Question

Why was the narrator surprised to see nicola and jacopo working as shoe shine boys?

Answer 1

the author was surprised to see nicola and jacopo working as shoe-shine boys because the author thought that they had a living only by selling wild strawberries but he saw them doing shoe shining as well.

Answer 2

Because the author saw them earlier, selling wild strawberries and he thought that they sell strawberries for living that's why he was surprised to see them working as shoe shine boys!!