Chapter 131: A New Variety?

As the train bound for Xinjiang departed from Yiling City, Cao Zhen settled into the soft sleeper berth that his company had provided for him. In this regard, they truly hadn’t skimped on his comfort.

After stowing his two suitcases under the berth, Cao Zhen unhooked a plastic bag filled with apples. Feeling a bit bland, he had the urge to smoke, but seeing the no-smoking sign in the carriage, he wisely chose not to cause trouble for himself.

Traveling alone, his priority was to ensure he reached Xinjiang smoothly.

His gaze fell on the apples in the plastic bag. Cao Zhen took one out and went to the nearby sink to wash it. With water still clinging to it, he began to munch on the apple with a crisp ‘crunch, crunch.’

After just a couple of bites, he paused, examining the apple in his hand with a mouthful of fruit, mumbling indistinctly, “Wow, this apple is really sweet and delicious.”

He took a few more bites, noticing that the deeper he went, the more translucent the flesh became. With plenty of apples in his suitcase, he felt reassured about not having to worry about food during the journey. Cao Shujie was right; he could just eat them as meals.

As he was eating, another person entered his compartment. The newcomer was slightly plump but appeared to be under 35, carrying a black canvas bag. He nodded and smiled at Cao Zhen, who was eating an apple, then moved to the opposite soft sleeper, placing his bag on the floor. His nose instinctively twitched as he heard the crisp crunching sound, and his eyes landed on the apple in Cao Zhen’s hand.

Seeing Cao Zhen enjoying his apple, the man hesitantly asked, “Excuse me, brother, where did you get that apple?”

Cao Zhen was taken aback. He looked at the man across from him, then pointed to the apple in his hand. “You mean this?”

“Yes,” the slightly plump man, Zuo Le, nodded. “I can smell the fruit aroma from your apple, and it sounds very crisp when you eat it. The color of the flesh suggests it’s quite sweet, and it looks beautiful. This is really a good variety.”

“Wow, you’re quite the expert,” Cao Zhen shook his head, not feeling embarrassed. “I don’t know much about these things. A friend of mine gave me these apples. He grows fruit.”

With that, Cao Zhen picked out the largest and best-looking apple from the bag and handed it to Zuo Le. “What’s your surname, brother? Try it. This is an apple grown by my friend.”

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly,” Zuo Le waved his hand to refuse twice, but Cao Zhen insisted, so he accepted it.

“Then I won’t be polite,” Zuo Le said, taking the apple with a bright and satisfied smile. “I’m Zuo Le, a fruit merchant who travels around.”

As he spoke, Zuo Le bent down to open his bag, taking out a few kiwis and apples, and pushed them towards Cao Zhen. “These are samples I’ve bought from various places. I think they taste pretty good and plan to collect them next year. You should try them too.”

While introducing the fruits, he peeled a soft kiwi and swallowed it in one bite. “Very sweet, give it a try.”

He then took an apple, wiped it on his clothes, and started eating it with a crunch.

This action was also to assure Cao Zhen that his fruits were safe. After all, trains these days could be chaotic, with people cutting pants to steal phones and wallets, or taking valuables from suitcases.

Cao Zhen understood this reasoning and felt that Zuo Le didn’t seem like someone who would play tricks.

He picked up a kiwi, examined it, and said, “Brother Zuo, my surname is Cao. Do you specialize in collecting fruits?”

Zuo Le nodded. “Yes, I travel all over the country, mainly collecting premium fruits.”

Cao Zhen understood now. He peeled the kiwi, took a bite of the yellow-green flesh, and savored it slowly before saying, “Brother Zuo, I’ve seen kiwis larger and sweeter than yours.”

“Oh, where?” Zuo Le was intrigued.

Cao Zhen replied, “My friend grows them, but his kiwis have all been harvested. Only two mu of apples are left on the trees.”

He pointed to the apple he had given Zuo Le earlier. “The apple I just ate was grown by my friend and is just about to be harvested.”

“They’re not harvested yet?” Zuo Le found it odd.

Cao Zhen nodded. “These are naturally grown, without bags, so they ripen a bit slower.”

Zuo Le took a bite of the apple, and his expression subtly changed. After a couple more bites, he said, “This apple is indeed delicious. Why is it so sweet?”

He looked at Cao Zhen and asked, “Brother Cao, where does your friend grow these fruits? Could you give me the address?”

“I don’t mind, but even if you go, it might not be worth it. He only has about two mu of apples left, maybe a few thousand jin at most.”

“That’s fine. I’d like to go and have a chat with him,” Zuo Le insisted.

After a brief consideration, Cao Zhen gave Zuo Le Cao Shujie’s contact details and the address of his orchard.

Then, in front of Zuo Le, he called Cao Shujie. “Shujie, I met someone on the train who’s interested in your apples. Are you selling them?”

“I only have a few thousand jin of apples and wasn’t planning to sell them all,” Cao Shujie replied over the phone.

Cao Zhen wasn’t interested in the details. “I’ll give this friend your number. You two can discuss it. I’m out. Bye.”

After hanging up, he showed the phone to Zuo Le and said, “See, he’s got quite the temper, acting like his apples are the only good ones out there.”

Zuo Le wasn’t bothered by this. He knew some talented people had their quirks.

Remembering something, Zuo Le asked, “Brother Cao, you mentioned your friend’s kiwis were all harvested?”

“Yes, they were sold for 28 yuan per jin, and people were happy to buy from him. Brother Zuo, do you think these people are crazy, treating money like it’s worthless?” Cao Zhen complained.

But Zuo Le took it seriously, his brow furrowing as he suddenly asked, “Brother Cao, did you say your friend’s kiwis were sold for 28 yuan per jin?”

“Yes, 28 yuan. My cousin even went twice to pick 40 jin. I just don’t get it,” Cao Zhen said.

He only found out later that his cousin had bought so much.

Fortunately, Cao Shujie had given his cousin the biggest discount.

“That price isn’t even the highest,” Zuo Le shook his head.

“Brother Cao, there are many things in this world that seem outrageous.”

Hearing this, Cao Zhen quieted down, listening to what Zuo Le had to share.

Then Zuo Le said, “I’ve traveled far and wide in search of premium fruits for years, and I’ve seen prices even more outrageous than this.”

He held up five fingers and asked, “Brother Cao, have you ever heard of kiwi fruit selling for 50 yuan per jin? “

“I even went to a place where they sold kiwi fruit by the piece, 10 yuan each, and people were still scrambling to buy them.”

Before Cao Zhen could express his amazement, Zuo Le continued, “But that’s not the most outrageous. I remember meeting a kiwi fruit exporter who specialized in a variety that sold for 120 yuan per jin.”

“If the fruit is truly delicious, many people are willing to pay for it,” Zuo Le sighed. “Unfortunately, in today’s society, many people are too restless to focus on growing quality fruits.”

These words gave Cao Zhen a new perspective on Zuo Le. As their conversation deepened, Cao Zhen learned that Zuo Le was heading to Xinjiang to check out a new apple variety that had just hit the market, hoping to bring back a batch of premium goods.

Holding the apple Cao Zhen had given him, Zuo Le took another bite. The more he ate, the more something felt off.

The apple Cao Zhen gave him was very sweet, but as he ate further, the sweetness intensified, and it was also very juicy.

Zuo Le took a big bite and examined the apple closely. He noticed that the flesh near the core was a translucent bright yellow, forming an irregular circle.

Recalling some rumors, he was stunned, “Brother Cao, is this apple a new variety of sugar heart apple?”

“Uh, sugar heart apple? This is the first time I’ve heard of it,” Cao Zhen replied, puzzled.

As for what variety Cao Shujie was growing, Cao Zhen really couldn’t say.

But he knew these apple trees were inherited from Uncle Jianguo by his childhood friend, and he’d never heard of Uncle Jianguo growing anything new.

Zuo Le found it unbelievable and asked in surprise, “Brother Cao, you didn’t know?”

“Know what?” Cao Zhen was even more confused.

Then Zuo Le said, “This type of apple has particularly high sugar content, but what your friend has grown is a bit different from the rumors I’ve heard.”

After pondering for a moment, Zuo Le shook his head and said, “I can’t go to Xinjiang today. I need to get off at the next station and visit your friend first.”

Cao Zhen never expected someone to be so persistent. He said, “Brother Zuo, there’s no need. My friend is in Cao Family Village, you can visit later.”

“No, that’s not possible. You just called your friend, and he said these apples might sell out soon. If I go late, I won’t get anything. Xinjiang won’t run away; I need to see your friend first,” Zuo Le insisted.

Zuo Le was decisive. Half an hour later, when the train reached the next small station, he got off with his bag.

As he passed Cao Zhen’s soft sleeper window, he waved goodbye.

“Damn!”

Cao Zhen felt like he’d seen a ghost. Despite his extensive experience, he never imagined meeting someone like this on the way to Xinjiang.

He decided not to call Cao Shujie, letting him deal with it himself.

Thinking this, Cao Zhen lay back on his bunk, picked up another apple, and crunched away. After eating half, he examined the bright yellow circle in the middle, thinking, “If Brother Zuo hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have noticed. This color is beautiful. Did that guy grow some kind of miracle fruit?”

…

Returning from Yiling City, Cao Shujie drove to Pingyuan County Town’s Wuxing Department Store to pick up his wife and child, then headed back to Cao Family Village.

On the way, Cheng Xiaolin asked about taking Cao Zhen to the train station.

Cao Shujie said, “Who knows how long that rascal will be gone…”

Before he could finish, Cheng Xiaolin interrupted, “I wasn’t saying anything else, no need to say so much.”

“Honey, honestly, I’m a bit envious that you have such close friends,” Cheng Xiaolin said, her eyes filled with admiration.

“You also have two very good friends,” Cao Shujie replied.

His wife often called her two best friends.

But when Cheng Xiaolin heard him mention this, she said, “They’re too far away. We only chat occasionally, and over time, we talk less and less.”

“Hey, honey, you’re quite eloquent,” Cao Shujie praised her, trying to shift her attention.

In the back seat, Mengmeng was restless, bouncing around like she had springs under her. She’d lie down on one side, then soon crawl onto her mother’s lap.

The journey back to Cao Family Village went smoothly. As soon as the car stopped at the gate, Cao Shujie saw his mother coming out of the house.

“Mengmeng, are you back?” Wang Yuelan called out.

From inside the car, Mengmeng shouted, “Grandmother!” As soon as Wang Yuelan opened the car door, Mengmeng leapt into her grandmother’s arms, “Grandmother, I missed you so much.”

“You little rascal, I don’t believe you!” Wang Yuelan said, but her face was beaming with joy.

Cheng Xiaolin got out from the other side, watching her daughter’s antics, unable to suppress a smile. This little girl was so clever, already knowing how to charm her Grandfather and Grandmother, making them treasure her.

“Mom, have you been waiting at home all this time?” Cao Shujie asked.

Wang Yuelan nodded, “I’ve been waiting since you left this morning.”

“I told you it was nothing,” Cao Shujie mumbled, falling silent after a glare from his wife.

He said, “Mom, you all wait at home. I’m going to the orchard on the mountain to check on the construction.”

“Go ahead,” Wang Yuelan replied, her attention fully on her granddaughter, not caring about her son.

Cao Shujie felt helpless. He asked his mother, “Mom, did my sister call?”

“She did. She said she won’t be coming back for National Day. She’s staying at school to study for her postgraduate exams or something…”

“Graduate school,” Cao Shujie corrected.

Without turning her head, Wang Yuelan said, “Yes, yes, graduate school.”

“Why is Fangfang suddenly so motivated?” Cao Shujie couldn’t figure it out. He wondered if his sister had been emotionally stirred somehow.

But that didn’t seem right either; he hadn’t heard her mention anything about dating.

“Oh, oh.”

“Woof!”

Daha and Erha, the two dog brothers, barked eagerly when they saw Cao Shujie about to head out again. They wanted to catch his attention, and when he turned back to look at them, they barked even more enthusiastically.

Cao Shujie asked them, “Do you two want to go out as well?”

It’s not just them; even the two little German Shepherds wanted to go out. Who likes being cooped up at home all the time?

(The end of this chapter)