“Xiao Fen, this is Miss Han Yu Fang, the tutor I've hired for you. She's a high-achiever from Hong Kong University.”
Inside the Chen's Convenience Store, Zheng Bai Cheng introduced a Hong Kong University student to Xiao Fen. She would be Xiao Fen's private tutor, specializing in business, finance, and management.
Xiao Fen pulled Zheng Bai Cheng aside and said, “Cheng Ge, are you serious? This tutor must be very expensive, right? I don't have any money.”
“What are you talking about? It’s not that much, only five thousand Hong Kong dollars. I'm truly cultivating you as a future manager. We don’t have the money now, but when we do, I will hire professors to teach you.”
“Ah, that much? It’s so expensive! Sigh... It seems like you're so good to me that I’ll have to sell myself to you in the future to pay you back.” Xiao Fen said helplessly, looking like she was about to be executed.
Zheng Bai Cheng laughed, "What are you saying? That’s so harsh. Xiao Hua will think I’m going to do something to you. It’s done, the money’s been spent, and the rest is up to you.”
“Excuse me, Miss Han, this is Xiao Hua… and these three, I'll leave them in your care from now on.”
“Okay, Zheng Sheng. I will take good care of all three of them.”
Through Li Cheng Long’s connections, Zheng Bai Cheng found Han Yu Fang to teach Xiao Fen and the others to become managers. In the future, he wanted to build up the retail business, turn it into a cash cow, and then take it public.
To go public, you need talent. Xiao Fen, Xiao Hua, and the others had initially been attending school, but some people prevent you from studying.
Xiao Hua was also listening as they checked the accounts. Since she became Zheng Bai Cheng’s fiancée, checking the accounts naturally fell onto her shoulders. Whether she would favor herself, Zheng Bai Cheng didn’t care, as long as the profits weren’t less than last month.
After arranging the store’s affairs, Zheng Bai Cheng helped out there. He asked Han Yu Fang to teach them for a longer time and then went back to his old job.
“Oh, A Cheng, you’re back.”
“Yes, I came to handle something.”
“Give me a bag of salt.”
“Here you go, five cents, thank you!”
“A Cheng, you’re still the same, stick with it.”
After seeing off the neighbor, Zheng Bai Cheng greeted several customers who were familiar with him. After some pleasantries, they bought their items and left. Soon, Li Cheng Long came over, shouting from afar: “A Cheng.” He sounded very enthusiastic.
“Long Ge, come, come, have a hot drink.”
He poured a cup of hot tea from his thermos, which was very convenient.
“Thanks, A Cheng. You said you had something to tell me, what is it?”
Zheng Bai Cheng smiled, “Nothing major. I'm getting engaged to Xiao Hua. After the New Year, I’ll take her on a trip.”
“Oh, oh… I see, I see. That’s good news.”
“Here are the manuscripts. Take a look. Besides “Turning Over the River and Sea,” there are also several of my short sci-fi stories. You can help me publish them.”
This was what Zheng Bai Cheng wanted to do.
“Okay, let me have a look.”
Li Cheng Long found a chair, sat down, and read carefully. He was so absorbed that he didn't notice the people from City Daily coming over, but they hadn't noticed Li Cheng Long either.
The two started talking. It was about what to do after “Legend of the Great Tang Twin Dragons” ended. They wanted another book and had offered 220 Hong Kong dollars per thousand words, and they could pay upfront.
“It’s not that I don’t want to write. After the New Year, I’m going to Europe with my fiancée. I might not have enough time.”
“No problem, Zheng Sheng. As long as you’re willing to write, you can send it over by mail. We welcome you very much.”
Zheng Bai Cheng thought for a moment, then looked at Xiao Hua, who was listening attentively to the lesson. He suddenly had an idea. He said, “Does your newspaper have any stenographers? We can do this…”
“Oh, that’s a good idea, that’s a good idea.”
“Legend of the Great Tang Twin Dragons” was finally finished with the efforts of this engaged couple. “Turning Over the River and Sea” would take some time.
Two hours later, Li Cheng Long finally looked up from the short stories. He didn’t know that while he was absorbed, City Daily had gotten there first and pre-ordered a novel from Zheng Bai Cheng.
“A Cheng, our newspaper, Shang Bao, will publish these stories, also at 220 Hong Kong dollars per thousand words. What do you think?”
“Okay, Long Ge, you’re generous, thanks in advance.”
Li Cheng Long immediately picked up the phone and called his uncle. Their pricing was different from other professions. They often had to stay at the newspaper office.
“Since you like them, it means the quality must be good. You make the decision.” Li Gong Ru simply replied to Li Cheng Long, because Li Cheng Long’s father owned half of the newspaper company.
Li Cheng Long successfully signed a contract with Zheng Bai Cheng. He took the manuscripts of the stories.
“A Cheng, I was in a hurry when I came here, so I didn’t bring enough checks. I’ll bring them back when I return.”
“It’s fine, Long Ge, I trust you.” Zheng Bai Cheng thought of something else and said, “Long Ge, I need to apply for a passport to travel overseas. What procedures do I need to follow? I’m going to Europe and maybe North America.”
“I’ll connect you with a few lawyer friends when I get back. Call me tomorrow afternoon.”
After Li Gong Ru got the new short sci-fi stories, he read them carefully and said, “Novel, and the writing is excellent. This 220 Hong Kong dollars per thousand words is actually us earning money. Short stories are usually more expensive. A Long, I was worried that you were too young and lacked experience. Now it seems like you're really a clever person but appear to be stupid. Hahahaha… our Li family has someone who can take over in the future.”
The uncle and nephew chatted about other things. They couldn't stop praising Zheng Bai Cheng. There was only one writer in Hong Kong who was as prolific as him, but there was only one writer as prolific as him with such high quality. That prolific writer was Ni Kuang, one of the Four Great Talents of Hong Kong.
“In the future, if we can fulfill the other party's requirements, we will do our best. This guy is even more valuable than Ni Kuang as a commercial novelist.”
The Zheng Bai Cheng who was being praised by them was busy doing odd jobs at the convenience store, almost like being a rare animal on display, causing him to flee with Xiao Hua in the end.
“Sigh, it’s troublesome being too popular!”
“Hee hee… Cheng Ge, if the gangsters knew you were like this, they would stab you with knives.”
Back home, Zheng Bai Cheng sighed, feeling that fame had its own problems.