Chapter 7: Self-righteous

9:00 a.m. Zhou Ming came out of the shower and heard the dormitory door being knocked on. Zhou Ming was taking a shower at this time because he had just returned from his morning run. As a born-again person, Zhou Ming is very clear about the importance of a person's physical fitness to success. After all, without a healthy body, running to the hospital every other day, I'm afraid I'll collapse during the start-up phase. Therefore, Zhou Ming insists on exercising every day.

Zhou Ming opened the door. It was Li Yang, the vice-class monitor of the finance class. He handed Zhou Ming a document and reported, 'Teacher, this is the business report of the dormitory convenience store for the past week. At present, the turnover of the dormitory convenience store has increased significantly after the implementation of the daily half-price activity. Compared with before, it has increased by at least 40 percentage points. However, I am a bit worried that this is only temporary enthusiasm for the activity. After a long time, people will no longer have any expectations.'

'This is a normal situation,' Zhou Ming said, letting Li Yang enter the room. After they sat down, they continued, "But we can make the activity time-limited and vary the time each time, so that we can maintain the enthusiasm of consumers for as long as possible.'

'There's another situation, teacher. Recently, someone has been distributing these flyers on campus." Li Yang took out a small flyer and gave it to Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming took the leaflet, which showed a picture of a pond full of dead cow carcasses, and underneath it was a short but shocking sentence: 'Want to know why it's half price? It's because that's the kind of beef they use! These heartless businessmen think everyone is a vulture who eats carrion!'

'What heartless businessmen offering half price discounts? This is clearly talking about our dorm convenience store, because we are currently the only ones running a daily half price promotion at Harvard!' Li Yang said angrily.

'When was this discovered? What impact has it had on the dormitory convenience store?' Zhou Ming asked with concern.

Although Zhou Ming now has Wharton Insurance Company and has attracted nearly 100 million dollars in insurance premiums through the insurance company, he has never given up on the dormitory convenience store project. After all, this is his starting point in the United States, and it can also provide a good exercise in business management for his classmates in the finance class. In addition, more importantly, it may come in handy at any time, so it has been kept here. Zhou Ming is also more concerned about it.

Li Yang thought for a moment and replied, 'This flyer was received by Huang Ping on his way to the library this morning. He felt that the situation was relatively important and immediately brought it back to me. I also just returned from the dorm convenience store. This morning, the sales of hamburgers in the convenience store decreased by 30% compared to usual.'

Zhou Ming nodded silently: 'It seems that this flyer was distributed last night or this morning, and the purpose is to target our convenience store.'

'Teacher, what should we do? Call the police immediately? But we don't even know who did this,' Li Yang asked Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming did not give a direct answer but asked Li Yang in return, 'Don't know who? Li Yang, didn't you say before that although Brooke Jr. was arrested, his store is still here?'

Li Yang suddenly understood: 'I see, I guess this must also be something his father did to get back at him!'

'Now that we know who it is, let's go about it in two ways. Li Yang, you call the police right away and also invite lawyer Alan. We'll leave the specifics to him, as he's more familiar with the process. As for the beef...' Zhou Ming thought for a moment and said, 'I think we can hold a hamburger-eating contest. Not only will it promote the convenience store brand, it will also clear the name of our beef.'

Zhou Ming's words made Li Yang's eyes light up. He said happily, 'Teacher, your idea is great. My classmates at Harvard are very enthusiastic. I believe this competition will be spectacular!'

At the end, Li Yang hesitated and asked, "Teacher, do we still need to learn from them and hand out flyers to fight back?'

Zhou Ming nodded and said, "Of course. If you don't return the favour, it's not polite! I'll leave this to you, Li Yang. Although you're a science student, I hope you can come up with a good slogan.'

'Great!' Li Yang said happily, "Don't worry, teacher, I promise to complete the task!'

'I have confidence in you." Then, Zhou Ming remembered something and asked, "By the way, doesn't Ye Ning usually do the summary report? Why are you, Li Yang, reporting to me today? Is there something wrong with Ye Ning?'

'Teacher, actually, there's nothing wrong. This is Ye Ning's responsibility, but it's also my responsibility," Li Yang said.

In fact, originally Zhou Ming was just asking casually, but after hearing Li Yang's answer, he immediately realised the problem and frowned, asking, 'Li Yang, I know you are very eloquent, but you can't fool me. Just tell me what happened. I'll tell you, this is the United States, and if Ye Ning has had an accident, you simply can't afford it!'

Zhou Ming's tone was full of unquestioned authority, and Li Yang could not withstand Zhou Ming's pressure and had to confess honestly: 'Teacher, I'm sorry, I don't want to lie to you. Ye Ning went to see Omar. She took all the blame for the last time on herself. She said she had to persuade Omar to come back.'

'This Ye Ning, I already said that this was not her responsibility. I was just being naive.'

Zhou Ming grumbled and then asked, 'So where did Ye Ning go? Is she still at the law school library?'

Li Yang nodded and said yes, and Zhou Ming immediately changed his clothes and went out. Of course, before going out, Zhou Ming did not forget to throw a sentence at Li Yang: 'You are so self-righteous, I will deal with you when I come back.'

Zhou Ming went out to the car and arrived in front of the Harvard Law School Library Building. Ye Ning was still here, just her alone, sitting on the bench in front of the door, staring at the library building in a daze.

Zhou Ming sighed and walked over gently. Before he reached her, Ye Ning spoke first: 'I'm sorry, I'm waiting for my friend. If you don't mind, could you please go sit somewhere else? Thanks.'

Despite what Ye Ning said, Zhou Ming sat down without hesitation and said, "Is that so? Then I guess I'm the friend you're waiting for.'

Hearing Zhou Ming's voice, Ye Ning's body trembled. She turned back, stunned: "Teacher...why are you here?'

Zhou Ming laughed: 'If I didn't come, how long were you planning to wait here for? A day, a year, or would you just turn into a stone statue?'

Ye Ning couldn't laugh at Zhou Ming's humour. She just lowered her head: 'Teacher, I'm sorry, I'm really useless. Today, I still couldn't convince Omar; and it seems I even annoyed him. He said that if any more Chinese people went to invite him to run for office, he would call the police...'

'I know, but it's not your fault. I know you've tried your best. You've researched Omar's information and habits, and you even came here early to wait for him across the Charles River. This is not easy, but some things are really hard to force. Our Mr. Omar also hates politics. I think we should just let it go.'

Zhou Ming continued, 'As for him calling the police, let him do it. That's his freedom. We can't stop him, and it has nothing to do with you.'

'Now Li Yang is already preparing his campaign in the dormitory. I have already consulted with Lawyer Allen, and he is already helping to prepare some of the necessary legal materials. I believe we have an excellent candidate,' Zhou Ming said to Ye Ning.

'Teacher, you really don't blame me?' Ye Ning asked, very touched.

'Of course not,' Zhou Ming then changed the subject and continued, 'but if you continue to find another man behind my back, I will really be angry.'

Ye Ning's pretty face turned red at this, and she covered her face with her hands, pouting, 'Teacher, what are you talking about? How could I find another man behind your back...'

When Zhou Ming finally started flirting with his student, on the other side in Lexington, Anthony took a car to the old Brooke villa.

'Brother Brook, I heard some very interesting news at the Brighton City Police Department today. It is said that the Chinese man Ming Zhou's property on Harvard campus has been viciously attacked by illegal flyers. You didn't do this, did you?'

As soon as Anthony entered the villa, he asked Old Brook, of course his actions were indeed an inquiry, but in fact his tone did not carry any meaning of inquiry, he was already very sure of the facts.

Old Brook had received a phone call from Anthony that he was coming over, and he was standing at the door of the living room on the first floor to greet Anthony. In the face of Anthony's inquiry, Old Brook replied, 'Mr. Anthony, I am very sad to hear you say that. How could you think that? I admit that my son's Harvard campus properties have been taken over by my company, but that is only a very small part of my many properties, and it is the part I care least about.'

Anthony smiled gently and said, 'My dear Brook, you can lie to me, but I must also tell you that Zhou Ming's lawyer has publicly stated that he will pursue this matter to the end and must find the person or organisation behind the malicious slander and sue them.'

'If he wants to sue, let him sue. Am I afraid of him? A little Chinese man, I can crush him at will...'

Old Brook's words came to an abrupt end just as he spoke, and Anthony over there immediately changed his expression and slammed his hand down on the table. 'Mr Brook, do you think I came here today just to joke with you? Do you remember what I told you last time? If you don't remember, I don't mind helping you to recall. I said that this matter is very complicated, and that even I can't handle it casually, let alone you!'

Old Brook lowered his head and said with pain, 'But Anthony, I can't accept it. I really can't accept it. Why is he, a Chinese, so arrogant in Brighton? Why can't he be bullied like other Chinese? Why does he dare to defy us?'

Anthony sighed, patted Old Brook on the shoulder and said to him, 'Brook, my brother, I can understand how you feel, because I also like your son Brook very much, and I also have the pride of being an American. I don't want to bow my head in front of that Chinese person either.'

Anthony said, and immediately changed the subject: 'But brother, there is a way to do everything, we must be patient, at least for now. I can promise you that when the time comes, I will do my best to help you deal with that Chinese person. At that time, unless China and the United States go to war and the entire United States has to protect him, otherwise I will help you get rid of him, I promise.'

Anthony finally said, 'But before that, you must restrain your emotions.'

'But as far as I know, that Chinese guy has also organised a foundation to run in the elections,' Old Brook threw another question.

Anthony said disdainfully, "Conceited, do you think he can win the election?"