I met my whole family through Baidu Tieba.

"Well, Xiao Shen is always quite busy."

Qian Ming'en calmly recounted the scene: "The provincial competition was held in a five-star hotel, and coincidentally, an industry conference was also being held there. I remember the name was something like this..."

Qian Ming'en couldn't remember it for a moment. He frowned, tapped his finger in the air several times, opened and closed his mouth, the name of the meeting was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't say it no matter what he did, just like an old actor who had forgotten his lines and was trying to hold on on stage.

However, Shen Kang has a good memory.

"It is the 'Intelligent Manufacturing and High-end Equipment Industry Conference'."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Qian Ming'en tapped his finger repeatedly, then repeated, "Intelligent... what was it again?" He seemed to have dementia; he couldn't remember what he had just heard.

Shen Kang then repeated, "Intelligent Manufacturing and High-end Equipment Industry Conference".

Qian Ming'en nodded again and repeated it, but forgot it again. However, it was better than before. He had only remembered one word, "intelligent," but this time he at least remembered "intelligent manufacturing," which was two more words.

Kang Changgeng couldn't take it anymore and could only speak up, repeating the name of the conference, meaning, "That's enough."

Qian Ming'en didn't continue, but just sighed, "Old Qian, you have such a good memory. I've listened to it several times and still can't remember it. Hey, Old Qian, you remember it so clearly after listening to it only once."

"...At that time, many business owners from Yangcheng came to the meeting, all the people in the relevant industries came, and reporters also came. It was quite a large event."

Qian Ming'en cleverly used his linguistic skills to create a replica of the original reporter team, making it seem as if a dedicated team of reporters had come to cover the industry conference. This elevated the conference's prestige to an even higher level, yet it wasn't a lie.

If Kang Changgeng were to investigate, he would find that there was indeed a team of reporters who interviewed those people at the industry conference at the time.

As for who those reporters were originally there to interview... who can say for sure?

It's highly likely that there were two teams of reporters at the time, one covering the industry conference and the other interviewing Shen Kang. There's no need to tell Kang Changgeng about this for now.

"...This meeting originally had nothing to do with us, but many of those bosses knew Xiao Shen and were so enthusiastic that they insisted on dragging him to their meetings."

Upon hearing this, Shen Kang added, "They mainly want me to go on stage and say a few words to them. If it were just about attending the meeting, I could decline, but since they've invited me to speak, it would seem like I'm stingy and unwilling to share my success story if I don't go. So it's really hard to refuse."

Qian Mingen suppressed a laugh and nodded seriously, "Yes, I hope Xiao Shen can go on stage and say a few words to them. Xiao Shen's words make sense. If he refuses again, it seems like he's stingy and unwilling to share his success experience. I thought it made sense when I heard it, so I agreed to let Xiao Shen go over there."

Upon hearing this, Kang Changgeng became restless.

Even though he knew Qian Mingen very well and knew that Qian Mingen wouldn't speak without reason, what he was saying now was really a bit outrageous.

Would business owners really invite a college student to speak at such a high-end industry conference, one that even has journalists covering it? To share their success stories? It sounds like they're just bragging.

But he hesitated, not daring to voice his doubts—what if Qian Ming'en was telling the truth? If he voiced his doubts, wouldn't he look like a clown, offering himself up for a slap in the face?

But if we don't question it, and Qian Mingen really does exaggerate again and gets away with it, that wouldn't be good...

Fortunately, Kang Changgeng did not come alone this time.

Just as Kang Changgeng hesitated, Xiao Qiu, who was sitting next to him, couldn't sit still any longer and spoke up: "Dean Qian, should the bosses at those industry conferences invite this student, Shen Kang, to go up and say a few words?"

He felt that Shen Kang's boasting was getting more and more outrageous, and this Dean Qian was actually helping him to boast? Or was Dean Qian also being deceived by him?

Xiao Qiu felt it was necessary to stand up, investigate the truth, and set things right.

Qian Ming'en glanced at Xiao Qiu, feeling a little puzzled. Could this really be the spy he had planted next to Lao Kang? Why didn't he remember her?

But it didn't matter, Qian Ming'en continued, following Xiao Qiu's lead: "Yeah. Xiao Shen does have some businesses outside of school, like Anjia Housekeeping, have you heard of him?"

Kang Changgeng and Xiao Qiu both nodded.

"That's what Xiao Shen founded," Qian Ming'en said. "But how did Xiao Shen, who runs a housekeeping business, get involved with those manufacturing bosses? I don't know the details, so Xiao Shen, you should explain it to me."

Shen Kang then picked up the thread, "Besides Anjia Housekeeping, I also started Anjia Technology, which has already launched a smart rice cooker. So, it's part of Yangcheng's manufacturing industry. Perhaps because my business model was quite innovative, they invited me over to learn from them. After my speech at the meeting, quite a few people were indeed interested in my business model, and we've already reached cooperation agreements with several companies..."

Kang Changgeng was feeling rather uneasy.

It seems that, just as he thought, Qian Ming'en really wouldn't speak without reason.

He had heard of Anjia Household Services before, and his own family had even used their services. The fact that they could talk about such specific things meant it was probably true; it seemed that Anjia Household Services really was founded by this college student named Shen Kang.

Otherwise, if it were a matter of boasting or lying about specific company names, it would be exposed immediately, and it's not something Qian Ming'en would do.

Therefore, the Anjia Technology that Shen Kang mentioned is most likely true.

Thinking of this, Kang Changgeng glanced at Xiao Qiu beside him, then immediately looked away, feeling a bit annoyed: he was hoping to use Xiao Qiu to teach Lao Qian a lesson, but he didn't expect that while he was still struggling with college students and competitions, Lao Qian's students had already reached the level of social and business elites, chatting and laughing with bosses, giving speeches, and cooperating with them.

In comparison, their side was suddenly at a significant disadvantage...

Kang Changgeng felt like he was participating in an arms race with a box cutter in his hands.

No, it's not a paper cutter, it's a nail clipper.

Xiao Qiu sat there, listening in a daze.

He felt that Qian Ming'en spoke with such certainty and detail that it seemed very real, but at the same time, he didn't quite believe it.

He himself couldn't tell whether it was because he found it unreasonable and didn't believe it, or simply because he didn't want to believe it...

Then, Xiao Qiu secretly glanced at He Qiuzhu.

He Qiuzhu was holding the cup of milk tea, with the straw in her mouth, staring intently at Shen Kang.

Xiao Qiu was all too familiar with that look—when he went on stage to receive the top prize, a female student in the front row had the same look in her eyes, but she was looking at him, while this fairy was looking at someone else.

Xiao Qiu's Adam's apple bobbed, and that feeling of resentment surged up again.

He cleared his throat, keeping his voice at a "politely questioning" tone: "Shen Kang, do you have any evidence for what you're saying—Anjia Home Services, Anjia Technology, smart rice cookers—? It's not that I don't believe you, it's just...it's too much of a coincidence. There just happened to be an industry conference on the day of the provincial competition, and those bosses just happened to know you, and they just happened to invite you to speak on stage, and your teammates just happened to be so capable that they could replace you and even win the game... So many 'coincidences' coming together, doesn't it sound a little too perfect?"

He emphasized the word "evidence" as if he were pointing out logical flaws in the opponent's argument in a classroom.

After he finished speaking, he subconsciously straightened his chest, and the grand prize badge flashed again under the fluorescent light.

Kang Changgeng picked up the cup of herbal tea on the table that he had previously disliked and took a slow sip.

He remained silent, neither stopping nor defending the teacup, simply leaning back in his chair with a gentle, noncommittal smile on his face.

This stance was perfectly executed—if Xiao Qiu was right, he, as the mentor, would naturally be proud; if Xiao Qiu was rebuffed, it would simply be that the student was being naive and talking nonsense, and it had nothing to do with Kang Changgeng.

Qian Mingen glanced at Kang Changgeng.

He knew his old rival all too well—silence meant tacit approval, and tacit approval meant instigation. Kang Changgeng was using Xiao Qiu as a pebble to test the waters, throwing it into a pit to hear the sound and gauge its depth, while he himself remained hidden behind, not getting a drop of water.

Shen Kang understood as well, but before he could speak, Qian Ming'en spoke first.

"Little Qiu,"

Qian Ming'en pushed his reading glasses down and looked at Xiao Qiu from above the frames. His gaze was like that of someone looking at a student who had raised their hand to answer a question, kind but with a hint of pity, as if asking, "Are you sure you want to answer this question?"

"That's a good question. Scholarship is all about evidence, not just empty words. Old Kang, the students you've mentored certainly have a rigorous spirit."

Kang Changgeng's hand holding the teacup stiffened slightly.

He was put in a very awkward position by Qian Mingen's words: praising his student for being rigorous was tantamount to admitting that Xiao Qiu's questioning was reasonable; but if Xiao Qiu's questioning was proven wrong, then this "rigor" would become "blindness".

"Xiao Shen,"

Qian Ming'en turned to Shen Kang, speaking casually as if discussing what was served in the cafeteria that day, "Since Xiao Qiu wants to see the evidence, just show it to him. Otherwise, people will think that people from our School of Economics and Management are all just braggarts."

Shen Kang scratched his head, looking somewhat troubled.

"Dean Qian, where am I supposed to find evidence all at once?"

Qian Mingen looked at him meaningfully and said, "That's a good option."

It means that I, the "undercover agent" who I don't even know when I was planted, have been cooperating for so long, and the climax has arrived. It's time to unleash the ultimate move. You shouldn't hold back anymore, hurry up and release the ultimate move.

Shen Kang gave an awkward smile. "No, really. Dean Qian, I did exchange a lot of business cards back then, but who in their right mind would carry around those business cards all the time?"

"..."

Qian Ming'en's expression froze.

Xiao Qiu straightened his back a bit more and glanced at He Qiuzhu, intentionally or unintentionally.

Kang Changgeng's expression shifted slightly, and he was overjoyed: he had only asked Xiao Qiu to do it on a whim, but it seemed to have actually worked? He didn't care about the consequences, but at least for this moment, he had saved face.

"But my business card is in my office at the startup base," Shen Kang said, glancing at Qian Ming'en's expression. "If anyone's interested, why don't we go take a look? Dean Kang has come all this way, so he can give us some guidance on our work."

Upon hearing this, Qian Ming'en immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes, Xiao Shen, Dean Kang is also very insightful in terms of entrepreneurship. If he hadn't chosen to become a teacher, but instead pursued a career in business, he might be the CEO of a large company today."

As he spoke, he stood up and said, "Let's go, Lao Kang. Since we're already here, let's go and give Xiao Shen some pointers on his work."

Kang Changgeng also stood up, waving his hands repeatedly with a smile on his face, "No, no, I'm just passing by. I have something to do right away and need to take Xiao Qiu there immediately, so I won't go. Next time, next time for sure."

Just kidding, judging from Qian Mingen's attitude, how could I possibly go with him?

Taking advantage of the current momentum, since Qian Ming'en and Shen Kang couldn't explain themselves to each other and he hadn't fallen too far behind, the best course of action was to quickly withdraw and make a run for it.

Xiao Qiu really wanted to go.

"Dean Kang..."

He felt he had seen through Shen Kang; he was the typical boastful type, able to brag as if it were the truth, but when it came to verification, all sorts of excuses would appear. Xiao Qiu could even imagine that once they got there, Shen Kang would find some other pretext to delay the transfer.

He had seen too many people like this in the student union. They would talk a lot of nonsense at meetings, but when it came time to submit materials, they would disappear.

So Xiao Qiu really wanted to go and kick a man when he's down.

He had barely begun speaking when Kang Changgeng interrupted him, "Xiao Qiu, are you talking about the competition? Let's talk about it when we get back."

As he spoke, he made a move to leave and quickly made a getaway with Xiao Qiu.

Qian Ming'en was getting a little anxious. "No, no, no, Lao Kang, the startup base isn't far. We can go take a look. It won't take much time."

"Fine, fine, Lao Qian, it's not like I don't trust you. Whatever you say goes."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Hehe, it doesn't mean anything, I just trust you."...

One wanted to take people to see it, while the other refused to go no matter what. It seemed that Kang Changgeng was about to slip away when a voice rang out in the room.

"There's no need to go to the startup hub."

The slightly aloof female voice seemed abrupt amidst the argument between the two grown men, causing Qian Ming'en and Kang Changgeng to temporarily stop bickering.

Everyone looked toward the source of the sound.

It is He Qiuzhu.

She stood up, standing there timidly, and took a USB drive out of her pocket. "It contains Shen Kang's television interviews from back then."

"..."

"..."

"..."