Chapter 56.2

No matter the market segment, there will always be competitors. If Qin Yan doesn’t go into the fried chicken business, someone else will. He showed some interest in this business.

Qin Yan said, “This weekend, I’ll take Liang Yong to the countryside to visit your chicken farm.”

“Sure,” Jiang Ruan said, wiping her hands and reminding Qin Yan to return before the school gates closed.

After returning to the dorm, Qin Yan grabbed a towel and some clothes, heading to the shower room in the middle of the hallway. Xu Zhongjin followed him, seeking his advice.

“I broke up with Lu Sijing not because of her reporting her father, but because we have different values,” Xu Zhongjin said. “She’s been telling others that I wanted to break up, and now people are saying I discriminate against her for exposing her father and grandfather. Qin Yan, if you were in my shoes, what would you do?”

Did Qin Yan fall for this? There were more people in the shower room, and if he said anything, Xu Zhongjin could easily shift the blame later by saying he was merely following Qin Yan’s advice.

As for Xu Zhongjin’s talk of values, when he dated Lu Sijing, her family background was well within his consideration. Now that her father and grandfather were in prison, fellow students often whispered behind her back, saying she even reported her beloved father and grandfather.

Xu Zhongjin didn’t want to be the one to initiate the breakup, so he opted for a cold and distant approach. But he and Qin Yan just couldn’t connect on this.

“I get along great with my partner because we share the same values,” Qin Yan replied. “I can’t empathize with you. When it comes to relationships, you’re better off making your own decisions.”

Later, when Zhong Wenwen and Lu Sijing returned to the dorm, Zhong Wenwen waited for their roommate to finish washing up before saying to Lu Sijing, “Can’t you see Xu Zhongjin wants to break up with you?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Lu Sijing said. “He’s very family-oriented, so it makes sense that he’s upset because I reported my father and grandfather. I’ll give it some time. If he decides to break up, I won’t cling to him.”

Liang Yong looked all over for Jiang Ruan, first going to the school, where Qin Yan said she had gone home. Liang Yong hurried to the courtyard, but Grandma Huang said she hadn’t returned. When he got to the barbecue stall, he finally found her eating with Xun Li.

Xun Li exchanged a few words with Jiang Ruan, paid the bill, and left. Liang Yong hurried over, sat down, and massaged his calf. “I’d like to discuss an exclusive supply agreement with you.”

Jiang Ruan had just asked the stall boy how many chickens they had sold that evening—over twenty, meaning six or seven hundred a month.

She had been raising her second batch of chicks for over a month now, they’d be ready for market in about two more months.

“There are still 4,800 chickens from the first batch,” she said. “Can you handle such a large supply?”

For just a barbecue stall, taking half of the first batch would already be challenging, let alone the second batch. Jiang Ruan was focusing on farming, and since the chicks were ready for market in 120 days, she needed more sales channels besides the barbecue stall to discuss an exclusive agreement.

Liang Yong didn’t have any better ideas yet. “Yan asked me to join him in the countryside this weekend. We can discuss it further then. Until then, don’t commit to supplying anyone else.”

“Alright, we’ll discuss it over the weekend.”

“What did Xun Li want to talk about?” Liang Yong asked, worried that Xun Li was also interested in the chickens.

“Oh, he was interested in my fish farm,” Jiang Ruan replied. “He wants to catch a few to test the meat quality. I told him to wait another half month.”

So it was about the fish, not competing interests. If they did compete, Liang Yong wasn’t confident he could beat Xun Li.

Liang Yong also bought the remaining fifty unsold chickens, saying they’d last until the weekend, and settled the 500 yuan payment. He said the chickens Jiang Ruan ate today were on him.

Jiang Ruan brought a roast chicken back for Grandma Huang, who, despite her bad teeth, found it tender enough to eat and praised its delicious flavor.

Liu Jinyun smelled the aroma and came over. She was busy taking care of her granddaughter since both her husband and son were unreliable, and she had barely eaten anything for dinner.

She didn’t want to impose, but Dachun said Jiang Ruan had started raising chickens and had set up a fried chicken shop with some friends. If family supplied the chickens, maybe they’d be cheaper, so he asked her to check.

Seeing Grandma Huang not offering her a taste, Liu Jinyun felt a bit slighted. She turned to Jiang Ruan. “Your chickens are only four months old. How can they taste good?”

“They’re not bad. Do you need something?” Jiang Ruan asked.

“Your chicks are too small. They won’t sell well. My daughter-in-law is opening a fried chicken shop. Why don’t you supply her?” Liu Jinyun suggested.

“My chickens are too high-quality for fried chicken. Have her find another supplier,” Jiang Ruan replied.

Thinking Jiang Ruan was arrogant, Liu Jinyun went home and told Jiang Jianchun, “She’s pricing her chickens at five yuan each. At that price, you could buy a free-range hen from the countryside. How is she going to sell five thousand chicks?”

Jiang Jianchun was worn out from taking care of a baby and was still hurting from seeing her ex-husband accompany his new wife to a prenatal checkup. After closing their sauerkraut fish restaurant and moving to a different location, business wasn’t as good as before since it wasn’t near the school. Han Qingqing complained that the new customers weren’t as refined as the students and refused to work there.

The family had invested a lot in the fried chicken shop, owning a ten percent stake, so Jiang Jianchun hoped it would expand into the chain envisioned by Mu Xuehui.

“Zhong Wenwen’s mom chose to partner with Qingqing because of our complicated relationship with Jiang Ruan. Mom, you should be nicer to her. It’ll make things easier if we ever need to talk to her. You didn’t even find out how she raises her chickens.”

Jiang Ruan didn’t return early the next morning. When the fried chicken shop opened, she bought a fried chicken and brought it back for Qin Ao to try.

“It’s not as good as the roast chicken,” Qin Ao said. “If I hadn’t tried the grilled chicken, I might’ve found it delicious. But now, the quality of the ingredients just doesn’t compare.”

Jiang Ruan noted that fried chicken was cheaper and still had a competitive edge. “If you want to enter the fried chicken business, you’ll need a breed that costs less to feed and matures faster.”

The day before the weekend, a restaurant owner who had declined Jiang Ruan’s sales pitch the day before came by, apologizing and asking to order some chicks. She explained they had already been reserved, and she’d only know if there were any extras after the weekend.

Chang Fuxiang felt embarrassed for having initially rejected the offer and repeatedly asked Jiang Ruan to forgive his ignorance. “Most people would react like me when they hear the price is five yuan a chick.”

Jiang Ruan understood but had already agreed to discuss things with Liang Yong.

“Let’s wait until the weekend,” she said. “If there are any leftover chickens, I’ll come to your restaurant next week.”

Chang Fuxiang noticed the herbs growing in the field—some were already bearing fruit, some were still seedlings, and some were just sprouting. The herbs seemed familiar, he had seen one at his half-sister’s place when trying to claim his inheritance earlier in the year.

Based on what he had gathered, it seemed his sister wanted to get her hands on Jiang Ruan’s herbal seeds.

Though Jiang Ruan hadn’t asked, Chang Fuxiang felt the need to explain. “My sister and I have different fathers. After my mother passed away, she took half of my inheritance. Despite being related, I don’t associate with her.”

The seeds were in Jiang Ruan’s possession, and only she could successfully grow them. Regardless of the truth behind Chang Fuxiang’s words, Jiang Ruan was unafraid and sold him two chicks.

…

Chang Fuxiang went home in high spirits and carefully prepared the two chicks he had brought back. He roasted one, made Kung Pao chicken and spicy chicken offal with the other, and used the bones to make a flavorful soup. The dishes turned out delicious, and for the first time, his two sons left no leftovers. He happily asked his wife, “With these signature dishes, our restaurant’s business is sure to improve, right?”

When his wife learned where the chicks had come from, she suddenly understood. She said, “Your sister came over this morning, acting all high and mighty. She talked at length about family unity and urged me to persuade you. She even offered to let us move the restaurant back to the old family property with three years of free rent.”

Chang Fuxiang’s mother-in-law and brother-in-law lived next door. He sent his two sons over to their uncle’s place before closing the door and erupting in anger.

“She has the nerve to talk about family? It was her who drove our father to his death. Then, right after our mother passed, she divided the family estate at the funeral. If it weren’t for my brother-in-law teaching me a trade, I wouldn’t even be able to make a living now.”

And so it went, he married his brother-in-law’s sister, becoming part of their family, staying on good terms with his in-laws, and hardly interacting with his own sister.

His wife said, “Your sister just left, and then my brother came by, saying that she would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She’s only offering some benefits because she wants to use you, so you better think carefully.”

Chang Fuxiang replied, “I was in Dawang Village today and saw a large field of medicinal herb flowers. It’s strange—only the seeds cultivated by Boss Jiang have any medicinal properties. My sister wants Boss Jiang’s secret formula and seeds, but she hasn’t thought this through. I barely know Boss Jiang, I had to beg her to supply us with goods. How am I supposed to get seeds for my sister?”

His wife became anxious, “If something belongs to us, we should claim it. But if it doesn’t, we shouldn’t be greedy. Don’t you dare help your sister steal the seeds.”

Chang Fuxiang laughed, “You’re overthinking it. I haven’t forgotten how my father died. There’s no way I’d help her. I just want to see what tricks she tries next.”

…

The day before the weekend, Qin Yan called to say that he would be a little late going to the countryside. He also told Qin Ao to come to the school right away, mentioning that there was something the brothers needed to discuss.

Qin Ao felt uneasy, “Could something urgent have come up at home that can’t wait until the weekend? I’d better hurry back to the city.”

Jiang Ruan urged him to go quickly, “Since it’s Qin Yan calling for you, don’t go home first. Head straight to the school.”

Qin Ao nodded, made his way to the city, and called Qin Yan’s dormitory. While waiting outside the school, he felt quite anxious. It must be serious, knowing Qin Yan’s personality, he wouldn’t bother with anything minor.