Chapter 4: Pretty Girls are the Best at Deceiving People

200 turned into 406?

Earning two and a half days’ pay in one day?

The boxed meal vendor’s eyes immediately lit up with greed. Chuckling, he hitched up his pants and squatted down next to Jiang Qin. The mixed smell of grease and cigarette smoke assaulted Jiang Qin’s nostrils, making him feel a bit lightheaded.

However, Jiang Qin didn’t say anything. He just scooted over a bit and stuck the cigarette the vendor handed him behind his ear.

His current appearance was completely unlike a high school graduate. He looked more like a dropout who had been knocking around in life.

“Hey mister, tell me where you’re selling those boxed meals?”

As if he had long anticipated this, Jiang Qin very skillfully held up two fingers. “Old man, give me 200 yuan and I’ll tell you the location.”

The vendor’s eyes went wide as saucers, flashing with merchant-like shrewdness. “200? I can barely make that much working here all day!”

“Change locations and you can make four hundred, no?”

“Tell me a bit about it first. Let me think if it’s worth it.” The boxed meal vendor hesitated. 200 wasn’t a small sum.

“The places we just went to were all internet cafes on one street.”

“The east end of Xinghai Road?”

“Yeah.”

“And here I thought it was some great spot. Business is indeed not bad there, but the city inspectors check too strictly. I went once and they even confiscated my cart. Still haven’t gotten it back.”

“I wasn’t finished yet. You give me 200 and I’ll keep talking. If you think it’s not suitable, I’ll give it back to you. I’m still a student, I wouldn’t scam you, right?” Jiang Qin’s voice was full of temptation.

The vendor hesitated for a while before taking out 200 yuan. “Talk. If it’s not worth it, I’m getting a refund.”

Jiang Qin rolled up the bills and stuffed them in his pocket. “On that street there’s a foot massage parlor called Shui Yun Jian. Go in the main entrance and there’s a big courtyard inside. The fire exits of seven internet cafes all lead to that courtyard. Also, the old man guarding the door likes to smoke Hongta Mountain cigarettes. Most importantly, the city inspectors don’t go there.”

“What’s the use of the old guard? He’d dare let me in to sell boxed meals?”

Jiang Qin smiled faintly. “He’s the foot massage parlor boss’s own father. Guarding the door is just because he gets antsy with nothing to do at home.”

The vendor pondered for a while before a look of joy spread across his face. “Alright kid, next time you come eat, it’s on the house.”

“Much obliged.”

“Already figured out the foot massage places at such a young age. You’ll go far in the future!”

Jiang Qin cupped his fist and bowed. “You flatter me!”

Guo Zihang stood dumbfounded on the side for a long time before grabbing Jiang Qin, eyes full of admiration. “Jiang, you’ve already been to mystical places like foot massage parlors?”

“It’s a rite of passage for men.”

“Ah?”

“Enough, stop ahing. We made some money today, I’ll treat you to something good.”

Jiang Qin stood up and dusted off his rear. Pockets stuffed with over seven hundred yuan, he strode off down the main road.

Watching his carefree retreating figure, Guo Zihang was a bit stunned. He felt like his good friend seemed to have a worldly wise maturity about him.

Just like those people in TV shows who had seen through the vicissitudes of life. Although still laughing and cursing on the surface, his eyes were so deep, sharp enough to penetrate to the essence of things.

They had just worked their butts off all morning and only made a bit over three hundred, not even enough profit to buy cigarettes. But Jiang Qin could brazenly claim he made four hundred and sixty.

Most crucially, the boxed meal vendor had shrewdness written all over his face, but in the end was still fooled by him, spending 200 just to buy an address.

To be able to spin tales with an adult without any timidity was something Guo Zihang couldn’t do. When helping his mom buy groceries, he didn’t even dare haggle.

No wonder he wasn’t bothered by getting rejected.

The class all thought he was just pretending, trying to preserve some pitiful dignity for himself. But in this moment, Guo Zihang actually believed Jiang Qin a bit. He really might not have taken it to heart.

However, as soon as Chu Siqi was mentioned, Guo Zihang’s gossip-seeking soul began burning fiercely again.

“Jiang, how are things with you and the class belle Chu Siqi?”

Jiang Qin glanced back at him. “What things could there be between us?”

“You’ve liked her for three years, are you really ending it just like this? She said she would consider you once in college!” Guo Zihang persisted in his questioning. He really didn’t get it. Enduring the summer break and they’d be in college. Giving up now was such a loss.

“She said college so it has to be college? This daddy doesn’t want to wait anymore. If pretty girls could be relied on, pigs would climb trees.”

Jiang Qin spoke expressionlessly, his words full of mockery towards love.

Dating interfered with making money. Being a lovestruck fool wasted one’s life. The blood-soaked lessons from his previous life were enough to prove this point. Women only hindered the speed of earning money. They were useless otherwise.

He had experienced the pain of unrequited love in his youth and felt the horror of a 300,000 yuan bride price. It wasn’t that he had no interest in women. He just felt that in this life, he should prioritize things clearly.

“But…that’s all just your guesses. Maybe Chu Siqi really plans to date you as soon as college starts. Don’t you feel it’s a waste to give up now?”

“Guo, once a man has this kind of thinking, it’s basically like imprisoning himself. Whether it’s love or work, it’s the same. If it’s not in your hands, don’t believe what others say even if they swear on the sky.”

Jiang Qin’s eyes deepened a bit as he suddenly recalled the promises he received when he first started working.

Things like profit sharing on projects, company equity, overseas trips, living allowances for immediate family members. It was the same as Chu Siqi saying if he worked hard she would date him. They all belonged to legends that everyone knew of but no one had seen.

Placing hope in legendary things, he’d rather believe in Ultraman’s light.

Thinking of this, Jiang Qin couldn’t help but recall Ultraman Tiga. Some universe-defending hero. That guy was a total deadbeat.

Back then he borrowed his light, ran away in a flash while fighting Gatanozoa. In the end, his own future was pitch-black, but that guy never even mentioned returning his light.

Don’t be a lovestruck fool in anything. Don’t be a corporate slave in anything. Work hard to make money. That was the righteous path in life.

At this time, Guo Zihang suddenly started scratching his head rapidly, making hissing noises.

Jiang Qin found it strange and couldn’t help staring at him and sizing him up.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t wash your hair before going out?”

“No, I feel like after listening to you, my brain is growing a brain.”

“????????”

At 4pm, Jiang Qin and Guo Zihang walked out of the restaurant, bellies full of food and alcohol.

However, Guo Zihang still couldn’t let go of his longing for places like bars. He wanted to beg Jiang Qin to let him experience it. But before they could walk a few steps, two familiar figures appeared before them.

One was the class math representative Wang Huiru. The other was the class belle Chu Siqi.

The two girls had their arms linked as they came out of the pedestrian street. One held starch sausage, the other candy hawthorn.

The hot summer weather left them a bit sweaty. Even the hair on their foreheads was damp. Their little faces were flushed pink from the heat. Plus their rapid breathing caused their developing chests to rise and fall incessantly.

Wang Huiru had a very pretty, refined look, the feeling of a well-bred young lady. When she smiled she had two dimples. She wore overalls, youthful and lively. Seen alone, she could also be considered a beauty. But walking next to Chu Siqi, she had no advantage.

Today Chu Siqi wore a beige long dress with the hemline falling to her knees. Her eyes were bright and dazzling, features exquisite, red lips full, skin white as snow, making Wang Huiru beside her seem like a foil.

As soon as the four people met, the first to react was Wang Huiru who had been looking ahead the whole time. She immediately raised her hand in greeting.

“Jiang Qin, Guo Zihang, why are you here?”

Hearing someone call him, Jiang Qin subconsciously looked up. His gaze accidentally intersected with Chu Siqi’s amidst the bustling crowd.

Then he retracted his smile, turning his head away a bit indifferently.

Perhaps because he carried memories of his previous life, when Jiang Qin considered interpersonal relationships, he always had a bit of a God’s eye view. So he really had no good feelings towards Chu Siqi.

But a soul nearing forty gave him enough mature steadiness. It wouldn’t make him turn and leave. But it was also limited to this extent.