Who Would Fall in Love After Being Reborn? - Chapter 211: Skillfully Tricked

TL: Etude

After leaving Principal Zhang’s office, Jiang Qin headed straight to the East Campus, arriving at the Teacher Building to get Gu Chunlei’s stamp on his documents.

Since Zhang Baiqing had informed Gu, the director, in advance, she handled the matter efficiently. She glanced over the honor certificates briefly, then stamped them while handing Jiang Qin the official seal register to fill out himself.

“Your business is growing bigger by the day. It’s only been half a year, and now you’re involved with the University of Science and Technology and the Normal University?” Gu Chunlei couldn’t help but express her admiration.

She remembered the first time she met Jiang Qin. Back then, his Room 208 was just a small, shabby space with only two computers. The room was dimly lit, and even for a cup of water, one had to go down to the general office on the first floor. This spirit of simplicity and hardship had left a deep impression on her.

“My business has reached this scale thanks to the wise and mighty leadership of the school. My role is actually quite small.”

“You have a way with words. No wonder even Dong, the journalist from the Youth Newspaper, speaks so highly of you.”

Gu Chunlei smiled as she closed the certificate book, “Alright, it’s stamped.”

“Thank you, Director Gu. I appreciate your help.”

Jiang Qin thanked her repeatedly, then picked up the certificates and left the Guangjiao Center.

With the official seal on the certificates, they naturally gained their own value, far more precious than his so-called ‘Chicken Star’. These should definitely impress Sun Chunming and Li Hua.

However, no sooner had Jiang Qin left than he regretted not doing more. He wished he had prepared several more “Outstanding Student” awards and slipped them in while Gu Chunlei wasn’t looking to get a bright red official stamp for future use. Although he disdained using fake awards to fool people, who knew when they might come in handy? Alas, a missed opportunity.

The next afternoon, Shengshi Advertising Factory called Room 208, saying that the signboard and materials for the Xi Tian branch were ready and they were planning to install them.

Jiang Qin took the certificates and banners, along with Lu Xuemei and Dong Wenhao, and headed straight for the University of Science and Technology with a camera.

“Boss, what should we do first?” Dong Wenhao asked.

Jiang Qin parked the car by the roadside, “Let’s hang the signboard first. I’ll call Director Li to set up a time. When he arrives, I’ll present the certificates, Wenhao can hand over the banner, and Xuemei will be responsible for taking photos.”

“Boss, what exactly am I supposed to photograph?” Lu Xuemei was still confused.

“Of course, it’s the scene of Director Li receiving the certificates and taking the banner, smiling at the camera.”

“Got it!”

Half an hour later, the masters from Shengshi skillfully replaced the old signboard, and Xi Tian officially had its third store.

At the same time, Director Li also arrived. He had barely steadied himself when he was suddenly adorned with a big red flower.

“Director Li, we are extremely grateful for your support of our work.”

“?”

Director Li was a bit dazed, thinking to himself that he hadn’t been notified of this event. He hadn’t even combed his hair, changed his clothes, or worn his most handsome glasses!

But before he could gather his thoughts, Jiang Qin had already presented the certificate, and Dong Wenhao approached with the banner.

Both stood straight, their posture resembling that of an honor guard, serious and solemn.

“Director, you have worked hard!”

“A banner… and a certificate? Isn’t this too formal?”

Li Hua suddenly noticed Lu Xuemei with the camera and immediately adjusted his posture, gracefully accepting the certificate, holding it in front of him with a smile, straightening his back.

His posture alone showed that Director Li was an experienced awardee, with every move memorized and even knowing how to find the camera.

A minute later, the shutter sound ceased, and Li Hua finally had a chance to look at the certificate, which seemed more and more peculiar to him.

“Outstanding Guidance Teacher? Wait, when did I become your guidance teacher?”

Jiang Qin smiled nonchalantly, “Director, this is just a keepsake. The content isn’t important.”

“Don’t try to fool me, there’s the seal of Linchuan University on this,” Li Hua remarked, sensing something amiss.

Jiang Qin took the banner from Dong Wenhao and presented it along with the certificate. “Director Li, please accept this with ease. We will surely do our best in our work-study program under your guidance.”

“Under my guidance?”

Li Hua’s scalp tingled, wondering what the difference was between being a guidance teacher and a project liaison. The answer was none – just a different name!

Damn it, I already said I wouldn’t be a liaison anymore. How did this guy still manage to award me a certificate with such a grand title and even took a commemorative photo?

“You sneaky lad, you’re trying to force me into this, aren’t you?”

“Director, you misunderstand. We definitely didn’t mean that. This is really just a keepsake,” Jiang Qin insisted with sincerity.

Looking at Jiang Qin, Li Hua thought to himself, ‘This kid is really something. Seeing how he maneuvers, he’s not just anyone.’

A keepsake? That’s one way to put it, but the official seal on it is very real.

Since he had accepted the certificate, if anything went wrong with the project in the future, he couldn’t just ignore it.

To them, such nominal things were the most lethal. A seemingly insignificant certificate, but accepting it meant one couldn’t easily disassociate from the relationship.

However, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Linchuan University was several levels higher than the Normal University, and having a certificate with Linchuan’s seal could be very advantageous.

Li Hua felt like he had been tricked, yet strangely, he was quite thrilled about it.

Being a teacher and caring for students, aiding the poor and disadvantaged, being admired and respected – these words skillfully crafted by Jiang Qin indeed had substance.

“It seems Director Li is quite satisfied with this,” Jiang Qin muttered to himself. Then he took his team to the University of Science and Technology, following the same routine with Sun Chunming.

A certificate was given, a photo taken, and a banner presented. Director Sun unwittingly became the guidance teacher for the project.

The thing was, this ‘hat’ they were made to wear was high and exhilarating. They realized they were being tricked, but they didn’t resist it.

“Boss, is that all we need to do?” Lu Xuemei asked, holding the camera.

Jiang Qin nodded, “That’s it. The groundwork is pretty much done. With the work-study program’s name and backing from within the school, we can move forward without much trouble.”

Dong Wenhao was impressed, “So, what do we do now?”

“I’m hungry. Let’s find a place to eat, then head back to Linchuan. Have you guys been to the University of Science and Technology before? Know any delicious but ‘endangered’ delicacies around here?”

“????”

Jiang Qin knew from their expressions that they were clueless about the University of Science and Technology, so he took out his phone to scroll through his QQ friends list. He didn’t have many old classmates, the only one he could think of was Yu Shasha.

During the winter break when he went to collect rent, Yu Shasha had asked him when the group-buying would expand to the University of Science and Technology. That’s how he knew she was a student there. He sent her a QQ message.

“Could you recommend some good eats near the University of Science and Technology?”

“Are you at our school, my idol? Where are you? I’ll come right now. I know this area very well!”

Jiang Qin felt goosebumps at being called a ‘idol’: “I’m not there, just asking for someone else.”

Yu Shasha replied quickly: “Behind the cafeteria, there’s a commercial street inside the campus. There’s a decent roast duck restaurant there.”

“Thanks.”

Jiang Qin put away his phone and gestured, “Let’s go save half a roast duck.”

“How can three of us only save half a duck? Let’s save a whole one instead,” Dong Wenhao suggested, feeling half wouldn’t be enough.

“Speaking of kindness and charity, Old Dong is just like a Bodhisattva.”

“It’s all thanks to the boss’s teachings.”

At one in the afternoon, with the sunlight slanting and the temperature rising, the campus was gradually becoming more lively. The trio didn’t linger after their meal and returned to the Linchuan University’s Entrepreneurship Center.

Soon after, Wei Lanlan and Tan Qing returned with good news. Wang Peixiang, the manager of the Vienna Chain Hotel, had been “coincidentally” met by Wei Lanlan at a beauty salon the previous afternoon. Since Wang was lying in bed and couldn’t move, Wei had a great conversation with her, and they reached a preliminary intention of cooperation.

In addition, He Yijun also smoothly helped Tan Qing to arrange a meeting with Zhang Qiao, successfully signing a cooperation agreement with Hongjin Restaurant and Entertainment.

One side was promoting through forums, and the other was collaborating through group buying. The progress on both fronts was starting to show results, marking a good start for the year 2009.

Jiang Qin rose from his chair and called everyone to a meeting next door in room 207.

“Lianlian and Tan Qing, continue to follow up on the store partnerships for the group buying until the end of the month, then come back to help with promotions and merchant negotiations.”

“Wenhao, call Lai Cunqing and let them prepare. Once the Xi Tian branch starts operating, we need to begin our promotions.”

“Xuemei, keep a close eye on the materials and coordinate the timing with them, as we might need a large quantity of things later on.”

“Like posters, flyers, milk tea packaging, standees, and PVC ranking boards. Don’t let anything go wrong.”

“Sui Nai should continue to optimize the website, keeping an eye on the online sales of the group buying.”

“Lu Feiyu will be in charge of the content team this time. Pick out some of the previous competition topics that worked well, redo them, and stimulate forum interaction and posting.”

“Also, Lianlian, assign three people from your marketing team to train Lai Cunqing’s team. They didn’t have a marketing team initially and are now feeling a bit overwhelmed.”

Jiang Qin spoke not too fast but smoothly and efficiently, quickly assigning tasks to each team and individual.

Those present were veterans of Room 208, having gone through two promotional cycles, and were well-versed in the procedures.

They knew they were about to become the boss’s tools again, ready to be deployed wherever directed.