Chapter 45: 45, I Want To Eat Chicken Legs
When Sophia heard Evan's question, she smiled and nodded.
"That's right."
"They're all in the same market."
"And the fruits they sell are all different."
"Evan, you can go to their stores and take a look."
"These people have their own orchards and reliable suppliers. If you want to place long-term orders, it's best to cooperate with them."
"They're serious businesspeople, not the kind who cheat others."
The people she recommended were naturally trustworthy.
She wouldn't suggest any profiteers to Evan.
Hearing this, Evan nodded.
"Thank you."
His gratitude was clear in his tone.
Sophia chuckled softly.
Then she continued, "Alright."
"Evan, I need to head out too."
"I won't keep chatting with you."
"I have to get to work now."
She set Ralts down gently, preparing to leave.
The car Sophia arranged arrived shortly after.
Once all the energy cubes were loaded into the car, she said her goodbyes and left.
After seeing Sophia off, Evan turned to the few people still discussing the contract.
"Alright."
"You can stop staring at it now."
"Get back to work. You'll get the hang of these things over time."
"There's no need to make such a big deal over a contract."
Evan's tone was teasing.
What a fuss.
Honestly.
The three of them immediately rolled their eyes at Evan.
"This is a business deal worth 50 million!"
"Brother Evan!!"
"Can't you show some excitement?"
"I don't care—I want extra chicken drumsticks tonight!"
Isla suddenly declared, clearly dissatisfied.
What's with this lack of enthusiasm?
Feeling offended, she added, "Chicken drumsticks?"
"Where are the chicken drumsticks?"
"I want some too."
"Evan Brother! I want chicken drumsticks too!"
Hearing Isla's demand, a few little ones who had returned from not far away rushed over and clung to Evan's legs.
If there were chicken drumsticks, they wanted some too.
Seeing the eager faces of the kids, Evan couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, alright."
"I'll make sure there's extra food tonight."
"I'll go talk to Auntie Jenn."
"She can pick up some groceries."
Evan pinched the cheek of the little one hugging his leg, speaking in a gentle tone.
He wasn't about to refuse their request.
After all, landing such a big deal deserved a celebration.
The little ones lit up with excitement.
"Yay!"
"We're having chicken drumsticks for dinner!"
For a moment, all the little ones jumped up in excitement.
It was pure joy.
Seeing this, Evan couldn't help but smile, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Not only would there be chicken drumsticks, but there would also be a feast.
With that thought in mind, Evan said a few words to the group and then turned to walk outside.
Pikachu, Ralts, and Charmander noticed and immediately wanted to follow him.
But a group of the little ones quickly stopped them, clinging tightly and refusing to let them pass.
However, Ralts, ever the clever one, disappeared in a flash of Teleport.
When it reappeared, it was already perched on Evan's shoulder.
The mischievous Pokémon even turned its head and stuck out its tongue at Pikachu and Charmander, clearly proud of itself.
Pikachu and Charmander, seeing this, could only sigh in frustration.
Pikachu dared not use Discharge to retaliate. It wasn't just about the consequences of random electricity—no, it also knew Luna would likely come running, ready to use it as a generator again.
In fact, Pikachu had already been "borrowed" for electricity several times over the past few days.
It was so disheartened!
Pikachu felt like it had become a walking battery for the kids.
So, it couldn't afford to rebel or fight back—it didn't want to be drained again.
Evan, of course, was fully aware of the chaos happening behind him.
But he was amused, not upset. Pikachu's fear of Luna and the others showed it cared about the kids—it didn't want to hurt them.
The same went for Charmander, even though it was just a baby. It understood instinctively that the children in the orphanage were family, never to be harmed.
It was this protective instinct that made the two little Pokémon so obedient.
As for Shiny Pidgeot? That one was often off flying around the hills.
Rumor had it, it had taken a liking to a Pidgey recently.
Truly invincible behavior!
Evan found Auntie Jenn, who was sitting with a group of women chatting.
He spoke up cheerfully, "Auntie Jenn, could you go pick up some groceries? We're having a feast tonight!"
"I just landed a big order, so let's celebrate!"
Hearing this, the group of women, who were leisurely munching on sunflower seeds, all turned to him, startled.
"What?"
"Evan, are you serious?"
"Celebrate?"
"You can't just go throwing money around like this!"
"What kind of feast are you thinking of? Are you saying Auntie's cooking isn't good enough already?"
Auntie Jenn frowned, clearly displeased.
She immediately assumed Evan was being reckless with his money.
The orphanage had always been careful about spending—every penny counted.
How could he suggest something as extravagant as a feast?
What if something went wrong in the future?
After all, none of them truly understood just how much income Evan's breeding house was generating.
They weren't Trainers, so they couldn't imagine the profits his business brought in.
Unfamiliar with the actual price of energy cubes, the aunties naturally underestimated Evan's earnings.
In their minds, even if he was making a profit, it couldn't be more than a few thousand yuan at most.
Seeing their reactions, Evan couldn't help but laugh.
He immediately realized they must have misunderstood something.
So, he began explaining.
"That's exactly why I'm treating everyone to an extra meal," he said with a grin.
"By the way, I'm covering the rest of the food budget too."
"From now on, don't skimp on meals—make sure everyone gets enough to eat."
"The kids' health is the most important thing."
Evan understood their concern about spending recklessly, so he avoided sharing exactly how much he earned.
He figured it was better for Isla and the others to explain it later.
After all, if he said it himself, it might sound like bragging, and the aunties might not even believe him.
It was more convincing coming from someone else.
With that, Evan took out his phone and transferred money to Auntie Jenn.
A whopping 100,000 yuan was sent to the orphanage's account in one swift motion.
"Use this to give everyone extra food," Evan instructed.
Auntie Jenn received the notification, quickly pulling out her phone to check.
When she saw the 100,000 yuan deposit, she was stunned into silence.
"You—" she began, but words failed her.
"You don't know how to save money, do you?"
"Even if you're earning, you shouldn't spend it so freely."
But despite her scolding, her tone softened as she added, "Alright, I understand. I'll go get the groceries now."
"And I'll pick up some new clothes for the kids while I'm at it."
Although she still worried about Evan's spending habits, she didn't overthink it.
It was clear that this was his way of showing care for everyone.
Though she didn't know exactly how much Evan was earning, she had a good sense that it was more than just a little.
She trusted him.
Evan wouldn't act like this unless he was truly well-off.
His generosity only proved how successful he must be.
It made her optimistic about the orphanage's future.
For the first time in a long while, she could see the potential for real improvement in their quality of life.
As she thought about it, her heart warmed, and she couldn't help but smile.
The other aunties, sensing her happiness, also broke into smiles.
To them, Evan's success felt like their own.
After all, they had raised these children as if they were their own, including Evan.
They had watched him grow up, cooking for him and guiding him like family.
Now that he was successful, they couldn't help but feel proud and overjoyed.