Chapter 26: What the hell? What kind of move is this?

"What is going on? Don't be anxious. Let me ask about it first."

After hanging up the phone, Chang Fuyou felt his head throbbing. For a successful man, the most common source of headaches is often the lack of peace at home. The conflict between a daughter and a stepmother is almost naturally irreconcilable. Fortunately, in Chang Fuyou’s case, he had only married his current young wife, Hu Xiuqing, five or six years after his ex-wife passed away. Usually, at home, Chang Lu and Hu Xiuqing kept to themselves, only clashing on specific occasions. Chang Fuyou had always unconditionally sided with his daughter, only to soothe Hu Xiuqing afterward. As a result, Hu Xiuqing had accumulated quite a bit of resentment, and today, she took advantage of this opportunity to file a complaint with him over the phone.

"Lu Lu never interferes with hotel business. What’s gotten into her today? Is she in a bad mood and deliberately picking a fight with Xiuqing?"

Picking up his desk phone, Chang Fuyou summoned Manager Wu from the marketing department.

"Manager Chang, that is exactly what happened. The young lady booked it for her classmate, Huo Qitai. I also felt it was a bit frivolous and was considering whether to report it to you directly..."

After Manager Wu explained the sequence of events, Chang Fuyou actually felt relieved. As long as Lu Lu wasn't deliberately causing trouble for her stepmother, it was great news.

"No wonder. I saw Huo Qitai and Xue Xiaoshan at the hotel this morning; they actually came up with such a business idea."

Narrowing his eyes, Chang Fuyou pondered, then shook his head, dismissing it. "Just three kids; they’re still too young. They assume that hosting a lecture like this will be profitable. They think making money is far too easy and simple."

"Indeed, Manager Chang. I told the young lady the same thing. But she told me to shut up and just carry out Huo Qitai’s instructions." Manager Wu looked a bit aggrieved, then tentatively asked, "Should I contact the company of Ms. Hu’s friend and tell them it was a mistake, and that they can continue to use that conference hall?"

"Forget it!" Chang Fuyou waved his hand, his expression softening. "They just finished the college entrance exams; let them have their fun. It’s rare for those two boys and Lu Lu to get along so well. What’s a little money lost? Just keep an eye on things to make sure nothing goes wildly wrong. I’ll handle the explanation for Xiuqing."

However, Manager Wu walked out of the office looking deeply resentful. After all, he was the one doing the work, the one taking the heat, and the one who still had to communicate and explain things to the third party. And the culprit behind all this trouble was that penniless kid Huo Qitai, whom the young lady frequently brought around to mooch off them.

...

At noon, Huo Qitai took Xue Xiaoshan to a wholesale market in the southern suburbs to stock up on goods. Each of them carried a large black bag stuffed with various snacks and small toys.

Hungry and famished, they sat down at a noodle shop, grabbed a quick bite, and then hailed a taxi to head back to the city center without delay. Along the way, Xue Xiaoshan kept trying to guess Huo Qitai's plan. Buying so many snacks and toys was clearly meant to be promotional gifts, but that only made Xue Xiaoshan more confused. They hadn't even designed the most basic flyers yet; what good were gifts without advertising? No matter how much Xue Xiaoshan racked his brain, he couldn't guess Huo Qitai's next move.

Meanwhile, in the taxi, Huo Qitai was holding a city map, marking it up with a pen.

"First, the areas around the First, Second, and Third High Schools—there are over thirty residential complexes of various sizes, plus a few urban villages. Most parents rent apartments near the schools for their rising seniors who have to take summer remedial classes..."

Confident in his plan, Huo Qitai hired the taxi driver for the entire afternoon. Their first stop was the Jinfu Garden complex near the First High School, the same place where Huo Qitai rented his own room. Since he was more familiar with the area, Huo Qitai took a bag of lollipops and bamboo-copter toys and headed to the playground area with Xue Xiaoshan. Since it was summer break, elementary school students were out of class, and many spent their afternoons running wild in the area. Many of them knew Huo Qitai and recognized him as the big brother who was excellent at video games.

"Xiao Nuo! Come here, want a lollipop?" Huo Qitai gestured to a third-grade boy he knew.

Xue Xiaoshan stood by with a head full of questions. *Brother Tai, are you trying to promote a college entrance exam lecture to these little kids? Isn't that a bit too advanced? Shouldn't we be targeting rising seniors and their parents?*

"I want one! I want one! Brother Huo, I want a lollipop." Xiao Nuo was a chubby little boy, well-known in the neighborhood for his greed for snacks and for often stealing his parents' change to buy treats.

"If you want one, it’s simple! I’ll teach you a song. If you learn it, I’ll not only give you a lollipop, but also a bamboo-copter. How about that?" Huo Qitai knew exactly how to hook him.

"Okay! Okay! Singing gets me candy and toys? I’ll do it! Brother Huo, teach me quickly!" The chubby boy nodded excitedly.

Huo Qitai smiled and began to teach him: "This song is very simple, only a few lines. Listen carefully... You love me! I love you! The Peking University top student comes to love you. You love me! I love you! The Peking University top student is holding a lecture."

The melody was simple and addictive. Huo Qitai sang it only once before the chubby boy raised his hand excitedly. "Brother, I learned it! I know it! Listen, is it like this... You love me! I love you! The Peking University top student comes to love you. You love me! I love you! The Peking University top student is holding a lecture."

Sure enough, one can always trust the addictive power of a catchy jingle. Huo Qitai had the boy sing it a few more times to solidify it, then generously gave him two lollipops and two different toys.

"Wow! Singing really gets you toys and lollipops! This is awesome... Thanks, Brother Huo! You love me! I love you! The Peking University top student comes to love you. You love me! I love you! The Peking University top student is holding a lecture."

While munching on his candy and playing with his toys, the chubby boy began humming the tune, constantly showing off to the other children nearby. Like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, it immediately caused a sensation. Within the playground, dozens of children who had been running around just a moment ago swarmed toward Huo Qitai.

"Brother! Is it true that if we sing here, we get candy?"
"And toys too? I can sing it! I can sing it! It’s very simple, I learned it just by listening once! You love me! I love you, the Peking University top student comes to love you..."
"I can sing it too! I want a toy..."

...

In less than ten minutes, Huo Qitai had given away all the lollipops and toys he had brought. Throughout the playground, the sound of "You love me! I love you, the Peking University top student comes to love you..." could be heard everywhere. And these children would continue humming the song all the way home, singing it to everyone they passed on the street, and singing it to their parents and neighbors at home.

Xue Xiaoshan, who had watched the whole thing, was completely stunned. *Holy crap! What kind of strategy is this, Brother Tai? I’ve never seen anything like it!*