Chapter 33

That afternoon, the Provincial Party Committee Education Working Committee sent Lakeside Garden's group purchase plan to the email inboxes and work groups of every school in the province.

Since the union chairman wanted to give Weng Shao a leg up, the contact information he left behind naturally belonged to Weng Shao.

From that day onward, Weng Shao's phone rang nonstop, as if it had been set to boil, twenty-four hours a day.

Not only elementary, middle, and high schools in Qingyuan City, along with several universities, but even schools in other cities and counties began contacting Weng Shao—Qingyuan City was the provincial capital, and whether in terms of economic development or anything else, its prospects were visibly bright. Many teachers from other cities and counties, though they did not work in Qingyuan City, still preferred to buy a home in the provincial capital. Whether for investment or other reasons, it was a worthwhile deal.

Over the next month, Weng Shao organized an average of two property-viewing groups a day. Based on geographical distance, he categorized all the clients by school and brought them to Lakeside Garden in batches to view the properties.

The viewing process and treatment were the same as at City No. 1 High School. For local clients, buses picked them up directly from their doorsteps. For out-of-town clients, they were asked to gather at a designated time and place—usually outside their schools. After the viewing, they were provided with a meal, then driven back afterward.

At first, Weng Shao had planned to send everyone home immediately after lunch or dinner. However, many out-of-town clients told him that since they had made the rare trip to Qingyuan City, they wanted to look around after viewing the properties.

Taking the clients' suggestions into account, Weng Shao set the return time for either that evening or the following afternoon, leaving everyone time to sightsee.

As a result, quite a few teachers and staff members who had no intention of buying a home signed up for the viewing groups anyway. They thought that even if they did not buy anything, getting a free trip to Qingyuan City was still a great bargain.

Weng Shao was exceptionally quick-witted. Seeing the enthusiastic response to his one-day property-viewing tour, he discussed it with the sales office manager and named the event the Lakeside Garden Teacher Appreciation Campaign. They partnered with a travel agency to create a one-day Qingyuan City tour route, then invited numerous media reporters to hold a press conference. Under the banner of a social welfare initiative giving back to teachers, they promoted Lakeside Garden by other means.

Since Weng Shao himself had only recently graduated from high school, when he appeared at the press conference carrying the titles of provincial National College Entrance Examination top scorer and chief planner of the Lakeside Garden Teacher Appreciation Campaign, eloquently explaining that the purpose of the event was to thank teachers and give back to society... the interviews went viral across the internet as soon as they aired.

Weng Shao also personally wrote a new version of the property's promotional copy. Using the story of Mencius's mother moving three times as an example, it claimed that many of Lakeside Garden's residents were distinguished teachers. If people chose to buy property at Lakeside Garden, their children would be influenced by that environment every day, and their studies would surely be no problem in the future.

Never mind whether the logic held up. When it came to their children's growth and future, many parents would rather believe it than not. Lakeside Garden's sales became even more explosive.

During this period, Dialogue of Life, which Weng Shao had participated in recording, and Online Mediation, which Weng Yingxiong and Old Master Weng had appeared on, aired one after another.

The young scholar from a poor family who diligently pursued his studies was certainly enough to make people sigh with sympathy and affection. But the tearful accounts of his disabled middle-aged adoptive father and elderly biological grandfather before the cameras inspired even greater pity.

Was Weng Shao the sensible, intelligent National College Entrance Examination top scorer who knew gratitude and repaid kindness, or the heartless adopted son and biological grandson who forgot all loyalty and righteousness? Which side was the real Weng Shao?

The two completely contradictory interviews aired one after another over the weekend, directly facing off on Jinghai City Television Station, the nation's highest-rated platform.

Viewers and netizens alike, whether they had watched the two programs or not, exploded with excitement. Discussions both online and offline sprang up endlessly. Major media outlets and marketing accounts were like sharks smelling blood, digging up Weng Shao and the Weng family's old, trivial history overnight for people to discuss over tea and meals.

The explosive eruption of public opinion once again pushed the red-hot Weng Shao into the eye of the storm.

Amid the heated discussions online and offline, Weng Shao did not forget to keep posting promotional copy for Lakeside Garden across major social media platforms. The property-viewing groups he created multiplied at the speed of cell division. Eventually, even Lakeside Garden's property consultants were not enough. Pei Real Estate had no choice but to temporarily transfer several sales teams from other high-end developments to handle the viewing groups coming from all over the country.

Every day, the sales office staff woke up to the painful yet happy task of receiving property-viewing groups. Even after work, they could not leave on time. They had to promptly organize the information of every client in every group, then further screen and follow up based on each client's willingness to buy.

They were exhausted like dogs every day, but whenever they thought of the steadily rising sales figures and performance bonuses, everyone was full of energy and did not feel tired at all.

After grinding through more than a month like this, Lakeside Garden's sales exceeded three hundred million yuan during the month-end review. As soon as the news came out, the entire real estate industry exploded.

That evening, Weng Shao unusually got off work on time. The moment he walked out of the Lakeside Garden Sales Office, he spotted a black Rolls-Royce Phantom quietly parked by the roadside.

Weng Shao glanced at the license plate, and the corners of his lips rose unconsciously. He walked briskly to the car. Before he could knock on the window, the door opened and Pei Xingze, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, stepped out.

Weng Shao smiled. "It's already after work. Why is President Pei here at this hour?"

Pei Xingze said, "I came to pick up my top salesperson after work."

Chapter 33

President Pei had traveled all the way from Jinghai City to Qingyuan City, naturally to celebrate his top salesperson's success.

"...The moment Lakeside Garden's month-end report was submitted, the entire group exploded. No one expected you to achieve such dazzling results. Lakeside Garden's promotional plan has now become a classic case in the real estate industry. As far as I know, every company is holding meetings to discuss your marketing strategy and see whether they can replicate it in other developments and fields."

Never underestimate Chinese people's ability to follow trends. Ever since the Lakeside Garden Teacher Appreciation Campaign became an instant hit, the entire real estate industry had been rushing to copy it. One company gave back to teachers and school staff, another gave back to medical workers. In short, among the countless professions, they could always find a few that came with their own halo to use in promotional campaigns. Even Pei Group, after seeing the impact of the Lakeside Garden Teacher Appreciation Campaign, launched the Pei Real Estate National Teacher Appreciation Campaign overnight.

However, compared with Lakeside Garden, the first to eat the crab, the other developments were clearly missing an event planner who was the provincial National College Entrance Examination top scorer. Their promotional events therefore received lukewarm responses, and their publicity effects were not even one-tenth of Lakeside Garden's. They were also mocked by countless netizens for "clumsily imitating others."

Of course, that little bit of damage meant nothing to capitalists with their eyes fixed on money. The ones who truly lost face were Weng Group—not only had the family scandal damaged the company's reputation, but arranging for Weng Yingxiong and his son to appear on a program and play the victims had also provoked netizens' disgust. It directly caused the sales performance of Weng Group's developments to plummet last month. It was the perfect example of losing both the lady and the troops.

"During yesterday's board meeting, the chairman and several other directors praised me, the executive president, for having such a sharp eye for talent that I managed to recruit such an impressive top salesperson. They even said they wanted to hold a celebration for you at headquarters." At this point, Pei Xingze took out an invitation and said solemnly, "Next month happens to be the Pei Group's one-hundredth anniversary gala. By tradition, branch companies and subsidiaries from all over select outstanding employees to attend the banquet. Would Mr. Top Salesperson be willing to honor us with his presence?"

Pei Xingze asked because Weng Shao's part-time job would end next month. If he was unwilling to accept the invitation, Pei Xingze had no way to force him.

"My father wants to meet you," Pei Xingze said, looking eagerly at Weng Shao. His expression held both pride at how highly everyone regarded Weng Shao and a trace of unease, as though he feared Weng Shao would refuse. Although Weng Shao knew he was pretending, he could not bear to turn him down. "My family is very curious. They want to know what kind of person this young talent is, someone capable of making Weng Yingjie suffer setback after setback."

Weng Shao smiled faintly and slowly drew the invitation from Pei Xingze's hand. "I'm only an ordinary person. Your family may be disappointed after they see me."

"How could they be?" Pei Xingze said with a smile. "Even if everyone in my family is presbyopic and nearsighted, they would still spot the bright moon shining in the darkness at a glance."

Weng Shao laughed. "Is this how all presidents sweet-talk their top salespeople?"

"We presidents do not rely on just our mouths to sweet-talk top salespeople." As Pei Xingze spoke, he handed Weng Shao an exquisite black velvet gift box. "Take a look. See if you like it."

Weng Shao raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Pei Xingze.

Pei Xingze gave Weng Shao a meaningful look and said in a gentle, intimate tone, "Open it and see."

Weng Shao opened the gift box and found a key lying inside.

Pei Xingze smiled. "I did not think things through before. How could you go to Jinghai City for university without having a home in Jinghai City? Pei Real Estate developed a new project across from Jinghai University two years ago, so I picked out an apartment for you. I hope you'll like it."

Weng Shao said, "This gift is too valuable."

"You deserve it." Pei Xingze smiled. "Valuable gifts should be given to valuable people. You have no idea how much profit your marketing plan brought the group. You're not only Lakeside Garden's top salesperson, but the benefactor of the entire group. You alone leveraged at least more than a billion yuan in profit, and that does not even include the positive exposure you brought Pei Group online and offline..."

"Compared to the profits you created for the group, the value of this apartment is not worth mentioning."

"Our Pei family will not mistreat one of our own." Pei Xingze paused slightly. His gaze met Weng Shao's directly as he slowly added, "And neither will I."

Weng Shao stared into Pei Xingze's eyes. After a long moment, he lowered his head and smiled, putting away the key. "Thank you, President Pei, for your appreciation."

Pei Xingze smiled and pressed, "Words alone are no proof. How do you plan to thank me?"

Weng Shao looked at Pei Xingze with the same smile in his eyes. The two stared at each other for a long time before Weng Shao chuckled and teased, "Has President Pei never learned how to write the words 'you're welcome'?"