Chapter 13. Hire a cat
The streets were gradually becoming crowded, neighbors greeted each other, some pushed wooden unicycles out to work, while others opened their doors for business – finally, Anxi Street was alive with the air of human warmth.
The little black cat hid in the shadows, its gaze alert yet indifferent but still unwilling to leave.
"This bead must be very important to you," Chen Ji muttered to himself, "Even after being teased several times, even after being struck by the bead, you refuse to give up."
He waved to the little black cat, signaling it to follow him into the Medical Hall, but the little black cat remained indifferent, merely observing in secret.
At that moment, there was noise from the restaurant opposite, where a stout young worker was taking down the door panels and lifting steamed buns and buns in cages to the entrance; the steamer baskets steamed with white vapor in the morning sunlight.
When Chen Ji looked up again, he saw the little black cat staring intently at the steamer baskets...
The look in the little black cat's eyes made him feel as if he was seeing himself as a child on a green-skinned train, gazing hungrily at someone else's bowl of instant noodles.
Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and asked, "How much for a bun?"
The restaurant worker smiled and said, "Ah, it's Doctor Chen. The buns are still two coins each, no change."
Chen Ji took out two coins from his sleeve... this was the money from mopping the floor yesterday, and the only two coins he had.
"I'll take one," he said, handing the two coins to the worker.