Chapter 13: Still Buy?

Chapter 13

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Alex's booth became less conducive, with many disgruntled ladies who silently cursed him. The aunts wanted to confront Alex based on Roger's words, but they were also afraid because he had a reputation as a gangster, as stated by Roger as well. As a result, the aunts could only resign themselves quietly. They feared getting involved in unnecessary trouble and potentially facing dangerous consequences.

Alex could only smile bitterly and didn't bother defending himself since it seemed futile. He knew that arguing with the aunts would only lead to more complications. Instead, he focused on packing his things, as the sun was shining and he didn't want to waste any more time.

On the other hand, Ethan looked visibly troubled. The young man seemed to be wrestling with the conflicting information he had just heard. He had suspected Alex's criminal background, but he didn't want to believe it outright.

"Can't you explain?" Ethan asked in a low voice, hoping for a different answer.

Alex, who was still busy packing, was taken aback by the question. He didn't expect Ethan to confront him about it.

"What? Explain?" Alex chuckled, trying to dismiss the topic. "Hahaha, there's nothing to explain. Everything he said is true, except for my vegetables being shady stuff."

Ethan furrowed his brows, dissatisfied with Alex's casual response. He wanted a more genuine explanation and was growing suspicious of the situation.

The other party's statement seemed unprofessional, but strangely, it piqued Ethan's interest. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to this seller than met the eye.

"Does he not care if his items are thrown away?" Ethan wondered. "Or is he just supremely confident in his product and believes he can sell it anywhere?"

Numerous critical questions swirled in Ethan's head, and he found himself torn between leaving and being grateful for escaping the shady shop or staying and taking a chance with the seller. Something in his gut told him that the seller might be innocent, but he couldn't explain why he felt that way. It could be because of the life-changing event he was about to face, prompting him to take a gamble. Alternatively, it could be that the seller was genuinely skilled at luring customers.

Alex got into his car and started the engine, only to be intercepted once again, but this time, not by the previous aunts, but by Ethan, the young boss who wanted to buy the vegetables. Alex emerged from the car with a wry smile, anticipating some trouble from Ethan.

"Excuse me, Mr. Ethan, why are you blocking my way?" Alex asked.

Ethan's expression remained troubled, still contemplating whether to buy from the seller or not. He had initially intercepted the seller's car intending to make a purchase, but now he hesitated to voice his decision. The internal struggle between his doubts and his curiosity about the seller's products made him reluctant to reveal his true intentions.

Alex couldn't help but be a little confused by the other party's silence. He wondered, "What does this child want?"

As Ethan remained silent for a while, Alex decided to take the initiative and say a few words. He mentioned that he had other work to attend to and warned Ethan not to stand in front of the car as it could lead to trouble. Alex was ready to leave, but before he could get into the driver's seat, Ethan called out, "Wait…"

Alex's steps came to a halt, and his face darkened, forming wrinkles on his forehead. He grumbled impatiently, wondering, "What the hell does this puppy want?"

With a cold and sharp gaze, Alex turned his large body to look at Ethan, who felt a shiver down his spine and his back becoming drenched in sweat. He never expected the friendly farmer from before to transform into a fearsome figure. Though Ethan had noticed the tattoos and imposing posture earlier, only now could he truly see the other side's ferocity.

While the atmosphere grew tense, Ethan coughed awkwardly to relieve some of the pressure. "Cough, I'm sorry, Mr. Russel. I still want to buy the vegetables that you're selling. But…"

Alex was slightly surprised by this statement, but he understood that his previous facade had been dismantled, leaving him exposed. If he were in Ethan's shoes, he would likely leave without hesitation after discovering the truth.

However, Alex realized that everyone has their background and thoughts, and he started to consider the situation from Ethan's perspective.

With this, Alex calmed down again and inquired about the situation. "But what?"

Hesitant and fearing the other party's reaction, Ethan spoke in a low voice, "Cough… but Mr. Russell, I would like you to sign a contract with me…"

Hearing this, Alex finally understood what Ethan wanted. To his surprise, he was not angry; instead, he was delighted with the idea. "Yes, why didn't I think of adding a clause like this?" Alex berated himself, feeling foolish for not implementing such agreements during his previous stints at startup companies.

With his eyes lighting up, Alex encouraged Ethan, "Alright then, let's create an online contract with a few points of agreement, and we'll sign it online as well."

Seeing Alex's excitement and confidence, Ethan couldn't help but feel flustered. He wondered if there was something suspicious about these vegetables. Perhaps, he thought, there might be a catch or a hidden agenda.

However, instead of finding any deceit, Ethan found that Alex was genuinely eager to proceed with the contract. They drafted a sale and purchase agreement based on widely available templates from the internet, with some modifications.

In the contract outline, it was explicitly stated that the goods Alex was selling were not organic, and as a result, Ethan was not obligated to make any payment. Additionally, Ethan was entitled to receive compensation from Alex. On the other hand, if Alex's vegetables turned out to be as exceptional as he claimed, then Ethan would be obliged to pay the agreed-upon price.

Because of this contract, Alex swiftly rounded up the price to $100,000, even though the total weight of his vegetables was no more than 2,500 pounds. Alex did not want to be taken advantage of and wanted to protect his interests.

He thought, "Who said anything about fines? I'm not an easy target to be taken advantage of!"

Ethan was initially angry at Alex for being deceitful, but now that he had come this far, he could only reluctantly nod in agreement and sign the contract.

"Hahahaha, alright Mr. Ethan, where should I deliver these vegetables?" asked Alex with a happy smile as he checked his account on his cell phone. It showed a deposit of $40,000, which was the initial payment, along with an additional $10,000 from the previous aunts' purchases.

Seeing the other party's radiant face, Ethan couldn't help but feel like he had been tricked. However, he managed to compose himself.

"No need, Mr. Russell. My employees will come to pick up the vegetables in a moment."

With that settled, the two men chatted for a bit, exchanged contacts, and finally, a large, high-quality truck arrived on the scene. The truck had a matte black color with gold details, and a picture of meat and a chef adorned it, giving the impression that it belonged to a high-end restaurant's logistics.

In comparison, Alex's pickup truck looked like an old, frail donkey next to a majestic steed that had won beauty contests its whole life.

Alex then opened the back of his pickup truck while several people began loading the items into the black truck. Seeing the smooth process, Alex couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, nodding his head in approval.

Meanwhile, Ethan still wore a bitter smile on his face.

After a while, all the items were finally loaded.

"Okay, Mr. Russell, everything is packed. Now I'll be on my way since I still have other things to attend to. I'll inform you later after everything has been checked."

"Sure, Mr. Ethan. Take care, and don't hesitate to call me if you need more vegetables. The price will remain the same this time, it won't go up!"

Upon hearing this, Ethan stumbled in horror.

With this, Alex watched the departure of the big truck with a satisfied smile. Meanwhile, some of the aunts looked at him with complex expressions.

After packing his things, Alex entered the car's wheelhouse and started the engine. He noticed that no one intercepted him as before.

Given the money in his account, Alex couldn't help but express his thoughts, "I was only expecting to get $60,000, but who would have thought I'd get an extra $40,000? What luck!"

Alex drove for a while before stopping at a food stall to have breakfast. Then, he continued driving to a farming and plantation station in town.

"Excuse me, is there anything I can help you with?" asked a young woman in her 20s.

"Oh yes, I want to inquire about the price of organic fertilizer."

"Sure. Organic fertilizers have higher prices compared to ordinary fertilizers, ranging from $700 to $1500 per tonne."

Alex nodded, keeping his emotions in check.

"Could you please show me each type of fertilizer?"

"Of course, please follow me."

Alex silently followed the woman, and after a while, they arrived at a spacious area.

"Here, we have several types of selected organic fertilizers. First, we have manure derived from animal waste such as cows and chickens. This fertilizer contains essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, promoting plant growth," the woman explained while pointing to the various fertilizers.

"It sounds good. Are there any other types of organic fertilizers?"

"Yes, we also have compost made from decomposed organic materials like vegetable and grass remains. This compost is excellent for improving soil structure and increasing fertility."

Alex carefully examined each fertilizer, picking them up and even smelling them to assess their quality. As he inspected the manure, he frowned slightly, noticing something odd.

Concerned about Alex's expression, the woman asked, "Is there a problem with the fertilizer we sell, sir?"

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