Chapter 287: Breaking the Million Mark (Part 1) - Requesting Subscriptions

Chapter 287: Breaking the Million Mark (Part 1) - Requesting Subscriptions

It was the seventh month of the lunar calendar.

On the train from Nanning to the capital, Deng Shirong leaned his head against the window, closing his eyes to rest. His mind was preoccupied with the fruit sales. This year marked the third time he had used his system space to transport fruit to the capital, and he planned to continue for a couple more years before calling it quits.

He wasn't worried about being caught. After all, the few dozen tons he transported were unlikely to attract any attention. Even if someone with too much time on their hands decided to investigate, what could they really find? The transport records for land, sea, and air were all nonexistent, making it seem as if the dozens of tons of longans had appeared out of thin air. No one in their right mind would suspect a system space, so the investigators would only conclude that the force behind the longan transport was far more powerful than they could handle.

As for staking out the warehouse instead of checking transport records?

That was even more absurd. Deng Shirong himself didn't know which warehouse he would rent, so who could have such foresight?

Therefore, before the era of surveillance, his small-scale transport method was quite safe.

However, he couldn't openly discuss this kind of business. Even if no one investigated or found anything, Deng Shirong planned to stop while he was ahead. If he continued in the future, it would be through a method that wouldn't attract any attention, such as selling fruits like lychees, longans, watermelons, and pineapples in the major cities of Guangdong.

Although this wouldn't be as profitable as selling in the capital, where the price differences were significant, it was a safer and more stable approach. After all, these fruits were already produced in Guangdong, and during the fruit season, countless trucks transported them from various regions.

In such a scenario, who would bother to investigate him?

However, he needed to wait until his financial situation improved. Right now, he was still a bit tight. In two years, the loan from the credit union would be due, and his eldest son's chain supermarket would require a substantial investment. Therefore, he needed to make more money over the next couple of years.

To earn more, relying solely on the 60 tons of longans wouldn't be enough. Fortunately, his system space still contained 1,206 tons of pineapples. If he could sell all of them, he would make a substantial profit.

Deng Shirong already had a plan for selling the pineapples.

First, he would release a portion in the capital market. He also planned to distribute them in major cities like Tianjin, Harbin, Shenyang, Changchun, Dalian, Jinan, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Wuhan, Nanjing, and Shanghai.

In the end, he would adjust the distribution based on sales performance, increasing the supply in cities with strong demand and reducing it in those with weaker sales.

With the massive purchasing power of these cities, selling 1,206 tons of pineapples was just a matter of time.

As Deng Shirong leaned against the window, lost in thought, the train stopped at Guilin Station. Some passengers got off, and others boarded.

A few minutes later, a girl who looked to be around eighteen or nineteen years old boarded the train and sat next to Deng Shirong.

She wore a patched-up dress and carried a small, battered bag, which likely contained only a couple of changes of clothes. It was clear she came from a poor family.

The girl hugged her bag and looked worried, clearly facing some insurmountable difficulty.

"Girl, are you having trouble?" asked a middle-aged woman sitting across from her.

The woman appeared to be in her forties, with a mole the size of a soybean above her left eyebrow. She had a kind face.

The young girl didn't respond, only nodding silently.

The woman spoke warmly, "Girl, seeing you reminds me of my own daughter. Tell me what's troubling you, and I'll see if I can help."

The young girl opened her mouth to speak but then closed it, shaking her head at the woman.

The woman's expression became even more gentle. "Girl, everyone faces difficulties when they're away from home."

"That's right," chimed in a middle-aged man sitting across from Deng Shirong. "They say one relies on parents at home and friends on the road. Tell us what's wrong, little girl. Even if we can't help, we can at least offer advice, which is better than keeping it all inside."

The man and the woman seemed to be a couple.

The train had already started moving. Encouraged by the couple, the young girl's demeanor softened, and she spoke with a worried expression, "Uncle, aunt, my money was stolen!"

The woman immediately cursed, "Those damn thieves, they're no good, stealing from a young girl like you."

The man also cursed, then asked, "Girl, are you from Guilin? Where are you headed?"

The young girl nodded. "I'm from Guilin, and I'm going to Wuhan to stay with relatives."

Under the couple's questioning, the young girl recounted her situation in detail.

In simple terms, this young woman, who goes by the name Yan, lost her mother at a very young age. Not even two years after her mother’s passing, her father remarried, bringing a stepmother into their lives. From the very beginning, this stepmother treated her poorly, often beating and verbally abusing her.

Things only got worse when the stepmother had her own child, treating Yan like a servant, making her do all the hard labor.

What hurt Yan the most was her father’s indifference to her plight. He never spoke a word in her defense, turning a blind eye to the abuse she endured.

In this house, she felt no warmth, no love. If it were just that, she might have endured it, especially since she was now an adult and wouldn’t have to stay with them much longer. Once she was married, she could escape her cold-hearted father and the cruel stepmother.

The reason she used such harsh words to describe them was because she overheard her stepmother and father discussing plans to sell her to a remote mountain village for a mere thousand yuan.

When she heard what they were planning, she was stunned. If they were just looking for a suitable match for her, no matter how much dowry they demanded, she would have had no choice but to accept it. But they weren’t looking for a husband; they were selling her for a few hundred dollars to a remote and impoverished area.

Terrified, she packed her few belongings overnight and, when they weren’t paying attention, she took the small amount of money she had saved over the years and fled from the home that had become a nightmare.

However, her luck didn’t improve. At the train station, after buying her ticket, the little money she had left was stolen, leaving her in a dire situation.

As she recounted her story, the young woman’s voice was filled with tears and sorrow, recounting her struggles from childhood to the present.

The aunt, hearing her story, was filled with righteous anger and cursed, "Your stepmother is wicked, and your father is no better! How can anyone treat their own daughter like that?"

The uncle also chimed in, "Yes, to sell your own daughter is despicable!"

With the understanding and emotional support of the uncle and aunt, Yan’s spirits lifted, though the worry in her eyes hadn’t completely faded. She looked at them with a sense of attachment, as if they were already her family.

While they were talking, Deng Shirong leaned against the window, seemingly asleep.

In reality, he was using the perspective provided by his system to observe the subtle changes in their expressions. He noticed something off about the three of them.

First, the uncle and aunt, despite their well-concealed expressions and their seemingly kind and helpful demeanor, had a glint in their eyes that didn’t escape Deng Shirong’s notice. He knew they were not as simple as they appeared.

Moreover, they were being overly enthusiastic. While it was true that there were good Samaritans in the world, it was rare for strangers to offer such immediate and eager assistance to someone they had just met, especially when they saw her looking troubled upon boarding the train.

Unless they had ulterior motives!

Therefore, Deng Shirong was almost certain that the uncle and aunt were likely human traffickers.

Of course, it wasn’t just the uncle and aunt who seemed suspicious. The young woman, while appearing normal, also didn’t seem entirely genuine when viewed through the system’s perspective.

First, she was lying! The money she claimed was stolen wasn’t actually gone, and she had more than the small amount she had mentioned—over two hundred yuan. This cast doubt on the authenticity of her story.

So, the question remained: What was her true purpose in fabricating such a story?

Was it to gain sympathy and perhaps some money, or did she have other motives?

Deng Shirong couldn’t determine the answer yet.

He couldn’t even tell if the young woman was a good person or a bad one.

But one thing was clear: this young woman was not someone to be underestimated.

At the moment, both sides were engaged in a battle of acting. The young woman seemed to be the more skilled performer, and the uncle and aunt, believing they had gained her trust, were systematically guiding her into their trap.

She appeared to trust them completely, following their lead.

If she were a naive young woman on her first trip away from home, she might have been completely unaware of the danger. However, the occasional flash of intelligence in her eyes suggested that she was well aware of what was happening and had everything under control.

Deng Shirong found the situation increasingly intriguing, but he didn’t interfere. He continued to pretend to sleep.

After all, this was all just his speculation. He had no evidence that the uncle and aunt were human traffickers, and he didn’t know the young woman’s true background. In such a complex situation, the best he could do was stay out of it.

So, Deng Shirong slept throughout the journey.

After an unknown amount of time, the train arrived at Hengyang Station. The three of them, having reached a mutual understanding, got off the train early.

Just before they left, Deng Shirong, through his system’s perspective, saw the young woman glance at him for about two seconds. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, likely because she didn’t expect him to sleep so soundly.

Deng Shirong only opened his eyes after the three of them had already gotten off the car.

Looking out the window, he saw the middle-aged man and woman walking the young girl toward the exit, with two men trailing behind them. Deng Shirong's keen eyes immediately caught the two men following them.

Seeing this, Deng Shirong's heart stirred. If his guess was correct, those two men were likely part of the young girl's group. No wonder she dared to walk into the trap set by the middle-aged couple—this must have been her confidence!

Deng Shirong imagined a thrilling scenario, but he chuckled and shook his head. No matter how the story unfolded, he probably wouldn't know the outcome. After all, they were just chance acquaintances, and the likelihood of meeting again was slim.

But fate is unpredictable, and who knew if they would cross paths again?

...

Three days later.

Deng Shirong returned to the capital city for the third time. This time, he was well-prepared. He stayed overnight at a nearby siheyuan (traditional courtyard house) and then rented a temporary warehouse before heading to Ruyi Fresh Fruit Shop to meet Zhou Shengli, who was eagerly awaiting his arrival.

They greeted each other, and Zhou Shengli said with a broad smile, "Mr. Deng, I've been waiting for you. How many tons of longans do you have this year?"

Deng Shirong laughed and said, "A few hundred pounds less than last year, but the price will remain the same. Is that okay?"

Zhou Shengli was delighted. "Of course, no problem. And what about the sweet potatoes you mentioned last year? Have you brought them?"

Deng Shirong replied, "Once you've sold most of the longans, the sweet potatoes should be on their way."

Zhou Shengli nodded and asked, "Mr. Deng, what's the price for the sweet potatoes?"

Deng Shirong said, "The price we discussed earlier—70 cents per pound."

Zhou Shengli agreed. "Alright, let's start with 30 tons and see how the market reacts."

Deng Shirong took a sweet potato and a small packet of chili salt from his bag. "Mr. Zhou, sweet potatoes might be unfamiliar to many people in the capital. To help with sales, I can show you the most popular way to eat them. You can offer some samples to your customers to help them understand the taste."

Zhou Shengli's eyes lit up. "That's very thoughtful of you, Mr. Deng. So, the best way to eat them is with chili salt?"

Deng Shirong nodded. "Yes, that's the most classic way. First, peel the sweet potato and remove the inner spines. Cut it into pieces and soak them in salt water for about half an hour. This not only enhances the flavor but also prevents any adverse reactions from eating the sweet potatoes.

After soaking, rinse them with clean water, and then eat them with chili salt. The taste is truly exceptional.

Of course, if you don't like the salty flavor or can't handle the spiciness, you can eat them plain. You can try it yourself first to see if you like the chili salt."

Zhou Shengli, eager to try, said, "Alright, could you guide me through the process? I'll give it a try."

He picked up a fruit knife and began peeling the sweet potato. It's a quick process if you do it often, but for a first-timer, just removing the inner spines can take a while.

Luckily, Deng Shirong was there to offer guidance and even demonstrated the process, helping Zhou Shengli successfully peel the sweet potato.

Next, they rinsed the sweet potato, cut it into pieces, and soaked it in salt water.

After completing the process, Zhou Shengli sighed. "This is quite a bit of work to prepare."

Deng Shirong said, "That's why, when you start selling them, you should not only offer samples but also teach customers how to prepare them at home."

Zhou Shengli's eyes sparkled. "It's a bit of extra effort, but we're doing exclusive business. If the people in the capital accept the taste, we'll be making a fortune!"

Deng Shirong smiled confidently. "These sweet potatoes are sweet and tangy, and they'll definitely appeal to most people. Especially after soaking in salt water, they become even sweeter. For those who enjoy spicy food, the chili salt will make it hard to stop after the first bite."

As they waited, they chatted idly, and the half-hour passed quickly.

Deng Shirong said, "Mr. Zhou, you can try it now. First, taste a piece without the chili salt, then rinse it with water, and finally, try it with the chili salt. See which way you prefer."

Zhou Shengli nodded eagerly and put a piece in his mouth. At first, there was a light saltiness, but as he chewed, it turned into a sweet taste, with a hint of acidity. The texture was excellent.

Zhou Shengli praised, "This is really delicious. No wonder it's one of the four famous fruits of Lingnan. It truly lives up to its reputation!"

Deng Shirong smiled. "Try rinsing it with water and then using the chili salt. See which way you like better?"

Zhou Shengli nodded and followed the instructions. He rinsed the pineapple with plain water, sprinkled a thin layer of spicy salt over it, and then started chewing.

The tangy, sweet, and spicy flavors combined perfectly, just as Mr. Deng had described. The more Zhou Shengli tasted, the brighter his eyes shone. The pineapple's texture was even better than he had imagined. If he could get customers to try it, he was sure it would win them over. This market would be huge, even bigger than the longan market.

The price of pineapple was much more affordable, unlike the longan, which sold for over three yuan per kilogram.

Zhou Shengli said excitedly, "Mr. Deng, this pineapple with spicy salt is truly a delicacy! I'm very optimistic about this market. If we can sell these 30 tons of pineapple this year, we can start importing in large quantities next year once the market is fully established!"

Deng Shirong smiled and replied, "Let's focus on selling the longan first. The pineapple will take a few more days to arrive."

Zhou Shengli said confidently, "Don't worry, Mr. Deng. The longan sales won't be a problem. This is our third year selling them, and we've already built a loyal customer base. I expect this year's sales to be even faster than last year's!"

Deng Shirong nodded in agreement. Last year, despite the price increase, the longan sold better than the previous year. This year, with no further price hikes, the sales were expected to be even more robust.

They chatted for a while longer before Deng Shirong got up to leave, leaving the address of the temporary warehouse behind.

...

The next morning.

At the temporary warehouse Deng Shirong had rented.

Zhou Shengli, Wang Dagan, and Tian Chunzhi were chatting with Deng Shirong, while the others were busy weighing the longan in the warehouse.

In less than an hour, all the longan had been weighed, totaling 126,125 kilograms.

Zhou Shengli reported the total weight and asked, "Mr. Deng, is this weight correct?"

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "The weight is correct."

Zhou Shengli nodded and signaled the others to start loading the trucks. Then, the three of them took Deng Shirong aside to settle the payment.

The 126,125 kilograms of longan, priced at 2.28 yuan per kilogram, amounted to 287,565 yuan. Adding the cost of new bamboo baskets, 1,800 yuan, the total payment to Deng Shirong was 289,365 yuan.

Deng Shirong's total cost, including the bamboo baskets, was 38,000 yuan. After deducting miscellaneous expenses, he made a profit of about 251,000 yuan.

While this was less than last year, it was still a substantial income.

After counting the money, Deng Shirong said, "Mr. Zhou, Mr. Wang, and Ms. Tian, I wish you all a successful business. I have some other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now. I'll notify you when the pineapple arrives in a few days."

"Alright, Mr. Deng, you go ahead. We'll call you for a meal once we've sold all the longan."

...

Over the next few days, Deng Shirong visited his seven quadrangle courtyards as usual. He checked the doors and windows to ensure they were in good condition and also made sure no one was using these unoccupied courtyards as temporary hideouts.

He also kept an eye out for anyone who might be eyeing his properties.

Fortunately, everything was in order.

Meanwhile, as Deng Shirong inspected his courtyards, the residents of the capital city once again enjoyed their annual longan feast. Regular customers flocked to the stalls, buying longan for themselves and their families.

Families with modest incomes would buy a few kilograms to try, while those with better financial means would buy dozens of kilograms.

After all, it was now 1984, and many individual traders had made good money. The number of households with over ten thousand yuan in savings had increased by several dozen or even a hundredfold compared to a few years ago.

In short, people's purchasing power was much stronger than before.

As a result, the 60 tons of longan were sold out in just under four days.

On the day the longan sales were completed, Zhou Shengli, Wang Dagan, and Tian Chunzhi happily divided the profits.

The 126,125 kilograms of longan, with 125 kilograms set aside for their families, left 126,000 kilograms to be sold at 3.2 yuan per kilogram, totaling 403,200 yuan. After deducting the 289,365 yuan cost, the three of them made a profit of 113,835 yuan.

Of course, they still had to pay for the truck and labor, so the actual profit was around 113,000 yuan.

Zhou Shengli received 40% of the profit, which was 45,200 yuan.

Wang Dagan and Tian Chunzhi each received 30%, which was 33,900 yuan each.

Although they made slightly less than last year, they all smiled with delight. Earning so much in just under four days was truly the most profitable business they could imagine.

Moreover, they still had 30 tons of pineapple to sell, which would also bring in a significant income if they could sell it smoothly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end