2026-08-03 12:08:09
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037 Protection Money
But the peace didn't last.As Jaka and Susi walked down the side street of the market toward where they parked the cargo trike, three burly men emerged from an empty stall. They moved without any rush, yet deliberately positioned themselves to block the path.Jaka stopped in his tracks.All three were massive, their dark skin baked by the sun, with tattoos snaking up their arms and necks. One wore a tight black T-shirt that showed off his broad shoulders. Another chewed on a toothpick, a crooked smirk on his face. The third hung back slightly, his eyes sweeping over Jaka and Susi like a predator sizing up his prey.The atmosphere shifted instantly.A few busy vendors glanced their way, but no one approached. The market crowd knew this kind of trouble. They saw, they heard, and they pretended not to notice to save their own skin.Jaka narrowed his eyes.Behind him, Susi immediately tensed. She grabbed the hem of Jaka's shirt and took a half-step back, using her son as a shield. Her b
036 Magic Fruits
Shortly after, Jaka secured the baskets to the bed of the cargo trike to keep them from jostling during the trip. He crisscrossed the ropes, yanking them tight until the load was perfectly stable. The fruits inside sat safely, neatly arranged in the shallow shade cast by the side panels.Bejo didn't tag along to the market. Aside from needing to prep the fields for plowing, Susi's presence was simply much more vital when it came to sales.The traditional market wasn't too far, but it was already bustling when Jaka and Susi arrived. Haggling echoed from every direction. Vegetable vendors called out to customers with booming voices. Fishmongers fanned their wares to shoo away flies. The scent of chili, shallots, ripe fruit, butchered chicken, and muddy earth mingled into a distinct market aroma you couldn't find anywhere else.Jaka parked the trike in the designated area for small vendors. Susi hopped off immediately, smoothed out her clothes, and scanned the surroundings with sharp e
035 The Fruit Harvest
Bejo’s response shot back instantly, like a soldier receiving orders from his commanding officer.Jaka quickened his pace toward the backyard orchard, stifling a laugh. Behind him, Bejo’s stuttering attempts to explain himself echoed through the house. Every so often, Susi would interject with a soft, gentle tone that somehow only made her husband's explanation sound even more hopeless.Jaka could only shake his head.They were a humble family. Their house wasn’t large, their furniture was modest, and their finances were far from abundant. Yet, amidst all the hardships they had weathered, little moments like this felt invaluable. The laughter that bubbled up through the exhaustion. The jokes born from old memories. The minor chaos that made a house truly feel like a home.He grabbed a basket and headed toward the fruit trees in the field.Their family orchard wasn’t particularly expansive, but it always carried a distinct, earthy fragrance in the mornings and afternoons. The smell
034 A New Tossa
The purchase of the tossa went off without a hitch.With the paperwork, payment, and a quick inspection squared away, Jaka finally drove the three-wheeled vehicle back home with Bejo. The tossa's engine let out a low rumble as it navigated the uneven village roads. Its rear tires occasionally rolled over loose gravel, causing the empty cargo bed in the back to rattle lightly.To Jaka, the vehicle was just a tool. It was something they needed to haul the harvests they'd been carrying on their own backs all this time.But to Bejo, the tossa felt like a grand prize.Throughout the ride home, the old man kept glancing over his shoulder, eyes sparkling as he stared at the cargo bed. His hand would occasionally stroke the iron railing beside his seat, as if afraid it was all a dream that would vanish if he stopped touching it."It's really nice, huh," Bejo murmured, his voice soft but brimming with satisfaction. "The bed is plenty wide. If we use it to haul chilies, vegetables, fruit... we
033 The Magical Vegetable Dishes
Inside the manager's office, it was much quieter.The dark brown wooden walls softly reflected the lamplight. A faint aroma of hot tea drifted from a side table. Outside, the bustling noise of customers still lingered, but it had faded into a low, unobtrusive murmur.The manager and Andini sat across from each other.Before long, several plates of food were served on the table.An array of vegetable dishes sat neatly arranged. There was water spinach stir-fry still gleaming with hot oil, clear vegetable soup in a translucent broth, green chili stir-fry with a sharp, fragrant bite, sliced young pumpkin, cassava leaves, eggplant, and a few other simple sides.Visually, they looked as appetizing as always.But only as always.The manager narrowed his eyes and muttered dubiously, “There’s nothing different from our usual cooking.”Andini nodded in agreement.In her eyes, the vegetables on the table looked no more appealing than the five-star meals she ate every day. If anything, their pre
032 The Business Goddess Andini
Her name was Andini.A beautiful female CEO whom many dubbed the business goddess of Java.The moniker wasn't just because of her looks, but also her keen ability to read opportunities. At an age still considered young for the corporate world, Andini had invested in a multitude of sectors, ranging from culinary, real estate, and logistics, all the way to premium agricultural products. She was known to be cold on the job, sharp when analyzing reports, and ruthless when it came to cutting unprofitable projects.Andini wasn't entirely of Javanese descent.Russian blood flowed through her veins.Because of this, no one was surprised to see that her appearance strayed far from the typical Javanese woman. Her silver hair shimmered softly whenever it caught the light. Her skin was fair, smooth, and practically flawless. She had a pair of sapphire blue eyes, crystal clear yet entirely unreadable, like a frozen lake hiding dangerous depths. Her naturally pink lips weren't overly full, but th
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