Never Buy Exotic Spice

Cynthia Wu spent the night tossing and turning, her mind tangled with worries about the Spice Guild’s business. By dawn, she forced herself to be upbeat, standing outside the shop, greeting passersby with a bright—if slightly forced—smile, determined to drum up some business.

On a normal day, orders would pour in nonstop. But today, just like the past few days—nothing. Not even a single order. The place was so eerily quiet that the manager and waiters started nodding off, their heads bobbing as if the silence itself was lulling them to sleep.

Cynthia Wu’s nerves were frayed. She kept pacing in circles inside the shop, her footsteps echoing with restless energy. Each lap only made her more agitated, her hands wringing and brow furrowed in worry.

But what could she do? No regulars, no new faces. The spices that used to be snatched up before you could blink—now, nobody even glanced their way! Cynthia Wu stared in disbelief, her heart sinking as she tried to make sense of the sudden cold shoulder.

After hours of gnawing anxiety, Cynthia Wu’s thoughts spiraled. If business kept tanking like this, day after day, the whole shop would go under! Panic clawed at her chest—she couldn’t let that happen.

This shop was the lifeblood of her entire family. If it collapsed, their days of comfort would vanish faster than steam off a hot pot. Cynthia Wu grimaced, trying to joke to herself, but even her own humor felt flat.

Mark Hunter poked his head out every so often, always the picture of calm. He tried to reassure Cynthia, giving her a gentle smile and saying, “Don’t worry, things will turn around.” Cynthia just nodded, forcing a smile, but inside her heart was in knots—words alone couldn’t untangle them.

Seeing there was nothing more he could do, Mark Hunter sighed, giving Cynthia a supportive pat on the shoulder before retreating, leaving her to wrestle with her worries.

The hours crawled by. Just as the sun began to dip, a lone merchant finally stepped through the door. Cynthia’s breath hitched—at last, a customer!

Cynthia Wu snapped to attention, waving the manager over. "Quick, get yourself together! Treat our guest like royalty!" she whispered urgently.

The merchant hailed from a small county near the capital—no Spice Guild branch there. So, he’d trekked all the way to the big city, eager to stock up on the capital’s famous spices.

“My restaurant’s aiming for a makeover—top spot in the whole county! But fancy new décor isn’t enough. The menu’s gotta wow folks, too. I want to serve the trendiest dishes from the capital, and for that, I need your spices. Without them, my food just won’t have that signature zing!” the merchant explained, eyes gleaming with ambition.

The manager and merchant hashed out a deal, settling on a price. The merchant handed over a deposit, grinning with anticipation. “I’ll swing by tomorrow to pick everything up!” he promised, practically bouncing out the door.

With the sale sealed and cash in hand, Cynthia Wu finally exhaled, shoulders sagging with relief. She turned to Mark Hunter, a grin breaking through her worry: “Mark, it’s been four days, but we finally made a sale! I can finally breathe again—at least for tonight.”

But barely had Cynthia Wu’s heart begun to settle when the merchant burst back in, moving so fast he nearly tripped over the threshold. Cynthia’s pulse shot up—what now?

“Wait! Don’t pack up the spices!” the merchant shouted, breathless and wild-eyed. “I can’t buy them! Not a single grain!”

Cynthia Wu froze, the relief draining from her face. “What happened?” she asked, voice trembling.

The merchant gulped, eyes darting nervously. “Just now, three men from the Evans City Shops stopped me outside. They said if I bought even a pinch of your spices, I’d never get a single Evans product again! Not oil, not vinegar, not even a spoonful of salt!”

The staff gasped, faces paling as whispers spread like wildfire. Evans City Shops’ products were the lifeblood of every restaurant in town—no one could afford to cross them!

Cynthia Wu’s legs nearly gave out. She clung to the counter, her mind racing. How could Evans City Shops stoop so low? Was Lily Evans behind this?

The merchant bowed apologetically, voice wavering: “I’m sorry, Miss Wu. I can’t risk losing Evans products. I hope you understand.” He backed away, leaving Cynthia Wu standing in stunned silence, the deposit money still clutched in her hand.

The shop fell into a stunned silence. For a long moment, no one dared move or speak. Cynthia Wu’s heart pounded as she stared at the door, her mind a whirlwind of fear, anger, and helplessness.

It wasn’t just her family’s future at stake—everyone in the shop felt the icy grip of fear. What if this was just the beginning?

Cynthia Wu straightened, jaw set, eyes flashing with determination. She wouldn’t let this go without a fight. Not now, not ever.