The Day You Choose Someone Else

During the Double Eleven shopping festival, I streamed live for eighteen hours every day. I sold all the mangoes in Leverant Village.

That night, the village chief handed me the payment QR code.

Lora, youve been streaming for more than ten days and have eaten hundreds of pounds of mangoes from our village. Now, a pound of mango sells for more than 1,4 dollars. Youve been busy for half a month, so we wont ask for much. Just pay 1,4 dollars per pound.

The villagers all agreed. Thats right, Lora, youre already a big internet celebrity. Dont take advantage of us villagers.

I was a little surprised.

After all, for the past half month, I had been helping the villagers sell mangoes for free. I didnt earn a single cent in commission.

And now they wanted me to pay for the mangoes I tasted during the livestream? I laughed in anger and immediately scanned them for 4,000 dollars.

Two months later, the second batch of mangoes ripened.

The village chief came to me again. Lora, livestream for a few days and help us sell the new mangoes too!

I took a contract out of my bag and handed it to him. Mr. Brown, I now have 30 million fans. The commission for selling one batch is 70,000 dollars. Payment first, livestream later.

The last live stream of Double Eleven was over and my throat was completely hoarse.

For the past two weeks, we had been staring at the screen for eighteen hours a day. Welsey in the team was so tired that he fell asleep right in the chair backstage.

I took out my phone and sent each of them some money, then cleared my tight, sore throat. “Thank you all for working so hard these past two weeks. While other streamers are fighting for traffic and making money during Double Eleven, weve been here helping the villagers sell mangoes for free. I know you all gave up a lot of business opportunities. I really appreciate it.”

My assistant Yovie rubbed her red eyes. Lora, youre the one who worked the hardest. Youve turned down at least hundreds of dollars worth of deals over these two weeks

Welsey was awake now, his voice hoarse too. Exactly. You spent your own money to rent equipment and pay for logistics just to help the villagers, without taking a single cent in commission. Lora, youre way too kind.

I looked at the piles of mango boxes in the warehouse and felt a warm sense of satisfaction. Being able to help the villagers sell their mangoes was worth it even if I earned a little less.

The warehouse door creaked open. The village chief walked in with a dozen villagers, all smiling.

He pulled out his phone and showed me the payment QR code. Lora, youve been eating a lot of mangoes these past two weeks, havent you?

He rubbed his hands nervously. We wont charge too much. Lets just say 1 dollar per pound.

My uncle, Jackson Lufren, chimed in from behind. You must have eaten at least 2,000 pounds. Thats got to be at least 2,000 dollars!

I froze, unable to react for a moment.

Yovie suddenly stood up. Tasting the mangoes is just to show the quality! Every streamer does this! Otherwise, who would buy them?

She pointed at the warehouse full of mango boxes. Lora helped you sell every single mango in the village. At market price, youve made over 80,000 dollars. And she didnt take a single cent, yet youre asking for thousands dollars for tasting? We spent our own money to rent equipment and pay for logistics, over 10,000 dollars and we didnt even charge you!

The villagers looked at each other, some lowering their heads. But my uncle Jackson still stuck out his neck. Everything has to be accounted for properly, even between close relatives. The tasting money has to be paid!

Yovies eyes turned red with anger. Do you even know how many business deals Lora turned down during Double Eleven? Just one missed deal alone could have bought all the mangoes in this village!

The girl was both angry and anxious and for a moment, no one dared to speak.

Seeing this, the village chiefs eyes darted around shrewdly. He cleared his throat and said,Lora, we know how hard youve worked and everyone in the village remembers your kindness. But these mangoes were grown by all of us, working from dawn to dusk. All year round, we count on this harvest.

He pointed to the villagers behind him. Look at your uncle. His son is in college, waiting for tuition. Dennas husband is still sick. Were not like you. You can just start a live stream and make big money easily.

Uncle Jackson chimed in from the side, For you, 2,000 dollars is like a meal. For us, its half a years living expenses.

The village chief held the QR code out in front of me again. Youre such a big streamer; you wouldnt fuss over such a small amount with the villagers, would you?

Hearing this, the villagers all straightened up. They started chiming in together, Exactly! Gifts in your live stream fly everywherewhats two thousand more or less?

Its not easy for us to farm. You just talk on camera and make money. You should share some with us!

Denna wiped her tears. My husbands medical bills arent even covered. You cant just eat our mangoes for free.

I could hardly believe my ears. Denna, you say you cant cover the medical bills? Other years, your mangoes would have rotted in the fields by now. But this year, just your batch alone sold 8,000 pounds. At the current price, thats at least 11,000 dollars. How can you still not cover the medical bills?

Denna was suddenly at a loss for words, her eyes avoiding mine.

My uncle quickly tried to smooth things over, Thats a different issue! Right now, were talking about you eating mangoes for free!

I looked at him, so self-righteous and couldnt help but laugh a little. For the past two weeks, Id been sleeping only three or four hours a night, my throat hoarse and sore, still pushing through every live stream.

The team had been gnawing on cold buns and sleeping on army cots with me. What were we after? We just wanted the villagers to have a better life.

But now? They took the money theyd just earned and turned around to argue with me over tasting mangoes.

I looked down at the corners of my mouth, worn raw and suddenly couldnt understand what I had been busy with for the past two weeks.

Seeing me silent, my uncle pointed at my nose and scolded, Lora, youve forgotten your roots! Back then, your parents were dirt poor. If the village hadnt helped cover your tuition, would you even have made it this far? When you were in school, you ate at our house every day and now youre quibbling with us over this petty money?

Exactly! We treated you better than our own daughter. You cant be so ungrateful!

A few elders joined in, pointing fingers, You shouldnt have even sent her to schoollook at the ungrateful child shes turned out to be!

They kept piling up every small favor from my childhood, slapping them on me like whips.

I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to stay steady. Uncle, youre right. I did eat at your house a lot when I was younger. But do you remember? I always waited until your big dog, Bobby, finished eating before I dared to go to the stove and take the bowl that was specially left for me. Sometimes thered still be scraps of meat in the dogs bowl, while my bowl only had watery porridge.

Denna hurried to interrupt, but I raised my hand to stop her. As for the tuition, you may have forgotten. But my dad knelt in your main hall back then and signed an IOU, mortgaging our house, agreeing to three percent interest, before you finally lent three hundred dollars. The village committees accounts should still have a record of this.

Yovies eyes turned red. She planted her hands on her hips and stood firmly in front of me, her voice fierce.

The first thing Lora did after starting work was repay her debts. She worked all day and streamed at night, saving up enough to pay back every cent with interest. Not only did she pay the interest, she even gave each family an extra thousand dollars. And as her uncle, you even said the interest was too little back then!

She pulled out photos from her phone, Over the years, Lora has donated 14,000 dollars to repair the village roads and another 7,000 dollars to build a school. Do we need to go through all these accounts?

The villagers looked at each other and some began to shrink back. Uncle Jackson opened his mouth, his face turning pale and then red.

The village chiefs daughter, Olive Brown, pushed through the crowd with a few young people. She crossed her arms and looked at me sideways. Lora, its pointless to bring up these old accounts now. Back then, helping you was out of kindness. Isnt it only natural that you give back to the villagers now? Besides, it was your own promise to help the villagers sell the mangoes for free. You cant just go back on your word, can you?

The young people behind her all nodded in agreement.

Olive then looked at the mango boxes in the warehouse and sighed. We know youre not short of money and you always say during your livestreams that helping farmers should follow the rules. You cant just break the rules yourself, can you? You ate so many mangoes while livestreaming; you cant just let that go for free.

She gently pushed the payment QR code toward me, her voice still soft, 2,000 dollars for you might be like buying a small bag, but for the villagers, this is a years hard work.

The blond kid behind Olive added, If your fans find out you ate for free in the village, you might lose followers, right?

Weve been recording everything, Lora, you decide what to do.

A few young people immediately raised their phones and started filming me, shouting, If we dont get this money today, well post the videos online!

Uncle Jackson shoved Yovie aside and yelled angrily, If you dont pay today, dont think you can leave Leverant Village!

The warehouse was noisy. Villagers surrounded me, each holding out their hands for money.

A few guys from my team were so angry their eyes turned red. Welsey pushed the blocking villagers aside. Do you even have a conscience! When Lora was working herself to exhaustion and ended up in the hospital on IV drips for you, where were you?

Yes, I was naturally allergic to mangoes. But my fans only recognize me as this livestreamer. Every time I tasted mangoes during a livestream, my body broke out in dense red rashes.

I could only wait until the livestream ended and rush to the hospital for IV drips overnight. Every time, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep right in the hospital chair.

And now they actually wanted me to pay for tasting mangoes.

Looking at all the angry faces in front of me, my heart completely sank. I barely even had the strength for a bitter smile.

Another guy from my team started shoving with the villagers. How ungrateful! Do you know how many people begged Lora to help sell their goods? If Lora hadnt acted out of loyalty and helped you sell for free, your mangoes would have rotted in the fields long ago!

Seeing things about to get out of control, I raised my voice, Everyone stop!

Immediately, everyone went quiet.

I picked up my phone and scanned the payment QR code. Moneys transferred2,000 dollars.

I showed the payment success screen to the village chief. Now can we go? Pack up, lets head back.

Yovie bit her lip, almost crying, Lora this money shouldnt be given

I shook my head and walked out of the warehouse first.

Behind me, I could hear villagers whispering and some were proudly counting the money that had arrived. Some even clapped excitedly in celebration.

Just as I reached the warehouse door, Olive hurried after me and grabbed my wrist. Lora, theres one more thing we need to make clear.

Other livestreams are selling mangoes of the same quality for 2,1 dollars, but you insisted on 1,85 dollars.

Thats a difference of 0.25 dollars per pound. With thousands of pounds sold across the village, thats not a small amount.

A few villagers behind her immediately realized this and crowded around. Exactly! That price difference needs to be paid! At least another 28.000 dollars!

Yovie threw herself in front of me to shield me, her voice trembling. Have some conscience! The other sellers mangoes are premium, each individually bagged during cultivation. The mangoes from Leverant Village vary in size. If it werent for Lora carefully sorting and packaging them, selling them at 1,85 dollars would already be considered high!

She pulled out the shipping documents and slammed them onto the boxes.

Just for shipping insurance alone, we spent about seven thousand dollars! And what about the boxes, ice packs and labor. Werent all of those paid out of our own pockets? And now youre complaining that we sold them too cheaply?

Welsey, eyes red, added, Do you know how many favors Lora had to call in on the platform just to negotiate this price?

Hearing this, Olive sneered and proudly lifted her chin. I studied business in the city. Dont try to fool me with these words. The cost difference between premium and regular mangoes isnt even 0,28 dollars. That price gap is just your kickback. Besides, shipping insurance definitely wouldnt cost seven thousand. You must have inflated the numbers. Ive seen this kind of trick many times!

A few villagers immediately started shouting in agreement, The university student said it, it must be true! Hurry up and make up the difference!

Yovies voice trembled with anger, The money for your studies was funded by Lora. This is how you repay her? And what kind of business course did you study if you cant even account for packaging loss?

Uncle Jackson waved his hand, clearly not wanting to listen and shouted loudly, Stop with the useless talk! If you dont pay today, dont even think about leaving!

I held back Yovie, who was about to argue again and opened my phone. 28.000 dollars, right? Ill pay.

The payment confirmation beep sounded especially clear in the warehouse.

The villagers craned their necks, staring at the screen; some even stood on tiptoe. Now can we go?

The village chief rubbed his hands and nodded repeatedly, Of course, of course! Lora really is a big internet celebrityso straightforward!

I helped my parents walk out and my team quietly followed.

Behind us, villagers cheered and someone shouted, Were rich!

Back in our large apartment in the city center, my mom was still wiping her tears, Thats 28.000 dollars

I stood in front of the floor?to?ceiling window, looking at the stream of headlights below. Mom, dont worry. The way they took that money Ill make them spit it back out the same way.

I gave my team half a month off. Their salaries stayed the same and I even transferred an extra seven thousand dollars to each of them as a travel fund.

Two months later, the second batch of mangoes in Leverant Village ripened. The village chief came straight to my company, shouting the moment he walked in, Lora, livestream for a few days and help us sell this new batch of mangoes! This time you have to sell them for 2,82 dollars a pound. You have a lot of fans, so you can definitely sell them!

Smiling, I opened a drawer and handed him the contract. Mr. Brown, I now have 30 million fans. The commission for promoting one batch is 70,000 dollarspayment first, livestream later.