Guide To Lying Flat And Getting Rich As A Kept Alpha - Chapter 8
8
Luo Hetu signed a contract with Southern Publishing House, but the payment would take a few days to arrive.
The publisher addressed her as “Teacher Luo.” The deputy editor-in-chief, accompanied by a few editors, treated Luo Hetu to a meal and some drinks. During the dinner, they subtly probed about how many completed manuscripts she had.
Luo Hetu responded, “No rush, right? You guys need to consider costs too. Let’s see how these books sell first, and then we can talk.”
The deputy editor understood she wasn’t ready to commit to a long-term deal and compromised, saying, “Alright, by then we’ll be old friends. Rest assured, we’ll offer you the best royalty rates.”
After the meal, with one matter settled, Luo Hetu took a bus back to the South City Market. There, she saw Ye Qingzhu arguing with the market administrator.
The administrator, neck stiff with righteous indignation, waved a pen dramatically as he shouted, “I’ve had enough of you hooligans! Lawless, extorting protection fees, uneducated, and always fighting! I’ve already reported you to the higher-ups. The regulatory bureau will come to clean up this market soon, and every single one of you will end up in the police station for reform! What a bunch of trash!”
A crowd gathered to watch the commotion, some whispering among themselves. Ye Qingzhu’s eyes darkened. She tossed her slightly messy long hair and grabbed the administrator’s collar, ready to throw a punch.
Luo Hetu rushed forward, stepping between them with a smile directed at the administrator. “Calm down, calm down. You work hard managing the market, sir. Our boss grew up here in South City, spoiled by the neighbors. No need to stoop to her level. You’ve got inspections to do, right? We wouldn’t want to waste too much of your time, would we?”
The administrator snorted through his nose, seizing the chance to save face and walk away.
Ye Qingzhu shook off Luo Hetu’s grip. “Don’t talk to me. You’re siding with outsiders and making me lose face.”
Luo Hetu’s tone softened, almost coaxing. “My treat, my treat. Let’s grab a drink. I’ve got something to discuss.”
Ye Qingzhu, still fuming, ignored her.
“This is a lawful society now. He’s the market administrator, for better or worse. If you hit him, he’d have grounds to report you, and you’d end up in trouble at the police station. That wouldn’t feel satisfying, would it? Don’t you have plenty of ways to get back at him quietly?”
Ye Qingzhu had been provoked by this self-important male alpha, but she quickly grasped the logic. She shot Luo Hetu a glance. “What about the face I lost?”
“Oh, come on, face? Everyone knows you’re tough. Besides, why care so much about face? Real benefits and tangible gains are what matter, right?”
Ye Qingzhu sensed Luo Hetu was hinting at something but stayed silent.
Luo Hetu led the group of delinquents to a roadside barbecue stall, footing the bill. She handed the stall owner 500 yuan, telling him to serve whatever he could.
Ye Qingzhu smirked. “Made some money and itching to spend it? I won’t stop you. What are you trying to convince me of this time?”
Luo Hetu grinned. “Look, I sold a few books and made this much cash. Jealous?”
Ye Qingzhu replied, “That’s your talent at work. You earned it. What’s there to be jealous about?”
“I’ve got more money-making ideas. Want in?”
“I can’t do it. This is the life I’m used to.”
“What, no ambition as the boss?”
Ye Qingzhu shook her head. “No grand ambitions. I just want the people following me to have enough to eat and wear, to stay away from robbery or petty theft, and to not get bullied.”
What a great delinquent.
Luo Hetu propped her chin, persuading, “Wouldn’t it be better to do business with me and make money?”
Ye Qingzhu frowned, puzzled. “Why are you so set on getting me into business?”
“First, I’ve got tons of profitable business ideas, but I need help. You’re good to me, loyal, and principled. If I make money, I want you to have a share. Second, you can’t keep going like this. Today, you clashed with the administrator. Sure, you could settle the score privately later, but what about the future? You’re not some powerful gang leader. You’re bound to offend someone. Right now, you and your crew can still fight, but when regulations tighten, people like you—small-time delinquents with no backing—will be the first to get arrested. Down the road, you’ll either scrape by on handouts from the neighbors or become a thug for some bigger boss, doing their dirty work until you’re caught and sentenced. Are you really okay with wasting your life like that?”
“Come do business with me. I’ll help you make money. Once you’ve got cash, you can buy a house, a car, even start a company to support your crew and have them work for you. Isn’t that better?”
Luo Hetu painted one grand vision after another, then looked at Ye Qingzhu with hopeful eyes. Slightly drunk, Ye Qingzhu slapped Luo Hetu’s face playfully and declared, “I! Don’t! Believe!”
While Luo Hetu was scouting for a suitable storefront, Ye Qingzhu, who had been stubbornly skeptical, came to her and announced she was ready to do business together.
Ye Qingzhu said, “I asked my grandma. She said I should trust you.”
Luo Hetu blinked. “Oh? You’ve got a grandma? I haven’t visited her yet. I’ll go buy some fruit later.”
“No need. She passed away.”
Luo Hetu: …
“I asked at her grave. She came to me in a dream and scolded me for being foolish.” Ye Qingzhu spat out the leaf stem she’d been chewing. “I’ve talked to the others. Some want to leave, and I won’t stop them. From today, I’m bringing the rest to follow you.”
She hadn’t believed at first, but once she made up her mind, she didn’t even ask what business Luo Hetu had in mind.
It wasn’t a hard choice. She didn’t become a delinquent because she loved it. With a low education and a knack for fighting, she’d grown up in this life and gotten used to it. She and her crew enjoyed the freedom, but they also knew it wasn’t sustainable.
She’d always known this but never had the time or means to change it. Now, meeting the enigmatic Luo Hetu, who spoke of grand plans she only half-believed, Ye Qingzhu had a gut feeling. Luo Hetu, with her ideas and talent, might just achieve things Ye Qingzhu had never dared to dream of.
Luo Hetu wouldn’t let her down. The money from the publishing deal had hit her account—40,000 yuan, a substantial sum for an ordinary family in this era. Her next money-making plan was now on the horizon.
Today, she was scoping out storefronts near schools. Feeling hot, she sat at a small shop by the school gate, sipping soda.
In this era, drinks were limited to glass-bottled sodas in orange or lychee flavors. If she could open a milk tea shop, it’d likely be a hit.
But she noticed that, in any era, students’ money was easy to earn. However, shops near middle and high schools rarely went up for sale.
Was she really going to have to push a cart to sell at the school gate? That wouldn’t be practical—milk tea needed to be made fresh, and a cart wouldn’t have water or electricity.
As she sat, the school bell rang. Soon, the first wave of students rushed out, heading straight for the street by the gate.
This was Jiangcheng No. 1 High School, the city’s top key high school.
Students swarmed the snack stalls, filling their empty stomachs after hours of studying. Luo Hetu quickly realized the street was full of students with money to spend. Hygiene standards weren’t strict in this era, and with high schoolers staying for evening classes, parents gave them extra cash to avoid going hungry.
As she observed what the students were buying, a vaguely familiar voice called out excitedly, “Ahhh, Boss Xiao Luo!!”
Luo Hetu turned to see the enthusiastic beta girl from her bookstall that morning, Sun Yinuo.
“Why are you here today?! Are you selling books here now?!” Sun Yinuo was thrilled. “That’s awesome! I only have the first volume of The Poisonous Concubine’s Daughter. I don’t have the others yet. My sister said she’d buy them for me, but she hasn’t. Such a liar. Do you have any in stock? I can pay extra!”
Luo Hetu shook her head. “I’m taking a break from selling books for a couple of days.”
“Oh—what are you doing at our school gate then?”
Luo Hetu remembered Ye Qingzhu mentioning Sun Yinuo came from a wealthy family. “I want to open a shop near your school, but I haven’t found any for sale. I might check out other schools.”
Sun Yinuo panicked. “No, don’t! There’s a video recorder shop over there that’s about to go under. Have you asked them?”
Luo Hetu stood up. “Which one?”
Sun Yinuo, eager, grabbed Luo Hetu’s shirt sleeve. “I’ll take you there!”
She led her to a music and video shop where the owner was lying down. The shop was decently sized. Luo Hetu had visited before, asking if it was for rent, but the owner didn’t respond, either asleep or ignoring her.
She’d thought the shop was too big anyway and didn’t want to disturb the owner’s rest.
Sun Yinuo barged in, unfazed, and shouted, “Li Baitian! Stop sleeping! Your shop’s got no business—sell it already! Someone’s here to buy!”
Luo Hetu thought to herself, I probably can’t afford it.
A book covering the owner’s face was lifted, revealing a woman with medium-long hair and striking features.
Luo Hetu could tell she was likely a beta.
Li Baitian swung her legs off the sofa, looking groggy. “Which sucker’s this?”
Luo Hetu: “…Me. Are you selling or renting this shop?”
“No renting. Sixty-plus square meters, 100,000 yuan, take it or leave it.”
Definitely can’t afford it.
Sun Yinuo huffed. “Talk about a rip-off! Can’t you give my friend a discount? Didn’t you say you’d sell to anyone with cash?”
“I haven’t made much running this shop. Gotta fleece a sucker when I see one.” Li Baitian eyed Luo Hetu, who was being tugged along by Sun Yinuo like they were close, and asked with a scowl, “Got money? If not, beat it.”
Looks like a pretty boy.
Sun Yinuo snorted. “She’s got a bad temper and doesn’t keep her word. Ignore her, Boss Xiao Luo. I’ll find you another place. I know this area well.”
Luo Hetu wasn’t ready to leave. She figured if Li Baitian really wanted to sell, there was room to negotiate.
She said, “The book you were covering your face with—it’s mine. I’m planning to turn this place into a drink shop. If you like my books, I’ll reserve a full set of every new release for you first thing. How about renting this place to me?”