When fate plays its hand

After reviewing the contract, Joli signed his name. He handed it back to Miranda with both hands and assured her, “I won’t let the lab lose a penny.”

She smiled faintly. “I trust my instincts.”

This was the second time she had extended a hand to him.

Joli’s heart was overflowing with gratitude, but he knew actions spoke louder than words. He silently vowed to repay her with a lifetime of loyalty.

Ollie and Wanda hadn’t expected things to turn out this way. They exchanged a glance that conveyed deep appreciation for Miranda’s support and a profound guilt about what their son had to bear.

If Joli hadn’t been shouldering the weight of his family, he might have achieved far greater things by now. But instead…

“Dad, Mom, we’ve got money now.” Joli smiled as he looked at his parents. He finally believed that studying was worthwhile and knowledge could lead to wealth.

Ollie’s eyes sparkled with joy. Moving to the city meant Wanda could get the treatment she needed at Trinity Hospital. With the specialist Paul recommended, there was real hope for her recovery. Julie would also have better educational opportunities.

He knew the city offered far more chances to earn a living than the village. Though he walked with a limp, his strength and his skill in making street food would always help him make money. He knew he could provide for his family with hard work and perseverance.

Hope filled their lives, but there was only one thing he couldn’t part with. He asked, “What should we do with the cherry orchard at the back hill?”

Paul replied, “That’s easy. There are contract farming companies that operate nationwide. They typically lease land from farmers to grow crops and then ship everything directly from the farm to the markets. I looked it up, and there’s a large company based in

/ Yalemont that’s quite well–established.”

Ollie asked, “Do you think they’d be interested in a small cherry orchard like mine?”

After years of working, he had seen his fair share of things and knew about these companies. They aimed to reduce costs and increase efficiency by consolidating large land

areas.

This often involved leasing multiple farms across several villages and establishing centralized facilities, like greenhouses. So, Ollie knew his small orchard likely wouldn’t catch their attention.

Paul waved off his concern. “Most fruits might fit their model for large–scale

consolidation, but cherries are different.‘

Due to their short shelf life and delicate nature, local cherries couldn’t be shipped long distances. Even with air shipping, the spoilage rate would be high. As a result, they were usually sold locally.

Places like Cedar Falls and neighboring areas such as Wanscoria and Seravale often demanded fresh, local cherries. With shorter transportation routes, it made perfect sense for these farming companies to source cherries from nearby farms rather than deal with long–distance logistics.

Paul offered, “If you trust me, I can help you get in touch with them.”

Ollie immediately responded, “I trust you. I really do. I just feel bad asking for your help again.”

“It’s the least I can do.”

These large contract farming companies had their own networks and powerful backers. The Sneider family’s influence was practically nothing by comparison.

This way, Ollie’s family not only freed themselves from the Sneiders‘ harassment but also secured a steady annual income. It was a perfect win–win solution. This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

At that moment, Joli’s phone rang.

Earlier that morning, he had gone into town to have someone repair his phone and insert a

on, the screen lit up with dozens of new SIM card. The moment he had powered it back missed call notifications.

A flood of notifications greeted him when he had logged into his social media account. Most were from Miranda, Sebastian, and Madison. Joli had been deeply touched once again.

He answered the call, “Hello?”

Whatever was said on the other end made his eyes light up. “Really?”