novelraw Chapter 323: The Exploding Piggy Bank, Fried Chicken, and Beer
Chapter 323: The Exploding Piggy Bank, Fried Chicken, and Beer
Colorful lights intertwined, illuminating the entire pedestrian street night market.
Stalls lined both sides of the street, and men and women weaved through the bustling crowd.
Stir-fried noodles, skewers, fried chicken, stinky tofu, candied hawthorns...
Laughter, banter, and vendor shouts filled the air.
Tang Song walked along the pedestrian path, blending into the crowd.
He was quite familiar with this street, having visited many times during his university years.
If it weren’t for summer break, this place would be even livelier than it was now.
In his direct line of sight, a golden piggy bank grew increasingly clear.
After bypassing a smoky barbecue stall, a few quieter booths came into view.
Tang Song’s gaze quickly locked onto the “piggy bank.”It hovered above a girl’s head, bouncing playfully, the clinking sound of coins growing faster and more urgent.
When he finally saw the girl’s figure and features, Tang Song instantly understood why Qian Lele carried a handbag out every evening.
In mid-July, even at night, the air in Yancheng was stiflingly humid.
Qian Lele wore simple jeans and a gray polo shirt, her forehead glistening with sweat under the lights.
Her long hair was casually tied back, with a few strands gently brushing her cheeks, and her skin carried a healthy rosy glow.
She was like a daisy quietly blooming, radiating a fresh and unique charm.
She squatted by a small step, sitting on a simple little folding stool, holding a rechargeable bulb in her hand.
In front of her was a beige cloth spread on the ground, displaying an assortment of beaded bracelets, each wrapped in simple PVC bags.
Beside her was a white plastic signboard that read, “5 yuan per bracelet, pick any you like.”
Her spot wasn’t very big, and since her goods were laid directly on the ground, it wasn’t particularly noticeable.
This college girl was truly working hard to earn money.
She was about to enter her third year, juggling a part-time job at Twilight Café during the day and running a booth at the night market in the evenings.
She lived frugally, rotating between just two or three outfits.
Snapping out of a brief daze, Tang Song’s sharp eyes returned to the “piggy bank” hovering above her head.
Just as he was pondering how to “defeat this wild monster,” lines of text suddenly appeared before his eyes:
【The wild monster “Piggy Bank” has entered attack range.】
【It is bound to the stall owner “Bracelet Seller Qian Lele.”】
【For each item the stall owner sells, the corresponding sales amount will be deposited into the “Piggy Bank.” When the “Piggy Bank” is full, it will be defeated.】
【Piggy Bank (Random Wild Monster): Remaining capacity 500】
【Players are requested to help the stall owner increase sales and defeat the wild monster. Time limit: 2 hours.】
【Note: As a qualified “Scholar God,” you may only use your own knowledge and skills. Cheating or seeking outside help will cause the wild monster to escape.】
At that moment, a male customer picked up a cinnabar bracelet from the stall.
Qian Lele immediately looked up and introduced the bracelet in a gentle, crisp voice.
The male customer played with the bracelet briefly, chatted with her for a moment, then scanned the QR code to pay.
The piggy bank, shaped like a small golden pig, swayed proudly and opened its mouth.
A streak of golden light emerged from Qian Lele, transforming into a coin that the “Piggy Bank” swallowed.
【Piggy Bank (Random Wild Monster): Remaining capacity 495】
After reading the system’s explanation, Tang Song quickly understood the process of defeating it.
Reaching a sales total of 500 yuan meant selling 100 bracelets.
As for why this wild monster appeared on Qian Lele, it was likely due to his own 【Luck +2】 attribute.
Since they were friends, it made things much easier.
Tang Song pressed his thin lips together, taking a step forward.
“Hi, would you like to check out some bracelets?” Qian Lele noticed someone approaching her stall and smiled warmly.
She quickly stood up.
“Good evening, Brother Song. Are you out for a stroll?”
Her voice was soft, her face slightly flushed with embarrassment and shyness.
She wasn’t ashamed of earning money by running a stall—most people around her knew about it, and she was already used to it.
What made her uneasy was Tang Song’s dedication to studying—his thirst for knowledge and tireless efforts practically radiated brilliance.
She was a college student herself, yet instead of studying or reading in the evenings, she was out selling bracelets. Compared to Tang Song, she felt a little ashamed.
“Good evening.” Tang Song’s face broke into a warm smile. “I’ve been studying all day, so I came out for a walk to relax.”
“Mm, taking proper breaks is good for your health.” Qian Lele clasped her hands in front of her and smiled back.
Next to her, Zhang Wen, who had just finished grilling a sausage, turned around curiously and asked, “Lele, is this your classmate?”
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Tang Song, who was standing there.
He was tall, with a clean-cut appearance and a slightly rugged style.
His knockoff running shoes were cheap, his T-shirt and jeans were plain yet tidy, and his skin and hair were a bit oily.
But his demeanor stood out—his focused, intelligent eyes and scholarly aura gave him a unique charm.
He looked like one of those top students who loved studying—a dedicated “study god” type, which was oddly appealing.
Qian Lele shook her head and replied, “Brother Song is my colleague from the café where I work part-time.” Check latest chapters at novｅlfire.net
“Oh, I see.” Zhang Wen nodded in understanding and greeted him cheerfully, “Hi, I’m Zhang Wen.”
“Hello, I’m Tang Song.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Tang Song positioned himself right next to Qian Lele.
Noticing her slight unease, he smiled and said, “Mind if I hang around for a bit?”
“No, no, of course not!” Qian Lele quickly waved her hands and moved the small folding stool to the side. “Brother Song, have a seat.”
Tang Song glanced at the simple stool and quickly concluded it wouldn’t support his weight.
“I’ll stand. I’ve been sitting all day anyway. Don’t mind me—just keep selling your bracelets.”
He wanted to observe first, take a closer look at Qian Lele’s sales and customer behavior, then come up with a strategy to figure out how to defeat the wild monster.
“Alright.” Qian Lele sat back down on her little folding stool, her jeans tightly hugging her figure, accentuating a round and enticing curve.
The bustling pedestrian street was filled with a constant flow of people.
From time to time, someone would approach her stall, pick up a bracelet, ask about the material or craftsmanship, and then walk away without buying.
Tang Song stood nearby for about ten minutes. Despite Qian Lele’s earnest enthusiasm, she didn’t make a single sale.
After some brief reflection and referencing the information provided by his glasses, Tang Song quickly reached a conclusion.
These bracelets were of mediocre, if not poor, quality, with extremely low production costs.
Their primary target audience should have been students since this area was near Shida University.
However, with summer vacation in full swing, the foot traffic consisted mainly of nearby residents and office workers.
For them, these cheap bracelets, costing just a little over a yuan to produce, weren’t worth wearing.
Even with clever marketing strategies, it would be hard to meet the goal.
To defeat the wild monster “Piggy Bank,” he needed to think outside the box.
Fortunately, for someone in a “Godlike” state like him, this wasn’t a big challenge.
As he pondered, Zhang Wen, standing nearby, suddenly chuckled. “Tang Song, just a friendly reminder—standing here might actually hurt her business. Lele’s such a pretty girl, and lots of single guys approach her with an excuse to chat, ask about the bracelets, and maybe even buy something. But with you here, people might think you two are a couple, so, you know…”
Qian Lele immediately stood up, her face flushing red. “Wen-jie, what nonsense are you talking about? That’s not true at all!”
“Alright, alright, just kidding.” Zhang Wen winked playfully, glanced at Tang Song, and said no more.
Qian Lele’s figure and looks were undeniably striking—an oval face, phoenix eyes, a refined nose, and full lips. Her body was curvy, with long, slender legs.
Although her skin was a little rough from exposure to the elements, she was undoubtedly a stunning young beauty.
Especially under the dim lighting of the night market, she was practically a walking advertisement, drawing people in.
Her good looks naturally boosted her business.
Feeling nervous, Qian Lele said softly, “Brother Song, don’t take it the wrong way.”
Tang Song leaned forward slightly and whispered near her, “Lele, what’s your profit margin on these bracelets?”
Qian Lele bit her lip and replied, embarrassed, “Three yuan and fifty cents. Things like these are really cheap to buy in bulk.”
Looking into her clear, bright eyes, Tang Song said gently, “Here’s the deal—let me help you boost sales. We’ll split the earnings fifty-fifty. I don’t have anything planned tonight, so I’ll treat this as earning some side money.”
Knowing Qian Lele’s personality, he proposed this partnership to make her feel comfortable.
Hearing this, Qian Lele froze for a moment before nodding enthusiastically. “Of course, that works!”
“OK! Then stay here and wait for me—I’ll go prepare some materials and be back soon.”
With that, Tang Song strode off into the crowd.
After he disappeared, Zhang Wen curiously asked, “Lele, what’s Tang Song up to?”
“Brother Song said he’s going to help me with a promotion.”
“Uh…” Zhang Wen’s expression turned a bit awkward. “Sorry about what I said earlier. I shouldn’t have joked like that.”
“It’s fine, Wen-jie. Brother Song didn’t take it that way.” Qian Lele shook her head and sat back down on the stool.
She was smart enough to understand the invisible benefits her looks brought her.
For example, her success rate at landing part-time jobs was much higher than others.
Or how she could more easily attract attention while running her stall.
In life, she often received kindness and goodwill from others.
Of course, she had her principles and values—she wouldn’t use her appearance to make money in inappropriate ways.
About five minutes later, just as Qian Lele managed to sell a bracelet, Tang Song returned briskly.
In his hands, he carried a small stool, a thick sketchbook, and a fine-tipped pen.
Placing the stool beside Qian Lele, Tang Song opened the sketchbook.
He held the pen lightly in his right hand, glanced at Qian Lele, and then began quickly moving his pen.
His expression was focused and intense, his gaze confident and steady.
The slender pen seemed to merge seamlessly with his long, elegant fingers.
The pen’s tip glided smoothly over the paper, producing a rhythmic “swish, swish” sound.
Curious, Qian Lele and Zhang Wen leaned in to watch—and froze in surprise.
Was he… drawing?
The lines flowed smoothly on the paper, quickly outlining a figure with clean, powerful strokes.
From the strands of hair at the top of the head to the slightly lifted chin, and down to the relaxed shoulders—just a few strokes brought a lifelike figure to life.
The two girls gradually became captivated.
With each light or heavy stroke, details and shadows emerged.
On the paper appeared a radiant girl with a high ponytail, wearing a polo shirt.
Qian Lele stared blankly at the portrait, which looked just like her, her mouth gradually falling open. Her cheeks felt hot, and she couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Tang Song’s sharp profile.
His high-bridged nose, thin and well-shaped lips, and focused, bright eyes...
For a moment, her mind wandered. It felt as though Tang Song was glowing.
He truly lived up to his reputation—not only a tech genius and an avid learner but also multi-talented.
He was simply amazing.
Zhang Wen’s gaze shifted from the sketch to Tang Song.
In just four or five minutes, he had completed a vivid, lifelike sketch.
He hadn’t stared at his model while drawing—it was as if the image was already etched in his mind.
At this moment, he exuded the aura of an artist.
Even his slightly shabby attire seemed to transform into a deliberate, understated elegance.
And another thing she hadn’t noticed before—his hands were unbelievably attractive!
…
“All done.” Tang Song smiled in satisfaction as he tore the sketch from the notebook and gently placed it on the stall.
“Brother Song… what is this…”
Tang Song turned to her and asked, “Lele, how do you think my drawing turned out?”
"Absolutely amazing!" Qian Lele exclaimed, her cheeks flushed as she looked at the sketch of herself displayed on the stall.
"Glad to hear that," Tang Song replied with a raised brow and a smile. Then, he picked up the white plastic board where Qian Lele had written the price list and added another line:
“Buy a bracelet and get a chance to win a free portrait sketch!”
Next, Tang Song pulled out his phone and opened a prize wheel app he had previously set up in a mini-program. The prize? A single reward—“Quick Portrait Sketch”—with a 10% winning chance.
Many apps were available to create simple lottery events, and Tang Song knew they were both effective and easy to use.
Watching his sequence of actions, Qian Lele finally understood what Tang Song meant by “promotion.” Essentially, he was turning her bracelets into a kind of raffle ticket, while the real product being sold was the sketches.
Her lips pressed together tightly. She tugged at Tang Song’s arm and whispered, "Brother Song, this is too much of a loss for you."
She had seen people offering sketch services at street stalls before. Even those with far less skill than Tang Song charged dozens of yuan per portrait. She could already imagine people buying bracelet after bracelet, determined to win the sketch prize.
Tang Song raised his head and gave her a reassuring smile. "Lele, I’m just in charge of drawing. You’ll handle the promotion, sales, and transactions. We’ll divide the profits fairly based on our roles."
Their eyes met, and Qian Lele’s lips tightened into a thin line.
After a moment of silence, she finally nodded. "Thank you, Brother Song."
Taking a deep breath, Qian Lele stood up and began calling out to potential customers with enthusiasm.
“This sketch is amazing! It’ll make the perfect profile picture!”
“Miss, miss! Is the sketch really this high-quality?”
“Of course! Guaranteed top-notch quality. Our handsome artist draws live, with professional speed and skill!”
“Alright, I’ll buy two bracelets first and see if I win. These two, right? Ten yuan—transferred!”
“Aww, didn’t win. Let me try two more!”
“Wow, I won! I actually won!”
“Can I watch while you draw?”
“You’re already done? Let me see! Wow, this is incredible—thank you, boss! You’re amazing!”
In no time, a crowd began to gather around the once-ordinary bracelet stall.
With each new sketch, exuding personality and artistry, exclamations and cheers erupted from the onlookers.
People marveled at how competitive things had become.
To sell five-yuan bracelets, this sketch artist, who was clearly on another level, had stooped to sitting on a small stool drawing portraits for customers.
Some pulled out their phones to record videos of Tang Song drawing in real-time, sharing the footage on platforms like WeChat Moments and Douyin (TikTok).
Even Zhang Wen, who sold sausages at a neighboring stall, saw her sales skyrocket to an all-time high.
Thinking back to what she had said to Tang Song earlier, her face grew warm with embarrassment. For the first time, she truly understood the power of a “dimensionality reduction strike.”
If she had skills like his—or even a friend this talented—selling sausages could make her rich.
Her gaze shifted toward Qian Lele, filled with a tinge of envy.
She had known Qian Lele for over a year and was well aware that many admirers surrounded her. Handsome, sunny boys from the university often stopped by to chat with her.
Now, a talented and good-looking colleague had entered the picture, treating her so well. Could life get any better?
A notification sound chimed in Tang Song’s ear:
Ding! [Wild Monster - Piggy Bank] has been defeated!
Tang Song looked up to see the golden piggy bank hovering above Qian Lele’s head.
[Piggy Bank (Random Wild Monster)]: Remaining Capacity: 0
Cracks began to form on the piggy bank’s surface, and with a satisfying “clink, clink,” golden coins burst out like fireworks, scattering in a brilliant display.
The system screen appeared once more:
You have obtained the special item: “Magical Piggy Bank.”
[Magical Piggy Bank]: In dungeon environments or role-playing scenarios, this piggy bank will continuously accumulate cash. After clearing the dungeon, the money inside can be withdrawn.
Note: The amount of cash accumulated depends on the player’s performance.
After reading the item description, a satisfied smile appeared on Tang Song’s lips.
A cash-rewarding item!
It was common for games to drop gold coins in dungeons, often in considerable amounts.
Since he was currently in a dungeon environment and his media projects were temporarily on hold, he had been worrying about ways to save up cash. This item solved that problem perfectly.
It seemed the “Whisper of Humanity” in the mall would soon be within his grasp!
Glancing back at Qian Lele’s stall and her bag, Tang Song noted that there were only about 40 bracelets left.
He figured he might as well help clear out the remaining stock. For her, this would be a decent sum of extra income.
By 9:30 p.m., all the bracelets had been sold out.
The crowd grumbled briefly about the lack of inventory before dispersing.
Tang Song packed up his sketchbook and pens, stood up, and smiled. "Looks like you can close up shop early today."
"Yes! Time to clock out!" Qian Lele beamed, her face still glowing.
All 150+ bracelets she had brought were sold.
Since the payment QR code was hers, her phone was flooded with notifications of incoming payments, making her feel overjoyed.
"Brother Song, can I keep this sketch for myself?" Qian Lele carefully picked up the portrait of her, her eyes filled with hope.
“Of course, it’s yours to keep.”
“Thank you, Brother Song!”
After packing up her things and saying goodbye to Zhang Wen, the two walked shoulder-to-shoulder back toward the university faculty apartments.
At this hour, on a weekday, the pedestrian street had grown quieter, lending a sense of calm to the evening.
Just as they were about to leave the street, Qian Lele suddenly stopped and said, “Brother Song, wait a moment—I’ll go buy something.”
“Alright, go ahead.”
Qian Lele jogged to a nearby stall and bargained with the vendor for a while before finally purchasing 40 yuan worth of fried chicken bites.
“I got it! Fried chicken for tonight!” she said, waving the plastic bag in her hand like a triumphant hunter. Her face lit up with satisfaction and happiness.
Other than spicy strips, fried chicken was her favorite treat.
But because fried chicken was relatively expensive, Qian Lele would only buy a small portion when her cravings were unbearable—about once every two months.
Tonight, however, she was overjoyed and brimming with excitement, feeling like indulging herself just this once.
As the two walked into the teacher’s apartment building, their surroundings gradually grew quieter.
The soft moonlight poured down, cloaking the ground in a silvery veil.
Faint lights from the buildings dotted the scene, blending with the moonlight to create a unique atmosphere.
It was tranquil, cozy, and peaceful.
Qian Lele tilted her head slightly, catching glimpses of Tang Song’s composed profile and tall, upright figure.
Her eyes sparkled as a warm sense of security filled her heart.
A playful and lively smile appeared on her face, and her steps became noticeably lighter.
The living room was brightly lit.
Qian Lele poured the fried chicken onto a plate and placed it on the dining table.
After some thought, she went to the fridge and pulled out two cans of beer.
Whenever she hung out with Ding Yao, they would pair fried chicken with beer back in the dorm.
Although Qian Lele found beer a bit bitter, its combination with fried chicken had its own unique charm.
As for the two beers that belonged to Teacher Jiang, she could just replace them later with some from the convenience store.
The two of them sat across from each other at the dining table.
“Cheers~” The beer cans clinked lightly.
The cold, slightly bitter liquid slid down her throat, making Qian Lele shiver a little. She then picked up a piece of golden, crispy fried chicken and handed it to Tang Song.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she said, “Try it! It’s so delicious.”
“Thank you.” Tang Song smiled, took the piece of chicken, and bit into it under her expectant gaze.
He gave a thumbs-up and said, “It’s really good—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Delicious.”
Qian Lele’s face lit up with a satisfied smile, and she started eating as well.
She chewed slowly and carefully, savoring every bite.
“Brother Song, I just did the math. We sold a total of 156 bracelets and made a net profit of 546 yuan. That means each of us gets 273 yuan. Normally, I can only sell…”
As she spoke, Tang Song ate the fried chicken while observing this simple and kindhearted university girl.
Her eyes were beautiful—bright and clear.
When she smiled, her brows arched upward, making her look radiant.
Noticing Tang Song’s gaze, Qian Lele’s cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her head awkwardly.
“Lele, have you thought about changing your business? With the university on summer break, it’s hard to sell these bracelets—they just don’t have the right audience.”
Qian Lele quickly raised her head and replied earnestly, “I know. When I was living in the dorm, a lot of things were inconvenient, so I could only sell small items like these. Now that the stock is all gone, I’ve been thinking about switching products. Do you have any suggestions, Brother Song?”
Tang Song’s eyes flickered as his thoughts raced, and he immediately came up with the most suitable answer for her.
“Teacher Jiang’s apartment has a full set of kitchen appliances, and with summer in full swing, you could consider making chilled fruit teas or lemonades. Just get a foam cooler and some ice packs. The ingredients are simple, and the process is easy…”
As Tang Song spoke, Qian Lele’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
She had always wished for a like-minded friend, someone she could share her joys and sorrows with.
Someone who could discuss solutions with her when she felt lost.
Tang Song seemed to be exactly that person.
He was even purer than she was—overflowing with talent yet humble and reserved. He studied tirelessly, with unwavering focus and drive.
When he learned that he might have affected her business, he found another way to help, expressing his kindness and warmth.
His presence was vivid and impactful, constantly inspiring those around him.
Having a friend like him was truly a blessing.
She silently wished she could remain friends with him for life—sharing fried chicken and beer forever!