From cannon fodder villain to superpowered queen

The next morning, the dock was shrouded in mist, and the air carried a faint fishy smell.

Bi Yao wrapped her coat tighter around herself and stood beside a pile of goods, watching the workers load them onto the ship.

This shipment was crucial to her, representing a key step in her expansion into markets in neighboring towns.

If she succeeds, she can completely shed the "Cinderella" label and truly gain a foothold.

"Boss Bi, the goods are all loaded and we can set off anytime." Driver Lao Wang rubbed his hands together and exhaled a puff of white breath.

Bi Yao nodded and was about to board the ship when suddenly a group of burly men wearing black vests with blue dragons and white tigers tattooed on their arms walked over menacingly. The leader was none other than Chen Dahu, the dock bully.

He had a beer belly and a thick gold chain around his neck, looking like a swaggering toad.

"Hey, isn't this our town's newest boss, Mr. Bi? He's doing pretty well with his business!" Chen Dahu said sarcastically, his tone full of mockery.

Bi Yao's heart sank; she knew the visitor meant no good.

She took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, and forced a smile: "Boss Chen, you flatter me. It's just a small business, enough to make a living."

Chen Dahu scoffed disdainfully, "Don't give me that crap! If you want to transport goods on my turf, you have to pay protection money! Don't you know the rules?"

"Protection fees?" Bi Yao feigned surprise. "How much... is it?"

"Not much, just half the value of your shipment." Chen Dahu held up five greasy fingers, his tone arrogant.

Bi Yao gasped. This shipment represented all her worldly possessions, and asking for half its value was outrageous!

She gritted her teeth and tried to reason with him: "Boss Chen, your fees are too high. I only run a small business with meager profits, and I really can't afford it!"

"Can't afford it?" Chen Dahu laughed as if he'd heard a joke. "If you don't have money, don't work at this dock! Go back to your small town!"

Seeing this, the surrounding workers were too frightened to utter a sound and quickly hid to the side.

Bi Yao felt a surge of anger rising in her heart, but she also knew that a head-on confrontation was definitely not the way to go.

She suppressed her anger, her eyes darting around, and a plan came to her.

"Boss Chen, don't be angry, I have a suggestion..." Bi Yao leaned closer to Chen Dahu and said in a low voice, pretending to be mysterious.

Chen Dahu glanced at her sideways. "What suggestion? Speak up!"

Bi Yao leaned closer to Chen Dahu and whispered mysteriously, "Boss Chen, your business is booming, I admire you immensely. But how well do you manage to keep the people's hearts at the docks?" Chen Dahu was taken aback, then snorted disdainfully, "It's my territory, I'm in charge. Who would dare to have any disloyal thoughts?"

Bi Yao smiled meaningfully, her eyes sweeping over the workers around her who dared not speak out in anger.

"Boss Chen, these brothers of yours don't seem very convinced. Look at them, they work themselves to the bone every day, but how much money do they actually get? As the saying goes, 'Men die for wealth, birds die for food.' A generous reward will surely bring forth brave men!"

Chen Dahu narrowed his eyes and began to ponder the meaning behind Bi Yao's words.

Seizing the opportunity, Bi Yao continued, "I have a suggestion that I guarantee will satisfy you and your brothers. You see, if this batch of goods can be transported smoothly, I'm willing to pay my brothers a generous 'transportation fee.' This fee is a little more than the protection fee you asked for..." Bi Yao held up her thumb and forefinger, gesturing a small distance, yet it contained a huge temptation.

The surrounding workers, who had been keeping their heads down, perked up their ears upon hearing this, their eyes gleaming with hope.

Chen Dahu's men began to whisper among themselves, and their gazes toward Chen Dahu became subtle.

Chen Dahu's face darkened, realizing that something was wrong.

He roared, "You bunch of traitors! Do you want to rebel?" However, his men, who used to be able to intimidate him with a single roar, seemed hesitant at this moment.

A bold worker stepped forward and said, "Brother Tiger, Boss Bi's offer is indeed good... We also need to support our families!" With the first one taking the lead, others echoed him, and the scene suddenly became somewhat out of control.

Seeing that his subordinates were disobedient, Chen Dahu became enraged and charged at Bi Yao like a furious beast: "You bitch! How dare you ruin my good time!" Bi Yao was prepared and nimbly dodged, causing Chen Dahu to miss and almost fall flat on his face.

Enraged, he threw another punch, but Bi Yao used the surrounding goods as cover, dodging left and right.

In the chaos, Chen Dahu tripped over the rope on the ground and fell flat on his back with a thud.

Seeing this, the surrounding workers could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.

Chen Dahu scrambled to his feet, his face ashen, glaring fiercely at Bi Yao.

Bi Yao dusted off her hands, a cold smile playing on her lips: "Boss Chen, your... skills are a bit rusty, aren't they?"

Chen Dahu was furious, about to explode again...

Bi Yao suddenly raised her voice...

Bi Yao suddenly raised her voice: "Brothers! Look at how Boss Chen treats you all! Does he even consider you human? He's swindled all your hard-earned money, are you willing to accept that?!"

Her words were like a spark that ignited a prairie fire, instantly setting off the long-suppressed anger in the workers' hearts.

"Exactly! We work ourselves to the bone, and all we get in the end is some thin porridge!"

"Chen Dahu, you've gone too far!"

"We're quitting!"

The workers raised their arms and shouted, their emotions running high.

Chen Dahu's men also began to waver, and some even secretly slipped away to join the workers.

Seeing that things were not going well, Chen Dahu knew that he had kicked a hornet's nest. He shouted a few words with bluster, but found that no one paid any attention to him. He could only slink away with a few of his confidants. Before leaving, he left a harsh threat: "You bitch, you just wait!" Bi Yao smiled contemptuously and did not take his threat seriously at all.

After the crisis was over, Bi Yao silently thanked Jiang Ruiyuan for his encouragement.

She seemed to see Jiang Ruiyuan's approving gaze, and her heart was filled with strength.

"Ruiyuan, can you see? I'm getting stronger and stronger!" Bi Yao gazed at the distant sky, her eyes filled with longing and determination.

Having solved the dock problem, Bi Yao knew this was only the first step in a long journey; challenges from neighboring towns still awaited her.

She took a deep breath, her eyes filled with fighting spirit.

After the goods were loaded onto the ship, Bi Yao embarked on her journey to the neighboring town.

As the boat slowly pulled away from the dock, Bi Yao stood at the bow, gazing at the town receding into the distance, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

"The neighboring town's chamber of commerce... I hope you won't disappoint me..." Bi Yao muttered to herself, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes.

Inside the cabin, a mysterious figure appeared silently. He looked at Bi Yao's retreating figure, a meaningful smile playing on his lips...

"The game has begun."