The hot afternoon heat hit me like a truck. Sweat poured down every inch of my body like a waterfall, while my eyes fought against the blinding summer sun.
There was a terribly home-made sign next to me that said: "STRENGTH AND HEALING POTIONS, BUY ONE GET 20% OFF YOUR NEXT PURCHASE."
Oh my god, I can't believe I'm doing this.
Beaded with sweat, my plain white T-shirt stuck to me as I kept trying to pull it away from my skin, as strands of hair gripped onto my forehead.
I had changed into a T-shirt under that Granny's orders, but honestly, even being naked wouldn't have saved me from this heat.
She provided me with a single bottle of cool water, which had now turned as hot as I was, doing me no help whatsoever, but what did (kinda, not really) help was the man-made paper fan that I was using.
So there I was, crouching on the slum streets, trying to get customers who are probably as broke as I am to buy these scammer-looking potions... did I mention how hot it was yet?
"Ugh, I feel like shit, she could've at least given me sunglasses or something."
Just as I said that, the front door slammed open, and out came Grandma Guanhuai, rocking purple rimmed sunglasses and a straw hat.
"BOY, I BETTER NOT HEAR YOU COMPLAIN, I BETTER SEE ALL THOSE POTIONS SOLD BY THE END OF THE DAY!"
"W-wait, a-a-all, like, ALL of these?"
"BETTER USE THOSE LOOKS THEN, EH?"
"...ugh, then where are you going?"
"Gathering ingredients, mind ya own business, yeah?"
"I'm your 'assistant', shouldn't I know how you're conducting things?"
"..."
For once, she seemed unable to come up with anything to retort until she did.
"Yer just a 'beginner assistant', still testing the ropes, don't go wandering to places ya can't go!"
Tch, what a half-assed answer.
"I think that I need those sunglasses more than you, though!"
"What does a youngster like you need one for?! Just get back to work! And I gave ya water, didn't I?"
Reluctantly, I got back to work (of just sitting by the stand) and poured the lukewarm water on my back, with it doing literally nothing to cool me down.
"So...how do you 'gather ingredients' anyway?"
"Not yer business."
"..."
In the game, she sent the player to the higher-end cities to get her stuff, as the player had easy access to these areas. Gao Zhai, the character I played, was born into one of the twelve households, much like Hanzhi, except he was actually well respected...so the question is, before the player helps her with her quest, just how and where was she getting her "special" ingredients?
I have so many questions, yet so few answers...
"HEY!"
I jumped at the sound of her loud and now irritating voice.
"W-what?"
"You gotta a customer, ain't ya gunna do something?"
Looking up, I saw a young girl who looked about my age, maybe a little younger.
She also had brown hair...just like that waiter.
Wait, no, it's not time to think about that.
I quickly stood up and put on my best customer service voice, while also forcefully stretching a smile over my face.
"Good afternoon, young lady! Would you like to look at this fine selection of magical potions?"
I know ladies like looking pretty, so I think I know what I should go for.
"As you can see here, our healing potions can do wonders! Any blemishes on your skin? Maybe your skin is getting too tight or dry? Accidental scratch on your face, but you've got a date in an hour? Well, our healing potion can take all of that away, along with other bonuses, just for the low, cheap price of 100 Jia! If you buy three now, you get twenty percent off your next purchase!"
Honestly, 100 Jia isn't terrible for an F-Rank potion, especially for the common folk who don't have any Li-Liang, but it might be a little much for people in the slums.
"I thought ye said ya stuttered during social interactions, damn liar."
"Well, beggars can't be choosers, can they?"
It seemed that Grandma Guanhuai and I were now constantly bickering with one another.
I looked back at the girl, waiting for her answer. She seemed to be hesitating, so I decided to add in some more honey words.
"I know 100 Jia seems like a lot, but trust me-"
"Um, actually, I wanted to ask what your name is...and your number."
"...Huh?"
My face must have contorted into a not-so-amazing customer service face, because Grandma Guanhuai swiftly covered my face with my paper fan and told me to get my act together before we lost a "loyal customer".
"Oh, uh, my, um-number, yeah?"
I could somehow feel more sweat come down my face.
No woman was ever romantically interested in me in my past life...wow, that's sad.
Just then, Grandma Guanhuai intervened.
"He don't gotta number yet, and his name is Han, ya can just call him Hawker Han."
Hawker Han, what kind of name is that!? And isn't that a little too close to Wen Hanzhi? What if I actually get found out?!
"Hawker Han, wow, what a..."
Stupid name?
"Cute name! It totally fits your job!"
The young lady smiled brightly and commented something about how she'll wait for my number someday.
W-what the hell? Is she being serious right now?
I looked back at Grandma Guanhuai, just to see a concerning glow in her eyes that didn't sit right with me.
...What is she planning?
"Ya know, Hawker Han over here loves ladies with clear skin...ye two are around the same age, right?"
I could feel my eyes widening and eyebrows furrowing at what she just said.
This damn Granny--capitalizing on my looks, or...more like Hanzhi's...but still!
"Really?! Then...maybe I'll have three healing potions! Uh, so that I can also get the discount!"
My teeth were unconsciously grinding against each other, only stopping when Grandma Guanhuai glared over to me, expecting me to go back to my fake smiles and laughs.
"Right. Three healing potions."
I took three maroon vials off the old, musty shelf and packed them into a paper bag with a poorly made label on the bag reading: "WITCH GUANHUAI'S POTIONS."
What an original and well-thought-out name.
I handed the girl the bag, trying to smile, but it's not like she would've cared if I was smiling or snarling.
She then took out her phone, opening the Jia app.
"How much do I have to transfer to you?"
"300 Jia."
"Okay!"
She tipped the edge of her phone onto my phone, or should I say, Grandma Guanhuai's phone, and the Jia digitally transferred over from her account to Grandma Guanhuai's.
Guanhuai insisted that I use her phone, probably trying to keep all the money for herself! But what was suspicious was that phones here are pretty essential, so the fact that she can just wander around for ages without it...
Just how is she gathering ingredients?
I had decided not to push her too much on this topic; perhaps I could find out the answer myself.
"Thank you so much for your purchase, Ms. Lin. We hope you will come back for future investments."
"Eh? How did you know my name!"
Her face suddenly became pink as she batted her eyes at me.
The screen literally said, "Lin Xinyi is transferring 300 Jia to you".
"Ah, you can actually see the other party's name or phone ID name when transferring Jia!"
But I bit back my tongue and kept up the facade, after all, I needed to sell every single one of these potions by the end of the day...how horrible.
"REMEMBER, EVERYTHING BETTER BE SOLD WHEN I GET BACK!"
Right on cue.
Grandma Guanhuai then leisurely walked away, very much not like someone somehow gathering "special" ingredients for their potions through increasingly mysterious means.
And I was wondering why she had stayed for so long, tch.
"Then I'll also take my leave now!"
The girl then skipped away, happily looking at her newly acquired potions, except I had a sinking feeling that she wasn't happy about the potions, but because of something else.
But whatever makes Grandma Guanhuai money, right?
Dammit! I'm not even getting any of the cash! Will I even get the original rewards for the quest? After all, I'm not even her ingredient gatherer; I've downgraded to a street vendor.
But...Grandma Guanhuai could still be a good card.
I might use her in the future, so allowing her to use me for now...
...I'd better keep selling.
Through the summer heat, I pushed through, but the thought of the Jia not going to me but to someone else still sat in the back of my mind.
Ugh, stop it! You'll get your money at the pawnshop!
I slapped my cheeks, with the pain stinging my mind back to reality.
"Buy three, get twenty percent off your next purchase!"
After that girl, there was only one more man who came by, who didn't even buy anything.
Geez, I guess looks really are a big factor...
But I probably looked like shit right now, I mean, I know I smell, my hair feels like a mess, my eyes are literally squinting because of the sun, and I'm crouched down fanning myself with a poorly made, stupid paper fan. This sure doesn't feel very attractive.
But I won't kid myself, Wen Hanzhi truly wasn't a bad-looking guy...but...I know he doesn't look so good right now.
"Want clear skin? Healing potions are the way to go!"
...Truth be told, I don't even think healing potions provide better skin-
"Yes! It's right over here, girls!"
A familiar voice was heard just around the corner.
Long brown hair fluttered in the wind as a young lady ran up to me, and it was...
Lin.
For a second, I seriously thought she was someone else.
This time, though, she brought what seemed to be her friends, and she sure had a lot of friends.
...hm.
Just kill me already.