My Roommate Lover - Chapter 11 - A Man Who Bullies Women is Not a Good Man

Zhang Xixi never imagined that selling chilled watermelon could be so profitable; it was beyond her wildest dreams. By just before 2 PM, they had sold out the remaining ten watermelons. The day was scorching hot, and at this rate, even fifty more wouldn’t be enough to meet the demand.

Fifty watermelons, at 0.4 yuan per 500 grams, with transportation costs saved, amounted to about 200 yuan in costs. They sold the watermelon slices at two yuan each, with eight slices per watermelon, totaling 16 yuan. For the fifty watermelons, they sold about ten whole, and the remaining forty as slices, bringing in 640 yuan for the slices and 100 yuan for the whole ones, totaling 740 yuan. Subtracting the 200 yuan cost, they made over 500 yuan in profit.

That’s real, tangible money.

Unfortunately, they were out of stock. Zhang Xixi called Li Ergou to arrange for 500 kilograms of watermelon for the next day and to pay him for today’s stock. Li Ergou laughed, saying it was no problem, and they would stick to the usual arrangement at the Fruit Wholesale Market in the West District.

After packing up, Zhang Xixi even bought a pack of cigarettes for He Runxi, smiling as she said, “Boss He, thank you so much.”

He Runxi chuckled, “No problem, no problem. You didn’t have to buy me cigarettes.”

Zhang Xixi replied, “It’s the least I could do.”

He Runxi casually asked, “Your business seems to be booming. How much did you make?”

Jia Simiao replied coolly, “We’re just making a living, nothing compared to you, Boss He.”

It’s wise not to flaunt wealth, especially in business. Zhang Xixi lacked social experience, and if she revealed their sales figures to He Runxi, who knows what he might think? It’s better to keep a low profile and avoid trouble.

They packed up the freezer, the umbrella, the stools, and pushed everything back to the small hostel.

Zhang Xixi wiped her sweat and asked, “Jia-Ge, do you think the 500 kilograms of watermelon we ordered from Ergou will be enough?”

Jia Simiao said, “Let’s not rush. We should test the market before going all in.”

Zhang Xixi smiled, sitting cross-legged on the bed, counting the money in her pouch over and over, then solemnly said, “Jia-Ge, this is our seed money. We shouldn’t split it yet. Let’s wait until we earn more. What do you think?”

Jia Simiao laughed, “Sure, you’re the boss lady. You decide.”

Zhang Xixi was delighted, lying back on the bed, unable to stop smiling.

Shen Jun’ao and Tang Ziyu weren’t the type to squander money. They knew how hard Zhang Xixi worked for her earnings. Having just struck gold, they couldn’t spend it frivolously, so they decided on a food stall for dinner-affordable and tasty.

Zhang Xixi exclaimed, “No way! Tonight, we’re going to Nanjiang snack street for some barbecue.”

Back at the ancestral house of Jia Family, Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi found a piece of paper stuck to the beast-head door knocker. It was a demolition order, stamped by the City Demolition Office, simply stating that the city was undergoing a garden city project, and the old house was too outdated and had to be demolished. The paper instructed the owner to visit the Demolition Office to discuss the matter.

Signed by: Manager of Demolition Office-Ji Shihua.

Zhang Xixi fumed, “This is a conspiracy by Dongsheng Group.”

Jia Simiao frowned, “Dongsheng Group?”

Zhang Xixi explained, “It’s one of the major corporations in Nanjiang City. The chairman, Huo Dongsheng, is related to the deputy mayor in charge of transportation and urban development. With such connections, Dongsheng Group handles most of the city’s land development projects. I saw the bid documents recently; the redevelopment of Yangjiang Road is being done by Dongsheng Group.”

Before going to New York, Jia Simiao had lived in Lingnan City and rarely visited Nanjiang City, so he wasn’t familiar with the local powers. However, he didn’t care about that. The ancestral house was a cultural relic, and he wouldn’t allow anyone to demolish it.

Jia Simiao put the demolition order in his pocket, smiling lightly, “No worries, we’ll handle whatever comes our way. I’m not easy to mess with.”

Zhang Xixi declared, “Count me in. To protect our home, we’ll stand together and resist.”

“Our home?” That sounded odd. It was his home, wasn’t it?

Jia Simiao shrugged. Both he and Zhang Xixi were tired. After a shower, they fell asleep until dusk, waking only when Tang Ziyu and Shen Jun’ao returned. Don’t get the wrong idea; they didn’t sleep together. Zhang Xixi slept in the main house, while Jia Simiao sensibly chose the side wing.

After a quick wash, and waiting for Tang Ziyu and Shen Jun’ao to change clothes, they headed out.

Nanjiang snack street wasn’t very wide, with stalls lining both sides, offering a variety of snacks like fried, boiled, Malatang¹, juicy beef balls, soup dumplings, Dandan noodles², paste soup, fried dumplings, rice cakes, and more. Almost every famous snack from around the country was represented here.

Walking down the street, the mix of sour, spicy, and meaty aromas filled the air, making Jia Simiao, Zhang Xixi, and the others even hungrier, their mouths watering. The street was crowded, with shirtless men sitting on stools, drinking and playing games, creating a lively atmosphere.

At a barbecue stall, Jia Simiao, Zhang Xixi, and the others found a spot and ordered lamb skewers, squid, beef tendons, chicken legs, duck necks, leeks, and a few bottles of chilled beer, filling the table. They placed everything on the grill, letting the charcoal work its magic, brushing on barbecue sauce, cumin, and chili powder. Soon, the enticing aroma of grilled meat filled the air.

The meat turned golden, with oil dripping onto the charcoal, sizzling and smoking, intensifying the heat. Watching the food grill, they couldn’t resist, grabbing beer in one hand and skewers in the other, eating heartily.

After a few drinks, their cheeks were flushed. Having three beautiful women drinking with him, how lucky could Jia Simiao be? Passersby looked at him with envy and jealousy, wishing they could kick him aside and take his place, enjoying the company of these beauties.

Jia Simiao sincerely said, “Thank you for taking me in these past two days. I toast to you.”

Zhang Xixi giggled, “Come on, we’re all friends here. No need for formalities. Cheers!”

In just two days, how did these two become so in sync? Shen Jun’ao and Tang Ziyu couldn’t help but feel something was off. Was this the legendary perfect match? Shen Jun’ao thought she might secretly observe them during a mission to see what was really going on, making sure Jia Simiao didn’t take advantage of Zhang Xixi.

Tang Ziyu, however, laughed, “I want to say something too. This toast is to you two big bosses. When I graduate, you’ll probably have a big corporation. Don’t forget about me then.”

Zhang Xixi patted her shoulder, “Don’t worry, just say the word, and you’ll have a job.”

This girl was straightforward, with no hidden agenda. Jia Simiao had already figured her out in these two days… Oh, her personality, that is. Don’t get the wrong idea. But starting a roadside business and dreaming of a corporation? Jia Simiao chuckled. Maybe it was possible.

Just then, a man’s voice came from nearby, “Well, if it isn’t Jun’ao! I didn’t expect to see you here. You’re looking more beautiful than ever.”

Shen Jun’ao had changed into casual wear, her long hair casually pinned up, with a few strands of bangs framing her face, giving her a smart yet charming look. Her fitted skirt couldn’t hide her curvaceous figure. Her long legs were wrapped in sheer stockings, exuding a sophisticated and relaxed vibe.

She was usually calm and composed, rarely showing her emotions. But now, looking at this man, her face darkened, and she sneered, “Who are you? I don’t know you. Please leave us alone.”

The man was tall and slender, wearing glasses, with a clean and handsome appearance. Beside him was a slender woman with an LV bag, her cheekbones prominent, her chin pointed, and somewhat attractive. But Jia Simiao glanced at her and immediately judged that she was no match for Shen Jun’ao.

The slender woman glanced at Shen Jun’ao and asked, “Lu Jianfei, is she your ex-girlfriend, Shen Jun’ao? She’s just average. You were right to dump her.”

Lu Jianfei looked at the slender woman, his face immediately showing a fawning expression, “Qingwen, she can’t compare to you. You’re the bright moon, and she’s just a little star. You’re the vast ocean, and she’s just a grain of sand on the shore…”

Dai Qingwen giggled, “Stop speaking the truth, or you’ll make the dumped trash angry.”

Zhang Xixi and Tang Ziyu were furious, and even Jia Simiao understood. No wonder Shen Jun’ao’s face changed when her boyfriend was mentioned, and Zhang Xixi and Tang Ziyu kept signaling him to stop. It turned out it was because of this Lu Jianfei. Even a fool could see that this guy dumped Shen Jun’ao to climb the social ladder.

Sure, love can’t be forced, and if he found someone better, fine. But did he have to insult Shen Jun’ao like this? Before Jia Simiao could say anything, Zhang Xixi was already smiling, “Ziyu, you know, there are all kinds of men these days. I’ve even heard of one who brushes his teeth with sewage.”

The two were used to working together, so Tang Ziyu understood immediately, exclaiming, “Oh my, sewage? How do you know?”

Zhang Xixi looked Lu Jianfei up and down, smiling, “I haven’t seen it myself, but I can smell it. If he didn’t brush with sewage, how else could he be spewing such filth? It’s filthy.”

Tang Ziyu covered her nose, “Stinky, really stinky.”

Footnote:

1. Malatang(麻辣烫):Malatang is a popular Chinese street food consisting of a spicy and numbing hotpot-like dish. Diners select various skewered ingredients, such as vegetables, meats, and tofu, which are cooked in a flavorful broth made with Sichuan peppercorns and chili oil.
2. Dandan Noodles(担担面): A spicy Sichuan-style noodle dish typically topped with minced pork, preserved vegetables, and a flavorful chili oil-based sauce.