Chapter 229: Does He Intend to Trick Me?
Chapter 229: Does He Intend to Trick Me?
After the celebratory banquet, the part-time jobs at the four universities entered a routine phase. It was no longer as busy and chaotic as during the competition, but now the focus shifted to details.
Issues such as after-sales service, various small-scale promotions and discounts, and maintaining relations with merchants became prominent.
As the end link in the chain, Room 208 received various feedbacks daily, and the work gradually shifted towards business optimization.
However, these tasks were relatively simple and didn’t require Jiang Qin’s close supervision. His main focus was now on establishing a company.
The next morning, the weather was slightly overcast. The wind howled outside the window, bringing a chill through the cracks. It looked like another day of continuous spring rain.
After getting up and freshening up, Jiang Qin patted the bed frame to wake up Cao Guangyu, who was still in a deep sleep.
“What’s up, Old Jiang?” Cao Guangyu emerged from the blanket, rubbing his eyes.
“Nothing much. Just that I feel a bit uncomfortable seeing you sleep in comfortably in the dorm while I have to get up early every day.”
Hearing this, Cao Guangyu was baffled: “Damn, Jiang, you’re really something. The money you make from getting up early isn’t shared with me!”Jiang Qin smirked and left Room 302, feeling pleased with himself.
Seeing this, Cao Guangyu sat in silence for five seconds on his bed before he began to shake it vigorously, waking up Ren Ziqiang. He only felt balanced after doing so.
“What’s up, Brother Cao?”
“Nothing, go back to sleep. Just consider it a dream and continue to be touched.”
“?????”
Ren Ziqiang was utterly confused, thinking, “What the hell am I supposed to be touched about? You wake me up and then tell me to go back to sleep? What kind of operation is this?”
At 7:30 A.M., after breakfast in the cafeteria, Jiang Qin went to Zhang Baiqing’s office to discuss his plans to establish a company.
For Linchuan University, this was indeed good news. It signified that the entrepreneurship project by their students had entered a new phase under the university’s support. Naturally, the school leaders would offer their full support.
However, Zhang Baiqing was somewhat surprised by Jiang Qin’s quick actions. The promotion in the University of Science and Technology and the Normal University had just ended, and now he was already busy with registering a company. Does he even take a breather?
“Young man, after making so much money, shouldn’t your first thought be to spend it lavishly?”
Jiang Qin frowned, “After making money, the goal is to make even more. What’s the point in just spending it?”
Zhang Baiqing fell silent for a moment, impressed, “Tell me, what do you need the school to do for you?”
“Just a written statement would suffice, stating that Linchuan University supports my entrepreneurship and confirms that I have the qualifications for registration. A seal from the university on it would be great, thank you, Principal.”
Without any fuss, Zhang Baiqing prepared the document and then proposed, “There’s an ‘Internet+’ summit in August organized by the city. I plan to recommend you as a representative of college student entrepreneurs. What do you think?”
Jiang Qin hesitated before shaking his head, “Principal, I feel it’s not quite appropriate at the moment. Could we wait a bit?”
“Why?”
“You might think I’ve made a big splash, but after a year of hard work, I haven’t really earned much. It would be embarrassing to go there.”
Zhang Baiqing looked at him, “How much have you earned?”
Jiang Qin hesitated, “Only about 450,000 yuan.”
“450,000 is not a small amount. In our Linchuan University’s entrepreneurial projects, you’re already considered to have strong earning ability!”
Jiang Qin was stunned, thinking to himself, “I even dropped a zero from the actual amount, and it’s still considered the strongest in profit-making? Are the other entrepreneurial projects at Linchuan that weak?”
He coughed, “Principal, I actually invested a million yuan just to start.”
“So, you mean you’re still at a loss of over half a million?”
“Yes.”
Zhang Baiqing didn’t believe him: “Do you think I’m senile?”
Jiang Qin smiled faintly, “The turnover from group buying is indeed substantial, but we only make a small profit. For every one yuan of goods sold, we only get ten cents. The earnings are immediately reinvested in promotions, so the actual profits are not much.”
“Let’s talk about it again in August. Don’t rush to decline. I believe in your abilities. Four months should be enough for you to break even and make a profit.”
Zhang Baiqing, not being well-versed in financial matters and lacking solid data to verify Jiang Qin’s project investments, casually believed him.
“Alright, Principal. I will try harder and won’t let down your and the school’s expectations.”
Jiang Qin picked up the written statement and left the office.
He didn’t really want to attend any summit. His reason was the same as not wanting to be famous. He preferred to keep a low profile and grow quietly, avoiding unnecessary attention.
What is a Summit?
A summit is a gathering eyed by various capitalists, much like cats yearning to sneak a taste. Once they set their sights on you, they want to invest in you!
Refusing their investment? Fine, they’ll just clone a similar venture and happily engage in a price war with you!
And whom do you turn to for justice?
Remember, the guns of capital are always aimed at the pioneers.
Linchuan University has been supporting Jiang Qin’s entrepreneurial project, essentially hoping to make him famous and bring glory to the school. If he continues to lay low, hiding his achievements, Principal Zhang Baiqing would certainly be the first to object.
“August is still far away. We’ll talk about it then.”
“Damn it, if I can’t beat them, can’t I join them?”
Jiang Qin, holding the written report, left the administration building and sat by a flower bed, pondering the issue of an office.
For college student entrepreneurs, it’s possible to register the company within the university. But that would render the act of registering a company meaningless.
Why?
Because the promotion in the university town was already complete, and all future business would be aimed at the broader society. It was for this reason that he needed to establish a formal company.
Moreover, cross-city marketing in the later stages required more professional staff and employees with sufficient time. Considering these two points, students were no longer suitable; recruiting societal personnel was necessary to meet business needs.
However, problems must be tackled one step at a time, and the immediate priority was to sort out the office issue.
“Isn’t a large part of the top floor office area in Wanzhong Mall empty?”
Jiang Qin squinted, pondering for a while, and then drove straight to Wanzhong.
He hadn’t called ahead, but upon entering the parking lot, the security guard immediately reported his arrival. Soon, five managers from Wanzhong hurriedly arrived at the parking lot.
“?”
“Why are you running so fast? Did you encounter another challenging reform?” Jiang Qin was puzzled.
Zhao Zufeng immediately shook his head, “Following the reform plan set by General Manager Jiang, all the modifications on each floor have begun to show results. It’s just that we haven’t seen you for a while and missed you.”
“General Manager Jiang, have a drink first.” Bao Wenping stepped forward, offering a cup of water.
“Why are these people acting so strangely?”
Jiang Qin took the cup and drank, unable to fathom their excessive enthusiasm.
The reason was simple. In order to see rapid results from the reforms, He Yijun had borrowed money and invested heavily. Although the pace of change was fast, it had severely damaged the main arteries of the original business.
Simply put, the new industries were just starting and had poor profitability, while the old ones had been almost entirely cut, losing stable income.
Under these circumstances, their salaries were actually being paid from the group buying funds.
That meant, since the start of the aggressive reforms at the beginning of the year, if not for the robust business from group buying, they might even have delayed salary payments.
Delaying salaries is a critical issue for workers.
But six months ago, who would have thought that a collaboration worth 50,000 yuan would become the pillar of Wanzhong during its reform period?
In this scenario, Jiang Qin was like a father figure.
“General Manager Jiang, the reforms on the third floor are nearing completion. Shall we go directly to the third floor?”
“Alright, let’s go to the third floor.”
Soon, surrounded by the five managers, Jiang Qin made his way to the third floor.
The hotpot restaurant at the forefront of the escalator had already started operations, attracting a decent flow of customers. The food street area was also demarcated, waiting for merchants to move in.
This time, Jiang Qin broke from his usual demeanor and critically assessed the reforms at Wanzhong Mall.
He pointed out issues like unclear signage, vague floor positioning, inadequate rest areas, monotonous storefront designs lacking character and seriousness, and an absence of layering.
With a cool expression, Jiang Qin’s critiques left the five managers embarrassed and hastily taking notes.
“General Manager Jiang, long time no see!”
As Jiang Qin spoke, He Yijun arrived, greeting him warmly and shaking his hand enthusiastically. “The online sales from the group buying have been a huge help. You wouldn’t believe it, but now we even pay our salaries from the group buying funds.”
Jiang Qin now understood the reason behind the managers’ enthusiasm. “Boss He is too kind. Business is all about mutual benefit. You make money, I make money; there’s nothing to thank me for.”
“What were you discussing just now?”
“We were discussing the detailed issues General Manager Jiang pointed out, things we hadn’t considered before.”
Zhao Zufeng repeated what Jiang Qin had said, leaving He Yijun in a thoughtful silence.
To be honest, he had thought the mall’s reforms were sufficiently comprehensive, but he hadn’t expected so many shortcomings in the details.
“General Manager Jiang, how should we rectify these?”
Jiang Qin pursed his lips, “It’s simple and yet complicated. The main issue is that I’m currently too busy and have other matters to attend to shortly.”
He Yijun glanced at him, “Do you need more money?”
“Do you take me for that kind of person, Boss He? I’m genuinely busy recently and don’t have the time to oversee things here. If I had an office on the top floor of Wanzhong, just a wall away from you, it would be different. I could easily step in to help with any issues, but I really don’t have the time to come over regularly.”
“Hasn’t the promotion at the University of Science and Technology and the Normal University already ended? Why are you still so busy?” He Yijun couldn’t comprehend.
“I’m busy looking for an office.”
“…”
Suddenly, Jiang Qin turned to him, “By the way, Boss He, do you have any connections? Can you help me find an office?”
He Yijun swallowed, thinking to himself that Jiang Qin seemed to be setting him up, but he felt unable to refuse.
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