like wildfire through Chaos City. In the blink of an eye, news that a few merchants were selling fresh produce reached the ears of every major power.

Especially Yi Beimeng, the male lead in the “Bridegroom Selection” contest. When he heard the news, a wicked, sly smile curled on his pale lips. He squinted at his burly subordinate who’d come to report, and said coolly, “Go tell Shentu I’m giving him a quota of one million energy coins. Buy as much as you can, put it on the Red Lotus Gang’s account. Tonight, our gang will get to taste these fruits and vegetables too. As for the energy coins, get them from Dou Xing first.”

The burly subordinate’s eyes lit up, shining with gratitude as he beamed at Yi Beimeng. “Boss, you’re too good to us!”

Yi Beimeng’s lips curled into a faint smile, a rare warmth flickering in his otherwise devilish phoenix eyes. “Go on, don’t let Shentu buy them all before you get there.”

The big guy grinned and hurried out with a loud “Aye!” He was a speed ability user—gone in a flash, vanishing from sight like a gust of wind.

Shi Yong stood nearby, holding a bowl of pitch-black medicine. Once the others left, he silently walked up to Yi Beimeng and handed him the bowl. “Xiao Bei, time for your medicine.”

Yi Beimeng’s smile instantly vanished. His face, usually pale and mysterious, puffed up in frustration. “Shi Tou, can’t you stop being such a killjoy? I’m already better, I don’t want to drink this stuff—it’s so bitter I can’t even stomach nutrient solution for three days after!”

Shi Yong looked at him disapprovingly. “Xiao Bei, don’t be difficult. Only by taking your medicine will you get better. Otherwise, you’ll stay weak for a long time.”

“And this medicine is precious. We only have enough herbs left to make it two more times.”

Yi Beimeng’s face stiffened, his expression shifting several times before he finally gave in.

“Fine, fine. It’s not like herbs are easy to come by. I’ll drink it so it doesn’t go to waste. Sigh…”

Being the boss isn’t easy. People outside always say he’s reckless and unpredictable—hmph, they must just be jealous.

He pinched his nose and gulped down the medicine in one go, then quickly popped a candy into his mouth to recover, his voice a little wilted. “Shi Tou, you really don’t need to make me any more medicine. I got lucky this time—awakened an ability after all that trouble. My body’s going to be much stronger now.”

A rare smile appeared on Shi Yong’s usually stern face. “Awakening an ability is great. Now your body won’t be so burdened by the parasite.”

Yi Beimeng managed a smile, then said to Shi Yong, “Another batch of berserk beasts just broke out from the northern quarantine zone. Isn’t Lou Yan always eager to show he can replace me? I’ll give him the chance—let him take a team to wipe them out.”

Shi Yong: “…Xiao Bei, is this just so they don’t get to eat any fruit or vegetables?”

Yi Beimeng grinned, not at all embarrassed to be called out. “Exactly! You know me best, Shi Tou. No way I’m letting those ingrates eat such good stuff.”

Meanwhile, the speed ability user had already darted into the crowd and whispered in Shentu’s ear.

Shentu, who’d been fretting over his wallet and what to buy, instantly broke into a smile.

“What do you want? Hurry up and say it—don’t hold up the line,” Wu Xingyu said coldly, his dark eyes fixed on the man at the front who still hadn’t decided what to buy.

Shentu, too happy to care about the chilly tone, locked his gaze on the apples. “I want apples. How many counts as wholesale?”

Wu Xingyu: “Thirty.”

“Then give me thirty.”

“Click.” Wu Xingyu glanced at Pei Yu and the other two. “You guys, help him out.”

“Coming, coming!” The three immediately ran over, cheerfully taking over Wu Xingyu’s spot and starting to serve customers.

Wu Xingyu quietly continued to restock items. Whenever someone tried to haggle or pester them for a discount, Wu Xingyu would just shoot them a cold glare, sending the troublemakers scurrying away.

He was excellent at keeping order.

As for Yun Qimu, the mastermind behind this business, she’d already stepped back from the sales, pulled out a chair, and sat down with a yawn, watching from the side to make sure no one tried anything funny under her nose.

Sure enough, she caught someone trying to steal. She immediately called Pei Yu over to tie the thief up and hang him upside down from the eaves behind the house as a warning to others.

After that, everyone behaved themselves a lot better."