Dalton's Path to Redemption

Chapter 6

Booming thunder rumbled overhead.

It was noon, but the sky was dark as if it were seven or eight in the evening. A strong wind rattled the glass in the window of Dalton's rented room.

Dalton hunched over his desk, reviewing math problems. Although he had performed well in his past life, several years had passed, and much of his knowledge had faded. He needed to make full effort to study, since his goal was to get into a prestigious university with a top major.

While the SAT isn't completely fair, for ordinary people like him, it still represents their only chance to change their lives.

Suddenly, the ringtone of an outdated phone on the desk broke Dalton's concentration. It was his friend David, who had grown up with him in the slums. They both got into high school together and were not just friends but also classmates.

Besides David, there were two other kids from the slums he was very close to. Although they weren't family by blood, they felt more like a real family.

However, ever since Dalton was taken in by the Walker family, they had lost touch. Because those few were the kind of disreputable friends Susan described—always up to no good, stealing and fighting, and doing nothing but leading Dalton astray.

Because of Susan's strict rules, the connection gradually faded.

Starting over his life, Dalton realized who truly cared for him. After securing a rental room, he reconnected with his old friends and shared his plans.

"Dalton, you're amazing! It's really starting to rain!" David called in a hurry as the rain began to pour.

"Dalton, do you think the vegetables we bought will really increase in price that much?" came another voice on the line. It was Ruby, a cute girl with a bright personality.

They all grew up in the slums and were even poorer than Dalton. Each of them worked two jobs after school just to barely get by.

"Definitely! Trust me, the prices will rise several times!" Dalton replied confidently. As long as they could get through these few days and the flooding passed, they would surely make money!

"I believe you!" Ruby sounded excited. She lived with David and another girl, Sophia. Together, they had stocked up on a lot of vegetables and fruits, investing all their savings from the past few years.

Not only did Ruby believe in Dalton, but she also noticed that the rain was unusually heavy—far too much for an inland city.

"Make sure to spread out the vegetable, and be careful not to crush the layer underneath. Also, protect yourselves and wait until the storm passes!" he instructed before going back to work on his math problems patiently.

When Helen came downstairs, she found Jack and Susan in the living room, casually eating fruit and watching TV. Susan was on the phone with Harvey, checking in on how things were going at school.

She must have heard something funny because she was laughing so hard that her eyes were squinting. Their home felt warm and cozy, and nobody seemed to worry about Dalton's situation despite the heavy storm outside.

Helen wanted to say something but realized she didn't know how to express what she felt. A chill filled her heart, and she turned to go back upstairs.

By evening, the rain had picked up even more. The elevated urban slum started to flood. Around ten o'clock at night, a loud pop echoed, and the lights went out.

The wiring in the slum was old, and it short-circuited the moment it got wet. Dalton looked out the window and saw that the entire area was suddenly consumed by darkness. The only sound he could hear was the torrential rain pounding on the roof and awning, creating a deafening roar.

Fortunately, Dalton had prepared for such conditions. He took out cold packs and ice bags from the fridge and surrounded the vegetable basket, keeping the produce dry and cool.

Then came the long wait of three days.

Three days later, while scrolling through the news on his phone, Dalton saw reports that urban flooding had caused severe damage to rural vegetable fields and orchards, especially the vegetable fields, which had taken a nearly devastating hit.

He knew that the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

David called at just the right moment. As soon as Dalton picked up, David excitedly shouted, "Dalton! I just went out to ask around, and vegetable prices have skyrocketed! The prices of potatoes and lettuce have increased tenfold!"

Dalton was thrilled. "Now's the time! Let's split up into four groups and aim to sell all our stock within two days. And remember, don't get into any conflicts with anyone!"

"Don't worry! We grew up in the slums know how to deal with people!" David replied before hanging up. The four of them hopped on their vans and happily headed off in different directions.

They didn't have a fixed stall and didn't plan to wait at the market. Instead, they set up stall at the entrances of various neighborhoods, selling their goods while everything was still chaotic.

The roads were covered in the stinking mud left behind by the receding floodwaters, and residents didn't want to travel far to buy groceries. There was hardly any fresh produce available in the supermarkets.

With fresh vegetables being sold right at their doorstep, locals rushed over to buy them. After they arrived, they didn't bargain like they used to; they were just afraid that if they arrived late, all the vegetables would be sold out.

After selling out one truckload, they moved to another neighborhood. Even if nearby small supermarkets were jealous and reported them, by the time the management arrived, they would have already sold out and left.

***

Meanwhile, Helen was thinking about Dalton. As soon as the heavy rain stopped, she used her connections to find him. The police were busy with post-disaster relief efforts and didn't have the energy to help her. But soon, she received news.

Coincidentally, a police officer who knew the Walker family spotted Dalton selling vegetables at the entrance of a neighborhood. He recorded a video and sent it to Helen, asking if this was the person she was looking for.

When Helen saw Dalton in the video, she immediately called the driver and rushed to the neighborhood.

When they arrived, Dalton was busy selling vegetables.

At 18 years old, he looked like he weighed less than 130 pounds. His thin frame was still clad in a faded school uniform, covered in mud, and surrounded by a terrible smell.

Helen sat in the car, mentally preparing herself for what she was about to do. Finally, she stepped out in her $17,000 Jimmy Choo stilettos.

The moment her shoes touched the ground, they splashed into the mud, and goosebumps covered her body.

She felt ready to throw those shoes away.

Her outfit was completely out of place in that environment. Dalton quickly noticed her but showed no reaction. He simply lifted his eyes coldly before deftly weighing vegetables, collecting money, and giving change as if she didn't exist.

The bodyguard who accompanied Helen was displeased. He prepared to confront Dalton and overturn his vegetable stall. No one had ever dared to treat their boss so dismissively.

Helen quickly reached out to stop the bodyguard, wanting to wait until Dalton finished selling all the vegetables. She felt increasingly uneasy.

Dalton happily counted the money he had collected. Even after paying for the cost of renting the van and buying ice-making supplies, he had already made double the money. He now had $15,000 in startup capital.

Just thinking about it made him happy.

Dalton carefully packed the counted money into his backpack, which he wore backward against his chest, and prepared to ride back for more supplies.

"Dalton!" Seeing him about to leave, Helen rushed over, ignoring the mud splattered on her shoes, and grabbed his hand. "Come home with me!"