Li Weidong met the pleading gazes of the crowd, but instead of answering directly, he frowned and said, "Second Grandfather, it's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that the quality of their mushrooms is not up to par!"
"The sales channels I'm negotiating are all big hotels and restaurants. They want high-quality mushrooms that look good, but the mushrooms they grow..."
He paused, looking as if he had something on his mind.
Li Baotian's face turned green.
The others looked even more desperate.
After all, they know exactly what their own mushrooms look like.
They were all misshapen and cracked, so they were indeed difficult to sell.
But Li Weidong was their only hope.
Li Baotian sighed heavily: "Weidong, your second grandfather knows this is difficult for you, but there's nothing we can do about it!"
"Even though the mushrooms don't grow very well, the taste is still the same. If you can lower the price a bit, you can sell them cheaper when you go out to sell them, so that everyone can make some money for the New Year!"
Everyone stared expectantly at Li Weidong.
Li Weidong looked conflicted, and after a long while, he finally said, "Alright, then I'll take it!"
Then, changing the subject, he said, "But let me make this clear from the start: firstly, you didn't sign a contract with me, and secondly, the quality of the mushrooms you grow isn't up to par, so the price definitely can't be the same as theirs."
Immediately, someone with a quick mind nodded: "We know, we know. Weidong, you're already being very generous by buying our mushrooms. As for the price per pound, that's definitely up to you!"
"If anyone isn't willing, let him sell it himself!"
Everyone nodded, waiting in unison for Li Weidong to speak.
Li Weidong considered it for a moment before saying, "I buy their mushrooms for 40 cents a pound, which is clearly stated in the contract."
"As for yours, it'll be three cents a pound. If you're willing to sell, hurry back and pick some mushrooms and bring them over."
Then he added, "These mushrooms are very delicate. Whether you're picking or packing them, be careful. If you make a mess of them and they're all rotten, I won't accept them."
Everyone thought that since they had slandered Li Weidong before, Li Weidong would definitely offer a super low price to acquire them now.
Maybe it will really drop to one cent per pound.
I never expected it could sell for three cents!
A pound of mushrooms costs three cents, so a thousand pounds would be three hundred yuan. Even with a low yield, you can still get several thousand pounds.
You can earn thousands of yuan in one round trip. You wouldn't have dared to dream of that before!
After all, if you're farming, you'd be lucky to save a hundred or two hundred yuan a year.
Now I can earn thousands at once...
Although the price is the same as Tiger's, I definitely won't be able to get over selling it to Tiger.
Li Weidong could have refused their mushrooms, and no one could have found fault with them, but he still accepted them. This kindness was like sending charcoal in snowy weather!
In an instant, cheers erupted deafeningly!
Some of the older folks even cried out, "Weidong, thank you... thank you so much! My whole family is counting on you to save us!"
The others also rushed to express their gratitude, some even wishing they could kowtow to Li Weidong.
Li Weidong was both amused and exasperated, and simply said, "Alright, mushrooms only take a few days to mature. If they take too long, they'll get too old and won't sell."
"Let's not waste any more time standing here, let's hurry up and pick some mushrooms!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd dispersed.
Zhao Xiufen and Zhao Xiujuan looked unhappy, and only came over after everyone had left: "Weidong, our mushrooms..."
"Yours is two cents a pound."
Li Weidong answered without hesitation.
The two were immediately dumbfounded.
After regaining her senses, she was furious: "Why?!"
"Exactly! Even if we don't give you 50 cents, you should at least give us 40 cents a pound! We're your auntie, after all!"
"Even your own family won't help you, and you still want to make money off us? You're utterly rotten to the core!"
The two sisters pointed at Li Weidong and started cursing.
Zhao Xiulian couldn't hold back any longer: "Eldest sister, second sister, do you have any sense of reason? You're the ones begging Weidong to buy your mushrooms, and you still want to raise the price?"
Then he said to Li Weidong, "Weidong, we won't accept their mushrooms!"
Although she has always valued family ties, the selfish and self-serving behavior of her two older sisters when her father was hospitalized had completely broken her heart.
Now that this mushroom is making such an outrageous request, how can we possibly tolerate it?
Li Weidong agreed wholeheartedly: "Mom, you're right, we won't accept it."
After saying that, he turned to leave.
Zhao Xiufen and Zhao Xiujuan became anxious.
If Li Weidong doesn't buy them, their mushrooms really won't be able to sell!
The two sisters darted forward and blocked Li Weidong's path, insisting that he harvest the mushrooms.
Li Weidong rolled his eyes and said, "It's only two cents. If you want to sell, go back and pick mushrooms. If not, forget it!"
After saying that, she added, "When my grandfather was hospitalized before, you two daughters should have paid for his medical expenses, but you shirked your responsibility and my family paid for everything."
"Consider this extra penny as payment for the medical expenses you owed me! Just say the word, whether you'll sell or not!"
The two were speechless and too ashamed to continue the conversation.
Thinking that two cents a pound was better than letting it rot in the shed, he reluctantly agreed.
Li Weidong looked at the two of them and said, "I'll say it again: the mushrooms you send must be fresh and intact. I won't accept any that are rotten or spoiled. I won't make an exception for you just because you're relatives!"
The two dejectedly agreed and went home to pick mushrooms.
Li Baotian then walked up to Li Weidong and bowed deeply to him.
Li Weidong was startled: "Second Grandfather, aren't you shortening my lifespan?"
Li Baotian straightened up, his eyes slightly red: "Weidong, your second grandfather is thanking you on behalf of the whole village!"
"Tiger made a mess, and now you're cleaning up his mess. Your second grandfather knows you're a good person. The Li family has produced a promising young man, and I'm proud of him!"
She then grasped Li Weidong's hand again: "Weidong, this next year..."
He hesitated for a moment.
Li Weidong laughed: "If nothing unexpected happens, we should be doing large-scale planting and breeding next year. It's not just mushrooms, but other vegetables and even livestock. I'll need the support of the villagers then!"
His initial goal was to expand and strengthen Yimeng Farm. Once the New Year was over and the liquor distributor made money, he would have the funds to develop the farm.
What he wants is not just for himself to become rich, but to lead the people of Taohuayu and even the entire northern Inner Mongolia region to become prosperous and achieve a well-off life!
This land gave him life and nurtured him; now that he has the ability, he naturally wants to give back.
Li Baotian was completely relieved and wiped away his tears, saying, "Good, good, Weidong, your second grandfather is waiting for you to lead everyone to make money and get rich!"
Li Weidong smiled and took Zhao Xiulian home.
After a busy week, all the mushrooms were finally harvested, and the whole village came alive with activity.
Because they made just too much money!
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