Chapter 30 This gentleman can take up a little of your time
Chapter 30 Sir, could I take up a little of your time...
Huaijiang University seems to be a secret place full of miracles and various possible adventures.
The campus built on the mountain has not only mountain roads, but also unexpected architectural structures.
Beilin Faculty Canteen is a very interesting example:
When you bypass the main road and go down the side branch road, you can see the whole thing.
Strictly speaking, its negative floor is considered an irregular hollow support area in the complete building planning.
Thick cement load-bearing columns and walls support the upper structure, allowing the main building of the faculty canteen to be raised parallel to the sky, forming a look like half a castle in the air.
The area below was originally a vacant area, and it wasn't even a floor - except for the irregular mountain side and the school's exterior wall, it didn't even have a complete wall, and the front entrance was completely unobstructed by walls.
It has an "Asian Roman column" style supported by several square stone pillars. There are several tables and light bulbs inside, which makes it look like a fantasy market.
"Speaking of which, I had this doubt before, why is there a lane here——"
Xia Zhaoyao walked down the branch road, carefully avoiding the melon rinds and garbage on the ground while looking inside.
It's still early now, the fruit stalls haven't opened yet, and it won't get busy until almost noon.
It was pitch dark in the "Fruit Market", with just a few cloths covering the long tables declaring sovereignty.
"Based on time, it wouldn't be right to use it as a fruit transport lane, right?"
During the previous campus survey, she came in the afternoon.
At that time, I only recorded the average selling price at the fruit market here.
As for the venue inside the "Fruit Market", I haven't walked in to see it.
Now that she walked in, she realized that this place was not the neat and square underground floor she had originally imagined.
"Unbelievable——"
Xia Zhaoyao stood in the deserted "Fruit Cave" and looked around, quietly marveling.
There are mixed smells of various fruits floating in the air, including apples, mangoes, watermelons, grapes, small tomatoes...
Under the weak morning light and street lights, the wall on the right side of the "entrance" only extended two or three meters inward and turned into a simple gray cement coating.
The rugged and irregular cement-coated surface looks like an ore cave. Further inside, the dark wall tilts over like a curtain.
"This is Huaijiang..." Qin Shuo shrugged, "Congratulations on unlocking another magical secret realm."
He walked next to Xia Zhaoyao and looked at the rugged stone wall and the end of the inverted shadow not far away.
"But...it's really big here - much bigger than I thought."
"Well, it should be the space added by a complete rock wall."
Xia Zhaoyao rubbed the uneven wall and glanced at the emptiness hidden in the shadows.
Although I can't see clearly, I can visually tell that it's at least half the size of a cafeteria, like a monster with its mouth wide open.
But maybe because the location is too deep, no one seems to be taking advantage of this quiet little world.
perhaps……
What can be done here...but what can be done here...
Xia Zhaoyao looked at the unused space, trying to capture the fleeting inspiration.
"Let's go - you have four full years to explore?"
Qin Shuo patted Xia Zhaoyao on the shoulder and pointed in the opposite direction of the rugged wall.
"That's the entrance. We should go discuss business. If we go late, the recycling bin will be empty."
"Uh, oh—don't move your hands or feet."
Xia Zhaoyao came back to his senses, glared at Qin Shuo in surprise, and turned to look the other way.
The driveway going down from the fork of the main road extends to the front of the school's outer wall, and the arc turns between two pillars.
From the angle of the two of them, they could just see a large rolling shutter door, and the breeze in the shadows quietly flowed outside.
Outside the door is a short road made of gravel, and at the end of the road is a tall, somewhat dilapidated double iron gate.
The mottled rust made Xia Zhaoyao feel like he was seeing a castle gate in a fantasy story.
Of course, there is no fantasy castle outside the door.
Trash Street.
People call this place this.
This is a street that does not exist on Baidu and Gaode maps.
…………
"The land planning for this street belongs to Huaijiang University, but it has never been included."
"Why? Is there any metaphysical explanation?"
"No, the campus website said that there are more nail households here——"
Qin Shuo pushed open the ajar iron gate, looked past the dilapidated wall, and landed on the low houses along the street.
It was an old house that existed before housing was commercialized, and its brick and stone exterior walls were full of vicissitudes of life.
There used to be a tire factory or something here, and many workers and their families lived there.
However, as Huaijiang City announced its overall development, most of the factories in the city were shut down or moved to distant suburbs.
Of course, human adaptability always transcends changes in the environment.
These residents of Zhazi Street soon found their new livelihood: Huaijiang University.
From the school’s fruit stall, to the street stalls at night; to the cleaning lady on Xi Street, the chef... and even the doorman at the side entrance of the school, and the old professor.
I heard that before Xi Street was developed, Zhazi Street was once the busiest commercial street of Huaijiang University.
However, as times change, this place has gradually turned into an old and dirty place hidden by Huaijiang University.
"The locations of garbage stations and recycling stations are all located here..."
"Ugh - you should have said it earlier."
Xia Zhaoyao retched, almost not being vomited by the oncoming stench.
After walking out of the iron gate, there is a long and narrow uphill slope. Seven or eight meters up there is a half-open garbage station.
However, Qin Shuo did not respond to her, but walked forward quickly before taking a long breath.
"I'm tall, so I saw it in advance - but it's boring to walk through this section."
???
Xia Zhaoyao glanced at Qin Shuo, who had escaped by holding his breath.
This guy is really a dog, right?!
Xia Zhao rushed forward angrily, preparing to teach him a lesson.
But when she rushed up the long slope and passed the garbage station that exuded an ominous smell, she suddenly froze.
Two roads parted before her eyes.
On one side is a road made of gravel, and those short old houses stretch out into the distance.
On the other side is an alley full of the smell of fireworks. It is different from the depression in Xia Zhaoyao's imagination. There is a market atmosphere in the air that is different from Xi Street.
People gathered there in groups of two or three, some sitting on long wooden benches eating noodles, some leaning against the wall and chatting with friends. From time to time there was the sound of rolling shutters being pulled up, and people laughed and cursed and said hello to each other... strange
The strange thing is that although we are so close to Huaijiang University, this kind of noise seems so far away.
Although the walls and bricks of the shop are a bit worn, the floors on both sides are even cleaner than those around the Beilin Faculty Canteen.
"Is this... Trash Street?"
"Uh, it should be."
Qin Shuo and Xia Zhaoyao looked at each other with big eyes and small eyes.
The two of them originally thought that this place would be a dirty and messy garbage dump corner.
Go all the way along the alley on the left, a mahjong parlor, a noodle shop, a neighborhood supermarket, a hardware store...
The alley is not big, so three people walking side by side have to walk a little sideways, but there are all kinds of small shops, especially mahjong parlors and various small restaurants. There are at least four or five along the way. It is like a miniature
It's a small town, and the recycling bin is located at the end of the alley.
Xia Zhaoyao and Qin Shuo arrived at just the right time, and the rolling shutter door of the recycling bin was halfway open.
Dozens of recycling uncles and aunties were waiting at the door, pulling small carts or snakeskin bags.
"Once again, when we talk about cooperation, we are not trying to ruin things or engage in pyramid schemes."
Xia Zhaoyao tugged on Qin Shuo's sleeve, glanced at the people gathered at the door of the recycling bin, and reminded him in a low voice.
"You go to the person in charge of the recycling station to discuss it, and I'll convince the recycling uncles and aunties -"
"Okay. Then our base price is..."
"The maximum is three times. If you want to pay dividends, then reduce it a little bit."
"OK--"
Qin Shuo nodded, this is the same as what was discussed last night.
Qin Shuo is responsible for reaching an overall cooperation framework with the owner of the recycling station.
If old books are intercepted at the recycling end point, of course, the unified recycling price will definitely be higher.
However, this is more to ease the relationship, which is equivalent to paying a visit to the pier.
Xia Zhaoyao's side is the highlight this time:
She has to find a way to negotiate good business with the recyclers gathered here.
On the one hand, they were persuaded to contact Zhao Huanxi and Tang Qingying to collect old books at designated points in various apartment areas.
On the other hand, we must first separate waste paper and old books, and collect simple sorted used books for sale at a relatively low cost.
This is……
Her tuition fees and the beginning of living expenses for the next four years.
Qin Shuo went around to the recycling bin first, and now she was alone.
Xia Zhaoyao took a deep breath, met the eyes of the adults, and walked up.
"Uncle, can I take up a moment of your time? I would like to introduce you to our Wan Shi House..."