I met my whole family through Baidu Tieba.

"part time?"

Liang Zhidao was taken aback.

He guessed a lot of things, but he never expected that the other party would invite him to do a part-time job.

Before Liang Zhidao could ask, Shen Kang spoke up: "It's like this. Just now, when Senior Brother Liang was in our dorm, you should be able to tell from the conversation between me and my roommates that I did do some business, right?"

Liang Zhidao nodded silently.

Shen Kang said, "You might have heard of the businesses I run—Beiming Community and Xianyu.com are mine. I also own the home and laundry room at our school, Study Room 302, and Yanyu Tea House."

Liang Zhidao was taken aback, glanced at Shen Kang a few more times, and remained silent.

Shen Kang continued, "Now I've created another second-hand trading website, which will be launched soon."

Hearing this, Liang Zhidao finally spoke up, "Another secondhand trading website? Xianyu.com is already a secondhand trading website. Isn't creating another one redundant?"

Liang Zhidao found this strange.

Shen Kang explained, "Although both are second-hand trading websites, this new website has a different positioning and model from Xianyu.com, so it is not redundant."

He didn't elaborate further and went straight to the point: "On this new secondhand trading website, I plan to create a special section on secondhand civil service exam materials. Brother Liang, you're very knowledgeable about civil service exams, so I'd like you to do some part-time work and help with the design. I'm sure it won't take up much of your time, and the compensation will be satisfactory."

The "new second-hand trading website" that Shen Kang mentioned is naturally the C2B2C second-hand trading website.

The preparations for that website are almost complete, and it will be officially launched in a few days.

How to launch the first battle for that website is also a question that Shen Kang has been thinking about recently.

It's already the end of the semester.

If things go according to his initial plan, with secondhand mobile phones as the main product, Anjia Home Services' clients will have no problem collecting some secondhand mobile phones. The main problem is with college students—it's final exams, and even the richest families don't have much left over, especially these college students.

Second-hand mobile phones are still mobile phones, especially those discarded by high-net-worth families like those at Anjia Home Services; they're not off-brand. Even if they are second-hand, few college students nearing the end of the semester can afford to buy them.

If it's later in the year, when everyone receives lucky money, then they can mainly buy second-hand mobile phones and second-hand laptops.

Therefore, it seems best to launch this new website after the New Year, so that the first battle can be won.

However, Shen Kang needed the new website to go online before the end of the semester.

Based on his speculation, after he shared his idea for a C2B2C secondhand trading website at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, Zheng Changhao might secretly follow his lead and actually create such a website.

If my new website hasn't launched yet, but Zheng Changhao has actually created one and launched it before the end of the semester, then Zheng Changhao, by taking advantage of the end-of-semester book collection business, has actually gotten ahead of me, getting the concept of the new website into the students' minds first.

Therefore, to guard against this possibility, I need to get the new website online before the end of the semester. The end-of-semester book collection business is not to be missed; the goal isn't to make money, but to use this business to introduce the concept of the new website to the students.

Therefore, it seemed that Shen Kang only had one path left:

Get the new website online before the end of the semester. Don't expect to make a name for yourself right away. Just wait patiently for the end-of-semester book-buying rush.

However, when Liang Zhidao came to his door to promote civil service exam training today, it gave him a sudden inspiration.

……

"Secondhand trading of civil service exam study materials?"

Besides training institutions, many students prepare for the civil service exam by purchasing study materials on their own.

Or rather, the majority are those who buy their own civil service exam materials and study on their own to prepare for the exam.

Liang Zhidao thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "It sounds like a great business opportunity. Well then, I congratulate you on your great fortune, junior brother. But I won't be going. I'm just too busy with things at my training institution, and I really can't spare the time."

Shen Kang glanced at him, then suddenly smiled. "Senior Brother Liang, do you think the resale of civil service exam materials won't take off?"

Before Liang Zhidao could reply, he spoke first: "Well, if it's the Xianyu.com model, it's indeed quite difficult to do, because you can only take the civil service exam in your senior year. After these seniors take the exam, they've already graduated and left school, so they don't need the campus forum anymore and have lost contact with the younger generation at the school. Without contact, it's not easy for these seniors to sell their civil service exam materials."

Liang Zhidao glanced at Shen Kang again, thinking to himself, "It seems that this junior really isn't just relying on luck when it comes to doing those things."

Then, he became curious: Since Shen Kang already knew that buying and selling second-hand civil service exam materials on second-hand trading websites was not very practical, why did he still do it?

As before, Shen Kang didn't need to ask; he said it himself: "However, as I've already said, this new website is different from Xianyu.com. Also, the target customer group is different. Besides university students, there's another customer group."

"I also run a company outside of school called Anjia Housekeeping."

If Liang Zhidao were to take on this part-time job, he would need to know all of these things, so Shen Kang did not hide anything from him.

"Anjia Home Service's clients are all middle- to high-income families, which I call high-net-worth individuals. My idea is to collect civil service exam materials from these high-net-worth families and sell them to university students preparing for the civil service exam."

After speaking, Shen Kang looked at Liang Zhidao and asked him frankly, "Senior Brother Liang, do you think this will work?"

Liang Zhidao remained silent, his mind racing.

He never expected that Anjia Housekeeping was actually run by his junior brother Shen Kang, which truly surprised him.

However, what concerned him even more was the model that Shen Kang mentioned:

High-net-worth families are buying up civil service exam study materials and selling them to college students...

He has been in the civil service exam training business for several years, starting when he was studying at Yangko University of Science and Technology, so he is quite knowledgeable about this industry.

He knew very well how valuable the secondhand civil service exam information was for children from the "high-net-worth families" that Shen Kang was talking about!

Those taking the civil service exam can be divided into two categories based on their economic situation:

The first category consists of families in rural areas and small towns with relatively poor economic conditions.

In terms of overall numbers, this type of person accounts for more than half of those who successfully pass the civil service exam.

However, after these people leave the government, their positions are generally ordinary. Most of them go to townships, streets, remote areas, or become village officials for college graduates. They are sent to lower levels and form the absolute main force of the grassroots civil servant team.

The second category consists of children from middle- and high-income families.

In terms of absolute numbers, they account for less than half.

However, judging from the quality of their jobs after leaving the academy, these people's job quality far exceeds that of the first type of people.

These are the people who often get promoted to core competitive positions in ministries, provincial departments, and tax bureaus in popular cities.

This is a perfectly normal thing.

This second type of candidate has three major advantages over the first type of candidate:

First, the advantage of information asymmetry. They learn about special channels such as "selection of civil servants" earlier. In addition, there are some policy preferences, such as a clear preference for student cadres from 985/211 universities. Those who can plan ahead are mostly from families within the system.

Second, their soft skills are overwhelming. Essay writing and structured interviews are their natural arena. The phrasing, analytical perspectives, and composure during interviews, cultivated through exposure to the system from a young age, are difficult to acquire through short-term training.

Third, they have no financial worries. This allows them to focus more on exam preparation.

With these three major advantages overshadowing each other, it is natural that the children of these middle- and high-income families are more likely to occupy those popular positions.

Children from poorer families in rural areas and small towns were able to achieve a higher absolute number of successful graduates through their larger numbers and their relentless, determined efforts.

In summary, the structure of families and children who pass the civil service exam is basically as follows: there are many people from lower-level families who pass, but their quality is poor; there are relatively fewer people from middle and upper-level families who pass, but their quality is high.

In this structure, the exam materials and notes left behind by middle- and high-income families whose children have already passed the civil service exam are of great value, far more valuable than the notes of candidates from rural areas or small towns with poorer economic conditions!

Because these materials often embody the thinking patterns and problem-solving perspectives cultivated by their families, these qualities can broaden the horizons and enhance the abilities of candidates from rural or small-town backgrounds, making them far more valuable than mere answers.

……

"Even if their children have successfully passed the civil service exam and they have the exam materials left behind, would they be willing to sell those materials and notes to you?"

After brainstorming for a while, Liang Zhidao did not immediately answer Shen Kang's question about "feasibility," but instead asked his own question.

Shen Kang felt this was a good omen and also revealed some other information: "I think the possibility is quite high. Actually, Anjia Home Services isn't just a simple home service company. Anjia Home Services previously sold a smart rice cooker to our clients. Sales were very good, and customer satisfaction was high. In other words, Anjia Home Services has a precedent of having a 'transaction channel'."

A housekeeping company selling rice cookers to its customers?

Liang Zhidao was stunned for a moment, then didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He hadn't expected that his junior brother Shen would do something like this. But this was a good thing; with such a precedent, it would be easier for customers to accept the sale of secondhand teaching materials.

However, Liang Zhidao still had some doubts: "Junior Brother Shen, those of us in this line of work have also come into contact with quite a few of these so-called 'high-net-worth individuals' you mentioned."

"From what I understand, they're not short of money. What kind of price can you offer for those secondhand civil service exam study materials? It's very likely you won't be able to sway them."

Shen Kang only made the decision tonight, and he really didn't know anything about civil service exams or commodity prices.

Therefore, upon hearing Liang Zhidao's words, he humbly asked for advice: "I really don't know much about this. If we follow your advice, Senior Brother Liang, what kind of buyback price would be appropriate for these second-hand civil service exam study notes? And how much would be reasonable to sell them for? I really don't know much about this, Senior Brother Liang, you are an expert in this area."

Liang Zhidao puffed out his chest slightly.

If an ordinary junior were to fawn over him like this, he wouldn't care; he'd already gotten used to it.

But this junior brother Shen is different.

This junior colleague, Shen, is the behind-the-scenes figure who opened two websites and three offline stores, causing a great stir at Yangcheng University of Science and Technology. In addition, this junior colleague Shen also runs Anjia Housekeeping, which is the most famous housekeeping company in Yangcheng.

It was quite pleasing for Liang Zhidao that such people were humbly seeking his advice.

In addition, Liang Zhidao was indeed very interested in the proposal put forward by Shen Kang, so he said to Shen Kang: "Generally speaking, the price of a brand new set of civil service exam materials is about two to three hundred yuan per set."

"If you can get your hands on secondhand civil service exam materials and notes from middle- and high-income families, I reckon they'd sell very well at 180 yuan a set."

"If we were to buy it, the regular price would be around fifty, sixty, or seventy yuan per set."

At this point, Liang Zhidao clapped his hands, "That's where the problem lies. From what I understand, those families aren't short of money; they really can't be bothered to sell a set for fifty or sixty yuan."

Then, Liang Zhidao glanced at Shen Kang and said, "Junior Brother Shen, although I don't know the business model of your new website, I estimate that there must be some costs involved. If you insist on forcing sales and set the price above 120 per set, I believe you can get some. But in that case, your costs might not be covered, right? You might end up losing money."

Upon hearing this, Shen Kang began to ponder.

Liang Zhidao didn't urge him, but looked at this junior brother Shen with great interest, wanting to see if he had any solutions to this problem.

Deep down, there was also a sense of comparison.

After all, although Liang Zhidao's business is not a website or a housekeeping service, but an education and training business, he is still an entrepreneur.

Now, this junior brother Shen, despite his young age, has expanded his business even further than his own, which naturally makes Liang Zhidao somewhat resentful and competitive...

Liang Zhidao was thinking about this.

Shen Kang suddenly looked up, snapping out of his reverie.

"I've actually come up with an idea for this problem. Senior Brother Liang, would you like to hear your thoughts? Would this method work?"

Liang Zhidao also came to his senses, "I would like to hear the details."

Shen Kang then began to speak.

The very first sentence caused Liang Zhidao to stumble.

"We won't pay them; let them deliver it to me."

Liang Zhidao stumbled and almost fell.

After regaining his balance, he looked at Shen Kang strangely and couldn't help but ask, "No, the price is so low that people are too lazy to sell it, and you're asking them to give it to you for free? Are they out of their minds?"

Shen Kang grinned. "It's not that I'm mentally ill, it's just that we all pursue different things."

Then he introduced a concept: "Here's something to talk about—emotional value."

"Emotional value?"

Liang Zhidao had never heard of this term before, and paused for a moment, "What is it?"

Shen Kang explained, "For example, if a beautiful woman texts you every day calling you 'brother,' saying things like, 'Brother, you must be tired after a long day of work, I feel so sorry for you,' wouldn't you feel great? Also, if you complete a task and your colleagues are all amazed, saying, 'You did a fantastic job, it was perfect,' wouldn't you feel great?..."

After listening to Shen Kang give a few examples, Liang Zhidao also understood what "emotional value" meant.

Shen Kang then continued speaking.

"According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, these middle-to-high-end families are no longer satisfied with just the basic necessities of life, but have begun to pursue spiritual fulfillment."

"For example, some families will buy things to distribute to welfare homes, nominally adopt an orphan and give him a certain amount of living expenses each year, or sponsor some orphans to go to university, and so on. They pay money, but what they receive is not a monetary reward, but a thousand origami cranes folded by an orphan, a heartfelt thank-you letter written to them by an orphan who has gone to university, and so on. But for them, these seemingly worthless things bring them far more joy and satisfaction than the money they pay, because they have gained strong emotional value."

Shen Kang himself was an orphan from a welfare home and had seen many such things.

"We can do that in our project as well."

"We're not giving them money; we're just putting together a plan."

As Shen Kang spoke, he recalled the "Early Bird Plan for Civil Service Exams" that Liang Zhidao had been promoting in the small dormitory, and then another inspiration struck him.

"Let's launch a 'Top Scholar Achievement & Family Tradition Inheritance' program!"

"Every family that donates these secondhand civil service exam materials and notes will receive a commemorative stamp carefully crafted by our website. We will also track the whereabouts of their donated materials and notes, informing them which student ultimately received them. If that student successfully passes the civil service exam, we will share the good news with them and award them a medal of honor in recognition of their kindness and how it changed the fate of a family..."

When Liang Zhidao first heard Shen Kang say "have them send it to me," he thought the guy was talking nonsense.

But listening to Shen Kang's concept of emotional value, and listening to the "emotional value feedback system" that Shen Kang designed for middle and high-end families.

The more Liang Zhidao listened, the brighter his eyes became, and the more he felt that this thing... based on his understanding of the character of those middle and high-end families, seemed to be really quite feasible!

Holy crap, you can actually do business like this?