My Roommate Lover - Chapter 8 - When It's Time to Act

Couples usually stroll up and down the streets when they go shopping-it’s just a leisurely walk.

Zhang Xixi, without a boyfriend, sometimes wonders what it’s like to walk the streets with a handsome guy. Now, she’s getting to experience it. It’s not sweet at all, just one word: tiring! She never understood why shopping, typically a woman’s domain, becomes even more exhausting when done with Jia Simiao, who seems to outshop women.

Shen Jun’ao is busy with work, and Tang Ziyu, who loves shopping, always drags Zhang Xixi along. Every time, it’s Zhang Xixi who ends up tired, but shopping with Jia Simiao is even more exhausting.

The day is also incredibly hot, with the harsh sun overhead and not a hint of breeze.

Zhang Xixi’s cheeks are flushed, sweat trickling down her forehead, her T-shirt sticking to her back, clearly outlining her bra straps. She’s holding a small parasol and wearing flat sandals. Finally, she can’t take it anymore and stops walking, exclaiming loudly, “Jia Simiao, what are you thinking? Didn’t you say we were here to stock up? This aimless wandering is both thirsty and tiring work-it’s torture.”

Jia Simiao asks, “Xixi, how do you feel right now?”

Zhang Xixi glares at him, angrily saying, “I feel like punching you so hard that your teeth would shatter and you’d swallow them.”

Jia Simiao laughs, “I can imagine that, but before you hit me, don’t you want some cold drink, watermelon, papaya, or maybe some ice cream?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I’ll treat you.”

There’s a cold drink shop up ahead. After drinking a cold beverage and eating two slices of chilled watermelon, Zhang Xixi’s anger subsides, and she giggles, “You sure know how to please me.”

Jia Simiao smiles faintly, “In business, you need to seize opportunities. Now, do you understand why I took you out shopping?”

Zhang Xixi asks, “What do you mean? Oh, you… you don’t mean to tell me you want us to sell chilled watermelon and cold drinks, do you?”

Jia Simiao laughs, “Why, do you look down on selling chilled watermelon and cold drinks?”

Zhang Xixi replies, “A slice of watermelon sells for just two yuan. Even if we work ourselves to the bone, how much can we possibly make?”

“Selling watermelon is just one aspect; our main focus should be on cold drinks. Once we make some money, how about we open a shop near Nanjiang Medical University?”

“Really?”

Zhang Xixi’s eyes light up, murmuring, “But, by selling chilled watermelon and cold drinks, when will we ever make enough to buy a storefront?”

Jia Simiao says, “We don’t need to buy; renting one works just as well. According to my calculations, with a bit of divine favor, we should be able to save enough for the rent in a week or so. It’s not a problem.”

Zhang Xixi grins, exclaiming, “A week? Are you bragging or just teasing me?”

Jia Simiao smiles faintly, “Don’t believe me?”

Zhang Xixi replies, “Of course I don’t. A slice of watermelon sells for 2 yuan, and a whole one can be cut into eight pieces, selling for 16 yuan. The cost of a whole watermelon is 10 yuan. That means we make just 6 yuan per slice. How much can we really sell in just a week?”

Jia Simiao explains, “I’ve already read in the newspapers that there are many watermelon farmers in the western suburb. Every day, trucks go there to buy watermelons, which are then sold to the Fruit Wholesale Market in the city. The fruit shops we see on the streets get their stock from these markets. By the time it reaches them, the watermelon has changed hands three times. Naturally, the price goes up, doesn’t it?”

Zhang Xixi excitedly says, “Oh, I see. You mean we should buy directly from the farmers. This way, we’re the primary sellers, and the price will definitely be lower. Do you know how much the farmers sell their watermelons for wholesale?”

Jia Simiao replies, “0.5 yuan per 500 grams.”

“What? Just… just 0.5 yuan?” Zhang Xixi quickly calculates with her fingers, exclaiming, “That’s way too steep! We buy watermelons from fruit shops at one yuan per 500 grams.”

“The principle of making money in business is to buy at the lowest price possible and then sell at the highest price possible…”

“So what are we waiting for? Should we buy a second-hand fridge or freezer, or should we go check out the western suburb?”

“We don’t have enough capital right now, so let’s start by sourcing watermelons from the western suburb.”

As soon as money is mentioned, Zhang Xixi deflates like a frosted eggplant. She left home with barely any money in her pocket, determined to prove to her family that she could make it on her own. Opting not to splurge on a taxi, they take the bus directly to the western suburb.

Once they reach the outskirts of the city, they see many watermelon fields on either side of the road, with several farmers setting up shade structures and stacking watermelons by the roadside. The pair inquire about the prices; the retail price is 0.8 yuan, slightly lower for wholesale, but only for large quantities.

Neither of them speaks as they continue walking and asking around.

It seems as though the farmers had agreed on the price in advance. Zhang Xixi quietly says, “Jia Simiao, even at 0.5 yuan, after deducting transportation costs, it doesn’t seem worthwhile.”

Jia Simiao smiles, “Don’t worry, let’s keep looking.”

Suddenly, a piercing scream comes from nearby: “Help, help, my dad has fainted!”

The farmers, mostly migrants who rented land to grow watermelons, live simply, often residing directly in their melon sheds. Upon hearing the scream, they all rush over. Jia Simiao nods to Zhang Xixi and follows, jumping across a ditch into the watermelon field.

The man who has fainted is about sixty years old, lying in the field, pale and with icy limbs, his body convulsing. This sight frightens Zhang Xixi, and the surrounding farmers are equally anxious and helpless.

Jia Simiao loudly announces, “Let me have a look; I’m a doctor.”

A young man, thin and small, looks at him as if seeing a savior, tears streaming down his face as he cries, “Doctor, please save my dad. What’s wrong with him?”

Without even taking a pulse, Jia Simiao pulls out two silver needles from his backpack and quickly inserts them into the man’s Qihai Point¹ and Baihui Point². His needling technique is incredibly fast, somewhat resembling someone pounding garlic, with the needle tips moving in and out of the man’s acupoints rapidly.

Everyone, including Zhang Xixi, watches in astonishment. Is this how you treat a patient? After several seconds, the old man moans and gradually regains consciousness.

Ah? It’s miraculous. Just a few needle pricks and he’s awake?

While everyone is still in shock, their mouths agape, Jia Simiao bends down, picks up the old man, and runs towards a fish pond by the field, jumping in with him. The old man’s head remains above water, his body submerged. Is this also a method of treatment? Zhang Xixi squats by the pond, making frantic gestures to Jia Simiao, worried he might harm the man further.

The farmers gather around the pond, tense and concerned.

The old man’s son points at Jia Simiao, agitatedly saying, “What… what are you doing? Isn’t my dad going to be okay?”

Jia Simiao smiles, “He’s fine now, don’t worry.”

“He’s fine? I’m telling you, if you’ve harmed my dad, I’ll fight you.”

“Ergou, what are you saying? I feel very well now,” the old man suddenly speaks.

Jia Simiao carries the old man out of the fish pond and places him in the shade of the melon shed, not bothering to change his soaked clothes. He then asks everyone to give some space for ventilation. Strangely enough, the old man looks normal and has completely recovered.

Zhang Xixi exclaims, “Jia Simiao, what happened to the old man?”

Jia Simiao smiles, “Severe heatstroke, a case of sunstroke.”

Sunstroke, as its name suggests, occurs when the intense sunlight penetrates the skin and skull, damaging brain cells and causing congestion and edema in the brain tissue. The initial symptoms include severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and restlessness, followed by possible unconsciousness and convulsions. If not treated promptly, it could be life-threatening.

The old man’s son kneels before Jia Simiao, knocking his head on the ground several times in gratitude, tearfully saying, “Benefactor, you are my Li Ergou’s lifesaver…”

Jia Simiao quickly helps him up, smiling faintly, “It was nothing, just a helping hand.”

Li Ergou is so moved that he insists on having Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi stay for dinner. Old Li also persuades them earnestly. It’s a matter of saving a life; not offering a meal would be unthinkable. Jia Simiao looks at Zhang Xixi, who is bursting with excitement. When the hosts are so insistent, they might as well stay for dinner.

Li Ergou grins and rushes off to buy meat, while Jia Simiao, Zhang Xixi, and Old Li chat under the melon shed. They learn that they all come from a place called Li Family Hollow, a poor mountain hollow where life is tough, and many young people leave to work odd jobs elsewhere. They rent land to grow watermelons, which is relatively better.

Old Li is somewhat puzzled why Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi would come to such a place on such a hot day.

Jia Simiao chuckles awkwardly, while Zhang Xixi eagerly says, “We want to buy some watermelons to start a small business.”

Ah, look at these city folks, who says they look down on country people? This young couple seems quite down-to-earth.

Old Li laughs, “We don’t have much here, but we do have watermelons. Tell us how much you need, and I’ll give them to you.”

Zhang Xixi replies, “We can’t do that. We heard that you sell to the Fruit Wholesale Market for 0.5 yuan per 500 grams. Could you… could you sell to us for that price? My boyfriend and I are a bit short on cash right now.”

Jia Simiao can’t help but smile at her audacity; she’s a natural at business, lying without even blinking. They had only met yesterday, and today they’re already pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend. It’s all happening a bit too fast.

Old Li insists on giving them the watermelons for free, but Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi, of course, cannot accept it without paying. When Li Ergou returns, he agrees easily. Why not just meet in the middle at 0.4 yuan per 500 grams?

Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi exchange a look of joy.

Li Ergou asks, “How many kilos do you want? It would help me to know when I pick the melons tomorrow morning.”

Zhang Xixi isn’t sure how much to ask for, but Jia Simiao hesitates before saying, “This is our first time doing this kind of business, so we’re not sure how much we need. How about you keep 250 kilos for us; how does that sound?”

250 kilos would be about fifty watermelons, costing two hundred yuan, which is all Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi can afford at the moment.

Li Ergou agrees, “Sure. I deliver to the West District Fruit Wholesale Market every morning at four. Where are you? I’ll bring them right to your place.”

Footnote:

1. Qihai Point(气海穴):An acupuncture point located approximately 1.5 cun (a traditional Chinese unit of measurement) below the navel. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is considered a vital energy center, associated with regulating Qi (life energy), enhancing vitality, and promoting overall well-being.
2. Baihui Point(百会穴):An acupuncture point located at the top of the head, at the intersection of the body’s midline and the line connecting the tops of both ears. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is considered a major point for accessing the body’s energy, promoting mental clarity, relieving stress, and treating a variety of conditions related to the nervous system and brain.