I was reborn without dreams

Chapter 10 I am a legitimate organization
The phrase "full refund if you don't pass the exam" is very persuasive. It's not just the local business owners in Binjiang Town and Linjiang Town; even families with average means grit their teeth and do the math. Especially those who are five or three points short of getting into a national key high school, they think that one point costs 25,000 yuan, while Zhang Da'an's school only costs 30,000 yuan a year. No matter how you look at it, "Zhang'an Education" seems more cost-effective.

The sheer number of people signing up for the classes exceeded Zhang Da'an and Zhang Zhengdong's expectations.

Originally, Zhang Zhengdong planned to set aside a class of about fifty people, which was also the optimal solution for Zhang Da'an's business. It's not that leading more classes is not possible, but it's not "detailed" enough and requires manpower to cooperate.

Fortunately, Zhang Da'an had tried all sorts of methods before his rebirth, and he was also experienced in repeating the middle school and college entrance exams. He eliminated more than half of the interviewees by having them take a test.

Some parents even brought their mentally challenged sons to join in the fun, clearly hoping to get a year's worth of childcare for free. This was commonplace for Zhang Zhengdong. The simple, honest countryside that people imagined was practically nonexistent these days, unless everyone was equally poor or rich.

"Damn it, I thought we wouldn't even be able to recruit fifty people, but it turns out that those who didn't get into high school from Port-au-Prince Secondary School want to come and try again next year. This is going to be a bit tricky."

Zhang Zhengdong scratched his head, not because he disliked the large number of students, but because he was reluctant to let go of the extra students.

With 30,000 yuan per person, 50 people would make 1.5 million yuan. The speed at which the money came in startled Zhang Zhengdong. Not only that, his powerful backer, whom he was planning to retire from the bureau, was now thinking again about raising his retirement benefits by half a grade before he retired.

Despite its small size, Shazhou City has bureaucrats who are half a level higher than those in regular counties and cities. So, half a level can mean a difference of about 20% in terms of benefits.

For someone who doesn't have any grand ambitions, just trying to make a living means hoping to earn as much as possible.

So, in this situation, the retired old man, who was in charge of the education department of Binjiang Town and had also served as the principal of Binjiang Middle School for five years, helped support Dongweigang Middle School in its practical action of "responding to the national call to revitalize rural education".

Whether it was through "public-private partnership" or leasing the former site of the Dongweigang Middle School's former school-run factory, Zhang Da'an generated revenue for the Education Bureau and Binjiang Town.

First, there's the rent; second, there's the tax reduction for "public-private partnerships." This can be handled by passing through Dongweigang Middle School, which can be considered turning a blind eye.

It has nothing to do with Zhang Da'an; it's purely a matter of how the Education Bureau operates. Generally, the Education Bureau communicates with enterprises in Binjiang Town.

There are risks, but if it's just a small "slush fund" run by the education bureau, it's no big deal these days.

Overall, Zhang Da'an's ability to collect 30,000 yuan per person is unique in the entire Shazhou City.

The value of being a top scorer in the high school entrance exam will remain convincing in the coming year.

One year later...

Say.

"Uncle, you don't need to worry, I know what I'm doing."

Zhang Da'an tidied up an office and made a partitioned room, which could also be considered a small classroom. There was no air conditioning, only electric fans and industrial exhaust fans, all of which were left over from the school-run factory.

"Print out the list of these 150 people, use 'Zhang An Education' special envelopes, and send them from the post office."

"Why? I might as well just notify the brigade directly."

“You don’t understand. I’m a legitimate organization, not some makeshift operation.”

"..."

"And Uncle, starting this summer, your personal image will be redesigned. I've invited a tutor from the China Harbour Grand Theatre to teach you etiquette and manners. You can learn from him. I can swear, but you can't."

"Huh?! Why?! Why can't I swear?!"

"Because you're forty and still single." "..."

Uncle Zhang's facial features almost contorted in shock, and he ultimately remained silent, feeling quite depressed. He hadn't realized that his good nephew had given him a list of 150 people.

In fact, four or five hundred students came for interviews one after another. Zhang Da'an rejected most of them. Among them were those who pretended to be obedient children at home, but spent their days outside shouting and behaving like hooligans. There was no need to put such people in. It's not that there was no way to transfer them, but Zhang Da'an didn't have the time.

He's not involved in compulsory education; he's just running a business.

"Damn it, 150 people—"

Reaching the doorway, Uncle Zhang finally saw clearly and was startled. "Where did all these places come from? Zhang An, are you crazy?!"

"This month, we'll borrow classrooms from Dongweigang Middle School. Before the start of the semester, I need a dedicated electricity meter and to build a ring of bungalows around the open space to serve as dormitories. After the semester starts, we'll first convert the prefabricated houses into dormitories, and then move into the bungalows around the time of the midterm exams."

"A dedicated electricity meter? Does it need a wiring connection?"

"Yes, all the dormitories are equipped with air conditioning."

"..."

Domestic air conditioner prices don't fluctuate much. A 1.5 horsepower domestic household air conditioner now costs two to four thousand yuan, which is not much different from what it will be in twenty years.

However, the proportion of personal or family income they represent is vastly different.

At that time, the average wage in township enterprises in Shazhou City was around 400 yuan. The wages in the urban area and central towns were slightly better, reaching 700 or 800 yuan or even over 1,000 yuan. However, if you wanted a job with an income equivalent to the price of a household air conditioner, you could only go to leading enterprises, key enterprises, or foreign-funded enterprises.

This also reflects the level of Zhang Da'an's 30,000 yuan per person fee. Even if it were ten years later, let alone twenty years later, he would still be charging 100,000 or 200,000 yuan. If he charged even a penny less, he would be disrespectful to the title of "top scholar's companion".

When Zhang Zhengdong heard that Zhang Da'an wanted to install an air conditioner, he was completely distraught.

"No, Zhang An, air conditioners are too expensive. One air conditioner for ten people, at your rate, you'd need fifteen, which would cost tens of thousands of yuan. When it comes to business, you should save money wherever possible."

“Who told you it was a ten-person room? I converted a construction site prefab room into a temporary double room, then added partitions and a bathroom. So it’s not just about needing a dedicated electricity meter; I also need to get a water tower from the Binjiang Waterworks.”

"..."

"Why are you looking at me? I'm a legitimate organization, let me repeat, not some makeshift operation."

"..."

Uncle Zhang wanted to argue with his nephew that this was a waste of money. Why would a child need air conditioning to go to school? When he was a child, he couldn't even afford to use a kerosene lamp, let alone an electric fan. A palm leaf fan is fine too. Is he trying to make something so precious that he's going to be an emperor?
But he couldn't argue, because his nephew was looking at a 40-year-old, single, idiotic uncle.

If he were to voice his doubts, he could imagine the maddening mockery, ridicule, contempt, and scorn he would be met with.

We should just keep a low profile and do things discreetly.

With a list of 150 people, 150 letters had to be sent. It was indeed a busy time. The old man at the mailroom of Dongweigang Middle School was initially reluctant, but since each letter cost 50 cents, he agreed and rode his tricycle over early in the morning to stick the envelopes.

The announcement of the list wasn't the end of the matter. Zhang Da'an still needed to send out admission notices to another 150 students. However, these were specially printed in high-quality binding by a printing factory in Shazhou City, so it would take two days.

Why send out admission notices at all?
Because this is a "Top Scorer Tutoring Class," and "Zhang An Education" is a legitimate organization!
(End of this chapter)