The Xia family.
A tempting aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, accompanied by the chirping voices of mother and daughter.
Xia Cui'e chattered on about the harvest in the fields and trivial household matters.
Xia Xue listened patiently, interjecting occasionally, making her mother burst into laughter.
In the living room.
Xia Deyao and Xia Xiangqian dared not even breathe, staring intently at Lin Fan, who had just put down his phone.
"Xiao Fan, how is it?"
"Any leads?"
Xia Deyao was burning with anxiety.
Seeing Lin Fan sigh as he hung up the phone, he couldn't help but show a disappointed expression.
"It's alright, the people of our Xiajiagou have gotten by like this for so many years."
"That's right."
Xia Xiangqian sighed, "We farmers rely on farming for a living, and toon leaves can't be eaten as staple food. What does the price outside have to do with us villagers? We're just not destined to get rich."
Lin Fan was preoccupied with Zheng Yue not pressing charges, and seeing the two uncles misunderstand, he couldn't help but smile.
"Uncles, Uncle, it's really a coincidence, my friend just arrived in Shimeng County today. She has some connections and can get the toon leaves from Xiajiagou sent to major supermarkets nationwide. The price will be very reasonable."
"What did you say?!"
Xia Deyao was shocked and jumped up, "Xiao Fan, say that again!"
"I said your village's toon leaves have a sales channel. There's a large supermarket chain called Lianhua Supermarket, and my friend happens to know their boss. Getting the toon leaves in for sale is just a small matter." Lin Fan's tone was calm and confident.
"That's great!"
"Xiao Fan, thank goodness for you!"
Xia Deyao cheered loudly with joy.
Xia Xiangqian, who had initially claimed not to care, was also beaming upon hearing the good news.
"Xiao Fan, can our toon leaves be sold for tens of yuan a jin?"
"More or less, but their retail price will definitely be high, the wholesale price shouldn't be that high." Lin Fan didn't want to make promises he couldn't keep, as he wasn't the one making the final decision.
"Ten yuan a jin would be fine too!"
Xia Deyao clapped his thighs with delight, "Those damn merchants only give two yuan a jin, and it takes half a day to pick them. How are the villagers supposed to make money?"
"Lao Liu, hurry up and notify the villagers, tell them not to sell them yet. My goodness, if they sell them for eight yuan less per jin, it's a shame." Xia Xiangqian urged excitedly.
"Right, right!" Xia Deyao rushed out, but stopped abruptly at the doorway, turning back to look at Lin Fan, "When can this matter be settled?"
"Yes, how could we forget this?" Xia Xiangqian was worried. The season for toon leaves is only a little over a month, and it has already been five or six days. Every day delayed means less money earned for the villagers.
Lin Fan rolled his eyes, "How about this, I'll go meet her and finalize this matter in person."
"Good, good, that's how it should be."
"Xiao Fan, thank you for your trouble."
Xia Deyao's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"What are you two talking about, making such a fuss?" Xia Cui'e came in, carrying a plate of golden and emerald green dishes.
She placed the plate on the table with a kind smile, "Try it, our Xiajiagou's specialty, scrambled eggs with toon leaves."
"The toon leaves were picked fresh this morning, still dewy. The eggs are from our own old hen. What do people in the city call it?"
She slapped her forehead, "Oh, pure natural and pollution-free, right?"
"Yes." Lin Fan nodded with a smile.
Xia Deyao eagerly beckoned, "Try it quickly. Gold doesn't fear fire. You won't believe how good our Xiajiagou's toon leaves are just by hearing us talk. You'll know once you taste it."
He then handed Lin Fan a pair of clean chopsticks.
Xia Cui'e stood by, her expression filled with astonishment.
From Xia Deyao's gaze, she saw respect, supplication, and anticipation.
This Lao Liu, ever since becoming the village secretary, had taken charge of all major and minor matters in the village, but he rarely treated anyone like this, especially outsiders.
Xiao Fan...
He is truly different!
Xia Cui'e's heart was filled with pride as she quietly watched Lin Fan pick up his chopsticks and put a piece of steaming scrambled eggs with toon leaves into his mouth.
"Delicious..." Lin Fan chewed a few times, a satisfied smile appearing on his face, and he repeatedly praised it.
The fresh and tender toon sprouts, still with a vibrant light red hue, mixed with the golden scrambled eggs, were a burst of fragrance with every bite, evoking a feeling of spring blossoms.
"How is it, delicious right?" Xia Deyao said with full confidence.
"It's really good!" Lin Fan praised, "Your Xiajiagou's toon leaves seem different from those elsewhere, especially tender. I didn't study much, so I can't describe it well, but it's just delicious."
"It's good because it's delicious." Xia Deyao laughed heartily, "Xiao Fan, are our toon leaves qualified to be sold in supermarkets in big cities?"
"Yes, absolutely qualified!" Lin Fan gave a thumbs-up, "Don't worry, I'll handle this."
"What are you talking about, what happened?" Xia Cui'e asked in surprise.
"Sister-in-law, I asked Xiao Fan to find a way to sell our Xiajiagou's toon leaves in big cities. Xiao Fan is amazing, he got it done with just one phone call." Xia Deyao replied happily.
He sighed with longing, "The villagers will have a good life!"
"Is that true?" Xia Cui'e was half-believing.
Everyone knew toon leaves were delicious, but they were quite delicate.
Given the situation in Shimeng Town, selling them in Shimeng County was already the limit.
"Lao Liu, it's not that I don't believe you, or Xiao Fan."
Xia Cui'e said with a worried expression, "If we send them to big cities, even just to the provincial capital, the toon leaves will be wilted by the time they arrive. Can they still be sold?"
"If city dwellers are cheated, won't they curse the people of Xiajiagou!"
Hearing this, Xia Deyao felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured on him, and he shuddered.
That's right!
Other people got the passes, but if they couldn't deliver, all their joy would be in vain.
"For such perishable food, it is usually transported by refrigerated trucks to the airport..."
Noticing Xia Cui'e's bewildered expression, Lin Fan patiently explained, "A refrigerated truck is a truck with a refrigerator installed, which can keep food from spoiling for a long time."
"Oh~" Xia Cui'e nodded, not entirely understanding.
She imagined a large truck with a refrigerator, constantly emitting cold air.
No, shouldn't there be a fan at the back of the truck?
Xia Cui'e shook her head. She had lived for most of her life and had only been as far as Shimeng Town. She couldn't even imagine what a refrigerated truck looked like.
Lin Fan continued, "Once it reaches the airport, the toon leaves can be sent to all parts of the country within a few hours, even to the northernmost regions, it will only take about three to four hours, very fast."
Xia Cui'e listened, stunned, "We haven't even flown on a plane, but the toon leaves will take one."
"It's different. The toon leaves can be sold for money. If we send the old men and women on a plane, will it bring in money?" Xia Xiangqian retorted impatiently.
"You talk too much!"
Xia Cui'e shot her husband a glance, then said, "Flying on a plane must cost a lot of money, right? Will people be able to afford the toon leaves if they are transported like this?"