Chapter 183: Manager Tan
Cheng Qianqian’s exit from the examination hall drew the attention of many parents.
"Look, a girl came out! Are this year’s problems that easy?"
"This is the Math Olympiad! How could the problems possibly be easy? That girl must have given up, right?"
"What a shame. Such a pretty girl, but her mental fortitude must be weak to give up so easily."
"How do you know she gave up? She looks so confident. She must have done great on the test!"
"Stop arguing. We’ll find out tomorrow if she did well or not. You have to score at least a third-prize equivalent in the first round to even qualify for the second!"
...
As all eyes were on her, Cheng Qianqian headed straight for the Mercedes-Benz van.
Unlike the gossiping onlookers, Zhang Jing and the others had a lot of faith in Cheng Qianqian. After all, she’d taken first place in both practice tests; she wasn’t the type to just give up.
"Teacher Zhang, Teacher Li, Brother, and you two Uncles, I’m back!"
Zhang Jing smiled and asked, "Qianqian, you came out so early. Were the problems that simple?"
Cheng Qianqian tilted her head and thought for a moment. If her brother hadn’t helped her organize her thoughts, these exam problems would have been quite difficult.
She gave a fair assessment, "About normal difficulty, I’d say. But about 10% of the material was beyond the curriculum."
10% beyond the curriculum??
Zhang Jing and Li Yankui looked at each other, stunned.
Last year, only 5% of the material was beyond the curriculum!
Looks like this year’s test was even harder than last year’s!
And Cheng Qianqian finished so quickly? ’Just how good is she?’
"Qianqian, what do you think you scored? Can you get a 90? No, wait, this year’s test is harder than last year’s. An 80 should be enough to advance to the second round."
Cheng Qianqian said modestly, "I don’t think it will be a problem."
Cheng Yuan smiled. "If Qianqian says it’s no problem, then that means she’s 99% sure."
Beside them, Ji Yanjun and Li Bo wore complicated expressions. ’He managed to show off again!’
’But there was no way to argue with him. So frustrating!’
The remaining 20 minutes passed quickly. Most of the students hadn’t finished, but they had no choice but to turn in their tests.
Ji Tingting and Li Xin followed the stream of people out of the examination hall and arrived at the van.
The group looked at the two of them with expectant gazes.
Teacher Zhang asked, somewhat hopefully, "Tingting, Li Xin, how did you two do?"
Ji Tingting said with great confidence, "I’m pretty sure I got most of them right. I should be fine. I think I can score over 100."
Li Xin gave a wry smile. "I didn’t finish the last problem, so I’ll get around 90, I guess."
Li Yankui smiled comfortingly. "A 90 can still get you into the second round! Don’t be discouraged, Li Xin. This year’s test was on the difficult side."
As he spoke, he shot a complicated look at Cheng Qianqian.
Li Xin turned to look at Cheng Qianqian. "Cheng Qianqian, did you figure out the last problem? I didn’t have a clue. Could you walk me through it?"
Nearby, Ji Tingting’s ears perked up. The last problem had been extremely difficult for her, too. She had barely managed to solve it after using every trick she knew.
Cheng Qianqian said in a calm voice, "The last problem was actually a little beyond the curriculum. It’s simple if you use algebra. To solve it using high school-level geometry, you need to add four auxiliary lines. You place them at..."
As Cheng Qianqian patiently explained, it dawned on Li Xin. "So it was that simple? Why didn’t I think of that? That just goes to show the limits of my thinking!"
Ji Tingting was overcome with a profound sense of helplessness. ’Oh, Heaven, if you created a Tingting, why did you also have to create a Qianqian?’
Cheng Qianqian’s method was so much simpler than hers. No wonder she finished the test so quickly.
Sensing his daughter’s disappointment, Ji Yanjun decided to restore her pride. With a touch of smugness, he announced, "I’ve already booked the rooms! Come on, let’s head to the Sofitel Hotel!"
The Sofitel Hotel was only a five-minute drive from the exam site. Soon, the group arrived.
The hotel’s guest room manager, Tan Jie, was one of Ji Yanjun’s old classmates, and they had been very close back in school.
Having received Ji Yanjun’s call, Tan Jie came out to greet them personally, pulling Ji Yanjun into a big bear hug.
"Old Ji, it’s been a while since you’ve come to the Provincial City!"
"Hahaha, well I’m here to see you now, aren’t I? By the way, assuming things go well, we’ll be having a victory dinner tonight. Old Tan, you need to book Chef Klaus for me and get us the best private room."
"No problem. You’re asking Old Tan, and that makes it my business!"
With Tan Jie showing him so much deference, Ji Yanjun was beaming. He proudly introduced Tan Jie to the group.
"Old Tan, this is Teacher Zhang and Teacher Li. And these are some of the parents, Chief Li and Mr. Cheng."
Tan Jie took the initiative and extended his hand to the group. "Hello, everyone. I’m Tan Jie, the Guest Room Manager here at the Sofitel."
Li Yankui and Li Bo were well aware that Tan Jie’s respectful treatment was entirely for Ji Yanjun’s sake. Without Ji Yanjun, a man of Tan Jie’s status wouldn’t have even deigned to look at them.
The two men eagerly shook his hand.
"Manager Tan, a pleasure, a pleasure."
Zhang Jing politely shook Tan Jie’s hand.
Tan Jie was pleased with their attitudes; it meant the personal favors he’d used to get the rooms weren’t wasted.
Tan Jie slowly extended his hand toward Cheng Yuan. "Mr. Cheng, hello."
Cheng Yuan gave a wry smile. ’He was the owner of the Sofitel Hotel. And he was expected to suck up to one of his own employees?’
’Sorry, but that’s just not going to happen.’
Cheng Yuan just barely brushed Tan Jie’s hand, letting go in an instant. His tone was bland, almost aloof.
"Hello."
This made Tan Jie frown. ’This kid has some nerve!’
’Acting like *he’s* the boss.’
Ji Yanjun was also annoyed. Tan Jie was a manager at the Sofitel Hotel. Even the scions of the Provincial City’s great families had to treat him with respect.
’What’s this Cheng guy got to be so arrogant about?’
A glint appeared in Tan Jie’s eyes, but out of respect for Ji Yanjun, he didn’t make a scene then and there.
Of course, Tan Jie wouldn’t let Cheng Yuan off so easily. He had plenty of ways to put him in his place.
An idea suddenly struck him. He turned to Ji Yanjun with an apologetic look. "Old Ji, I have to apologize. I was only able to secure two business suites and two family suites."
Ji Yanjun knew Tan Jie all too well.
He knew Tan Jie so well, the moment Tan Jie wagged his tail, he knew what kind of crap he was about to pull.
Ji Yanjun turned his head and looked at Cheng Yuan with feigned apology. "Mr. Cheng, I’m terribly sorry, but there are no more family suites. How about we arrange a standard room for you?"
Suddenly, the atmosphere grew awkward.
Li Bo and Li Yankui quickly lowered their heads, suddenly finding their shoes fascinating. They saw nothing, heard nothing; this had nothing to do with them.
Zhang Jing couldn’t stand to watch any longer and spoke up. "Mr. Cheng and Qianqian can have my business suite! Qianqian needs a good environment to prepare for her next test."
Cheng Yuan gave Zhang Jing an approving look. ’His decision to promote her hadn’t been in vain.’
Cheng Yuan gently shook his head. "Thank you for the kind offer, Teacher Zhang. But a gentleman doesn’t take what is dear to others. We’ll book a room ourselves."