Chapter 160: Discussing the Price

With Principal Ding’s explanation, Xiao Cheng understood. The previous commission-based contract signed with Fan Xing stipulated that for every student introduced to Fan Xing, Xiao Cheng would receive a 35 percent commission. Strictly speaking, this contract was rather difficult to execute because Fan Xing had no easy way to determine which student was introduced by Xiao Cheng, nor was it convenient to track. The only reason Xiao Cheng had dared to sign such an agreement with her was his conviction that Principal Ding would never dare to swindle him. Now that she brought up this issue, it seemed she was indeed in a difficult spot.

It was inherently an untrackable matter. If she gave too much, Fan Xing would suffer a loss; if she gave too little, she feared Xiao Cheng would be dissatisfied. This was precisely what gave Principal Ding a headache.

Xiao Cheng smiled and asked, "Principal Ding, do you have any plans in mind?"

Principal Ding cautiously probed, "That previous contract... when I signed it, I simply thought you were just introducing some small class or something, and I never anticipated your massive news effect. Now the school's student recruitment is exceptionally booming, but it's hard to say which student was actually recommended by you, yet to say they weren't—without your signboard hanging here, they might not have enrolled either. Look, could we refine this contract, or... or perhaps sign a new one?"

This was entirely within Xiao Cheng's expectations.

"Then what good ideas do you have, Principal Ding?"

"Xiao Cheng, do you think we could change the model of the commission contract into an endorsement?" Actually, Principal Ding had been prepared long ago, and a draft endorsement agreement was handed to Xiao Cheng right away. "I specifically asked our company's legal advisor to draft this. Have a look."

Xiao Cheng took the agreement and scanned it quickly. To be fair, this agreement showed quite a bit of sincerity: a one-off payment of two million yuan as an endorsement fee, requiring Xiao Cheng to film commercial videos and posters for Fan Xing, cooperate with Fan Xing's various promotional campaigns, and—on the premise of not affecting his studies—participate as much as possible in various experience-sharing seminars, promotional events, and the like hosted by Fan Xing. The agreement period was set for five years, and the most crucial point was that during the agreement term, he was prohibited from endorsing other similar enterprises.

Two million yuan was indeed a substantial sum. If they had stuck to the previous commission agreement, Xiao Cheng roughly calculated that he could probably have made around 1.6 or 1.7 million yuan. Yet, knowing he could potentially earn more, Xiao Cheng shook his head this time.

"I'm not very interested in this agreement."

"Ah?" A trace of panic appeared on Principal Ding's face. "Is there some part you're unsatisfied with? Two million is already a lot; this price is enough to hire a top-tier celebrity for an endorsement. You know, according to our original agreement, you could at most get around 1.7 million. Sign it, Xiao Cheng, this is a win-win agreement for both of us!"

Xiao Cheng smiled slightly. "It's not about the money. It's just that recently, I've been hesitating—is learning this Olympiad math actually useful? Students are already exhausted. At such a tender age, they don't even have a shred of time of their own. Take me for example, in order to attend this elite class, I have to wake up at five in the morning and leave home by six just to ensure I'm not late. And by the time I finish a full day of classes and head back, it's probably seven or eight in the evening when I get home. This is supposed to be vacation time; did my vacation just vanish like this?"

Principal Ding felt a sudden urge to curse, though she didn't dare, and muttered inwardly: Don't take me for a fool, kid. Are you really here to take classes? You're basically here to date!

Of course, she couldn't voice these thoughts aloud, so Principal Ding could only explain patiently: "There's nothing we can do; competition is just this fierce nowadays. If you study Olympiad math and make it through to the semifinals, you get a ten-point advantage in the high school entrance exams! How many people can those ten points pull apart? Right? Which parents don't feel heartache for their children, but what choice do they have? If you don't strive now, you are bound to be eliminated by society. And we—we merely provide educational services!"

Xiao Cheng wore a bitter expression. "I understand all the reasoning, but just look at the high myopia glasses sitting on the bridge of every child's nose out there, and look at those dull, vacant eyes behind the lenses. Aside from taking exams, what else do they know how to do? I always feel that a child's childhood shouldn't be like this. They lose their laughter and their songs far too early..."

Tears almost welled up in Principal Ding's eyes: "Hearing you put it this way, why do I feel like the career I'm running is utterly devoid of conscience?"

Xiao Cheng sighed as well. "Yeah, I have a psychological burden too. It feels like signing this contract is just like selling my soul to the devil!"

Principal Ding was practically crying: So I'm the devil?

"Therefore, the contract can't be like this!"

"Huh?" Principal Ding had been on the verge of despair, but upon hearing Xiao Cheng's words, hope reignited—there was still a chance!

"The contract amount needs to be changed to 2.5 million! Otherwise, I won't be able to get past this hurdle in my heart!"

This time, Principal Ding felt like vomiting blood on the spot. Even when negotiating money, you don't need to be this emotionally manipulative, do you? First you bring up thick lenses, then vacant eyes, making it sound as if I'm the one murdering children's vacations and committing monstrous sins! And yet, after twisting your words, you raise the price? Why didn't you just say so directly?

"Xiao Cheng, with 2.5 million, I could directly fly to Japan and invite Teacher Sora."

Xiao Cheng maintained his sorrowful expression. "If Teacher Sora endorses you, do you think parents will send their kids here?"

"But your price exceeds my capability!"

"Don't underestimate your own capability."

"Didn't you just question whether Olympiad math classes are even useful?"

"Questioning is one thing, it doesn't affect making money. Even if Fan Xing goes under, isn't there still Sunflower over there? Whichever way you look at it, those poor kids are going to be tormented by someone, so at least if you torment them, I can still get a cut."

Actually, negotiating the price was only one aspect; Xiao Cheng genuinely had his own views on Olympiad math training.

"How about this, Principal Ding? Two million is fine, but I won't take the remaining 500,000. Let's leave it at Fan Xing and launch an online school project. What do you think?"

Even with 70 percent of the market share, Fan Xing was limited to Yangguang City alone, and it was hard to reach other cities. With the training market booming this year, Principal Ding had indeed considered opening branch schools or franchising, but right now during the vacation season—the busiest time of the year—she simply lacked the energy. Relatively speaking, opening an online school was indeed a brilliant idea.

The teachers would be the same teachers, and the resources the same resources; it would simply mean uploading various teaching contents and videos to the internet, then using a membership system to differentiate and charge for viewing, while customizing corresponding study plans. The cost would be vastly lower than opening branch schools, while the audience base would expand countless times over! Especially after the sensational effect caused by this Olympiad math competition, Fan Xing Training could easily hitch a ride on this high-speed train.

Xiao Cheng had even deeper thoughts: because the cost of online teaching was low, the tuition fees would also be affordable, saving travel time. More importantly, for those children who had no interest and were simply kidnapped into it by their parents, it would provide them with a new way out.

If wasting time was equivalent to murdering life, online training was far superior to this kind of cram-school training. It only swindled money; at the very least, it didn't murder lives. With just a click of a switch, students could enjoy the vacations that rightfully belonged to them.

Principal Ding nodded. "That truly is a great idea! That way, many students living far away or even in other cities can study through the internet—just like if you lived in Dongfeng Town..."

Xiao Cheng shook his head. "No matter how difficult or exhausting it is, I will still come in person!"

Principal Ding smiled as well, giving him an "I know what you mean" look.

*(Author's note: Actually, I think having Teacher Sora do the endorsement would yield even better results. Things got busy right around the Lunar New Year, and I couldn't write for two days. Fortunately, I had some chapters saved up.)*