I, Shen Jingque, was standing at the busiest street in the West Market of the capital city with the last bank note that I had pulled out from Old Man Liu, a wealthy businessman from the south of the Yangtze River, haggling with Butcher Zhang from the butcher shop for a fraction of three cents.
"Brother Zhang, do you think it's easy for me, a weak woman, to come to the capital alone to make a living? You'll give me another three cents for this piece of pork belly, as if you feel sorry for my sister. From now on, I'll come to you every day to buy meat and bring business to you!" I put one hand on my waist and held the thin banknote in the other. I said it with such sincerity that it saddened those who heard it.
Butcher Zhang was a strong man with a sinewy face, but at this moment, I had a grimace on his face, and he could hardly hold the butcher knife in his hand.
"Miss Shen, you're almost telling me what's on my chopping board. Three cents! Just three cents! I, Lao Zhang, and my whole family are still waiting for dinner!"
"You can't say that," I rolled my eyes and lowered my voice, "Look, I've just arrived here, and this is all I have in my pocket. This piece of meat is what I gave to myself, and it's of great significance. The three cents you gave me are not money, but favors and encouragement! You are contributing to a lost girl's future beautiful life, and your merits are immeasurable!"
My plan was simple: buy a good piece of pork belly with the least amount of money, go back to my small rented yard, and cook a delicious braised pork meal to celebrate my successful escape from the cannibalistic prison of the Liu family. From now on, the sky is high and the sea is wide, and I will be a happy rich woman, living in seclusion in the mountains and forests... Well, living in seclusion on the outskirts of the capital.
