The sun hadn't even fully risen when Shen Fu stepped out of the hostel, earbuds slung in a cloth bag, dressed in a faded hoodie and jeans.
He looked like any other broke hustler in Shanghai.
But inside? He was on fire.
Legit business is almost complete. First bulk sale done. New tools unlocked.
He wasn't just surviving anymore—he was building momentum.
What he didn't know was that the street was watching. At the corner of Wanshou Alley, where three street vendors had operated the same turf for over five years, trouble was already brewing.
A scrawny, tattooed guy with a missing front tooth leaned against a rickety food cart, chewing a cigarette filter.
"You've seen that new kid? Selling fixed electronics down near Line 10 exit?" he muttered to the man beside him. "Yeah," grunted the second man, wiping grease from his hands. "Some kid in a blue jacket. Moves fast. Underpriced. Took three of my regulars yesterday."
Toothless spat on the ground.
"Little bastard's got no respect. That spot's not open. We let that go, next week he'll be cutting into our turf."
The third man, older and quiet, just said, "He's moving product. A lot of it. Word is, he's got a source. Maybe even a backer."
Toothless sneered. "Doesn't matter. He's stepping on toes. Time we remind him what happens to strays without a leash."
Shen Fu was heading toward a different target that morning—a pop-up weekend flea market two blocks from Yu Garden.
He had ten refurbished pairs of earbuds in his bag, ready to flip for quick cash.
The system's radar pinged.
Local Market Opportunity: High Foot Traffic Zone
Suggestion: Flash Sale – 20% Discount Boosts First Sales
Competition Detected: 3 Vendors Selling Similar Goods
No problem. He already had a plan.
He positioned himself near the entrance, laid out his goods neatly on a clean cloth, and hand-scribbled a sign:
"Refurbished. Tested. Budget Tech – ¥25/Pair. Fast Fix Warranty!"
Within minutes, curious pedestrians slowed down.
By the twentieth minute, he'd sold four pairs. And then he noticed them.
Three men. One with a shaved head and a scar over his lip. Another short and wiry, with a Bluetooth speaker blasting trap music on his belt. The third, tall and silent, stood behind, arms crossed. They weren't shopping. They were circling. Watching.
Predators sniff a new animal in their jungle.
Shen Fu ignored them. Or tried to.
When the sixth sale happened, Scar-Lip stepped forward, pretending to check a pair.
"This real?" he asked, voice flat.
Shen nodded. "Refurbished. I fix them myself. Want to try it?"
Scar-Lip looked him in the eyes. "You from around here?"
"Why?"
"This isn't your street."
Shen's jaw clenched slightly. "It's public. I'm not blocking traffic. I've got a vendor guide."
The tall one snorted. "Guide ain't permission."
Scar-Lip leaned closer. "See, this is how it starts. Some punk with a lucky day thinks he's a boss. But luck runs out, bró."
He tapped one of the earbuds off the cloth.
"You're either part of the system… or you get swept by it."
Shen's system pinged.
Threat Detected: Local Vendor Crew – "Wanshou Circle"
Reputation: Territorial, Semi-Organized
Suggested Response: Hold Ground, Maintain Calm.
Optional: Intimidation Skill (Locked)
Optional: Record Mode (Free Use) – Activate?
Shen clicked Record Mode without blinking.
"I'm not looking for trouble," he said, slowly and clearly. "Just doing clean business. If this is your turf, take it up with the District Office. I'm legal. Got the paperwork coming in 24 hours."
The man flicked the earbud again.
"You'll regret staying here."
They turned and walked off.
A few minutes later, two of Shen's remaining items were suddenly "reported" as counterfeit on the app. One of his posts was taken down. An order was mysteriously canceled.
The street didn't just use fists.
It used whispers, too.
Later that evening, Shen sat alone on the steps behind a closed storefront, staring at the ¥180 he made. Less than usual. The tension from the crew had slowed sales, spooked buyers.
But worse—it proved something.
He wasn't invisible anymore.
[System Alert: "Street-Level Tension Rising"]
Rival Faction Flagged – Influence Nearby: Moderate
Suggested Action: Build Reputation | Recruit Local Ally | Upgrade Presence
Shen stared at the screen. For the first time since getting the system, he felt something close to fear.
But it didn't last.
He stood up, pulled out his notebook, and scribbled three new goals:
• Recruit someone who knows the streets
• Find a protected selling spot
• Get leverage on Wanshou Circle
Because fear was a luxury and he had none to spare. And neither did his empire-in-progress.