Chapter 109: Commercial Strategy

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"Don't worry. Tomorrow or the day after, Wang Xunfei will definitely call you. He'll ask if we earned 1.6 million from Tianxing Computer School. Just say no—that was only part of our plan, but Tian Weidong may not accept our software."

"Hmm?" Qi Huanchang looked even more puzzled.

"I bet within a week, Wang Xunfei will call me first. As for the rest, just stick to our old agreement. You'll understand when the time comes." Jiang Xiwen spoke casually, but Qi Huanchang felt a certain teacherly confidence in him. By contrast, he felt more like the student.

After dinner, Jiang Xiwen didn’t return to the school office but took the bus home.

After parting ways, Qi Huanchang ran toward the office-cum-dormitory; the game was at a critical point, and he wanted to enjoy it properly.

As soon as he opened the door, the phone rang.

Could it really be Wang Xunfei calling? The question unsettled Qi Huanchang. He picked up and said, "Hello, this is Qi Huanchang."

"Hey, Fatty, it’s Xunfei. I’ve got something to ask. I heard you and Xiwen made a 1.6 million management system for Tianxing School..." Wang Xunfei didn’t beat around the bush. With buddies like Qi Huanchang, he knew going straight to the point was best. Qi Huanchang froze. Before dinner, Jiang Xiwen had mentioned this, so he was mentally prepared, but now it was reality. He was still astonished.

He never imagined himself as Lu Su from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but now that he saw Jiang Xiwen as Zhuge Liang, he realized he truly was Lu Su. Could Wang Xunfei be Zhou Yu?

"Hey, hey, Fatty, you still there?" Wang Xunfei’s voice came again. Qi Huanchang snapped back to reality, feeling a bit guilty but followed Jiang Xiwen’s instructions and lied, "Xunfei, we wish we’d earned that 1.6 million, but the system isn’t finished. Those big companies like Qingruan are still competing. It’s tough to satisfy Tianxing’s chairman, Tian Weidong..."

"Oh," Wang Xunfei nodded on the other end. Then added, "Just asking. I’ve got to get busy soon. Let’s leave it at that for now."

"Okay, uh, by the way, Xunfei, how did you know about our project with Tianxing School?"

There was a brief hesitation from Wang Xunfei. Qi Huanchang caught it. "A friend of mine is also in contact with Tianxing. He mentioned some genius kid working there in Yangjiang. I guessed that must be Xiwen. Anyway, I’m really pressed for time. Let’s keep it like this for now. Bye."

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After Wang Xunfei hung up, his eyes moved to the computer screen before him. There lay a document far more detailed than the instant messaging software plan he had seen earlier on Qi Huanchang’s computer in Yangjiang. The appendix of the document even revealed a commercial secret—a 1.6 million quote for the Tianxing Computer School’s computer room management system.

Why wasn’t there a complete plan? Why did this one, though detailed, still have many pages with only titles and no content? Why did the software’s code appear, but only in fragments? Wang Xunfei sighed inwardly. Clearly, this document had been mixed up with the draft disk of "Ethereal Legend" and accidentally brought back to Nanshen by him.

If a full plan and complete code really existed, would he just keep it for himself? The thought unsettled him deeply.

He never imagined he would entertain such a despicable idea, especially since this plan was the foundation for his brother’s company.

But soon, relief washed over him. Luckily, what he had wasn’t the full set, or else, in a moment of impulse, he might have done something to betray Qi Huanchang—a betrayal that would haunt his conscience forever.

After Jiang Xiwen got home, he took a shower and resumed programming. Soon, the phone rang. Half a minute later, his mother, Wang Yanan’s voice came through: "Xiwen, the phone."

"Coming..." Jiang Xiwen quickly stepped out of his bedroom. Seeing his mother’s strange look, he paid it no mind and answered.

"Xiwen, this is your sister Ziqing. I’m interning in Modu, so I probably won’t be able to teach you spoken English this semester. Sorry about that." The crisp voice of Yu Ziqing came through.

"Sister Ziqing, you can’t teach me anymore? Ah, what a pity. When will I get to see your beautiful face again?" Jiang Xiwen sighed, his voice low, almost on the verge of tears.

Hearing Yu Ziqing’s voice was a pleasant surprise. They hadn’t spoken for a while. Suddenly receiving her call made him happy. Being with this beautiful teacher-sister always felt comforting.

"Xiwen, don’t be like that. After my internship and graduation, I should return to Yangjiang to teach. Then I can tutor you again." Yu Ziqing spoke earnestly, but hearing Jiang Xiwen chuckle on the phone, she realized he was teasing her. She laughed and scolded, "Only been a month and you’ve forgotten how clever you are! Okay, I called for an important reason. Do you remember Gao Jie?"

"Gao Jie?!" Jiang Xiwen pictured the flashy young master in his mind. "Of course. Did he bully you again? If there’s anything, tell me. I’ll make sure to teach him a lesson for you."

"No, it’s not so easy for him to bully me. I ran into him in Modu today, and he tried to pester me again. When I drove him off, he said he’d found out you’re at Second Middle School and has a way to stop you from continuing your studies. You know, his father is the director of the education committee, so I’m a bit worried and wanted to warn you."

Jiang Xiwen nodded, "Thanks for your concern, beautiful. That guy’s all talk. Didn’t he say something last time too? But he hasn’t made a move yet."

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"Made a move?" Yu Ziqing giggled. "Xiwen, your expressions are so fresh. Okay, I won’t keep you. See you next time. I’ve got things to do."

"Yeah, see you, Sister Ziqing." Jiang Xiwen hung up, feeling happy to hear from her, but her warning left a vague unease in his heart. He couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.

By nature, he wouldn’t be afraid over an idle threat from Gao Jie, but somehow this threat felt connected to something else.

Unable to figure it out, Jiang Xiwen, as usual, chose not to dwell on it. But another headache suddenly emerged: he remembered his mother, Wang Yanan, had been standing nearby listening to his call. Her strange look lingered.

"Mom, what’s wrong?" he asked.

"Who was that girl?" Wang Yanan’s expression was serious.

"Just a friend, more like a sister, from Yangjiang Normal University. Why? I still have homework, Mom. I’ll head to my room now." Jiang Xiwen sensed his mother’s misunderstanding and didn’t want to explain at length. He quickly found an excuse and walked toward his room.

"Xiwen, homework can wait. Mom wants to ask you something." Wang Yanan sat on the living room sofa. Her husband, Jiang Hong, was on a business trip to Yangning County. If nothing unexpected happened, he would soon be promoted to county magistrate. Wang Yanan felt she would soon live alone with her son for a long time and was determined to raise him well.

Jiang Xiwen had no choice and sat on the small wooden stool at home. The stool was handmade by Jiang Hong in the early 1980s. As a child, Jiang Xiwen often sat there, receiving either criticism or praise. Sitting there again, his helplessness vanished, replaced by a strange sense of amusement.

Wang Yanan looked at her smiling son, frowned, and said, "Xiwen, you’re not a kid anymore. You’ll be in high school soon. Your grades improved a lot last semester, and Dad and I are proud. But you must understand you’re still a middle school student. You need to be careful about your relationships with girls."

"Mom, Sister Ziqing is several years older than me. She might even be my teacher someday." Jiang Xiwen laughed bitterly, but seeing his mother’s serious expression, he explained sincerely, knowing she cared.

"If she’s your teacher, why were you joking around with her on the phone just now?" Wang Yanan reproached. "Putting her aside, what about Zhang Ya and Ning Yan? You seem close to them. I don’t oppose you having female friends, but don’t get too familiar."

"Mom, don’t worry. I’ll be serious about this from now on. I promise." After his rebirth, Jiang Xiwen felt even being scolded by his mother was a kind of warmth.