Chapter 2: Shopping Spree

Ruan Xiaotang stood outside Haoge’s slaughterhouse. Through the iron fence, the inside was brightly lit, with refrigerated trucks lined up waiting for the processed pork and beef to be sent to different cities.

Ruan Xiaotang, with a practiced air, found the manager’s office after some inquiries.

She went straight to the point, “I want one hundred pigs and one hundred cattle. Can they be delivered today?”

The manager glanced at the young girl in front of him, surprised by her age and her bold request.

He impatiently pushed his glasses up his nose, looking down on her and questioning, “Miss, that’s a large order. First, you need to sign a contract, and second, you need to pay in full. Go back and discuss it with your boss. I’m busy!”

He looked down on her and wanted to get rid of her.

But she was no longer the same.

She was now a wealthy woman with a bulging wallet.

A real little rich woman!

Money brought Ruan Xiaotang a strong sense of security and overflowing confidence.

With a firm and confident gaze, she met the manager’s perfunctory eyes, “My boss just opened a meat processing factory, mainly producing sausages, cured meats, and beef jerky. We urgently need a large quantity of fresh meat. I was referred here. Since you’re busy, I’ll take my leave…”

Upon hearing the words “meat processing factory,” the manager’s eyes lit up. He quickly changed his attitude, adopting a servile expression and said with a chuckle, “Oh, my apologies, Miss. I didn’t recognize you. I’ll take this deal. I guarantee quality and delivery. If you’re not satisfied, you can return the goods anytime!”

“Have some water.”

The manager diligently got up and poured her a glass of lukewarm water.

His attitude had done a complete 180.

It really proves the saying, “Money makes the world go round!”

Ruan Xiaotang felt a wave of contempt, silently criticizing him in her heart.

On the surface, she remained calm and stated her requirements forcefully, “One hundred pigs, the meat cut into five-kilograms portions. The pork ribs should be chopped into five-kilograms portions. The pig heads, trotters, and offal must be cleaned thoroughly. One hundred cattle, with the same cutting method as the pork. Remember, the workers must be careful when cleaning the hides.”

The manager, a veteran butcher, didn’t need pen and paper for this request. How to cut each part and how many pound each cut should be was second nature to him.

He calmly replied, “It will be delivered before five o’clock this afternoon. Please leave your delivery address.”

Ruan Xiaotang wrote down the address of the cold storage facility she had rented in advance.

She swiped her card, signed, and left.

As she walked out of the slaughterhouse, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

The fresh air of the suburbs, mixed with the fragrance of soil, was refreshing.

It made one want to take a few more deep breaths.

However, she had no time to appreciate the beauty of the early morning. Ruan Xiaotang immediately boarded a bus and headed to her next destination: the city’s largest agricultural wholesale market.

Her first stop was the vegetable section.

Following the same pattern, she found the area manager, explained her intentions, and got straight to the point.

This manager was honest, forthright, and practical, without a single question.

It didn’t matter who he sold the goods to; as long as he sold them, he would meet his monthly sales target. Why not?

He didn’t care what she used them for or whether there would be any waste.

Business is all about profit.

“Miss, let’s start. As long as it’s not a controlled substance, if we have it, I’ll provide it. If not, I’ll find a way to get it for you.”

She liked his straightforwardness.

Ruan Xiaotang relaxed, opened her lips, and rattled off her order like a machine gun.

Vegetables:

“1000 kilograms of Chinese cabbage, 50 kilograms per package; 100 kilograms of scallions, 10 jin per bundle; 100 kilograms of carrots, 10 kilograms per bag; 100 kilograms of daikon radish, 10 kilograms per bag; white radish, celery, potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, red onion, white onion, turnips, green beans, yardlong beans, long beans, watercress, cucumbers, pumpkins, baby pumpkins, winter melon, enoki mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, straw mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, chicken leg mushrooms, coriander, green peppers, chili peppers, small chili peppers, bell peppers, sweet peppers, rapeseed, oil spinach, garland chrysanthemum, garlic sprouts, and garlic, all 100 kilograms each.”

The manager focused on the computer screen, his fingers rapidly tapping the keyboard, trying to keep up with the customer’s rapid-fire order.

This was the most extravagant purchase he had ever encountered. His brain was so excited that he was slightly overwhelmed.

Manager, sorry!

Ruan Xiaotang gave him a gentle smile and asked considerately, “Did you write down everything?”

“Yes, I made sure not to miss anything.”

The manager nodded confidently.

His eyes were resolute as he guaranteed, “You can trust me!”

“Then I’ll continue.”

The manager made a gesture of invitation.

Next were cigarettes, alcohol, tea, milk, candy, and drinks.

“50 cartons each of Huazi, Yunyan, Guiyan, Jinsheng, Shuangxi, Golden Leaf, Furongwang, Liqun, Yellow Crane Tower, Septwolves, and Marlboro cigarettes.”

“30 boxes each of Snow Beer, Harbin Beer, Pearl River Beer, Xuanhemen Beer, Tsingtao Beer, and Budweiser.”

“100 cartons each of Moutai Prince Liquor, Moutai Welcome Liquor, Wuliangye, Xifeng Liquor, Luzhou Laojiao, Erguotou, and Hengshui Laobaigan; 50 cartons each of red wine, white wine, sorghum wine, millet wine, and chestnut wine.”

“10 cans each of West Lake Longjing, Dongting Biluochun, Maojian, Maofeng, Lu’an Guapian, black tea, Tieguanyin, and Yancha(rock) tea.”

“100 cartons each of pure milk, banana milk, Nutri-Express, yogurt, Wangzai milk, lactic acid bacteria, Shuangwaiwai, and AD calcium milk.”