Title: My First Trading Partner is An Awaken
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Henry had paid the amount of 1.904 million pesos to the Manila Salt Trading Inc. as full payment for his order of 280 tons of salt. They had promised to deliver the goods for the week in his newly rented Warehouse in the DnD vicinity.
As Henry tended to his father, Jimmy, and his brother, Dylan, he also trained his punching and kicking. Aside from boxing, he also had watch kicks that can be incorporated with it.
"Dad, how are you feeling today?" Henry asked, his voice laced with concern as he checked on Jimmy's condition.
Jimmy, his eyes bright with gratitude, smiled weakly. "I'm better now. I might be stronger than my former self. Look," he replied as he effortlessly lifted the weights Henry had been training with.
Henry's eyes widened in amazement as he watched his father demonstrate his newfound strength. "Wow, Dad, that's incredible!" he exclaimed, pride swelling in his chest.
"Yeah, it seems that you really did recover, Dad. Just continue drinking the herbal medicine until the smell and color of your secretions return to normal. My supplier said that it's an indication that your body is truly optimized," Henry advised, his tone filled with encouragement.
Beside them, Dylan nodded in agreement, his face still bearing the remnants of bruises from his recent ordeal. "Yeah, me too. In just two days, I didn't feel any pain, and I feel like I'm stronger," he remarked, awe coloring his words.
Henry's heart swelled with pride and relief at the sight of his family's improving health.
"I'm just glad you're both doing better," he said earnestly, his gaze shifting between his father and brother.
"Son, I don't mean to pry, but that herbal medicine of yours is too powerful and effective. Look at me, I'm the evidence of it! Also, look! I don't have any white hair already!" Jimmy exclaimed, his spirits lifted as he humorously examined his appearance.
" Although the herbal medicine is truly effective and powerful, it invite trouble if people would know about it. Keep it a secret, son," Jimmy requested, his tone turning serious.
"I know, Dad. That's why I'm learning this thing. You might also do some training, Dad, Dylan. My friend told me that if you continue drinking this herbal medicine and the side effects are normalized, you will have a physique comparable to five times your former self," Henry suggested, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"I bet that you already felt the effect. It's one of the benefits of this herbal medicine," Henry pointed out.
Even before the accident that happened to his younger brother, Dylan had some cups of drinking for the F-rank healing potion, so in the video he seen during the bullying, he can still punch and kick with ease. The only problem is the number of the bullies with outweight Dylan's capacity.
"I do, brother. I really feel that I am stronger and faster. So it was really that herbal medicine, huh," Dylan said, his tone filled with wonder.
"Yep, no doubt about it, son," Jimmy interjected, nodding in agreement. He had come to accept the undeniable truth of the herbal medicine's efficacy.
"Anyways, son, I am planning to have a checkup, not with Doctor Cando, but at another hospital. To be safe, I want to go to another city to avoid suspicions," Jimmy suggested, his concern for their safety evident in his voice.
Henry nodded in agreement, understanding the need for caution.
After confirming his father and Dylan's full recovery, Henry shifted his focus to cultivating himself, delving into modern farming techniques that piqued his interest.
Following rigorous training, he also use his time on his small hydroponic setup using wastewater he procured from Tyler.
He sought to test its effectiveness on leafy vegetables, considering that the wastewater cannot control weed growth when using conventional farming.
Tyler emphasized the importance of diluting the wastewater to a specific ratio: 20 parts wastewater to 1 liter of water. Any less would lead to excessive growth and mutations in the plants, while exceeding this ratio would result in slower growth. Yet still faster compared to their own liquid fertilizers in this world.
Henry validated Tyler's advice two days prior when he tested it on a lettuce plant. Diluting 100 ml of wastewater with 1 liter of tap water yielded oversized lettuce that turned out unpleasant when cooked.
Comparatively, following the suggested ideal ratio of 50 ml of wastewater to 1 liter of water, Henry observed remarkable growth in just 5 days.
By the sixth day, he found himself with 40 styrofoam cups brimming with lettuce ready for consumption. This successful experiment underscored the potential of utilizing wastewater in hydroponic systems, providing Henry with valuable insights in using the wastewater.
"Son, are you going to grow another vegetable here?" Jimmy asked.
"Yep, Dad," Henry replied, his hands busy arranging seedbeds and adjusting the hydroponic setup. "I'm expanding the variety. I'm trying out spinach, kale, chives, and basil this time. It's incredible what it does for the plants."
Jimmy nodded, watching his son with interest. "Spinach, kale, chives, and basil, huh? That sounds like a tasty mix. And using that green liquid, you say? Well, if it works like you've seen with the lettuce, then it's worth a shot."
"Yeah, exactly," Henry said, pouring the diluted wastewater into the reservoir. "And I'm also trying something new. I bought this pail for pepper propagation using hydroponics. I'm thinking of growing chili peppers. It'll be a nice addition to our rooftop garden."
Jimmy chuckled, giving his son an approving nod. "Well, I don't know where you get those green solutions in your room, son. But I saw how hydroponics works in the videos online, and it seems that those liquids help a lot."
"Yes, Dad, those green solutions are only intended for plants," Henry explained. "I prefer this method because we don't need to worry about weeds growing with it."
Curious, Jimmy asked, "I was just wondering, why does it seem like the lettuce that usually takes around 25 to 30 days to grow has sprouted in your setup in only 5 days? Is that normal?"
Henry hesitated for a moment before deciding to share a secret with his father. "Well, Dad, I'll let you in on something, but you have to promise to keep it between us. Remember the herbal medicine you drink every day?"
Perplexed, Jimmy nodded. "Yes, son. Are you saying the same supplier provides you with this solution?"
"Exactly," Henry confirmed. "It's from the same supplier."
Jimmy was stunned by the implication. The herbal medicine he was familiar with had remarkable effects, leading him to conclude that the wastewater might hold similar miraculous properties. "That's... intriguing, son," he replied, trying to process the revelation.
"I'm interested in hydroponic farming methods using these fertilizers. I think your siblings would be eager to help out too, if we decide to pursue this," Jimmy expressed his interest.
"Yes, Dad, count me in. With this fertilizer, we can grow leafy vegetables quickly, but perhaps too quickly. I'll need to adjust the ratio to prevent excessive growth," Henry remarked.
"It does seem that way. Five days to grow lettuce with this green liquid is remarkably fast. Did you find it too rapid?" Jimmy inquired.
"Yes, Father, I believe I need to dilute it further. The usual growth rate for lettuce using this hydro method is around 28 days, but with this fertilizer, it was only five days. I definitely need to fine-tune the ratio," Henry affirmed.
"Well, I don't mind harvesting veggies every five days," Jimmy cuckled and laughs.
"I'll keep that in mind. However, for larger vegetables like peppers and eggplants, I might need to maximize the recommended ratio," Henry noted.
"No problem, son. I miss farming myself. You might not know this, growing up in the city, but before I met your mom, I was farming in the province. I remember how peaceful it was," Jimmy reminisced.
"I've heard about it from Mom, Dad," Henry recalled.
"So it seems," Jimmy replied softly, his thoughts drifting to his beloved wife who passed away in an accident seven years ago. It has been several years when his wife pass away. Yet, he knew that he still love her dearly.
To not spoil his conversation with his firstborn, he cheer himself up and continue the things they talk about.
"By the way, Son. I heard that the owner of the plot of land adjacent to our house is selling the 1,200 plot of land. It would be better if we could use it for farming after you perfect the ratio of that liquid," Jimmy hinted, genuine excitement gleaming in his eyes.
"It seems you noticed that too, Dad. I'm not sure why our neighbor wants to sell it, but it looks like he's gotten involved in cockfighting gambling," Henry remarked as they observed several hybrid roosters roaming the property.
"I can't blame them, son. Word is, he won 5 million pesos and used it to buy that property. Seemed like a wise move at the time, but it looks like his luck has run dry in recent months," Jimmy informed, his tone tinged with sympathy.
"Then, we need to talk with Mister Hernales. He might need help with his debts, considering he already posted that 'for sale' sign before we came here," Henry suggested, a sense of determination in his voice.
"So, it was already in your plan to buy that property?" Jimmy inquired, searching his son's eyes for confirmation.
Henry nodded in agreement. "Yes, Dad. I was planning to. I've seen firsthand how effective these green liquids are for plants. I intend to build a greenhouse and grow vegetables suitable for hydroponics."
The father and son talk about the details about their new endeavor as Henry wanted to fully support his father. They decided to observe further so as to compare it to the normal hydroponic set up of modern farming.
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Willy Morante leaned forward, his hands tightly gripping the edges of his desk, his gaze fixed intently on the private investigator seated across from him.
"I need to know everything you've uncovered about the Ramirez family," he said, his voice tinged with urgency, a reflection of his ingrained habit of staying informed from his time as mayor.
The private investigator adjusted his tie nervously before responding. "Boss, it appears that the Ramirez family is not well off. They've been residing in the slum for the past four weeks."
"The slum?" Willy repeated, his brow furrowing in concern.
"Yes, boss. But here's the twist," the investigator continued. "Just weeks later, Henry Ramirez, the eldest son, managed to purchase a rent-to-own house in the downtown subdivision."
Willy's eyes widened in disbelief. "From the slums to owning property in the downtown area? How did Henry pull that off?"
"That's what I aimed to find out," the investigator replied. "And it seems he made a substantial amount of money by selling gold to PAL jewelry."
"PAL Jewelry?" Willy interjected, his expression darkening at the mention of the establishment owned by Mister Fernandez.
"Yes, boss. It appears that Henry traded valuable gold with PAL jewelry, which enabled him to secure the funds needed to purchase the house," the investigator explained.
Willy's mind raced with possibilities, his thoughts lingering on the enigmatic figure of Mister Fernandez. "Mister Fernandez... he's not someone to be trifled with."
The investigator nodded in agreement. "Indeed, boss. It's clear that Henry's dealings with PAL jewelry played a significant role in his sudden change in fortune."
Willy let out a sigh, his mind buzzing with questions and concerns. "Well, it seems I have some personal inquiries to make. Thank you for your diligence in having this information. Ask my secretary to give you the rest of the money."
As the investigator left, Willy sat back in his chair, pondering his next move. He knew he needed to tread carefully in his dealings with Mister Fernandez and the Ramirez family, for there were layers of intrigue and danger lurking beneath the surface.
He knew for himself that he is ruthless and cunning. However, he is also calculative. One of his accepted downfalls is his son, Francis, whom he spoiled to the core and this upbringing had made him realize that it was all wrong.
As some genius said; Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men…
"And I don't want to see my son continue and complete the cycle of creating hard times," Willy thought.
He was not in a cross road on how to deal with the wall that his son had created for themselves, the Ramirez Family. With his new information, he will still observe from a distance and wait for good timing. Yet, he decided to learn things about Ramirez personally from the PAL jewelry owner.