With yesterday's experience, Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi were even more familiar with transporting a 1,000-jin watermelon. They paid Li Ergou the money for his 500-jin watermelons first to show their integrity before finally managing to transport the 1,000-jin watermelon to the small inn with great effort. The weather was scorching hot for a whole week which helped sales as they could earn a net profit of 12 yuan per sliced watermelon sold. Even if someone bought individual watermelons at one yuan per jin, after deducting costs they could still make a net profit of six yuan. With these hundred watermelons, Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi had already earned over 7,000 yuan in just one week.
There aren't many businesses that can make such profits like this! Especially at night when business was booming so much that Tang Ziyu didn't even go to evening self-study but instead helped them out.
During lunch break while eating fried noodles from a box, Zhang Xixi excitedly said: "Jia Ge (older brother), I think we should use this capital to start our own shop now."
Jia Simiao smiled and replied: "Almost there; once we rent the store then I'll give you another surprise."
These past few days have been full of surprises for her thanks to Jia Simiao's guidance on doing business. She is no longer like she used to be - only knowing how to sit around buying trinkets - it would not be an exaggeration to say that she has undergone an earth-shattering transformation.
However, Jia Simiao was thinking about something else entirely as he received notice from the demolition office again requiring him to visit tomorrow. It seemed he had no choice but go see what kind of methods those people might have up their sleeves.
Tang Ziyu laughed and said: "After we finish today's work, let's go find a store."
At this moment, He Runxi walked over and smiled: "Miss Zhang, your business has been really booming lately. How much did you earn today?"
Zhang Xixi patted her bulging wallet and grinned: "Not bad, not bad."
He Runxi handed Jia Simiao a cigarette and chuckled: "Jia brother, I want to discuss something with you."
Jia Simiao calmly replied: "Please speak your mind Mr. He."
"The current business is not easy to do; we use commercial electricity which costs one yuan per degree. You guys also set up an icebox in front of our flower shop which blocks some of my sales. If things continue like this how can we survive?"
Jia Simiao narrowed his eyes into slits as he smiled back at him saying: "Mr. He, it's not like we just met each other yesterday; if there is anything on your mind then please say it directly."
"You only pay me 20 yuan for electricity every day which is too little - 100 yuan would be more appropriate."
"100 yuan?" Before Jia Simiao could even respond, Zhang Xixi had already jumped forward shouting out loud: "You might as well rob us! Even if the icebox uses a lot of electricity it still wouldn't cost 100 yuan per day right?"
He Runxi retorted back saying:"This isn't just about the store anymore; you've blocked off many of our sales so shouldn't you compensate us for these losses? You make so much money every day that paying 100 yuan should be nothing.
It's obvious that it's extortion and bullying, so what? Zhang Xixi has learned another trick. She was about to say something when Jia Simiao took out 100 yuan and handed it to He Runxi with a smile, saying: "Yes, we should give it." He Runxi laughed and said, "Okay, you guys continue." Zhang Xixi shouted: "Jia Ge, how can you give him 100 yuan? This is not a matter of money or not. He is obviously bullying us." Jia Simiao smiled lightly and said: "The heart of man is insatiable. Do you understand what I mean? He didn't come for this hundred dollars at all. Instead he deliberately asked for a high price to drive us away. And as for him? It's worth hiring people to sell ice watermelons here under our name." Tang Ziyu asked: "Then why did you still give him 100 yuan?" Zhang Xixi pointed at Jia Simiao and giggled: "Jia Ge, you are really bad! Are you trying to deceive him? If I'm not mistaken, do you have your eye on his shop?" He Runxi's flower shop had a good location just next to the South Jiang Medical University. Otherwise, Jia Simiao would not have chosen this location in the first place to set up his stall. Originally he didn't want to occupy He Runxi's shop but since he was unkind then don't blame him for being unjustified.
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People who treat me well will be treated even better by me.
Those who treat me badly will be treated worse by me.
This has always been Jia Simiao’s principle of life.
Giving one hundred yuan was also meant as a test of his character so let it go now. Zhang Xixi and Tang Ziyu were silent until nine o'clock in the evening when all the watermelons were sold out. Jia Simiao and his group were packing up their stall when He Runxi came over again.
The atmosphere was a bit strange and somewhat awkward.
Jia Simiao went up to him, handed him a cigarette, and smiled: "Boss He, have one." He Runxi sighed: "Ah, Brother Jia, I'm really sorry. My wife doesn't want you guys making noise here anymore so she won't let me connect your electricity..." Jia Simiao said: "Tell your sister-in-law that we can pay more money. Xixi, give me 500 yuan.
Five hundred? Zhang Xixi was not happy, but she still took out five hundred yuan and handed it to Jia Simiao. Jia Simiao made a strange gesture, rubbing the money in his hand until it was flat and then handed it to He Runxi with a slightly pleading tone: 'Boss He, my girlfriend and I are working hard here. Please use this money to buy something for your wife. In the future, we will give you 500 yuan every day. What do you think?'
'500 yuan per day?' This surprised both Zhang Xixi and Tang Ziyu, while He Runxi smiled happily at the thought of earning 15 thousand in one month from this deal. It seemed that these inexperienced young men were easy targets after all.
Suppressing his excitement, He Runxi said generously: 'Brother Jia, don't worry about it. I'll talk to my wife when I get home tonight; if she doesn't agree with me on this matter then I'll have no choice but to divorce her.'
'Thank you so much,' replied Jia Simiao as he passed a note over to He Runxi along with some nonsensical words: 'If there's anything you can't solve just give me a call; I'll be there whenever you need me.'
'Okay,' laughed He Runxi. 'I really consider you as my brother now.'
But how could brothers cut off each other's limbs? Jia Simiao smiled and exchanged glances with Zhang Xixi and Tang Ziyu before they packed up their stall together - moving everything including the fridge, chairs and parasols into their hotel room.
Sitting on the bed afterwards with her arms crossed tightly across her chest, Zhang Xixi pouted angrily: 'Jia Ge (brother), why did you give him five hundred yuan? We've already given him six hundred today. How much have we earned? It's so frustrating.'
Jia Simiao smiled and said: 'What's the rush? Have you heard that song before? If someone eats my food, they should spit it back out; if they take something of mine, they should return it to me. What belongs to us can't be taken away.'
'I just feel so unfair,' Zhang Xixi replied.
Tang Ziyu laughed and said: 'Xixi, if you're unhappy then Jia Ge must be happy. Do you think someone like him would willingly suffer a loss?'
Zhang Xixi nodded repeatedly: 'He only knows how to take advantage of others; he'll never suffer a loss.'
'Then there's nothing more to say,' Tang Ziyu concluded. 'I'm sure Jia Ge already has a plan in mind by now.'
'Really?' Zhang Xixi asked eagerly. 'Jia Ge, please don't keep us guessing.'
Jia Simiao stretched lazily and smiled, "Alright, don't ask anymore. You'll know tomorrow. Xixi, tell Er Gouzi later that we won't go to the melon field tomorrow. We're waiting to take over the flower shop."
Zhang Xixi was a bit confused and asked, "What flower shop?"
Tang Ziyu laughed and poked Zhang Xixi excitedly, "Which other store could it be? Of course it's He Pangzi's flower shop."
"What?"
Having a store has always been Zhang Xixi's dream. But would He Pangzi just give up his store like that? It seemed unlikely. However, since Tang Ziyu said so and Jia Simiao did not deny it either, she felt happy in her heart and exclaimed loudly: "Okay then! Tomorrow we'll take over the store!"
Jia Simiao told Zhang Xixi to sleep in properly at home as she had been tired these past few days. As for him? He had to go to the demolition office - what was going on exactly? Their ancestral home of Jia Family was a cultural relic; how could they just demolish it like that?
The three of them left the small hotel but didn't bother taking a taxi since walking around on such nice weather wasn't too bad.
Hiss! A motorcycle stopped beside them with Shen Junao wearing police uniform getting off while removing her helmet revealing long black hair which immediately fluttered about making Jia Simiao's heart skip a beat - this woman is truly amazing! If she were wearing stockings along with high heels under her uniform...how tempting would that be?! Definitely more stimulating than those Japanese AV movies!
Without hesitation, Jia Simiao decided he'd keep one DVD copy of this scene in high definition version hidden under his pillow every night after watching it.
Shen Junao laughed, "What? From the looks of it, you guys have had a good day today."
Zhang Xixi proudly replied, "Just wait and see. We'll have an even bigger harvest tomorrow."
Shen Junao asked, "What happened?"
"Let's go home? I'm so tired that my eyes can't stay open," Jia Simiao yawned. He couldn't let Shen Junao know about this kind of thing - she was a police officer who hated evil like poison and he didn't want to cause her any trouble. Some things were better done behind closed doors; it wasn't that he hadn't given He Pangzi a chance but rather that He Pangzi himself was too greedy.
Robbing the rich to help the poor was what Jia Simiao wanted to do most.