Going north: A winner in life starting from a kid
Chapter 19 - Dahuazi is Truly One of a Kind Lunch Time!

Chapter 19 Dahuazi is Truly One of a Kind Lunch Time!

A group of kids were all eating at “Canal Inn.” Zhou Yanlin had come up with a special kids’ menu. Everyone was busy selling goods at the pier and didn’t have time to go home and cook.

The Canal Inn was bustling with life at noon — Travelers and cargo ships coming from all directions,

Regular customers from Flower Street, and now, a bunch of elementary school kids too.

“Zimo, I heard from my mom that you almost got into a fight the other day?”

Xie Wanghe sounded a bit regretful.

How could he have missed that scene?

“I know, I know! I was right there when it happened!”

What?

Bai Zimo looked speechless at Dahuazi.

This is your idea of smoothing things over?

Dahuazi immediately gave him a reassuring look—Leave it to me.

Dahuazi’s words instantly caught the attention of all the kids. Making him the coolest kid in the room!

“Really! Dahuazi, hurry and tell us!”

Dahuazi put one foot up on a bench and said, “Wanghe! If I tell the story, can I get an ice cream?”

Xie Wanghe said anxiously, “Hurry up and tell it, I’ll buy it right now.”

There was a small shop right next to the Canal Inn. Xie Wanghe rushed to buy an ice cream and came running back.

“So, Old Man Wu the fortune teller lost his turtle shell in a bet. He wanted it back but refused to pay. He even went to the school to accuse Zimo of stealing it.”

“This got Zimo scolded after school, so the feud began between the two.”

Bai Zimo smacked his forehead. This Dahuazi really has a motor mouth.

“And then what?”

“Shao Xingchi, if I continue, can I get another ice cream?”

“I’ll go buy one!”

Shao Xingchi was too eager to hear the story!

He ran like the wind to buy ice cream.

“Dahuazi, hurry up and tell us!”

“Don’t rush, I’ll wait for Xingchi.”

“I’m back! Here, now tell us!”

…

Eating lunch? Forget it—this was way more exciting. Everyone eagerly waited for the next part.

“Zimo couldn’t hold it in! His anger surged from his feet right to his head. His heart blazed with a fire of righteous fury!”

“Did Zimo really fight him?”

“Of course! Wu the fortune teller saw this, grabbed a peach wood sword from his stall, and jumped down. Bai Zimo stood ready in the street!”

“And who won?”

“Zhou Haikuo, if I tell you who won, can I get another ice cream?”

“I’ll buy you one too!”

Haikuo also went to get an ice cream!

“Good, if you want the ending, it’s a deal!”

Dahuazi nodded in satisfaction. He had all the kids wrapped around his finger!

“In a flash! Wu the fortune teller, sword in right hand, reached with his left to grab Zimo. But Zimo seized his left hand, pushed forward, and kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him flying onto the street.”

Whoa!

The crowd erupted into cheers. The elementary school kids were absolutely thrilled.

“Pfft… Dahuazi, what are you even talking about?”

Aunt Mei (Luo Zhimei), who came back to help at the Canal Inn, came over.

“Aunt Mei, I’m telling the story of Bai Zimo’s heroic battle with Old Man Wu!”

“Really?”

“Of course!”

Bai Zimo was done. Dahuazi was truly one of a kind — making up stories on the fly without even blinking!

“Dahuazi, what you’re telling is the story of Lu Zhishen beating up Zhengguanxi from Water Margin!”

“Hey, it’s pretty much the same thing! Everyone, listen to Aunt Mei, eat your food! Finish up and free the tables afterward.”

Everyone: “…”

Incredible!

He lied so confidently, without blushing or missing a beat!

Dahuazi was no ordinary person.

…

But Xie Wanghe, Shaoxingchi, and Zhou Haikuo were not happy. They felt cheated, each paying for an ice cream.

“Dahuazi, you tricked us into buying you ice cream!”

“Yeah, give us back our ice cream!”

“Aunt Mei even said you’re telling a Water Margin story!”

“Hey, I told you the cause, the development, and the result! You’re not seriously being sore losers, are you?”

Dahuazi rolled his eyes and split up the ice cream.

“Siyi, this one’s for you! Zimo, here’s yours!”

The three boys were stunned.

What the—

It would be too awkward to snatch it back from Ma Siyi. And Bai Zimo, the “victorious hero,” couldn’t very well reclaim his share either. Meanwhile, Dahuazi was already happily licking his ice cream!

The three were left regretting it, slapping their thighs. Once again, they had been outwitted by Dahuazi.

______

After lunch, Bai Zimo didn’t head home but walked toward the canal.

“Zimo, where are you going?”

“To collect some snails. Gonna fry them up for dinner.”

“Siyi, let’s go too, okay?”

Dahuazi immediately grabbed Ma Siyi to join — she never missed a chance for fun.

Ma Siyi nodded.

She felt that since she was eating at Bai Zimo’s house, she should help contribute.

“Wait, you’re going in the middle of the day to collect snails? Are we going too?”

“Of course! We’ll fry them up ourselves, and if we collect extra, we can sell them to Haikuo’s family.”

“Let’s go, Zimo, wait for us!”

Ever since Bai Zimo led them to earn extra pocket money, everyone was eager for more. Following Zimo’s lead might just bring them financial freedom — the freedom to buy ice cream whenever they wanted!

“Zimo, where are we going to collect snails?”

“Scholar’s Bridge!”

Xie Wanghe immediately cried out, “Ah! That place has a haunted pond and really deep water. My dad doesn’t even let me swim there.”

“We’re just collecting snails along the canal and the streams. The deeper the spot, the less likely others have picked it clean.”

Because of the deep pond, Bai Zimo figured it was a smart choice!