foreigner's journey

Chapter 311 Walled Commercial Street

When the two returned to the Qifanjie slum, it was around [-]:[-] in the morning, which was the rush hour for work.

The huge magic stove above the head changes the light intensity, like a real rising sun, spreading light all over the slums, but you can't feel any warmth from the sun.

People living in the slums, some talking and laughing, some yawning, some holding a roll of newspapers, walked out of their homes and walked towards the station, greeting one after another.

Because many areas of the slums do not have waterways installed, the slum dwellers in these areas do not have the habit of cooking at home, especially breakfast.Eating out is their daily option.

Not far in front of the station platform is a large square area, which was a small trade market last night, and it became an early market this morning.

When Heather and Tifa came back, they could see that the square was full of early morning stalls and pedestrians coming and going.

"There are a lot of people." Tifa was immediately attracted by the smell of food intertwined here, but the girl's reserve finally prevailed. She secretly glanced at the senior brother who didn't change his face, and then followed his example keep cool.

Heather looked left and right, then walked straight towards a stall, with Tifa quickly following behind him.

What came into view was a blue stall with a metal sign painted with "Bafan Baozi" on it. The stall owner was a fat man with a warm smile on his face, wearing a red turban and wearing Some tight and worn red overalls.

The queue in front of the booth was not too long, the two waited for about five minutes before it was their turn.

"Welcome!" The fat stall owner's voice was full of air, almost as loud as a trumpet.In Tifa's view, this might also be an effective means of attracting customers, right?

"Two copies of Bafan buns."

Heather threw six copper coins into the cash box, then stared at the stall in thought, and after a few seconds made a decision: "The ingredients for my buns are green peppers, crushed peanuts and celery."

After speaking, he motioned for Tifa to come over and choose the ingredients.Tifa came over and found that there were not only steaming steamers, but also iron pots for stewing meat on the table of the stall, as well as plates neatly arranged in two rows. Different ingredients were placed on the plates. The three items that Heather ordered before were all in the in.

Tifa hadn't tried this steamed stuffed bun before, so how could she know what to choose, but this didn't prevent her from making a quick choice: "I also want green peppers, crushed peanuts and celery."

Brother will never treat himself badly, right?It's right to follow the senior brother to choose.

"Okay! Please wait a moment, it will be ready soon!"

The fat uncle happily opened the steamer, first placed a piece of paper in the palm of his left hand, then picked up the buns from the top of the mountain of buns and put them on the paper, and cut the buns crosswise with a knife until they were about to break.After lifting the 'lid' of the steamed stuffed bun, he scooped up a large spoonful of lettuce and spread it in the middle of the steamed stuffed bun, then scooped up some stewed meat to cover the lettuce, then poured a little special sauce, and finally put in the Those three ingredients.

Tifa only saw the fat stall owner complete the above actions extremely swiftly, wrapping the bun with paper in his palm and handing it to Heather, the whole process did not exceed 10 seconds.She couldn't help thinking quietly in her heart, if she did it herself, could it be as fast and good as this uncle?
Heather took the buns and handed them directly to Tifa. After waiting for a while, she got the second bun. Then she took Tifa out of the stall, strolled to the bench near the station and sat down side by side: "Try Try it, it's a feature of the Midgar slums."

Tifa looked at the bun in her hand, it was about the size of her palm.She blew on the hot air a little and took a bite, only to feel the sweet and spicy taste filled her mouth, it matched wonderfully with the lettuce, and it tasted very comfortable.

"It's delicious." Tifa took another big bite, her little face was bulging slightly, she shrugged like a squirrel, and she swallowed it with difficulty: "Bafan Baozi means it comes from Bafan Street ?"

"Yes, the special delicacies of the slums in Bafan Street are usually only sold at the station in the lower part of Bafan Street."

"Oh? This is not Qifan Street..."

"Keep your voice down." Heather turned her head and whispered in Tifa's ear, "This is a copycat."

Tifa also lowered her voice subconsciously: "It's obviously delicious, how can it be fake?"

Heather unwrapped the package and took a bite of the steamed stuffed bun: "I have the opportunity to take you to the slums of Bafan Street once, and you will know the difference after eating it once. But in terms of the level of counterfeit goods, this one is doing pretty well, at least willing to Put the meat."

"I wanted to ask just now, what kind of meat is this..."

"Don't ask questions about everything, that's the trick to living happily in the Midgar slums."

Heather ate the steamed stuffed bun in her hand: "Hurry up, there's still a lot to do today."

Tifa hurriedly lowered her head and gnawed on the steamed stuffed bun, took two bites and then raised her head and asked, "Brother, where are you going today?"

"Your ID card is a temporary card issued by Zangan. You need to replace it with a formal one. You need a guarantor, so I can do it. But don't let me tell you about the place of birth."

Heather whispered: "Remember, you were born in [Gongaga], and you are my junior sister who came to Midgar to join me. If Shinra Company knows that there are survivors in Nibelheim...do you understand?"

Tifa froze for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"I have something to do after I go to Yiban District to get my ID card. At that time, it's up to you whether you plan to go shopping or go back to the slums of Qifan Street. At the same time, you can also think about what kind of job you should find."

"I... I don't know what kind of job I am suitable for." Tifa's voice dropped.

"Just because I promised Zangan to take care of you, it doesn't mean that I have become your nanny. No matter what kind of job you choose, it is your own decision, and I have neither control nor desire to control it."

Heather's voice became colder: "There is only one - you are not allowed to go to the [Walled Commercial Street] in the slums of Liufan Street."

【Walled Commercial Street】?Tifa didn't quite understand where it was, but when she saw that Heather was angry, she lowered her head slightly and said nothing.

The originally warm senior brothers and sisters suddenly became cold.

The two kept an awkward silence in this way until the ID card was processed by the urban management bureau on Yiyi Street.Even if there is occasional communication during the period, it is a question and an answer, and there is no redundant communication.

After applying for the ID card, Heather handed the brand new ID card to Tifa and walked away.

Riding the train silently all the way back to the slums of Qifan Street, walking on unfamiliar streets, passing by unfamiliar faces on the street, Tifa's heart was once again occupied by loneliness.

After returning to Tianwangzhuang, she planned to go upstairs directly, but was stopped by Marle who happened to come out: "Tifa, can you chat with me for a while?"

........................

"So, you are sulking yourself because you don't know where you made Heather angry?"

Marle poked Tifa's forehead lightly and said angrily, "Are you a fool?"

Tifa couldn't help but tilt her head back slightly after being poked, but she just bit her lip and kept silent.

"Seeing that your complexion was very bad when you came back, I thought there was something wrong with the wound." Marle got up and poured a glass of water for Tifa: "Have you seen Heather's dog temper this time? If you say you turn your face, you will turn your face, there is no warning at all." .”

"...Grandma Marle, the environment in [Walled Commercial Street] is very bad?"

"Kuru Geno occupies the slums of Liufan Street, and the walled commercial street is his territory. It is a place where people can let their desires go, and even the high-level figures of Shinra Company will go there to have fun."

Marle sighed: "I understand what Heather means. A beautiful girl like you can make money easily if she goes there. But the shop that employs you will earn dozens of times more than you Money. Once the value is extracted, you will be ruthlessly abandoned in the end."

"I'm not going there." Tifa's voice was firm.

"How many girls go there because they like it? Most of them go to that kind of place because they are in urgent need of money. And little Tifa, you are too soft-tempered, and it is easy to cater to the surrounding atmosphere. Many people outside The girl who came here has a personality like yours, but she was coaxed and tricked by Gu Liugenwei's men to sink into the walled commercial street step by step. That kid Heather doesn't want to get too involved in your life and doesn't want to watch You fell into the fire pit, so I frightened you with a straight face, right?"

Marle stroked Tifa's hair:

"Listen well, Tifa, don't worry about the rent. Even if you can't find a suitable job for a while, you can live in Tianwangzhuang with peace of mind. I will provide the ingredients and you will cook. We can eat together, and we will not bring Heather. So, don’t worry too much about money, you will always find a job that suits you.”

"Ok!"

Tifa wiped the corners of her eyes, she felt relieved when she knew why her senior brother was angry.

At the same time, on the corner of the upper part of Bafan Street, Heather was sitting in a bar with an empty wine glass on the counter in front of her.

"Heather, you haven't been here for a long time. Would you like a cup of [Dorga]?"

Standing behind the bar was a woman about [-] years old with exquisite makeup. She tied her long hair into a bun behind her head, and wore an exotic robe with tassels, looking at Heather with a smile.

"Don't rush."

Heather waved her hand, then raised two fingers: "Two things."

"Tell me." The woman's expression became more serious.

"First, I may send an apprentice to your side after a while. I need you to teach her bartending skills and knowledge about wine."

she?The woman raised her eyebrows, her expression was obvious—why should I help you train a qualified bartender for nothing?
"Second, I have news about [Cos]."

Heather smiled: "At the beginning, he was cheated by his partner and kicked out, so he ran to open a small bar in the slums of Qifan Street in despair. Yana, you said that the partner who cheated Cos would Wouldn't want to know the latest information about Coase?"

"...Kos has been missing for a long time."

"That's why what I have in my hand is called the latest information."

Heather raised her finger and flicked the empty glass wall in front of her, making a soft sound:
"Half a Doga, you pay the bill."

　Thank you for the 500 starting coins that I received as a reward for throwing a cup

　　
　
(End of this chapter)