Chapter Twenty-Two: Having Both the Fish and the Bear’s Paw

During the following week, Jiang Xiwen’s life revolved entirely around frantically writing his novel and throwing himself into fitness and martial arts. Besides learning three new moves from Wang Wu, he also absorbed many of his theories on defeating adversaries in unfavorable situations by taking advantage of the environment.

Meanwhile, Gong Xiang had become obsessed with Jiang Xiwen’s novel, haunting the computer lab every day in anticipation of updates. Unfortunately, the latest chapters were all stored on Jiang Xiwen’s computer, so poor Gong Xiang had to wait until after school each day for his fix.

During this time, Qi Huanchang repeatedly called Fan Qiang, but the only reply he ever received was that Chairman Tian was away on a business trip and would contact them upon returning to the Shanghai headquarters. Qi Huanchang didn’t usually enjoy dealing with business matters like this, but now he had no choice but to keep it in mind—this was Jiang Xiwen’s hard-earned work, and since Fan Qiang was also his classmate, he couldn’t allow Jiang Xiwen to be taken advantage of.

Oddly enough, Jiang Xiwen himself wasn’t the least bit anxious. He couldn’t care less whether Fan Qiang had really called Shanghai or not. Throughout the week, Fan Qiang kept inviting him out, his intentions obvious: he wanted to secure Jiang Xiwen’s cooperation for the lowest possible price.

By the weekend, Fan Qiang even visited Jiang Xiwen’s house and praised him effusively in front of his father, Jiang Hong.

Jiang Hong’s inability to climb the ranks in the government was not due to a lack of ability or knowledge of bureaucratic ways, but simply because his temperament made him unwilling to pander to certain things.

Fan Qiang, it seemed, had not done his homework on Jiang Xiwen’s family. Jiang Hong’s taciturn demeanor made Fan Qiang assume he was just an honest and ordinary man.

So Fan Qiang fell back on his natural salesmanship, talking up a storm. Jiang Hong, having already sensed Fan Qiang’s ulterior motives, simply listened without betraying his thoughts or interrupting.

Sitting to the side, Jiang Xiwen could barely suppress his laughter. No matter how shrewd Fan Qiang was, he would be mistaken to treat his father as an average man.

When Fan Qiang proposed to give Jiang Xiwen the latest Pentium computer in exchange for being an honorary ambassador for Tianxing School, Jiang Hong did not agree. He could see perfectly well that Fan Qiang’s interest was not as simple as seeking a school spokesman, but he had no reason to waste time probing Fan Qiang’s true purpose—refusal was enough.

Fan Qiang’s disappointment flashed across his face, and Jiang Hong caught it instantly, though he remained polite and left Fan Qiang some dignity.

As he left the Jiang household, Fan Qiang cursed himself for his oversight. Those few courteous remarks from Jiang Hong at the end showed a mastery of social dealings—how had he not realized it sooner?

“Principal Fan, my father works in government—he’s just too old-fashioned. But as long as I get the Pentium computer, I’ll persuade him to let me be the spokesperson.” Jiang Xiwen suddenly appeared behind, startling Fan Qiang. When he heard that Jiang Hong worked in government, his face went through several shades. Had he known, he never would have tried to peddle his sales pitch as if hawking rat poison.

Jiang Xiwen’s words seemed casual, but they were calculated to hit Fan Qiang’s core. In his previous life, Jiang Xiwen had dealt with countless business leaders and software executives, and after his rebirth, his approach to negotiation was second nature.

Fan Qiang quickly composed himself, returning to a normal expression with a smile. “Xiwen, are you willing to be our spokesperson? It’s a pity you’re still underage—without your parents’ permission, I can’t formally hire you. But I do have a project right now, just lacking a competent programmer: the electronic checkout system for the People’s Department Store. If you help me write the software, the computer is yours. How about we discuss it over dinner at the River Fresh Restaurant?”

“No need for dinner, let’s just talk here,” Jiang Xiwen replied, fully aware that the spokesperson offer was a pretense. Fan Qiang used the word “help” as a pretext to exchange a single computer for a software system worth around 150,000 yuan—since the department store had five floors and had just switched to private leasing, a comprehensive electronic checkout system would be worth at least that much.

Fan Qiang’s scheme was shameless: trying to trade a Pentium for something worth ten times as much. But if he thought he could outsmart Jiang Xiwen, he was sorely mistaken. Jiang Xiwen wanted both the computer and the money.

Of course, he couldn’t ask for the money outright. Instead, putting on the appearance of an earnest youth, Jiang Xiwen said, “That’s wonderful, but I’m busy preparing for the computer competition right now. The contest is easy for me, but I still need to be thorough for the principal’s sake. Plus, I’ll need to wait for feedback after your team tries out the system, and then make adjustments. There’s so much to do—every day I’m rushing to the computer lab, and when I get home, I’m working on paper...”

Jiang Xiwen rambled on, waiting for Fan Qiang to interject. At last, Fan Qiang said, “How about this: tomorrow I’ll buy you the Pentium computer. Once you finish the competition, you can start the checkout system project.”

“I wouldn’t feel right taking the computer before I’ve written a single line of code,” Jiang Xiwen replied, feigning modesty. “Maybe you could introduce me to the manager in charge of the system at the department store first, so I can understand their exact requirements…”

Jiang Xiwen’s shy smile was his trademark from his previous life, and now it came even more naturally.

His sincerity was so convincing that Fan Qiang had no doubts. “A computer is nothing—it’s my gift to you. The checkout system is more complicated than the lab management software, but it can earn us forty thousand yuan. We’ll split it, twenty thousand each.”

Better than expected—he’s even offering me an extra twenty thousand. Jiang Xiwen sneered inwardly, but outwardly he displayed first surprise, then seriousness. “Wow, forty thousand? But the Pentium alone is worth twenty thousand—doesn’t that mean you’d end up with nothing, Principal Fan? And if you buy the computer before I start the project, how could I possibly accept another twenty thousand? Besides, I wouldn’t even know where to keep the money. When I earned money from the Tianxing computer system, I had Teacher Qi save it for me—otherwise, my parents would never accept it.”

Sorry, Fatty, I’m dragging you into this again, Jiang Xiwen thought. Qi Fatty was ruthless—if Tian Weidong approved the system for all the national branches, he’d pocket 1.5 million at once! Fan Qiang, after a moment’s scheming, felt a surge of jealousy that nearly drove him to rashly warn Jiang Xiwen against trusting Qi Huanchang.

But he quickly suppressed the feeling—he wouldn’t let Qi Fatty have things so easy. A plan he considered cunning and malicious began to form in his mind.

“Xiwen, since you put it that way, if the checkout system succeeds, I’ll keep the money for you as well. But you must accept the Pentium computer as my thanks. And let’s not tell Qi Fatty about this, or he’ll blame me for employing child labor.”

“No problem. By the way, when the computer is delivered this afternoon, you shouldn’t come by—otherwise, my dad will think I agreed to be your spokesperson and get upset. I’ll just say it’s being sent from the No. 2 High School lab to help me prepare for the computer competition.” Jiang Xiwen reminded him before he left.

“Of course, of course!” Fan Qiang replied cheerfully, turning away. This trip had been worthwhile—soon he’d have ten times the value in his pocket.

Watching Fan Qiang’s retreating figure, Jiang Xiwen’s face radiated disdain. If someone wanted to give him both money and a computer, why refuse? If Fan Qiang thought he could swindle him, he was laughably naïve.

That very afternoon, the Pentium computer was delivered while his parents were out for a walk—no need for explanations. Shortly after, Fan Qiang called, inviting Jiang Xiwen to meet the department store’s system manager at the Zhenxing Teahouse.

So impatient, Jiang Xiwen mused as he hung up the phone. Still a few levels below a master swindler.

Zhenxing Teahouse was the city’s premier leisure spot, favored by the local elite, and only about a thirty-minute walk from Jiang Xiwen’s home. He strolled there at a leisurely pace, enjoying the walk.

Half an hour later, he arrived. At the entrance, the attendant eyed the student-like Jiang Xiwen and blocked his path. “Young man, this isn’t a place for you. Where are your parents?”