Chapter 16: Zhang Dong, Sell Honey Peaches

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Zhang Dong, Sell Honey Peaches

Although there’s a saying, "judge actions, not intentions," Zhang Dong’s question was genuinely hard to answer.

Is being a delivery driver shameful? Not really. Many people earn less than delivery drivers do. Not everyone can handle the hardships that delivery drivers face. They work hard and provide a service, earning an honest living.

But Zhang Lin had a good guess as to the cause of Zhang Dong’s melancholy—it was probably the call from his girlfriend.

He could only say, "Zhang Dong, being a delivery driver really isn’t shameful. But it’s true that a lot of people in society look down on them. For many women especially, they care about face, about appearances. To them, having a boyfriend who’s a delivery driver might be a source of embarrassment."

Hearing this, Zhang Dong grew even more dejected. "I don’t want to be a delivery driver either, but I’m someone who was inside for three years. With that stain on my record, where am I supposed to find a good job right after getting out? I had to find something to tide me over."

Zhang Lin sighed. He knew exactly what Zhang Dong’s situation was.

That was why, after seeing Zhang Dong working as a delivery driver, Zhang Lin had already decided to let him sell the new daily wholesale allotment of 500 jin of honey peaches he had just secured.

With a profit of 6 yuan per jin, 500 jin meant 3,000 yuan. Even after deducting other costs, the daily profit was something most people couldn’t even dream of.

"Don’t be so down. Come with me somewhere in a bit." Zhang Lin patted Zhang Dong’s shoulder, then walked over to his mom. "Mom, Zhang Dong and I have to go out for something. You can head back first!"

"Okay, don’t be home too late!" Lin Yan could see that something was off with Zhang Dong, so after reminding her son, she headed home herself.

"Zhang Lin, let’s go!" Zhang Dong said, pulling himself together.

’I’m not in the right state of mind right now, and I don’t want to go back to the hospital room. If Mom and Dad saw me like this, they’d only start worrying again. Being locked up for three years already made them worry sick.’

’It would be good to get some fresh air with Zhang Lin.’

Zhang Lin nodded. He led Zhang Dong out of the hospital, and they hailed a cab to the South Market.

He planned to let Zhang Dong wholesale the newly available 500 jin of honey peaches. It was best to take him to see the operation in person so he could get a real sense of the business. Explaining it out of thin air would take far too much effort.

When they arrived at the South Market, the taxi stopped outside Lin Xiaotuo’s Fruit Supermarket.

Dinner had just ended, and many people were out for an evening stroll. A few customers were currently inside Lin Tuo’s fruit supermarket buying honey peaches.

Inside, two young women had been hired as salespeople to serve the customers.

Lin Tuo himself was sitting at a tea table, brewing tea alone, looking very content.

He spotted Zhang Lin entering with someone and immediately stood up respectfully to greet them. "President Zhang, why didn’t you give me a heads-up that you were coming? Please, come in! I just brewed a pot of good tea!"

After showing Zhang Lin to a seat at the tea table, he immediately poured him a cup. "President Zhang, try this tea!"

"Boss Lin, no need to be so polite!" Zhang Lin smiled and took a sip of the tea.

The tea was indeed excellent.

Zhang Dong sat down behind him, his face a mask of astonishment.

He could clearly sense the fruit supermarket owner’s respect for his brother—or rather, it was downright sycophantic.

Besides, he had heard of the owner of this Lin Xiaotuo’s Fruit Supermarket. The man had been selling fruit in the South Market for a long time and had made his fortune long ago.

’Was it really necessary for him to fawn over my brother like that? Back at the company I worked for before... well, before, we had a major suck-up who was always kissing the boss’s ass, but even he wasn’t this sycophantic.’

’And the crucial part was, he called Zhang Lin ’President Zhang.’’

This left him baffled. He knew what had happened to Zhang Lin’s family and was aware of their financial situation. That was why, even when his own father was hospitalized after a car accident and he needed to borrow money, he never even considered asking if Zhang Lin had any to spare.

’Something about this situation felt completely wrong.’

"Young man, you try this tea too!" Lin Tuo also poured a cup for Zhang Dong.

"Thank you!" Zhang Dong quickly said his thanks.

After putting down his cup, Zhang Lin feigned a casual air and asked Lin Tuo, "Boss Lin, how are the honey peach sales today?"

Lin Tuo immediately replied, "President Zhang, you can see for yourself. Of today’s 1,000 jin of honey peaches, this is all that’s left in the store. Once I sell these off, I’m closing up. By the way, I booked a private room at Hertz Bar tonight. Would you care to join, President Zhang?"

"Boss Lin, I’ll have to skip the bar. I have something else to do later." Zhang Lin politely declined Lin Tuo’s invitation, then turned to Zhang Dong. "Zhang Dong, go try one of the honey peaches from the store!"

Zhang Dong was growing more and more confused, but since Zhang Lin had told him to, he got up, took a honey peach from the shelf, and went to wash it.

’Were Boss Lin and Zhang Lin just talking about these peaches?’

Lin Tuo subconsciously glanced at Zhang Dong and seemed to think of something, sighing inwardly.

However, a sudden sense of crisis washed over him. He immediately and respectfully refilled Zhang Lin’s cup. "Then when you have a free day, President Zhang, you must let me treat you properly!"

Just then, Zhang Dong finished washing a honey peach. He took a bite, and with just that single bite, a look of astonishment spread across his face.

’This honey peach is unbelievably delicious!’

Not only was it incredibly flavorful, but it also had an indescribably fragrant sweetness. He had truly never eaten a honey peach this good.

’I wonder where they get these wholesale.’

Then, he saw the price tag for the honey peaches on the shelf: 30 yuan/jin!

The price stunned him.

’So expensive?’

’The ones I bought outside the hospital yesterday were only a little over ten yuan.’

’But considering the flavor and texture, people would probably be scrambling to buy them even at 30 yuan a jin, right?’

’Besides, Boss Lin just said they’d already sold almost 1,000 jin today.’

Zhang Lin didn’t stay at Lin Tuo’s place for long. After another cup of tea, he left with Zhang Dong.

Once they were out of the South Market, he asked Zhang Dong, "So, you tried the honey peach. What did you think?"

Zhang Dong immediately replied, "It was amazing! I’ve never had a honey peach that good before. If that Boss Lin can sell 1,000 jin a day, he must be making a ton of money!"

Zhang Lin smiled and said, "The wholesale price is 24 yuan per jin, and he sells them for 30!"

"Holy shit!" Zhang Dong exclaimed. ’Isn’t that a 6-yuan profit per jin?’

’He’d be making a killing selling 1,000 jin a day!’

Amidst his shock, he asked in confusion, "Zhang Lin, how do you know all this?"

"Because I’m the one who wholesales the honey peaches to Lin Tuo," Zhang Lin explained with a smile.

"You wholesale them?" Zhang Dong was stunned. He finally understood why that Boss Lin was so sycophantic toward Zhang Lin.

’So that was the reason.’

’Anyone in his shoes would be that obsequious.’

’He’s a walking, talking God of Wealth.’

Seeing Zhang Dong’s astonished expression, Zhang Lin revealed his purpose. "This honey peach is a new variety. Although it’s still in the confidential trial sales phase and the quantity isn’t huge, I have another 500 jin available. Are you interested?"

"Huh??" Hearing this, Zhang Dong froze, his face a picture of disbelief.