A foreigner's journey

It was around 7 a.m. when the two returned to the Qifan Street slum, during the rush hour for work.

The huge magic furnace above the head changes the intensity of the light, spreading light all over the slums like a real rising sun, but no warmth of sunlight can be felt from it.

Some of the people living in the slums were talking and laughing, some were yawning, and some were holding a roll of newspapers. They walked out of their homes and walked towards the station one after another, saying hello one after another.

Because many areas of slums do not have installed waterways, slum dwellers in these areas do not have the habit of cooking at home, especially breakfast. Eating out is their daily option.

Not far in front of the station platform is a larger square area. Last night it was a small trade market, and this morning it became a breakfast market.

When Heather and Tifa came back, they could see the square full of breakfast stalls and pedestrians coming and going.

"There are so many people." Tifa was immediately attracted by the intertwined aroma of food here, but the girl's reserve prevailed in the end. She secretly glanced at her senior brother who had no expression on his face, and then imitated his behavior. keep Calm.

Heather looked around, then walked straight towards a stall, Tifa quickly followed behind him.

What comes into view is a blue stall with a metal signboard painted with [Baban Baozi]. The stall owner is a fat uncle with a warm smile on his face, wearing a red scarf on his head and wearing a Some tight and worn red work clothes.

The queue in front of the stall was not long, and it took about five minutes for the two of them to take their turn.

"Welcome!" The fat stall owner's voice was full of energy, as loud as a trumpet. In Tifa's opinion, this might be an effective way to attract customers, right?

"Two portions of Baban steamed buns."

Heather threw six coins into the cash box, then stared at the stall in deep thought. It took her a few seconds to make a decision: "The ingredients for my steamed buns are green peppers, chopped peanuts and celery."

After saying that, he motioned for Tifa to come over and choose the ingredients. Tifa came over and found that there were not only steaming steamers and iron pots for stewing meat on the stall table, but also plates neatly arranged in two rows with different ingredients on them. The three items Heather ordered before were all there. in.

Tifa had never eaten steamed buns from this restaurant, so she didn't know what to choose, but this didn't stop her from making a quick choice: "I also want green peppers, chopped peanuts and celery."

Senior brother will never treat himself badly, right? Just follow your senior brother and choose.

"Okay! Please wait a moment, it will be ready soon!"

The fat uncle opened the steamer cheerfully, first placed a piece of paper in the palm of his left hand, then picked up a bun from the top of the mountain of stacked buns and placed it on the paper. He used a knife to cut the bun across until it was about to break. After opening the 'lid' of the bun, he scooped a large spoonful of lettuce and spread it in the middle of the bun, then scooped some stewed meat to cover the lettuce, then poured a little special sauce on it, and finally put in whatever Heather selected. Those three ingredients.

Tifa only saw the fat stall owner completing the above actions extremely quickly, wrapping the bun with the paper in his palm and handing it to Heather. The whole process did not take more than 10 seconds. She couldn't help but secretly think about it, if she did it herself, could she do it as quickly and well as this uncle?

Heather took the bun and handed it directly to Tifa. After waiting for a while, she got the second bun. Then she left the stall with Tifa and strolled to a bench near the station and sat down side by side: "Try it." Try it, it’s a specialty of the Midgar slums.”

Tifa looked at the bun in her hand, which was about the same size as her open palm. She blew some hot air and then took a bite. She felt the sweet and spicy taste fill her mouth. It paired perfectly with the lettuce, and it tasted very comfortable.

"It's delicious." Tifa took another big bite, her little face was slightly bulging, and she squirmed like a squirrel. She finally swallowed it: "Bafan buns means they come from Bafan Street. ?"

"Yes, the special delicacies of the slums on Baban Street are usually only sold at the bus station in the lower city of Batan Street."

"Huh? This is not Qifan Street..."

"Keep your voice down." Heather turned her head and whispered in Tifa's ear: "This is a knockoff."

Tifa also lowered her voice subconsciously: "It's obviously delicious, how could it be a copycat?"

Heather opened the package and took a bite of the bun: "If I have the opportunity, I will take you to the slums of Bafan Street once. Once you eat it, you will know the difference. But for the level of knock-off products, this shop does a pretty good job, at least it is worth it. Put the meat.”

"I just wanted to ask, what kind of meat is this..."

"Don't ask about everything. This is the secret to living happily in the slums of Midgar."

Heather finished the bun in her hand in three gulps: "Eat quickly, there are still many things to do today."

Tifa hurriedly lowered her head to nibble on the bun. After taking two bites, she raised her head and asked, "Brother, where are you going today?"

"Your ID card is a temporary card issued by Zangan. You need to change it to a formal one. You need a guarantor, which I can do. But don't tell the truth about your place of birth."

Heather whispered: "Remember, you were born in [Gongaga], and you are a junior sister who came to Midgar to join me. If Shinra Company knows that there are survivors in Nibelheim...do you understand?"

Tifa stiffened for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"I have something to do after I go to Ichiban District to apply for an ID card. It's up to you whether you plan to go shopping or go back to the Qifan Street slums. At the same time, you can also think about what kind of job you should find."

"I...I don't know what kind of job I am suitable for." Tifa's voice became even lower.

"I just promised Zangan to take care of you. It doesn't mean that I will become your nanny. No matter what kind of job you choose, it is your own decision. I can't control it and I don't want to."

Heather's voice became cold: "There is only one thing - you are not allowed to go to the [Walled Commercial Street] in the Liufan Street slum."

【Walled Commercial Street】? Tifa didn't quite understand where that place was, but when she saw that Heather was angry, she lowered her head slightly and said nothing.

The originally cordial relationship between the senior brothers and sisters suddenly became cold.

The two of them remained in awkward silence until they went to the administrative office in the downtown area of ​​​​Banfan Street to apply for ID cards. Even if there was occasional communication during the period, it was only one question and one answer, and there was no unnecessary communication.

After applying for the ID card, Heather handed the brand new ID card to Tifa and walked away.

Riding the train in silence all the way back to the Qifan Street slums, walking on unfamiliar streets, passing by all the unknown faces, Tifa's heart was once again occupied by loneliness.

After returning to Tianwang Manor, she planned to go upstairs directly, but was stopped by Marley who happened to come out: "Tifa, would you like to chat with me for a while?"

……………………

"So, you're sulking at yourself because you don't know where you made Heather angry?"

Marei poked Tifa's forehead with her finger, and said angrily: "Are you stupid, kid?"

Tifa's head tilted back slightly after being poked, but she bit her lip and kept silent.

"Seeing that you looked very bad when you came back, I thought there was something wrong with the wound." Mare stood up and poured a glass of water for Tifa: "Have you seen Heather's bad temper this time? She fell out with her right away, without any warning at all. .”

"...Grandma Ma Lei, the environment of [Walled Commercial Street] is very bad?"

"Kuru Neo occupies the Rokuban Street slums, and the walled shopping street is his territory. It is a place where people can indulge their desires. Even senior figures from the Shinra Corporation will go there to have fun."

Marley sighed: "I understand what Heather means. A beautiful girl like you can easily make money if you go there. But the store that hires you will make dozens of times more than you." Money. Once the value is extracted, you will eventually be ruthlessly abandoned."

"I won't go there." Tifa's voice was firm.

"How many girls go there because they like it? Most of them go to that place because they are in urgent need of money. And little Tifa, you are too soft-tempered and it is easy to cater to the surrounding atmosphere. Many outsiders The girl who came here has a personality like yours, but she was coaxed and tricked by Kuruneo's men into the walled commercial street and fell into a trap step by step. That boy Heather, neither wants to get too involved in your life nor watch it. You fell into a pit of fire, so I'm trying to scare you with a straight face, right?"

Mare touched Tifa's hair:

"Listen Tifa, don't worry about the rent. Even if you can't find a suitable job for a while, you can live in Tianwang Village with peace of mind. I will provide the ingredients and you will cook. We can have dinner together without Heather. So, don’t worry too much about money, you will always find the job that suits you.”

"Um!"

Tifa wiped the corners of her eyes. After knowing why her senior brother was angry, she suddenly felt less uncomfortable.

At the same time, on the corner of the downtown area of ​​Bafan Street, Heather was sitting in a bar, with an empty wine glass placed on the bar in front of her.

"Heather, you haven't been here for a long time. Would you like a cup of Doga?"

Standing behind the bar was a woman in her thirties with exquisite makeup. She tied her long hair into a bun and tied it back in an exotic robe with fringes. She looked at Heather with a smile.

"There's no rush yet."

Heather waved her hand, then raised two fingers: "Two things."

"Say." The woman's expression became more serious.

"First, I may send you an apprentice over time. I need you to teach her bartending skills and knowledge about wine."

she? The woman raised her eyebrows with an obvious expression - Why should I help you train a qualified bartender in vain?

"Secondly, I have news about [Kos]."

Heather smiled: "He was cheated by his partners and kicked out, and then he went to the slums of Qifan Street to open a small bar. Yana, you said that the partner who cheated Kos would Don’t you want to know the latest information about Kos?”

"...Kos has been missing for a long time."

"That's why what I have is called the latest information."

Heather raised her finger and flicked the wall of the empty cup in front of her, making a soft sound:

"It's half a glass of Doka, you pay the bill."

Thank you for the 500 starting coins rewarded by Daiwuhuangbei.