Chapter 10: Rejected

"May I try one of these oranges?" Maya asked with a charming smile. "Of course, please do!" Francis responded quickly. He was captivated by the beautiful and elegant woman before him. As soon as he saw her, Francis felt a rush of emotions, as if he were falling in love. He even started imagining what their children's names would be. Maya smiled again, her slender, fair fingers peeling an orange delicately before placing a segment in her mouth. Her graceful movements mesmerized Francis. Watching her, Francis couldn't help but think that even something as simple as eating an orange looked beautiful when done by a goddess. As soon as the orange entered her mouth, Maya's eyes widened in amazement. She couldn't believe how delicious it was. "How much are these oranges per pound?" Maya asked, trying to contain her excitement. She ran the largest chain of fruit stores in the county, Fresh Fruits. Typically, high-end fruits were imported, while local fruits were supplied by local vendors. Recently, however, the local suppliers had conspired to raise prices, much to her displeasure. Thus, she decided to directly contact local fruit farmers. That was why she came here. Unexpectedly, she stumbled upon Francis selling oranges. It wasn't even the season for oranges, and yet Francis's oranges were not only large and full but also incredibly tasty. For someone in the fruit business like her, this was a golden opportunity. If she could make these oranges the star product of her stores, it would surely create a sensation. "Five dollars per pound," Francis replied with a smile. "What? Five dollars per pound?" Maya exclaimed in surprise. "Yes, five dollars per pound," Francis confirmed, feeling puzzled. He thought to himself, "You're driving a sports car. Surely, five dollars per pound isn't too much for you?" Francis patiently explained, "You've seen and tasted my oranges. Their appearance and flavor are exceptional. I'm not exaggerating when I say you won't find better oranges anywhere else. Besides, it's not the season for oranges, so their rarity justifies the price." "It's not expensive at all," Maya reassured him with a smile. "I was actually surprised because I think it's too cheap." "Too cheap?" Francis was even more puzzled now. "Why did you react like that then?" "I was surprised at the low price," Maya explained. "These must be from your own orchard, right? How about this: instead of selling them bit by bit, why not sell them all to me? I'll buy as many as you have for eight dollars per pound—no, ten dollars per pound. What do you think?" "Ten dollars per pound?" Francis's eyes widened, and he felt a rush of excitement. Given the season, he had thought five dollars per pound was a high price, but Maya's offer was beyond his expectations. "Yes, ten dollars per pound," Maya confirmed, nodding earnestly. "But we need to sign a contract. You can only sell these oranges to me." Francis hesitated, then asked, "What do you do with so many oranges?" "I run a fruit store," Maya explained, handing him her business card. She was confident that once Francis knew she had a reliable sales channel, he would agree. However, to her surprise, Francis suddenly refused. "I'm sorry, but I can't sell you my oranges," Francis said calmly. Francis wasn't foolish. If Maya, a fruit business owner, was willing to pay ten dollars per pound, it meant these oranges were worth even more. Otherwise, how would she make a profit? Francis planned to sell some oranges to save money and eventually open his own fruit store, with these oranges as his signature product. However, if he signed an exclusive contract with Maya, he wouldn't be able to sell them in his own store. Maya was taken aback by Francis's refusal, as were the other farmers around them. When Maya offered to buy the oranges for ten dollars per pound, they thought she was extravagant. But when Francis refused, they thought he was crazy. "Won't you reconsider?" Maya asked, unwilling to give up. "No," Francis shook his head. "What if I offer a higher price?" Maya suggested, biting her lip. Francis almost relented, tempted by her beauty, but he quickly regained his composure. He couldn't afford to be swayed. "No," Francis repeated firmly. "There are five pounds and eight ounces left. I'll round it down to five pounds, and you can have them for twenty dollars." He didn't want to continue the conversation, fearing he might eventually give in to her charms. "Hmph! Take it!" Maya huffed, slapping a hundred-dollar bill into his hand. "Keep the change." "Thank you. Have a nice day," Francis replied cheerfully, noting her generosity. Maya was fuming. These oranges represented a huge business opportunity, and she wasn't going to give up easily. She decided to find a way to persuade Francis later. "Oh, by the way, what's your phone number? Where do you live?" Maya asked, realizing she needed to stay in touch. "You don't need my number. I live in Qingshan Village. Just ask for Francis the fool, and the villagers will direct you to my house," Francis called out. "Fool? You're smarter than anyone else," Maya muttered before getting into her car and driving off. With the oranges sold out, Francis quickly cleaned up and turned to Madison with a serious expression. "Madison, which pharmacy were you bullied at yesterday? Let's go get some justice!"