Chapter 19: The 70-30 Split

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Hearing that, I almost laughed out of anger. Do you really think an old crook known only for swindling money has a reputation? And that I’ve tarnished it!

“Enough nonsense. I’m Jiang Chen. This matter isn’t something you can handle,” I said seriously.

“Jiang Chen? Damn, Brother Jiang! Why didn’t you say so earlier? I thought you were someone else.” The old man’s face lit up. “From what you’re saying, you’re also at this school? Could it be you’re a student here?”

The old man wasn’t a fool; otherwise, he wouldn’t be running around pretending to be a mystic to scam people.

“I just enrolled yesterday,” I replied.

“Tsk tsk tsk, just enrolled yesterday and already something’s happened at Gudu University today… You…” The old man trailed off, unwilling to continue. Though a charlatan, he knew I was somewhat capable and dared not offend me lightly. “With you around, Brother Jiang, this will be much easier to handle!”

“How about we team up and split that fifty thousand yuan labor fee?”

He had once tried to take me as an apprentice, but later gave up on the idea. He was afraid it would shorten his life if he took me on.

“Enough nonsense. This isn’t something you should meddle in. Get lost early,” I snapped and hung up.

“Let’s go back to the dorm,” I said to Wang Pangzi beside me.

“Huh? Lao Jiang, aren’t you going to watch the fun unfold?” Wang Pangzi asked, puzzled.

“What fun is there to see?”

I turned and headed toward the dormitory. Something about this felt off, and I was too lazy to get involved.

Uncle Dazhuang and Uncle Wangcai were from my village, so I didn’t mind helping them out a bit. But this mess at school wasn’t really my problem.

“Don’t be like that, Lao Jiang. Wait for me!”

Seeing me walk away, Wang Pangzi had no interest in watching anymore and simply chased after me.

…

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When I got back to the dorm, Liu Qingya’s message came through, asking if I was free tonight to have dinner together.

She had invited me yesterday, but it was too late, so I politely declined.

If I refused again today, it might seem a bit rude.

After all, Grandpa told me to look for someone with a mole behind their ear, and this person was very likely Liu Qingya.

I replied with a simple “Hmm.”

I was free tonight, so I’d go and have a chat. No matter what, I couldn’t let the relationship fade.

*Knock knock knock!*

Not long after I came in, someone knocked on the dorm door.

*Creak!*

The door opened, and there stood that old man who goes by Zhang Jia Qian, grinning at me. “Brother Jiang, we fought side by side a few days ago. How come you’re turning your back now?”

Behind him stood more than a dozen school officials.

Good grief, a whole crowd squeezed into my dorm.

Wang Pangzi and the others had been playing games, but seeing this, they quickly stood up, terrified.

“Hello, teachers!”

“No worries, no worries. We’re just here to have a look.” The school leaders wore kind smiles.

The old man knew their names, then asked them to check my dorm, and soon led a large group to visit.

“Brother Jiang, this matter is pretty serious. I can’t handle it alone. I need you to assist me and solve it together.” Even after all this, the old man still cared about saving face, putting himself in the lead and asking me to be the assistant.

“Jiang, if you’re capable, why not help resolve this? It’ll also be your contribution to the school,” one of the officials chimed in.

With the school leaders begging like this, unless I wanted to leave the school, I had to show some respect.

“I can’t promise a solution, but I’ll do my best,” I nodded.

“Then let’s investigate tonight.” The old man took out his business card and handed it to the school leaders. “Here’s my WeChat QR code and contact info. You can leave now and contact me tonight.”

The old man was full of swagger, and the leaders all bowed and left.

“Not bad, you even got a business card,” I said, snatching one from his hand. It was embossed with a long list of titles — Honorary President of the Gudu Taoist Association, Director of the Daxia Taoist Association, Feng Shui Consultant for Alibaba Group...

At the bottom was his name — Zhang Yuxuan Zhenren.

The card was gold-plated and looked quite high-end.

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“Heh heh, it’s nothing, nothing special,” the old man chuckled sheepishly.

“You’re the honorary president of the Taoist Association with all these impressive titles, so why come to me for help?” I teased.

“Oh, that’s easy. I just paid off a few big social media influencers to write articles saying I’m the honorary president. You can find me online if you search for it.” Zhang Yuxuan smiled. “Brother Jiang, if you want, I can get one made for you too.”

“No thanks, I don’t like being too flashy,” I said.

I had thought there really was such an association, but it turned out to be his fabrication.

I guessed the other titles were probably fake too.

We walked and talked, and I gained some insight.

Though Zhang Jia Qian wasn’t doing well in Gudu, he still had some connections.

With the incident at Gudu University, the school leaders had passed the responsibility to someone who knew this old man. After a little discussion, the matter was settled this way.

The fifty thousand yuan labor fee, according to the old man, was to be split evenly.

“That won’t do. You’re just taking the job, but I’m the one doing the work. It should be a 70-30 split,” I said.

“Seventy-thirty? That’s not right,” Zhang Yuxuan hesitated. “I’m just the middleman. You work hard and only get thirty percent? No way. It has to be fifty-fifty.”

“Are you genuinely confused or pretending to be? Seventy-thirty means I get seventy, you get thirty. Deal or no deal?” I said bluntly.

I was the one putting in the effort; splitting it evenly made no sense.

“Brother Jiang, I have old folks to support and kids to feed. You’ve got to let me earn a little to make ends meet, or I’ll starve soon,” Zhang Yuxuan said with a pained face.

“Don’t play the pity card. Looking at you, I don’t know if you really have elderly parents, but as for kids—don’t you feel ashamed?” I scolded him. I could tell from his demeanor he’d been single most of his life.

“Hahaha, you caught me. Fine, seventy-thirty it is,” Zhang Yuxuan agreed with a sheepish laugh.

“Let’s go grab something to eat. Someone invited me to dinner today. Tonight, we’ll go check out the school.”

I hadn’t wanted to get involved, but honestly, that fifty thousand yuan labor fee was tempting.

My seventy percent cut would be thirty-five thousand.

If this went well, it would cover most of my living expenses for the four years at university.