Chapter 59
Finding a job in Toy Town wasn’t easy.
Especially for Wen Xingxue, the infamous human who had sliced a white goose in half and slaughtered five brown bear security guards at the factory.
In just half a day, news of his “evil deeds” had spread throughout the town.
Unfortunately, with the evidence destroyed, this villain was still at large!
This led to Wen Xingxue and the little clown doll facing constant rejection as they searched for work.
Finally, defeated, they arrived at the last shop in town.
The shop owner seemed to prefer hiring humans. Two players, accompanied by their toy dolls, were already busy moving and stocking goods when Wen Xingxue and Xing Nuo arrived.
The shop owner was a penguin that waddled back and forth.
It had a fluffy mustache that twitched as it spoke, its appearance both comical and adorable.
It slapped its flipper-like hand on the table, scolding the human employees:
“You humans are so incompetent! This box goes back to the basement! The basement! I’ve told you so many times! If you keep being careless, you’ll be fired!”
The players, having just carried a heavy box up from the basement, almost collapsing from exhaustion, cursed inwardly.
This damned penguin was such a micromanager!
How many times had it given them pointless instructions this morning?!
But they didn’t have many points, and, thinking of the accessories they needed for the doll exhibition and the upcoming rent payment, they gritted their teeth and picked up the box again, preparing to return it to the basement.
Just as they lifted it, the penguin started giving more instructions:
“Wait, don’t take it down yet! Stock the shelves first!”
The penguin shop owner, its flippers behind its back, waddled over to Wen Xingxue and clicked its tongue.
“I recognize you! You’re that infamous human…quite famous…in our town…”
It circled Wen Xingxue twice, its button eyes meeting Xing Nuo’s.
Xing Nuo politely tilted his head up and greeted the penguin:
“Hello, Shopkeeper Penguin~”
The penguin jumped back in surprise, waddling back and forth, shaking its head.
“Oh dear, oh dear, no, no, just a friendly warning, if you’re planning on entering that clown doll in the Toy Doll Exhibition, you might as well give up now!”
It sighed and waddled to the side.
“The Toy Doll Exhibition is an important event in our town. Every doll will be dressed in its finest attire. Of course, beautiful accessories and clothes are essential.”
The penguin owner didn’t know why Wen Xingxue was here, but its button eyes gleamed with a cunning light, seeing an opportunity to make some money off this clueless human.
“Like the incredibly popular bow ties we sell in our shop! Almost every toy penguin wears one!”
Wen Xingxue’s interest was piqued.
He glanced at the shelves filled with bow ties and hummed in agreement.
“They do look…quite nice.”
A sudden urge to buy accessories for the little clown doll arose.
He coughed, took out the little clown doll, and held him up by the back of his collar, letting him look at the shelves.
“What do you think? These bow ties…not bad…?”
Xing Nuo, dangling in the air, swung his little legs and patted Wen Xingxue’s arm.
“Not pretty! And…we’re looking…for work…!”
Why were they spending money before they even earned any?
Xing Nuo anxiously reminded him:
“Others…working…earning money! We should…find job…first!”
Wen Xingxue, unmoved, put the little doll back in his pocket, ignoring his advice.
“We just tried…didn’t find any…let’s look at…bow ties…”
He carefully examined the bow ties on the shelf. The penguin owner, rubbing its flippers together, its eyes gleaming, overheard their conversation.
“Are you…looking for a job…?”
Xing Nuo, who had just been put back in the pocket, quickly poked his head out and, before Wen Xingxue could speak, answered:
“Yes!”
He looked around the small shop filled with colorful bow ties and asked:
“Shopkeeper Penguin, do you…need help…?”
Xing Nuo, having been rejected so many times, his hope dwindling, his eyes lit up when the penguin nodded.
The penguin owner wanted to stroke its mustache, but its flippers were too short. It put on a serious, business-like demeanor, coughed, and held up a flipper, extending five digits.
“This much…per day! If you agree…you can start…”
Wen Xingxue, thinking of the town’s exorbitant prices, asked:
“Five hundred?”
The penguin’s eyes widened, and it placed its flippers on its hips angrily.
“Five hundred?! Why don’t you just rob me?! Fifty! That’s already being generous!”
Wen Xingxue finally understood why the other players had been so eager to discuss strategies with him.
The wages here were ridiculously low.
Just as he was about to refuse, he looked down and saw the little clown doll holding up his fingerless hand, trying to count.
“…Five…six…”
Xing Nuo, unable to count past six, looked up, his illiteracy on full display, his ugly little face crinkling into a smile.
“So much~”
Zaizai couldn’t even count them all!
Wen Xingxue: “…”
“You should never…go out alone…you’ll be…easily tricked.”
He sighed and turned back to the bow ties.
“This one…suits you…wear it…around your neck…”
He held a bow tie against the little clown doll’s neck.
Seeing the bright red bow tie against the doll’s orange outfit, he nodded in satisfaction.
The penguin owner, seeing that Wen Xingxue wasn’t interested in the job, chuckled and decided to promote his merchandise.
“All the cutest bow ties in Toy Town are in my shop!”
He waddled closer and offered a discount.
“Buy two or more, and I’ll give you a fifty coin discount.”
Wen Xingxue, annoyed by the penguin’s incessant chatter, turned its head away.
“Go away, you’re noisy.”
The penguin owner, its temper flaring, but remembering Wen Xingxue’s infamous reputation, reluctantly nodded.
“Fine, come back when you’re ready to pay.”
I’ll just add fifty to your total then!
The vengeful penguin snorted and waddled away.
Xing Nuo, in the pocket, watched the penguin leave, his button eyes filled with disappointment.
“Sigh…” He cupped his chin in his hand and sighed sadly.
Another job opportunity lost.
Wen Xingxue, completely oblivious to his sadness, picked up another bow tie and added it to the one already on Xing Nuo’s neck.
“This one…not bad…either…”
He held them up, asking:
“Which one…do you like…?”
Xing Nuo pushed the two bright red bow ties away, his button eyes showing his disapproval.
“No! Ugly!”
But Wen Xingxue had the final say.
Despite Xing Nuo’s dislike, he not only bought both bow ties but also picked up another one on his way out, paying for all three.
Five thousand points, gone just like that.
The two players who were working in the shop, seeing this, silently shed tears of poverty.
Five thousand points!
This was the power of a top-ranked player! Clearing this B-level instance would be a breeze for him!
After a day of searching, not only had they not found a job, but they had also spent five thousand points.
Back at their residence, Xing Nuo stood on the table, his small, round hands on his hips, pouting.
“We…can’t…waste money…”
Even Xing Nuo, who had only attended kindergarten for a few days, understood the high cost of living in this town.
But Wen Xingxue was spending money recklessly, buying useless things, making Xing Nuo very worried.
Wen Xingxue placed the newly purchased bow ties and hair clips in a small basket, picked it up, and looked at it thoughtfully.
It seemed…a bit empty.
He remembered seeing other girls in college buying dolls with tons of pretty clothes and accessories, even matching hats and shoes.
Compared to that, his little clown doll, without even a change of clothes, seemed rather pitiful.
But then he smiled.
This Toy Town might not have much else, but it certainly had plenty of doll accessories and clothes!
He looked at Xing Nuo, who was sitting on the sofa, his short legs dangling, sighing repeatedly, and decided to leave him behind.
“I’m going out.”
Xing Nuo, still contemplating the possibility of a doll finding a job, barely registered his words.
After much deliberation, having to admit that he was too small for any of the jobs in town—
He looked up and saw Wen Xingxue returning, carrying a large bag.
Wen Xingxue, his face covered by his mask, his demeanor weary, placed the bag on the table without a word.
He opened it, revealing a dazzling array of tiny clothes, pants, hairbands, brooches…
Perfectly sized for the little doll!
Xing Nuo, stunned, sat down heavily on the sofa, his mouth agape, staring at the pile of clothes.
