Chapter 147: If the Ending is Bad

University has no shortage of people, and the massive crowd represents sufficient purchasing power.

Jiang Qin started from running a forum, constantly holding events to attract traffic. His main goal was to obtain a large traffic pool.

With traffic, any business expansion would have unlimited possibilities.

Now he had the traffic pool.

Group buying then became the final step to monetize the traffic.

Traffic – group buying – delivery – payment.

Without widespread smartphones and online payments, this was the best monetization chain he could think of, as the traditional group-buying logic was to leverage sufficient purchasing power to boost sales and achieve profit conversion.

Previously earning from forum ads was just to raise funds for group buying.

Whether this consumption model could be accepted by university students and how long it would take, was unknown. The early discounts and promotions were implicit costs.

Such as new user coupons and new product promotions, all requiring financial support.

Without these discounts, group buying could hardly absorb all of Zhihu’s traffic in a short time.

So cutting corners here and there was indeed an unwilling move, because in Jiang Qin’s mind, group buying was the final ace, and he tried to save on other parts.

Now, he and his makeshift team had persisted to this point.

Half an hour after returning from the University of Science and Technology, all employees of Base 208 returned, Shi Miaomiao still carrying half a box of steamed buns and half a cup of soy milk, clearly having rushed back from lunch.

Not wanting to disturb their lunch, Jiang Qin asked everyone to sit and got straight to the point.

“Group buying is about to launch, time is tight and tasks are heavy. Let me assign the specific tasks.”

“Lu Feiyu, lead the content team to shift the focus, start some good product recommendations and food sharing topics for preparation.”

“Tan Qing and Su Nai will liaise with merchants, verify product information and pricing to avoid errors after launch.”

“Wenhao, you’ve met Yue Zhu, so you handle the coordination with Wanzhong Mall, make it clear that all mall orders will be their responsibility for delivery.”

“Lanlan, contact the part-time club again, confirm the recruitment of on-campus couriers, and conduct a simple training as planned.”

“And Xuemei, keep an eye on Shengshi, urge them to prepare all the materials, they must be ready by the day after tomorrow evening at the latest.”

After receiving their tasks, 208 resumed a busy work atmosphere.

The content team started acting like live streamers, writing detailed posts in the first person for the merchants’ featured products.

Dong Wenhao started communicating with Yue Zhu on delivery times and frequency.

Wei Lanlan went back to the East Campus to coordinate with the part-time club on courier recruitment and training.

Lu Xuemei went to Shengshi to confirm the progress of billboards and promotional posters.

Everything was progressing smoothly.

Now all was prepared except one last issue – pick up.

This was determined by consumers’ subjective will, not possible to unify. Some had classes in the afternoon, others in the morning, so some would pick up in the morning, others in the afternoon.

Jiang Qin’s staff was insufficient, and they couldn’t find part-timers to wait all day in dorms. So they might need to trouble the aunties in charge of dormitory management.

The dormitory management aunties were under the logistics department, which was part of school administration, so the top leader should be the vice president, Zhang Boiqing, whom he met a few days ago.

Tsk.

Principal Zhang was a good person, specifically handling unfair entrepreneurship issues.

Jiang Qin pondered and planned to take the opportunity to meet the vice president to discuss the re-employment of the dormitory management aunties.

“Boss!”

Shi Miaomiao suddenly looked up. “Don’t you have a class this afternoon? Why haven’t you left?”

Jiang Qin was stunned. “What class?”

“College English.”

Jiang Qin clicked his tongue, put on his coat to go to class. He didn’t really like the course, but his absence rate had reached the red line. If he skipped again, he could fail directly without even taking the exam. Failing wasn’t a big deal, but he wasn’t good at anything, and failing too many courses could lead to being advised to drop out.

If only students didn’t have to attend classes.

Jiang Qin drove to the teaching building of the School of Finance but, unsurprisingly, was late again.

What surprised him was that Cao Guangyu was also late and was hunched over like a chick against the wall, not moving.

“Old Cao, why aren’t you going into the classroom?”

“Caught for being late, punished with standing.”

Jiang Qin’s mouth twitched. “Still punishing people with standing in university? Where’s the rule of law?”

Cao Guangyu glared at him, gesturing for him to keep his voice down. “Bad luck this time, caught by the student council. They said they’re launching a campaign to rectify academic atmosphere and didn’t give me any face at all.”

“Just stand properly. I’m going in.”

“Don’t go, they’re checking attendance in the classroom. If you go now, you’ll walk right into it.”

“Damn it, I don’t know anyone in the student council. Let me hide for now.” Jiang Qin had to retreat.

Cao Guangyu laughed. “Were you late because of a date? Where’s Feng Nanshu? Or were you dating a ghost?”

Jiang Qin gave him a sidelong glance. “Your mind is full of dating? I just came from the entrepreneurship base!”

“Whatever, I won’t laugh at you.”

As they were talking, the student council members, led by Zhu Feng, came out of the classroom. Jiang Qin turned to hide but before he could, Zhu Feng called out his name from behind.

“Jiang Qin!”

“Just deduct my score, I’m not afraid, but I refuse to stand.”

Zhu Feng looked at him. “Who said you’d be punished? Let me introduce you, this is the president of the student council, Zhuang Siyu.”

The short-haired senior next to Zhu Feng smiled slightly. “Junior Jiang, do you have time for a chat?”

“Do I need to write a statement for being late?”

“No, it’s not about being late. I didn’t even record your name. Your girlfriend answered for you, so we just let it slide and pretended we didn’t know.”

After hearing this, Zhuang Siyu looked surprised. “That extremely beautiful junior girl was his girlfriend?”

Zhu Feng said of course. “If she’s not his girlfriend, why would a girl foolishly answer for a guy?”

“Look, you two, don’t discuss my love life. Just deduct my score.”

“Junior, we do have a small favor to ask. Can you come to our office for a bit?”

After hearing this, Cao Guangyu’s eyes widened, thinking, “Wasn’t this supposed to be a campaign to rectify the academic atmosphere? Turns out you’re only targeting me?”

Jiang Qin walked past Old Cao, sternly telling him to stand properly, then followed Zhu Feng and Zhuang Siyu into the office.

“Junior, we want to ask you for a sponsorship.”

Jiang Qin raised his eyebrows after hearing this, never expecting someone would come shearing him. “What sponsorship?”

Zhuang Siyu cleared her throat. “Do you know about the debate competition jointly held by the four major universities?”

“I’ve heard Senior Yao from the Literature Club mention it.”

“Going out for competitions requires funding, like making team uniforms and flags, so could you help out a bit?”

Zhuang Siyu opened her bag, took out a form and handed it over. It listed some information about the debate competition and the required sponsorship fee.

Jiang Qin originally didn’t want to agree, as he was always the one taking from others, never being taken from. But when he saw the list of judges, his eyes narrowed slightly.

The reason was simply that the chief judge column listed Zhang Boiqing.

“Principal Zhang is a judge?”

“Yes, Principal Zhang asked me to come. He wanted to know if you’re willing to sponsor.”

Jiang Qin’s mouth twitched, feeling that Zhang Boiqing probably thought the entrepreneurship support last time was too much and was trying to recoup it here. But he did want to meet this Principal Zhang to discuss the re-employment of the dormitory management aunties. This was a good opportunity that came knocking.

Top school administrators are generally busy and not easy to meet. Given that group buying was about to launch, it was unrealistic to make another appointment. It would be better to talk during the debate competition.

Moreover, discussing this under his own sponsorship banner, Zhang Boiqing would have to consider his contribution and be more likely to agree.

“Sponsorship can be considered, but what’s in it for me?”

Zhuang Siyu immediately replied, “We can help promote your forum, after all, it’s a joint competition between the four major universities, with a high level of attention.”

Jiang Qin took the form and looked it over. “How far along is this competition?”

“Still at the school stage, about to enter the final round. The winning team will represent Linchuan University to debate against the other three universities.” Zhuang Siqi answered readily.

“Has the topic for the school final been decided?”

“Whether individual destiny is controlled by the individual or by society.”

Jiang Qin was silent for a moment. “I can sponsor, and can I attend the debate?”

Zhuang Siyu hesitated slightly. “You’re intereste interested in debate? Of course you can.”

“But I hope you can change the topic, the one you mentioned is too detached.”

“Change it to what?”

“If the ending is bad there’s no point in starting, and if the ending is bad you should still enjoy the process.”

Zhuang Siyu frowned in thought. “This topic…is quite interesting…”

Jiang Qin pursed his lips. “I want to know how people view this issue. If possible, use this as the topic for the final.”

“I’ll need to discuss it with the teacher judges.”

“Then I’ll need two seats, preferably in the front rows, closest to Principal Zhang.”

After confirming the sponsorship, Jiang Qin also privately asked Zhuang Siyu to remove Cao Guangyu’s name from the late list, then the two groups waved goodbye.

“Old Cao, you need to treat me to a meal,” said Jiang Qin as he returned to the hallway.

“Why?” Cao Guangyu grimaced.

Jiang Qin spat at him. “I sacrificed beauty to get the student council president to remove your name, don’t you owe me a meal?”

Cao Guangyu’s mouth twitched. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

“You don’t believe my charm or that your name was removed?”

“Heh, I don’t believe either one.”