Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

Chapter 91 Director Ma

Chapter 92 Director Ma

Qian Cheng looked at her: "And you?"

Zhang Mingxi said, "Wherever you are, I will be there."

Qian Cheng felt a surge of warmth in his heart and reached out to hold her hand.

Zhang Mingxi blushed slightly but didn't dodge.

The two sat there without saying a word.

After a while, Zhang Mingxi suddenly said, "Qian Cheng, we need to study hard."

Qian Cheng said, "Yes, read it carefully."

As the sun slowly veered westward, the horizon turned a touch of red.

They stood up and walked towards the cafeteria.

I ran into a few classmates on the way; some I knew, some I didn't. A girl greeted Zhang Mingxi; she was from her dorm, surnamed Zhou, and from Shenyang.

Zhou glanced at Qian Cheng and asked with a smile, "Mingxi, is this your boyfriend?"

Zhang Mingxi blushed instantly, lowered her head, and remained silent.

Qian Cheng readily agreed, saying, "Yes, she's my girlfriend."

Zhou smiled and said, "That's great, we're from the same school, it's convenient."

After saying that, he waved and left.

Zhang Mingxi looked at Qian Cheng and whispered, "Why did you admit it?"

Qian Cheng said, "That's exactly what it is, what's there to deny?"

Zhang Mingxi smiled with her lips pursed, and didn't say anything more.

After we finished eating, it was getting dark.

Qian Cheng escorted Zhang Mingxi back to her dormitory.

Zhang Mingxi stopped downstairs at the girls' dormitory.

She looked at Qian Cheng and said, "You have class in the first period tomorrow, don't forget."

Qian Cheng said, "I can't forget you either."

Zhang Mingxi nodded, turned around and went inside.

Qian Cheng stood there, watching her figure disappear into the corridor, before turning around and walking back.

Back in the dorm, the three were playing cards. Seeing him return, Wang Dabao greeted him.

"Qian Cheng, come on, let's play a couple of rounds."

Qian Cheng waved his hand: "You guys play, I'll read."

He sat on the bed, took out his textbook, and opened it.

It was dark outside, but the lights were on in the dormitory.

As the days went by, Qian Cheng gradually adapted to university life.

Every day, I went to class, ate, read, and spent time with Zhang Mingxi—a very regular routine. I also got to know the three guys in the dorm well. Wang Dabao was talkative and always laughing and joking; Li Jianguo loved reading and was always engrossed in a novel; Zhao Tiezhu was quiet but honest and efficient.

Qian Cheng got along well with them, occasionally playing cards and chatting together.

But Qian Cheng had something else on his mind.

He can't stay idle.

In the past six months, from sprouting bean sprouts to collecting wild vegetables, from traveling to the county to taking the college entrance exam, he has gotten used to being busy. Now, sitting in the classroom listening to lectures every day, he always feels like he doesn't know what to do with his hands and feet.

He wondered if he could do something at the university.

These days, college students receive a stipend of 17.5 yuan a month, enough to eat, but it's hard to save money. Qian Cheng still has some savings, but living off them isn't a solution.

He needs to find a way.

He had no classes that afternoon, so he went to the city's free market.

The free market was near the train station, a street lined with stalls on both sides. They sold vegetables, grains, daily necessities—you name it. It was crowded and noisy.

Qian Cheng looked around and got a sense of what was going on.

The city is about the same as the county: fewer vegetables, higher prices. Fresh vegetables, in particular, are a rare treat. He stood in front of a vegetable stall for a while, watching people buy vegetables. A bunch of spinach cost 15 cents. A pound of chives cost 20 cents. Much more expensive than in the county.

He then went to look at the eggs; they cost 40 cents a pound, 5 cents more expensive than in the county.

Qian Cheng was thinking that if he could buy vegetables and eggs from the village and sell them in the city, he could make a lot of money from the price difference.

The problem is, he's currently studying and doesn't have time to run around every day.

Besides, it's over 100 li (about 50 kilometers) from the city back to the village, which is inconvenient.

He thought about it and decided to start with something small.

The school has a cafeteria that serves three meals a day to thousands of students. The vegetables in the cafeteria are sourced from a vegetable market; in winter, it's cabbage and radishes, and in summer, it's eggplant and green beans—nothing fresh.

If we could connect with the canteen and get some fresh vegetables from the village to be delivered, that should work.

Qian Cheng made up his mind and began to pay attention to things in the cafeteria.

The cafeteria is located on the east side of the campus. It's a large building with several windows inside. There are stalls selling rice, vegetables, and soup, and the lines are always packed with people.

Qian Cheng observed for a few days and figured out the rules of the cafeteria. The cafeteria manager's surname was Ma, he was in his forties, chubby, and always wore a white coat and wandered around inside.

That noon, after finishing his meal, Qian Cheng didn't leave but waited at the entrance of the cafeteria.

When Director Ma came out, he went to greet him.

"Director Ma, may I trouble you for a moment? There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Director Ma looked at him and asked, "Who are you?"

Qian Cheng said, "I am a freshman in the mathematics department, and my name is Qian Cheng."

Director Ma nodded: "What is it?"

Qian Cheng said, "Director Ma, I come from the countryside. There are fresh vegetables back home. Eggs and wild vegetables are cheaper there than in the city. I was thinking, could we supply some to the canteen?"

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Director Ma paused for a moment, then looked him up and down.

"You? Supply the cafeteria?"

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Qian Cheng nodded: "Yes. I've done this before at home, dealing with the canteens at the mines in the county. The vegetables are fresh, the prices are fair, and they pay on the same day they're delivered."

Director Ma thought for a moment and said, "The vegetables in the canteen are all sourced from the vegetable market through legitimate channels. We dare not accept private supplies for fear of causing trouble."

Qian Cheng said, "Director Ma, I understand. It's not a private business; it's a sideline operation run by our production team. I can get the team to issue a certificate, so it's a collective-to-collective arrangement, which is compliant and legal."

Director Ma looked at him, his expression changing slightly.

"You seem to know everything about this."

Qian Cheng laughed: "I've done it before, I know a bit."

Director Ma thought for a moment and said, "Okay, you go back first, I'll think about it. I'll let you know in a few days."

Qian Cheng nodded: "Okay, thank you, Director Ma."

A few days later, Director Ma really came to see him.

That afternoon, Qian Cheng was reading in his dormitory when someone knocked on the door. When he opened it, he saw Director Ma.

"Qian Cheng, are you free? I need to talk to you about something."

Qian Cheng quickly ushered him in.

Director Ma sat down and got straight to the point: "I've reported your matter to the General Affairs Department. The leader said that if we can really get some fresh vegetables, we can give it a try. But we need to check the goods first, and the price has to be right."

Qian Cheng was delighted and said, "Okay, Director Ma, I'll write back right away and have my brother collect some vegetables and send them over."

Director Ma nodded: "We need to hurry, because it will get cold in a few days and there will be less vegetables."

Qian Cheng said, "Don't worry, it will arrive in three days."

After Director Ma left, Qian Cheng immediately wrote a letter to Qian Lu.

"Brother, I've contacted a canteen in the city. They need fresh vegetables. Get some good vegetables, eggs are fine too, and send them over quickly. The more the better, the price is higher than in the county."

The letter was sent, and Qian Cheng began to wait.

Four days later, Qian Lu arrived.

He carried two large sacks on his back, looking travel-worn, his face tanned dark red.

Qian Cheng was taken aback when he saw him: "Brother, why did you come in person?"

Qian Lu put down the sack and wiped his sweat: "I'm worried that someone else might not understand how to deliver it."

Qian Cheng looked at him, and his heart warmed.

"Brother, thank you for your hard work."

Qian Lu waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, it's what I should do."

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