Chapter 3040: Asking you for a favor

The following afternoon, the calligraphy and painting lecture at the Senior University suddenly had a new instructor.

Xiao Changkun, as the Vice President of the Calligraphy and Painting Association, did not attend; instead, he found a substitute teacher from the association to give the lecture for him.

Han Meiqing had specifically brought the invitation that He Yuanjiang had written for Xiao Changkun, but upon not seeing him at the lecture, she waited until the substitute teacher finished and stepped forward to ask, "Hello, may I ask why your Vice President Xiao didn't come today?"

The substitute teacher replied, "Vice President Xiao has had a lot of matters at the association recently, so he asked me to come and handle the lectures at the Senior University for him."

Han Meiqing asked curiously, "Do you know when he will be coming next time?"

The substitute teacher said, "I estimate he won't be coming for a while, as he gave me the topics for the subsequent courses and asked me to prepare the PPTs to complete the lectures. I expect I will be the substitute for the foreseeable future."

As he spoke, he asked Han Meiqing, "Do you have business with Vice President Xiao?"

Han Meiqing nodded and thanked him, "I'll call him myself. Thank you."

Leaving the classroom, Han Meiqing called Xiao Changkun.

On the other end of the line, Xiao Changkun was idling away in his office at the Calligraphy and Painting Association.

At the Calligraphy and Painting Association, although he held the rank of Executive Vice President—which was effectively the second-in-command—he actually had no real work content.

It wasn't because he was being ostracized, but mainly because his level was truly too low.

Whenever everyone discussed or researched related topics, he would either remain silent, or if he did speak, he would inevitably make a fool of himself.

However, due to President Pei holding him in high esteem, no one dared to truly mock him, and President Pei also knew that Xiao Changkun had basically no level to speak of, so he generally didn't assign him any substantive work.

Ever since Han Meiqing returned to the country and became a guest professor at the Senior University, Xiao Changkun had volunteered to take the lead in collaborating with the Senior University. President Pei felt that the Senior University, while called a university, was actually just a social club for the elderly with no academic nature or hard metrics, so he gave his approval.

During this period, Xiao Changkun had been working enthusiastically at the Senior University. Today, suddenly not going, he found himself immediately at leisure.

Just as he was feeling bored, he suddenly received Han Meiqing's call. His mood instantly turned gloomy; he knew why Han Meiqing was calling him—it must be to deliver the invitation, only to find he wasn't there.

Although he certainly didn't intend to go to the wedding, it was indeed inappropriate not to accept the invitation.

Thus, he feigned a normal tone as he answered the phone and said, "Meiqing, are you looking for me?"

Han Meiqing gave a hum and asked him, "Changkun, you didn't come to the Senior University today. The teacher who substituted for you said you might not come anymore? Is that true?"

Xiao Changkun hurriedly said, "Oh, about that, it's true. It's mainly because the association has had some new developments recently and is quite busy. As the Executive Vice President, it's really not appropriate for me to stay at the Senior University every day. President Pei even called me last night saying the association has too much going on and can't do without me, so I came back to help first. I'll go over again when I'm free."

Han Meiqing knew that what Xiao Changkun said was certainly just an excuse, but she didn't expose him, only asking, "Then when will you be convenient? I'll send the invitation to you?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Changkun hurriedly said, "Oh my, there's no need for you to make a special trip just to deliver an invitation. How about this, just give the invitation to Little Wu—that's the young brother who substituted for me—and let Little Wu bring it to me when he returns to the association."

Seeing that he had said as much, Han Meiqing didn't insist further and said, "Alright then, I'll give the invitation to him."

Xiao Changkun was in a bad mood and didn't want to talk more with Han Meiqing, so he said, "Well, Meiqing, President Pei is calling a meeting, I have to go first. Let's talk later."

"Alright, you go ahead and get busy."

Xiao Changkun hung up the phone, tossed his mobile phone onto the table, and lay back in his office chair, propping his legs up on the desk, feeling exhausted.

Although his worry for Ma Lan had diluted his sadness over Han Meiqing getting married, whenever he calmed down and thought about it, he still felt extremely unhappy.

He even felt in his heart that, rather than this, it would have been better if Han Meiqing hadn't returned at all.

Just as he was feeling depressed, someone knocked on his office door. Before he could respond, the person pushed the door open and entered; it was none other than President Pei.

Seeing him, President Pei said with a chuckle, "Old Xiao, Old Xiao, it's not easy for me to see you, an Executive Vice President. Running to the Senior University all day long, it's been a while since you've been back, hasn't it?"

Xiao Changkun hurriedly took his legs off the desk and said politely, "Oh, President Pei, I've been busy with the topics at the Senior University during this time. But recently, I've arranged for Little Wu to handle that side, so from now on, I'll come to the association every day to listen to your teachings, President Pei."

President Pei hurriedly said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"

As he spoke, he smiled and said, "Changkun, since you're back today, I have a matter I'd like to ask for your help with. If you can help, then do so; if you can't, it doesn't matter."

Xiao Changkun hurriedly said, "President Pei, look at what you're saying. You are my elder brother and my old leader. I am the soldier you led; isn't it just a matter of me striking wherever you point? If I can handle it, I, Xiao Changkun, am duty-bound; if I can't, I, Xiao Changkun, will risk this old frame of mine and go to the battlefield to spar, just to be worthy of your hard work in cultivating me!"

President Pei was very pleased by his flattery and said with a smile, "Changkun, for you to say that, I, this elder brother, truly feel honored. With the relationship between us brothers, I won't use polite words with you. I have a friend who works in a superior department in our province. Recently, he wants to move up a bit, so he wants to invite some key people out for a meal. He pulled strings to book a Gold private room at Tianxiangfu, but the person he found was truly unreliable. The Gold private room was promised, but now that it's almost time for dinner tonight, he was notified that the Gold private room wasn't booked, and he can only go to a Silver private room. It made my friend very depressed. It just so happens he invited me to the banquet, so I thought that since you have a good relationship with Master Hong Wu, you could see if you could arrange a better private room. Of course, it would be even better if you could get a discount on the meal. My friend doesn't have much money; although it's not to the point where he can't afford the consumption, it still hurts a bit."

Private rooms at Tianxiangfu have always been difficult to book; many times, they would rather leave them empty than open them to ordinary people.

This isn't because Hong Wu doesn't want to make money, but mainly because his original intention in opening Tianxiangfu wasn't for money, but for status and social networking.

When he was struggling in society back in the day, he realized that many socialites and big figures care most about face. Drinking, eating, and daily consumption are all aimed at being the best and most expensive. Moreover, the social circles of high-end individuals value privacy and stratification very highly. While ensuring top-tier environment, top-tier dishes, and top-tier service, Tianxiangfu must also ensure the quality of its clientele is top-tier.

Just like those big brothers in the underworld, they would never go to the restaurants their underlings frequent, and the restaurants they frequent, their underlings wouldn't dare to go to casually even if they had the money, because once they consume at a place their boss likes, it would inevitably be a bit of an overstep.

Therefore, Tianxiangfu has always had strict threshold restrictions. When there are no guests, they would rather leave them empty than let in guests who aren't of sufficient grade.

Only in this way can they ensure Tianxiangfu's unique high-profile status among Jin Ling's restaurants.

And the setting of Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze private rooms has the same effect as airline cabin classes and membership levels.

Precisely because Hong Wu has always insisted on Tianxiangfu's high threshold, it remains the highest-grade restaurant in Jin Ling to this day, without exception.

Upon hearing the reason President Pei gave, Xiao Changkun couldn't help but ask with some confusion, "If that person couldn't book a Gold private room, why did he agree to this matter? Isn't this cheating people?"

President Pei gave a bitter smile, "There are plenty of such birds in society now. Damn it, without the diamond drill, they still insist on taking on the porcelain work. Their main strategy is to kill the wrong ones rather than let any go; agree first and then find a way. If it works, they make money; if it doesn't, they have no loss."

As he spoke, President Pei added, "Changkun, you must be careful of those people who make casual promises in the future. I had a friend before, damn it, he found someone to handle his son's household registration in a big city, and met an idiot who said it could be done for one million. As a result, he waited a year and it wasn't done. In the end, when he asked for a refund, the guy kept stalling. My friend finally wanted to call the police, and the other party hurriedly gave him the million."

Xiao Changkun subconsciously said, "Getting the million back is not bad."

President Pei cursed, "Damn it, this kind of idiot is the most hateful. He actually had no connections at all, and didn't intend to help handle this matter. He just wanted to take someone's million as an interest-free loan to use. If someone urged him, he would use the excuse that he was working on connections and it would land soon, using various reasons to drag it out. If the other party really couldn't wait any longer, he would return the money. Your matter was delayed for a whole year, and a year's interest went down the drain, yet you have no way to call the police to arrest him, you can only swallow this bitter pill."

Speaking of this, President Pei added, "This kind of son of a bitch generally casts a wide net, not only boasting but also refusing no one. Taking a million from this one, a million from that one, getting thirty or fifty million in hand, just lying there collecting interest, he makes a million or so a year."

Xiao Changkun asked curiously, "President Pei, how do you know so clearly? Did you fall for this trick too?"

President Pei sighed, "I won't hide it from you, Brother Changkun. My son studied at a diploma mill abroad for a few years, and when he came back to try for talent introduction in a big city, they didn't recognize it. I've been working on my son's household registration for two or three years, and I've stepped on every kind of pit. Damn it, I've met every kind of monster and demon, but I just haven't found a truly reliable connection."

As he spoke, President Pei waved his hand, "Oh my, let's not mention this. Changkun, see if you can help with a favor and solve the matter of a Gold private room at Tianxiangfu?"

Seeing that he only wanted a Gold private room, Xiao Changkun immediately patted his chest and promised, "Oh my, President Pei, this is a small matter. I'll have my son-in-law say a word to Master Hong Wu, and it should be no problem!" ===== CHAPTER 3041 =====