To Be A Star - ZhanYi

Chapter - 2

The plot of the story is purely fictitious, any similarity to the reality is purely coincidental.

Tang Jia, a knowledgeable man of twenty-five, began purchasing the waste paper plates from Xiao Zhan on a daily basis, paying him 20 RMB each time. This brought a sense of happiness to Xiao Zhan, as he was earning more than before, even though he didn't fully understand the purpose of the waste materials. Curiosity lingered within him, but he never dared to question Tang Jia about it.

Over time, Tang Jia's visits became less frequent, occurring only once a week. On these occasions, he would instruct Xiao Zhan to save the waste materials for him. When Tang Jia returned to collect them, he would generously compensate Xiao Zhan with twice the amount he had earned throughout the entire week. 

Driven by curiosity, after a month had passed and Tang Jia arrived to purchase the waste at four times the initial price, Xiao Zhan couldn't contain his inquisitiveness any longer. He mustered the courage to question Tang Jia, "Why do you buy all this trash? I have never encountered anyone who would be foolish enough to spend money on garbage. What do you even plan to do with it?"

"Took you quite some time, ZhanZhan. I had thought you would inquire sooner, but I'm glad you finally did" Tang Jia responded with a hint of amusement. "You see, this so-called 'trash' holds more value to me than meets the eye. It is not mere garbage, but rather a pathway to wealth," he chuckled softly. Pointing towards the bag brimming with discarded paper plates, he continued, "The money I offer you for this 'trash' is the very same money I earn by selling it."

Xiao Zhan was left speechless. Who would ever consider buying trash? He pondered in disbelief. As if reading his thoughts, Tang Jia proceeded to provide an explanation. "Here's the thing" Tang Jia began, "I happen to own a recycling mill. In simple terms, I collect these discarded items and recycle them into useful materials such as cardboard, paper, and paper plates. I then ship these products to countries like the UK and the USA, where I receive payment in return. Although I must confess, I'm just a small-scale businessman looking to expand my enterprise."

Xiao Zhan was utterly unfamiliar with such concepts. He remembered glimpses of the UK and the USA from his school days, marked on maps, but he had never pondered about those distant lands. The process of creating paper plates had never crossed his mind, his life was simple - He would purchase these plates from the vegetable shop without ever questioning their origin.

Xiao Zhan nodded hesitantly, his uncertainty evident. Tang Jia, like an angler reeling in a catch, delightedly placed his hand on Xiao Zhan's shoulder. "Xiao Zhan, will you be my business partner?"

This proposition hooked Xiao Zhan's attention, leaving him intrigued yet unsure. "How can I be your business partner? I'm just an ordinary person with no financial means. Perhaps I can work for you, but becoming a business partner... that seems beyond my capabilities" he replied, his hands resting on his hips.

"Hmm, I understand your concerns. I'm fine with that arrangement. It works for me" Tang Jia responded, his smile unwavering, before he walked away.

That night, Xiao Zhan found himself lost in thought, pondering over Tang Jia's words. He didn't dream of becoming rich, but he longed to provide for his grandmother's well-being, and that required money.

At the age of nineteen, he would rise early in the morning to buy fresh vegetables for his stall. Throughout the day, he diligently chopped them, preparing for the evening rush. During the midday hours, he scoured the streets, collecting discarded materials just as Jia ge had advised. He believed in the potential value hidden within the waste, as Jia ge had said, "Wastes are not just wastes, even waste can bring you fortune. Collect as much as you can."