Chapter 201

Xu Ran had stood aside and waited for a little while. When there were fewer people, he went over to greet Qin Shuwu.

“Brother Qin, business is good!”

Qin Shuwu looked up at Xu Ran and smiled immediately, “Bro, you’re back! So soon! How was it? How many fruit trees have you bought? You got everything you need?”

Xu Ran walked over with a smile, “I’ve been standing here for a while. Not only haven’t you invited me for a cup of tea, but you also asked me so many questions. Are you going to have me standing here talking to you?”

Qin Shuwu glanced at Xu Ran, “Alright, stop acting. How could I not know you enough? Come on in! I haven’t seen you in a few days. Let’s have a good chat.”

Xu Ran followed Qin Shuwu into the shop, and found a place to sit down. Qin Shuwu really went to pour some tea for him.

“You look tired! Things didn’t go well?” Qin Shuwu asked.

Xu Ran drank his tea, “No! Nothing escapes your eyes. I sure am tired!”

Qin Shuwu sat down next to him, “Tell me, what happened? You don’t look like you’re tired from working.”

Xu Ran said, “Not exactly. Labor work is quite tiring. I carried 200 fruit trees back and finished planting them in three days. How could I not be tired?”

“And that’s all?” Qin Shuwu didn’t buy it.

Xu Ran said, “Of course not. Mr. Hu is dead.”

“What did you say?” Qin Shuwu thought he had misheard Xu Ran and asked loudly again.

Xu Ran sighed and said, “You didn’t mishear me. I didn’t expect things to be like this either. He was killed right after he arrived home, by his son.”

“That beast!”

Qin Shuwu swore the moment Xu Ran finished his words.

Xu Ran pulled Qin Shuwu down, and then told him everything that they had experienced. Of course, he didn’t tell him Liu Tong and the village head’s identities.

Qin Shuwu became even angrier after hearing him, “You really are unlucky. You obviously haven’t done anything, but someone has always wanted to do something to you.”

Xu Ran nodded in agreement. He thought so too. He could tell it from what had happened between Liu Tiezhu’s family and him.

However, this was the second time.

“Actually, I don’t know what’s going on either. Do they think it’s easy to hurt me? Is that why they have always wanted to do something to me?” Xu Ran asked.

Qin Shuwu shook his head with his arms crossed, “Who knows?”

Xu Ran shook his head, “Forget it, let’s not talk about this. It’s already over anyway. I don’t plan to go to that place again. Let’s talk about something else! About the deli, when I just arrived, I saw that business was really good. Has it been like this recently?”

Qin Shuwu shook his head, “Not exactly. It has become better in the past two days since it got warmer suddenly. Those who have bought cold dishes from the deli have come to do some fruit shopping as well. Now, some of the cherries and apricots are ripe, so naturally many people are attracted by the freshly arrived fruits.”

Xu Ran said with a smile, “That’s good. Business has been doing well recently, and now one day’s income is probably equal to the sum of two or three days’ income before.”

Qin Shuwu nodded, “Yes! It’s a good thing to be busy for a few days. Don’t go back for lunch, just eat here! And we can talk about creating some new dishes. People will get bored if we don’t.”

Xu Ran nodded, “Let me think about it. Summer is coming, and cold dishes must be more popular.”

“Of course. Think it over. We have to establish our brand when we start, and it’ll get easier in the future.” Qin Shuwu said.

Xu Ran smiled, “Brother Qin, you are indeed experienced. So was that how you started your fruit shop? I’ve seen that there is only one fruit shop in town. Others just set up a stall on the street casually.”

Qin Shuwu said smugly, “Of course. At first, I worked hard to bring the fruits back from other places, and I had to ensure that the fruits stayed fresh. It took me a lot of time and energy.”

It was a simple thing to say, but Xu Ran also understood that Qin Shuwu must have spent a lot of effort at the time. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to own the only fruit shop in town. Although it was not a big town, the population here was not small, not to mention that there were other villagers nearby.

Xu Ran thought about it and asked Qin Shuwu, “Brother Qin, does anyone sell ice in town? If we have ice, we might make a fortune this summer.”

Xu Ran thought of the ice that was a necessity in modern summertime, such as ice cream, popsicles and so on. They were essential items in summer. Although he couldn’t make ice cream or anything like that, he knew how to make soda water! Now that fruits were getting ripe, if he mixed them with some juice, water, ice and sugar, it would taste delicious.

Especially for children, they would adore it.

However, they shouldn’t sell it in the shops. Instead, they should use it as a giveaway.

Xu Ran thought about it and told Qin Shuwu his idea. Qin Shuwu also thought it was great, but now there was a problem. Where could they get ice? After all, no one had thought about it before.

Xu Ran knew that ice could be made. He had read it in a book before, but now he couldn’t remember it for the time being, so he was frowning like Qin Shuwu.

The two of them were stuck with this problem. Since they were not in the mood of chatting, they sat together in a trance.

“What happened to you two? Both of you look depressed.”

A gentle voice came from behind them and made the two of them turn around at the same time. Then they saw Qin Shuwu’s spouse staring at them from behind.

Xu Ran got up at once and greeted him, “Brother.”

Qin Shuwu’s spouse nodded, “Wu told me that you went to buy fruit trees. How was it? Did you get them?”

Xu Ran nodded, “Thank you for your concern. I got some, but that’s not enough.”

“Don’t worry, take it slow. It’s only March now and summer hasn’t come yet. You’ll definitely get enough fruit trees this year.”

There was no reason for Xu Ran not to nod when he heard such comforting words.

Qin Shuwu also stood up and asked his spouse, “So? Are you done with work?”

Seeing that the two of them were about to talk, Xu Ran deliberately moved his feet.

However, the moment he moved his feet, Xu Ran heard Qin Shuwu talking to him, “Why are you leaving! We are not sweet talking. I’m just asking my spouse to cook some dishes so that you could stay for lunch.”

Xu Ran rubbed his nose and said to himself, ‘If you just want to talk, just sit and talk. Why did you stand up? And you were so close to your spouse. How could I have not been overthinking?’

Of course, Xu Ran just kept his thought totally in his mind. He didn’t dare to spit it out.

Xu Ran didn’t get shy, but Qin Shuwu’s spouse got shy instead. He left when Qin Shuwu was talking to Xu Ran.

Then Qin Shuwu looked at Xu Ran resentfully.

Xu Ran spread his hands. He was innocent, alright? He had done nothing yet he was on the receiving end of Qin Shuwu’s anger.

Although Qin Shuwu failed to tell his spouse what to cook, there were a lot of dishes on the table during lunch.

While eating, Xu Ran said to Qin Shuwu, “Brother Qin, ask around how to make ice. There must be someone who knows how. When we get ice, things will get much easier in summer. You could also freeze your fruits with ice and then sell them, and you will definitely sell more.”

Qin Shuwu nodded, “Okay, I’ll go ask around. I guess He should know how.”

Although Xu Ran didn’t know why Doctor He, a physician, should know how to make ice, since Qin Shuwu believed that Doctor He knew how, then he should know how.

Xu Ran didn’t ask too much. Then he started to ponder as he ate. What kind of juice should he make?

In fact, lemons and oranges were the best options, but since now he had neither of them, he could only think of something else.

He had never drunk cherry juice. Perhaps he should try it. Well, he could also make dried cherry out of cherries, and sell it to the rich. The price could go rather high.

As for apricots, making apricot juice might not work.

But apricots could be eaten! It suddenly dawned on Xu Ran. When he had planted those apricots trees, what he wanted was actually almonds. He should have forgotten such an important thing.

Xu Ran pounded the table in excitement. Everyone who was eating was stunned. Looking at Xu Ran, Qin Shuwu reacted first, “Xu Ran, we are eating. What are you doing?”

Qin Shuwu sounded irritated. He thought that Xu Ran might be angry.

Xu Ran was not annoyed at all. He smiled and said to Qin Shuwu, “Brother Qin, when you sell apricots in the future, ask the buyers to send back those almonds! The price of apricots could go lower, as long as we could get the almonds. They are a good thing.”

“Almonds? Can this thing be eaten?” Qin Shuwu asked.

Qin Shuwu didn’t care about the fact that Xu Ran had just pounded the table. After all, Xu Ran was so excited that he had just come up with a good idea.

Xu Ran explained, “They are definitely a good thing, and they can also be eaten. Their price will definitely be several times that of apricots. Just believe me! You won’t lose money anyway.”

Xu Ran said with certainty, and Qin Shuwu had always believed in his ideas of making money. After all, each of Xu Ran’s ideas had come true. The best proof would be the deli next to him. Even though it was noon now, there were still customers coming.

The deli had also brought in business for his fruit shop. Just like what Xu Ran had said, it was “to kill two birds with one stone”.

Qin Shuwu said, “Well, I’ll listen to you then, but how many almonds do you want? It won’t work if there aren’t many, right?”

Xu Ran nodded, “That’s right. So just collect whatever you could get. Brother Qin, when you buy fruits, buy more. Give me everything you couldn’t sell in your shop. I’ll find a way to deal with it and won’t let you lose money.”

Hearing Xu Ran, Qin Shuwu laughed, “Alright, what are you talking about? If I really lose money, how could I blame it on you?”

Xu Ran showed his fine teeth with a grin, “Haha. Brother Qin, you’re such a good person, and you won’t lose money. Then that’s the deal. Also, when you buy fruits, don’t forget to buy some fruit trees for me. I have half of my field empty on the mountain.”

“Don’t worry! When have I not put your business in mind? I have contacted some people before and will send those fruit trees to your house tomorrow. Take them as my whip-round!”

“Brother Qin, thank you.” Xu Ran smiled even brighter when he heard this.