Chapter 167: Pay 100 Yuan Before Leaving

The Dorm Stocking Festival quickly drove up group-buy registrations and orders to a peak in a short time.

Under these circumstances, Room 208’s recommendation of good items did have some impact, generating ten online orders for Wanzhong Mall. Although the quantity was small and they were all cheap items like alarm clocks and desk lamps, it was still a good start.

Also, the end of the month was approaching and students who were supposed to be out of money already were.

Take Cao Guangyu for example, he had already started eating noodle soup with steamed buns, even worse off than the impoverished Zhou Chao.

At this critical juncture, it was already very good that Wanzhong Mall could scrounge together ten orders.

Wait until next month.

Next month when living expenses are issued, hit them with a mall combo punch and squeeze those college students dry!

“Boss, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing, the air is dry, my teeth have been hurting a bit recently.”

Jiang Qin retracted his ferocious “squeeze them dry” expression and took Dong Wenhao into Xitian Milk Tea Shop in the front square to wait for Wanzhong Mall’s delivery truck.

Receiving goods was the responsibility of specially arranged part-time students, the boss didn’t need to personally handle it, but considering it was the first delivery, Jiang Qin still wanted to supervise it himself.

“Boss, milk tea.”

“Director Dong, milk tea.”

Xitian’s part-time store manager Hu Xin brought over two cups of milk tea and set them down in front of the two.

Hearing the words “Director”, Dong Wenhao instantly beamed with joy, his chest puffing out fiercely, nearly bursting open the zipper on his down jacket.

“Wenhao, what’s wrong with you?” Jiang Qin gave him a strange look.

Dong Wenhao immediately deflated his chest and opened his mouth with an embarrassed smile: “Nothing, the air is dry, my chest hurts a bit.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qin exclaimed in admiration: “Ever since you put on lipstick, even the places that hurt are quite marvelous. Why not go to the back and find a private spot to rub it?”

Dong Wenhao had just taken a sip of milk tea and nearly choked to death hearing this: “I misspoke, I meant my chest feels stuffy.”

“What time is it?”

“Already 8:10.”

Jiang Qin furrowed his brow: “Wasn’t the scheduled delivery time 8 o’clock?”

Only then did Dong Wenhao remember and took out his phone to make a call. After a while, he softly said: “Director Zhang said there might be some traffic on the road and told us to be patient.”

“Is that the same Director Zhang who had us change the delivery time last time?”

“Yes, that’s him.”

Jiang Qin took a sip of milk tea: “He’s delivering the goods today?”

Dong Wenhao shook his head: “He’s a director, how could a director possibly deliver goods, he definitely sent someone.”

“Then what the hell does he know.”

After finishing his words, Jiang Qin took his milk tea and left Xitian. Seeing this, Dong Wenhao followed. The two found the part-time college student Kong Hui who was responsible for receiving the goods and the three of them squatted by the road to wait.

It wasn’t until 8:35 that a truck with “Wanzhong Mall Shipping Department” printed on it slowly arrived and stopped in front of the statue at the front square after driving all the way there.

The delivery guy was named Ma Liang, in his early thirties with a shiny bald head. Wearing a blue down jacket that was worn to a shine, he got out of the driver’s cabin with a cigarette clamped between his teeth and took a few puffs after landing.

The three people just watched him from across the street without saying a word.

Five minutes later, after finishing a cigarette, Ma Liang slowly took out his phone and made a call, a scene that fell entirely within Jiang Qin’s view.

The call was to Kong Hui and Jiang Qin told him to answer as usual. After he finished, the three of them went over together.

“Bro, I’m here to get the goods.”

Ma Liang gave Kong Hui a sideways glance and pointed at the back of the truck, indicating for him to get it himself.

Seeing that he looked quite fierce, Kong Hui didn’t dare say much. After opening the truck compartment and checking the goods against the order, he was about to take the goods and leave when Ma Liang stopped him.

“Just these few things, the profit isn’t even enough to cover my gas for one trip.”

“Huh?” Kong Hui didn’t understand.

Ma Liang directly furrowed his brow: “You don’t even get this? My truck is out of gas, can you give me 100 yuan so I can go fill up in a bit.”

“Our boss never mentioned anything about gas money.” Kong Hui turned his head to glance at Jiang Qin.

“Fuck, college students these days don’t know how to handle things? It’s almost 9 o’clock now, if it wasn’t for you all I would have been off work long ago. If you don’t believe me, come look, my gas tank is empty, how am I supposed to get back?”

The driver Ma Liang cursed and grumbled, showing a fierce expression, looking like he wouldn’t let them leave without giving him 100 yuan.

Seeing this, Jiang Qin stepped forward and told Kong Hui to go deliver the goods first.

It was indeed almost 9 o’clock now, the delivery time was a whole hour late, those who placed orders had probably long been impatient from waiting.

Stabilizing the consumers was the most important thing right now.

Seeing that Kong Hui was about to leave, Ma Liang immediately stepped forward to stop him but was pulled to the side of the road by Jiang Qin with an arm around his shoulder, a 100 yuan bill fluttering in the lamplight in his hand.

“Gas money.”

“Okay, you’re a reasonable one.” Ma Liang happily took the money and even rubbed it between his fingers to test if it was real.

Jiang Qin also had a big smile on his face as he watched him get in the car: “Brother, drive slowly, don’t smoke while filling up gas!”

“Boss, we’re just giving him 100 yuan like this?”

Dong Wenhao was furious, the shipping department was paid wages by Wanzhong Mall, gas fees were all reimbursed, who ever heard of asking the collaborating merchants for gas money, this was clearly extortion!

“In the eyes of people who have been around, college students are easy to bully, what can I do.”

Jiang Qin took out his phone from his pocket, flipped through the contacts and called the security room at the gate.

Under the dark night, Ma Liang hummed a little tune and blissfully drove towards the school gate while conveniently making a phone call to Director Zhang.

“Hey, Brother Zhang, I delivered the goods.”

“Right, heading out now, you all drink slowly, wait for me!”

“Fuck, those stupid college students, if it weren’t for them, I’d already be drinking with you. But these students are real cowards, I furrowed my brow and they really gave me 100 yuan for gas without daring to even fart.”

“What? What could possibly happen, they’re all little brats, I furrow my brow and they didn’t even dare to fart.”

“Complain to Manager Yue? Then I’ll just say when I was delivering goods I didn’t bring money and borrowed 100 to fill up gas, originally planning to return it tomorrow. But Brother Zhang, if they don’t complain, isn’t this 100 just free money.”

He was giggling when suddenly his expression changed and he hurriedly stepped on the brakes.

“Brother Zhang wait a moment, I have a little situation here, I’ll talk more when I get there…”

Ma Liang stopped the car and narrowed his eyes to take a careful look outside, he saw that the several security guards at Linchuan University’s gate had all come out and were waving at him, signaling for him to get out of the car.

The security guards at Linchuan University were all brawny tough guys, not at all like the old men in residential area security booths. Especially the security captain who liked eating dates, with his thick arms and round waist, his expressionless face was particularly scary.

“What’s going on?”

Ma Liang pulled the handbrake and got out of the car, immediately hearing the lead security guard speak: “Exit fee, 100 yuan.”

“Have to pay to exit too?” Ma Liang had an incredulous look.

“This is an outside vehicle, must pay 100 yuan.”

“I entered less than half an hour ago and you’re already taking 100, isn’t this too much of a racket?”

“Have you never been to college? Outside vehicles, if you want to exit you must pay 100 yuan.”

Ma Liang indeed had never been to college but that didn’t mean he was stupid. He definitely wasn’t going to pay but he had to exit!

So, he took out his phone and called Director Zhang.

After a while, Dong Wenhao received a call from Director Zhang. Jiang Qin told him to turn on the speakerphone and Director Zhang’s irritated voice came through.

“What’s going on with Linchuan University? Have to pay 100 yuan to exit, is there no more law? Did you all not coordinate this? My person still needs to hurry back to make the next delivery, isn’t this just wasting time? If the delivery time is delayed, who will be responsible?”

“Ahem, really sorry Director Zhang, maybe our side didn’t connect well, so sorry.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m the boss of the group-buy, Jiang Qin.”

“If you didn’t coordinate well then hurry up and go coordinate, what are you doing wasting words here!”

Jiang Qin took a deep breath: “How about this, in order to not delay your time, you all pay first. Wait until I coordinate it tomorrow and have them refund you the money, okay?”

Director Zhang angrily hung up the phone and relayed Jiang Qin’s words to Ma Liang who immediately exclaimed awesome.

But not long after the call ended, Director Zhang received another call from Ma Liang.

“Brother Zhang, no good!”

“What’s no good, didn’t I tell you to pay?”

“They won’t take it, said they only want that bill Jiang Qin gave, otherwise don’t even think about leaving today!”

“…”

Director Zhang’s heart sank with a thud, thinking it was over. He immediately found Dong Wenhao’s number and called.

Dong Wenhao’s phone was currently in Jiang Qin’s hand, the two were in Xitian drinking milk tea. Seeing Director Zhang’s call, Jiang Qin hung up without a second word.

“Boss, can’t we just report it directly to Manager Yue? Why have the security guards hold the car?” Dong Wenhao was a bit confused.

“If we report it to Yue Zhu, they can very likely find an excuse, saying they forgot to bring money on the way and were in a rush to get gas so they borrowed 100 from us. Just that they were inarticulate and didn’t explain clearly, and will return it tomorrow when delivering goods. If he explains it like that, it’ll make us seem petty instead. But holding the car makes them have to come beg me.”

Dong Wenhao’s scalp tingled a bit: “Really?”

“I’ve seen too many people like this, the tricks are all the same. He’s betting that we won’t complain and that 100 will be his.”

Jiang Qin glanced at his phone and saw that Director Zhang called again, so he continued to hang up.

It wasn’t until the fifth call that he reached out to answer, turning on the speakerphone. A respectful and polite voice came through from Director Zhang.

“Mr. Jiang, really sorry, I just heard Ma Liang say he borrowed 100 yuan from you for gas money?”

“No no no, saying borrow is too distant, that was me paying respects to Uncle Ma.”

Jiang Qin grinned and gave Dong Wenhao a look. Dong Wenhao’s expression immediately changed, thinking that it was indeed as the boss said, they stubbornly insist it was borrowed, truly too shameless!

“Mr. Jiang is too joking, it’s like this, that truck of ours indeed was out of gas and Ma Liang also didn’t bring money. There was no other way so he borrowed it. His mouth is clumsy and didn’t explain clearly.”

“Oh, so it was borrowed. Then no need to return it, you make two banners for me, write ‘Group-Buy / Wanzhong Mall Direct Delivery, On Time At 8AM Every Day’ and hang it on the truck when delivering goods from now on, okay?”

“Ah? But the security room also wants 100.”

Jiang Qin smiled even more brilliantly: “The money the security wants, what’s that got to do with me Jiang Qin?”