25: Chapter 25 This will be a plan that risks even one's own mother.

The next day, on a plane bound for Shuitian City, Longyuan Province.

Qin Xun sat by the window, watching the sea of clouds for a while before turning to look at Xia Ning, who was resting beside him with an eye mask on.

He smiled with satisfaction.

This little assistant's work ability and attitude were top-notch; she had actually worked overtime last night to write the business trip application and secured approval by midnight.

Early this morning.

Qin Xun didn't even go to the office; he was summoned directly to the airport by a phone call from Xia Ning.

A business trip!

What a great thing!

When the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, there's even more room to slack off!

After yesterday's hard work on 'field duty,' his slacking-off value had increased by 300 in one day, more than triple the usual amount.

Currently, on the system panel:

[slacking-off value: 1930]

[Note: When the host reaches 10,000, a lucky draw can be obtained.]

If field duty can get 300 a day, won't a business trip make it skyrocket?

At this rate, he'd be able to do a lucky draw in less than a month.

Qin Xun was in a great mood. Even more pleasing to the eye was what Xia Ning was wearing today... well...

Wow!

A white shirt and a small black jacket.

A professional skirt.

Black stockings.

High heels.

That was truly, truly authentic!

Just like the uniform temptation in those movies.

As expected, art comes from life.

...

The plane landed, and they left the airport.

Qin Xun was thinking about where to get a meal to experience the local customs and maybe play a few games while he was at it.

However, Xia Ning hailed a taxi.

"At 3:30 PM, President Zhao of Yellow Soil Agricultural Products is waiting for us at a resort thirty kilometers away."

Qin Xun helplessly got into the taxi.

Although the other party had contacted the company first seeking cooperation, they were the client after all, and everything had to prioritize the client's requirements.

They couldn't afford to be negligent.

The taxi driver was probably a retired race car driver or wanted to show off his skills in front of a beauty like Xia Ning.

He drove incredibly fast!

In less than thirty minutes.

They arrived at the Old Orchard Resort.

Qin Xun got out of the car and looked around.

He saw that this huge resort was actually built among the mountains.

The hills outside the resort were covered with rows upon rows of apple trees.

The branches were heavy with red fruit.

The air was filled with the sweet scent of apples.

...

The two of them walked toward the resort.

Xia Ning was like a busy little bee, dragging the suitcase and bustling about. After stating their identities, they were led by a hostess into a tea room inside the resort.

The hostess knocked on the door: "President Zhao, the distinguished guests you have an appointment with have arrived!"

Qin Xun looked into the tea room.

The furnishings inside weren't exactly refined.

It was all rough solid wood furniture with black knots, exuding a strong rustic atmosphere.

At that moment, a middle-aged man with a large belly, about fifty years old with slightly graying hair and wearing a yellow T-shirt, stood up.

He smiled broadly and extended his hand. "Distinguished guests, please forgive me for not meeting you further out! Welcome, welcome!"

"My name is Zhao Dehai. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

Qin Xun glanced at the conspicuous words "Mountain Fruit Fertilizer" on Zhao Dehai's T-shirt and felt a bit of admiration.

Indeed, once a person's net worth reaches a certain level, they no longer care about clothing brands.

Look at this promotional shirt given away with fertilizer; it still made President Zhao look like a man of immense wealth.

The few of them shook hands, sat down, and after a round of polite small talk,

They got down to business.

Zhao Dehai sighed and stood up to pull open the curtains.

Outside the window were apple trees covering the hills and valleys.

Looking at his sorrowful face, the classic image of the old farmer saying "Apples are unsellable, please help us" flashed through Qin Xun's mind.

Zhao Dehai let out a long sigh.

"Mr. Qin, it's almost the end of August, and the apples will be harvested one after another. This year is another bumper harvest!"

Qin Xun looked at the magnificent scenery outside the window and nodded.

"Indeed."

President Zhao stood before the window with his hands behind his back, looking somewhat lonely.

"A bumper harvest should be a good thing, but I just can't bring myself to be happy."

"Besides this large area..."

He pointed into the distance.

"And that area, and the one on the west side of the mountain—those are all orchards I've contracted. At the very least, 100,000 tons of apples can be harvested."

"Moreover, I am the largest apple wholesaler in Shuitian City."

"Every year at this time, many farmers contact me, wanting me to buy their fruit."

He turned his head to look at Qin Xun, his expression somewhat agitated.

"I see such good apples that can't be sold, and I get so anxious!"

"I can't sleep night after night!"

He sat down, picked up his teacup, and drained it in one gulp as if he were drinking liquor.

"Although apples can be kept in cold storage and sold slowly, they can't be frozen for too long—only about 10 months or so."

"Last year, the apples kept in cold storage were eventually sold at a low price to a juice factory."

"To use such good apples for juice—tell me, is there any justice in that?"

Qin Xun: "..."

He had heard the saying 'Good meat isn't used for filling, good fruit isn't used for juice.'

But how was making juice with good apples against justice?

He quite loved drinking apple juice.

Zhao Dehai continued.

"This year's apple production is even higher than last year's. If we don't expand the market, I'm afraid I'll have to go begging next year!"

He gave a couple of bitter laughs.

Qin Xun also followed with a smile.

He knew it was a joke.

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse; Zhao Dehai might go bankrupt and into debt, but it was impossible for him to go begging.

Qin Xun's gaze fell on the fruit plate on the coffee table.

Several bright red, large apples were arranged on it.

"They look beautiful and smell fragrant, but how do they taste?"

Zhao Dehai quickly grabbed two apples and gave them to Qin Xun and Xia Ning respectively.

"The hua niu apples produced here in Shuitian are absolutely delicious. Otherwise, would I dare stake my entire net worth on contracting so many orchards?"

"The mountains are good, the water is good, the climate is good, and the people are good. Naturally, the fruit produced is top-notch!"

Saying this, Zhao Dehai picked up an apple and, without peeling it, took a large bite.

He ate with great gusto!

Qin Xun also took a bite.

It was crisp, sweet, and juicy in his mouth.

The flesh was fine and crunchy.

Mealy and sweet.

His eyes lit up.

"It really is a good product!"

Zhao Dehai laughed happily.

Then, he sighed again.

"Yes!"

"It breaks my heart that people across the country can't eat such a good thing!"

Qin Xun: "..."

President Zhao's sense of mission was so large it made him feel a bit 'allergic'.

Zhao Dehai continued.

"These hua niu apples are indeed good, but among apples, they aren't easy to store. So on a national scale, the market has been largely taken over by Red Fuji, which is easier to store."

Qin Xun understood.

Just like most tomatoes on the market now are hard as rocks and don't taste as good as the ones from childhood.

It's because they switched to a thick-skinned variety for easier storage and transport.

Zhao Dehai continued.

"However, a few years ago, the price of hua niu apples started rising again as people came to love them. After all, the quality is there."

"I thought it was an opportunity and staked my net worth."

"I contracted orchards and replanted them with hua niu apple trees on a large scale."

"The trees have matured over the past two years and started bearing fruit. The yield is very pleasing, but the market still isn't big enough to consume so many of my good fruits."

"Furthermore, the apple market is fiercely competitive, with no less than thirty varieties on the market. It's a bit difficult for us to stand out."

"So, I went from one advertising agency to another, running round after round of promotion, wanting to push hua niu apples nationwide."

At this point, Zhao Dehai slapped the table, his expression becoming agitated.

"Those advertising agencies talk a big game, but the results were... limited."

"A lot of money was spent, but sales didn't actually increase much."

"But I don't dare stop spending that money, or sales might be even worse."

The more he spoke, the angrier he got.

"I really want to f*ck all those advertisers' mothers to death!"

Qin Xun was stunned and slowly turned to look at Xia Ning.

Xia Ning pursed her lips slightly, pretending she hadn't seen or heard anything.

She knew Qin Xun was blaming her for not doing a detailed investigation and failing to grasp the client's temperament when looking for customers.

This Zhao Dehai had a fiery temper.

If Qin Xun's marketing proposal didn't satisfy him, she feared... his mother's safety would be at risk.

This was going to be a marketing proposal where one's mother was at stake.

Qin Xun felt helpless. He turned back to look at Zhao Dehai and asked,

"So, what are your specific requirements?"