Chapter 18: Motivated Zhang Dong! Don’t Be So Sensible

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Motivated Zhang Dong! Don’t Be So Sensible

After Liu De and the others returned from their delivery, Zhang Lin instructed him, "Liu De, drive the truck over to the warehouse. We have another 500 pounds of honey peaches to load. Once that’s done, you’re coming out with me again. We have one more stop to make besides the South Market!"

"Yes, boss!" Liu De replied, driving the truck right up to the warehouse and getting out to load the cargo.

Lin Dawei and Lin Dayou parked their vehicles and immediately pitched in to help.

After the 500 pounds of honey peaches were loaded, Zhang Lin called Zhang Dong, then got on his scooter to lead Liu De toward the county seat.

「You City.」

After getting the call from Zhang Lin, Zhang Dong immediately left his home. He brought along the plastic bags, electronic scale, and other things he had prepared, and rode his scooter to North District Square to wait.

’To be honest, he was feeling both excited and nervous.’

’He hadn’t slept well at all last night.’

’After all, the opportunity Zhang Lin had given him was too good to pass up. As long as he could sell 500 pounds of honey peaches every day, the profit he could make was something he’d never dared to imagine before.’

’In all of You City, how many people could make a profit of 3,000 in a single day?’

’This way, he could finally give his girlfriend some good news.’

Because of this, he cherished the opportunity and felt incredibly grateful to his friend, Zhang Lin.

Spotting Zhang Lin approaching on his scooter from a distance, he went forward to greet him. "Zhang Lin!"

"The honey peaches are in the back, go take a look!" Zhang Lin said, stopping his scooter and pointing at the small truck Liu De was driving.

Zhang Dong nodded and walked over to the truck, his face full of anticipation. He was greeted by the rich fragrance of peaches and the sight of basket after basket of them.

Zhang Lin parked his scooter and walked over to Zhang Dong, handing him a contract. "This is the supply agreement. Sign it, and you’ll be one of my official distributors."

Zhang Dong took the contract and, without a second thought, signed his name with a few quick strokes.

"Not even going to read it? Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you out?" Zhang Lin teased.

"Go ahead and sell me, then. It’s not like I’m worth much anyway," Zhang Dong joked back, then picked up his phone to transfer the wholesale payment to Zhang Lin.

After receiving the money, Zhang Lin took an advertising banner and stand, as well as a loudspeaker, from the truck and handed them to Zhang Dong. "You’ll need these. Set up the banner, turn on the loudspeaker, and you’ll draw a crowd. For the first couple of days, let people try free samples. Anyone who tries them will almost certainly buy some. We’ll focus on building a reputation first."

Zhang Dong had no doubt about that. After all, he had tried the peaches himself and knew just how delicious they were.

After taking the items, he looked at Zhang Lin with heartfelt gratitude. "Man, thank you!"

"Don’t get all sentimental. I’ll stick with you today, but starting tomorrow, you’re on your own." As he spoke, Zhang Lin switched on the loudspeaker in Zhang Dong’s hand, and a pre-recorded message blared out: "Come one, come all, don’t miss out! Li Yuan Farm’s new variety of honey peach, developed with a huge investment, is now on a special promotional sale..."

Zhang Dong hurriedly set up the advertising banner in the most conspicuous spot. He also took out the payment QR code he had printed, along with the plastic bags and the electronic scale, and got everything arranged.

"Liu De, take my scooter back to the farm for now. Keep leading the others in developing the rapeseed field," Zhang Lin instructed Liu De.

The main reason he’d brought Liu De today was so he could learn the way to North District Square. There was no need to waste a hand here.

"Yes, boss!" Liu De took the keys, hopped on the scooter, and was gone in a flash.

The loudspeaker hadn’t been on for long when a young woman hurried over. "They’re selling Li Yuan Farm’s honey peaches here too? I thought they were only sold at the South Market!"

Apparently, she had bought their honey peaches at the South Market before, which meant Li Yuan Farm was indeed starting to build a reputation in You City.

Zhang Dong was quick on the uptake. Hearing this, he immediately started his sales pitch: "That’s right, ma’am! I’m one of the distributors, and I’ll be selling here at North District Square from now on. I hope you’ll become a regular customer."

The young woman smiled brightly. "Li Yuan Farm’s peaches are delicious, and the North District is much closer to my home. I’ll definitely buy from you. Give me five pounds to start!"

Zhang Dong quickly grabbed a bag, weighed out five pounds of peaches, and handed them to her.

After taking the peaches, the woman scanned the code and paid 150 yuan.

After the payment came through on WeChat, Zhang Dong happily flashed a victory sign at Zhang Lin. "We’re off to a great start!"

Although 150 yuan wasn’t a huge amount, it clearly filled him with motivation.

Zhang Lin smiled at the sight and continued to watch from the side. Judging by how he handled the first customer, Zhang Dong was quite adept at this.

This was proven again when a few more passersby were drawn over.

Zhang Dong greeted them with a huge smile, explaining the product and washing a few peaches for them to sample as he spoke.

’This is how you have to be to sell things, completely uninhibited.’ ℯℯ𝑙.

After trying the honey peaches produced by the ’game,’ it was as if they had discovered a new world. They simply had to buy some of these delicious peaches they had never tasted before.

In just a few moments, he sold another 30-plus pounds.

By the time noon approached, Zhang Dong had already sold half of the 500 pounds of honey peaches.

The more he sold, the more energized Zhang Dong became.

Neither of them went home for lunch, simply ordering some chicken drumstick rice. After they finished eating, Zhang Lin borrowed Zhang Dong’s scooter and headed back to the farm.

’He had important business to attend to.’

’He had set aside a few portions of honey peaches and Sunshine Rose grapes that morning. He needed to go visit some of his creditors.’

’In the morning, everyone would be at work, so they might not be home. But they would almost certainly be home around noon.’

’He chose to go after lunch to avoid inconveniencing them.’

’Otherwise, since these creditors were all relatives and friends, if he went during mealtime, they would insist he stay to eat, which would trouble them to cook a big meal.’

After arriving at the farm and loading the honey peaches and Sunshine Rose grapes onto his scooter, he immediately headed for Cuiwei District.

His uncle lived in this residential area.

His uncle was the person his father owed the most money to—a full 150,000 yuan.

Carrying a portion of honey peaches and Sunshine Rose grapes, he knocked on his uncle’s door. A young man opened it, his face filled with surprise upon seeing him. "Lin, it’s you!"

"Zhao, sorry for showing up unannounced," Zhang Lin quickly greeted him.

His cousin, Zhang Zhao, was two years older than him and was already a team lead at the local police station. When they were kids, he and Zhang Dong had always tagged along after Zhang Zhao.

"Dad, Lin is here," Zhang Zhao called into the apartment as he welcomed Zhang Lin inside.

As Zhang Lin stepped inside, he saw his uncle, Zhang He, emerge from the kitchen wearing an apron.

His uncle was famous for doting on his wife; he couldn’t bear to let her cook, do laundry, mop the floor, or wash the dishes.

You could say his aunt was the envy of all the other wives in the village.

Often, his uncle would get grief from the other men in the village for this. They’d complain that at his age, he was still "raising the bar" for all the other husbands.

"Lin, why didn’t you come earlier? We just finished eating!" Zhang He said as he came out and had Zhang Lin sit down. "And another thing, just having you visit is enough to make your uncle happy. Don’t bring gifts next time!"

Zhang Lin quickly put down the honey peaches and Sunshine Rose grapes, explaining, "Uncle, this is fruit from my own wholesale business. I brought some over for you to try. The business is doing pretty well."

Hearing this, Zhang He exchanged a look with his son. Both of them clearly understood the purpose of Zhang Lin’s visit: to put their minds at ease.

He sighed and patted Zhang Lin’s shoulder. "You’re a good kid, but why do you have to be so sensible? Your uncle never said you had to pay me back. When you have money, you should focus on getting married first. Put your mother’s mind at ease."

Zhang Lin didn’t know what to say. An irrepressible warmth flowed through his heart. His uncle truly cared about him.

Fighting back the stinging in his eyes, he quickly said, "Uncle, please try the fruit from my business. It’s really delicious."

"Well then, I’ll definitely have to try it!" Zhang He nodded, immediately taking a few peaches and a cluster of Sunshine Rose grapes into the kitchen to wash. He then returned with them in a large bowl.

He picked up a honey peach and took a bite. But after just one bite, his eyes lit up. He picked up the bowl and hurried toward one of the rooms. "Honey, stop what you’re doing! You have to try the honey peaches Lin brought. They’re amazing! I guarantee you’ve never had anything like them."