After breakfast service ended the next morning, Jiang Yu packed two portions of soup dumplings and spicy chicken in a takeaway box, said goodbye to Lu Shuwu and the others, and headed out with a bag in hand.
First, he went to a printing shop next to the second dining hall, where he printed out the student entrepreneurship plan he had worked on overnight, had it bound, and then hurried towards the administration building.
A few minutes later, Jiang Yu appeared at the door of Xiong Bingsheng’s office, the deputy director of the student affairs office.
Xiong Bingsheng was sitting behind the desk dealing with work. When he saw Jiang Yu, he quickly stood up and greeted him with a smile:
"Xiaojiang is here, co in, co in and have a seat!"
"I’m sorry to trouble you again, Teacher Xiong."
Jiang Yu smiled a bit shyly and handed over the freshly printed entrepreneurship plan, saying,
"Teacher Xiong, this is the entrepreneurship plan I finished overnight yesterday. Please take a look and see if there’s anything that needs to be added or modified."
"No trouble at all! This is part of my job, working with students, so don’t worry about it!"
Xiong Bingsheng took the entrepreneurship plan, glanced through it quickly, put it aside, and said with a smile,
"I’ll keep this plan here for now, rest assured, I’ll make sure to review it thoroughly. Let’s aim to get all the relevant application materials ready within the next couple of days, and then we can submit it.
The school has always valued student entrepreneurship, and given that you’ve already shown so initial success, it’s ti to expand your business. The school will definitely provide strong support."
"Alright."
Jiang Yu placed the plastic bag he was holding onto the coffee table in front of him, stood up from the sofa, and said with a smile,
"Teacher Xiong, I won’t keep you from your work any longer. If there’s anything, feel free to call anyti.
I don’t have much to show my appreciation other than so of the food from my store. I hope you won’t mind, Teacher Xiong."
"Ah, oh! Xiaojiang, you’re being too polite!"
Xiong Bingsheng was caught off guard by Jiang Yu’s gesture. He rubbed his hands together, beaming with a smile, yet he said,
"Xiaojiang, let’s make an exception this ti, just this once!"
"Then Teacher Xiong, I’ll be on my way."
Jiang Yu smiled, exchanged a farewell with Xiong Bingsheng, then turned and walked out the door and down the stairs.
It was almost ten o’clock by then, not far from lunchti, and he had to hurry back to the store to take care of things.
Back at the store, Jiang Yu was occupied while on the other side, as soon as Jiang Yu left, Xiong Bingsheng closed the door to his office, a look of barely contained excitent on his face, and headed to the coffee table.
He opened the plastic bag, took out a takeaway box, and as soon as he opened it, a fragrant, spicy aroma filled the office.
The box contained spicy chicken glistening in red chili oil. Jiang Yu had thoughtfully added crushed peanuts and chopped green onions on top, making the vibrant colors irresistible and mouth-watering.
Just as Xiong Bingsheng was about to reach for a piece of chicken to satisfy his craving, a thought suddenly occurred to him. He quickly put the lid back on, placed the takeaway box back in the plastic bag, and hid the entire bag in the cabinet under the bookcase.
Once he had hidden it away, he stood up pretending nothing had happened and opened the doors and windows.
The office still had the lingering aroma of the spicy chicken. He needed to let the breeze in to dissipate the scent, or else people might think he was sneaking food in the office if they walked in.
After opening the doors and windows, Xiong Bingsheng returned to his desk and resud his work.
Ti crawled slowly. After what felt like ages, it was finally lunchti. Xiong Bingsheng eagerly picked up the phone on his desk, made a call, and then retrieved the plastic bag from the cabinet, closed the office door, and went straight downstairs.
It was the peak of lunchti, and other colleagues were also heading out. Seeing his hurried deanor, soone called out from a distance:
"Mr. Xiong, heading to the dining hall? Wait for , let’s go together, I have sothing to discuss with you!"
Xiong Bingsheng glanced back, waved his hand, and shouted:
"Minister He, I’m busy with so personal matters today, so I won’t be going to the dining hall. Next ti, next ti I’ll treat you!
And if what you have to discuss isn’t urgent, can we talk about it in the afternoon?"
With all this good food in hand, who would want to go to the dining hall?
"Oh, you have sothing to attend to, then go ahead. My matter isn’t urgent."
"Alright, then I’ll go ahead. See you later!"
Xiong Bingsheng nodded, quickened his pace, and disappeared around the corner.
In a hurry, he soon arrived at the logistics departnt, entering Niu Wenlin’s office.
Niu Wenlin was on the phone with soone when he saw Xiong Bingsheng coming in. He flashed a smile, nodded at him, and continued his conversation.
Unfazed, Xiong Bingsheng placed the plastic bag on the coffee table, sat on the sofa, poured himself a glass of water, and took a sip.
It had been exhausting trying to avoid acquaintances along the way and keeping them from noticing the takeaway he was carrying.
Soon, Niu Wenlin wrapped up his call with a few words, placed the receiver back on the phone, stood up, and took out a fancy bottle of liquor, approaching Xiong Bingsheng with a grin, raising the bottle:
"Lao Bear, fancy a drink?"
"What’s there to drink? We have to work this afternoon. Showing up with alcohol on our breath would be inappropriate!"
Xiong Bingsheng gave him a sidelong glance, and after a pause, as if recalling sothing amusing, he couldn’t help but laugh, saying,
"I just ca from the first dining hall, picked up two boxes of plain rice. I’ve seen on the campus forum that the spicy chicken rice bowl is supposed to be really good, let’s try it out later!"
He paused, feeling slightly cheated, and added,
"As for that bottle of liquor, let’s find a small restaurant to enjoy it tonight!"
"Alright, alright, whatever you say!"
Niu Wenlin didn’t argue, waved his hand, and began to dig in.
As he opened the al box, he chuckled and asked, "Do you know who I was just on the phone with?"
"How would I know? Who was it?"
"It was He Xiaowei, the owner of the Bodyle Fitness Club across from the school stadium."
As soon as Xiong Bingsheng heard who it was, he eagerly inquired,
"It’s him, huh? What did you talk about? Is he willing to vacate the place? Did he ntion any conditions?"
"Look at you getting all anxious, anyone would think you’re the one needing the space!"
Niu Wenlin snorted, refraining from teasing further, and continued,
"I talked to him about vacating the place.
He signed a ten-year lease, and it’s only been halfway through, yet the store has shut down, so he originally wanted to exit it.
But as you know, there’s no foot traffic there, it’s a hot potato. He can’t find anyone to take it over.
Now that he’s heard soone is willing to take over, of course, he’s happy, saving several years of rent!"
"What exactly did he say?"
Hearing this, Xiong Bingsheng grew excited as well. If the gym owner was willing to vacate, the deal was half-done.
Niu Wenlin picked up a soup dumpling, not putting it into his mouth just yet, bearing a puzzled expression as he mumbled,
"I found it strange too. Yesterday when I called about the matter, he ntioned he’d like so kind of transfer fee since he spent quite so money refurbishing the building back then.
Today, though, he called first, suddenly saying there’s no need for a transfer fee..."
"..."
Xiong Bingsheng was taken aback too.
There was no need to elaborate; such an attitude shift indicated that sothing was definitely going on!
Yet, what exactly it was, remained a mystery...
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