Chapter 66: Silent Admiration and a Fertilizer Proposal
by xennovelXu Chen stared at the “Dark Crush” message from NetAffairsLikeSmoke, completely baffled.
“Classmate Xu Chen, I’m adding you as a friend—I swear there’s no other meaning…”
“I just simply want to add you.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t pester you at school…”
“I’ll just… quietly like you.”
“…”
One after another, the messages kept coming in fits and starts.
Xu Chen frowned and read them silently, without replying.
He clicked the ID “Dark Crush” and checked that person’s space—completely empty.
He couldn’t guess who was behind it.
Maybe this QQ was registered just to add him.
Xu Chen’s first thought was that it was a scam or a prank.
But there was also a chance his charm was just that overwhelming…
Confidence.jpg
Chen Dahai, who had just picked up a pile of junk gear in the dungeon, was stretching his wrists.
He glanced at Xu Chen’s screen, leaned over, and sighed.
“I’m speechless, Xu Young Master. How many people secretly crush on you?!”
“What is that, some ancient drama line?”
Xu Chen rolled his eyes and gently pushed Chen Dahai’s big face away.
Chen Dahai stayed gossiping: “Who is this?! I feel like I know them!”
“Who knows? Probably a prank.”
Gripping his mouse, Xu Chen was about to right-click and delete the contact.
Chen Dahai clicked his tongue: “Another sweet girl about to have her heart broken for our Xu Young Master…”
Xu Chen hesitated and withdrew his finger from the delete button.
He typed in the chat box: “Sorry, I’m not dating anyone—got college entrance exams to study for!”
“Mm! Good luck, Xu Chen!” Dark Crush replied, with an embarrassed smiling emoji…
Xu Chen was even more puzzled as the other party silently went offline.
…
…
Suddenly, NetAffairsLikeSmoke’s avatar flashed.
This was Guo Liang, the local dealer for HuiShuang Shenbao.
Xu Chen had a very good impression of “Manager Guo Liang.”
A sales pro, quick-witted and emotionally intelligent.
If his father Xu Zhiquan’s business ever expanded, top talent would be needed.
When Xu Chen last met Guo Liang, he’d made a mental note to recruit him into his father’s new company someday.
But that could wait until the electric-bike track project took shape.
Right now, the family’s Seedling Company held no appeal for Guo Liang…
“Teacher Xu, I have news for you.
Headquarters says your ad campaign ‘Steady Happiness’ is already in production.
They’re scheduling airtime and it should hit TV soon!”
“Haha, here’s to selling plenty of Shenbao!”
Guo Liang typed a few laughs, then wrote: “Teacher Xu, one more thing.
A former colleague at HQ is returning home to inherit his father’s fertilizer factory.
They’ve developed a new fertilizer additive and want to promote it in lower-tier markets with a TV ad.”
Xu Chen smiled—he hadn’t expected ad business to come knocking.
But he didn’t reply right away. NetAffairsLikeSmoke continued:
“They’re just a small private factory, no real budget—max eighty thousand yuan.
That’s their absolute limit.
If you’re willing to do the plan, they’ll pay thirty thousand no matter what.
If they use your concept, you get an extra fifty thousand.”
Xu Chen considered it—every bit counts, eighty thousand wasn’t nothing…
“Do you have product materials? I’ll take a look.”
“Sure thing, please wait a moment.”
The chat flickered and Guo Liang sent over a document.
“They’ve come up with a product name but worry it sounds tacky. If you can help rename it, even better.”
Xu Chen opened the file and nearly laughed out loud.
【Product Name: Jin Kela (Tentative)】
【Product Description: Compound fertilizer additive…】
Xu Chen scratched his head—this rebirth wasn’t going smoothly…
First Shenbao, now Jin Kela.
Can’t they give me a normal ad assignment?
Well, fate’s got its plan.
Alright, money talks.
This eighty thousand is practically free.
Xu Chen recalled past viral videos—he could knock this ad out in his sleep.
With the ‘standard answer’ in hand, the money was guaranteed.
He hesitated, then remembered dinner with his father Xu Zhiquan and a chat about Fourth Uncle and fertilizer.
He typed back:
“I can do the ad plan, but eighty thousand is a bit low.
They’re a small private factory—funds all from bank loans.”
He paused, then added:
“Let’s do this: don’t pay the thirty thousand upfront.
I’ll draft the plan—you pay nothing if you reject it.
If you approve, then settle payment.
But I don’t want eighty thousand cash—I want fertilizer valued at one hundred twenty thousand.”
Xu Chen wasn’t short on cash.
His allowance and last Shenbao earnings topped a hundred thousand already.
Another eighty thousand worth of fertilizer would be put to good use at home.
He’d heard Fourth Uncle was struggling with fertilizer procurement…
Also, suppliers often prefer “goods in lieu of payment” to ease cash flow and clear inventory.
Of course, accepting fertilizer meant asking for more than eighty thousand in value.
Now it came down to whether his “one hundred twenty thousand fertilizer” offer would fly.
NetAffairsLikeSmoke seemed taken aback.
After a long typing pause, the reply appeared:
“Boss Xu, twelve-thousand-kilogram fertilizer is quite a lot!
You might struggle to resell it. I suggest you stick with cash.
Eighty thousand yuan is nothing to sneeze at.”