Actually, Luo Bei doesn’t leave work on time every day. Occasionally, she accompanies the female boss to socialize, but that was before the incident when Zhou Jianguo came to pick her up on his electric scooter. The news spread not only throughout the company, but also throughout the entire building. Everyone was saying that Miss Luo on the fifteenth floor was in a romantic relationship with a very handsome boyfriend. The only downside was that her boyfriend didn’t seem to have much money, and his mode of transportation was just a small electric scooter…
Luo Bei tried to explain, but no one believed her. Eventually, she became too lazy to explain and realized that for this kind of thing, whether you explain or not, the result is the same. People only believe what they want to believe, whether it’s true or not.
Of course, these rumors had their benefits for her as well. The female boss stopped introducing potential partners to her, and she was usually not invited to accompany her boss for evening social events.
The female boss was a very caring middle-aged woman who liked Luo Bei a lot. She joked with her, “If you delay someone’s romance, you’ll be struck by lightning! Beibei, if you’re done with your work, please leave on time. It’s not appropriate for a young and pretty girl like you to accompany me to socialize with middle-aged men. If your boyfriend misunderstands, and you have a conflict, then it’s my fault.”
Luo Bei had wanted to tell her boss that she didn’t have that kind of relationship with Zhou Jianguo, but she remembered his comment about selling sugarcane and decided to keep her mouth shut.
Accompanying her boss to socialize meant that she didn’t have time to sell sugarcane or make money.
She decided to just let it go and not argue, since the situation was different now.
“Thank you, CEO Zhang.” Luo Bei knew that she wasn’t good at acting, so she just lowered her head to express her shyness.
The construction site where Zhou Jianguo works usually finishes work at six o’clock because the surrounding area is mostly residential. If there is too much noise, the residents will call to complain. After a few times, the boss of the construction site also became annoyed and asked the construction workers to finish work at six o’clock.
Originally, Luo Bei wanted Zhou Jianguo to come to her house for dinner after work. For her family, it was just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks and a bowl. But Zhou Jianguo firmly refused.
His reasons were very valid, “I’m not your relative. Occasionally going to your house is okay, but it’s not good to do it often. It’s an annoying thing, and it’s also difficult for me. If I don’t want to eat for free, how much money should I give you? If I give you money, you won’t take it. If I don’t give it, I will feel bad. It’s easy to cause gossip. It’s better to be clear. It’s also very convenient for me to cook. I can cook rice with an electric cooker when I take a shower. I can eat as soon as I finish showering, and it won’t delay my time. I’m also more comfortable this way.
“If I ever feel like going to your house for dinner is a matter of course, you won’t even have time to cry. Don’t spoil me. I don’t want to be a nuisance.”
Zhou Jianguo’s values and principles are very sound, and he is very considerate of others. He neither takes advantage of others nor lets others take advantage of him.
When Luo Bei returned home, it was already almost half past six, and the food was ready. She washed her hands and started eating.
Zhao Pianpian eats at Luo’s house every day, but she follows the rules. When she pays rent every month, she gives an extra two to three thousand yuan as living expenses. It is precisely because of this extra income that the food at Luo’s house is now very good. Basically, there are two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup every day, and the nutrition is very balanced.
“After dinner, are you going out to sell sugarcane?” Zhao Pianpian asked.
After a few days of adjustment, they had already accepted that after working all day, Luo Bei would rush out to sell sugarcane and earn money.
Luo Bei nodded, “Yeah, we agreed to meet on the first floor at 6:45. If I’m late, the consequences will be severe.”
Zhao Pianpian asked, “Will Xiao Zhou scold you?”
“No,” Luo Bei and Zhou Jianguo had known each other for so long and he had never raised his voice to her or scolded her. “I’ll feel self-reproach in my heart.”
Zhao Pianpian: “….”
It was true that after doing business with Zhou Jianguo, Luo Bei had learned from him and now believed that wasting time and being late were bad habits.
While serving some vegetables to Luo Bei, Grandma Luo happily remarked, “I think you’ve become better after doing business with Xiao Zhou. Young people need endless enthusiasm and drive. Whether or not you make money is secondary. The main thing is that your attitude is becoming more positive. Grandma is happy to see that.”
“But I’m spending less and less time with you,” Luo Bei said with some guilt.
Grandma is over sixty years old this year. If it weren’t for Zhao Pianpian bringing her child to keep Grandma company, Grandma would be watching TV alone again while Luo Bei went out to sell sugarcane after work and keep herself busy.
Grandma waved her hand nonchalantly. “As long as I see you sleeping at home every day, I’m at ease. You don’t have to accompany me after work, I don’t want to be a burden. You can boldly do what you want to do, and I will always support you.”
“En,” Luo Bei nodded. It seemed that no matter what she wanted to do, Grandma would always support her.
Luo Bei arrived at the first floor at 6:40 and Zhou Jianguo was already there. He had borrowed an electric tricycle from his colleague, and it was loaded with several bundles of sugarcane, a machine, and plastic bags.
Zhou Jianguo pointed to the empty space on the back seat. “Get on.”
Luo Bei hesitated. “Will it tip over?”
“No,” Zhou Jianguo said confidently, “I’m good at riding bikes. Besides, can you make the tricycle tip over with your weight?”
Luo Bei laughed, taking it as a compliment that she was thin.
Luo Bei promptly sat on the electric tricycle. The things they prepared were quite comprehensive. As Zhou Jianguo said, selling sugarcane did not require much cost. Zhou Jianguo’s coworker’s family grew sugarcane, and because of his good relationship with them, they got lower prices than others. They didn’t spend much money on the goods they brought in.
Zhou Jianguo chose the entrance of the urban village where many people set up stalls. It was very close to the park, and there was a considerable amount of foot traffic.
As soon as he got off the tricycle, he took out two sugarcane sticks and put them in a bag on the side.
“I’ll peel and cut, and you’ll be responsible for collecting money and giving change,” he said.
Luo Bei was touched. He really did give her all the easy tasks and kept the heavy work for himself.
“Then you sweep up the sugarcane peel that I cut, and throw it in the trash can over there,” he continued.
Luo Bei nodded. “Well, actually, I can help you peel.”
Zhou Jianguo was wearing short sleeves. His arms looked very powerful at first glance, and he glanced at Luo Bei’s thin arms and legs and said, “I can peel in one or two minutes, but you’ll take ten minutes. Let me do it. Efficiency is key.”
… I see, it’s because she is not strong enough and not fast enough.
It’s summer now, and there are many kinds of fruits, such as watermelon, pineapple, lychee, and dragon fruit… However, as Zhou Jianguo said, no one is currently selling pre-cut sugarcane in this area.
At first, Luo Bei thought that business wouldn’t be too good on the first day of selling, but to her surprise, someone came to buy it as soon as they finished talking.
The person looked at the small pieces of sugarcane and immediately paid for one and asked Zhou Jianguo to help pick one for him.
“Help me pick a sweet one,” the person said.
Zhou Jianguo pretended to pick for a while and picked one out, “I guarantee it’s sweet.”
His speed was indeed very fast. He probably practiced at home for the past two days. He cut a bag of sugarcane in just a few minutes and instructed Luo Bei to give the person an extra plastic bag, “Sugarcane residue can be spit out in the bag.”
One sugarcane sells for ten yuan, which may not be bought by anyone, but a bag of pre-cut sugarcane looks like a lot, and someone will come to buy it for ten yuan.
In no time, ten pieces were sold… After calculating, Luo Bei realized that she had earned pure profit of eighty yuan!
The fruit market is still large. Now, there are fruit shops every few stores on the street, and then there are these small vendors. Luo Bei originally thought it was a saturated market, but she didn’t expect them to find a loophole. However, she had a new concern: “Someone will sell sugarcane soon and compete with us.”
This is a normal phenomenon. When a business is good, someone will immediately come to imitate it.
Luo Bei didn’t think much about it before, but now she worried that her business would be taken away, and she couldn’t help but get a little angry.
Looking at her, Zhou Jianguo asked in a low voice, “Do you think you are pretty?”
Luo Bei was startled. She wasn’t shy in front of Zhou Jianguo. She gave an objective evaluation of her looks, “Not bad.”
“You’re being humble. You are very beautiful, fair-skinned, and more attractive than many actresses. You must have many admirers, right?”
Everyone likes compliments, and Luo Bei is no exception. She felt happy when she heard Zhou Jianguo’s words, “Yes.”
“Then do you think I’m handsome?” Zhou Jianguo touched his face. He had tanned a lot in the summer, but it didn’t affect his handsomeness.
“Very handsome. You are even more handsome than many celebrities. With your figure, you can be a model.”
Zhou Jianguo nodded reservedly, “Thank you. Beauty is a scarce resource. You are beautiful, I am handsome. Those fruit sellers cannot compete with our looks. We are walking advertisements. Men come to buy because you are beautiful, and women come because I am handsome. So don’t worry if there are people selling sugarcane tomorrow. Be confident in yourself.”
Luo Bei was instantly comforted.
She couldn’t help but straightened her back and looked very proud.
Yes, their looks are a walking advertisement!
It would be outrageous for someone to try to compete with them.
Seeing her expression, Zhou Jianguo couldn’t help but laugh.
Such is the truth of the world 😶
Thanks for the chapter!