Workers moved goods outside while inside the warehouse, Stella Sterling had set up a makeshift table in a corner to discuss outsourcing arrangements with Mr. Cheney.
"Mr. Cheney, then it's settled. In addition to the rice from before, I also need flour, sweet potato starch, oil, salt, and all these other seasonings. Please prepare them in the quantities we just agreed on!"
"The price will also be what we just negotiated. I don't care what your profit margin is; you just have to guarantee that the goods you deliver to me have absolutely no issues."
Stella Sterling stood up and handed a list to Mr. Cheney. The two shook hands and smiled at each other, both very satisfied with the outcome.
'The list of things I need to buy is too long and too varied,' she thought. 'If I have to go buy every single item myself, it will take far too much time. It's much better to work with Mr. Cheney and leave things like grains, oil, rice, and flour to him.'
'Even though he sells rice, business owners like him have their own connections. Entrusting this to him will save me a lot of trouble, and I can use the time I save to prepare other things.'
'The quantities I need are huge. When he negotiates with others, even if he procures the goods for just a fraction less than the low price he's giving me, his profit margin will be substantial.'
'This way, I save time and effort, and Mr. Cheney turns a profit. It's a win-win.'
"Haha, great! Don't you worry. Since you're putting your trust in me, Mr. Cheney, I'll be sure to handle this to your satisfaction! Rest assured, I can have everything ready for you in ten days at most!"
Mr. Cheney chuckled and patted his chest, his heart pounding with excitement. He never expected that simply closing up a little later than usual last night would land him such a massive deal.
'I figured this customer would need a lot more in the future, which is why I personally oversaw the delivery today. But I never expected such a huge surprise was waiting for me.'
'A whale of a client! For a customer like this, I have to get the job done right and maintain a good relationship, even if it means taking a small loss.'
"Miss Sterling, this is urgent. I'll go make the arrangements for you right now. We can talk in detail next time!" Shaking Stella Sterling's hand again, Mr. Cheney took the list and headed out, looking even more anxious than she did.
Stella Sterling saw that it would take a while longer to move the goods. After a word with the manager on-site, she made another trip to the fruit market.
She bought several hundred boxes each of her favorite fruits—apples, strawberries, grapes, cherries, and more. Piling them up in her dimension gave her an immense sense of security. Of course, the money she'd gotten from the bald man yesterday was now running dangerously low, with only a few hundred thousand left.
'Looks like I need to make a quick trip back to the Sterling Family estate,' she mused. 'I remember when I first came back, the family elders gave me some token gifts. That stuff is worth a lot of money.'
'When I left the Sterling Family, I was so full of anger and resentment that I left all of it behind just to prove a point.'
'Thinking about it now, it's my property, so it's only natural for me to take it. I'll go back, grab my things, and sell them for cash.'
'That way, I'll have another influx of cash.'
Pleased as punch, she hummed a little tune, her spirits high. Seeing it was about time, she returned to the warehouse.
The goods had been unloaded and the workers had already left. A female manager was still there. When she saw Stella Sterling arrive, she smiled and said, "Miss Sterling, please take a look!"
"Mhm. Thanks for your hard work. You can go back and report to your boss now."
"Alright. Feel free to contact us if any issues come up!"
After sending them off, Stella Sterling closed the warehouse door. Gazing at the sacks of rice, she began her work.