America: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 73 Cooperation and Win-Win

The garbage truck was returned to Sanji's Bar. As evening approached, the drizzle gradually intensified.

Zhang Ailun rode his bike back to the bridge camp like a drowned rat, only to find that everyone was there except for Dominic and Sieg.

Surprisingly, Jennifer was also there, but she was sleeping on the sofa, hugging a pillow without any regard for her image, wearing only a lace bra, revealing half of her buttocks and her long, snow-white legs.

Because it started raining heavily outside, the campers promptly put up a moisture-proof mat and plastic sheet on their tents.

Zhang Ailun didn't look at it much, only glancing at it a hundred times.

Simone and Lori were sitting on a sofa under the bridge, counting money, with bags of daily necessities piled up beside them. Dave was helping them calculate the amounts and bills.

"30 bottles of fabric freshener, 56 bars of shower soap, 28 bottles of fabric softener, 26 bottles of laundry detergent, 19 cans of air freshener, 35 bottles of hand sanitizer, 22 kinds of skin care products, 30 air fresheners, 75 packs of antibacterial wipes, 34 bottles of mouthwash, 34 packs of tissues, 18 toothbrushes, 16 tubes of hand cream, 58 bottles of dish soap, 6 tubes of concealer..."

"If they were all sold, that would be a huge sum of money!!" Dave exclaimed in surprise.

Zhang Ailun was also shocked.

I told you to use discount coupons to exploit bugs in various supermarkets and shopping malls. Were you two out there buying up all the stock?

Could some of these items have been purchased for free?

The value of this pile of items must be at least two or three thousand US dollars, far exceeding the standard of 950 yuan, which is enough to warrant a long time in jail!

"Don't look at me like that, we got these from supermarkets and convenience stores! Some of them are near-expiry items from supermarkets, which any homeless person can pick up, but they need to have a shopping voucher card."

Simone noticed the distrust in Zhang Ailun's eyes and immediately offered an explanation.

"Your skin color makes it hard for me to believe you're telling the truth," Zhang Ailun said, shrugging.

"Fxxk you!! When will you ever learn to respect others?!" Simone gave him the middle finger, but didn't dwell on it.

"What you probably don't know is that Lori and I have discovered a new business opportunity!"

"What business opportunity?" Zhang Ailun asked, puzzled.

Simone immediately explained, "It's about the business opportunity in discount coupons! There are teams that sell large discount coupons at low prices on various websites to other people in need, but most of these coupons are counterfeit. Some are from legitimate discount coupon merchants, but simply selling coupons doesn't generate much profit. Their main business is buying and reselling them!"

"For example, merchants may require shoppers to send the redeemed items to a designated address. While selling shopping vouchers, they will also buy back the items at a low price. They use shoppers as a front to cash out the items and resell them at a higher price. They have a whole sales route. Shoppers can also get a refund of the original price plus an additional 2%-10% handling fee. The settlement method is to use bonus vouchers."

Because the number of people using discount coupons is too dispersed, it is difficult for manufacturers to notice the lists of goods purchased in batches in major cities. It is also easy to add a little water to the large-value shopping coupons for genuine products.

Simone explained, "Many people use this method. Lori and I have also registered a few accounts and taken on a few commissions. After the discount coupons arrive by mail, we deliver the redeemed items to the merchant's designated location, and they refund the original price of the coupons and pay us a 5% handling fee per order. The more you redeem, the more bonus coupons you earn!"

Isn't this just a way to cash out coupons?

What geniuses! You've created a new trading model beyond cryptocurrencies and the US dollar!

These people understand the art of financial laundering!

"How can you guarantee that the other party won't withhold your belongings or refuse to pay you?" Zhang Ailun asked doubtfully.

"Oh, that depends on the credibility of both parties. It's true that many people like to double-cross each other. But this kind of thing rarely happens. If the merchant doesn't want to be reported, he can simply swallow our goods."

Simone shrugged. "As far as I know, most people in this line of work are insiders at the major printing companies. They always have extra coupons when they work with food companies to print discount coupons, and those coupons are used without their consent. It's very difficult for other people to accumulate a large number of real discount coupons."

"The team that printed fake discount coupons was arrested simply because their online sales were far better than those of genuine discount coupons! This caused tens of millions of dollars in losses to major companies!"

"Alan, would you like to join our team? We're a bit short on funds right now. Dave and Lori have already joined!"

Simone encouraged Zhang Ailun to take on some side jobs in his spare time, just to help out his family.

"I don't need to expand my business for now, because I just sold a jar today and made some money. I also picked up an antique from a black man and sold it for $5000," Zhang Ailun replied casually.

"You can ask Dominic and David if they have time to run errands for you to cash out goods at various shopping malls. I'll lend you the people; you can just give them some money for the trip."

Many hands make light work; this is also a win-win situation through cooperation.

"How many!?"

"$5000!?"

Everyone was stunned.

Are you a homeless person who makes money so efficiently?

Lori's gaze towards him changed, and in his deep, husky voice, he said half-jokingly, "Bro, if you weren't one of us, I would definitely find a way to rob you!"

Who would be a kind-hearted homeless person carrying thousands of dollars and wandering around the streets?

If you're a poor neighborhood resident with over 90% savings, are you still homeless?

That's surprising?

Wait until I drive over my $7000 well-maintained RV, and then I'll give you all a real shock!

Zhang Ailun waved his hand, "Keep it low-key, I'm just lucky. Because God's surname is Zhang."

"You are indeed very lucky. You are truly blessed by God!"

How can there be such an incredible person? Finding good stuff every few days?

When Dominic and Sieg returned, they greeted the group, and Zhang Ailun handed over their share of the money to the two men.

"Our team has gained a few more members, and we made quite a bit of money selling jars today. Things will definitely get better and better from now on!" the leader concluded.

Everyone gets a share.

David and Gates have already distributed the money to other people.

"That's true. At least during this time I haven't gone hungry or been discriminated against."

Sieg accepted his share of the earnings without a second thought, stuffed it into his pocket, and then took out his identification and a gleaming gold medal. "Look! I have legal identification again! And the Good Citizen Award!"

Zhang Ailun took the medal and examined it curiously. It felt like it was made of stainless steel, and he immediately concluded, "This thing is obviously worthless!"

"Of course it's worthless. It's just an ordinary custom-made item. Otherwise, we would have gone to the pawn shop immediately to exchange it for cash and buy some good food." Sig and Dominic laughed heartily.

For a homeless person, giving them a worthless medal is less meaningful than giving them cash or a meal.

But there's nothing we can do. The various departments of the municipal government, who are too lazy to even repair the streetlights, are hindering each other and refusing to contribute a single penny. Asking them for money leads to heated arguments and even physical fights when no one is watching.

Even the landlords didn't have any surplus grain!

P.S.: Thank you to NightyUnnamed for the 2000 coin reward.

(End of this chapter)