Chapter 506: Old Professor Yan’s Hot Pot Birthday Celebration

Three days later, final exams were completely over. Jiang Qin wrote everything down, such as names and class sections.

With vacation nearly here, light rain set the mood for leaving campus. University students, freed from their hardships, began packing to head home for a long summer break, ready for late nights and late mornings.

During this time, Room 208’s crew returned for a quick visit to join Professor Yan for hot pot.

They specifically came back for hot pot because it coincided with the eve of the old man’s sixtieth birthday.

Considering Professor Yan’s birthday festivities back in his hometown with friends and colleagues he nurtured over his teaching career, Jiang Qin planned a surprise for him the night before.

This quirky little old man always took things seriously. He set strict standards for others and even stricter ones for himself, which made him overly serious and not very joyful.

However, he had an unexpected love for hot pot and particularly favored Dong Wenhao’s secret sauce.

If you reserved a table at an upscale restaurant, he might not be inclined to go, but just cook up a good broth at the entrepreneurship base, and he’d show up, drawn by the scent.

Furthermore, since the rapid expansion of the company began in the early 2010s, the founding team had not had a chance to enjoy hot pot together for a long time.

This gathering was both a birthday celebration and a reunion, making it especially significant.

Thus, early on that day, Room 207 was set up with a round table.

A banner was hung on the opposite wall reading, “Forever Young God, Always Eighteen.”

Dong Wenhao, wearing an apron, stirred a broth he had been simmering all day, fried some crispy meat, and mixed several bowls of his secret sauce.

Lu Feiyu, known for spending carelessly, took the other guys on a pricey shopping spree on the pedestrian street.

The girls had it easy: they watched TV dramas and washed vegetables while chatting about various gossip.

Feng Nanshu squatted by them, helping pick vegetables, her ears perking up when they talked about a girl from another college unexpectedly getting pregnant.

“What are you all gossiping about?”

Jiang Qin passed by and raised his eyebrows instantly.

Wen Jinrui looked up, “Boss, didn’t you hear? A junior got pregnant unexpectedly, and her parents even came to the school. The weird part is she doesn’t have a boyfriend. It seems it was her best friend.”

“Nonsense! That’s slander!”

“Why are you so worked up? I’m telling the truth.”

“That serves her right then, for not cherishing friendship!”

Jiang Qin sternly admonished them and then covered little rich girl’s ears and whisked her away.

However, as soon as Jiang Qin looked away, she snuck back to listen more.

Tan Qing and Su Nai returned from Shanghai, accompanied by Ye Ziqing who couldn’t miss Professor Yan’s birthday.

She was only close with Tan Qing and so, due to age differences, found it hard to blend in and stood at the doorway, slowly dawning into realization.

Back when she started her business, she also had a large number of employees but seldom gathered like this.

Because she believed that timely wages kept everyone united, she deemed team building and cohesion as mere superstitions.

Only when her Juihui team operated independently at technology, teacher, and engineering universities under her became management increasingly chaotic, with rampant salary freeloading and bloated branch teams.

Being an employee rather than a boss now, she could clearly perceive that running a business wasn’t just about paying salaries for unity.

“I put in work and get paid; it’s a cooperation,” she thought. “Can’t sell you my time and heart as well.”

But Jiang Qin, he seemed to have his own charm. Though a boss, he merged effortlessly with the grassroots, becoming one of the crew.

His approach to team management was subtly influential.

Like with Lu Feiyu, who bought a bunch of pricey items, causing Jiang Qin to stomp and grumble.

But he wasn’t actually angry, or else he wouldn’t have sent Lu Feiyu in the first place.

When a boss shows such qualities, employees subconsciously feel he deeply cares, making them strictly manage financial issues.

Like before in Shanghai, Jiang Qin often led them to snatch competitors’ coupons.

This seemingly frivolous act deepened their engagement in business battles, even she got caught up, feeling triumphant on snagging half-price coupons from rivals.

It was like being in it together for some mischief, that momentary sense of team belonging was incredibly strong.

She wondered if she was overthinking Jiang Qin’s actions like reading a comprehension piece, yet felt this was the ideal state for a team.

“Looks like it’s about time, boss.”

“You mean the broth?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s get started. Open the doors and in an hour, Professor Yan will find his way here. Bet fifty cents on it.”

Dong Wenhao chuckled, opened the pot, and poured the creamy, thick bone broth into the hot pot, breaking a piece of spicy beef tallow for the right side and mushroom broth for the left, starting to simmer.

As the hot pot ingredients melted into the broth, the aroma began to spread through the room, then raced out the door. Less than half an hour later, footsteps echoed from the first to the second floor, sounding quite urgent.

Everyone looked towards the door and, sure enough, Professor Yan had followed the scent.

He took a deep breath around the corner, a look of utter pleasure on his face, then his face soured: “Using public resources for personal enjoyment?!”

Jiang Qin didn’t care about the public or private use, he simply took out a paper-folded birthday hat and placed it on Professor Yan’s head: “Professor, an early birthday wish for you.”

“?”

Professor Yan paused, then realized all the little guys from Room 208 had returned and were bustling around the room, including one of his former students, Ye Ziqing.

It’s worth noting that today’s Room 208 isn’t the same as before. Everyone standing or squatting managed companies with hundreds of employees.

With Group-Buy’s current earnings, these people together were handling hundreds of thousands of dollars daily, yet today they came back just to cook this birthday hot pot for him.

Thinking about it, Professor Yan’s eyes teared up.

Even though Group-Buy didn’t really need him anymore, being treated this way could soften anyone’s heart.

“You rascals…”

“Don’t get moved just yet, Professor. The big one is still to come.”

Professor Yan was ushered into Room 207, barely settling into a chair when Jiang Qin’s words resounded next to him, leaving his face puzzled: “What big one?”

“To thank you for your long-standing support and help with Room 208, I… have a gift for you.”

As Jiang Qin spoke, his right hand fiddled in his pocket, a faint jingling audible.

Hearing this, a palpable spark of hope flitted through Professor Yan’s heart; ‘house keys’ flashed in his mind, and he quickly waved his hands: “No, no, Jiang Qin, listen, that’s too valuable; I can’t accept it.”

“It’s not valuable. Not at all.”

Jiang Qin pulled his hand out, holding his own Audi car keys, then passed them to Wen Jinrui: “Go to my trunk and fetch Professor Yan’s gift.”

Wen Jinrui nodded, “Okay, boss.”

“?”

Ten minutes later, Professor Yan held a box of LEGO bricks shaped like a large mansion, slipping into thought.

What was impressive was the warning on the lower right corner of the box, cautioning that it contained small parts not suitable for children under three years old to prevent accidental ingestion.

Jiang Qin watched Professor Yan intently: “Do you like it, Professor?”

“Is this what you call big?!”

“Of course.”

Jiang Qin pointed to the box, which read ‘big’ mansion.

Professor Yan fell silent for a while: “Alright, you young man, you’ve got the potential to be the richest in the world!”

“Oh? Did you hear that? I just freeloaded Professor Yan’s sixtieth birthday wish. He wants me to become the richest man in the world!”

“What? No, I haven’t made a wish yet! Don’t talk nonsense! Also, where’s my cake? Can’t have a birthday without a cake, can we?”

At that, Jiang Qin clapped his hands. Su Nai turned around and brought a peach-shaped cake to the table.

But old men aren’t much into cakes preferring meat and drinks.

Lu Feiyu had been eager to pour drinks for Professor Yan, one glass after another, seemingly endless.

Professor Yan waved his hands: “A little to lift spirits, just a little.”

Lu Feiyu paused mid-pour, looking towards Jiang Qin, “Boss?”

“I’ve taught you once, can’t you understand? Professor Yan said a little means five glasses to lift spirits.”

“Nonsense!” Professor Yan, blustering, “I’m still a teacher, what would it look like if I got drunk during work hours?”

“If you get drunk, blame it on Room 207. What does it have to do with you, Professor?”

Feeling cheerful from the birthday celebrations and unable to refuse the persuasions, Professor Yan drank five more glasses, then held up his hand in front of Lu Feiyu.

Jiang Qin also gestured with his hand, “That’s enough. Don’t let the old man drink too much. Too much is bad for health.”

Professor Yan shook his head, “What I meant was, bring five more glasses!”

“?”

Professor Yan rolled up his sleeves, “Just checked my watch. I’m off duty now.”

Jiang Qin was speechless and then felt a bit dizzy himself. He smirked slightly and turned to Feng Nanshu, taking her small hand into his.

Little rich girl was eating cake with a small fork, cream at the corners of her mouth. Realizing her left hand was held, she looked up confusedly.

“Is it tasty?”

“Not as good as baked sweet potatoes.”

Jiang Qin watched her earnest expression and couldn’t help but squint and smile for a long time.

They would all grow old one day — forty, sixty, eighty. Hair would turn white, teeth would fall out. He just hoped his friends would remain together till the old age, with no one running away midway.