Finally, Zhao Tielin stepped in and asked his brother, Zhao Tiegang, to act as an intermediary to approach Xie Sui to buy the batch of peaches.
Rotting every day, a delay of one day meant a huge financial loss!
Zhao Tiegang was torn. If this wasn't his older brother, he would have cursed him out long ago.
"We can sell them cheaper, but not at a total loss. We can't let that little brat get off too easily."
Zhao Tielin left after saying this, leaving Zhao Tiegang in a predicament.
The village chief's wife was displeased. "Do you hear what he's saying? He's begging someone and still acting high and mighty. If he's so rich, he should just feed them to the pigs. He's making you look foolish!"
"Cheaper? It's uncertain if Xie Sui will even want them. How much cheaper is cheap?"
"Your older brother is the most black-hearted. He always makes you take the blame. You've been honest your whole life, and he's bullied you your whole life."
Zhao Tiegang was annoyed. "Say less. I'm the village chief. Even if he's not my brother, I still have to be the mediator."
"But without him acting like this, you're not his brother, you're more like his servant."
Zhao Tiegang couldn't listen anymore. He ignored his wife's complaints and headed to Xie Sui's house. The matter still needed to be handled.
Xie Sui was at home playing "Dragon Tiger Fight" with Douding and Dingding. It was a game with drawn pictures and a nine-square grid. Tigers ate wolves, wolves ate rabbits, and various animals ate each other, with each having a natural enemy. It was a favorite puzzle game for children.
"Little Sui, have you eaten?"
Seeing him arrive, Xie Sui smiled faintly and replied, "Uncle Village Chief, have you eaten?"
"Ah, yes, I have. Playing with the children? You're looking more and more like a father. That's good. A wife, children, and a warm hearth – that's what life is all about, isn't it? A man lives his whole life for his wife and children."
"Uncle Village Chief speaks the truth. Please sit. Is there something you need?"
Lin Wanwan poured plain water and sent the children back to their rooms to play.
"There is something," Zhao Tiegang said hesitantly, then gritted his teeth. "My elder brother has a batch of peaches. He wanted to ask if you would be interested in buying them?"
Xie Sui knew he had come for this reason and pretended to be confused. "How could I possibly buy them? He's already taken over the canned goods business. I'm just playing with the children now. How could I possibly afford to buy his peaches?"
"Zhao Tielin isn't capable? Don't the Zhao family have many people? Why does he need to ask me?"
Zhao Tiegang's face turned red under his pestering. "My elder brother was wrong. This isn't the time for grudges. He'll sell them to you cheaper. Let's be honest, his canned goods aren't selling. We're neighbors, so please help out."
"Heh. When he snatched my business and cut off my path, did he think about neighbors?"
"Alright, I won't make it difficult for you, Uncle. Being the village chief isn't easy. One cent, I'll take it all. Send them over now."
"One cent?"
Zhao Tiegang knew he would negotiate, but he didn't expect him to cut the price in half. "That's too harsh. Add a bit more, fifteen cents! That's half the loss!"
"Just one cent. Buy it or don't."
Xie Sui was firm. If he wasn't ruthless, Zhao Tielin wouldn't learn his lesson. He wanted him to feel pain, so he would know that Xie Sui wasn't someone to be bullied.
"I'll talk to him."
Zhao Tiegang had no choice but to report back to his elder brother. The Zhao family erupted: "He's taking advantage of our misfortune! We'd rather feed them to the pigs or throw them in the river than give them to him!"
"This is too much! Xie Sui, that little bastard, is truly ruthless!"
Zhao Xuefei gritted her teeth. If Lin Wanwan weren't at home, she would have rushed out to confront Xie Sui and demand an explanation for why he was treating her like this.
Seeing their demeanor, the village chief's heart grew cold. "Think about it. I've done my best. Xie Sui's price is firm, not a cent more. And he said he'll send them tonight. He won't want them tomorrow."
"I haven't eaten yet. I'm leaving."
No one saw him out, nor did they offer him a meal. Zhao Tiegang's efforts were in vain, and he didn't even get any good will.
Even Zhao Youfang and the other nephews and nieces didn't spare him a glance. Zhao Tiegang shook his head bitterly. What was he doing this for?
"Dad, what should we do?"
Zhao Tielin put down his pipe and tapped the ashes on his shoes. "Send them over. Get whatever money we can. We've already lost, so we have to accept it. Don't fight with money."
The Zhao brothers then packed the peaches and sent them to Xie Sui's house overnight.
Xie Sui had already cleared a space, waiting for them.
"Unload them here. Dump them out. I don't want the rotten ones."
Zhao Youfang suppressed his anger. "Xie Sui, that's enough. You're profiting and still acting like the victim!"
"Hey, I don't like hearing that. Your family begged me to buy them, not that I was desperate to buy them. Am I an idiot to buy a pile of rotten peaches?"
They could only obey him. Xie Sui called Wang Tiezhu and his brother to sort the peaches. After weighing them, only 800 jin of peaches remained. He gave Zhao Youfang eighty yuan and sent them away.
Zhao Youfang's heart bled. In just two days, he had lost over a hundred yuan.
As Wang Tiezhu and his brother were about to leave, Lin Wanwan gave them some of her homemade peach jerky and honey walnuts. She didn't want them to work for nothing.
Old Mrs. Wang was very pleased. Lin Wanwan never lacked in politeness, and even in the most difficult times, she would give them some vegetables from her own garden, never taking advantage.
Some rejoiced, while others worried. Another night passed. A new day dawned, and the villagers were alarmed by the sound of gongs and drums, gathering at the village square.
Huang Tianliang felt uneasy, being watched by so many people for the first time. He felt like a monkey.
Fortunately, he had Little Liu with him, whom he delegated to handle the social interactions.
"Comrade Public Security, what's going on? Why such a big fuss, with a gong and drum team?"
Little Liu coughed. "Is Comrade Xie Sui here? He cooperated with the public security to catch human traffickers last time. The station is here to present him with a banner and a bonus. The country will not forget such exemplary heroes."
"Xie Sui? He caught human traffickers? Does he have that ability?"
The crowd erupted in an uproar. If Xie Sui were a human trafficker, they wouldn't have been this surprised. He had done so many bad things, it wouldn't be unexpected for him to go down a depraved path.
Now he was a hero, and they couldn't quite accept it.
"It's true! The banner says so. Comrade Xie Sui has saved countless families. He is a great hero and an honor to your village!"
Xie Sui is a hero, but it still feels unrealistic.
Regardless, many people ran to Xie Sui's house, calling for him to come and receive his award.
Xie Sui changed into new clothes and even used water to slick his hair, muttering to himself as he combed it in front of the basin: "Hair, hair, you're a mature, good hair. You should part yourself into a two-eight split. The most handsome hairstyle."
Lin Wanwan looked up at the sky speechlessly. He was already being narcissistic first thing in the morning. She really couldn't stand it.
"Wife, next time we go to the county town, let's buy a mirror, okay? A big one, that can show my whole body, and reflect my most handsome face and my most imposing physique!"