Hearing the price.
Dirk Carter was still quite taken aback.
Daily management and sanitation fees alone were forty yuan.
If that wasn't enough, they also took 20% from the turnover. Even in all of Rexton City, there hadn't been such a rule!
"Ma'am, do they really take a cut from the turnover? Is it a rule set by Starlight Night Market?"
Dirk Carter asked.
The middle-aged woman gave him a sidelong glance and said, "Look at how you talk. Do you think we voluntarily offer it? That cut has to be given, or else we aren't allowed to set up stalls. We vendors outside are somewhat better off, but look inside. For those shops with better turnover, the cut can be as high as 30%; they are truly a bunch of vampires."
"Ma'am, isn't this unreasonable? Why don't you report it to the authorities?"
"Report? Report to whom? Do you think reporting will solve anything? There's not a single place in Silvercrest District allowing vendors; they've driven us all here. Young man, you just don't understand the inner workings here. This is a big piece of juicy meat."
The woman looked around, lowered her voice, and said.
"Oh, ma'am, could you elaborate for me?"
Dirk Carter asked with great interest.
Coincidentally, there was no business at the moment, and the woman was animated.
She whispered, "This Starlight Night Market, it's jointly operated by the boss here and the leaders above. They earn tens of millions a year, split equally among a few people, eating until their mouths are oily. Using government money to handle their own affairs, isn't that great? I've heard that it's now hard to get a store in Starlight Night Market; some people even need to give gifts to secure a stall. No choice, business isn't allowed outside, and there's heavy foot traffic here. Who wouldn't want to get in?"
After saying this.
She continued mysteriously, "I'm telling you, you can't tell anyone else. Doing business in the Starlight Night Market comes with protection—a protective charm. No city management, market supervision, commerce, or fire department will come to hassle you. You wander around, and you'll see all kinds of fake and shoddy goods. Some tourists get ripped off; there's just no place to complain, because the people above are making money too. Oh! The world is getting worse!"
The words of the middle-aged woman brought a great shock to Dirk Carter.
He took Arlo Yarbrough and Bradford Lewis into the night market for a loop.
Even though it wasn't a weekend today.
The business was still quite bustling.
Just as the woman said.
The prices of things inside were noticeably higher than outside.
The quality varied greatly.
It's not an exaggeration to say that counterfeit goods were rampant.
As they were about to leave, Dirk Carter bought a bag of pork jerky.
He took out a piece, took a bite, and immediately sensed something was wrong.
Turning back, he questioned the shop owner: "Boss, is there something wrong with this pork jerky? It doesn't taste like pork at all?"
The boss, a middle-aged man in his forties, frowned and said, "Pork jerky is like this. Have you eaten it before?"
"Of course I've eaten it. Never mind the taste, but the price is twice as much as outside. The quality shouldn't be this poor, right?"
Dirk Carter questioned.
The middle-aged man gave him a sidelong glance.
He said, "Goods sold are non-refundable. Move along and don't hinder my business."
Arlo Yarbrough got angry listening to this.
He said, "You, the boss, don't listen when we speak reasonably. This is clearly counterfeit, and you're treating us like fools?"
The middle-aged boss listened to them.
He sneered and said, "Judging by your accent, you're outsiders, right? Take my advice: don't stir up trouble for no reason, just get lost as far as you can!"
"Boss, look around, the majority of people here are tourists visiting Rexton City. Aren't you afraid of ruining Rexton City's image with such actions?"
Dirk Carter asked, suppressing his inner anger.
The boss heard this and put down what he was doing.
He sneered and said, "Image? What's image got to do with me? I didn't force you to buy it. Eat if you want, get lost if you don't. Don't damn well be an eyesore here, bunch of broke losers, can't afford it, then don't eat!"
"Hey, what kind of attitude is that?"
Even Bradford Lewis, who had been silent, couldn't bear it anymore.
At this point.
The arguing caught the attention of several nearby market management personnel.
One of them pulled out a walkie-talkie and said something.
Following that.
The number of people in security uniforms in the crowd increased.
They gathered over towards Dirk Carter and the others.
Seeing them still arguing.
A potbellied man wearing a white shirt with a red armband approached them, smiling, "Gentlemen, what's the matter here?"
Seeing a management staff arriving.
Arlo Yarbrough pointed at the arrogant boss and said, "This guy is selling fake pork jerky, and when we found out, he refused to let us return it. Is there no justice left?"
At this point.
The boss saw the potbellied man.
He suddenly became obsequious.
Nodding and bowing, he said, "Mr. Walsh, sorry to trouble you over a minor issue."
Mr. Walsh showed no reaction.
Smiling, he said to Dirk Carter and his companions, "Are you three from out of town?"
"What if we are?"
Dirk Carter asked.
Mr. Walsh waved his hand and said, "No problem, no problem. Since there's a dispute, as the market management, we certainly have the responsibility to handle it. Here, why don't you come with me, it's not far, just that building over there. How about we go to the management office to talk it over?"
Seeing Mr. Walsh's decent attitude.
And being curious about how such matters were handled.
Dirk Carter nodded, "Alright, we'll go with you!"
Under the guidance of Mr. Walsh.
The group made their way through the noisy crowd to the foot of a small two-story building.
A plaque above read:
"Starlight Night Market Management."
"Gentlemen, please step inside, let's have a chat in my office."
Mr. Walsh courteously said.
Dirk Carter didn't think too much, leading Arlo Yarbrough and Bradford Lewis into the manager's office at the front.
Upon entering.
Mr. Walsh invited the three to sit on the sofa.
Then he poured three cups of water.
He pulled up a chair and sat opposite them, "Let me introduce myself. I'm Austin Walsh, Austin from the city of Austin, Walsh as in a happy occasion. I'm the operations manager of Starlight Night Market. I apologize for the unpleasant shopping experience you, our guests, had today."
He spoke politely and formally.
Not at all like what the woman at the entrance described about ripping off customers.
What's going on?
Could it be that they already knew his identity?
Dirk Carter cleared his throat, "Mr. Walsh, we're reasonable people. How does your side plan to resolve this matter?"
Austin Walsh leaned back in his seat.
Crossed his legs.
Thought for a moment.
He said, "I see you all came from afar. Rexton City's people are known for their warmth and hospitality. How about this, how does 3000 yuan per person sound?"
3000 yuan per person?
Is the compensation really that high?
Arlo Yarbrough and Bradford Lewis looked at Dirk Carter in disbelief.
Considering they only spent less than a hundred yuan on the pork jerky.
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