Chapter 186: Sales
"I never expected Mr. White to make such a big mistake," Pinkman remarked, somewhat amused, as he watched Walter drive away.
"Stop standing around and come help me," Frank said.
"Huh? Help with what?" Pinkman asked, puzzled.
"Check these for any markings, like this one with a label," Frank said, picking up a large beaker and pointing to a sticky note on it.
The equipment Walter had taken from the school's storeroom all had labels on them.
Many of these items had been gathering dust for years, as the school, being a typical public high school, wasn't conducting advanced experiments.
The school likely purchased these items to showcase their facilities, much like many schools that have computer and chemistry labs that are rarely used but are necessary for appearances.
Some labels had naturally fallen off due to disuse, but others were still attached, with inscriptions like "J.P. White Chemistry Lab."
This clearly marked them as belonging to Walter's lab.
If something went wrong and they had to flee, but the car was impounded, the police would spot the labels, linking them back to Walter.
Frank and Pinkman meticulously checked all the equipment, ensuring none bore incriminating labels.
That night, Pinkman took some of the product out for sale, staying out all night.
By nearly noon the next day, Pinkman returned, visibly tired.
"How did it go?" Frank asked, handing Pinkman a beer.
"Pretty well. Our product is in high demand," Pinkman replied excitedly, even after a sleepless night.
He pulled a roll of cash from his pocket and tossed it on the table, all in hundred-dollar bills.
"Frank, you look like you didn't sleep last night. You seem a bit off," Pinkman noted, sipping his beer and observing Frank's pale complexion.
"I'm fine. How much is this?" Frank asked, picking up the money.
"Sold for a total of $2,600," Pinkman replied.
"How much did you sell?" Frank inquired.
"About an ounce," Pinkman said proudly.
While the market price for an ounce is around $1,700 to $1,800, Pinkman managed to sell it for over a thousand more, proving the high quality of Walter's product.
"Just one ounce," Frank noted.
"One ounce overnight means it'll take at least half a month to sell it all," Frank calculated mentally.
A pound is sixteen ounces, roughly nine ounces over a pound.
Walter's batch weighed about a pound, close to eighteen ounces.
Pinkman had hustled all night to sell just one ounce. Selling the entire batch would take at least eighteen days, not accounting for slow sales days.
"This pace is too slow," Frank shook his head.
Even though selling out in half a month could earn around $50,000—a fast pace by any measure—Frank and Walter needed quicker results due to their limited time.
Frank knew Pinkman had done his best, selling as much as he could in one night.
If Walter were present, he might have been upset at the slow sales, wishing to sell a pound in a day.
"It's time to involve your friends. Work with them to sell faster," Frank suggested to Pinkman.
"Get them involved?" Pinkman hesitated.
"Not as partners, just to help sell. You can't do it all alone," Frank clarified.
"Offer them a commission, even a generous one. You decide," Frank advised.
"Got it," Pinkman agreed.
"Remember, business is business. Make sure your friends don't pocket the product. Don't let that happen," Frank warned.
Many friendships have fallen apart over money, leading to lifelong estrangement or even enmity.
Money is the ultimate test of friendship. As the saying goes, don't mix money with friendship.
Pinkman, being naive, could easily be deceived if not careful.
"Don't worry," Pinkman assured, confident in his long-time friends.
"Here, take this," Frank said, handing Pinkman a notebook with a pen clipped inside.
"What for?" Pinkman asked, flipping through the blank pages.
"To take notes. Write down what you see, like a diary or ledger, noting events, issues, and questions," Frank instructed.
"It's just selling, why make it complicated?" Pinkman complained, poking his head with the pen.
"Complicated or not, you need to do it," Frank insisted firmly.
Frank wanted to see if Pinkman could establish a sales network, turning them into direct distributors without middlemen.
If successful, they could maximize profits.
This was also a trial to mature Pinkman.
Hence, Frank told Walter not to rush production until they had results.
Meanwhile, Walter maintained normalcy by teaching school and undergoing treatment with family support.
He also attended cancer support groups, sharing survival stories and encouraging others.
However, Walter often couldn't hold back from vomiting due to treatment side effects.
Despite the doctor's warnings about adverse reactions, Walter's symptoms were severe. He was losing weight, experiencing blood in his urine, and suffering significant hair loss, resulting in bald patches.
(End of Chapter)