In Sun Xiaozhu's view, Cheng Jieming's affection for them made him feel as warm as spring, and he was genuinely grateful to Cheng Jieming. However, he really couldn't figure out what Cheng Jieming was up to.
"Brother Cheng, the paper from that shop was pretty good, not only thick but also reasonably priced," Sun Xiaozhu suggested softly, following behind Cheng Jieming.
Cheng Jieming ignored Sun Xiaozhu's suggestion, his eyes scanning the surroundings like a radar. Half an hour later, he paid a deposit of two thousand yuan, much to Sun Xiaozhu's disgruntled gaze.
Two thousand yuan was almost half a year's salary for Cheng Jieming. Although he appeared calm on the surface, his heart was pounding fiercely. This was the first time in his life he had spent so much money, especially since it was borrowed.
Sun Xiaozhu's eyes were a bit swollen; he really couldn't understand why Brother Cheng would spend so much money on such fancy paper. What could these papers be used for?
"Xiaozhu, take these glass papers back first, and then find ten, no, twenty skillful women as quickly as possible," Cheng Jieming said, checking the time.
Sun Xiaozhu hesitated for a moment but couldn't help saying, "Brother Cheng, there's no need to find people. Just tell us what to do, and both I and Er Meng can handle it!"
"Alright, I know you can do it, but time is tight and the task is heavy. Some opportunities are once in a lifetime! This is urgent, so hurry back and call me once you've found the people, and I'll come over immediately!" Cheng Jieming didn't have time to argue with Sun Xiaozhu, waving his hand with a determined look on his face.
Sun Xiaozhu wanted to say more but, seeing Cheng Jieming's serious expression, swallowed his words and prepared to leave with the two large bags of glass paper.
"Xiaozhu, how long will it take you to get home like that? Go find a vehicle!" Cheng Jieming shouted to Sun Xiaozhu's back.
"Brother, I know!" Sun Xiaozhu responded and quickly left.
Watching Sun Xiaozhu's figure gradually disappear into the crowd, Cheng Jieming's tense nerves slowly relaxed. Although he appeared confident in front of Sun Xiaozhu, he was actually unsure if this plan would work.
According to the diary, this product should be in high demand a few years later. By bringing it forward by two years, it should still work. Encouraging himself, Cheng Jieming strode off to other places.
The morning passed in haggling. Cheng Jieming had reserved a lot of items, and the thick stack of bills he had in the morning was now down to just two or three.
Just as Cheng Jieming was about to eat at a small stall, Gu Xixi's call came through on his pager. Finding a small store to call Gu Xixi back, she asked eagerly, "Jieming, how do you plan to help them sell the apples?"
Gu Xixi had spent the morning gathering information about this year's apple situation. The advantage of working in the provincial office was evident; she only needed one phone call to get a comprehensive understanding.
She was surprised by what she learned. This year, the apple harvest in Donghu Province was bountiful, leading to a price drop and oversupply in the market.
Seeing this, Gu Xixi was very worried about Cheng Jieming. Once her colleagues left the office, she quickly called him.
"The day after tomorrow is Christmas. I plan to sell these apples on Christmas Eve tomorrow night. Just wait and see!" Seeing Gu Xixi's concern, Cheng Jieming didn't hide his plan and answered straightforwardly.
"What does Christmas have to do with apples?" Gu Xixi didn't know much about Christmas, only having heard of it.
Cheng Jieming's gaze swept over the mundane street, and a sense of unease suddenly washed over him. According to the diary, Christmas would gradually be accepted by young people in the future, but it didn't seem as popular as he had expected now.
It's up to me to make it happen!
If I don't have confidence, how can I expect others to follow me? Determined, Cheng Jieming quickly dispelled his hesitation and said firmly, "Xixi, apples are 'peace fruits'!"
"Where are you now?" Gu Xixi didn't ask further but instead asked with concern.
"I'm at the market preparing things." Cheng Jieming had intended to tell her about the ten thousand yuan he had spent but ultimately decided against it. After all, ten thousand yuan was equivalent to four or five years' income for an average person. Telling Xixi would only add to her worries.
Hearing that Cheng Jieming had been running around all morning, Gu Xixi said with concern, "Dear, don't be too anxious. Helping others is a good thing, but we should do our best within our capabilities. Have a good meal this morning, don't be afraid to spend money, and prepare your speech well tonight. That's the most important thing."
Cheng Jieming agreed, and the two of them talked for a few more minutes before hanging up.
Donghu University, the top university in Donghu Province, had a history of over eighty years. Graduates from this university could be found in various fields across the province.
Walking down the familiar campus path, Cheng Jieming couldn't help but feel nostalgic. He had walked this path for four years, and although he had only been away for half a year, it felt as if a mountain had risen between him and the university.
That mountain was clear to Cheng Jieming. It was the act of leaving. From the moment he left, he was no longer a student of Donghu University but a person entering society.
"Freshly baked pancakes, come and get them!"
The vendor's call was the same as before, and the man's apron was the same, but Cheng Jieming's gaze had changed.
Sigh, everything has changed!
With a sigh, Cheng Jieming walked through the school gate. Since classes hadn't started, there were many students walking around. On the wide school playground, he saw many students playing.
It seems a few classmates stayed on campus! Unfortunately, back then, he was only focused on studying and had no connection with them. If he could find them, things would be much easier.
Feeling a bit regretful, Cheng Jieming followed the familiar path to the work-study office. However, after knocking for two minutes, no one answered.
"Who are you looking for?" A middle-aged man from the adjacent office asked politely.
"Hello, I'm looking for Teacher Zhao from the work-study department," Cheng Jieming replied quickly.
"Teacher Zhao is on leave due to family matters for the next two days," the middle-aged man said, his tone softening as he saw Cheng Jieming's polite manner.
"Who is in charge of the work-study program now?" Cheng Jieming asked after a moment's thought.
"No one is in charge right now. If you have something, you can come back next week."
The middle-aged man's words made Cheng Jieming's heart sink. If he came back tomorrow, it would be too late. Watching the man close the office door, Cheng Jieming felt very discouraged.
This is really not going well. Without finding the work-study supervisor, what should I do?
After a moment's thought, Cheng Jieming headed toward the art department building. According to his plan, he mainly needed to find attractive girls, and the art department, being the place with the most beautiful girls in Donghu University, was his first choice.
During his college days, two of his dorm mates often talked about the pretty girls in the art department. Although Cheng Jieming didn't visit often, he still had some knowledge about the department.
However, when he entered the art department, he was a bit unsure of whom to approach. After hesitating, he walked up to a few girls passing by.
"Hello, classmate," Cheng Jieming greeted them.
The girls walking in front of him turned around at his greeting. The one closest to Cheng Jieming was petite but full of energy. She glanced at him and asked, "What do you need?"
"Classmate, our company needs some work-study students. Do you know anyone in your department who has free time?" Cheng Jieming looked at the four girls, all of whom could be considered beauties. He thought the art department was indeed special. Just by greeting them, he had encountered such rare and beautiful girls, especially the one on the left with long hair and a small mole on her lip, who was no less beautiful than Gu Xixi.
If they could help him, it would certainly attract more people.
While Cheng Jieming was thinking about how to persuade them, the petite girl asked, "What's the pay for your company?"
"Fifty yuan a day," Cheng Jieming said, adding, "It's just for half a night."
The girls exchanged glances. The one Cheng Jieming had compared to Gu Xixi looked at him and said to her friends, "I have a class, I'll go first."
After she left, the three remaining girls, led by the petite but curvaceous one, started discussing the pay and the number of people needed with Cheng Jieming.
"Boss, what kind of girls do you need?"
It was still the petite girl speaking. Whether intentionally or not, Cheng Jieming felt her voice was a bit coquettish.
Cheng Jieming didn't like such affected voices but still smiled, "Girls as beautiful as you would be perfect!"
Just as he finished speaking, someone patted his shoulder, "Comrade, please come with us to the security office."
PS: It's a new week, and I hope everyone continues to support me with recommendations, clicks, and collections. Xiao Mao needs your support!