Chapter 8 Forced Sale
For several days in a row, I didn't set up my stall.
Zhang Muzhe strutted like a rooster that had won a fight, wind in his step.
"See that? Pick a fight with me? This is what you get!"
"From now on, the Braised Duck Snacks business on this street—I call the shots!"
Believing he had driven me off, Zhang Muzhe couldn't wait to tear down the "Buy One Get Two Free" promo board.
A customer pointed at the price board and frowned. "No deals on the Braised Duck Snacks anymore?"
"The promotion's over. Back to regular prices."
"Why is your price so much higher than Heji Braised Duck Snacks? Heji Braised Duck Snacks used to sell for twenty-five a jin... and you're asking fifty a jin?"
"Heji is Heji. Zhangji is Zhangji. My Braised Duck Snacks are 'secret-recipe.' How could they be the same as her junk?"
"But this... is way too expensive!"
"Too expensive?"
Zhang Muzhe spat out his toothpick with a "pah," looking scornful. "Don't buy if it's too expensive!"
The customer choked, face turning green. "What's with that attitude? Who does business like this?"
"A poor bastard learning to pick and choose?"
Zhang Muzhe glared and waved a hand.
"Don't buy, then get lost. Don't block me from doing business!"
The customer cursed "black-hearted stall" and turned to leave.
Zhang Muzhe still shouted after him. "Don't let the door hit you! I don't welcome poor bastards here!"
He was really asking for it.
I sat behind the floor-to-ceiling glass of a café, watching Zhang Muzhe bounce around like a clown with cold eyes.
"I'll take twenty yuan of duck feet."
Zhang Muzhe grabbed a big handful and stuffed them into a bag.
The customer hurried to remind him. "I only want twenty yuan's worth. Don't put in extra."
"I know, I know."
Zhang Muzhe impatiently set the duck feet on the scale, packed them, and handed them over.
"Your duck feet. Fifty-five yuan."
"What? Fifty-five?"
The customer's eyes went wide. "I said I only wanted twenty yuan's worth!"
"There's always some error when you weigh by price. Fifty-five isn't much. A few bites and it's gone."
"I only want twenty. I don't want the extra."
Zhang Muzhe suddenly grabbed the customer's wrist.
"It's already packed and now you say you don't want it? No returns!"
"Once it's weighed, you take it. You're paying today!"
The customer struggled and yelled. "Let go of me! I said twenty yuan only. You grabbed extra on purpose. Is this forced buying and selling?"
"Forced buying and selling? I post my prices clear! You never said how many jin you wanted!"
"Pay up! No pay, no leave!"