Fei Yi's thoughts were in disarray, and she didn't know how to react for a moment.
She encouraged herself, determined not to show any weakness in front of a big client, and took a deep breath.
"Sorry, can I first take a look at your partial disclosure documents and project applications? I need some time to review before proceeding to the next step."
Su Xiaocai had no problem with this, "Feel free."
At this time, there was a knock on the bedroom door, and Xing Miao said, "Caicai, someone is looking for you again, it's your classmates from the Agricultural Research Institute."
Su Xiaocai was puzzled. The three students she knew from the Agricultural Research Institute had already added her contact number, so they could just contact her directly. Why would someone come to the dormitory?
"You go ahead and look, I'll be back later."
"Okay." Fei Yi said nervously, "Don't worry, I'll keep it confidential, no technical patents will leak out."
Su Xiaocai smiled, "I'm very at ease, there are no detailed technical descriptions in the disclosure documents, even if you wanted to leak them, you couldn't."
Fei Yi: "..." Kids these days sure are clever.
The person looking for Su Xiaocai didn't enter the dormitory, but waited in the hallway. They were laughing and talking, seeming like they were there to find a friend.
Su Xiaocai went out and saw that one of them was the female classmate who didn't rent her excavator before, she was the girlfriend in that couple. The other seemed to be her dorm mate or friend.
Su Xiaocai roughly understood why they had come.
Renting a machine outside is not just about repair; first, you have to leave a deposit, and secondly, it's charged by the day. After returning it, it needs inspection, and any damage means additional repair costs—it's definitely more expensive than using her excavator.
If they really came to discuss this, Su Xiaocai would surely not lend her machines, as she was quite busy.
But out of politeness, Su Xiaocai still asked, "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
The female classmate smiled and said, "Here's the thing, classmate, I'm from the Agricultural Research Institute, we've met before. Renting machines outside is too expensive, we wanted to ask you to lend us a few farming machines. If they break, we'll cover the repair costs."
"Sorry, I'm a bit busy lately, the machines won't be lent out." Su Xiaocai realized she had so many patents to worry about, plus Wu Qingqing needing tutoring.
No energy left to discuss machine rentals with the Agricultural Research Institute classmates; she wished to put all the machines to use as soon as possible, to plow her fields and plant the seeds.
The female classmate's face became stern, and she spoke harshly, "Why are you like this? You said you would lend them, and now you won't. What, is this some kind of joke to you?"
"Xiao Yu, don't say that." The friend of the female classmate advised, then added: "We won't use them for too long, but relying on manpower is really slow. Actually, the seniors and juniors also have machines, but we don't know them. Please have some pity on us; we promise to use them carefully."
Though Su Xiaocai had social anxiety, she had no patience for strangers who didn't leave a good first impression, "Why don't you spare a thought for my machines? When you borrow them, will there really only be two of you using them? No, because you are borrowing from a classmate."
The female classmate had a boyfriend, her dorm mate was at the Agricultural Research Institute—they would let male classmates use them, and then allow other dorm mates too. Eventually, the whole class would come borrowing.
The machines would become public property, and when Su Xiaocai wanted them back, she'd become the public enemy. No one would remember her kindly, as all the credit for being helpful would go to those two who first borrowed them.
The female classmate seemed to have grown up spoiled and rudely retorted, "Are you just afraid that too many people using them will cause damage? We won't break them, and even if we did, we'd pay for the repairs, so it won't cost you anything."
"So I suppose my machines should just depreciate for your sake," Su Xiaocai was fed up with people who borrowed things and acted entitled, "You talk about money like it's vulgar, just say you want something for nothing."
This shameful thought was stripped of its moral cover, leaving their faces red with embarrassment.
Su Xiaocai was about to close the door when the friend of the female classmate still wanted to try again, quickly stopping her, "Classmate, classmate, we didn't mean that. Please be considerate, a lot of classmates are waiting to use the machines. If you can't lend others, at least let us use the excavator. After all, we'll be classmates for four years and can help each other, so it wouldn't be good to ruin our relationship."
"When taking advantage fails, you resort to threats, and still manage to make it sound so refined. Do people around you know how cunning you are?" These childish tricks in college, trying to play the isolation game, Su Xiaocai wanted to see if these two female classmates really had that much influence.