Peach Sale Contract Dispute Yields CNY 154.70 Judgment
A Chinese court has ordered a peach buyer to pay a farmer CNY 154.70 for unpaid fruit delivered in 2011. The case arose from an oral sale arrangement made through a village broadcast. The plaintiff, a local farmer, claimed that the defendant had failed to pay for peaches delivered over several occasions. Despite repeated demands, the defendant did not settle the amount. The court ruled in favor of the farmer, finding that a valid contract had been formed.
The plaintiff, Mr. Li, was a farmer living in a village in Central China City. In 2011, during the peach harvest season, the defendant, Mr. Wang, used the village broadcast system to invite residents to deliver peaches to his collection point. Mr. Li delivered peaches on multiple occasions. Each time, Mr. Wang issued a handwritten receipt. Two receipts together showed a total outstanding amount of CNY 154.70. Mr. Li asked for payment many times, but Mr. Wang never paid. Mr. Li then filed a lawsuit to recover the debt.
The court held a hearing in December 2011. Mr. Wang did not attend the hearing and provided no defense. His absence was noted as without justification. Mr. Li’s legal representatives appeared and submitted two key pieces of evidence. The first was the two receipts signed by Mr. Wang, which recorded the quantity and value of peaches delivered. The second was a certificate from the village committee confirming that Mr. Wang had used the village broadcast to call for peach deliveries. The court reviewed and accepted both items as reliable.
The court found that the receipts and the village certificate mutually supported each other. Based on this evidence, the court determined that Mr. Li had indeed delivered peaches to Mr. Wang as claimed. The court concluded that a contract for the sale of goods existed between the two parties. According to relevant law, once a seller delivers goods, the buyer must pay the agreed price. Mr. Wang’s failure to pay constituted a breach of contract.
Legally, the court applied provisions of the Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China. The court cited articles concerning the binding nature of contracts, the duty to perform obligations in good faith, and the buyer’s obligation to pay for goods received. The judgment noted that Mr. Wang had received the peaches but withheld payment without any legal justification. The court also warned that if the defendant delayed payment beyond the three-day deadline, he would be liable for double the interest on the overdue amount as specified by civil procedure rules.
This case highlights that even small commercial transactions, such as a farm-to-buyer fruit sale, are enforceable in court when supported by clear records. The outcome reinforces the importance of maintaining written proof, such as receipts, for informal deals. For anyone engaged in similar small-scale sales, documenting each transaction can provide a straightforward path to legal remedy if payment issues arise. The court’s decision affirms that sellers are entitled to prompt payment for goods delivered.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.