“You mean you want to source from me, one thousand glass jars at a price of seven cents each?”
The director of the glass factory was Luo Wei, a stern-looking middle-aged man.
But this was merely on the surface; inwardly, he was not at all stern, but rather easy to talk to.
In his previous life, Zhang Liunian had partnered with him to order glass bottles, so he knew what kind of person Luo Wei was.
“Yes, my business is just starting out, so the order won’t be very large, but once I get going, ten thousand bottles a month will definitely be achievable.”
To show his sincerity, Zhang Liunian deliberately revealed his future prospects.
Luo Wei, however, was thinking why he would quote such a low price right off the bat. It seemed this young man had done his homework.
“What are you making?”
Luo Wei was merely curious, not intending to pry into his business.
“I plan to make sauces,” Zhang Liunian glanced around Luo Wei’s home, which was just as he remembered it, unchanged.
“We don’t have any food factories in Nancheng that produce sauces, so it’s indeed worth a try.” Seeing Zhang Liunian’s openness, Luo Wei felt a sense of goodwill and subconsciously started thinking about the market for him.
“Even if there were, it wouldn’t matter. What I make is different from theirs. I’ll send some for Director Luo to try when the time comes,” Zhang Liunian replied, crossing his arms.
Luo Wei neither answered nor refused, but instead grew curious about how Zhang Liunian knew where he lived.
“How did you know I live here?”
Only two people at the factory knew his residence; no one else did.
When Zhang Liunian had introduced himself earlier, he said he was from a village in the county. Luo Wei’s suspicion was aroused that he might have been introduced by someone from the factory.
“I was lucky. I just asked around and found it.”
Luo Wei did not believe Zhang Liunian’s explanation, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he chose to return to the main topic of cooperation.
“I agree to this cooperation. Let me know when you can come to the factory tomorrow, and we can finalize the order and payment,” Luo Wei, as the director of the glass factory, generally did not refuse cooperation opportunities that came his way.
After all, his glass was sold to anyone; it was just a slight reduction in price.
But if Zhang Liunian’s volume truly took off, the price would be quite considerable.
“I might not be able to reach your factory until six in the afternoon. Will that be convenient for you?” Zhang Liunian planned to come to Nancheng only when he delivered goods tomorrow, and he had to deliver the goods to the food factory first.
Luo Wei’s expression faltered slightly. Six in the afternoon was right around their quitting time.
“Can it be earlier?” Luo Wei furrowed his brow.
“How about 5:50 PM?”
“…Just ten minutes earlier? Luo Wei didn’t understand how this villager seemed busier than him. “You seem quite busy.”
Zhang Liunian gave an awkward smile. “I have to deliver goods to the Nancheng Food Factory in the afternoon, so the earliest I can arrive is between 5:40 PM and 6:00 PM.”
Luo Wei understood, and then his expression shifted. “You have a cooperative relationship with the food factory?” No wonder he quoted such a low price right away.
“Yes, a bit of cooperation.” Zhang Liunian smiled faintly, not wanting to elaborate.
Luo Wei did not inquire further this time. “Alright, I’ll be waiting for you at the factory tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Director Luo.” Seeing Luo Wei agree, Zhang Liunian felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders. He then rose and bid Luo Wei farewell.
After returning to the county town smoothly, just as Zhang Liunian and Zhang Qian were about to leave, they heard Du Ziteng’s voice calling from the roadside.
“Brother Liunian.” Du Ziteng’s voice sounded a bit off. Zhang Liunian looked over and saw him sitting under the shade of a tree by the roadside with a face like a swollen pig’s.
“Xiao Qian, stop the tractor.” Seeing this, Zhang Liunian asked Zhang Qian, who was operating the tractor, to stop and then jumped off to walk towards Du Ziteng.
As Zhang Liunian approached, Du Ziteng felt he had a thousand words to say, but they all got stuck in his throat. In the end, he managed to blurt out, “Brother Liunian, I will never associate with them as brothers again. I, Du Ziteng, only have you as my elder brother.”
It seemed he had fallen out with the ‘Black and White Killing’ duo. After all, his former good brothers had kidnapped him; what camaraderie was left?
“I don’t want to be an elder brother; I only want to be a boss. And you are the free labor your Uncle Du gifted me,” Zhang Liunian said, dousing Du Ziteng’s sentimentality with a splash of cold water.
Du Ziteng was speechless but then approached him fawningly, “Anyway, I, Du Ziteng, recognize no one but Brother Liunian.”
These words were a declaration of loyalty. Zhang Liunian remained noncommittal and simply said, “Get on, let’s go home for the celebratory meal.” He then got onto the tractor without looking back.
Du Ziteng happily followed, sitting beside Zhang Liunian like a well-behaved subordinate.
If one ignored his utterly unrecognizable face.
Meanwhile, in Wu Family Village, Wu Gudi, having finished her farm work and washing clothes at home, saw a fierce and elderly man at her house.
The man seemed satisfied upon seeing Wu Gudi, handed the money to Wu’s mother, and left.
After seeing the old man off, Wu’s mother spoke to Wu Gudi, who was already starting to cook, explaining that the old man had come to propose.
Ever since Wu Gudi returned to her maiden home, Wu’s mother had started looking for a new wealthy target the very next day. The old man who had just left was the new ‘fat sheep.’
Wu Gudi was shocked. She had only been home for three days, and her mother was already planning to sell her off to the old man.
Was it because she hadn’t done enough work, or eaten too little, that this was happening?
Besides, that old man was ugly and fierce, not at all as good-looking as Zhang Liushui.
“Mom, don’t force me. I will absolutely not marry him.” Wu Gudi spoke up to her mother, a rare refusal.
However, Wu’s mother knew her daughter’s thoughts well, understanding that she hadn’t given up hope yet and still wanted to return. She brought up their precious son, saying, “Gudi, your brother is not young anymore; it’s time for him to get married. You know our family’s situation; we have no money. If you don’t marry, your brother will never find a wife and will remain a bachelor. Surely you don’t want to see your brother have no descendants?”
“… ” Wu Gudi, being a devoted sister, immediately became hesitant upon hearing about her brother’s lifelong marriage prospects.
But thinking of the old man she had just seen, and also of the good-looking Zhang Liushui, she began to waver.
Her brother’s marriage was a big matter, and as an elder sister, she had to raise money for him.
However, she felt there was no need for her to marry that old man. The family was poor, but Zhang Liunian had money! He was her brother-in-law; asking him for a few hundred yuan wouldn’t be a problem.
Even if Zhang Liunian refused, Zhang Liushui’s salary would be enough.
“Mom, the old man is only offering five hundred yuan, and you want me to marry him? Isn’t that a bad deal?
If I could continue to be with Liushui, I could earn more than that for you in a year. Over the years, it could be more than five hundred yuan, possibly even five thousand.
Also, don’t you know how much money my brother-in-law makes as a self-employed businessman? He’s even paying Liushui fifty yuan a month now. Getting five hundred yuan wouldn’t be difficult for him at all!”