txolops Chapter 20: Dividends
Chapter 20: Dividends
Half an hour later.
The sound of running water in the kitchen stopped.
Wang Hai pulled off the towel hanging around his neck, hastily wiped the sweat from his face and the water droplets from his hands, and walked out of the kitchen.
"Brother Chen, it's all done!"
Wang Hai let out a long breath and walked into the living room. "I washed those two large insulated buckets and that iron pot three times with dish soap and hot water. Now they are clean and there is not a trace of oil."
I've also connected the tricycle's battery to the charger.
Lin Chen was sitting at that old folding table.
On the table sat the old cell phone with a slightly cracked screen; it was the machine they used to receive payments.
Lin Chen has just finished tallying up all the accounts for the past two days.
Twenty-two portions on the first day, totaling two thousand one hundred and seventy-eight.
More than 80 orders today, totaling 7,920.
All told, it came to just over ten thousand.
After deducting the costs of buying rice, eggs, and scallions, the net profit is still over 9,800 yuan.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Lin Chen looked up at Wang Hai, whose clothes were soaked with sweat, and pointed to the plastic stool opposite him. "Sit down and have some water."
Wang Hai didn't stand on ceremony. He pulled up a stool, plopped down, and downed the cold boiled water on the table in one gulp.
"What's so hard about this? It's just some physical labor. Compared to the days of delivering food in the wind and sun and climbing stairs, this is a real blessing."
Wang Hai grinned, then stood up. "Well, Brother Chen, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now. I'll come back tomorrow morning."
"etc."
Lin Chen called out to him, then picked up the old phone on the table and tapped the screen a few times.
"Beep—" Wang Hai's phone suddenly vibrated, emitting a very crisp WeChat payment notification sound.
Wang Hai paused for a moment, then took out his phone and opened WeChat.
When he saw the amount of the transfer information on the screen, his eyes widened instantly.
[WeChat transfer: 3000.00 yuan.]
Holy crap!
Wang Hai was so startled that he jumped up from the plastic stool, his hand holding the phone trembling. "Brother Chen, what are you doing?!"
Why did you transfer three thousand yuan to me?
Lin Chen sat in the chair, his tone extremely calm: "The dividends for the past two days."
"What dividends?! No way, absolutely not!"
Wang Hai's face turned red with anxiety. Without hesitation, he clicked "refund" and slammed his phone down on the table.
"Brother Chen, what kind of person do you take me for, Fatty?"
You cooked this fried rice, you have the technique, and you even paid for the rice and eggs yesterday.
I was just handing out takeout containers, washing dishes, and riding a bike—all menial tasks that required absolutely no skill!
Wang Hai took a couple of quick breaths and continued, "If you really feel bad about it, you can pay me a hundred yuan a day and provide me with two meals a day. That would be an astronomical sum!"
We've only made 10,000 yuan in the past two days, and you're transferring 3,000 yuan to me right away? This money is too hot to handle; I absolutely cannot accept it!
Lin Chen looked at Wang Hai, who was jumping up and down in a panic, and said nothing. He simply picked up his phone again and transferred the three thousand yuan over once more.
"Just take it."
Lin Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable decisiveness.
"Brother Chen..."
Wang Hai still wanted to decline.
"Fatty, listen to me."
Lin Chen interrupted him, his eyes becoming serious.
"First, you need to quit your food delivery job and come with me to the food stall around the clock to prepare the ingredients."
You no longer have a stable source of income, but you still have to pay rent for your urban village every month and eat to make a living.
"If you don't take money, how will you work?"
"I……"
Wang Hai opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment.
"second."
Lin Chen looked into Wang Hai's eyes and softened his tone slightly, "A few months ago, when I was at my lowest point, I couldn't afford the rent and didn't even have the money to buy Tangtang a bowl of noodles."
Wang Hai fell silent when Lin Chen brought up the past.
"Back then, you insisted on giving me five hundred yuan from your newly received salary."
Lin Chen's gaze was calm, yet it carried an immense weight. "You gave me the money, and you ate boiled noodles for a week straight, not even bothering to add a sausage."
"Brother Chen, that's all in the past. Why bring that up among your own brothers..."
Wang Hai scratched his head and lowered his voice.
Business is business, and brotherhood is brotherhood.
But that's how the rules are here.
Lin Chen tapped the table with his finger and said slowly and deliberately, "This three thousand yuan is only for the past two days."
Starting tomorrow, all net profits from our stall will be split 30/70 forever.
I get seven, you get three.
"A 30/70 split?! That's too much, Brother Chen!"
Wang Hai became anxious.
"not much."
Lin Chen rationally analyzed, "The customer flow will only increase in the future."
To ensure the quality of every serving of fried rice, I must concentrate 100% of my energy on that wok.
"Purchasing goods, washing cars, chopping scallions, maintaining order in queues, packing and collecting money—all these trivial tasks fall on your shoulders."
Without you handling all these chores, even if I had eight hands, I couldn't have cooked eighty servings today.
Lin Chen looked at Wang Hai: "You're not doing odd jobs, you're my partner."
This money is rightfully yours.
Wang Hai stood there, his eyes unconsciously becoming a little sore.
Having spent so many years navigating the complexities of society, he had seen far too many so-called "brothers" who would turn their backs on each other for a few hundred dollars.
But Lin Chen, who was earning nearly ten thousand yuan a day and was about to take off completely, was the only person he had ever seen who would unhesitatingly cut a large slice of cake for himself.
"Uncle Fatty!"
Just then, Tangtang, who was sitting on a small stool nearby, ran over in her little leather shoes and stretched out her two soft white hands to hug Wang Hai's leg.
"Uncle Fatty, just listen to Daddy and take the money."
Tangtang tilted her little face up, her big eyes blinking as she looked at Wang Hai, and said in her childish voice, "Daddy said that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude."
Uncle Fatty used to buy Tangtang sweet strawberry cakes. Now that Daddy is making money, Uncle Fatty wants to have money too!
Otherwise, what will Uncle Fatty use to buy Tangtang delicious food in the future?
Hearing the little girl's innocent yet sensible words, Wang Hai's heart melted completely.
He sniffed, reached up and wiped his eyes haphazardly, trying to hold back the slight moisture in them.
Wang Hai lowered his head, picked Tangtang up, and gently pinched the little girl's chubby cheeks.
"Okay! Uncle Fatty will listen to Tangtang!"
"After I finish setting up my stall tomorrow, Uncle Fatty will buy you the biggest strawberry cake!"
After saying that, Wang Hai put Tangtang down, turned his head, and looked at Lin Chen sitting in the chair.
He didn't refuse again, but solemnly opened WeChat and pressed "Confirm Payment".
"Brother Chen, I, Fatty, won't say any more sentimental things."
Wang Hai straightened his back and looked at Lin Chen seriously: "From now on, I'll take care of all the dirty and tiring work on this tricycle."
"Just say the word, and I'll do whatever you ask."
Lin Chen looked at him, a very faint smile curving his lips.
This was the straightforward and unpretentious brother he knew.
"Alright, stop making declarations of resolve here."
Lin Chen stood up, picked up a rag from the table, and wiped away the water stains that had just dripped. "You've had a tiring day. Go home early, take a shower, and go to bed."
Lin Chen glanced at the clock on the wall: "The number of customers will definitely double tomorrow. You should be prepared."
"Come here at eight o'clock sharp every morning to go with me to the market to pick up goods."
"Alright!"
Wang Hai responded loudly, as if he had inexhaustible energy.
He picked up his coat from the chair, walked to the door, and opened the iron gate of the rented room.
"Brother Chen, Tangtang, I'm going back now!"
See you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow, Uncle Fatty!"
Tangtang waved her little hands.
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
Lin Chen nodded slightly.
"Bang."
The iron gate closed, keeping the night breeze out of the stairwell.
Quiet has returned to the cramped but cozy rented room.