Chapter Forty-Eight: A Handsome Profit

Hidden in the shadows, Xu Fei was observing the people coming and going from the restaurant when, at that moment, two familiar figures appeared at the entrance.

Zhang Lei glanced at the place.
“Why did they pick a restaurant like this?”
Chen Rong sneered, “People like them couldn’t afford to go somewhere like the Moonlit Tower.”
“That’s true,” Zhang Lei snorted, nodding.

The two of them walked inside.

“Chen Rong?”
Xu Fei immediately understood—this whole scheme to teach him a lesson was orchestrated by Zhang Lei for Chen Rong’s sake.
He hadn’t expected that just shoving her that day would cost him an arm.
This woman was truly ruthless.

Xu Fei took it all in stride and saw no reason to linger.
He turned and headed home.

...

The next day, Xu Fei rose early and went to the provisions store.
Shen Shuming had just arrived at his office. Seeing Xu Fei, he smiled and invited him to sit, then personally brewed him a cup of tea.

“Director Shen, how are the millet sales these days?”
“Not bad, but as you know, it’s not as popular as rice or sorghum.”

Xu Fei understood. He exchanged a few more pleasantries before leaving the store.
After chatting with Shen, Xu Fei felt reassured—the ten thousand jin of millet likely wouldn’t sell out before the weekend.
If he wanted to keep buying grain from Xiao Zhang’s side, he’d have to find another store.

He checked the time and decided to head to work first.

As soon as he entered the factory, people came up to greet him.
Everyone called him “Brother Xu”—people who usually never spoke to him.
Xu Fei was puzzled, but it wouldn’t do to pull someone aside and ask directly.

When he went into the workshop, even Zhang Dajun, who was always shouting at him, now kept his distance, deliberately avoiding him.

“Brother Liu, what’s going on?”
Old Liu grinned, “Isn’t this good? The whole factory knows about your duel with Peng Yu yesterday. And today you show up perfectly fine—doesn’t that say it all?”

Xu Fei nodded with a smile.
So that’s how it was.
He hadn’t expected that fight to win him a reputation.

Being feared by others was, in fact, a good thing.

Only Wang Guoqing seemed out of sorts since the morning.
All the tasks assigned to Xu Fei today were the hardest yet least profitable ones.

Only just before the end of the shift did Xu Fei finish his work—otherwise, he would have had to stay overtime.
After tidying up, Xu Fei had Old Liu accompany him to Zhang Mingyang’s house.
It was his first time visiting.

Xu Fei knocked on the door.

It was opened by a dignified old man with neatly slicked-back hair—a striking presence.
Xu Fei guessed this was Zhang Mingyang’s father, a retired official.

“And you are?”
“Uncle, I’m here to see Mingyang.”
“Zhang Mingyang’s out.”

Xu Fei nodded, about to leave.

“Come in and sit. He’ll be back soon.”

With the old leader’s invitation, Xu Fei dared not refuse. He nodded, smiled, and stepped into the courtyard.

Inside, he looked around. A jade stone path led straight to the main house, flanked by well-tended vegetable gardens, each about a third of an acre.
Everything was spotless and orderly.

“Uncle, do you take care of all this yourself?”
“Yes, I do. After retiring, I had to find something to do. By the way, where do you work?”

The old man led Xu Fei to a stone table in front of the house.

“I work at the Donghai Sugar Factory.”
“So you’re Xu Fei?”

Xu Fei was taken aback.
“Uncle, do you know me?”

The old man scrutinized Xu Fei for a moment, then nodded approvingly, “Not bad, young man. I’ve met many people in my life, and you strike me as someone destined for great things.”

“Uncle, can you read people’s fortunes?”

He laughed, “Nonsense, that’s just superstition. No, it’s all experience.”

He motioned for Xu Fei to sit while he went into the garden.

“By the way, how are the millet sales going with Zhang Mingyang?”

Xu Fei considered for a moment. Since he was here to see Zhang Mingyang about connecting with another provisions store, why not ask this former supply official directly?

“Uncle, our millet is selling very well. In fact, we’ve contributed to the city’s grain supply. I’m hoping to expand into new sales channels, so…”

The old man suddenly looked up at him. “What ambition you have.”

“No, no, uncle, I don’t dare claim so much. It’s just that millet piles up in the mountains while there’s a shortage in the city. I only want to…”

“No need to explain. You’re here to ask Zhang Mingyang to help you make some connections, aren’t you?”

Xu Fei nodded.

“I’ll help you with that.”

“Uncle, do you really mean it?”

He smiled, “Do I look like I’m lying?”

“I… I don’t understand. Why would you help me?”

“It’s simple. You mentioned the mountains—I came from there myself. I know how hard life is for those people.”

As he spoke, the old man gazed up at the sky, lost in memory.

“Thank you, uncle.”

“All right. I’ll write you a note—take it to Director Wang at the West City Provisions Store.”

He left the garden, and when he returned from the house, he had a note in hand.

“Here you go.”

Xu Fei accepted it with a grateful smile.
This was practically a pass—he could probably use it at any store, not just the one in the west.

But Xu Fei knew better than to take advantage.
One must not be greedy.
Enough is enough.

If he bought another round of millet from Xiao Zhang’s side, that would be sufficient. After all, it was a low-yield crop.
Securing stable sales at two stores was already a great success.

Last time, the four of them earned over twenty-five hundred yuan—more than six hundred each.
That was two years’ wages for each of them!

Xu Fei thanked the old man profusely.

The old man waved him off, “Go on, don’t waste any more time here.”

Xu Fei left the Zhang home with a smile, just as Zhang Mingyang returned.

“What are you so happy about? Come with me—I just bought some fish.”

Zhang Mingyang held up a carp.

“No need. I came to see you, but it’s all settled now…”

“What do you mean?”

Xu Fei recounted his conversation with Zhang Mingyang’s father.

“So you’ve already connected with my old man. I must say, I’m impressed. He’s a man of strict principles—what did you say to get him to help you?”

Xu Fei just smiled.

“Don’t just smile—tell me!”

Xu Fei nodded, “All right. Tomorrow night, I’ll treat you to dinner at Old Li’s place. Then I’ll share everything I’ve learned.”