Official title: Refused to stay at the university, started his career in a rural town.

Goods from Qingping Mountain are being hauled out, truckload after truckload.

The county fruit company's trucks come every three days, the city supply and marketing cooperative's trucks come every five days, and Ruifuxiang's trucks from the provincial capital come once a week.

Mushrooms, wood ear fungus, walnuts, and chestnuts were loaded onto the truck, weighed, and the bill was settled.

Old Geng squatted at the warehouse entrance, clutching an account book in his hand, ticking off each entry as he went through it.

The numbers are getting bigger every day.

In the first week, 25,000 catties were shipped; in the second week, 18,000 catties were shipped; and in the third week, 7,000 catties were shipped. It wasn't because they couldn't sell, but because the stock available for picking on the mountain was almost depleted, and the newly picked goods also needed a process of drying and processing.

Zhou Dequan's hands were shaking as he reported the data: "Mayor Yang, at this rate, our sales of mountain delicacies this year will exceed 1.5 million."

Yang Fan took the ledger and flipped through it. "Every shipment must be reviewed. Don't ruin your own reputation."

"The quality is fine." Old Zhou paused, "but—"

"What?"

"Someone in the village is cursing."

Yang Fan closed the ledger.

Zhou Dequan rubbed his hands together.

"Over in Wangjiaping, there's a guy named Wang Defa. He has three mu of walnut trees. In previous years, he would carry them to the market himself to sell, earning four yuan per jin. This year, the township is buying them all at the same price, six yuan per jin. You'd think he'd earn more, but he won't do it."

Why?

"He said that in Jinshan County next door, there are vendors buying walnuts for 7.5 yuan a pound. He did the math and said that the township had shortchanged him by one yuan." Old Zhou took out a cigarette but didn't light it. "Secretary Geng went to talk to them twice, but to no avail. Wang Defa squatted at the village entrance cursing, saying that the township was blocking his path to wealth."

Yang Fan stood up.

"Go to Wangjiaping."

When Yang Fan arrived at Wangjiaping, Wang Defa was squatting at the gate of his yard, smoking.

Upon seeing Yang Fan's bicycle, he threw his cigarette butt on the ground, stood up, and was about to walk into the house.

"Wang Defa".

Yang Fan propped up his bicycle.

Wang Defa stopped, but didn't turn around.

"I heard you have a problem with it."

Wang Defa turned around, his mouth moved slightly, and the courtyard was quiet for a few seconds.

"Mayor Yang, I, Wang Defa, am not an ignorant person."

His voice trembled slightly, "Last year, when apples were bagged, I was the first to believe it. I made four thousand yuan from my three acres of orchard. I'm convinced."

"Then what."

"But these walnuts—" Wang Defa pointed to the sacks piled up in the yard.

"My three mu of walnut trees yielded 2,000 jin last year. This year is a bumper year, and I expect to yield 2,500 jin. The township will buy them all at 6.5 yuan per jin."

"The vendors from Jinshan County will come to collect it from you. They'll pay you 7.5 yuan per jin (0.5 kg) in cash. I've got 2,500 jin, so I'm short 2,500 yuan."

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"Mayor Yang, two thousand five hundred! My two kids will be starting junior high next year. Their tuition, books, boarding fees, and new clothes all depend on these walnuts."

Yang Fan remained silent.

Wang Defa lit another cigarette and took a puff.

"Secretary Geng said it was for the sake of the brand and for the long term. I understand. But how far is the long term? My child needs to pay tuition next year."

Yang Fan squatted down, picked up a twig, and scratched it on the ground.

"How much did you sell your walnuts for per kilogram last year?"

"Four pieces."

"This year it's 6.5 yuan, 2.5 yuan more, 2,500 jin, so I'll earn an extra 6,250 yuan."

"And where do you think those extra two yuan and fifty cents came from? It's all about unified distribution channels and brand building! Do you think your walnuts grew better this year than last year? Or tasted sweeter?"

Yang Fan's tone was somewhat loud as he angrily sat down on the threshold.

"Small vendors can't buy them anymore, so they come to you to add to their stock. Now that you're selling them, they'll take your walnuts, mix them with walnuts from other places, and sell them mixed together! If that ruins your reputation, will you compensate the entire township for their losses?"

"Tighten your belt this year, and everyone will have a better year from now on! If you insist on digging up our roots in Qingping Township, I'm telling you, you can sell them. But the Qingping Township government will never buy a single walnut from your family again, and don't even mention supplying our township government with walnuts!"

Wang Defa remained silent.

"That peddler in Jinshan County gives you seven yuan and fifty cents, but he only gives you seven yuan and fifty cents this year. What about next year? What if he doesn't come back next year?"

Wang Defa paused.

"The peddler buys goods; the price is high this year, low next year. He might buy this year, but not next year. He doesn't care about your child's tuition, or how you'll sell your walnut grove in the future. He just wants to make a quick buck and leave." Yang Fan patted the threshold.

"The township buys them all at once, and the price is a little lower than what you get from street vendors. But this price will still be there next year, and the year after. Even after your child finishes junior high and goes to high school, this price will still be there."

Wang Defa stared at the tree branches on the ground, cigarette ash falling onto his trouser leg, which he didn't brush off.

"Didn't Secretary Geng tell you?"

"...I said it."

"Then what are you cursing?"

Wang Defa stubbed out his cigarette, stuck it in the ground, and remained silent for a long time.

"Mayor Yang, it's not that I don't understand reason." His voice lowered.

"It's just that seeing Jinshan County next door selling theirs for one yuan more per kilogram than mine makes me feel resentful."

Yang Fan stood up.

"It's because of the traffic jam."

Wang Defa raised his head.

"It shows you care about money. Only when you care about money will you want to do things well." Yang Fan patted the dirt off his hands.

How are the quality of your walnuts?

Wang De was stunned for a moment. "My walnuts? Thin shells and big kernels, you can crack them open with your hands."

"Then next year, your walnuts will be packaged separately, and the price will be increased for the better quality ones."

Wang Defa's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really. But there's a condition."

"you say."

"From today onwards, you'll be in charge of keeping an eye on the walnuts in Wangjiaping. If anyone tries to pass off inferior products as superior ones, come to me. Only when you build up your brand will your walnuts fetch a good price."

Wang Defa stood up and tucked his pipe into his waistband. "Alright!"

On the way back, Zhou Dequan followed Yang Fan on his bicycle. "Mayor Yang, are you really going to give in to Wang Defa's conditions?"

"Here you go, those in good condition should fetch a higher price."

"What about the other villages—"

"Same. By classifying products according to quality and price, farmers will be more willing to maintain high-quality products."

Zhou Dequan stopped talking and pedaled harder.

Shipments from Qingping Township have stabilized.

The county fruit market, the city supply and marketing cooperative, and Ruifuxiang in the provincial capital—three major distribution channels—clearly divided the goods among themselves.

When small vendors arrived, Old Geng would block them all at the door: "Go get your goods from the county's fruit supplier; we don't serve individual vendors."

Some people left cursing and swearing, while others lingered at the door and refused to leave.

Geng Yan squatted at the doorway smoking without saying a word, finishing one cigarette after another until it got dark, and then he left.

In mid-September, an official letter was delivered to the Qingping Township government.

The official letter was forwarded by the Provincial Department of Agriculture. It stated that Hengtong Group of Handong Province had expressed interest in cooperating on the development of specialty agricultural products in Qingping Township and planned to send an inspection team to conduct research. The team was requested to be received.

Ma Liangchen read the official letter twice. "Hengtong Group?"

Li Chang'an took it and looked at it. "It's a large enterprise in the province, it processes food and does foreign trade. I heard from the county that it has assets of over a billion yuan."

Ma Liangchen picked up the enamel mug and blew away the tea leaves. "How did they know we were from Qingping?"

Yang Fan said, "That article in the provincial newspaper, I guess."

Ma Liangchen put the jar down. "Good news, get ready to receive them."