As a regular customer of Xiang Banquet private restaurant, Ji Gaosheng happened to be dining there yesterday when the watermelon juice was launched as a new item on the menu.
However, he was only a guest that day, and the person who treated them to a meal even wanted to order a whole watermelon for Ji Gaosheng to bring home. In turn, Ji Gaosheng waved his hands and refused.
He reckoned that Huang Fang was already eating watermelon. She might even laugh at him for the watermelons that he had brought back home.
Upon returning home, Ji Gaosheng saw the elderly lady holding onto her mobile phone, wearing her presbyopic glasses, and eating some watermelons while seated on the couch. It was just like what he had expected.
“Mother, there’s a new variety of watermelon juice that’s launched in Xiang Banquet private restaurant. I thought that you had definitely already tried it before me.”
“That’s for sure. I ran into that manager of Xiang Banquet private restaurant when I was getting the goods. He still had to wait for me, your mother, to pick out the fruit I wanted before he could get his!”
Ji Gaosheng originally just wanted to cajole the elderly lady, but he did not expect her to have run into the manager of Xiang Banquet private restaurant.
“Is he the tall, thin, refined, and bespectacled young man?” Ji Gaosheng asked uncertainly.
“Yes, his name is Xu Yang. He’s also 29 years old this year, but he hasn’t found a partner yet. Several elderly ladies in our estate have a good impression of him. If it wasn’t for the fact that our family doesn’t have a suitable girl for him. No, if there is a suitable one, we would have to introduce her to Little Zhou first.” The elderly lady Huang Fang treated Zhou Kun as her own.
After hearing her mumbling, Ji Gaosheng finally believed her words.
“How much are the watermelons sold for at Xiang Banquet private restaurant?” the elderly lady asked, looking at Ji Gaosheng through her presbyopic glasses. She was obviously very interested in the topic.
“188 yuan per pitcher of watermelon juice. 399 yuan for a whole watermelon.”
“Wow, I didn’t know that kid Xu Yang is so black-hearted. He actually sold a 30-yuan watermelon for 399 yuan.”
“What? 30 yuan?”
Ji Gaosheng originally thought that the watermelon was about the same price as the honeydews that were launched previously. He didn’t expect the price difference to be that huge.
“I was the one who set it at 30 yuan per watermelon. Little Zhou initially wanted to price it at five yuan per 500 grams, but I don’t have the time to tabulate the money with him. Hence, I got him to sell it to me at a fixed price of 30 yuan each. I reckon I’m the first person in Tong City to consume this watermelon, apart from Little Zhou.”
Old Madam Huang was rather smug about that matter. She thought, ‘So what if you’re the owner of a big company? I’m the one who fixes the prices of fruit in the entire estate and Tong City.’
Ji Gaosheng knew that ever since the incident at the hospital, his mother and Little Zhou had become much closer. They even cooperated to organize a group purchase of fruit for the residents of their estate. However, he did not expect that the price of watermelons was set by his mother.
“Mother, how many watermelons have you stocked up on?”
He knew his mother’s personality the best. She had always liked watermelons, and she would purchase plenty each year. Now that she had stumbled upon watermelons of such great quality, he felt that there were probably at least twenty-odd watermelons.
“Why? Are you coveting my watermelons? Dream on! I’ve already made arrangements for the distribution of them.”
She knew her son the best. She knew that he definitely wouldn’t ask a pointless question. She could tell at first glance that he was interested in her precious watermelons.
“I just want to know how much you’ve bought,” Ji Gaosheng said embarrassedly after having been exposed.
Ji Gaosheng had it all planned out. It was almost summertime, and the households were probably tired of peaches. Since the quality of the watermelons was that superb, he felt that his clients would definitely praise him if he were to give it to them.
Although Ji Gaosheng’s business was flourishing, he often had to worry about giving his clients gifts every year.
He could present his big clients with expensive gifts, but he also had to maintain a cordial relationship with his ordinary clients. The specialty fruit of Tong City may be cheap, but if the quality was poor, the results would backfire.
The batch of watermelons happened to solve his immediate needs. Those who were knowledgeable would be able to instantly tell that it was the same kind of watermelon as the ones sold at Xiang Banquet private restaurant. However, his mother managed to purchase them at 30 yuan each. He wouldn’t feel the pinch even if he gave each customer three to five watermelons.
“Don’t try. You’ll have your fair share of watermelon. However, you’d better not think about it. This batch of watermelons is of such high quality. I can use both the pulp and the skin.”
“Mother, why don’t you just give two to me?”
“No, I’ve arranged the distribution of these watermelons clearly. All of my sisters want to try them. If I take a few away for each of them, how many will be left?”
She continued, “Once you’re done eating the watermelon, put the rind in the sink. I’ve just learned how to make pickled rind from Zhaodi. I’ll try it after I’m done packing up.”
Huang Fang did not compromise at all. Ji Gaosheng initially thought that there would be no hope for him. To his surprise, she said, “How many do you want? You can’t touch the ones at home. I’ll go help you order a batch of watermelons from Little Zhou.”
“What about the price?”
“I’ll be buying it from Little Zhou, so 30 yuan each of course!”
After listening to Huang Fang’s description of the matter, Zhou Kun finally understood that Ji Gaosheng wanted to gift the watermelons to his clients.
“Little Zhou, if it’s convenient for you, deliver 50 watermelons to my place later. Will the price be the same as before?”
“Okay, no problem. I’ll send them over now. However… do you have any more of that wine that you had given me last time?”
Zhou Kun took the opportunity to ask for another bottle of wine. After counting the days, he realized that it was almost time to go to Pilux’s lair to collect his honeydews.
“Yes, I do have some. Little Zhou, my wine is great, right? Bring another bottle back with you when you come later. I’ve also made a jar of pickles with watermelon rinds recently.”
Upon hearing how popular her wine was, Huang Fang felt rather prideful.
Zhou Kun answered perfunctorily, “The wine is delicious.” However, the wine was not for him but for a giant dragon instead.
“That’s great. I’ll wait for you at home. Deliver it to me as soon as possible.”
Ji Gaosheng watched her hang up merrily, feeling rather displeased.
He was her biological son, and yet, she refused to even let him go near the cellar. He had never even tasted a mouthful of dried carrots, let alone wine. Yet, the “Little Zhou” whom she had been talking about all day, actually took a bottle of wine away without his knowledge. Now, he was going to take away the pickled vegetables with watermelon rinds too.
Zhou Kun hung up the phone. Seeing that it was impossible for him to take a nap, he directly delivered the goods to Jinlan Residences.
The security guard of the estate did not stop Zhou Kun this time. However, Zhou Kun was stopped by the elderly ladies who were chit-chatting at the entrance.
“Hey, isn’t that Little Zhou? Who are the goods on your truck for? There wasn’t a group-purchase yesterday, was there?”
The person who stopped Zhou Kun was none other than Zhou Zhaodi who had taught Huang Fang how to pickle watermelon rinds.
“This is for Auntie Huang Fang.”
“What!?! Huang Fang stocked up without telling us? No, I can’t let you deliver the watermelons.”
After the watermelons arrived yesterday, plenty of people felt that they didn’t buy enough. Yet, Huang Fang actually replenished her own stock without informing them. How could that do?
Zhou Kun didn’t expect how the friendship among the elderly ladies who square-danced together would just end like that.