Chapter 35: Chinese Cigarettes Are a Bit Mild

On the morning of the third day, Yang Tianxing still came uninvited, though this time he brought breakfast for Sun Nan.

The breakfast here contained a sense of probing; if Sun Nan had refused this meal, it would have meant there was still a long way to go.

Fortunately, Sun Nan accepted the breakfast: "Then I won't stand on ceremony. How much is this meal? I'll give it to you in a bit."

Yang Tianxing did not put on a show of false modesty either; if he wanted to buy Sun Nan off with a single breakfast, then his own narrow-mindedness would be about the same as Yi Min's. Sun Nan wouldn't care about these few dollars; what he cared about was an attitude of respect.

In the morning, Yang Tianxing continued to organize the files. Just before lunch, a heavy rain suddenly started outside. Sun Nan had likely taken his umbrella home, and he frowned as he looked at the pouring rain outside the window.

Seeing this, Yang Tianxing pretended to go to the restroom but actually ran back to the dormitory through the heavy rain to fetch an umbrella. When Sun Nan saw Yang Tianxing, whose clothes and pants were almost soaked through, and the umbrella in his hand, he understood what had happened and, for the first time, invited Yang Tianxing to brew some tea for himself.

By the afternoon, Yang Tianxing had almost finished organizing the filing cabinet. Sun Nan even checked it once and discovered that these files were not only clearly categorized by year but also specifically labeled, with the types "Outgoing Documents" and "Incoming Documents" clearly written, making them easy to look up at a glance.

Sun Nan usually paid little attention to the cluttered filing cabinet, but seeing it so organized, his mood improved significantly, and he tossed another cigarette to Yang Tianxing.

Smoking the cigarette, Yang Tianxing picked up a file and asked, "Secretary Sun, I see there's a document here encouraging college students to start businesses. I didn't expect the school to have such a good policy."

Sun Nan took it, looked at it, and said dismissively, "It's just for show for the higher-ups. The school doesn't have much in the way of resources to support student entrepreneurship; at most, they just let out those few empty rooms on the ground floor of the teaching building."

"That's a good location, with people coming and going," Yang Tianxing said.

Sun Nan shook his head: "College students nowadays are all aiming for IPOs, reaching for the stars; how could they look at such things?"

Yang Tianxing nodded without speaking. This piece of information was actually quite critical; there were clear document regulations and actual resource support.

As for those few abandoned empty classrooms, the level of support would naturally be very small at the beginning when there were no results, but once they tasted the benefits, the profit-seeking nature would make the school take the initiative to tilt resources in this direction.

At five-thirty, just before getting off work, Yang Tianxing was preparing to return to his dormitory when Sun Nan suddenly called out to him: "You don't need to come tomorrow. By the way, have Liu Jiaoyue from your class fill out this form."

Yang Tianxing took it and looked: "Registration Form for Financial Aid Eligibility for Impoverished Students of Chang'an Finance College."

"Secretary Sun..."

Yang Tianxing was actually quite surprised; he thought it would take at least a week, but he hadn't expected to get it in three days.

"I spoke with Old Xie last night. Liu Jiaoyue's situation is basically verified. Hand it to me after the form is filled out. If the timing works out, the funds can arrive next week," Sun Nan said with a smile.

Yang Tianxing remembered one thing: "Do we still need to submit the supporting documents from Liu Jiaoyue's hometown government?"

"No need."

Sun Nan waved his hand: "These are just auxiliary materials. As long as I know whether it's true or false, that's enough, and no one will gossip about it."

These reasons that had once blocked He Yulin no longer existed now.

In fact, these financial aid funds could be given to any impoverished student; Sun Nan couldn't pocket them himself anyway. Since they couldn't go into his own pocket, they were naturally distributed according to the closeness of relationships.

Therefore, He Yulin said Sun Nan didn't understand the system, and Yang Tianxing said He Yulin didn't understand human relationships and worldly wisdom.

On the morning of the fourth day, Yang Tianxing still appeared in Sun Nan's office on time.

"Didn't I tell you that you don't need to come over? Did something go wrong with filling out the form?" Sun Nan asked curiously.

"Neither."

Yang Tianxing said with a smile: "I've just gotten used to walking over to Secretary Sun's place; I can't even control these legs of mine."

"Hahaha."

Even though he knew Yang Tianxing was saying nice things, Sun Nan still laughed very happily, then said: "How about this, you find time to come once a month to help me organize the files; you really don't need to come at other times."

Hearing Sun Nan say this, Yang Tianxing prepared to pause his "work" at the Youth League Committee. He couldn't stop coming immediately after getting the "Registration Form for Financial Aid Eligibility for Impoverished Students," as that would be too utilitarian and look too ugly.

If he weren't going to interact with them in the future, that would be one thing, but it was clear that Yang Tianxing would still need to rely on the Youth League Committee for many things later.

This incense still had to be kept burning.

In the afternoon, Yang Tianxing finally went to class. The class monitor, Yang, who had been away for three days, returned to the classroom, prompting his roommates in 312 to crowd around him to claim credit.

"Number Two, I helped you answer the roll call today."

"Brother Yang, I helped you answer the roll call yesterday."

"Monitor, I helped you answer the roll call the day before yesterday."

They all knew Yang Tianxing had been busy with business these past few days, but the "service fee" for answering the roll call could not be skipped.

Yang Tianxing naturally couldn't let them have their way. He lifted his chin, lit a cigarette, looked around, and said: "The class is planning to hold a social event for the boys and girls recently."

As soon as these words came out, the attention of several single guys was immediately diverted.

"He Yulin suggested eating and singing," Yang Tianxing continued.

Fu Yiming chuckled: "That tomboy He Yulin actually has times when she does good deeds."

"But I vetoed it."

Yang Tianxing dropped this line.

Yi Min got anxious as soon as he heard it: "Brother Yang, you're confused. Why did you veto it?"

The posturing youth Yi Min had been constantly thinking about pursuing Deng Yidi, and now that there was finally this excellent opportunity, it had actually been vetoed by Yang Tianxing.

Yang Tianxing gave a contemptuous hum: "That's why I say you're all too young. Don't even think about what effect eating and singing can have. At most, you'll toast a glass, recognize a face—what kind of progress can you make?"

The group thought about it and realized he was right; they had been too excited just now and overlooked this point.

"Second Brother, if you have a good method, bring it out quickly. Don't keep us in suspense."

Yang Tianxing smiled: "The university activity center shows movies every Friday night. Tickets are 3 dollars each, which isn't expensive. I plan to use the class fund to buy 50 tickets, one for everyone in the class, and have the boys and girls sit mixed together. That's the only way it'll be fun."

"Brilliant!"

As soon as Yang Tianxing finished speaking, Yi Min couldn't help but shout. If it were like this, Yang Tianxing could completely arrange for himself and Deng Yidi to sit together.

In a pitch-black movie theater, with boys and girls sitting mixed together, this was indeed much better than eating and singing.

The others gradually reacted as well, and their eyes began to shine.

Yi Min was still the most excited, and he immediately said: "Brother Yang, I think..."

"Hey, why is there no cigarette left?"

Yang Tianxing interrupted: "Without this cigarette to refresh my mind, my train of thought won't keep up. What if the seating allocation is wrong, and I accidentally assign Liu Lei and Deng Yidi together..."

Yi Min reacted quickly: "I'll go downstairs to buy cigarettes right now. Brother Yang, please wait a moment. You must keep your mind clear."

The kid turned and ran toward the small shop, but Yang Tianxing called out to stop him from behind.

"Old Six, don't buy Zhonghua; that cigarette is too mild, I'm not used to smoking it."

Yi Min's mouth twitched, and only then did he manage to squeeze out a smile: "You should try it more if you're not used to it; I'll go buy a pack right now."