Chapter 58: Meng Qiping's Girlfriend

Meng Qiping has a girlfriend!

This was the biggest news in Dorm 351 this year!

When Li Dong heard this news upon returning to the dormitory, he was still somewhat incredulous. This fat guy, who had always been so quiet, was actually in a relationship? Besides his long-distance relationship, Meng Qiping had become the first one in Dorm 351 to be single no more. It was truly unexpected for Li Dong.

However, when he learned who Meng Qiping's girlfriend was, Li Dong nearly choked on his own saliva.

"Are you guys just messing with me?" Li Dong looked at the beaming Meng Qiping with some speechlessness.

In a world full of women, why did all the guys in Dorm 351 end up with girls from Bai Su's dormitory?

Yes, Meng Qiping's girlfriend was Cheng Nan, a member of Bai Su's dormitory.

Li Tie was pursuing Bai Su, Xu Chen was pursuing Huang Shanshan, and now Meng Qiping had managed to get Cheng Nan...

This world was just too complicated. Li Dong glanced at Zhang Hao and Yuan Qingfeng, wondering if these two were also planning to get involved. If that happened, Li Dong would truly be fed up.

Looking at the smug Meng Qiping, Li Dong was genuinely curious and asked, "When did you two get together?"

Meng Qiping awkwardly chuckled a few times and stammered, "Not long ago, anyway... Anyway, she's my girlfriend now."

Li Dong didn't bother asking further. It was most likely after their last meal together.

He remembered that Meng Qiping seemed to get along well with Cheng Nan that day, and Cheng Nan had a straightforward personality, often saying things like Meng Qiping bringing children to meals was her idea.

But Li Dong remembered that at that time, Meng Qiping still saw Bai Su as a goddess. He didn't expect that so soon, Meng Qiping would switch his affection.

"Dong Ge…" Meng Qiping, feeling a bit embarrassed under Li Dong's gaze, glanced at the other dorm mates and cleared his throat. "Let's go outside. I have something to tell you."

Seeing Meng Qiping hesitating, Li Dong stopped teasing and followed him out of the dormitory.

---

The two of them went downstairs, and Meng Qiping let out a sigh of relief.

"Dong Ge, I felt stifled in the dormitory," Meng Qiping said, seeming much happier outside the dorm. He continued to complain, "You know how hard it is for me to get a girlfriend. I wanted to share the news, but everyone just had a straight face. If you didn't know better, you'd think I broke up."

Li Dong gave him a look and replied unkindly, "Well, that's what you get. You know how things are in our dorm. Why flaunt it?"

Li Tie was pursuing Bai Su with no success, Xu Chen was sulking and spending all his time playing games, and Meng Qiping showing off was clearly asking for trouble. What good response could he expect from them?

"Yeah, especially with Xu Chen…"

Though Xu Chen now acted like nothing was wrong, everyone in the dorm could see he still hadn't given up. He often daydreamed about Huang Shanshan in class.

Meng Qiping scratched his head and said with some frustration, "I initially wanted to invite everyone for a meal, but with Xu Chen and the class monitor here, Cheng Nan wouldn't agree."

"Then don't invite them. Dating is your own affair; just be happy."

Meng Qiping nodded and didn't say more, though he felt a bit depressed.

After walking for a while and chatting casually, Meng Qiping hesitated and then said, "Dong Ge, about that…"

"Speak up. You didn't bring me out just for fresh air, right? Is there something you need help with?" Li Dong had already figured Meng Qiping needed something.

Since Meng Qiping was the one who got along best with him in the dorm, if it was something manageable, Li Dong wouldn't refuse to help.

"Ahem, well, I need to borrow some money," Meng Qiping said, adding, "If you don't have much on hand, it's okay."

"How much?"

Li Dong didn't ask Meng Qiping why he needed the money. Dating usually involved spending, and considering Meng Qiping's usual expenses, it was normal for him to be short on cash.

"Five thousand… Ahem, if that's too much, one or two thousand is fine. I promise I'll pay you back before the end of the semester." Meng Qiping was afraid Li Dong would think five thousand was too much, so he lowered the amount multiple times.

Li Dong looked at him. Five thousand wasn't a small amount even in 2004. Was Meng Qiping in trouble outside? But since Meng Qiping didn't explain, Li Dong didn't press further. He nodded and said, "The money is in the dorm. I'll get it for you later."

Li Dong usually carried only a few hundred in pocket money, but he had withdrawn several tens of thousands for emergencies, stored in a locked suitcase.

Seeing Li Dong agree readily, Meng Qiping felt relieved, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

He wouldn't have dared to ask anyone else for so much, but he knew Li Dong had money. He was only worried Li Dong wouldn't lend it. Now, it seemed Dong Ge was still trustworthy!

As for how he knew Li Dong had money, that was obvious. Li Dong was constantly out, and Meng Qiping was not blind. Plus, having spent time with Li Dong, he had overheard Li Dong mention millions on the phone, which made him shiver.

Though he had some suspicions, he kept them to himself.

If it wasn't for the urgent need for money, he wouldn't have asked Li Dong.

---

After Meng Qiping and Cheng Nan's relationship became public, they no longer hid it and frequently appeared together.

In the dormitory, due to Xu Chen and Li Tie sometimes making sarcastic remarks, Meng Qiping spent less time in the dorm.

With Meng Qiping's absence and Yuan Qingfeng frequently out, Xu Chen spending all his time playing games, and Li Dong busy supervising renovations and coming back less often, Dorm 351 gradually became quieter.

---

In mid-November, Sun Tao handed over the Qingyang branch to the new manager and rushed to Pingchuan.

Second floor of Longhua Square.

This was Sun Tao's first visit to Longhua Square. When he left Pingchuan, Longhua Square was still under construction.

Standing in the still-under-construction new supermarket, Sun Tao was overwhelmed with emotions, many thoughts swirling in his mind.

"Mr. Li, I can't believe it, I really can't believe it!"

Sun Tao exclaimed, "When I left Carrefour, I never imagined that just half a year later, I'd be back here, killing it!"

"How does it compare to Carrefour's Pingchuan store?" Li Dong also wore a faint smile.

"Great!"

Sun Tao responded with one word. What mattered to him was not the larger space or higher revenue.

It was that previously, no matter how hard he worked, he was just an employee, but now he stood here as the owner.

"Mr. Li, thank you!"

Sun Tao's gratitude was heartfelt and had many layers of meaning.

Li Dong smiled without speaking. After Sun Tao calmed down, Li Dong said, "From now on, this will be the headquarters for the distant regions. Dongping will be renamed a branch."

This was only right. Not to mention the size, Pingchuan was a provincial capital. Dongping could not compare.

Seeing Sun Tao had no objections, Li Dong paused and continued, "In the future, you will be the General Manager of the distant regions."

This "distant regions" referred not only to Dongping but to the entire company.

Initially, Dongping's Farway Supermarket was registered as a sole proprietorship. When branches were opened in other counties of Qingyang, Li Dong registered the company. Now, the full name of Farway Supermarket should be Farway Supermarket Co., Ltd.

Although Sun Tao was previously addressed as Mr. Sun, his actual position was just the manager of the Dongping store.

Even though Sun Tao had been managing several stores, he was still a small fry without a formal position.

Now he could proudly be called Mr. Sun.

Though Sun Tao had anticipated this, hearing it directly from Li Dong still made him excited.

General Manager! After years of struggle at Carrefour, he was only a deputy manager. Now, starting over, he became a General Manager in just six months!

Though Farway wasn't as big as Carrefour, Sun Tao believed that in Jiangbei, Farway would eventually surpass it, and he was confident that day wasn't far off.

Seeing Sun Tao's excitement, Li Dong added with a smile, "Also, now that you're a General Manager, commuting by bus isn't ideal. Go get a car tomorrow. Farway's image in Pingchuan can't be tarnished."

"Mr. Li, this…"

Sun Tao hesitated. Li Dong didn't even have a car; getting one for himself might seem presumptuous.

However, not having a car was inconvenient. He had one in Pingchuan before but sold it. It was fine in Dongping, but not having a car in Pingchuan might make others look down on Farway.

Li Dong knew what he was going to say and waved his hand, "Don't worry about it. I'm still in school and don't need a car."

"And, I won't be buying the car myself. Don't be too frugal. I'll have Manager Yang allocate the funds for you."

Since Li Dong said so, Sun Tao swallowed his refusal.

He just remarked, "I really didn't expect this day to come so soon. It feels almost like a dream."

Li Dong shook his head and said with enthusiasm, "This is just the beginning. One day, I'll build our own headquarters, establish a commercial square for Farway, and create a logistics center covering East China. I want Farway in every city and every town…"

At the end, Li Dong looked at Sun Tao and exclaimed, "Mr. Sun, do you have confidence?"

Sun Tao nodded vigorously!

Then the two of them laughed heartily, standing on the messy construction site, two big men laughing uncontrollably.