In the second self-study classroom, the response from the students was just as indifferent. After finishing his talk, Chen Hanxing realized that one of the part-time students had quietly left the team without saying a word.
He shook his head. It's hard to find a three-legged frog, but there are plenty of two-legged people. If they leave, he can always recruit more.
At the entrance to the third classroom, Chen Hanxing casually asked, "Does anyone want to give it a try?"
The remaining part-time students exchanged looks, and finally, a boy named Gao Tengfei volunteered and took the stage. He nervously stumbled through a presentation on the 101 express service.
Afterward, Chen Hanxing asked Gao Tengfei, "Were you nervous before speaking?"
Gao Tengfei nodded.
"And now?" Chen Hanxing asked again.
Gao Tengfei paused for a moment, then said, "At first, I was really nervous. But once I started speaking, my mind went blank, and now it feels like I don't have much to say. But I kind of want to try again."
Chen Hanxing laughed heartily. "That's how it goes. Public speaking is like that. It's tough before you speak, but once you start, you get used to it. It's good practice."
After leaving the third classroom, Chen Hanxing noticed that the rest of the second team had all found reasons to leave. One student even apologized sincerely before leaving, saying, "I think I'm better suited to doing dormitory promotions. If I get another chance, I might try a different team."
Chen Hanxing smiled and said, "If it's meant to be, it'll happen."
Gao Tengfei felt a bit down and confused, so Chen Hanxing patted him on the shoulder. "Let's talk about this during tonight's summary. For now, it's just the two of us doing the classroom promotion. Are you scared?"
"No way! I'm not afraid now!" Gao Tengfei replied with newfound confidence.
So, during the remainder of the classroom promotions that evening, Chen Hanxing let Gao Tengfei take the lead while he distributed flyers. Afterward, he pointed out some of Gao's weaknesses and areas for improvement.
By the end of the evening, Gao Tengfei had grown significantly more confident. His voice was louder, and his delivery smoother.
At 9 PM, when they finished their rounds in half of the A Building classrooms, Chen Hanxing treated Gao Tengfei to milk tea and had a debriefing session.
"You're probably wondering why I didn't try to keep the others from leaving," Chen Hanxing began, placing his phone on the table. "From your perspective, it looks like I have a school-supported entrepreneurial project, a phone, and a chance to hire students for part-time work. I must seem capable, right? I should be helping those who gave up halfway. But from my own perspective, all this came from me investing a lot of time and energy, and I'm still in debt. Instead of wasting time on those who gave up, I'd rather support those who stick with it. That way, I can get more done. Got it?"
Gao Tengfei nodded silently, sipping his milk tea. After a while, he asked, "Now, with just me left in the second team, what's next?"
Chen Hanxing shrugged. "We'll fill the team quickly. For now, you're the leader. Pick a team name."
Gao Tengfei thought for a moment and chose the name "Xu Zhu" (a character from a famous novel).
The two of them exchanged some more experiences about classroom promotions. Before they parted ways, Chen Hanxing raised his milk tea in a toast. "Only those who persist deserve more opportunities."
Chen Hanxing bought a few more cups of milk tea and brought them back to the startup base. Meanwhile, the 101 and 102 rooms were much livelier.
Despite the cold wind outside, the two rooms were warm thanks to the electric heaters. Inside, Shen Youchu was practicing Excel on a laptop, Hu Linyu was beside her offering guidance, Li Zhenan and another student were playing chess; the sounds of the Public Administration class's four debaters practicing were also audible from the 102 storage room.
It was a cozy, busy atmosphere. Chen Hanxing quietly lit a cigarette and gazed at the artificial lake outside, watching the cold ripples lap at the rocks. After gathering his thoughts, he returned to the base.
When the others saw the milk tea in his hands, there was a cheer from inside 102. The debaters, who were usually more extroverted, jokingly shouted, "Long live the class leader!"
101 was quieter, with Hu Linyu sipping her milk tea and saying, "You've won over another batch of hearts."
Chen Hanxing smiled. "You're still talking even while drinking."
He picked up the account book and asked, "How many packages today?"
"133," Shen Youchu replied, remembering the exact number.
Chen Hanxing nodded. Usually, there were only about 60 packages a day, but since Meng Xuedong had stopped handling them, the volume shifted to 101. Coupled with the recent banners and dormitory promotions, it was normal for the numbers to go up.
"How many of those are part-time students' packages?" Chen Hanxing asked.
"45," Shen Youchu answered.
Chen Hanxing didn't ask further. He reminded Shen Youchu, "Take the laptop back to your dorm tonight and practice Excel."
"Okay," she replied.
---
In the following days, Chen Hanxing continued running promotions with the other part-time teams. There were still some dropouts like Xu Mengzhu, but there were also some who stuck with it, and they would eventually become stable secondary agents.
After the promotional paper bags with the "101 F Building" branding were printed, Chen Hanxing had them handed out as small gifts during dorm and classroom promotions. In the near future, these paper bags were likely to become a common sight around the campus.
Chen Hanxing felt it wasn't enough. He bought a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes and put them in the paper bags. Then he headed to the office of the vice secretary of the Youth League, Yu Yueping, to deliver some documents.
When Yu Yueping saw the promotional paper bags, he smiled. "I've been seeing these around campus lately. At first, I wondered where F Building 101 was, but then I realized it was your place."
Chen Hanxing replied, "I brought some over for the Youth League. Teachers can use them too."
Yu Yueping chuckled. "You're hoping the Youth League will help promote it, right?"
Chen Hanxing didn't deny it. He handed over a bag with the cigarettes inside. "It's actually for your approval. Manager Zhong would like you to provide some feedback on the design."
Yu Yueping waved his hand. "I don't know much about design…"
But when he saw the cigarettes in the bag, Yu Yueping suddenly understood. He silently placed the bag under his desk, his expression turning more serious. "Are there any difficulties with your project?"
"Yeah, no money," Chen Hanxing replied straightforwardly.
Yu Yueping, though sympathetic, shook his head. "I've already said, besides supporting the space, everything else you have to manage on your own."
Chen Hanxing offered a cigarette. "Yu Secretary, are there any spare computers in the school? Maybe you could lend us a couple to support the project?"
He didn't mention it was for his own use but framed it as for the project, ensuring the computers would remain school property but be used elsewhere for value.
Yu Yueping understood the situation and said, "There are plenty in the computer lab. You can apply for two in the name of supporting entrepreneurship. Once I approve it, you can pick them up, but they can't be taken back to the dorm."
Chen Hanxing nodded in agreement. Yu Yueping had a clear and logical way of handling things: public property wasn't for personal gain, but within his authority, he could allocate resources.
Before leaving the office, Chen Hanxing suddenly remembered something. "I heard the Youth League also has student leaders. Do I meet the criteria to join?"
Yu Yueping frowned. "That's handled by Teacher Guan Shuman. She's been away for a while, but I can take you to ask her."
"Great, I'll go greet Teacher Guan too," Chen Hanxing said with a smile.
They arrived at the second floor. Yu Yueping led the way, and Chen Hanxing followed. Upon entering the office, he was stunned.
"Damn, it's her!"
Guan Shuman, the woman from the new student orientation who had been adjusting equipment in the student activity center, was the one in front of him. At the time, Chen Hanxing had assumed she was just a fellow student, and he had made some flirty remarks. He later realized it was inappropriate and had tried to cover it up by using Li Zhenan's name.
Now, here she was—the last person he expected.
This was awkward!