Chapter 7

The next morning, after the three of them had eaten, Chu Ying drove Chu Xin back to school. As soon as they returned to the village entrance, they encountered Huanzi, who was loaded with a tricycle full of watermelons, planning to sell them in town.

Chu Ying got out of the car and stopped Huanzi, displeased, "It's at least twenty miles from here to town. Didn't I give you the car keys? Why are you riding a tricycle?"

Huanzi smiled foolishly, "It's fine, I'm strong, and I don't know how to drive anyway."

Chu Ying thought about it and realized that Huanzi, who worked from dawn to dusk, probably hadn't even sat in a car, let alone driven one. Huanzi had drunk quite a bit yesterday and had likely forgotten about the car keys. "Load the melons into the car, let's go together," Chu Ying said.

Huanzi hurriedly replied, "How can I do that? You just got back, and you didn't sleep well yesterday. Go back and rest, I can handle it alone!"

Chu Ying didn't respond, opened the trunk, and without a word, started loading the watermelons into the car.

"You're still the same old you!" Huanzi, knowing he couldn't argue with Chu Ying, helped transfer the watermelons from the tricycle to the Wuling.

The Wuling Hongguang had a large space and was not expensive, making it a popular choice for those small hooligans who liked to gang up and cause trouble. After all the watermelons from the tricycle were loaded into the trunk, there was still some space left.

"Wait here for a moment, I'll return the tricycle," Huanzi said, riding the tricycle back to the village. The tricycle was his lifeline, and he couldn't bear to leave it behind, even after returning the Wuling.

Chu Ying chuckled, feeling grateful for Huanzi. A young man in his twenties, who should have been carefree and unrestrained compared to those in the city, had chosen to be a simple farmer for a promise and for Chu Xin. In this materialistic society, people like Huanzi were rare.

Bored, Chu Ying picked up a pack of Yuxi cigarettes from the car and started smoking.

"Excuse me, are you waiting for passengers?" a gentle voice asked.

Chu Ying looked up, and his expression froze.

Standing before him was a beautiful young woman in her early twenties. She wore a loose T-shirt that nicely concealed her chest, which Chu Ying, with his professional eye, estimated to be a 32B. She had on a pair of denim shorts and flat shoes, looking like a typical girl next door.

A gentle breeze blew, causing her hair to become slightly disheveled, making her look like a fairy who had descended to earth.

The fairy and the girl next door, two completely different feelings, merged in her.

"Are you talking to me?" the woman asked, seeing Chu Ying staring at her, her tone displeased.

Chu Ying glanced at the watermelons in the back, blew a smoke ring, and said, "I only transport goods, not people."

The woman said, "Can you take me up the mountain? I can pay extra."

Chu Ying smiled, "I said I only transport goods, not people. Are you cargo?"

"You're the one who's cargo, and a fool at that!" the woman retorted, showing her spoiled side.

Chu Ying could tell the woman was wealthy. Despite her casual attire, everything she wore was a brand name. "I can take you, but only if you buy all the watermelons in my car," he said.

"What do I need so many watermelons for?" the woman rolled her eyes.

"You can take them with you if you can't eat them all!" Chu Ying, seizing the opportunity, said casually.

This was a T-shaped intersection, and the only road up the mountain had just been built. The mountain was to be developed into a resort, allowing only private cars, but since the resort wasn't yet built, there were no strict rules.

If the woman wanted to go up the mountain, she could either walk or take one of these "black cars."

Usually, there were many such "black cars" at the intersection, but it was early morning, so only Chu Ying's car was there.

The woman was seething but had something to do on the mountain, so she reluctantly agreed, "Fine, I'll buy them. How much?"

"Three hundred and twenty pounds, ten yuan per pound. I'll give you a discount, so it's three thousand yuan!" Chu Ying bluffed.

The woman was furious, "Why don't you just rob me!"

Chu Ying said casually, "Do you want to go or not? If not, forget it."

"Your words sound so strange, am I forcing you to do something improper?" Chu Ying thought to himself.

The woman, however, had no such thoughts. She got into the car with a thud, "Drive!"

Chu Ying took a deep breath, the woman's fragrance making him feel intoxicated. He scratched his head and said, "Hey, can you pay first?"

"Rustic bumpkin, are you afraid I won't pay?" the woman cursed inwardly, rummaged through her bag, and her face changed slightly. "I'm afraid you'll leave me halfway. I'll pay you when we get to the mountain!"

"Fine!" Chu Ying nodded but didn't start the car.

The woman urged, "Are you going or not? If not, I'll get out!" She thought, "I'm buying your watermelons for ten yuan per pound, you farmer, you're making a fortune. If you don't go now, you're a fool."

Seeing that Chu Ying still didn't move, the woman's eyes flashed with cunning. She handed a food bag to Chu Ying, "These are peaches from the old man's orchard, one hundred yuan per pound, ten pounds in total. Can I use them as a deposit?"

"Rustic bumpkin, have you ever seen such expensive peaches? Have you ever tasted them?" the woman thought viciously.

"No, they're too expensive. These rotten peaches aren't worth fifty cents per pound," Chu Ying shook his head and took one to eat.

"You..." The woman's forehead showed two black lines.

"Wait for one more person," Chu Ying flicked the peach pit and cigarette butt out, lit another cigarette, and said calmly.

The woman seemed to hate the smell of cigarettes, coughed violently, and became even angrier, "How can you be like this? Isn't three thousand yuan enough?"

At that moment, the car door opened, and Huanzi got in, "Let's go, Da Ying. Who's this?"

Chu Ying said, "This is our big boss, she's buying all the watermelons!"

Huanzi was delighted, "Two hundred and eighty pounds, one yuan per pound. If you want them all, I'll give you a discount, two hundred and fifty yuan!"

"You're the one who's two hundred and fifty! Both of you are two hundred and fifty!" The woman's face turned green. One asked for ten yuan per pound, which she endured; the other asked for two hundred and fifty, which was clearly taking advantage of her.

Moreover, the two of them spoke in almost the same tone, clearly having planned it beforehand!

"That's not what I meant, miss, you misunderstood!" Huanzi wasn't trying to take advantage. He had never met such a generous customer before and wanted to build a good relationship, but he ended up making her misunderstand.

Chu Ying's lips twitched; Huanzi's mouth was even sharper than his.

"We've already agreed on the price, what he says doesn't count," Chu Ying told the woman.

"I don't care, just drive!" the woman said angrily, turning her head to the window.

"Let's go!" Chu Ying started the car and slowly drove up the mountain road.

Just then, a car beeped and stopped in front of Chu Ying's Wuling.