It's hard for my elder sister. I rely on the mountains to farm and pay off my debts.

A group of three officers, dressed in police uniforms and with swords on their waists, walked to Song Zhi's stall and said to the crowd of onlookers:

"Why are you all stuck here so early in the morning? Can't you see that the road is blocked? Disperse... disperse..."

Due to the intimidation of the police, the onlookers did not dare to gather here anymore, but they did not go far away, waiting curiously for the outcome of the case.

The black-faced officer in the lead, seeing everyone disperse, didn't care whether the gossiping onlookers had left or not. He then looked at Song Zhi and asked, "What happened?"

Without waiting for Song Zhi to answer, the fat woman, fearing that Song Zhi would talk nonsense, said, "Sir, this man is occupying the entrance of my alley to do business..."

"Did I ask you to speak?" The black-faced officer glared at the fat woman, and the fat woman's unfinished words were stuck in her throat.

The dark-faced officer gestured to Song Zhi, "You speak!"

Song Zhi lowered her attitude and explained, "Sir, this is what happened. I'm a farmer outside the city. My family's livelihood is difficult, so I thought of making some food to sell in the city."

"It was my first time setting up a stall, and I didn't know where to find a suitable location. I walked along the street with my brother and sister-in-law, and saw an empty space next to an alley. No one was setting up a stall there, so I thought of setting up a temporary stall there."

"This auntie didn't allow me to set up a stall again, and I accepted it. I packed up my stall and was about to leave, but this auntie didn't allow it, and that's when the fight started."

The dark-faced officer glanced back at the fat woman and asked without emotion, "If you don't allow them to set up a stall, why don't you allow them to leave?"

The fat woman stammered and was unable to speak. After a long while, she finally mumbled, "I...I didn't let her go when I asked!"

As for that sentence, she didn't even dare to mention the occupation fee.

At this time, the neighbor aunt, who had been eavesdropping with her door open, complained, "Sir, this guy won't let the young lady leave, and he's even asking for some occupancy fee."

"Bah, you've made a habit of occupying land. Is that land at the corner of the alley yours? How dare you ask for a land occupation fee? You don't even take a piss and look in the mirror. You're so shameless!"

The dark-faced officer looked at the fat woman and said sternly, "When did this vacant land become yours? When did it become your private property? We had no idea."

"Since taking office, the county magistrate has issued numerous decrees to open up trade routes, aiming to benefit the people and enable them to sell vegetables, be self-sufficient, and live a comfortable life."

"Now that you are doing this, obstructing others, are you trying to go against the County Master?"

"Or do you want to go back to the county office with me and plead your case with the county magistrate?"

When the fat woman heard this, her face turned pale instantly, her legs went weak, and she almost fell to the ground.

She knew very well that she had caused a big disaster this time. Not only had she offended the police, but she might also have angered the county magistrate.

She pleaded quickly, "Master, Master, I know I was wrong. I really do. I was just... I was confused for a moment. I won't do it again."

"I am willing to apologize to that young lady immediately and accept the punishment willingly. I only beg you to show mercy, sir. Please forgive me this time!"

The black-faced officer said sternly, unmoved, "It's not my decision whether to spare you or not. You should take the initiative to apologize to the person you've oppressed and see if she pursues the matter."

The fat woman nodded repeatedly, her eyes full of fear and regret.

She turned to look at Song Zhi and said in a trembling voice, "Young lady, I was wrong. I shouldn't have stopped you from setting up your stall, and I shouldn't have disturbed you and delayed your business."

"How about this? I've bought all the remaining jelly. Please speak to the officer and don't make a fuss with me, okay?"

Song Zhi is not someone who would never let go of someone even if she is right, but she can't pretend that nothing happened.

She said distantly, "There's no need to buy jelly. I hope you'll remember the lesson you learned today. You may not be so lucky next time."

"Yes, yes..." The fat woman nodded repeatedly, her attitude humble and sincere.

Seeing that the two parties had reached a settlement, the black-faced officer warned the fat woman again before turning and leaving.

The fat woman was so frightened that her face turned pale. As soon as the officer left, she fell to the ground with a thud.

The noodle stall owner who had been watching from the side walked forward with a guilty conscience, carried the man on his back and walked away dejectedly.

Song Zhi recognized the stall owner and understood that he was being envied.

The key to doing business is to make money through harmony. Although the current dilemma has been resolved, Song Zhi does not plan to continue setting up a stall here.

She originally thought that running different food businesses in the same place should be beneficial to both businesses, but unfortunately the other party obviously did not think so.

Song Zhi didn't want to set up a stall with people who were targeting her, so as not to ruin her mood.

She told her brother and sister-in-law and prepared to pack up and look for another suitable place to set up her stall.

The women who had been watching the excitement from afar rushed over again when they saw Song Zhi was about to leave. "Hey, hey, young lady, you're leaving now? We haven't tasted the jelly yet."

Song Zhi paused as she packed the backpack and said with a smile, "I thought the aunts had already left. So, aunts, please wait a moment and I'll cut a portion for you to try."

After saying that, she was seen working swiftly, cutting pieces, mixing sauce, inserting bamboo sticks, and in the blink of an eye, two bowls of crystal green jelly were placed in front of everyone.

Song Zhi gave out free samples based on personal tastes. It was the first time for the women to eat such a refreshing and cool snack.

Suddenly, more than half of the women who were tasting the food paid for one piece.

After selling to the last woman, Song Zhi didn't plan to stay here anymore. She packed up her things and took her brother and sister-in-law to find another place to set up the stall.

Before Song Zhi had gone far, a woman holding jelly came up to her in a familiar manner and asked with a smile, "Madam, are you planning to find a new stall?"

Song Zhi recognized the sturdy woman who had spoken up for her earlier. She smiled and nodded, "Let's go somewhere more comfortable."

The woman was also straightforward and straightforward. She got straight to the point and said, "My last name is Ma, and I run a food business in this city. I just tasted your food and it was delicious. Would you be willing to sell me the recipe?"

"This way, my lady won't have to go to the county town every day to sell. What do you think?"

When Song An heard that the other party was actually coveting his family's food recipe, he immediately looked at the woman with wariness in his big eyes.

Song Huan held his sister's hand tightly, not wanting her to walk with the woman again.

Song Zhi could sense the tension in the two children, so she smiled and refused without a second thought, "Thank you, Aunt Ma, for your love for our jelly, but it's just our livelihood, so it's not easy to sell."

How could she possibly sell her house directly? She had to rely on it for food and come to the county town to meet merchants from all over the place.

The woman was not disappointed when she saw Song Zhi refuse. She probably expected to be rejected. She still smiled and invited her, "In that case, if you are setting up a stall, why don't you come to my stall and take a look?"