The female vendor did not stay right next to them; she gave up half of her stall for them to manage on their own and went over to the other end, where her husband was having breakfast.
Chu Minghe glanced over twice before turning back to look at Zhao Xingjian. “It’s not really appropriate to call you anything else out here. Can we just go with ‘Ge’ since the auntie said we’re brothers?”
“Fine,” Zhao Xingjian picked a pomegranate out of the basket and placed it on the stall to display it. Feeling that his response had sounded too dry and somewhat reluctant about being called “Ge,” he added, “You decide.”
He hadn’t managed his tone well, making it sound a bit cold. Chu Minghe paused, then joined in to pick out and set out the pomegranates.
“Ge… how much did you sell those pomegranates for just now?”
That first “Ge” sounded a bit grating to the ear. Zhao Xingjian endured it repeatedly without answering the question first.
“It’s just the two of us here; you don’t have to call me Ge.”
“Alright,” Chu Minghe complied obediently, building the pomegranates in his hands into a small pyramid. “Then how much did you sell them for?”
“Eight yuan each.”
“Eight yuan each?!”
The small pyramid wobbled at his movement, and the pomegranate at the very apex rolled down, only for Zhao Xingjian to catch it with quick reflexes and place it back on top.
He had a feeling he had sold them too expensively, though he didn’t know the exact extent, but looking at Chu Minghe’s reaction, it seemed they were way too expensive.
With his expression completely unchanged, Zhao Xingjian explained, “Things are expensive for a reason.”
What reason? Chu Minghe was dying to ask him if he had simply forgotten the price.
Zhao Xingjian continued, “You picked these with your own hard work and transported them here to sell it took time and effort. Plus, I didn’t take you to get checked out after the bump on the road earlier, so this is quite generous. The expensive part is the shipping fee.”
“…”
Zhao Xingjian knew they were on camera too, so this explanation didn’t even need Chu Minghe to remind him. He really was a master at bluffing.
Not about to tear down his partner’s facade, Chu Minghe helplessly chimed in, “True, the pomegranates from our family look better than everyone else’s. Eight yuan each it is, then.”
At least they could eat a bit better.
Besides, the pomegranates were large; two of them easily weighed a catty, meaning they weren’t actually overpriced by that much.
Zhao Xingjian fished the twenty-four yuan out of his pocket and handed it straight over to Chu Minghe, who accepted it very smoothly.
He felt like a cashier’s assistant hired by a store owner, though the viewers saw it quite differently.
[I wonder what Zhao-zong’s monthly allowance is, let’s compare]
[Compare what? Isn’t that undermining Zhao-zong’s face?]
[Sisters, be realistic. Two hundred yuan in pocket money isn’t even enough for gas; it’s different from us]
[Spitting straight facts. Someone come on, Xiao Er, haul the person above out!]
Nobody came by to buy during this window. Chu Minghe took out two small potatoes and handed one to Zhao Xingjian. “You didn’t seem to eat much this morning, have this to tide you over.”
Zhao Xingjian shot him a look. If he hadn’t eaten breakfast himself, he might have actually believed Chu Minghe’s smooth-talking nonsense.
He had also noticed the married couple running the fruit stall, realizing that Chu Minghe was practicing right after learning, adapting it on the spot. He also knew, just like what he had said to the camera earlier, that they were recording a show, so he cooperated and took it.
However…
Zhao Xingjian peeled the potato skin and glanced at him again: So the little tricks and routines used on me these past two days were all picked up from somewhere. The forms of address, the actions even processed by himself to look more natural.
It looked believable and was acted out smoothly. He suddenly started believing Chu Minghe’s talk about a “comeback.”
As he chewed on a bite of the potato while pondering, realizing what it tasted like, Zhao Xingjian’s expression instantly froze. Holding the bare potato, he couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth to chew further.
The potato had been steamed, completely devoid of any seasonings, and even carried a raw, astringent taste. No matter how he ate it, something felt deeply wrong.
Looking over at Chu Minghe, who was clearly adapting much better than he was, half of his small potato was already gone.
Noticing his gaze, Chu Minghe paused. “Do you want this one of mine?”
“…”
[Where can I pick up a wife who knows how to flirt?]
[In your dreams]
[In Zhao-zong’s heart, eyes, and brain]
[You two are so cheesy]
Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Chu Minghe turned around and grabbed a bottle of water. “Want some water?”
Seeing him eat it so smoothly, Zhao Xingjian stubbornly refused to ask for water, forcing the entire potato down into his stomach.
Thinking about it, Chu Minghe mused, no wonder Zhao Xingjian likes peeling potatoes so much it turns out he just likes eating potatoes! He dug out three more and handed them over. “Here, eat more.”
“…”
He ate however many Chu Minghe handed him, resolving never to touch the vicinity of potatoes ever again for the rest of his life.
Peeling potato skin might indeed be stress-relieving, but now that the two sides canceled each other out, Chu Minghe had successfully killed off any enthusiasm he once had for peeling potatoes.
It was only when Zhao Xingjian was eating the very last one that Chu Minghe finally noticed. Originally, he had wanted to pass him two more small potatoes, but upon catching that familiar look—the exact gaze Zhao Xingjian used to give him in the past he realized that if he kept pushing those potatoes on him, he might end up turning himself into a small potato sooner rather than later.
If only he had brought his phone along. He had been too focused on the show’s entertainment value, leaving him with not even a chance to buy some snacks to smooth things over.
The twenty-four yuan in his pocket was earned from selling pomegranates, so he couldn’t spend it.
Just as he was racking his brain over how to make amends, a crowd walked up to their stall and quite a large group at that.
The fruit-selling couple assumed someone was coming to smash their stall. Having gone years without encountering such an incident, both of them were briefly stunned.
However, the group walked straight up to Chu Minghe and Zhao Xingjian’s pile of pomegranates and stopped moving.
Chu Minghe briefly pushed Zhao Xingjian aside, raised his eyes, and found them looking somewhat familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before. “Do you want to buy some pomegranates?”
Zhao Xingjian: “…”
Cheng Zhou felt a little heartbroken. “We literally met just two days ago, you know.”
Chu Minghe paused, still failing to recall, but a single “Scram” from Zhao Xingjian gave him a vague trace of memory. Smiling, he said, “I remember you. We met two days ago, right?”
That single sentence made Cheng Zhou beam with joy. Zhao Xingjian furrowed his brows and stared. “Why did you bring so many people on TV?”
“How is that possible?!”
Cheng Zhou shifted his gaze away from Chu Minghe’s face. In his excitement, he accidentally bumped against the stall, causing another pomegranate from the small pyramid to roll down. Zhao Xingjian caught it and stacked it back up to interrupt him. “Stand further back.”
“You gotta protect these pomegranates like they’re precious,” Cheng Zhou pouted, gesturing vaguely at the pile. “How much for the whole lot? Buy them all out for me, and then take me out to eat some country-style dishes I’m starving.”
This wasn’t a customer coming to wreck the place; this looked more like a showing off, territory-marking bully. Zhao Xingjian didn’t say a word, quietly plotting to call Cheng Zhou’s eldest sister later and have her kick this guy right back home.
Seeing him stay silent, Cheng Zhou turned around with a smile and asked Chu Minghe, “So… what should I call you? Sister-in-law?”
[Who is this guy, acting both foolish and handsome?]
[Go to my profile, I’ve got detailed introductions for all six guests. The foolish and handsome one is pinned at the top of the comments, just posted it.]
Cheng Zhou’s family background had deep ties with the Zhao family. When the Zhao family’s company had run into minor trouble back then, they had stepped in to help, though unfortunately their help hadn’t stopped Chu Minghe from taking advantage of the situation. Even so, their business growth over the past few years had still surged them straight to the top spot.
Unfortunately, his appearance right here gave off a distinctly nouveau riche vibe.
Chu Minghe couldn’t accept being called “sister-in-law,” so he smiled and replied, “Just call me by my name.”
Cheng Zhou was delighted and shouted, “Minghe.”
“…”
This fellow lacked common sense. Zhao Xingjian felt a throbbing ache at his temples, though Chu Minghe didn’t mind it, finding it rather cordial.
“How much are you selling these pomegranates for? I’ll take the whole lot so we can go get lunch.” Cheng Zhou shooed away the bodyguards following behind him, leaving behind only a single car key.
Before Chu Minghe could say anything, Zhao Xingjian directly shut him down.
“What for? You won’t even be able to drive back without me.”
The moment he arrived, he had seen the old man sell the flatbed cart and the ox to another grandpa.
Hearing this, Chu Minghe’s attitude shifted rapidly. Knowing this was definitely the production team’s handiwork, it was a fortunate stroke of luck that Cheng Zhou a spectator who had come to watch the fun had shown up halfway to intercept.
Putting aside any concerns about the show’s effect, he certainly couldn’t make Zhao Xingjian walk five kilometers back. Glancing at the pile of pomegranates, he briskly named a price.
“Eighty yuan each.”
Zhao Xingjian snapped his head around to stare at him.
What kind of operation was this?
[No wonder the two of them are a pair, matched made in heaven.]
[Eight yuan each made my jaw drop, eighty yuan each made me snap my jaw back into place, my celestial cap just flew right off]
[The cap]
With Chu Minghe pricing them at eighty yuan each, and fifty-six pomegranates remaining in the pile, if Cheng Zhou bought the whole lot, it came out to 4,480 yuan. That pile of pomegranates instantly transformed into a mountain of gold.
Cheng Zhou wasn’t short on money, but he wasn’t a fool either. Eighty yuan for a pomegranate picked off a tree in a village was it edged in gold leaf, or did eating it grant longevity?
Cheng Zhou cast a bewildered look at Zhao Xingjian, his gaze drifting sideways for a long moment, implicitly asking: Are you not going to manage him? Eighty yuan each? Where’s the morality? Where’s the conscience? Where’s the brotherhood?
Zhao Xingjian stood his ground, completely unfazed, and gave a slight tuck of his chin toward the pile. “Eighty yuan each, take the lot.”
Cheng Zhou stared in disbelief for a long while before fiercely nodding. “Fine, take the lot it is! Hurry up and pack up so we can get moving.”
He wanted to leave, but Chu Minghe pulled back Zhao Xingjian.
Zhao Xingjian: “Pay first.”
Cheng Zhou took in all those little subtle interactions, staring wide-eyed at Zhao Xingjian, thinking to himself: Good grief, whatever happened to taking a few years to have a change of heart? This guy got completely wrapped around someone’s finger in three days flat.
Cheng Zhou’s thoughts seemed written all over his face. Zhao Xingjian narrowed his eyes at him, having no idea where his thoughts had flown or how far they had progressed.
Chu Minghe pulled his hand back. Seeing an elderly man who had just walked over wanting to pick out some pomegranates, he immediately turned around and started negotiating the price with him.
Cheng Zhou hurriedly stopped him: “No, no, no, I’ll buy them, I’ll buy them! Let’s just pack up and leave.”
Chu Minghe didn’t budge. Zhao Xingjian explained matter-of-factly, “You have to queue up properly.”
“?”
Taking advantage of Chu Minghe being occupied elsewhere, Cheng Zhou pulled Zhao Xingjian aside for some whispered private talk, wanting to ask if he had completely lost his mind. Zhao Xingjian gestured for him to look toward the base of the wall. Noticing the flashing recording light, Cheng Zhou instantly clamped his mouth shut.
Just as Chu Minghe pocketed the sixteen yuan from the elderly gentleman, Cheng Zhou immediately shouted, “My money is in the car! It’s cash, right? I’ll pay you the moment we get in the car.”
Since Cheng Zhou was Zhao Xingjian’s friend, Chu Minghe couldn’t make things too difficult for him, so they began packing the pomegranates back into the basket.
This little toss-up took yet more effort. Cheng Zhou stepped forward and pressed his hand over the basket. “Stop packing, sis Minghe.”
Chu Minghe’s heart skipped a beat. Raising his head in surprise, he only felt a sense of relief wash over him after meeting Cheng Zhou’s gaze.
He had thought Cheng Zhou said “stop pretending,” but it turned out he had said “stop packing…”
Cheng Zhou decided to leave all the pomegranates with the couple running the stall; even if they took them back, nobody would eat them anyway, treating it as helping Zhao Xingjian repay the favor they owed the couple.
Only Zhao Xingjian’s expression didn’t look too pleasant.
What kind of scene was that just now his wife had been gazing deeply and affectionately into his bro’s eyes, and his bro, a straightforward, foolish straight man, had even blushed? Who could endure that sort of thing?
[Zhao-zong, don’t be mad. I checked your bro for you he’s iron-straight]
[Currently pursuing a super-model with an incredible figure]
[Broke up with his “sweetheart” two months ago]
[Soaking in hot springs with beauties this time last year]
…
[Stop digging, you’re exposing his underwear to the public]