Early the next morning.
Wu Jun opened his eyes to the whirring sound of the range hood in the other room.
He didn’t even have to think to know that Xu Fei was already in the kitchen, cooking.
Ever since he gave Xu Fei a key to the supermarket, the girl had been coming in earlier and earlier.
He stretched languidly in bed, then got up and dressed.
As soon as he opened the door, Xu Fei’s voice called out from the kitchen, "Brother Wu, it’s still early. Why aren’t you sleeping in? Did I make too much noise and wake you?"
"I’m fully rested. I can’t just let you serve me breakfast in bed, can I?" Wu Jun replied with a shake of his head and a smile. He walked into the bathroom to wash up, feeling like he was being completely spoiled by Xu Fei.
After washing up, he came out and went into the kitchen, where Xu Fei was setting out the bowls and chopsticks.
Wu Jun took a spoon from the cabinet, about to help serve the rice, but Xu Fei, having just set down the tableware, turned and snatched the spoon back. "Brother Wu, you sit. I’ll do it."
Wu Jun gave a helpless smile. "Xu Fei, you’re turning me into one of those spoiled rich kids who just holds out his hands to be dressed and opens his mouth to be fed. This won’t do. I’m lazy by nature, and just when I was starting to be a little more diligent, you’re sending me right back to my old ways."
"That’s not true! Brother Wu, you’re running around outside every day. You’re much more tired than I am. Just leave these little things to me." Xu Fei finished serving the rice, placed it in front of Wu Jun, and handed him a pair of chopsticks.
Wu Jun thought about it and realized she was right. Ever since Xu Fei had come along, he’d been spending less and less time at the little supermarket.
He was running around all over the place every day, which was indeed much more tiring than when he was just selling rice before, but he was also making more money, and his life felt much more fulfilling.
Before getting the [Resource Tycoon] system, he used to just sit behind the checkout counter every day, watching movies, TV shows, and scrolling through short videos. All that time was completely wasted.
If a shelf was running low on stock, he’d just make a call, and the supplier would deliver it.
Although Wu Jun’s little supermarket wasn’t big, it could still sell over 30,000 yuan worth of goods a month. It was a case of ’even a mosquito is meat,’ and the delivery guys from several department store suppliers would fight over each other to impress him.
When they delivered the goods, Wu Jun didn’t have to lift a finger. They would all rush to stack the items neatly on the shelves for him. All he had to do was sit behind the counter and collect the money.
Every month, he’d take home a meager income of a few thousand yuan. As a single man, it was enough to get by. He lived a leisurely and carefree life, like some retired old timer.
No wonder Ma Dongmei used to say that if he ever lost the supermarket, he wouldn’t know how to survive. He had such a lazy bone in his body that he probably couldn’t even handle hauling bricks.
He had gotten used to his lax lifestyle over the years; joining a company and being tied down by all their rules and regulations was even more out of the question.
Back when he had a regular job, Wu Jun had loathed the so-called "6S" management system.
A single word from a leader or boss would have a bunch of employees below working themselves to death, with not a moment of peace. It truly was ’one minute on the clock, sixty seconds of dedication.’
Even though he’d been in the workforce for several years, he was miles behind Xu Fei, who had just graduated and started working.
Wu Jun paused, his chopsticks hovering, and stared at Xu Fei as she ate in small, delicate bites. He was lost in thought for a moment.
"What’s wrong, Brother Wu? Is there something on my face?" Xu Fei asked, confused, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"There’s a grain of rice on the corner of your mouth." Wu Jun reached out, his two fingers stopping about ten centimeters from her lips. He made a pinching motion in the air, then flicked his fingers toward his own mouth as if eating a peanut.
"Brother Wu, you’re just teasing me." Xu Fei’s face flushed red, and she lowered her head to quickly shovel rice into her mouth.
"Eat up, eat up." Wu Jun chuckled, then said suddenly, "Xu Fei, I feel like you’re a bit wasted here. With your work ethic, you could find a good job anywhere. If you ever want to leave and see what else is out there, don’t be embarrassed. Just tell me directly."
Xu Fei put down her chopsticks, lowered her head, and said, "I think it’s great here. This is the job I want. Unless Brother Wu kicks me out, I’m not leaving."
"Who would be willing to get rid of such an excellent employee? Don’t overthink things. Have some more food." Wu Jun put a piece of food on Xu Fei’s plate with his chopsticks, ending the conversation.
’If Xu Fei really does leave one day,’ Wu Jun thought, ’I’ll probably have a hard time finding another employee as sweet and obedient as her.’
They finished breakfast before six. Xu Fei washed the pot and dishes while Wu Jun waited behind the checkout counter for customers to arrive.
Around 6:20, he finally sold the first bag of rice for the morning.
Compared to previous days, this sales pace was much, much slower.
Between the first bag sold and nine in the morning, he sold 10 bags of rice, earning 2,500 yuan.
Business was declining sharply day by day. He wondered when the customers who bought the first batch of rice would finish eating it.
Rice is a product with high repeat-purchase potential and customer loyalty. As long as people try your rice and find it delicious, they will come back for more once they run out.
Only after the first batch of rice was consumed could he expect the next sales peak.
At 9:10, Wu Jun called Luo Zhenggang. Today was the day to sign the purchase contract.
For the small supermarket with its dwindling daily sales, this large order was particularly important.
"President Luo, are you at work yet? Can I head over now?" Wu Jun asked once the call connected.
"I’m already at the bank," Luo Zhengang said. "Come on over now, Little Wu. I’ve already had my secretary draft the purchase contract. You can sign it as soon as you get here."
After hanging up, Wu Jun said a word to Xu Fei and strode out of the supermarket.
He hailed a taxi outside the residential complex and headed straight for the bank branch.
At the bank’s entrance, Wu Jun paid the fare, got out of the car, and walked toward the main entrance of the banking hall.
Just as he reached the entrance, the glass door was pushed open from the inside, and a tall, elegant woman walked out of the bank.
"Mr. Wu? Are you here for some business?" The woman recognized him at a glance and greeted him with a smile.
"Miss Jiang, speaking of which, I really have to thank you," Wu Jun said with a slight smile. "Thanks to you, our Hongyun Rice won that big order from your bank. I’m here today to sign the contract."
"Oh, really? Congratulations, then," Jiang Yi said, happy for him. She smiled and said, "But winning this order has nothing to do with me. It’s all due to your own strength."
Wu Jun said, "If it weren’t for that thing Miss Jiang gave me..."
Jiang Yi suddenly raised a finger to her delicate red lips, puckering them slightly in a shushing gesture.
Wu Jun froze, stopping mid-sentence.
For a classy, elegant beauty like Jiang Yi to make such a playful and cute gesture had a powerful visual impact.
"That matter was against the rules, so I hope Mr. Wu can keep it a secret for me." Jiang Yi lowered her finger and smiled. "I have to go. You should get to signing that contract. Congratulations again."
After speaking, Jiang Yi turned and walked away, brushing past Wu Jun.
"Thank you," Wu Jun murmured, pushing the door and entering the bank.
The contract signing with Luo Zhengang went very smoothly.
Wu Jun had walked in empty-handed, and less than half an hour later, he walked out of the bank holding a purchase contract worth 1.25 million yuan.