The businessmen nodded, satisfied with the explanation. Meanwhile, Mr. Minser continued searching for the ingredients for the tea on Mrs. D's list.
"I'm sorry, Mr. D, but I can't seem to find ginger. Do you have any idea where it might be?" Mr. Minser asked.
Mr. D thought for a moment before replying, "Hmm, I recall my wife mentioning something about keeping the ginger in a separate box on the top shelf in the back room. Maybe you missed it?"
Mr. Minser nodded and quickly disappeared into the back room once more. He carefully climbed the ladder to reach the top shelf and found the separate box full of ginger. He grabbed it and brought it back to the front of the store.
"Here you go, Mr. D. I found the ginger," Mr. Minser said, handing him the box.
Mr. D took the ginger and placed it in his bag. "Thank you, Mr. Minser. I appreciate your help," he said.
"It's no problem at all. Anything for a friend," Mr. Minser replied with a smile.
As Mr. D and his sons prepared to leave, the businessmen approached Mr. Minser again.
"Look, we need you to pay your loan by the end of the month. We've been patient enough," one of them said sternly.
Mr. Minser sighed. "I understand, but business has been slow lately. I promise I'll do my best to gather the funds and pay you back as soon as I can."
The businessmen exchanged skeptical glances but ultimately left the store without further discussion. Mr. Minser watched them go, feeling the weight of his financial struggles.
Just as he was about to close up the shop for the day, another customer entered. It was a young woman in a hurry, looking flustered.
"Excuse me, do you have any chicken and beef available? I need them for dinner tonight," she asked.
Mr. Minser's eyes lit up at the prospect of making a sale. "Yes, I do. How much do you need?" he responded.
The woman quickly told him the quantities she required, and Mr. Minser went to gather the chicken and beef for her.
As he handed over the packaged meat, the woman smiled gratefully. "Thank you so much! You just saved me from a dinner disaster," she said.
Mr. Minser smiled back. "You're welcome. It's always a pleasure to help."
Despite the challenges he faced, Mr. Minser continued to serve his customers with dedication and compassion. He knew that his store played an important role in the community, and he was determined to find a way to overcome his financial struggles and pay back his loan.