There will be more chapters coming, so stay tuned!

"Okay, this is our accountant Cheng Guangxu, and this is the cashier Li Yunpeng. You should be familiar with the person who will be in contact with you from now on. Now let's sign the contract and pay the deposit. The remaining half of the funds will be here at the earliest tomorrow noon, or at the earliest the day after tomorrow noon."

The group shook hands and introduced themselves, since they would be serving each other in the future.

"Okay, I'll go hand it in to the accountant and call the workshop foreman over."

Dan Mianzhi looked at Liu Jingze with jealousy. Liu Jingze was now smug, and deliberately stretched out his arm and tugged at his clothes. Dan Mianzhi wanted to slap him for his smug look.

Zhang Hongmei didn't even look at the two of them, unaware that their childish behavior amused everyone else, including Cheng Caizi.

Three people came in a moment later. Zhang Hongmei took out the application with the school's official seal, which the principal had given her, and handed it to Guo Shidong.

"Director Guo, this is the contract I drafted. Please take a look. We can discuss any clauses that need to be modified."

Guo Shidong took the contract and thought the young woman was really capable. After reading it, he handed it to the accountant, and finally the workshop foreman also looked at it. The two of them nodded to Guo Shidong.

“Zhang is truly meticulous; this contract is more formal and impartial than the one we drafted. This is the one; we don’t need to bother with it anymore.”

"Thank you for the compliment."

The contract was signed smoothly, and Zhang Hongmei asked Shan Mianzhi to sign it as well, which was more formal, since he was her boss.

Li Yunpeng took out the 5,561.5 yuan raised from the fundraising and handed it over to the garment factory's accountant.

The amount was correct, and the accountant issued a receipt. "When you bring the remaining half of the money, give me this receipt, and I'll exchange it for the official one."

At this moment, Liu Jingze also came over, took out nine yuan and handed it to the accountant, so that he could rightfully wear this clothes.

The accountant gave Liu Jingze 75 cents, and that was it.

Zhang Hongmei stood up and shook hands with Guo Shidong. "Director Guo, it's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

"It was a pleasure working with you, Zhang."

"Director Zhao, our requirements are clearly stated in the contract. We hope that our first batch of goods will consist of 400 men's pieces and 100 women's pieces, all made of wool."

"Don't worry, Zhang, there won't be any mistakes, and the second batch of polyester will be completed in five days."

"Thank you, Director Zhao."

The six people said goodbye and left; it was already 4:30 in the afternoon.

"Vice Chairman Zhang, I'd like to invite everyone to Peking duck, shall we?"

"How could we let the Chairman spend money like this?"

"It's no trouble at all. It's an honor to be able to invite our heroes to dinner."

"Then on behalf of our team, I thank the chairman. However, the celebration banquet will have to wait until we see our performance; all members of our team will be there then."

"Haha, your vice chairman and group leader are working so hard to benefit you. Don't worry, you won't be shortchanged on that meal."

Zhang Hongmei chuckled, "Who told you to be so rich?" Then, realizing that her resentment towards the rich was wrong, she lowered her head and smiled.

"What would you all like to eat? The chairman is treating today, so please don't be shy."

"Our vice chairman is so generous. Yes, it's my treat. Pick whatever you want and eat your fill."

Liu Jingze turned his head and asked, "Hongmei, what would you like to eat?"

"Anything is fine. I haven't had a chance to eat out. I've only ever had hot pot and Peking duck."

Knowing that Zhang Hongmei didn't like overly greasy food, Liu Jingze suggested, "Shall we go eat hot pot with mutton? Is there anyone who doesn't eat mutton?"

The group agreed with Liu Jingze's suggestion. These days, having meat to eat is a blessing.

Looking at the smug Zhang Hongmei, Shan Mianzhi felt that it would be worth it even if he had to treat her to a few more meals.

The group went straight to the restaurant, where the manager greeted Zhang Hongmei and Shan Mianzhi warmly. "Did I bring you some sesame seed cakes today? Young Master Shan, it's been a long time since you've been here. Welcome, welcome. Please come in."

Apart from Liu Jingze and Shan Mianzhi, everyone was very surprised. This vice chairman was no ordinary person; even the hotel manager was so enthusiastic.

"Hehe, manager, Mr. Shan is treating us today, and he's giving me twenty sesame seed cakes to go. I definitely have to take advantage of this today."

"Hehe. You can come anytime, and I can even have someone deliver it to you."

"No way, even the best food gets boring if you eat it all the time. Come over when I want some."

"Alright, Mr. Shan, shall we have a private room on the second floor?"

"Okay, is today's supply enough?"

"Don't worry, this table is definitely enough. I'll just serve the side dishes as I see fit."

"Okay, go ahead and make the arrangements. One more thing, I have to pay for today's meal." Shan Mianzhi had just seen a few people nod to him, and he didn't want to owe them favors over a meal.

"I understand. Please, all of you."

The waiter led the six people to a private room, and tea was served shortly afterward.

Liu Jingze sat next to Zhang Hongmei, while Cheng Guangxu snatched the seat on the other side. The others were worried about this math genius, who really had no sense of propriety at all.

In the end, Shan Mianzhi sat opposite Zhang Hongmei. There was nothing he could do; the simpleton wouldn't give up his seat.

Liu Jingze moved closer to Zhang Hongmei and asked, "Hongmei, has your family sent any letters?"

"No, I reckon everyone's busy with spring planting. I hope this year will be a good year, so everyone can take a break."

"That's right, you'll bring Grandma over to stay for a few days in the winter?"

"I'll give it a try, but I don't think she'll come. The old lady is too old, and it's too hard for her to travel by car."

"Yes, I wonder if I'll be able to go back to be with her this year?"

"I will definitely go back."

Dan Mianzhi found it particularly annoying to see the two whispering to each other, but luckily the waiter came in to serve the food at that moment.

Ten plates of hand-cut fresh mutton, each weighing one jin (500 grams), were served, along with cabbage leaves, potato slices, winter melon slices, vermicelli, tofu, fried bean curd sheets, kelp, and baby spinach.

Zhang Hongmei thought the meal looked quite substantial.

Shan Mianzhi picked up his chopsticks and said, "Everyone, start eating! Don't be shy, eat as much mutton as you want, don't hold back."

Liu Jingze helped Zhang Hongmei prepare the sesame sauce.

Zhang Hongmei wanted to ask if they had any cilantro, but since she wasn't treating, she decided to stay put.

Cheng Guangxu had been holding back for a long time. "Vice Chairman, I've thought about it all the way here, and I still think you'd be better suited to be the editor of the Mathematics Learning Newspaper."

Zhang Hongmei couldn't stand Cheng Guangxu any longer. "Are you trying to work me to death? I'll become the editor of the Mathematics Learning Newspaper, and you can be the editor-in-chief."

But I don't know how!

"You only know math, so get me the math study card. Be good, your math is very good too." Zhang Hongmei began to coax this clueless young man.

"real?"

"It's true, absolutely true."

"But,"

"No buts, this is the task assigned to you."

"Understood, I'll complete the task." Cheng Guangxu still thought Zhang Hongmei was good at math, and the vice chairman's questions were particularly insightful. There was one question he had been pondering all the way there.