Translator: Lonelytree
Xiao Lingyu studied the fruit trees in the farming space. As soon as the seedlings were planted, the branches grew thicker and wider. Before long, they grew from small seedlings to small trees. However, the growth stopped there. After waiting for a while, Xiao Lingyu exited the space. It was already late at night. She went to sleep.
The next day, she woke up at 5:30 am. She heard movement outside the house. It sounded like two men, so it frightened her. She walked to the yard and shouted through the iron gate. “Who is it? Who is outside?!”
“Miss Xiao, it’s us, Gu Ziye and Wang Zhimin!” The voices answered.
Xiao Lingyu’s heart was relieved. She said, “Oh, it’s President Gu and Manager Wang. Please wait a minute!”
“Okay!” Gu Ziye replied. Xiao Lingyu immediately ran to the warehouse and released all the vegetables that she promised the Gu Family Hotel. Then, she ran back to open the gate.
Xiao Lingyu smiled. “President Gu, Manager Wang, you’re so early. The sun is not even up yet.”
Gu Ziye said, “I was too excited to sleep. So I decided to come early.”
Wang Zhimin yawned and said, “Miss Xiao, you have no idea, but President Gu woke me up at four o’clock, and we have been waiting outside your house ever since.”
Xiao Lingyu was a little surprised, “You came at four o’clock? Doesn’t that mean you’ve been waiting for more than an hour already?”
“You’re right.” Wang Zhimin said, “And it’s mosquito season. I’ve been standing there feeding them for more than an hour already.”
Gu Ziye said a little embarrassedly, “I was worried that the vegetables would be sold out, so I had to come early just in case.”
Xiao Lingyu was a little speechless. She said, “President Gu, do you not trust me? I promised you 300 catties, so that is what I’ll give you. I will not lie to you.”
Gu Ziye touched his head in embarrassment, “Miss Xiao, it’s not that we don’t trust you. I don’t trust my competitor. He is a despicable person. He will resort to anything to snatch people’s business. You’re a very good supplier, so I can’t afford to lose you to him!” Gu Ziye paused and added, “Miss Xiao, can we sign the contract now? Don’t worry. I will not take advantage of you.” Without the contract, Gu Ziye was very insecure. He wanted to get the contract with Xiao Lingyu as soon as possible.
Xiao Lingyu shook her head, “President Gu, it’s not that I don’t want to sign the contract with you, but currently, there are too many things on my mind I haven’t figured out.”
Gu Ziye frowned and asked hesitantly, “Miss Xiao, if you don’t mind me asking, what are those things? Perhaps I can help you.”
Since the cooperation with Gu Ziye was on the way, Xiao Lingyu felt she owed him an explanation. “I plan to open a vegetable and fruit shop. I’m looking for a storefront to rent.”
“Oh?” Gu Ziye didn’t expect this. “Miss Xiao, you have more vegetables to sell? If so, the Gu Family will buy all of them from you. Sell them to me.”
Xiao Lingyu said, “President Gu, I don’t have the stock now. But I will have more after a month. I can increase the supply to the Gu Family Hotel then. That’s why I hope to sign the contract after one month.”
“But why one month?” Gu Ziye was confused.
Xiao Lingyu said with a smile, “Because my farm will need about a month before the vegetables can be harvested!”
“Miss Xiao, you are growing these vegetables yourself?” Gu Ziye was shocked.
“Yes!” Xiao Lingyu said, “So, President Gu, you’ll not be the only one I’ll work with. I can’t provide my supply exclusively to you.”
Gu Ziye and Wang Zhimin were anxious when they heard that. This meant that Xiao Lingyu might also work with the Yi Family Hotel, and they’d be fighting again. What should they do?
They couldn’t ask Xiao Lingyu to supply them only. That was unreasonable. Gu Ziye didn’t know what to say.
Other than promising a constant supply of her crops to the Gu Family Hotel, Xiao Lingyu couldn’t go further than that. As a businesswoman, she had to put profits first. Xiao Lingyu had heard about the competition between the Gu Family Hotel and Yi Family Hotel. However, that was between the two families. What did it have to do with her?
Xiao Lingyu thought about it and said, “President Gu, I can only promise that I will provide an exclusive supply to the Gu Family Hotel for this one month. After that, I can’t tell what will happen myself.” That was the biggest favor Xiao Lingyu could give Gu Ziye.
Gu Ziye calculated in his mind. ‘One month? That should be enough. One month is enough for the hotel to bring back its clientele base. By then, we will have a fixed number of clients. Furthermore, Xiao Lingyu will still be providing us with her supply after one month. We would have reestablished ourselves by then. We might not have exclusivity anymore, but we have a headstart to perfecting the recipes with Xiao Lingyu’s ingredients.’
Gu Ziye smiled. “Miss Xiao, thank you!”
“It seems that President Gu has finally stopped worrying.” Xiao Lingyu commented with a smile.
Gu Ziye rubbed his head in embarrassment and said, “The Yi Family Hotel has been giving me a hard time for the past few months. I am so lucky for meeting Miss Xiao. I really don’t know how to thank Miss Xiao for this opportunity.”
Wang Zhimin was still too confused, but it was not his place to interrupt anyway.
Xiao Lingyu smiled, “President Gu, perhaps this is fate.”
“Yes, fate!” Gu Ziye nodded.
Xiao Lingyu turned to the boxes of crops in the warehouse. “There are many small boxes. The tomato boxes have 50 tomatoes each; the eggplant boxes have 40 eggplants each; the cucumber boxes have 40 cucumbers each; the cole and spinach boxes have 20 catties each…” Xiao Lingyu explained. “I promised you 300 catties of vegetables. You can pick any type you want and weigh them on the way out!”
Gu Ziye remembered that the 100 catties of vegetables disappeared in an instant yesterday. Even though their business was slipping, the Gu Family Hotel was still a famous hotel in Xing Yin County. They had a larger clientele than normal hotels. After yesterday’s breakfast, there was a larger dinner crowd. And theoretically, there would be an even bigger crowd today.
Gu Ziye knew he had to ride on this wave and continue the promotion. 300 catties of vegetables should be enough.
Gu Ziye and Wang Zhimin made their selection. They grabbed 300 catties.
Since they were buying in bulk, Xiao Lingyu sold them the tomatoes, eggplants, and cucumbers in boxes. She didn’t sell them individually like she would normal customers. Xiao Lingyu even threw in some extra crops. She gave them 20 extra tomatoes and 10 extra eggplants and cucumbers.
Gu Ziye thought of the boy from yesterday, and she asked, “Miss Xiao, can you sell me more of those tomatoes?” They had taken 70 tomatoes, but Gu Ziye still thought it wasn’t enough.
Xiao Lingyu thought and said, “Okay, I’ll sell 30 more to you to make it a 100.”
“Thank you!” Gu Ziye said. Gu Ziye and Wang Zhimin put their purchase on the tricycle and left.
“Yu ‘Er!” At 6 am, Grandma Song and Grandma Li showed up on time. As they walked into the courtyard, the two grannies were surprised to see the two young men. Gu Ziye and Wang Zhimin nodded at the two elders.
“Grandma Song!” However, when he got a closer look, Gu Ziye gasped in surprise.
Grandma Song was equally surprised. “Wait, you’re the kid from the Gu Family!”
“Grandma Song, why are you here so early?” Gu Ziye asked.
Grandma Song said with a smile, “I’m here to buy vegetables from Miss Xiao.” Then, she noticed another tricycle and the purchasing manager of the Gu family hotel. She said, “Xiao Gu, are you here to buy vegetables too?”
Gu Ziye nodded. “Miss Xiao’s vegetables are too delicious. My clients like them, so I’m cooperating with Miss Xiao.”
Grandma Song nodded. “Miss Xiao’s products are indeed extraordinary. Xiao Gu, I need to tell you something. Miss Xiao is a good person with a kind heart. Grandma hopes that you treat her kindly in the cooperation, understand?” Grandma Song meant that Gu Ziye shouldn’t be too greedy and try to scam Xiao Lingyu. “Your Grandpa Song, and I like Miss Xiao a lot!” Grandma Song added. Xiao Lingyu had their support.
Gu Ziye wiped the sweat off his forehead and thought to himself, ‘Xiao Lingyu is smart and cunning. Who can deceive her? Besides, she has the support of Jiang Tao, the Chief of Xingyin County Police Station. Who would have the guts to scam her?’
Gu Ziye smiled, “Grandma Song, you watch me grow up. Do you think I would take advantage of people? Besides, Miss Xiao is very smart. If I try to lie to her, she can just stop selling me her crops. Then, I would have shot my own foot!”
Grandma Song nodded. “It’s good that you know that!”
Gu Ziye, “…” Am I that untrustworthy?
Xiao Lingyu, “….” Grandma Song is such a good person!