Chapter 4: The Scoundrel Poultry Dealer of the Early 2000s (4)

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Gu Chen arrived quickly.

Zhou Zhi had given him the address of a local food stall in town, known for its lamb and beef hotpot, considered the best in this small place.

When Gu Chen arrived, a group had already gathered around a table.

He stopped the car, nodded toward Zhou Zhi with a smile, greeting him.

Zhou Zhi stood up and waved, whispering to the others at the table, “Gu Chen is here.”

Li Dahai glanced back with a light click of his tongue, a trace of disdain in his eyes. He then turned to see Zhang Peng coming out of the restroom, who immediately stood attentively.

Once Gu Chen sat down, Li Dahai raised his voice to introduce, “This is my buddy Zhang Peng, a proper second-generation rich kid. He just returned from studying abroad, ready to take over the family business. They run big operations—not only restaurants but also a large fresh produce wholesale factory. Their assets are massive; they’re dripping with wealth!”

At this, the people at the table all looked on with envy, treating him like some extraordinary figure.

Li Dahai continued boasting, “Zhang Peng’s hobby is cars. The cars he plays with are all sports cars, each worth over a million. You guys probably haven’t even seen one!”

“Wow, that’s amazing,” Zhou Zhi quickly chimed in, eyes gleaming. “I’ve only seen pictures online.”

“Yeah, I don’t even know if I’ll ever get to touch one in my life,” others added.

Their expressions of narrow-minded awe greatly fed Zhang Peng’s sense of superiority and pride. In the city, there were plenty richer than his family. Saying he studied abroad was really just a year of mediocre graduate school, then a failed entrepreneurial attempt, so he came back home to idle around—what they called inheriting the family business.

As for those million-dollar sports cars, it was definitely an exaggeration. Cars were cheaper abroad, and these weren’t even brand new. This little fib was enough to fool Li Dahai.

But in front of this bunch of bumpkins, it was more than enough.

Zhang Peng cleared his throat and feigned modesty, “Don’t listen to Li Dahai’s nonsense. I’m here because I heard a lot of people around here have started breeding farms in recent years. I want to source some livestock.”

Li Dahai said, “Right, we’re buying slaughter-ready chickens. I’ll show him around in the next few days. His family has a wholesale market and is short on stock; this will surely boost the local economy.”

He thought to himself, bringing in investors like this—does this count as attracting investment? The government leaders should thank him, that would be so prestigious!

As Li Dahai finished, Gu Chen immediately said, “What’s there to learn? I’m familiar with all the big and small farms in town. They often dine with me; we’re drinking buddies.”

“Enough,” Zhou Zhi looked annoyed and embarrassed. Gu Chen never missed a chance to show off.

Li Dahai wanted to see just how far Gu Chen could stretch his bragging: “How are you so familiar? Tell us, we really need a middleman.”

Gu Chen spoke as if he were a big deal but was actually a useless good-for-nothing.

He said they often had meals together, but really he just knew them a little, and they mostly ignored him; he shamelessly freeloaded.

“Your friends are my friends, I’ll definitely help,” Gu Chen said, looking at Zhang Peng. “There are many breeders, but there’s a trick to it. Prices vary, and quality and taste differ too.”

“Go on,” Zhang Peng got interested, setting down his glass to listen.

Li Dahai and Zhou Zhi exchanged glances, both silently unimpressed and amused.

The king of braggarts was showing off again, and in front of this rich second-generation kid no less. How humiliating.

Gu Chen spoke seriously, “Some are just feed chickens, bred cheaply to cut costs—commonly called ‘fast-grown chickens.’ Their meat is tender but lacks real chicken flavor, only good for low-end markets. The feed contains hormones and antibiotics, so they definitely wouldn’t pass foreign export standards—not even large supermarkets accept them. But they’re cheap.”

“Others mix in low-cost rice bran and crushed corn, grow longer, and to taste the true chicken flavor, you need ‘free-range chickens.’”

“Even among feed chickens, regular chickens, and free-range chickens, there’s a difference. Each family has its own standards: how they’re raised, where they’re raised, the size of the farm, what feed and water they use, whether they add medicines—it all matters.”

“Does your family run a restaurant? What grade is it? I have a good buddy whose relative owns a coconut milk cake chain. Their chickens are fed coconut shreds, making ‘coconut-flavored chicken’—the taste is excellent, with a hint of coconut in the meat. But they’re rare and best for exclusive restaurant supply—once you taste it, you know. No faking that.”

...

Gu Chen rattled off a long, well-reasoned explanation. Zhang Peng immediately took him seriously, especially after the last part, which thrilled him.

Exclusive restaurant supply—country bumpkins don’t get that, but city folks crave it, and they are very particular about food!

Zhang Peng had previously tried running a restaurant. His family also had a wholesale market and invested in dining. He came back from abroad thinking his knowledge and vision far exceeded domestic standards, that everything he did would make money!

Especially restaurants—they should be a goldmine since their costs were lower than others. Yet he lost everything and shut down within three months.

If this chicken Gu Chen described was really that good, he could make it a signature dish and attack the restaurant market again, surely making a fortune.

Now that the economy was improving, some people had money and just wanted quality and good food. With food safety scandals emerging, anything natural could make a killing.

Zhang Peng said at once, “I’m looking for someone like you. I want to buy at least five thousand chickens this batch. Can you help me connect with suppliers?”

He added, “Don’t worry, once the deal’s done, you won’t miss out on a finder’s fee.”

Zhang Peng wasn’t the eldest son; he had an older brother who was more capable. This time, their original supplier raised prices, so they wanted to switch suppliers to cut costs.

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Li Dahai was basically Zhang Peng’s errand boy. Hearing there were farms nearby, Zhang Peng took the job to inspect the market and prove himself.

This trip was the right move!

“No problem, that’s easy. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied. We’re all brothers here,” Gu Chen leaned in to assure him. “Tell me your requirements. Give me a day, and I’ll have all the details sorted by the day after tomorrow. I can get you better prices than others and better quality too.”

Gu Chen wasn’t bluffing. He wandered around every day, freeloading meals and drinks, meeting many people and picking up info. Everything he said came from the drinking table and was true insider knowledge that outsiders didn’t know. Plus, he was good at bluffing with a straight face, making people believe him.

Zhang Peng exchanged numbers with Gu Chen on the spot.

After the call, Gu Chen looked at Li Dahai and said, “Your buddy is my buddy. We’re brothers; I’ll help all the way.”

Li Dahai took a meaningful sip and said, “Best if this works out.”

For the rest of the evening, Gu Chen and Zhang Peng talked mostly. Gu Chen spoke confidently, as if he’d been in the business for years and knew all the rules.

The others pretended to listen seriously but were actually watching a show.

They didn’t notice a tall, thin man wearing glasses at the next table, eavesdropping intently, his eyes thoughtful.

Soon the table was covered with empty bottles. Everyone had a few drinks except Gu Chen, whose glass remained untouched. He ate several bowls of food, though.

Li Dahai urged him, “Drink up, don’t just blabber.”

“I have to drive back later. I’ve eaten enough, so I won’t drink,” Gu Chen said.

Li Dahai said, “You can drink and drive. Just have a couple.”

“My wife and kids are waiting at home,” Gu Chen replied.

Li Dahai scoffed, feeling Gu Chen was disrespecting him. “Drink up, I’m giving you an out.”

They’d all listened to Gu Chen’s bragging without interruption.

Gu Chen half-joked, “If something happens from drinking, you’ll take responsibility?”

Li Dahai was speechless, not knowing what to say. Of course, he didn’t want trouble.

Gu Chen glanced at the time. “I better head back soon. What if my wife won’t let me in if I’m late?”

“Afraid of that?” Li Dahai teased. “A big man scared of a woman? Can’t beat her or what?”

His words made everyone uncomfortable, especially Zhang Peng. What was a man hitting a woman? Did Gu Chen do that?

“I might be bad, but I’d never hit my wife or kids—that’s not even human!” Gu Chen said, standing up. “I really have to go. The kids are about to sleep. My wife told me to come back early so as not to disturb them.”

He grabbed his car keys, patted Zhang Peng’s shoulder, “I’ll get the info and contact you. I promise you’ll be satisfied.”

Zhang Peng stood too. “Alright, get in touch then.”

Gu Chen said, “You guys enjoy yourselves. I’ll leave. We’ll hang out another day; I’m buying.”

Li Dahai said, “That’s your promise.”

“I said it,” Gu Chen nodded.

“Everyone here, witness that,” Li Dahai said, looking at Zhou Ming and others.

“Words are bonds,” Gu Chen said before leaving.

Gu Chen’s figure hadn’t left their line of sight when Li Dahai sneered, “Gu Chen’s bragging skills have improved. He made it sound so real.”

“What?” Zhang Peng sensed something off.

Li Dahai said, “You’ve been fooled. He’s our class’s notorious braggart, lazy, early on he tricked some girl into having his kids. He makes no money, freeloads everywhere, shameless. Where he got all this info, I don’t know. Don’t listen to his nonsense and don’t let him handle your business—totally unreliable.”

“Really? He sounded pretty legit to me,” Zhang Peng said, already dreaming of his future, waiting for his family to think highly of him after the deal.

These specialty restaurants are becoming successful, and supplying high-quality farm chickens is a profitable path.

“Ask them,” Li Dahai looked at Zhou Ming. “Has Gu Chen had a job recently?”

“No, he’s never done anything serious, too poor to even afford gas,” Zhou Ming looked down on Gu Chen, who had just hogged the spotlight in front of Zhang Peng. “If he had connections, he’d be making money by now. Who knows him? A total loser.”

He drank and chatted with Gu Chen just for fun, to prove Gu Chen was worse than himself—not a real friend.

Zhang Peng’s expression darkened.

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Li Dahai added, “This definitely can’t be given to Gu Chen. Everyone here is my classmate and local. They’re all more reliable. We’ll ask around and get you a solid deal.”

Zhou Ming and others agreed, “Yeah, we’ll check too. It’s just about price; we need the best value.”

Hearing this, Zhang Peng finally relaxed. “Thanks for your help.”

“No trouble,” Zhou Ming said quickly, “I have a relative who runs a farm. I’ll ask right away.”

“I already told him to check,” Zhang Peng said, not wanting to deal with calls from Gu Chen.

Li Dahai was confident, “He won’t do it. With his connections, what quality could he find? Whatever he finds, we can easily beat it and reject him.”

Zhang Peng didn’t respond further: “Alright then.”

Li Dahai continued about Gu Chen, “He’s got a sharp tongue. His family’s dirt poor, but just by talking, he tricked a wife. We work hard and have better families and still no wives, let alone two kids.”

Zhou Ming chimed in, “Yeah, you don’t know—his wife’s the breadwinner, raising two kids alone, selling breakfast outside an elementary school.”

“He’s just lucky!” Li Dahai said bitterly.

Lin Juan was beautiful but married Gu Chen, who was not only poor but whose wife alone supported the family with two kids. In this, Li Dahai felt he lost to Gu Chen!

Zhou Ming said, “Selling a little breakfast every morning—what can you make? Maybe ten or eight yuan a day, supporting two kids.”

“Those kids are probably as skinny as sticks by now.”

...

The group traded insults, tearing Gu Chen down. Zhou Ming and Li Dahai led the charge, jealous of Gu Chen’s good looks, envying his carefree life.

Gu Chen’s reputation was ruined largely because of these two.

Zhang Peng frowned, recalling his serious talk with Gu Chen, feeling like he’d swallowed a fly. He grew to dislike him utterly.

Gu Chen better not call him again.

*

At an intersection not far from the restaurant.

Gu Chen looked troubled facing the man with glasses who had stopped him. “I already promised Zhang Peng. Good-quality, low-price farms are really limited. You know, not many people have a conscience.”

The man had just stopped Gu Chen, saying he wanted him to help source the same kind of stock as Zhang Peng but in even larger quantities.

“Have a look,” the man with glasses handed Gu Chen a paper.

Gu Chen looked at it. It had a list of phone numbers and his name: Yao Wenbin.

Yao Wenbin looked at Gu Chen and said slowly, “The finder’s fee Zhang Peng offered you is at most a thousand. I’ll give you two thousand.”

Hearing two thousand, Gu Chen’s eyes widened sharply.

Most jobs in the city paid around seven or eight hundred per month. Some work in the provincial capital made a thousand. In town, you’d only earn four or five hundred.

Two thousand?!

That was months of wages for many, and some families couldn’t save that in a whole year.

Seeing Gu Chen’s reaction, Yao Wenbin knew he had him.

Two thousand was a lot, but compared to saved costs and future profits, it was nothing.

They needed at least ten thousand pounds at a time. Saving even ten cents per pound would save a thousand. Plus, quality factored in.

“I’m tempted, but I already promised someone else. Integrity matters—” Gu Chen sighed, carefully pocketing the card. “I’ll help him find what I can first, then see if there’s any surplus for you. I’ll try to get you the best deal.”

Yao Wenbin was surprised Gu Chen didn’t jump at two thousand, refusing him out of so-called integrity. Still, he respected that and said helplessly, “Alright. Whether it works or not, call me.”

“Of course,” Gu Chen smiled. “If not this time, there’ll be more chances.”

Yao Wenbin smiled, “I hope so.”