Transmigrated into a fat wife, farming, raising children, and picking up husbands

As the sun rises higher, the morning market reaches its busiest time.

There were still quite a few people gathered around Lin Xiuer's stall, where the pork belly slices on the stove were sizzling and dripping with oil, filling the air with a fragrant aroma.

Some came attracted by the aroma, while others were young women who couldn't help but glance at Ping An a few more times.

Business was even better than expected. The noodles and meat they brought were almost gone, and the copper coins in the small wooden box were piling up.

Just as Lin Xiuer was so tired that she could barely lift her arms, a commotion broke out from the direction of Caishikou.

Two sleazy figures, one tall and one short, were swaggering over.

The taller one was skinny, with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, and his eyes darting around. The shorter one was round and chubby, with a shiny bald head and a face full of fat.

It turned out to be the thugs from the Black Fish Gang who came to collect protection money every day.

The Black Fish Gang was originally composed of several local thugs and ruffians who were fond of drinking, gambling, whoring, and idling. They made a living by collecting protection money from the market every day.

"Old Zhang, business's good today, huh? Time to pay!"

Pointy-nosed Monkey Three was eating a steamed bun he had just grabbed from the bun shop. He had one foot on the old farmer's carrying pole, and with his eyes slanted, he opened his cloth bag, waiting to collect the money.

"Good morning, Uncle Monkey and Uncle Lai!" Old Zhang, who was buying vegetables, dared not speak his anger, and tremblingly took out five coins and handed them over.

"Five coins? Are you kidding me, old man? You've sold at least two baskets of vegetables this early in the morning, that's ten coins!"

Bald Lai snatched the money bag from Old Zhang's hand, counted out five coins, weighed them in his hand, then snorted coldly and threw the empty money bag back.

Monkey Three kicked over several winnowing baskets from the old man's bamboo basket stall next to him: "Damn it, you're blocking the way! Pay up! Twenty coins!"

The vendors swallowed their anger and forced smiles, quickly counting out a few coins to offer, hoping to appease the situation and continue doing business.

Ten or twenty coins may not seem like much, but they come every day and are as annoying as flies, yet no one dares to mess with them.

I work hard from dawn till dusk every day to earn just a few coins, and I give almost all of it to them as a token of my filial piety.

The two continued walking, passing by a woman selling eggs, a couple running a wonton stall... calling out to each other all the way.

"Ten coins! Hurry up!"

"Old Zhu, your wontons are selling well, twenty coins!"

"You trying to hide, you tofu seller? Give it to me!"

Monkey Three and Bald Lai Zi knew the vegetable market like the back of their hand; they knew exactly which stalls were doing good business and which stall owners were honest.

The copper coins jingled as they fell into the cloth bags in their hands. This was a rule set by the Black Fish Gang, and it was also the most straightforward example of the survival of the fittest at the bottom of the market.

Along the way, if someone's business was bad, or if a newcomer tried to argue, the two of them would immediately push, shove, punch, and kick them until they obediently handed over their money.

"Damn it, a bunch of penniless bastards!" Bald Lai Zi spat and stuffed the few dozen coins he had just received into his pocket.

Monkey Three suddenly sniffed: "Huh? Lai Zi, what's that smell? It smells so good!"

He looked in the direction of the aroma and saw that a strange little cart had appeared next to Hu Yidao's meat stall, attracting a crowd of people.

A plump woman was deftly fiddling with something; the hot plate was sizzling, and the aroma was wafting from there.

"Looks like she's new here. Let's go check her out! Teach her some manners!" Bald Lai grinned, revealing his yellow teeth.

The two pushed through the crowd and made their way to the stall.

Seeing that it was these two thugs coming over, the crowd subconsciously made way for them, and Monkey Three recognized Lin Xiuer at a glance.

Lin Da Pang, the notorious gambler from Qingshan Village! He used to see her at the gambling den often. She was a terrible gambler with a huge addiction; she would lose so much that her eyes would turn red, and she would throw tantrums. He still vividly remembered her.

"It hasn't been that long since we last met, what are you doing here setting up a stall? You even look thinner!" "Hey! Who do we have here? Isn't this Lin Dapang from Qingshan Village?"

Monkey Three leaned casually against the chopping board, grinned, and said, "Haven't seen you in a few days. Gone gambling? Switched to being a cook?"

Bald Laizi recognized him too, and chuckled slyly, "That's right! Got your debt to Master Zhao paid off? Now you have time to make a little money here?"

Upon hearing this, the people around realized that the new stall owner used to be a gambler, and their gazes towards her immediately became somewhat strange.

Lin Xiuer cursed inwardly for her bad luck, but forced a smile: "Brother Monkey, Brother Lai, it's you two. I was just young and ignorant before, but I've quit gambling now and am doing some small business to make a living."

"Make a living? Sure!" Bald Lai Zi shook the empty cloth bag in his hand.

"Considering we were once on the same path, I'll set a price for you. Your stall is doing good business; thirty coins a day for peace and safety. Now, pay today's amount first."

Thirty coins! How come I suddenly have so much more? They're practically robbing me, and every single day!

Lin Xiuer was furious. So, before she even made back her investment from her food stall, she had to owe them thirty coins every day she opened her eyes?

Although the Black Fish Gang members weren't particularly skilled, they were still quite troublesome.

In Lin Xiuer's fragmented memories, those who refused to pay the "peace money" were swarmed by her brothers, disrupting their business.

Her business has just opened, so it's not a good time to cause trouble. She should try to calm them down first.

"Brothers, this is really a small business. I just opened and haven't even recouped my investment yet. Besides, isn't the usual price on the street ten or twenty coins?"

"Rules?" Bald Lai Zi touched his bald head, his triangular eyes bulging. "Hmph! In this marketplace, this is my territory, and the rules are mine!"

"With so many people gathered around, and your cakes smelling so good, you're only worth thirty coins! Enough talk, pay up! Otherwise, your stall... hehe, you might not be able to keep it running smoothly!"

He glanced at the cart and the stove, his expression laced with threat.

Old Hu was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks, wanting to advise but not daring to.

"But I only earn one or two coins per pancake. If I give you thirty coins every day, how can I keep my business going?"

"Ten coins at most." Lin Xiuer's temper flared up, and she could no longer maintain her smile.

"Ten coins?" Monkey Three sneered. "Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar? Back in the gambling dens, you could bet more than ten coins in one go! Enough talk, hand over the money!"

As he spoke, he reached out to take the small wooden box containing the money.

Ping An, who had been standing silently to the side, raised his hand and pressed down on the wooden box.

He didn't speak, but simply looked up at Monkey Three with a calm gaze. Yet, that gaze made Monkey Three's heart tremble, and his outstretched hand froze.

"Oh ho?" Bald Lai Zi got excited and pointed at Ping An with a sinister smile, "Lin Da Pang, is this your new lover? She's pretty protective of you, huh?"

"But it's no use. You have to pay today, whether you like it or not! Thirty coins, not a penny less!"

Fearing he might act impulsively and aggravate his injury, Lin Xiuer quickly stepped in front of Ping An, her face cold as she said to the two thugs, "You dare to move a muscle!"

This shout startled Monkey Three and everyone around him. "To tell you the truth, this money is to pay off Master Zhao's debt, and you can't touch it."

"Master Zhao?" Monkey Three exclaimed as if he'd heard a joke. "You owe Master Zhao money, what does that have to do with our Black Fish Gang collecting 'peace money'? Don't try to intimidate us with Master Zhao's name! Master Zhao has many men under him, we're just working for him!"