Volume One, Chapter 8: A Turning Point

“Boss Guo, let’s not get worked up!”

Zheng Weiguang hadn’t expected Guo Dong to react so strongly.

He slightly regretted having bargained so harshly—maybe if he had offered just a little more, the deal could have been settled.

“Worked up about what?” Guo Dong, looking like a lone wolf, cast a cold glance at Zheng Weiguang.

“I’m putting it out there today: if it’s less than thirty, there’s no deal!

I just don’t believe that with peaches like mine, I can’t sell them!”

Zheng Weiguang’s expression darkened.

Their voices were low, so no one else knew what was happening.

Some villagers had already started picking peaches.

Seeing this, Zheng Weiguang took a deep breath and said, “Boss Guo, I understand you’re eager to pay off debts by selling these fruits.

I won’t say much more—let me add five yuan, fifteen per jin.

If that’s acceptable, we can proceed right now…”

“Get lost!”

Before Zheng Weiguang could finish, Guo Dong snapped angrily.

His good mood evaporated because of this matter.

Now he understood—Zheng Weiguang was exploiting his urgent need for money to pressure him.

Nonsense about pesticides!

As a fruit merchant who frequently dealt with farmers, could he not tell if pesticides had been used?

“Don’t get excited, Boss Guo. Business is all about negotiation, right?”

But Guo Dong wasn’t the type to negotiate or give the other party a chance.

“These peaches will rot right here before I sell them to you. Get out immediately!”

“Alright, thanks everyone. Let’s not pick the peaches today. I’m not selling them!”

Guo Dong’s words instantly caught everyone’s attention.

“What’s going on? Why suddenly not selling? Weren’t negotiations going well before?”

“Yeah, Guodong, the price is fair, and the boss seems decent. If you don’t sell now, when will you?”

Guo Dong didn’t explain; he lifted a pesticide sprayer and started to leave.

Seeing his anger, Zheng Weiguang regretted his stance a bit.

“The price can’t be agreed on!” he said.

As Guo Dong’s grandfather, Guo An had the most authority here. He stepped over and asked, “What’s the problem with the price?”

“I just pushed down the price a bit because these peaches don’t quite match what I saw before.”

Guo An glanced at Guo Dong, who was untying the dog leash, and asked, “Guodong, what’s going on? What price did he offer?”

Without turning his head, Guo Dong replied, “He cut it in half, Grandpa. We’re not selling these peaches.”

Hearing this, the villagers grew displeased.

“Boss, cutting the price in half is a bit harsh. One and a half yuan per jin? You won’t find that anywhere else.”

“Exactly, look at the quality of these peaches. One and a half is definitely too low.”

Zheng Weiguang forced a bitter smile and quickly corrected, “Not one and a half—fifteen!”

“How much?”

Sometimes when faced with a huge contrast, the mind just freezes.

That was the scene now.

A group stood there, none able to react immediately.

“Fifteen yuan per jin? That’s quite a lot!” Zheng Weiguang feigned helplessness, as if he were the one taking a loss.

Only then did the villagers begin to comprehend.

Seeing Guo Dong ready to leave with the black dog, one by one they surrounded him.

“Guodong, what are you thinking? Fifteen!”

“Are you crazy over money? Fifteen yuan per jin—your two acres can bring in hundreds of thousands. That’s a fortune!”

Guo Dong took a deep breath.

He understood why they were stopping him and said, “Uncle Kun, Uncle Fu, do you know what price we agreed on in the city?”

“How much?”

The crowd pressed for an answer.

“Thirty! Thirty yuan per jin! It was all settled well, but once here, knowing I’m desperate for cash, they slashed it in half.

Tell me, how can people be like that?

If everyone acted this way, what’s the point of honesty?”

A collective gasp filled the air.

Thirty yuan per jin! These weren’t just peaches; they were practically divine fruit.

None present had ever bought peaches that expensive.

Not only had they never bought them, they’d never even heard of such a price.

It was a sky-high price!

“Guodong, we’re all farmers here. We can’t fight against them. Fifteen yuan is already not low.

Maybe… just swallow your pride and sell?”

“Exactly. If you lose this village, there won’t be another buyer. Acting on impulse now will only bring regret later.”

Guodong didn’t answer but turned his gaze to his grandfather.

By now, Guo An had also recovered from his shock.

Seeing Guo Dong looking at him, he glanced at Zheng Weiguang and took a deep breath.

“Guodong, we won’t sell these peaches.

I’ve told you before, whatever you do, honesty is essential.

If he says our peaches have quality issues, I can accept that.

But if it’s for other reasons,

then we won’t do business.”

“Today, these peaches…

we won’t sell them!”

Guo An’s words finally drained Zheng Weiguang’s patience.

“Boss Guo, I’ll add another five yuan—twenty. How about that?”

Guo Dong tugged the black dog and walked down the mountain without looking back.

“Twenty-five. That’s my final bottom line!”

Guo Dong still ignored him, a hint of a mocking smile curling on his lips.

This was Zheng Weiguang’s true nature, and Guo Dong saw it clearly now.

Tempted?

Of course, tempted. But as his grandfather said, one must have principles!

Since childhood, Guo Dong had learned traditional medicine from his grandfather. Though not an expert, the very first lesson was eight words:

“Bold yet meticulous, straightforward yet flexible.”

In other words, besides careful thought, traditional medicine demanded integrity, utmost sincerity, and a noble spirit.

So he despised Zheng Weiguang’s behavior and refused to associate with him.

That was his bottom line.

“Guo Dong, think carefully. If you don’t sell these peaches to me,

no fruit merchant in Hongwu County will dare to buy from you.

Your peaches will rot right here!”

A blatant threat.

Guo Dong laughed coldly and turned to look at Zheng Weiguang.

“Boss Zheng, though I’m short on money, I have my principles.

These peaches will rot in the fields before I sell them to you!”

Zheng Weiguang’s face turned ashen, his breathing labored.

Pointing at Guo Dong, he said each word deliberately, “Fine, I’ll watch your peaches rot on this mountain.

I put that out here today.

No fruit merchant in Hongwu County dares to come for your peaches!”

At that moment…

“I’ll take these peaches!”

At the foot of the mountain, Meng Xiaohan appeared with a woman, slowly making their way uphill.

The woman wore sunglasses and smiled warmly as she walked.

A sudden turn of events!

Hearing this, Guo Dong stopped and cast a puzzled glance at Meng Xiaohan.

“Showing up to back yourself?” a strange thought crossed Guo Dong’s mind.