Chapter 18: Li Shiqi
Zhou Yuwen was sowhat worried that the number of people getting cards the next day wouldn't reach one hundred. After all, his contract with the telecom office required that he sign up at least one hundred people in a single day, with a total exceeding one thousand. Although Zhou Yuwen had approached many during the freshn orientation, everyone knew that the least reliable people were college students, who might reconsider and decide against getting the card.
So when Li Shiqi said she had thirty people wanting to get cards, Zhou Yuwen was genuinely surprised. This was a big order and needed special attention. He decided to call Li Shiqi right away.
At that mont, Li Shiqi had just finished her shower and was wearing a simple nightgown, her hair still wet. She was happily organizing the list of people interested in getting cards at her small desk.
In high school, Li Shiqi was not only beautiful but also a top student, with many boys secretly admiring her. However, she always gave off a cold, unapproachable vibe. Zhou Yuwen rembered her clearly, especially on the first day of their first year. The classroom was noisy with students from different middle schools eting for the first ti, chatting away excitedly. But there was Li Shiqi, sitting quietly, focused on her high school howork.
Zhou Yuwen, curious, had peeked at her work and was stunned to see she was doing second-year high school math problems. Back then, he thought, "This girl is scary!" Most students were just entering high school, yet she was already doing advanced problems.
Knowing that Li Shiqi later beca a diplomat didn't surprise Zhou Yuwen. She had always been a diligent and driven student. Even during cleaning days or after exams, while others relaxed, she continued studying. Zhou Yuwen's impression of her was as a relentless scholar, never connecting her with selling thirty phone cards.
What Zhou Yuwen didn’t know was that Li Shiqi ca from a single-parent family. Her father left when she was very young, and her mother remarried a bald man who ran a mahjong parlor. Her childhood was gloomy, devoid of any brightness. Thus, she knew that studying hard was her only way out. She didn’t waste a single mont, hoping to get into a good university and leave her depressing family behind.
And she succeeded. The day she arrived in Jinling, carrying her bags, she felt the sunlight was especially bright and the air particularly fresh. She knew this was the start of her new life, free from her old, oppressive ho.
Starting a new life often involves money. Her mother had no status in the new family, and Li Shiqi was seen as a burden, with her education costs begrudgingly t. She left ho with just 600 yuan from her mother. To survive in the city, she needed to make money.
When Zhou Yuwen's offer to sell cards appeared in the class group chat, promising a 20 yuan commission per card, she saw an opportunity. She started selling cards aggressively in her class and even posted on university forums, offering a slightly lower price to attract buyers.
"Why is it cheaper than the school's price? Are you a scamr?" so questioned.
Being honest and transparent, Li Shiqi posted her student ID with her photo on the forums, ensuring potential custors she was legitimate. Her picture, showing her clean and beautiful appearance, drew attention.
"Wow, so pretty! Is this real?"
In 2013, the internet wasn’t as cynical as it later beca, and people often took online posts at face value. Her photo attracted a lot of male students, who spread the word.
"Dude, check out this beauty!"
"Is she really a high-achieving student from Jinling University?"
"She looks so pure. Should we get our cards from her? It’s cheaper than the school."
"Sure, let's go see her in person. It's worth it."
Similar conversations happened in male dorms across the university town. Thirty people were just the beginning. Many were still ssaging her, asking if the 145-yuan cards were legit.
Li Shiqi was thrilled, knowing she could make a good commission. If thirty people signed up, she’d earn 450 yuan, plus Zhou Yuwen’s bonus of 200 yuan, totaling 650 yuan. She didn’t know Zhou Yuwen well from high school, but after this deal, she felt he was a good guy.
Zhou Yuwen called her. Respectful and feeling like she worked under him now, she answered quickly.
"Hello, Zhou Yuwen?"
Her sweet voice caught the attention of Chang Hao and Li Qiang, who looked like alert rabbits, their ears perking up.
"A girl! With a sweet voice!" they thought.
Zhou Yuwen glanced at them, slightly annoyed, and walked out to the hallway to take the call. He wanted to know how she managed to get thirty people to sign up so quickly. Hesitant to reveal her clever marketing strategy, Li Shiqi coyly asked if there were any rewards for new sales ideas.
Zhou Yuwen, surprised by her cunning side, joked, "How about I treat you to dinner?"
After a pause, she shyly asked, "Can I get cash instead?"
"???" Zhou Yuwen was taken aback by her directness.
"You’re the first to turn down a dinner with !" he thought.
Amused, Zhou Yuwen offered, "How about another 200 yuan if your new thod proves effective?"
Excitedly, Li Shiqi shared her strategy, feeling proud.
Listening, Zhou Yuwen realized the internet age gave pretty girls a huge advantage. Her thod of undercutting other campus card agents might cause issues, but he didn’t mind as long as it worked.
"Didn’t you guys think of this?" she asked, proud of her ingenuity.
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