6. The Scumbag Chicken Peddler of the Two-Thousands (6)

Lin Juan was well-known in the village for her diligence. Raising two children on her own, she would wake up early every day to sell breakfast to support the family. She handled everything both inside and outside the home. In the village, this was called being capable. However, such people did not always meet with good outcomes; many were tormented by their mothers-in-law. Gu Chen, her husband, had lost both his parents, and while Grandpa Gu was alive, he had treated her well. The problem was that Gu Chen was not exactly ambitious—he was like mud that couldn't be plastered onto a wall. Many villagers gossiped about this, and it had become a standard topic of conversation in the village.

Among them, Gu’s cousin-in-law looked down on Lin Juan the most. The two sisters-in-law never spoke to each other; whenever she saw Lin Juan, she would glare with deep-seated resentment. She would constantly say, "What’s the use of being pretty? She still ended up with someone like that," her words dripping with bitterness. When the cousin-in-law had married into the family, it was against her will. She liked handsome men; when she was first introduced to the family, she hadn't known Gu Chen and Lin Juan were already dating. She had even asked for an introduction, as everyone for miles around knew Gu Chen was good-looking. She had caught a glimpse of him from afar and had been smitten, only to find out he was already taken. Later, when they suggested she marry Gu’s cousin, she learned that Gu Chen’s branch of the family was poor, so she naturally wasn't happy, but she chose him anyway. She couldn't understand it: the cousin and Gu Chen were blood relatives, so why was one tall and lean while the other was so short, fat, and dull? The cousin’s family was much better off than Gu Chen’s, as the whole family worked at construction sites and earned a good income.

The cousin-in-law, however, was notoriously lazy. After becoming pregnant, she wouldn't even wash her own undergarments and barely cared for her child. She was a typical "young mistress" of the countryside, often scolded—both directly and indirectly—by Gu’s aunt, who would use Lin Juan as a point of comparison. Because of this, the cousin-in-law was furious and harbored great hatred for Lin Juan. Though Gu Chen was handsome, he was irresponsible and earned less than her husband. The fact that Lin Juan lived such a bitter life made the cousin-in-law feel much better and brought her a sense of balance.

This morning, everyone saw Gu Chen riding a motorcycle to take Lin Juan and the children to school, and the cousin-in-law couldn't stand it. After mocking Lin Juan, she added with a sigh, "A woman’s marriage is like a second chance at life. Love doesn't matter, and it doesn't matter what a man looks like—he has to know how to make money. Otherwise, what’s the point of having him? You have to support the family yourself; the hard life is still waiting for you!"

"Indeed," the villagers, who were all shrewd, chimed in, "You’ve got a good eye. Your man works at the construction site and makes a lot each month; you’re even wearing a gold bracelet."

Hearing this, the cousin-in-law touched the thin gold bracelet—the only one she could show off—and convinced herself once more that she had made the right choice. So what if Gu Chen was handsome? She couldn't endure that kind of impoverished life.

The Gu family knew nothing of this. Lin Juan was only thinking about getting to school quickly; she had prepared a bit more fried noodles today and hoped to sell them all to earn a little extra.

At the entrance of the town’s central primary school, even though there was still some time before classes started, some parents had already dropped off their children. Students carrying backpacks and wearing red scarves were bouncing and skipping toward the school.

"Drive a bit further," Lin Juan directed Gu Chen, "park on the side of the entrance."

Gu Chen drove over, and as soon as the bike stopped, Lin Juan hopped off. The elementary school students saw him and crowded around.

"Auntie, you aren't using the tricycle today?" some asked curiously, stealing glances at Gu Chen on the motorcycle. They thought the auntie was very pretty, like a big sister, and her children were cute, as was this uncle. The whole family was good-looking.

"I was busy and ran late today, so the tricycle would have been too slow," Lin Juan smiled, hurrying to get ready. She told them, "Wait a moment, I'll be ready."

Gu Chen lifted the two children down and helped Lin Juan carry the pot and the bucket filled with stir-fried noodles. Lin Juan opened the lid, and the fragrance wafted out. More and more students gathered. It was the first time Gu Chen had seen Lin Juan selling goods; he had never paid attention before. She was so busy she couldn't even look after the children, but the two kids were very well-behaved; as soon as they were off the bike, they ran behind their mother so as not to worry her. Lin Juan handed each child a piece of fried dough, and they ate it obediently. She began taking out transparent plastic boxes and a pair of long chopsticks, ready to start selling.

"I want a bowl of stir-fried noodles."
"I want stir-fried rice noodles."
"I want fifty cents worth of fried dough."

"Coming right up." Lin Juan filled the plastic boxes with noodles, handed them over with two bamboo skewers, and took the fifty cents from the first little boy. Because she was selling to students, the portions were generous—fifty cents a bowl, with the stir-fried noodles and rice noodles containing vegetables, scallions, and scrambled eggs. Lin Juan was skilled, and the food smelled delicious.

Lin Juan was surrounded by primary school students. Since it was Monday, business was better than usual. The students held out their fifty-cent and one-dollar coins, calling out their orders all at once. Some couldn't resist and opened their food right away, eating as they walked into school.

Seeing Lin Juan was overwhelmed, Gu Chen stepped over, took the noodles she had just prepared, and handed them to a chubby boy along with the bamboo skewers.

"Thank you, big brother." The chubby boy was sweet-talked and handed him two green twenty-cent coins and a ten-cent coin—fifty cents in total—which were a bit crumpled from being held in his hand. Seeing this, the other students changed direction and handed their money to Gu Chen, their movements perfectly synchronized.

Lin Juan handed Gu Chen another bowl of noodles: "The rice noodles and stir-fried noodles are fifty cents a bowl. A piece of fried dough is thirty cents; two pieces are fifty cents." The fried dough was only the size of a palm; Gu Chen had eaten several at home, but for students with smaller appetites, one piece was enough.

"Right." Gu Chen transformed into a cashier. He took the packed breakfasts, put forks inside, and gave the students their change. Though he was a bit clumsy at first, he soon got the hang of it. He even found time to prepare a bowl of stir-fried rice noodles for the two little ones, telling them, "Eat up." Little Yan had a small appetite, but little Jia finished two pieces of fried dough and still managed a small bowl of rice noodles. He took the bowl from his father and ate quietly with his head down.

When Lin Juan worked alone, she would inevitably get flustered because the students arrived in a rush, and she had to keep an eye on her two children. With Gu Chen’s help, things went much smoother. Soon, the fried dough was sold out, and more than half of the noodles were gone. It wasn't just students buying; many parents bought them too. Although the ingredients weren't fancy—no meat, just scrambled eggs—at fifty cents a bowl, the portion was large, making it economical and practical. Adding two pieces of fried dough or a mix of noodles made for a filling breakfast for only one dollar—a great deal. Besides, since Lin Juan fed the same food to her own children, it was clearly clean and tasted good.

As the crowd thinned out, Lin Juan remembered Gu Chen had things to do. "You should go; aren't you in a rush?"

Gu Chen replied, "I'm heading out, but how will you get back?"

"I'll see. I can walk," Lin Juan thought. Many people from the village went to town, so she could catch a ride if she ran into someone, and if not, it was only a few kilometers.

"And then you'll ride your bicycle out to pick up the kids?" Gu Chen found this troublesome. "It's almost all sold out; I'll take you back and then head out."

Lin Juan wanted to say something, but an old woman with her granddaughter approached. "Give her two pieces of fried dough, and pack a portion of stir-fried noodles and rice noodles for me."

"Coming." Lin Juan continued to work. Seeing Gu Chen holding the money, the old woman handed him two dollars, and he gave her fifty cents in change. Though these were just thirty and fifty-cent increments, in less than half an hour, Gu Chen had a thick stack of small change in his hand.

"Is this your husband?" the old woman asked.

Lin Juan nodded, "Yes."

"I haven't seen him before, but I recognized him right away. Both children look just like him." The old woman took the noodles and pointed at Lin Juan’s son, Jia. "Especially this son—he’s truly identical, like he was carved from the same mold!"

Little Jia, who was eating, looked at Gu Chen and pouted, unhappy. He didn't want to look like a "bad" father.

"They do look alike," Lin Juan said, used to it, as everyone in the village said the same.

The old woman looked at Gu Chen again. "I buy breakfast from your wife often, but I’ve never seen you. It’s always been her alone, bringing both children." Her tone carried a hint of a lecture. In a town this size, where everyone knew each other, word traveled fast. Everyone knew that Lin Juan’s husband was lazy and that she supported the family alone.

Lin Juan explained for Gu Chen, "He has his own work to attend to, and he’s busy later. He only dropped us off this morning because I was running late; I’ve delayed him."

"I see." The old woman had heard that her husband was a loafer who did nothing, but she didn't say more to his face. She dropped her granddaughter off at the school gate and rode off on her bicycle.

"I want a portion of stir-fried rice noodles."

"This is the last one," Lin Juan noticed, "I'll charge you thirty cents." The little girl was happy. She gave Gu Chen fifty cents, he gave her twenty cents change, and she skipped away, thinking about what treat she would buy with the remaining money.

Lin Juan had prepared more breakfast than usual today and expected to sell for another half hour. She hadn't expected to run out; perhaps having an extra person sped things up, keeping more students and parents interested. "Let's go, Mom will take you to school." Lin Juan closed the lid, held the two little ones' hands, and walked to the school gate. The two children were bouncing with joy, chattering away to Lin Juan.

Gu Chen waited, and when Lin Juan returned, he handed her the money. It was a thick stack of ones, fifties, twenties, and tens—the money she had saved up one bit at a time.

"How much is it?" Lin Juan asked.

"I don't know." Gu Chen lifted the pot and bucket onto the bike and secured them.

Lin Juan counted it: sixty-eight yuan. Subtracting the costs, she could earn nearly half of that. It was a good income, but she couldn't sell on weekends, during school holidays, or in the winter, which affected her earnings. This money was just enough for the family to live on, but she was satisfied—she could earn money while looking after her children.

When Lin Juan got on the bike, Gu Chen asked, "Are you still going into town?"

"You have things to do."

"I have time. Since we're already here." Gu Chen turned the bike around and headed toward town. Lin Juan didn't hesitate; she had things to buy. They had vegetables at home, but she needed to buy pork for meatball soup and bones for broth, along with more noodles.

After shopping, Gu Chen took Lin Juan home. She usually rode her tricycle, which wasn't embarrassing—many people rode bicycles—but the motorcycle was naturally faster. They were home by 8:30. It was the first time Lin Juan had been home so early.

"I'm heading out," Gu Chen said, turning the bike around right where they stood.

"Wait." Lin Juan went inside, and when she came out, she held three ten-yuan bills and tucked them into Gu Chen’s pocket. "Aren't you going to help people look into things? You'll be running around everywhere. I don't know if you have enough gas, so use this to fill up."

"Right, I don't know how far I'll have to go. Don't leave lunch for me." Gu Chen didn't refuse; he took the money and smiled at her, "Once I make money on this deal, I'll spend it all on the kids!"

This was the second time he had said that. Lin Juan watched his retreating back as he drove away, a faint smile touching her lips. Even if he didn't make money, it didn't matter. Money was hard to earn; it was enough that he was trying. Lin Juan looked at the time—it was so early. She felt full of energy and planned to get more work done.

*

Gu Chen’s favorite thing to do was wander around. He knew exactly where the farms were located, their scale, and who managed them. Now, he was just gathering more detailed information. The town was still small, and the farms were scattered and generally small-scale. Since there was no local industry, most were family workshops raising a few hundred or a thousand chickens and ducks to scrape by.

Gu Chen’s first stop was Wang Wenwei’s place. Just as he reached the gate, he saw Wang Wenwei inside cleaning up chicken manure—valuable waste that could be sold.

"Wang Wenwei!" Gu Chen called out.

Wang Wenwei, wearing a straw hat, saw Gu Chen and set down his shovel. "How did you know I was here?" They hadn't seen each other in five or six years.

"Is there anything I don't know?" Gu Chen stopped his motorcycle. "I’ve got good news for you."

In middle school, he, Wang Wenwei, and Zhou Ming had been close. Wang Wenwei was quiet and reserved but had no malice; when Zhou Ming spoke ill of Gu Chen behind his back, Wang Wenwei would defend him. Zhou Ming, annoyed, had pulled Gu Chen away from him. After graduation, Wang Wenwei didn't work and had few friends. He had tried to contact Gu Chen a few times, but Gu Chen, caught up with Zhou Ming and the others, had ignored him. In his previous life, when no one cared about Gu Chen, only Wang Wenwei had reached out, bringing chickens to feed his children when he knew the family was struggling.

"Good news?" Wang Wenwei was puzzled.

Gu Chen walked into the farm. "Are your chickens ready for market?"

"Yes, they're all over three pounds." Wang Wenwei sighed, pointing to the other side. "Are you hungry? Go grab one from over there—those are fed with coconut silk and taste better. Take it home for the kids' soup." After graduating, his parents had invested in this farm for him to manage, hoping he'd have a stable income to find a wife. The farm was supposed to raise "coconut chickens" using discarded coconut silk from the city, but they’d also started free-range chickens. Now, the chickens were ready, but there were no buyers. They were eating more than they were worth, and he was losing money.

"I won't be polite; I'll grab a fat one in a bit," Gu Chen said. "How many do you have?"

"Seven or eight hundred," Wang Wenwei replied.

Gu Chen walked over and quickly picked up a chicken. "Nice! Good weight. You need to sell them fast, or you'll lose everything."

Wang Wenwei was about to tell him to grab a coconut chicken when he saw Gu Chen put it down. "I need someone to buy them," Wang Wenwei said.

Before he could finish, Gu Chen laughed, "That’s why I’m here."

"Huh?" Wang Wenwei hadn't processed it yet.

Gu Chen patted him on the shoulder. "Dahai knows some wealthy second-generation guy who owns a wholesale market. He’s loaded, and he needs five thousand chickens. He asked me to find them, and you were the first person I thought of."

He took out a pen and paper, biting the cap off with his teeth to start writing. "How many can you provide, and what’s your quote?"

Wang Wenwei was stunned. He was happy Gu Chen had thought of him first, but his brain stalled on the quote. Thinking of the losses, he tried to keep it as low as possible.

"Tsk," Gu Chen glanced at him. "These are free-range chickens, and you're counting on this for the year. I’m going to quote three-and-a-half cents higher for you."

"Is that too much? What if it doesn't go through..." Wang Wenwei grew nervous. That would mean about a dollar more per chicken.

"I know what I'm doing. You treated me to so much ice cream back in the day; this is my chance to pay you back." Gu Chen added the amount to the quote and asked, "What’s your current phone number? My address book got messed up." In reality, Zhou Ming had stolen his phone while he was drunk and deleted the contacts.

Wang Wenwei quickly recited it, and Gu Chen gave his own. "I have your number," Wang Wenwei said; he had wanted to call him for months but lacked the courage.

Gu Chen closed his notebook. "Alright, I have to hit other farms. We'll talk by phone."

Wang Wenwei stopped him to catch a coconut chicken, insisting he take it home for the kids. "I'm off!"

...

Gu Chen rushed to the next farm. He talked to Zhang Peng and others with ease, charming the farm owners into believing him completely. Gu Chen effortlessly painted a picture: "The guy is rich, owns a wholesale factory, and wants long-term supply. Let me see the quality of your stock. How many are ready for the market?"

"I need to see if they meet the requirements. If they don't, there’s no point in talking price, right?"

"Indeed, indeed," the owner said, handing Gu Chen a cigarette. Gu Chen took it and tucked it behind his ear, looking urgent. "Let’s go look. This isn't enough; I have to go to other farms too."

"I'll take you immediately."

Since there weren't many buyers lately, the farmers desperately wanted the deal. As Gu Chen took notes, they talked non-stop.

"What price are you hoping for?"
"How about this? I’ll add another cent to your quote. I’ll see if I can make it happen. I don't want to see you lose money; as farmers, it’s not easy raising these things."
"What’s your number? We'll stay in touch."
"It'll be in the next couple of days, it's urgent."

...

"Thank you."
"You've worked hard, young man."
"I'll be waiting for your news."

...

Gu Chen told Yao Wenbin he could help him get the lowest price, but the prices were already so low that the farmers were worried about losses, quoting as low as possible just to get rid of the stock. Without a centralized scale, it was only Gu Chen who was willing to run around and understand the various breeds. When quoting, Gu Chen could have kept the difference, but there was no need. It had been a bad year; if the farmers suffered heavy losses, fewer people would farm next year. When Gu Chen quoted higher, the farmers were stunned and flattered, trusting him even more. Some of the more generous ones even stuffed a pack of cigarettes into his hand.