Chapter 15

Editor Wang had seen Weng Shao's Debate with the Crowd on television, as well as the study notes and mind maps Weng Shao had compiled. Before meeting him, she had assumed Weng Shao would be the sort of young man who was quick-witted, eloquent, rashly confident, uninhibited, perhaps even somewhat extreme in his actions. Yet after meeting him in person, she found him unexpectedly composed.

This was a young man who was very good at controlling his emotions.

Weng Shao noticed Editor Wang's probing gaze as well, but he showed no reaction. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he sat beside Teacher Chen. Teacher Chen asked, "What would you like to drink?"

Weng Shao ordered a cold-brewed tea.

Editor Wang handed Weng Shao the contract she had prepared in advance. "This is a preliminary draft. Take a look first. If you have any questions or requests, feel free to bring them up."

Though she said that, Weng Shao had no intention of haggling with Editor Wang. He knew that, as the editor-in-chief of a provincial publishing house, she had agreed to publish his study notes entirely because of Teacher Chen's strong recommendation.

Under such circumstances, if Weng Shao failed to recognize his place and acted all boastful while reviewing the contract, or even made excessive demands, people would only think Teacher Chen's student was frivolous, noisy, and lacking in tact.

Besides, what Weng Shao cared about had always been getting his study notes published as soon as possible—preferably before he went to the television station to record the program. As long as that was guaranteed, the rest were minor details.

"I've never signed a contract before. Let Teacher Chen look it over for me." Weng Shao directly handed the contract to Teacher Chen.

Teacher Chen was quite pleased by her student's complete and unreserved trust. She took the contract and read through it carefully, explaining the clauses to Weng Shao as she went. Since Weng Shao was a newcomer, the royalty rate for his first publication was 5% for an initial print run of five thousand copies. If there were further reprints, the royalty rate would increase by 1% for every additional ten thousand copies, capped at 10%.

Weng Shao was slightly surprised. He had not expected the publishing house to offer such a high royalty rate.

Seeing this, Editor Wang said with a smile, "Your Teacher Chen has really put a lot of thought into your affairs. She negotiated all these terms with me—she's never been this particular even when publishing her own books."

The implication was that if Teacher Chen had not argued so firmly on his behalf, the publishing house would never have offered such favorable terms to a newcomer.

Teacher Chen looked at Editor Wang, who was getting more and more animated, with amused exasperation. "Why are you telling the child all this? I argued for these terms because I understand the value of these notes very well."

Editor Wang agreed with that, but she still wanted Weng Shao to understand just how much effort and persuasion Teacher Chen had put into this matter.

Weng Shao was indeed deeply moved. Without hesitation, he took out his fountain pen and signed his name on the contract.

After signing the contract, Weng Shao casually mentioned that he would soon be recording a program at the television station. "...I can promote my study notes on the program."

Even Editor Wang was shocked. "You're going to record a program at the television station?"

Weng Shao nodded. "Pei Group plans to sponsor my education. They arranged this program as well."

After a brief pause, Weng Shao added, "President Pei told me he would arrange a talk show with high ratings and social influence."

Editor Wang immediately recognized the business opportunity. When she looked at Weng Shao again, even her gaze had changed.

If Weng Shao had brought this up before signing the contract, it would have been an excellent bargaining chip. Yet he had chosen to mention it after signing, which meant he was doing his utmost to cooperate with the publisher's promotional efforts.

That one small change in order made Editor Wang see Weng Shao in a whole new light.

"It seems that being able to sign such a promising author as you is the honor of our publishing house," Editor Wang said politely.

She could not help but marvel. With such an understated little move, he had immediately dissolved the favor Editor Wang had placed upon Teacher Chen. If the notes sold well after Weng Shao appeared on the program, she might even end up owing Teacher Chen a favor instead.

How could someone so young understand the ways of the world so well?

Unable to figure it out no matter how she thought about it, Editor Wang could only console herself with the idea that children from poor families grew up early.

Two hours later, Weng Shao returned to his dormitory, plugged in the landline, and took the initiative to contact Pei Xingze. He reported the progress of his contract with the publishing house, and it so happened that Pei Xingze had something to discuss with him as well. They agreed to meet at the school gate half an hour later.

After hanging up, Weng Shao was about to head out when a piercing ring suddenly sounded.

Weng Shao picked up the phone and, unsurprisingly, heard a roar from the other end. "I'm looking for that ungrateful beast Weng Shao."

Weng Shao asked calmly, "Who is the beast looking for?"

Before he could finish saying, "I'm looking for Weng Shao," Weng Yingjie, who had spent the whole night trying to get through, finally realized what had happened. "You sharp-tongued little bastard—"

With a sharp click, Weng Shao hung up, cutting off all of Weng Yingjie's curses.

Half an hour later, at the entrance of City No. 1 High School

Pei Xingze was still sitting in that Rolls-Royce Phantom. The moment Weng Shao got in, Pei Xingze stuffed a box into his hands.

Weng Shao paused slightly and looked up at Pei Xingze.

Pei Xingze smiled. "I suddenly realized it's very inconvenient to contact you, so I picked out a phone for you. See if you like it."

Before Weng Shao could say anything, Pei Xingze added, "This is necessary for work. No refusing."

Weng Shao opened the box and found that the phone Pei Xingze had given him was the same model Pei Xingze used, only in a different color. Pei Xingze's was black, while his was white.

Pei Xingze had even arranged a SIM card for him. Looking at the sole contact in the address book, Weng Shao thanked him softly.

"What's there to thank me for?" Pei Xingze traced Weng Shao's brows and eyes with his gaze and said with a smile, "There's no need to stand on ceremony between us."

Author's note:

Chapter 15

As a multinational corporation with a sense of social responsibility, Pei Group invested a large amount of money into charity every year. This included the Hope Project education assistance program jointly launched with the Youth Foundation—an annual investment of fifty million yuan to sponsor ten thousand underprivileged students through college.

And this year, Weng Shao became one of those ten thousand.

The black Rolls-Royce Phantom sped down the road. Inside the car, Pei Xingze handed Weng Shao a five-thousand-yuan cash check and said with a smile, "I've already spoken with the branch office. During your time as a sales consultant at Lakeside Garden, Pei Real Estate will provide uniforms and staff housing for you and your mother..." ensuring that Weng Shao would have no worries holding him back.

Weng Shao curled his fingers and flicked the check, the smile in his eyes deepening. "I knew President Pei's execution has always been top-notch."

As soon as he finished speaking, half his body suddenly sank. As the car turned, Pei Xingze's body involuntarily tilted toward Weng Shao's side from the momentum.

Their bodies brushed for only an instant before separating. Pei Xingze explained politely, "Sorry, I wasn't sitting steadily."

Before Weng Shao could speak, the driver in the front seat tactfully took the blame. "Sorry, boss. I'll drive more slowly."

Weng Shao, who had not felt any momentum at all: "..."

He glanced at the uprightly seated Pei Xingze beside him with a half-smile and hypocritically consoled him, "It's all right. Maybe the extended Rolls-Royce just isn't very maneuverable."

This time, both Pei Xingze and the driver in front fell silent.

Pei Xingze gave a light cough and casually changed the subject. "...If you have no other requests, I'll bring reporters with us when we go back to your home. In front of your parents, I'll personally hand this money over to you and announce the work-study position Pei Real Estate has arranged for you."

The more Pei Xingze spoke, the more pleased he became. For just five thousand yuan and two staff dorm rooms at the lowest standard, he could make Weng Group and that old fox Weng Yingjie suffer a crushing defeat.

Nothing was more satisfying than destroying a man's pride after destroying him.

Weng Shao smiled as well. "They say giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish. Personally, I'm deeply grateful to President Pei and Pei Group for your help."

Their eyes met, and both of them could not help but smile. They could hardly wait to see what would happen next.

Toward evening, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom and a news van slowly entered Little River Village.

The gossiping women sitting beneath the old locust tree at the village entrance lit up in unison. With their keen instincts for news, they immediately determined that something was going on.

"Isn't that the eldest Weng son's boy?" Someone sharp-eyed spotted Weng Shao in the luxury car. "That kid has really made something of himself. He's even riding in a fancy car now."

"I wonder how he did on the college entrance exam!"

"If he's just coming back home, why'd he bring a news van with him?"

That remark woke everyone up. The villagers who had been chatting felt their scalps tingle. As they exchanged looks, the flames of gossip in their eyes flared up.

Without another word, the group picked up their stools and followed behind the news van. Fortunately, neither vehicle was moving fast. By the time they leisurely stopped outside Weng Yingxiong's house, more than half the villagers of Little River Village had heard the news and gathered there.

Yu Huixin, who was tending the vegetable patch in the yard, straightened up while rubbing her back and looked suspiciously at the luxury car parked outside.

The car door opened, and Weng Shao stepped out first. Yu Huixin was startled when she saw him. "Why did you come back by car?"

President Pei followed close behind, stepping out in a suit and tie. His custom-made leather shoes stirred up faint dust as they stepped into the dirt-covered rural courtyard. Pei Xingze strode up to Yu Huixin and extended his hand without hesitation. "You must be Weng Shao's mother, ma'am? It must have been very hard for you to raise such an outstanding child."

"Huh?" Yu Huixin shook Pei Xingze's hand with a blank expression. "You are?"

"I'm Pei Xingze, executive president of Pei Group. For many years, our company has been committed to helping underprivileged students grow up healthy..."