After both parties signed the agreement, Wang Hengli arranged for his company's salesperson to connect with Fang Bai, who left that same day with one hundred pieces of raw material and processing blueprints.
The amount of goods pulled was always determined by sales orders; it wasn't a matter of taking as much as one pleased.
Of course, many companies have unregulated systems, and contract processing often doesn't involve signing agreements; a verbal agreement between the two parties suffices.
Transportation was handled by Hengli Company. Fang Bai handed the driver a pack of cigarettes and told him to come pick up the goods in four days without further notification.
The driver, after receiving the cigarettes, cheerfully helped unload the goods.
One hundred pieces of raw material were unloaded by a few people in just a few minutes.
Jiayu Processing Factory still had contract orders from two other factories that needed two more days to complete. Qin Donghai planned to finish the previously accepted orders before starting on Hengli Company's orders.
Fang Bai watched the driver leave and instructed his father-in-law, "Boss Qin, this batch of orders relies on you. It wasn't easy for me to get this order, so please ensure the quality."
Qin Donghai politely shook Fang Bai's hand, "Naturally, naturally, Mr. Fang, you can rest assured. My processing factory thrives on quality."
"Um, I wonder if Mr. Fang has time tonight? I'd like to treat you to a simple meal," Qin Donghai paused, then continued.
One more friend means one more path. He naturally wouldn't dare to neglect any business, so he wanted to host Fang Bai.
"Let's talk after we finish these five hundred pieces and get paid. I'll look for orders from other manufacturers; you'll need to prepare to increase your workforce." Fang Bai gave a wry smile and declined, mainly because he was busy recently.
Moreover, he knew his own alcohol tolerance. When drunk, he tended to blurt things out. The scene of his father-in-law chasing him down three streets in his previous life was still vivid.
In fact, Fang Bai knew then that he was clearly too drunk to run fast, stumbling as he walked, and his father-in-law, who could clearly catch him, just held back, only wanting to scold him and vent some frustration. After all, they had cooperated for so long; a real fight would have been awkward.
Qin Donghai didn't know at what processing price Fang Bai obtained the order, who he dealt with, or how much in benefits he gave to whom. He also didn't know Fang Bai's relationship with Hengli Company. He generally wouldn't privately seek out Wang Hengli for a contract; such behavior would be scorned.
Regardless of whether they were small workshops or large manufacturers, bosses in Wen City valued credit highly, otherwise they couldn't survive in the industry.
Fang Bai letting him know which company the order came from was actually a sign of trust. Qin Donghai wouldn't do anything untrustworthy.
In reality, Fang Bai wasn't worried about his father-in-law breaking the contract and taking orders himself. If it were another boss, he wouldn't let them know which factory he was getting orders from; he would use his own driver and vehicle to transport the goods.
After handling the contract processing, Fang Bai returned to his rented room to study.
These past two days spent on contract processing had cost him a lot of time. Tomorrow, he had to go back to school to summarize the problems he hadn't understood recently and ask his teachers for guidance.
The next morning,
Classmates were somewhat surprised to see Fang Bai, who often missed classes, actually show up at school. They were curious about what he had been doing recently that kept him from attending classes.
"Fang Bai, you're really amazing. You come and go as you please. Even the homeroom teacher said not to bother with you." Wang Dakai, his deskmate, gave him a thumbs-up, his eyes full of admiration.
"Hehe, some family matters held me up. Let's read." After Fang Bai finished speaking, he lowered his head and continued reading.
Speak less, do more, and seize every minute to review.
After being reborn, he didn't want to waste a single second.
In his previous life, because both his parents were struggling farmers who spent their entire lives worrying about food and clothing, unable to give him anything else, some things one only understands through personal experience.
For some people, by the time they understand, it's already too late. They're older, and their energy, physical strength, and learning ability can't keep up.
The biggest difference between rich and poor is that the rich have clear goals and a lot of trial-and-error capital, while the poor spend their entire lives lost within their own class, never seeing what they truly want.
Fang Bai matured early, but his life was too difficult.
After two morning classes, during eye exercises, the homeroom teacher, Zhan Feng, knew Fang Bai was at school and asked him to come to her office.
Some classmates gloated, thinking Fang Bai was in trouble. Missing so many days of school, no matter how capable, he couldn't get away with that, could he?
Fang Bai walked with his hands behind his back, carrying his notebook of questions, and left the classroom.
Some classmates, seeing his mature way of walking, like a school leader, couldn't help but want to kick him a few times.
Actually, this was somewhat unfair to Fang Bai. After all, he had struggled in society for decades in his previous life, and it had become an unconscious habit.
A moment later, Fang Bai arrived at Zhan Feng's office. He first greeted the other teachers with a smile, then politely greeted his homeroom teacher, "Hello, homeroom teacher. You have some dark circles under your eyes. You should really stay up less late grading homework."
"Haha, it's fine, this is normal work. Thank you for your concern."
Zhan Feng was very happy to hear Fang Bai say this and see her colleagues looking at her more.
Working diligently also needed to be known by colleagues and leaders.
Besides, she wasn't grading homework last night; she was busy with family matters.
She knew Fang Bai was articulate, but she hadn't expected his emotional intelligence to be so high. She really liked students like him.
She moved a chair for Fang Bai to sit down. After he sat, she said gently, "Fang Bai, I needed to see you about something. There will be a monthly exam at the end of this month to test the scores of third-year and repeat students. I hope you can participate."
"No problem, I will participate. Thank you for the notification, teacher."
Fang Bai agreed without much hesitation. Before the college entrance exam, his focus was on studying.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go back to the classroom."
"Teacher, I happen to have a few questions I'd like to ask you."
Zhan Feng was slightly surprised. She liked students who actively asked teachers questions the most, and she smiled, "Oh, you may."
Fang Bai took out his notebook and placed it on her desk: "It's these few questions that have me a bit confused."
Zhan Feng saw that Fang Bai's notebook contained many questions from various subjects, indicating that he hadn't forgotten to study even when he was away. She felt relieved.
The questions Fang Bai asked were not simple, and Zhan Feng had to put in some effort to explain them clearly.
For example, Fang Bai couldn't distinguish between the English words "incident" and "accident." If there had been a categorized summary handbook like in later generations, he could have looked it up instantly. Now, he could only ask the teacher.
It had only been a little over a decade since the resumption of the college entrance examination, and study materials were scarce. Fang Bai bought everything he could. He had high reading efficiency. Having lived for decades, his social experience was rich, and his comprehension of text was strong, making Chinese reading comprehension much easier.
For other subjects, living a few more decades didn't bring him much advantage.
But he understood one principle for mastering basic knowledge: categorize and summarize!
For materials he didn't have, he could only rely on himself.
After the homeroom teacher explained everything, Fang Bai felt a sudden enlightenment.
As the third class was about to begin, Fang Bai left the office, satisfied.
When Fang Bai entered the classroom with a slight smile, it disappointed some classmates who didn't think highly of him. It seemed the homeroom teacher hadn't reprimanded him after all.
The third class was English.
Zhan Feng stood on the podium and said directly, "Just now, Fang Bai asked me quite a few questions, which reminded me that they are key points for the exam. I'll summarize and explain them again, so everyone, please take notes."
Upon hearing this, the classmates were slightly surprised: the homeroom teacher didn't call Fang Bai to punish him, but to give him special tutoring!
Could Fang Bai be the principal's relative?
Some classmates thought so. Otherwise, how could he take leave whenever he wanted, and the homeroom teacher even tutored him privately?
Wang Dakai also glanced at Fang Bai, curious if he had a powerful background. Why hadn't he noticed it before?
Fang Bai quietly read his book and listened to the lecture, not paying much attention to his classmates' gazes.
He had to master English; it was something he would definitely need in the future.
In those days, the college entrance English exam didn't test listening comprehension; rote memorization was enough. He also had to memorize daily expressions.
After the fourth period ended, the school broadcast played the song "Childhood." Students from all grades took out their lunchboxes from their drawers and clanged their way out of the classrooms, running towards the school cafeteria.
Zhan Feng also didn't dare to delay the students' mealtime and dismissed class on time.
Fang Bai watched his classmates rush out of the classroom with their lunchboxes and followed them out. After running a couple of steps, he realized he didn't have a meal card or a lunchbox.
"Forget it, I'll eat outside. I really can't get used to the cafeteria food."
His deskmate, Wang Dakai, saw Fang Bai walk back into the classroom instead of continuing to rush out. He turned around curiously and asked, "Fang Bai, aren't you eating?"
"You go ahead, don't wait for me."
"Oh, you don't have a meal card, do you? How about I swipe mine? I'll treat you. The school has public lunchboxes, but they're a bit unhygienic. If you don't mind, we can share a lunchbox. Anyway, just swipe my meal card."
Fang Bai didn't expect him to be so enthusiastic and laughed, "Thanks, but really, no need. I'll eat outside. Or, why don't you come eat with me outside? I'll treat you."
Looking at him again, nearly 190 cm tall and a big guy, his lunchbox was similar in size to other students'. Could one serving fill him up?
Sharing a lunchbox with two people, he didn't mind, but it felt very awkward.
Fang Bai didn't know if the school used gutter oil, but he definitely didn't want to try it.
"The school food is indeed hard to swallow. It's just that we can't leave the school at noon."
Wang Dakai, the big guy, grumbled, "If we could eat outside, there wouldn't be many students in the cafeteria at noon. Even a casual bowl of noodles outside is better than the cafeteria.
I heard the cafeteria was outsourced. The school makes excuses saying outside food is unhygienic, so they require students to eat inside. Damn, it's so shady."
Fang Bai returned to his desk, grabbed an English book, and walked towards the classroom door, saying, "Just follow me out; the guard won't stop us. Make up your mind quickly."
The two had paused for less than two minutes. By now, there were only two people left in the classroom. These hungry ghosts ran really fast!
Wang Dakai looked at the empty classroom, guessing that if he went to the cafeteria now, he'd definitely be at the very end of the line. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Then I won't be polite, but I just don't know if we can get out."
After speaking, he stuffed his lunchbox back into his drawer and followed Fang Bai out.
At the school gate, the guard saw Fang Bai and greeted him with a smile and a nod.
But when he saw the big guy next to Fang Bai, his face immediately turned cold: "This student, what do you want to do?"
The guard recognized this mature-looking, big student. He was too distinctive. If he didn't recognize him, he might have thought he was a social youth, and he wouldn't dare to shout randomly.
The command startled Wang Dakai.
Fang Bai smiled at the guard, "Uncle Wang, this is Wang Dakai. Maybe five hundred years ago, he was from the same family as you. He's going out to eat with me and will be back after the meal."
"Oh, Little Wang, is it? Then go out." The guard immediately reverted to a smiling face and waved his hand. Wang Dakai finally breathed a sigh of relief and followed Fang Bai out of the school gate.
Less than ten meters from the school gate, Wang Dakai couldn't help but ask, "Fang Bai, are you really the principal's relative?"
"No, you're thinking too much."
"Then why is the guard so polite to you?"
"You'll know later. Study hard." Fang Bai smiled, not wanting to lead this guy astray.
Wang Dakai felt that Fang Bai was mysterious and definitely had some inside information they didn't know. If not the principal's relative, then could he be an illegitimate child?
A moment later, Fang Bai arrived at a restaurant not far from his residence. He was a regular, and the owner greeted him warmly: "Mr. Fang, what would you like for lunch?"
"Boss, for the two of us, a tomato soup, stir-fried spicy and sour cabbage, and then a double-cooked pork and stir-fried pork." Fang Bai said casually. The chef knew Sichuan cuisine, which suited his taste.
Their dishes were quite generous in portion, which should be enough for two people.
If he were alone, one meat dish would be enough.
Wang Dakai, sitting on the chair, was a bit confused listening to their conversation.
The boss called Fang Bai "Mr. Fang"?
Were they eating a big meal here?
Wasn't that too extravagant?
He had intended to persuade Fang Bai not to order so much, suggesting two bowls of noodles would suffice, but then he remembered that Fang Bai and the boss were familiar, so Fang Bai must know the prices, and he no longer tried to dissuade him.
Then he saw Fang Bai pick up a book and read intently as if no one else was there. He himself hadn't brought anything, and he scratched the back of his head, unsure what he should do, feeling somewhat awkward.
A moment later, the dishes were served one by one. Fang Bai put down his book and began to eat, while Wang Dakai ate somewhat reservedly.
"Hurry up and eat so we can go back to school for a nap. You're usually so talkative, but you eat like a slow little girl."
"Oh, okay, hehe, this food is really delicious, Fang Bai, you're my boss from now on. I'll do whatever you tell me to do."
It wasn't just one meal that won him over, but Fang Bai's various mysterious qualities, his low profile, generosity, and that unique aura.
Wang Dakai still remembered the first time Fang Bai went to the podium to introduce himself; he had secretly admired him deeply.
So, he felt that sticking with Fang Bai would definitely not be wrong.
"Don't do that gangster stuff. Study hard."
"Yes, boss."
Fang Bai rolled his eyes, too lazy to say more, and quickly ate his meal.
Wang Dakai quickly finished a large bowl of rice, put down his bowl, and sat upright. Fang Bai knew he wasn't full and laughed, "Feel free to add more rice, no extra charge. Scoop as much as you want."
"Oh, is that so? Haha, one bowl of rice really isn't enough. This food is truly delicious."
Wang Dakai ate very happily during this meal. He felt a pang of heartache seeing Fang Bai pay a few yuan; one meal cost him one or two weeks' worth of his food allowance.
However, the food was truly delicious. Compared to it, the school food was almost like dog shit.
After eating, Fang Bai told him to go back to school first. Wang Dakai didn't ask further; he knew Fang Bai would speak if he wanted to. As a qualified follower, he had to know what to ask and what not to ask, and he wouldn't randomly tell other classmates.
If he didn't even understand this much, he truly didn't deserve to call someone his boss.
On the way back to school, Wang Dakai walked with a different swagger. Upon entering the school gate, he called out to the guard just like Fang Bai: "Uncle Wang, I'm back!"