Chapter 11 Going to Xiao Dong Camp To Haul Watermelon

“Dad, I’ll give you an idea. How about you decide whether it can be done or not?”

Noticing that it was the right time, Mei Xiaoran said her own thoughts, “If you give these money back to my paternal second older uncle, then buy the grains and sell it again, you may not be able to sell them all out……”

Mei Zhonghua interrupted her words, “We can sell the grain to the geological team. The people in their unit are rich.”

“Dad, we just went to the geological team yesterday. If we go there again now, do you think they can digest that?”

“What?”

Mei Zhonghua frowned. How come he didn’t understand what his daughter said?

“I mean, we just went to the geological team yesterday. If we go there again now, isn’t it too frequent? Besides, most of the people like to eat rice there. How much rice can my paternal second older uncle take out for you? “

This is the main point here. Mei Zhonghua began to have a headache. He was wholeheartedly thinking about how to quickly collect tuition fees for the children, but now it’s neither a festival nor a gathering day. It’s the beginning of the school term soon, and it’s impossible for the ordinary people to have too much spare money to buy wheat flour or rice……This is really hard for him!

Mei Xiaoran knew that her father wanted to quickly rush out another batch of grains to collect tuition fees for her and her brother, but in the present situation, two to three hundred jin of grains can not be sold out in just a few days, and they also have to put all the family’s money on the table. In just three short days, they may not be able to collect the tuition fees, so she has to promptly enlighten her father.

Mei Zhonghua thought about it while he walked, and the pulling speed of the cart slowed down as well. He goes half a li further, and then turns around to ask, “Then daughter, what do you say that we should do?”

“Dad, let’s not go back to our hometown first.”

“That can’t be done. Your paternal second older uncle also bears the risk. Besides, those children in your paternal second older uncle’s family also needs to go to school.”

When the word ‘School’ was mentioned, Mei Zhonghua felt his brain skull hurt. Alas, it’s a good thing for children to get admitted into school, but whether they can afford it or not was the biggest problem!

“Dad, let’s take a trip to Xiao Dong Camp.”

Actually, Mei Xiaoran’s proposal to go to Xiao Dong Camp was also well-planned. In this kind of weather, it was the time to eat watermelon. In the whole county, only Xiao Dong Camp that grows watermelon……Unlike later when the land was contracted, people can plant whatever they wants to grow.

At that time, Xiao Dong Camp was the only watermelon area that was opened up and it was also the only place in the whole county that provided watermelon. It was not easy for everyone to even eat a watermelon on a hot day……Her dad has a unique skill of picking out watermelons. The watermelons he picked are sandy* and sweet. At this time, going to Xiao Dong Camp to haul out a cart of watermelons, she can be sure that they will be sold out in a day. It’s much faster than earning money by selling grains. There are also risks in selling grain, but there are no risks in selling watermelon, and they won’t be put on an illicit trading hat!

(TN : sandy is a kind of expression in Chinese to describe the texture of melons, which is opposite to watery. Sandy texture means that melons are riper, and they contain less water which makes the fiber weaker. The cells get loose and the pulp looks and tastes grainy.)

Mei Zhonghua’s eyes brightened. “Daughter, do you mean to let Dad go to Xiao Dong Camp to pull a cart of watermelon to sell?”

“Dad, watermelon is seasonal fruit, and we certainly can’t be selling it for a long term. But in summer, people’s demand for watermelon is far greater than wheat flour and rice. There’s also no risk in selling it. If we go now and get a cart, I reckon that it will be sold out when the sky gets dark. It also won’t delay you in sending out the money to my paternal second older uncle today.”

This is actually a great idea!

Meizhonghua then did it as soon as he could. He pulled the cart and ran to Xiao Dong Camp. Xiao Dong Camp was about ten li away from the county, which was inferior to his long legs that could run fast. In less than an hour, they finally arrived at Xiao Dong Camp.

Although selling watermelons is not forbidden by law but in the whole county there’s only this one camp that grows watermelons. To buy the watermelon out from the person in charge was not an easy thing. Mei Xiaoran cleverly asked her dad to buy two packs of DACHIENMEN, which in those days was considered a good prestigious cigarette in the countryside. The person in charge then took the two bags of cigarettes and said nothing, leaving Mei Zhonghua to pick up a full cart of watermelons and pulled it away.

One jin of watermelon is actually not expensive, just three cents per jin. A cart of more than five hundred jin of watermelon only costs more than ten Yuan. Mei Zhonghua can take out this amount of money out without any worry.

When they finally pulled the watermelon back to the county, it was only seven or eight in the morning.

Mei Xiaoran gave an idea to her dad that regardless of size, each watermelon’s selling price is fifty cents. Gauging up these more than five hundred jin of watermelon, there should be about fifty to sixty watermelons. The market price is five cents per jin. If they can sell out all of it, they can earn more than ten Yuan in a turn. It’s even more cost-effective and faster than selling grains.

Meizhonghua directly pulled the watermelons to the market street in Dongguan, and found a cardboard to write a few big words: fifty cents per watermelon, sandy and sweet, if it’s not sweet, it’s free!

Mei Xiaoran ran back home and took the kitchen knife to cut a few on the spot so that everyone could see the outward appearance.

After a while, noticing the fifty cents per watermelon, someone came up with a little bit of a disgusted look and asked, “Regardless of size, it’s fifty cents per watermelon? no matter how big or small? Isn’t the price too expensive? “

“Uncle, if you pick a big watermelon to bring back, isn’t it more than ten jin for one big watermelon? Choose earlier to get the benefit!”

Once Mei Xiaoran said so, the man said nothing anymore. He happily picked a big watermelon and took it away.

This is how a business works. When it was opened up, as long as the first person buys it, there will be a second one!

Although watermelon is not a rarity, it can’t be helped that there are only a few people who sell it these days. Besides, the watermelon in the cart that Mei Zhonghua pulled is still fresh, looks good and it is delicious although picked randomly. Within an hour, more than half a cart of watermelons had been sold.

Mei Zhonghua looked very pleased. If it were like this, when he pulls over another cart of watermelons, they can also sell it out. If there’s money to earn, who wouldn’t want more?

“Dad, just unload the rest of the watermelon. I’ll watch the stall here so that you can pull over another cart.”

Mei Xiaoran’s suggestion moved Mei Zhonghua’s heart, but he was a little uneasy. “Ranran, can you do it alone?”

“It’s alright. Just quickly go, dad. Go out earlier and go back earlier too. But don’t pick those watermelons that were too big, just pick the middle size ones!”

Mei Zhonghua laughed. He had no idea about whom this daughter of his learnt from. Her brain worked so well.

He pulled the cart away and left. Halfway through, he suddenly remembered that making a round trip solely relying on his two legs, plus the time he needed to pick the watermelons, would certainly have delayed him three hours……It will be past noon when he comes back. It will be too late then.

Thinking of this, instead of going straight to the road, he turned the handlebar and went towards the Old Sixth Brother’s house at the east end of the market street……

This cart’s of watermelon that Mei Zhonghua picked was really good. Even though he was not present, Mei Xiaoran sold them as equally fast as well, and soon sold more than ten watermelons.

When she was happily putting aside the money into her pocket, she suddenly heard a sneer, “Mei Xiaoran, now you are even selling watermelons here? You really have no shame! “

Mei Xiaoran looked up and found the saying of ‘enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road’ was so true. Unexpectedly, it was Qi Yao.

“Qi Yao, if you want to buy watermelon, you better buy them immediately. If not, you can leave. Don’t delay me selling watermelons.”

“You……”

Qi Yao was also attracted by these watermelons. It was hot today and a watermelon seller came to the market street. In the end, it belongs to Mei Xiaoran’s family, which makes her a bit in a dilemma.

“It’s fine. I know you want to eat watermelon. Let me pick a bigger one for you.”

Mei Xiaoran is not the kind of person who disregards the past. She understands that the most important thing was to sell out all the watermelon for now. As for the grudge between her and Qi Yao, just count it slowly in the future!

Qi Yao watched her pick a big watermelon out. Her small face flushed red. She throws fifty cents hardly on the ground and walks away holding the watermelon. “This is money for the watermelon. I’ll go back and have a look. If it’s not delicious, I’ll definitely smash this watermelon on your face!”

Mei Xiaoran picked up the money while smiling, “I can guarantee that you’ll definitely come again.”