Once Madam Zhang realized Wang Cheng had seen her, she stopped hesitating and sashayed inside, immediately replacing her expression with a broad smile. One look was enough to tell that she wanted something from them. Otherwise she would never be acting so ingratiating. Normally, she could barely conceal how much she disliked them.
“Wang Cheng, my goodness, you’re about to eat? That smells wonderful. Your mom really is a good cook. Even your Second Aunt has to admit I can’t compare with her.” The moment Madam Zhang entered, she began showering Mama Wang with praise.
Wang Cheng was completely unmoved. “Second Aunt, you can skip the pleasantries. If you have something to say, just say it. Our family still has dinner to eat.” In other words, say it and leave quickly. Do not delay their meal.
Madam Zhang remembered that she was the one asking for a favor and could only swallow her irritation. Sooner or later, however, she would get it back.
“Since you’ve said that, then your Second Aunt will get straight to the point. I came here because of your cousin. You know that ever since he graduated, he hasn’t been able to find a job. He just stays home with nothing to do, but he can’t go on like that forever. I… heard you were hiring workers, so I wondered whether you could let your cousin give it a try?”
The cousin she meant was Wang Ningshan, who was the same age as Wang Cheng and had graduated a year ago. Because he could not endure hardship, none of the jobs he had found over the past year lasted even a month. Some he abandoned before finishing his first day. Instead of reflecting on his own mistakes, he complained endlessly that his bosses or coworkers were terrible and that people only made him do heavy work.
Madam Zhang treasured this son of hers like a precious jewel. She had once pulled strings everywhere to get him an easy bookkeeping job, only for him to be sent home after a few days because he could not keep the accounts straight and repeatedly made mistakes. What employer would dare let him continue handling the books?
Over the course of a year, Wang Ningshan went through seven or eight jobs. After deciding that not a single one suited him, he simply stayed home and let Madam Zhang and Second Uncle wait on him like an ancestor.
Madam Zhang and Second Uncle spoiled him, but they still hoped he would amount to something. They considered giving him money to start a business but worried he would ruin it. Besides, Wang Ningshan had such a poor reputation that no one nearby wanted to hire him. After turning the problem over in their minds, they heard several days ago that Wang Cheng was hiring workers and decided to come sound him out. Second Uncle cared too much about saving face, so he sent Madam Zhang instead.
“Second Aunt, I’m afraid Cousin Ningshan isn’t suited for this job,” Wang Cheng said truthfully. He had no desire whatsoever to hire this particular relative. The reason Wang Ningshan could never hold down a job lay entirely with himself. He was lazy, hated work, and thought only about taking advantage of others and enjoying an easy life. How could he possibly last anywhere? He might have a university diploma, but during those years at school, all he had learned was how to eat, drink, and play. Other people might forget what they had studied and still be able to squeeze something out. Wang Ningshan could not even squeeze out a fart.
“It’s only running errands and delivering things. How could he not be suited?” Madam Zhang heard the rejection in Wang Cheng’s words, and the smile on her face faded slightly.
“Since Second Aunt wants to hear it, I’ll break it down for you. First, this job involves physical labor. Cousin Ningshan is so delicate he can barely do any work. How is he supposed to handle it? Second, most of my customers are supermarkets throughout Shanhai City, so I need someone who knows the city well. Cousin Ningshan practically never leaves the house. I’m afraid he’d get lost the moment he walked out of Guanjia Village.”
Madam Zhang could no longer keep smiling. Her son had just been described as almost completely useless, but for his sake she forced herself to endure it. “How do you know if you don’t let him try?”
“He can’t even take care of himself. What exactly is there to try? Second Aunt, are you joking with me?” Wang Cheng spread his hands helplessly.
“Don’t think that just because your family is doing well now, you can stop respecting your relatives. Ningshan is still your cousin. Who talks about their own cousin like that? You think I care that much? I don’t need your family!” Madam Zhang finally dropped the act.
“If you don’t need us, then leave.” Mama Wang came out carrying the plate of free-range chicken. She had clearly heard their conversation, and she was no longer particularly polite with Madam Zhang either.
Madam Zhang finally stormed off in a huff.
Wang Cheng and his parents did not lose their appetites over it. They were not the ones who had been humiliated, so they simply carried on as usual. None of them took the matter to heart. They had no idea that several days later, it would escalate.
Since he still had not found a delivery worker, Wang Cheng spent the next few days making deliveries himself. Whenever he entered the city and happened to be near the company, he would call Chu Yifeng. Neither of them brought up the subject they had discussed before. Something like that could only be allowed to take its natural course.
After finishing a delivery and returning to the jam shop, Wang Cheng found an unexpected visitor. It was Zheng Jingen, the man who had bought a large amount of jam from him some time earlier. Well-traveled and knowledgeable, Zheng Jingen was getting along with Papa Wang just as easily as Chu Yifeng had when the two first met.
“Chengcheng, you’re back at just the right time. Mr. Zheng is here.” Papa Wang was facing the door and spotted him immediately, waving him over.
Zheng Jingen turned and nodded to him. “I’m bothering you again. The batch of jam I bought last time was very popular. I’d like to order some more. I don’t know whether you still have any.”
“Of course we do.” Business had come to his door. How could Wang Cheng possibly refuse?
“That’s excellent.”
“But Mr. Zheng, you really don’t need to make the trip personally. Just call me next time and I’ll arrange everything for you. When the time comes, you can simply send someone to collect the order.” Wang Cheng was genuinely thinking of his convenience. Wealthy people were usually busy. Chu Yifeng was the same. He might often look idle, but Wang Cheng had already noticed that he frequently worked on his laptop, though Wang Cheng had no idea what he was doing.
“When you spend too long in a big city, it’s nice to come somewhere like this occasionally, relax, and change your mood.” Zheng Jingen shook his head. If he sent a subordinate instead, how was he supposed to get closer to this family? Some matters went back too many years. He had already sent people to investigate, but they still had not found anything useful.
“Exactly, exactly. The countryside is wonderful. The air is definitely fresher than in the big cities. You’re still young, Mr. Zheng. If you wait until you’re old to appreciate things like this, it’ll be too late.” Papa Wang immediately agreed. He actually hoped Mr. Zheng would visit often. Ever since chatting with Boss Chu, it had been a long time since Papa Wang had enjoyed a conversation as much as this one.
Wang Cheng looked helpless. That was simply what his father was like.
Zheng Jingen wanted another fairly large order this time, but the warehouse did not have enough stock. After Wang Cheng explained the situation, Zheng Jingen said he was willing to wait. By the afternoon, Papa Wang warmly invited him to stay for a meal. Zheng Jingen did not refuse, so Wang Cheng had no choice but to call Mama Wang and tell her to cook for one extra person.
The Wang family ate simple home cooking, and even with a guest, the meal did not change much. Papa Wang had worried that Zheng Jingen might not be used to such food, but when he saw him eating normally and even praising the dishes, Papa Wang’s opinion of the young man improved even further.
In truth, in Papa Wang’s eyes, anyone who could hold a good conversation was a decent person.
After seeing Zheng Jingen off, Wang Cheng drove out to buy fruit. The fruit growers in the village all knew that his family was making jam, so no one was surprised when he came to them. The two sides settled on a price and completed the transaction on the spot. Wang Cheng paid the same as the going wholesale rate. It was not higher than market price, but it was still much better than what the fruit dealers who constantly forced prices down would pay. When the grower received a thick stack of hundred-yuan notes, his smile deepened every wrinkle on his face.
“Wang Cheng, if you want to buy fruit again next time, come to me anytime.” The middle-aged man surnamed Li smiled broadly. Selling to Wang Cheng also saved him the cost of fuel, making it a very good deal.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Li. If I need more, I’ll definitely come to you. Just remember to give me a discount next time.” Wang Cheng was happy to deal with people like them too.
“Sure, no problem!” Uncle Li agreed heartily.
After saying goodbye, Wang Cheng took the fruit to the small workshop and helped several workers carry the baskets inside one after another. Mama Wang came out from inside wearing an apron and gloves she had not yet removed. Water was still dripping from her hands.
“Chengcheng, perfect timing. We’re almost out of jam jars in the storeroom. When you have time, go buy another batch. Also find a chance to take the finished jam over for packaging.”
Wang Cheng nodded repeatedly. He really did need to find a delivery worker. Doing this for a day or two was manageable, but running back and forth every single day was exhausting. When he spoke to Chu Yifeng on the phone that night, his voice sounded drained. Chu Yifeng asked what was wrong, and Wang Cheng told him the truth.
“Want me to introduce someone?”
“No need. Anyone you, Boss Chu, recommend is bound to be capable, but I don’t want to waste talent on a small job like this. I’ll keep looking. I’ll find someone eventually.”
The next day, Wang Cheng drove the truck to the packaging factory with half a load of jam, then went to pick up a truckload of jam jars. He had called several days earlier, and the manufacturer had already packed the order and was waiting for him to collect it. The jar factory was not far from the packaging plant. Wang Cheng arrived ten minutes later, and the factory manager welcomed him warmly. Wang Cheng was pressed for time, so he did not stay long. Just as he was about to leave, however, a commotion suddenly broke out at the entrance of another factory nearby.
Everyone who heard the noise went over to watch. Wang Cheng glanced over instinctively. Someone seemed to have been thrown out, and a stream of angry curses drifted across the distance, none of them pleasant to hear.