Chapter 102 Rejecting Moral Blackmail

Chapter 102: Rejecting Moral Blackmail

The Heavenly Rainbow Python is a reward item available in the Central Zone's points exchange, requiring 3,000 points to redeem, which means spending 300,000 yuan.

Even if Sun Chengxin spends ten thousand a day, it would take him over a month to accumulate that amount. That's a bit too long for him—he wants to get that whip sooner.

Jiang Yingxue said, "We do have more expensive items, but they're not available at the stall. Check the app tonight—they'll be there by then." Tonight she would finalize the items on the app, adding the pricier ones as well.

"Okay." Sun Chengxin was filled with anticipation for the night ahead.

Soon after, Jiang Peiyu arrived after school.

"Sis, who is this pretty lady?"

"She's my employee. You can call her Sister Xiao Fu... Xiao Fu, this is my cousin, Peiyu."

After introducing them, Jiang Yingxue stopped Jiang Peiyu from helping and told her to have her lunch first.

Jiang Peiyu was happily enjoying her meal when she suddenly felt a burning gaze on her, as if someone was staring intently at her.

She looked up at the stall and indeed saw two familiar figures—her classmates Hong Xinyue and Huang Zhenling.

"Peiyu!" They acted delighted to see her. Huang Zhenling greeted Jiang Peiyu cheerfully, realizing that the Xuehe stall really was run by Jiang Peiyu's sister.

Hong Xinyue directly asked Ji Fu, "Miss, we're Peiyu's classmates. Could you give us a discount? Half off would be great. If the candies are good, we'll come back to buy more."

Ji Fu replied, "I'm not the boss." She turned her head toward Jiang Yingxue and blinked, as if asking: Should we give a discount?

Jiang Yingxue said, "I'm sorry, but our stall is a small business, and we don't negotiate prices. There are no promotional activities today, so we can't offer you a 50% discount."

Huang Zhenling hadn't expected Hong Xinyue to say such a thing. She composed herself, hiding her slight surprise, and said, "Okay."

But Hong Xinyue was sensitive by nature. Being denied a discount hurt her pride, and she was very displeased. Moreover, she was convinced that people behind her were laughing at her.

She looked at Jiang Peiyu and said loudly, "Peiyu, aren't you going to say something? Isn't she your sister? We're your classmates. We came to shop here because she's your sister. Shouldn't you give us a discount?"

Jiang Peiyu put down her chopsticks, walked to the front of the stall, and looked her in the eye. "Hong Xinyue, do you really believe what you're saying—that you came because of me? I don't."

She pointed at the signs on the stall and said seriously, "Can you read the words on these two signs? If not, I'll teach you."

She enunciated each word slowly: "Fixed Prices. No Bargaining."

"You! You! That's too much!" Hong Xinyue's face flushed with anger. Jiang Peiyu used to be so easygoing—why had she become so aggressive these past few days? First, she refused to share the Xia Yu Flower Candy with them, and now she was embarrassing her in public without caring about their classmate relationship!

She didn't stop to think about how she and Chen Biyu had once ostracized Jiang Peiyu. The words "classmate" and "friendship" didn't apply to Hong Xinyue and Chen Biyu.

Besides, this wasn't even Jiang Peiyu's stall. Even if it were, she wouldn't give a discount to classmates she had conflicts with.

Fortunately, she was at the stall today. If someone had come in her absence, claiming to be her classmate or friend to demand a discount, and Jiang Yingxue had actually given one, she would have been too ashamed to face Jiang Yingxue.

Then, Jiang Peiyu looked at Jiang Yingxue and said earnestly, "Sis, it's true that she's my classmate, but that's no reason for her to make a scene here. We're running a business, not a charity. I don't know any of these people who come here pretending to be my classmates or friends just to get free food or discounts!" She had no interest in being friends with anyone who would do such shameless things.

Although she came to the stall for lunch, her real purpose was to help with work.

Jiang Yingxue said gently, "Go finish your meal. You still need to sort the packaging bags afterward. I'll handle things here."

Jiang Yingxue communicated with Hong Xinyue and the others outside the line, while Ji Fu continued selling at the stall.

Jiang Yingxue smiled and said, "Future discount promotions for the stall will be announced on the app. You can download the Xuehe Gourmet app. However, this app is for members only. Since you're students and don't have membership cards, you can't download it, but you can ask your parents to do so. The future member benefits should be pretty good."

"Hmph! Who wants to be a member of your stupid app anyway!" Hong Xinyue was still sulking. Huang Zhenling tugged at her sleeve, but she ignored her.

Huang Zhenling managed an awkward smile. "Boss, we understand. Thank you."

Jiang Yingxue gave a faint, cool smile and turned back to the stall. Well, at least this kid kept her mouth relatively clean. She wouldn't bother holding it against her.

For a moment, Huang Zhenling was caught in a dilemma. She was holding the 500 yuan they had pooled together and didn't know whether to buy or not. Remembering her original purpose for coming, she gritted her teeth and stepped forward to make the purchase. If Hong Xinyue changed her mind, she would just pay for it herself.

Originally, Huang Zhenling had intended to come alone to buy the candy, but Chen Biyu and Hong Xinyue found out about her plan. They suggested pooling money to buy a box together. Thinking it was a good idea, Huang Zhenling agreed.

Chen Biyu had caused a scene at the stall before and was blacklisted, so she didn't come over. Only Huang Zhenling and Hong Xinyue approached the stall to buy. Huang Zhenling never expected Hong Xinyue to pull such a stunt after seeing Jiang Peiyu. She felt utterly embarrassed.

However, some people in the line took Hong Xinyue's side.

A middle-aged woman said, "Boss, they're students. The prices of these foods are indeed a bit high for them. I see your business is doing well. Since she asked, why not just give her a discount?"

A man chimed in, "Yeah, boss, this amount of money probably doesn't mean much to you. And it's not just me—many people think the prices at your stall are a bit expensive. Even working folks like us find it hard to afford, let alone these students." The man's wife loved the roast chicken and juice from the Xuehe stall. After days of her nagging, he finally came to queue up, but he still resented his wife for liking such expensive things.

A woman next to the middle-aged woman added, "Boss, look at how much you've earned this week. Just consider it a good deed. It won't cost you much anyway."

Jiang Yingxue said, "As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Expensive items have their merits, and cheap ones have theirs. The delicacies at my stall are clearly priced according to their value. Those who accept the price can buy; those who don't are not forced to. Most supermarkets and stores in shopping malls don't negotiate prices either. Do you haggle when you shop there?"

"I set up my stall near the school gate, so most of my customers are students."

Jiang Yingxue smiled and continued, "In summary, buying and selling is a voluntary transaction."

So, don't try to morally blackmail her—she doesn't fall for that.