Zhou Deshun, the owner of "Zhou Ji Fruit Stand" at Yiwu Commodity Center, was watering fruits in his shop when he suddenly saw four boys walking quickly toward him.
Thinking they were customers, he greeted them with a smile, "What can I get you, handsome gentlemen?"
"I don't want fruit, I want money," replied Chen Hansheng, leading the group with a grin.
It was then that Zhou Deshun realized these boys were not here to buy but to cause trouble. He subtly picked up a fruit knife and sliced a watermelon in half, the red juice spilling onto the ground. He looked up and asked, "What money are you talking about?"
Seeing Zhou Deshun's threatening move, Yang Shichao and Guo Shaoqiang exchanged glances, their eyelids twitching.
Chen Hansheng chuckled and sat down on a small stool next to Zhou Deshun, just 20 cm away from the gleaming knife. "My uncle is Feng Jihua, the owner of the stationery store across the street. I heard you owe him 3,500 yuan and haven't paid it back."
Zhou Deshun froze for a moment, thinking, "When did Feng Jihua have such a big nephew?" His anger flared as he realized that in just six months, the 2,500 yuan debt had turned into 3,500. "This bastard is worse than loan sharks," he thought.
It wasn't just Zhou Deshun who was confused by the change from 2,500 to 3,500 yuan. Yang Shichao and Guo Shaoqiang also didn't understand, but they thought that Chen Hansheng was just adding an extra 1,000 yuan as a handling fee, so they kept quiet.
Chen Hansheng, however, was more interested in dealing with Zhou Deshun than with Feng Jihua. Feng was unpredictable when it came to sponsorship, but Zhou Deshun had more weaknesses, making him an easier target.
"Kid, I'm telling you, I don't owe your uncle 3,500 yuan," Zhou Deshun said seriously.
Chen Hansheng finished his watermelon and casually wiped his mouth with his shirt, smiling, "I don't care. That's what my uncle said. I'm just here to collect the money."
While Zhou Deshun sized up the four boys, a few students from the finance college also started to gather outside the fruit shop, watching the scene.
"Who are they?" Zhou Deshun asked.
"They're my classmates from college," Chen Hansheng answered. "If you don't pay back the 3,500 yuan, I'll have them move all your fruits, enough to cover the debt."
"You dare!"
Zhou Deshun slammed his fruit knife on the counter, then shouted, "Damn Feng Jihua, he made this 2,500 yuan debt into 3,500 and sends a bunch of students to harass me while I'm doing business. You better wait for it!"
Zhou Deshun went into the back storage room, rummaging through boxes and cabinets, then came out with a wrinkled IOU and slapped it on Chen Hansheng's face. "Take a good look. I only borrowed 2,500 from Feng Jihua, is that clear?"
Chen Hansheng took the IOU, and it clearly stated, "Zhou Deshun borrowed 2,500 yuan from Feng Jihua due to personal financial difficulties, with an agreement to repay within one month..."
Zhou Deshun waited for Chen Hansheng to finish reading before asking, "Did you see it clearly?"
"I saw it clearly," Chen Hansheng nodded.
"Then give me the IOU back."
Zhou Deshun stretched out his hand.
Chen Hansheng smiled, folded the IOU, and put it into his pocket. "I must have heard wrong earlier. My uncle really said it was 2,500 yuan. Now that we have the proof, where's my money?"
Zhou Deshun froze for a moment, then finally understood that Chen Hansheng had tricked him with the IOU.
"You dare cheat me? Damn Feng Jihua and your whole family!"
"Whatever, I'm not that close to your uncle anyway," Chen Hansheng replied nonchalantly.
...
At the stationery store, Feng Jihua was smiling widely as he looked at the 2,500 yuan in front of him.
"I never thought I'd see this money again. I had already given up on it."
As Feng Jihua was about to gather the money, Chen Hansheng slammed his lighter down on it.
"What's this about, classmate?" Feng Jihua looked up and asked.
"No big deal, just reminding you, this is my money," Chen Hansheng replied with a grin.
"This is too much. You can take 500 yuan as a bonus, but taking it all isn't reasonable," Feng Jihua said, his face turning grim.
The two had just been in a cooperative relationship, but now, things were clearly falling apart. Chen Hansheng was clearly not interested in reasoning.
Zhu Chenglong sneered from the side. "Has Feng Jihua forgotten what he just said? He said whoever recovers the debt gets the money."
Feng Jihua paused, realizing that these guys had really gotten the money back. He pushed up his glasses and laughed awkwardly. "I was just saying that."
"You said it, but I took it seriously," Chen Hansheng said, stuffing the 2,500 yuan into his pocket. Feng Jihua swallowed nervously but had no way to get it back.
When the money was in Feng Jihua's hands, Chen Hansheng had no way to take it, but once it was released and Chen Hansheng had it, there was no way Feng could take it back.
"Zhou Minister, wait a second. I think you just got a 500 yuan sponsorship, right?"
At this moment, Zuo Xiaoli and Zhou Xiao were about to quietly leave, not expecting that Chen Hansheng, cunning and ruthless, had not only tricked Zhou Deshun into giving up the IOU but also taken the money right in front of Feng Jihua.
Now, Zhou Xiao just wanted to remain a low-profile person, but Chen Hansheng wouldn't let him.
"How about this? I'll contribute 501 yuan as a sponsor for the freshman party, just to slightly beat Zhou Minister," Chen Hansheng said, pulling out a 500 yuan bill and borrowing a coin from Li Zhennan, handing it to Qi Wei.
Qi Wei was stunned, unsure whether to accept or refuse.
"What's wrong? You don't want it?" Chen Hansheng asked with a smile.
Qi Wei bit her lip, pretending not to notice the dark look on Vice Chairman Zuo Xiaoli's face, and directly accepted the 501 yuan.
"Good!"
Guo Shaoqiang shouted loudly, and the surrounding freshmen cheered. They didn't know the reason, but it felt like a victory, and they were part of it.
Yang Shichao, still unsatisfied, yelled at Zuo Xiaoli and Zhou Xiao's retreating figures, "Didn't you agree to give up the vice minister position? Why are you backing out now?"
"Forget it, he won't give it up," Chen Hansheng replied indifferently.
Although Zhou Xiao had sworn in front of so many people, as long as he had thick enough skin and Zuo Xiaoli's support, he could still hold onto the vice minister position.
"Let's drink tonight. My treat!"
Chen Hansheng invited the classmates who had come to support him at the commodity center. This afternoon, he had shown them a different side of himself—far more complex than a typical student.
But luckily, he was our class president.
Yang Shichao and the others continued to drink and complain, all saying Zhou Xiao was shameless for not admitting defeat. Zhu Chenglong even asked, "How do we make Zhou Xiao quit the external relations department?"
Chen Hansheng, who was playing cards, didn't think too much about it and casually replied, "Unless his face gets smashed so badly he can't pick it up. The pressure this afternoon wasn't enough."
Zhu Chenglong made an "oh" sound, didn't say anything further, and continued drinking.
That evening, after returning, Chen Hansheng was playing cards when Guo Shaoqiang suddenly ran in, panicked, and said, "Not good! Zhu Chenglong just beat up Zhou Xiao!"