Xu An and Wang Datou arrived at Uncle Sun's greenhouse planting area right on time. Almost as soon as the Shengli Supermarket car left, the Xu's Catering car arrived.
The greenhouse growers were unusually noisy today, their faces full of anger, cursing and swearing.
Only after Xu An and his companion got out of the car did they manage to force a smile and approach to ask Xu's Catering what vegetables they planned to purchase that day.
"Today we still need peanuts, potatoes, and edamame. We also need about 100 jin of lettuce. Eggplants? Eggplants are good, but we have a regular cooperative grower who can supply them, so we don't need to buy any extra. Tomatoes are also unnecessary. Yes, just those you mentioned above; don't bring anything else!"
Xu An was at the front, taking care of the weight of the vegetables and settling the bill, while Wang Datou was at the back, responsible for loading the settled fruits and vegetables onto the small truck.
After another round trip, Wang Datou put the fruits and vegetables he was carrying onto the cart and was about to continue moving them when someone suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Master Wang, I have a question for you." The man smiled and offered her a cigarette, then lowered his voice to ask, "Are you coming here to collect vegetables again tomorrow? Do you know what kind of vegetables you're planning to collect tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, you should come again tomorrow." Wang Datou took a cigarette and tucked it behind his ear. "But I really don't know what vegetables you'll be harvesting tomorrow. I'm just a driver, responsible for driving."
"I see!" A hint of disappointment flashed across the face, and the visitor continued, "Do the farmers who cooperate with your shop have other people picking up their fruits and vegetables? I've seen you come here with empty trucks these past few days!"
"No, we'll give them the quantity of fruits and vegetables we need at 8 p.m., and they'll deliver them to the store the next morning. All we have to do is sign for them."
After Wang Datou finished speaking, he remembered Xu An's instructions and said somewhat awkwardly.
“Our shop owner thinks that buying things piecemeal like this is too time-consuming, and the prices at the wholesale market are too high. He plans to go to the greenhouse farming areas in the neighboring towns to take a look. If he can reach a cooperation agreement with them, then he won’t come here to buy anymore.”
Partnering with the town next door? We're not coming to collect!
The two pieces of news left the farmer speechless with shock. Seeing that the other party was no longer speaking, Wang Datou went back to work.
After Xu An and his companion drove away, the greenhouse farmers gathered together. Some cursed Shengli Catering for being arrogant and unreasonable, some were grateful that they had managed to recover some of their losses thanks to Xu's Catering, and others felt that cooperating with Xu's Catering was a good idea.
"You guys are really dreaming. I reckon they won't be coming in a few days!" Just as everyone was discussing this, someone suddenly poured cold water on their hopes.
"Why aren't you coming anymore? We've been cooperating quite well these past few days. Even the young technician praised the fruits and vegetables produced in our greenhouse!" someone retorted discontentedly.
"Hey! Don't you believe me?" the farmer who had just been talking to Wang Datou said confidently, "I just chatted with the driver. Their shop is planning to cooperate with some farmers in the next town. It's not finalized yet. Once it's decided, do you think they'll still come here?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze turned to Uncle Sun.
"Old Sun, is this true or false? Do you have contact with their partners over there? Why don't you ask them about it?"
Uncle Sun's eyes flickered, and his expression changed several times. Finally, as if he had figured something out, he nodded vigorously and said loudly, "It's true. Moreover, I've already contacted Xu's Catering and plan to cooperate with them."
"No way, Lao Sun, when we discovered that Shengli Supermarket had tampered with the contract the day before yesterday, you said you would never sign another contract like it again, and it hasn't even been two days."
"Times have changed. Back then, I didn't even know Xu's Catering existed!" Sun Shu suddenly straightened his back as he said this: "Anyway, I think this restaurant is pretty good. Although it's not big, it's more stable than those big companies. Besides, can you find a better buyer than Xu's Catering now?"
The question left everyone speechless.
Indeed, given the current situation, Xu's Catering is the best partner they can get.
"Old Sun, I also think Xu's Catering is pretty good. Could you help me get in touch with them?"
A voice suddenly rang out from the crowd, and others followed suit, all asking Uncle Sun to help them make connections.
——————
In a park in Shanghai.
During weekday working hours, parks are a haven for middle-aged and elderly people over 55 and children under three.
Under a large banyan tree, stone benches and tables were filled with various middle-aged and elderly people, some playing chess, some playing cards, and some chatting.
The group chatted about everything from everyday family matters to recent promotional activities at the farmers' market and supermarket. Suddenly, one of them lowered his voice and asked mysteriously, "Hey, have you guys heard?"
This seemingly random statement left everyone wondering what he was trying to say, and they immediately urged him to finish.
“I heard from people at the neighborhood office that they’re planning to set up some kind of ‘elderly canteen’ in our area, where a meal will only cost two yuan.”
"Two yuan? What can you get for that? It's all a waste!"
"Exactly! Just buying a few eggs at the market costs two yuan. Are you expecting us to have plain congee with fermented bean curd for two yuan a meal?"
"Hey, hey, hey! Couldn't you wait until I finished speaking!" the person who broke the news complained a few times, and continued, "We only need two yuan to eat a meal, while the canteen's meal standard is eight yuan, with the government subsidizing six yuan!"
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com