Yuan Xiaoxu had never seen such a beautiful car before. After getting in, he couldn't contain his curiosity. He kept touching this and that, making all kinds of exclamations. Although Yuan Xiaoxuan was also curious, he was much calmer. He just leaned against Xu Zixi and sized up the interior secretly.
Now that Hu Yuankang's arm had recovered, he pulled the driver out of the seat and took the wheel himself. He turned around and asked attentively,
"Miss, where would you like to go next?"
Xu Zixi replied, "Take me to the busiest shopping mall here."
"Sure thing! Miss, young master, sit tight. We're leaving right away!" Hu Yuankang stepped on the gas pedal and drove the three of them towards the most prosperous commercial center in Haicheng.
On the way, Hu Yuankang kept trying to strike up conversations with Xu Zixi to get to know her better.
"I wonder if you're here in Haicheng for a trip or to visit relatives? If it's a trip, then you've found the right driver in me. I'm a native of Haicheng. No one knows this city better than me! I know all the fun places and great restaurants!"
Xu Zixi said, "Really? Then you must know who the richest people in Haicheng are?"
"Of course!" Hu Yuankang got excited and started to ramble on.
"There are three big shots in Haicheng: the Pei family, the Jiang family, and the Zhao family. They control 60% of the city's economic lifeline. But each family is involved in different fields. The Pei family focuses on large commercial plazas and hospitals. For example, the shopping mall we're going to is located next to the Pei Group's headquarters building. It's developed and managed by the Pei family, and it can attract a million visitors every day. Whether you're a local or a tourist, the Pei Shopping Center is the top choice for shopping. And the Pei family's private hospital has the best medical facilities in Haicheng. The Jiang family is mainly involved in real estate and industrial manufacturing. The Zhao family is in charge of the tourism industry. Haicheng is rich in tourism resources. Just from tourism development, the Zhao family can enjoy prosperity for generations. But I heard that the Pei family is also planning to develop tourism projects. In the last land auction, they snatched a bay to be developed from the Zhao family..."
Xu Zixi gently tapped the back of the seat with her slender fingers. A glint of light flashed in her bright almond-shaped eyes.
A bay to be developed? This is getting interesting...
The Pei Shopping Center was indeed as bustling as Hu Yuankang had described.
The silver-purple conch-shaped shopping mall was twenty stories high. You could find everything here, from clothing, jewelry, and bags to digital products, delicious food, luxury cars, and entertainment. It was definitely the top choice for the upper class and business elites in Haicheng to splurge.
But Haicheng was no match for Fengcheng, the capital of Country C, let alone the Beijing in the previous life of Xu Zixi. Even though it was considered a high-class and luxurious place in the eyes of Haicheng locals, it was just so-so in Xu Zixi's eyes.
So when Hu Yuankang saw Xu Zixi calmly leading the kids towards the store of a well-known international brand, G, he was even more convinced.
This woman was truly an enigma! His judgment was spot on!
But while Hu Yuankang could tell from Xu Zixi's clothes that she was from a distinguished family, the salesperson in the G store didn't think so.
The clothes Xu Zixi and the two kids were wearing were indeed not very good, but they were bought when the previous owner was down and out. Xu Zixi didn't have any money, so she had to put up with them for the time being.
Unexpectedly, they were looked down upon by the people in the G store.
They had seen many housewives who were eager for luxury goods but couldn't afford them. These people would come in and pretend to look around, touching everything but not buying anything. They would even leave black fingerprints on the clothes and still be reluctant to leave. It was really disgusting.
So when Xu Zixi started to pick out clothes, a salesperson would follow her and carefully wipe the places she had touched with a cloth.
After a few times like this, Xu Zixi stopped and turned around to look at the person following closely behind.
"Do you want me to get you a bottle of alcohol for disinfection?"
The salesperson rolled her eyes instead and said, "If you can afford it, buy it. If not, just leave. You've touched so many clothes but haven't bought a single one. Stop pretending to be rich."
Xu Zixi raised her eyebrows and retorted, "How do you know I can't afford it?"
The salesperson sneered, "I've seen many people like you. They claim to be rich but only touch and don't buy. The clothes they try on might even smell bad."
Before Xu Zixi could say anything, the two kids couldn't stand it anymore.
"Auntie, step back a bit. Your saliva is spraying on the clothes when you talk," Yuan Xiaoxu said in a childish voice.
The salesperson was startled and quickly looked at the nearest piece of clothing.
Yuan Xiaoxuan said, "Brother, I smell something stinky!"
Yuan Xiaoxu immediately picked up on it and said, "It must be that auntie just now. She has bad breath!"
The salesperson quickly covered her mouth and glared angrily at the two kids:
"You two brats, stop talking nonsense! Just like your mom, you're all uneducated little bastards!"
"What did you say?!" Xu Zixi was furious. She grabbed the salesperson's collar, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes filled with anger.
They could say whatever they wanted about her, but they couldn't insult her kids! If she didn't teach this snob a lesson, she wouldn't be Xu Zixi!
At this moment, the door of the fitting room opened, and a slender woman with big curly hair walked out gracefully. She was quite beautiful, with a slightly round oval face, bright and imposing features, and fair, rosy skin. But there was a haughty look in her eyes that made people uncomfortable.
The salesperson wriggled free from Xu Zixi's grip and greeted the woman obsequiously, "Miss Pei, this dress suits you so well! The waistline is tailored perfectly, making your waist look even slimmer."
The woman ignored the salesperson and just tilted her chin at Xu Zixi:
"0023, how can your store let just anyone in? If this gets out, how am I supposed to show my face? Also, you have bad breath. You'd better stay away from me."
Hearing this, the two kids hid behind Xu Zixi and snickered.
"Sorry, sorry. I'll kick her out right away!" The salesperson blushed. When she turned around, there was no more obsequiousness on her face, only anger. She pointed outside and said to Xu Zixi,
"Did you hear that? Take your kids and get out of here!"
When Xu Zixi was extremely angry, she became even calmer. She led the kids and walked towards Hu Yuankang, who was hiding outside and observing. She handed the two kids to him to take care of temporarily and asked,
"How's the pixel of your phone?"
Hu Yuankang said, "I just bought an iPhone 18. It has a 200-megapixel camera. The photos are super clear."
"Let me borrow it." Xu Zixi held out her hand. Hu Yuankang didn't suspect anything and took out his phone and handed it to her. At the same time, he kindly reminded her, "The woman inside is Pei Weiwei, the daughter of the Pei family. She's very favored in the Pei family. She's not someone to be trifled with, Miss. Don't get into a fight with her."
Whether she was the daughter of the Pei family or the Jiang or Zhao family, anyone who dared to act wildly in front of Xu Zixi would have to pay the price!
Xu Zixi turned on the video recording function and asked Hu Yuankang to hold the phone and point it at the store.
She tapped the camera and said, "Record well. Don't shake your hand."
The two kids realized what she was going to do and excitedly waved their little fists and said, "Mommy, go for it! Beat the bad guys!"