Chapter 2: As the Year’s End Approaches, Even the Scammers Start Doing Business~

Although Su Chen's home was in the countryside, a small mountain village, when he spoke of the city, he meant the provincial capital, Cui City.

However, to get to the city, one first had to cross two mountains to reach the town, then take a bus, which cost five yuan.

In other words, if he couldn’t earn money in the city, the ten yuan he had on hand would only cover one round trip.

Seeing Honghong’s worried expression again, Su Chen smiled.

“Don’t worry, Dad will bring two sweet potatoes; we won’t go hungry.”

“But you... it’s so cold. Next time you need to wash clothes, call your little brother along; it’ll be quicker.”

Honghong pouted, “Grandma won’t allow it.”

“I’ll talk to your grandma later.”

Seeing Honghong hesitate, Su Chen stood up and stepped outside.

Liu Chunhua was feeding her less-than-a-month-old grandson rice soup and turned around when she heard the noise.

“Ah Chen, is something wrong?”

“No, Mom. You mentioned you wanted to alter Ah Hua’s clothes. Is it done?”

“No time for that. There’s a pile of chores inside and out.”

“If you don’t have time, let Ah Peng help. Honghong at eight years old already knows to help wash clothes in the cold. Ah Peng is seven but hides under the quilt. That’s not right.”

Liu Chunhua was momentarily stunned but instinctively wanted to object, “But washing clothes is supposed to be girls’ work...”

“Mom, there’s no such thing as ‘supposed to be.’ You all spoil them too much.”

“I’m the same. I was spoiled before and didn’t do any work. I need to change and lead by example. From now on, for any chores at home, you all should call me too.”

Liu Chunhua blinked dumbfoundedly and after a long pause finally murmured, “Alright.”

After Su Chen left, she slowly turned her head to meet the gaze of the old man stoking the fire.

“Husband, pinch my leg with the fire tongs; I must be dreaming.”

The old man rolled his eyes.

“Of course, you’re dreaming. You believe the nonsense of that boy? If you really call him to work, he’ll end up complaining about his back.”

“Pfft, you old man always have a sharp tongue.”

Liu Chunhua chuckled again, “I told you, our Ah Chen will change for the better sooner or later, sooner or later...”

As she spoke, her thoughts drifted to Xu Jiahua, who died in childbirth, and she sighed.

“Ah Hua didn’t have good fortune. If nothing had happened, how happy he’d be now.”

The old man caught sight of his wife wiping away tears and, staring at the fire in the stove, sighed deeply.

How virtuous was their youngest daughter-in-law?

Since marrying in, she not only kept the house spotless inside and out but also cared for the children so well. They had only been gone for half a month, yet the children looked dusty and the house was untidy everywhere.

—

That evening they ate sweet potato porridge.

Su Chen had a large bowl with few sweet potatoes and many grains of rice; Liu Chunhua’s bowl was mostly thin broth.

He divided the rice grains from his bowl between Liu Chunhua and Honghong, then drank two bowls of soup straight, letting out a satisfied belch.

Once everyone finished eating, he stood to wash the dishes.

Liu Chunhua hurried to take the basin but was stopped by the old man.

“Didn’t you say he’s changed? You have to let people see how.”

Liu Chunhua glared, “This isn’t the way to be ‘changed.’ Which man in the village washes dishes? People will laugh if they hear about it.”

The old man retorted, “Have I never washed dishes?”

Without further argument, he pulled Liu Chunhua back inside.

After Su Chen finished washing, he boiled water to wash the children’s faces and feet. Only then did the old man mutter quietly, “Has he really changed?”

Liu Chunhua smiled proudly, “Of course! I know my own child well.”

—

The next day at lunch, she was stunned.

“Honghong, where’s your father?”

Honghong lowered her head. “Dad said he went to the city.”

Liu Chunhua’s voice rose sharply. “To the city? How can he go without money?”

“When did your father leave?”

Honghong, intimidated, lowered her head further.

“Just after breakfast not long ago.”

“You naughty child! Why didn’t you tell grandma? Oh, it’s so cold—Ah Chen, don’t fall again,” Liu Chunhua started to scold, but the baby began crying loudly. She hurriedly picked him up to change his diaper, losing focus.

—

Elsewhere, after more than an hour of shaky travel, Su Chen finally arrived at the bus station.

Stepping out, he felt lost.

He had only been to the city once before, when he married, more than ten years ago. Everything felt unfamiliar and strange.

But after walking a street or so, Su Chen saw that Cui City now seemed full of unfulfilled potential.

Next to the bus station, two plots of land were fenced off, with clanging sounds inside—likely for building new buildings.

As the provincial capital, Cui City’s population was probably not small.

Su Chen quickly calculated and focused on the west.

At the busiest intersection in the city center stood a new ten-story commercial building.

“Xinhui Department Store.”

Squinting, Su Chen recognized the characters on the building and felt a wave of emotion.

This place was completely different from his past life, and the characters were also quite different. Fortunately, he had read a few years before, or he would have been utterly lost.

Xinhui Department Store looked upscale, but the two streets beside it were still lined with low houses, even some shanties upon close inspection.

Old and worn, yet bustling with life.

The area teemed with clothing shops, pastry stores, and street vendors pushing bicycles selling various snacks—cut pineapple, candied hawthorns, fried buns...

Shouts and calls filled the air incessantly.

Su Chen walked further in and spotted a stall selling comic books, stopping there.

With a slight movement of his fingers, he approached.

The stall owner was a man in his thirties or forties holding a copy of “Story Collection.”

Hearing the noise, he looked up, and seeing Su Chen, greeted him, “Want to buy a book? Two dimes each.”

Su Chen shook his head, pointing to the old newspaper under the man’s seat. “Brother, can I borrow this newspaper?”

The man paused a moment, then stood up, handing over the paper. “Brother, are you out of toilet paper? There’s a newsstand ahead selling rough paper, ten sheets for a dime. The public restroom’s just a hundred meters that way.”

Su Chen thanked him but waved his hand, “I’m not going to the restroom. I want to write.”

“Write?”

The man was puzzled until Su Chen smiled awkwardly and pointed to the brush and ink by the stall.

“Can I use these?”

“Sure, brother, thanks.”

Su Chen quickly wrote two large characters on the newspaper: “Fortune Telling.”

Thinking further, he added a note below: “No accuracy, no charge.”

The man read it all and his expression turned meaningfully amused. “Hey, brother, you’ve got a strange business idea there.”

Su Chen smiled at him.

Cui City, like the whole province, bordered the sea and mountains. Decades ago, the old customs and traditions didn’t really hold here, let alone now.

Although the government officially opposed superstition, everyone secretly believed.

Belief was one thing, but they believed in those who had real skill. Judging by Su Chen’s current appearance—wool sweater, black pants, old leather shoes—there was no sign he was capable.

The man scratched his nose and muttered, “Year-end’s coming, and even scammers are starting their business now~”