Chapter 9 Stall Overturned
Cheng Yanqiu saw things going wrong and hurried over to pull Zhang Muzhe back.
"Zhang Muzhe, talk it out. Don't do this..."
"What do you know!"
Zhang Muzhe shoved her aside.
"I'm the only Braised Duck Snacks stall on the whole street now. If I don't make back what I lost on 'Buy One Get Two Free,' when will I?"
He turned and pointed at the line. "Every one of them—how much did they take from us with Buy One Get Two Free?"
"It's time they spit all that advantage back out!"
The words hit like cold water into hot oil. The crowd exploded.
"What do you mean? So buying from you was taking advantage of you?"
"What do you mean we took advantage? You ran the promotion yourself! If you can't handle a deal, don't run one!"
"Buying from you and now we owe you? Treating us like suckers to fleece? Pah!"
Angry customers pointed at Zhang Muzhe and Cheng Yanqiu and let loose.
The customer who had just been forced to buy shook with rage. "Black-hearted scum! Think you've got a monopoly, so you can bleed us dry?"
"Black-hearted stall! I'm reporting you!"
In the scuffle, someone shoved Zhang Muzhe. He staggered into the stall, teeth bared in pain.
"Damn it! You've all lost your minds!"
Zhang Muzhe's eyes went red. He snatched up an iron ladle and charged into the crowd.
"Zhang Muzhe! Don't!"
Cheng Yanqiu cried out and tried to stop him, but he shoved her hard. She fell sitting into the dirty water.
Customers shouted. "Black-hearted animal! Still dare to hit people!"
Someone rushed forward and flipped the Braised Duck Snacks stall. Fragrant braised duck spilled all over the ground.
"My stock!"
Zhang Muzhe jumped in distress.
More people poured in.
The scene was a wreck.
Zhang Muzhe was shoved this way and that by the angry crowd. He could only watch his hard work get destroyed, his face ashen.
"Black-hearted vendor, get out!"
"Forced buying and selling—report him to the industry bureau!"
"We'll curse you every time we see you!"
The crowd slowly scattered amid the insults, leaving only the couple sitting in the ruins—one wailing, one staring blankly.
I finished the last sip of coffee and stood up calmly.
It was time to go back.