Page One Hundred and Forty-Nine
Attraction Showdown (Part Two)
“Madam… actually bought a whole cart of pastries?!”
Xiàlù confirmed the shocking news from the accountant.
By “a whole cart,” it meant just half of what was left in the small pushcart, but it still narrowed the gap between Líng Xiǎoyè. Currently, Senior Chāngpú’s revenue was 784 yuan, while Líng Xiǎoyè’s sales were almost at a standstill. The difference of a few hundred yuan wasn’t insurmountable; selling another cart of pastries could close the gap.
Though I knew the truth, I didn’t intend to tell Xiàlù. Instead, I comforted her, “After all, she is the mother of seven children. Buying more in one go isn’t unusual, right?”
“Ah? Seven? Then that means there are only five…”
Xiàlù paused, then looked over to where Snow Aunt was leading a group of Li family siblings to buy Osaka-style pancakes. She then grabbed my collar tie.
“Hey! That must be Xiao Saki and Xiao Jiu’s mother and siblings!”
Although I had let slip, Xiàlù’s associative skills were quick. Could she not be a dumb character?
Before I could explain, she sighed and whispered into my ear, “We’ve worked together for some time now. I know their situation… If I’m not mistaken, Xiao Qing is their terminally ill father, whom you saved, right?”
This was surprising; I underestimated this delinquent’s intelligence.
I countered, “You guessed that?”
“I heard them call Xiao Qing ‘Dad’ in the changing room. Combined with his clumsy way of dressing, it’s not hard to guess… I’m slowly getting used to these shocking revelations. You’ve completely shattered my worldview!”
Why is she angry at me again?
“There’s no rule against buying pastries. If Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin come, they can help increase Líng Xiǎoyè’s Osaka-style pancake sales… Oh, but now it’s too late to make more! What a pity!”
Since it was no longer a secret, I spoke louder. Xiàlù became anxious and tried to grab my face,
“Hold on!”
Sakura suddenly took control, then grabbed Xiàlù’s wrist.
“Speaking of Lín Yùhuáng, I suddenly remembered something.”
Xiàlù blinked at me, asking, “Are you Sakura? Did you take over your brother’s body again?”
“Well, sort of.”
Sakura didn’t elaborate further, saying, “I gave the ring to the female Taoist priest Lín Yùhuáng mentioned. Please pass it on for me.”
This was news to me.
Didn’t our mother say she couldn’t fix it without divine power? When did it get fixed?
—”I fixed it when I was bored in the hospital. Don’t forget, she excels at finding loopholes in the rules of Heaven’s Path and achieving similar results without divine power.”—
Got it. Our mother is like a tester for the software of Heaven’s Path.
“Ring?”
Xiàlù didn’t remember what Sakura was referring to until Sakura pulled out the silver ring from her pocket. She then realized.
“So, Midnight and his sister’s mother can be saved?”
Sakura nodded, imitating our mother’s tone, “‘Since we can’t fix the clone, why not change the existing one?’ That’s what the mysterious girl A said.”
“What does that mean?”
“The clone can’t be fixed, but it might be possible to turn Lín Yùhuáng directly into Líng Xīmí.”
Xiàlù tugged at her mouth, pulling for a long time but failing to pull away.
“Like Midnight?”
If we use an adhesive, maybe they could become the same person again.
“It’s good news… This is much more important than the maid showdown. Why didn’t you tell us earlier?”
Sakura shrugged.
“There was no chance. I only got the ring this morning, and even Xiao Kai doesn’t know about it.”
Xiàlù took the ring, examined it closely, then carefully wrapped it in a handkerchief and put it in her inner pocket. Her cautious attitude made it seem like she was handling a priceless heirloom.
Xiàlù exhaled deeply.
“Phew! Only that man remains to be found! If we can get him to take responsibility, then the Lin family’s problems will be resolved!”
Although similar to Long Hao and Elder Sister Yǐjī, Líng Xīmí’s former boyfriend likely didn’t know about the pregnancy and leaving without notice shows a lack of responsibility.
“The clues about that man can only be obtained from Líng Xīmí. After this, you should investigate it yourselves… Oh, looks like Líng Xiǎoyè is going to lose?”
Sakura returned to her body, giving the control back to me. I looked at Senior Chāngpú at the round plaza. She and her pastry cart were surrounded by a crowd queuing up to buy her pastries.
“…Old man, what happened just now?”
I asked the elder Mr. Tuōhǎi on the other side. During our distraction, he had been observing the two contestants.
“Did Senior Chāngpú do anything? How did she suddenly become the center of attention?”
Despite being distracted, our ears were fine. I hadn’t heard any commotion.
“Probably because she caught the children’s attention.”
“Mm? How so?”
Senior Chāngpú was indeed surrounded by children eating pastries. Mr. Tuōhǎi explained, “Maid outfits naturally attract attention, but adults have self-control. Even if they’re curious, they won’t actively approach.”
“But children are different. A pretty maid lady pushing a cart full of fragrant pastries, plus other children already gathered around, most kids are driven by curiosity to pull their parents to the cart.”
People who bring their kids to Tianping Night Market on weekends are usually there to eat.
If the kids are interested, they wouldn’t mind the pastries.
Xiàlù glanced sideways, “Those kids surrounding her aren’t her siblings, right? Isn’t that considered cheating?”
Behind Senior Chāngpú were three tails: Twintails Tusu and Ponytail Dianxin, and Sister-head Liu Ye, all following her while munching on snacks bought by Snow Aunt.
—“Huh, those are three walking advertisement boards. Seeing them happily eating, other kids must be very envious.”—
Clearly, we had found the reason for Senior Chāngpú’s successful pastry sales.
As for Third Brother and Little Seventh Sister, they followed Snow Aunt to queue for Osaka-style pancakes.
Time passed quickly. With only seven minutes left in the thirty-minute limit, Senior Chāngpú’s sales would soon surpass Líng Xiǎoyè.
Xiàlù was anxious, muttering, “That’s unfair! The rule is no外援!”
“Just a few kids eating pastries, what have they done?”
“They’re helping! Damn it! We need a plan too!”
She slammed the table and stood up angrily, running to the queue at Peach Cat. She whispered to Fēi Jiě, making a pleading gesture. Though Fēi Jiě didn’t speak, she nodded.
—“Xiàlù went to ask Fēi Jiě to help make Osaka-style pancakes so Líng Xiǎoyè can focus on increasing sales.”—
Fēi Jiě really did go. She put on her round space suit helmet and ran to Manager Senka, taking over Líng Xiǎoyè’s double shovel, then expertly flipping vegetable pancakes on the electric griddle.
After arranging everything, Xiàlù sat down.
I commented, “Didn’t we agree not to support each other?”
Her lips curled, “Support? What are you talking about? I’m just organizing the production of Osaka-style pancakes. Doesn’t Xiao Saki also sell Osaka-style pancakes?”
“…That’s cheating!”
Líng Xiǎoyè was basically the only one selling Osaka-style pancakes. Now she not only secured previous orders but also had hands free to sell pastries and more Osaka-style pancakes.
Even more devious was Líng Xiǎoyè. She carried cut-up Osaka-style pancakes to tempt children near Senior Chāngpú’s cart.
The dancing bonito flakes attracted attention, as did the mayonnaise and special sauce, drawing kids’ attention away from Senior Chāngpú. Líng Xiǎoyè seized the opportunity to sell similar small pastries.
—“Six Ye little brother followed the wrong person and ended up behind Líng Xiǎoyè…”—
Sister-head Luotai followed Líng Xiǎoyè, but her two older sisters didn’t notice. Although Senior Chāngpú saw this, she couldn’t leave her cart and could only watch anxiously.
—“No worries, I’ll look after him.”—
Sakura conveyed this information to Senior Chāngpú, reassuring her not to worry about her brother and to seize the final five minutes for victory.
Their sales gap was now only 100 yuan, but with Líng Xiǎoyè getting active again, Senior Chāngpú’s win wasn’t easy.
“Líng Xiǎoyè’s sales are rising too. There’s no reason to lose! We won!”
Xiàlù continued to cheer for her teammates.
Senior Chāngpú finally sold her second batch of pastries, but to surpass Líng Xiǎoyè, she had to return to the center of the round plaza for a third batch.
…But she didn’t. She abandoned the cart, snatched the microphone from the sleeping maid, and started selling in front of the merchandise pile.
“Self-service pastries! Self-service pastries! Don’t miss out! Just pay 58 yuan! Enjoy unlimited tea time!”
Xiàlù raised her head sharply, “What? She can do that?!”
The 58 yuan price was reasonable. It was probably the cost of four pastry buns and an Osaka-style pancake. A normal person would be full after eating that much.
“Additionally! Limited free green tea and orange juice! Due to limited space! Only ten people can enjoy it!”
Self-service and limited edition.
These words were like a spell to some people. Hearing them, they couldn’t resist paying. The 58 yuan price didn’t feel heavy, and immediately a queue formed in front of Senior Chāngpú… Wait! What’s that idiot Xiaole doing in line?
—”Ah, those are people who can’t resist ‘self-service’ and ‘limited edition.'”—
Sure enough, she didn’t calculate the price?
No, she really could eat that much pastries and Osaka-style pancakes?
“Please queue up orderly! Ah! That’s it! Guests exceeding ten can consider buying bread directly!”
Selling ten “self-service pastry tickets” instantly added 580 yuan to Senior Chāngpú’s revenue.
Undoubtedly, Líng Xiǎoyè lost.
