Chapter 300: It is noble to cast a long line to catch a big fish

At about nine o'clock the next morning, Li Yang arrived at the Collande Academy. According to what he had learned beforehand, this was a time when the teachers in charge of the dormitory had just finished their morning duties and it was not yet noon, which was a leisurely time. So Li Yang, who happened to not have a class, chose this time to come and find More.

Yesterday, I lost face here and made Teacher Zhou Ming so disappointed in me. If I can't redeem myself today, how can I live up to Teacher Zhou Ming's trust and the oath I made to him?

Li Yang clenched his fists and cheered himself on mentally, then strode towards Collard College with a determined gaze. However, he was stopped by the warden at the door. The warden said to him, 'You are the Chinese person from yesterday. Didn't Professor Moore tell you not to come see him again and say that you are not allowed in Collard College? Why are you here today?'

'It's like this. I came here to rebuild my image. I know that I gave a bad impression at Professor Moore's yesterday, so I want to change that today. And I'm pretty sure that the project I mentioned to Professor Moore about the convenience store in the dormitory is definitely a good one that will benefit all the students, even you and Professor Moore. It shouldn't be ignored, so I think I need to try a little harder.'

Li Yang said firmly to the warden, 'Warden, I know you also have very strong feelings for Collard College, and because of this, I also believe that you will think of all the students. Then today, I don't need you to be biased or even cooperate with me, I just need you to nod. I believe that the entire Collard College will hang your poster because of this, and even stick it on the wall of the dormitory to introduce you to all future people.'

'I believe that in the face of the interests of all students, Warden, I believe you will make the right choice...'

As Li Yang finished speaking, the warden couldn't hold back any longer. Pointing at Li Yang, he shouted, 'Get the hell out of here! I don't know what happened between you and Mr Moore, but I know if I let you in today, I'll lose my job.'

'Warden, I just told you, our dormitory convenience store project is a good project that will benefit future generations. In the future, all the students will always remember your name, Warden.'

At the end, Li Yang added, 'If your job will be lost because of this, I think I can definitely hire you to work for me.'

The warden was slightly shaken at first, but as soon as he heard Li Yang say this, he immediately flew into a rage. He slammed his hand down on the table, pointed at Li Yang and said forcefully, 'This is none of your business. I don't need you to recommend my job. I only know that my responsibility is to ensure the safety of all students in the college. Now, you, Chinese person, I want you to leave here immediately, or I will call the police!'

With these words from the warden, Li Yang knew that his efforts on his first day had been in vain. Back in the dormitory, Zhou Ming and Ye Ning, the secretary of the student union, were waiting in the lobby. Seeing Li Yang come back, Ye Ning went up to ask how things were going. Li Yang shook his head regretfully. He looked at Zhou Ming and wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words.

Zhou Ming asked Li Yang to sit down first, and then said to him, 'Li Yang, have you forgotten what I told you yesterday? There is no such thing as easy success in this world. It doesn't make sense for you to make a resolution and then go to the warden and he just agrees. That's too much, isn't it? You didn't even have breakfast when you left in the morning. The students here have saved you some. Although it's a bit cold, it's still warm. Just eat it.'

Zhou Ming said, and handed the breakfast on the table to Li Yang. Li Yang looked at the steaming soy milk buns in front of him, and couldn't help but feel his eyes well up.

'Teacher, I'm sorry, I wasn't mentally prepared, and I've let you down again,' Li Yang said.

Zhou Ming gave Li Yang a comforting smile: "I'm not disappointed, because I know you've tried your best. I'll only be truly disappointed if you give up like this.'

'Teacher, don't worry, I won't give up, never!" Li Yang said in a very firm tone.

'I have confidence in this, but often it's not enough to just have confidence. You also have to think of ways to do it.'

Zhou Ming said to Li Yang, 'Some people say that when dealing with customers, you have to be persistent and learn to use your brain, just like when wooing a girlfriend. Otherwise, a customer who is as reserved as a young lady will not willingly follow you.'

'But I don't have a girlfriend,' Li Yang said, embarrassed.

Zhou Ming was a little helpless, but he didn't dwell on it and simply skipped over it, saying, 'That's why you have to find a way. Go and deliver breakfast to him in the morning. With a little perseverance, sweet talk, and a little of your own ideas, you can easily convince the other person. And the most important thing is, don't be in a hurry. You have to remember that sometimes fishing for big fish with a long line is also a noble act.'

Li Yang listened attentively and nodded, saying, 'Teacher, I understand. I will think of another way. I will never give up on this dormitory convenience store project!'

Li Yang finally expressed his determination to Zhou Ming, and then began to eat. The next morning, he once again went to Unit A of the Collande College. It was the same warden, and he still stopped Li Yang from entering. However, this time Li Yang did not come empty-handed. He also brought the warden a sandwich.

'Mr Warden, this is a particularly delicious sandwich. I know that your job is particularly hard. Even when you want to have breakfast, you have to go to the canteen carefully, so that you won't get complaints if students come to visit and you're not there. So I often wonder, if there was a convenience store in the dormitory, then you could eat breakfast without worry, right?'

Li Yang walked into unit A with a sandwich in his hand. However, the warden was not so talkative in the face of Li Yang's attentiveness, and still said in a bad mood, 'Why is it you Chinese again? Didn't I tell you to get lost and not come back? I really will call the police!'

Li Yang put the sandwich on the warden's desk and said to him, 'Warden, of course I came here because I saw that you were working too hard. I brought you a breakfast, but I don't know what kind of flavour you like, so please forgive me if it doesn't suit your taste.'

The warden was very surprised. He looked up and down at Li Yang and said, 'You say this sandwich is for me? God, I don't remember ordering any takeaway.'

The warden added, emphasising his point, 'And I'm not a teacher, I'm just an employee of the dormitory.'

Li Yang shook his head and said, 'I remember there's a proverb in the Middle East that says anyone who teaches us something is a teacher. Although you are only the warden in your position, you manage the dormitory and teach students more about life. This is what can influence a student's life, so in a way, you have a greater influence on students than other teachers!'

'Are you kidding? How can I possibly have an impact on my students?' the warden asked, stunned.

'Of course you can. I remember someone once saying that life is the greatest teacher of wisdom. And you, warden, are the one who takes care of your students' daily needs. You may not know the Goldbach conjecture, what a mathematical black hole is, or financial concepts and how to invest in a business, but you teach your students about life, and no one else can do that. It's the most important concept that will influence your students' lives!'

Li Yang concluded, 'Therefore, the warden is more important than everyone else!'

'I'm important? You may be Chinese, but you're also a Harvard student. I can't believe I've been recognised by a university student. This is so exciting!'

The warden was overjoyed, and his body trembled involuntarily. It was clear that he was very emotional.

'You deserve to be recognised, it's just that other people can't see it,' Li Yang said, handing the warden a sandwich, "This is the breakfast I brought for the teacher.'

In the end, Li Yang gave the warden a smile, and the warden said excitedly, "Yes, everyone else is blind, their eyes are only on the money, they don't even know how important I am. You're still smart, Chinese. I know you want to see Teacher Moore, I'll take you to him right now, even if he scolds me, even if my job doesn't want me, I'll help you!'

Seeing that the warden was very emotional, Li Yang was also very emotional at this time. At the same time, he also admired Zhou Ming even more, because his own words just now were Zhou Ming's guidance.

However, Li Yang knew that this was not the time to let out a sigh of relief. After all, his goal was to convince the dorm teacher in charge, Moore. Now he had only passed the warden's test, and only had the opportunity to enter Collande College to see Moore. There was still some way to go before success.

Thinking about this, Li Yang said to the warden, 'First of all, I am very grateful that you are willing to let me in, but now you don't need to do that. I didn't come with any ulterior motives. I truly think that you are very important.'

'I want to see Mr. Moore, and I don't feel there is any conflict between that and not making you, the warden, feel awkward,' Li Yang said.

The warden nodded firmly and said, 'That's right, Chinese person, it seems that you really have my best interests at heart. I was actually just wondering if you were saying those things to me on purpose and doing that to me in order to see Moore. It seems that I am despicable and wretched. You are a truly great person. Your tolerance makes anyone ashamed. No matter what you want to do, I believe you will definitely succeed!'

Li Yang was surprised by the warden's words, because he knew very well that he was not as noble as the warden said. To be honest, the warden was not his type. He was preparing to reel in the big fish with a long-term approach, but he never expected the warden to think of it that way. It seems that the teacher was right when he said that reeling in the big fish with a long-term approach is sometimes a noble act.

The warden then added, 'Chinese friend, you are my best friend. No matter what you want to do, I can help you. I know you want to see Mr Moore, and I know all his schedules.'