Chapter 584: Chapter 584
Since the test results would be notified the next day, they couldn’t leave, and so, after enduring the night, all three of them received notifications for the third round one after another. The re-exam happened to be scheduled for the next morning, and that very afternoon, they also received calls from the Central Academy of Drama. In other words, all three of them simultaneously obtained interview notifications from both the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama.
The third round of examinations was more meticulous than the initial test and re-exam. After assessing individual capabilities and the ability to integrate into a group, this final hurdle was a bit more relaxed, generally just chatting with the tutors to let them understand you more deeply, and asking some general knowledge questions. Of course, if you have any other talents, this would be the time to, as best as you can, showcase them. The last item was a physical examination, mainly to check for tattoos or any physical defects.
Zhou Yiyi knew art exams were also very cruel, and the competition was quite intense. However, compared to others, Yiyi felt she had an enviably easy time, haha.
After the third rounds at both the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama, the three of them could finally breathe a sigh of relief. These were the professional subject scores, which, if they passed, would result in a professional qualification notice mailed to them. If they didn’t pass, that meant failure.
You would only qualify for admission if you passed the professional subject and then combined it with that year’s high school final exam scores.
Due to the intense competition, don’t think that you can rest easy after passing the professional subject; scores from the academic subjects were also crucial.
By the time the exams were finished, it was already mid-January, and they didn’t have time to waste in Beijing. They needed to hurry back for the final exams.
They had arrived early this year for the art examination, so they could catch up with the finals. Of course, some people would wait until after the finals to go, as per their wishes, because each year there was at least a month to prepare for the art exams.
Thus, as soon as it was over, they bought train tickets home overnight, and they reached L City on January 15th. The finals were scheduled for January 20/21/22, which meant they had just one week to review when they got home.
In the remaining week, Zhou Mo led the other two with remarkable progress, not even sparing meal times. Half a month out during the critical moment of their senior year was truly irrational, but the experience gained was likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so no one regretted it.
The art exam results wouldn’t be out that quickly; they would have to wait until after the entire process was finished, which meant they wouldn’t know the outcomes until the spring of the following year.
Therefore, after the exams, they stopped thinking about it and focused entirely on preparing for the finals.
Regarding the participation in the art exams of the ’Iron Triangle,’ many classmates sneered, thinking the two of them were just there to have fun, spending so much money to play—it was ridiculous.
But Zhou Yiyi didn’t think so. Putting aside which path she would take in this life, just the experience of the art exams alone would add to her memories. What if one of her future lives was more suited for acting? Right? Wouldn’t her experience in this life play a critical role?
So it didn’t matter if they didn’t understand; it was sufficient that she benefited, considering it a government-funded trip.
Do you think they would have a holiday after the exams on the 22nd?
NONONO, that was a privilege for the first and second-year students. The seniors, haha, had to continue going to school until the 29th of December, which was January 30th. From New Year’s Eve to the sixth day of the first month, they only had one week off. Then they had to come back to study. Googlᴇ search n0velfire.net
So while others were relaxing after their exams, they had to keep doing and discussing test papers, right up until the holidays.
With only a week of break to avoid bumping into Lin Mu and Zhou Mo, Zhou Yiyi went to see Mr. Zheng as soon as she got back to Y City and headed to the bustling stadium that evening.
Every New Year, the stadium hosted various activities, akin to a small temple fair. Zhou Yiyi set up her stall nearby and sold Beijing roast duck gift boxes, with two ducks per box, for only 178 yuan. It was a prestigious gift when visiting friends and family.
"This isn’t Quanjude’s, though, even if it’s from Beijing. But is it authentic?"
"Madam, just look at the date here, produced in January. Isn’t it fresh? Just rest assured, how could this not be authentic? We went to Beijing to buy these especially. Yes, Quanjude is famous in Beijing, but it’s expensive, isn’t it? Locals from Beijing don’t even eat Quanjude’s; it’s so expensive, and not necessarily tastier than other places. They’re selling a brand image, but ours is genuine fruitwood-roasted duck. Look at the size—each one weighs about one tael. How fat is that? And look at our packaging—very high class. It even includes a sauce packet and pancakes, all vacuum-sealed. Just heat it up at home and it’s ready to eat. When you bring this box of roast duck as a gift when visiting, how prestigious is that? Those who don’t know might even think you’ve just come back from Beijing!"
Considering the shelf life of roast duck, the ones bought during the summer holidays had been sold gradually over six months. This time, she had newly purchased stock, which she snuck out and stored without Lin Mu or Zhou Mo noticing. She didn’t dare to order too much, just one hundred boxes at a cost of 100 yuan each, earning a profit of 78 yuan per box. She was able to do this because she bought from the same place during the summer break and had even visited their workshop. It was clean, of good quality, which made her decide to buy there, and the actual price was indeed 178 yuan. Those were typically sold in shopping malls or elsewhere, but as she was selling directly, cutting out the middleman, it seemed like a larger profit.
Of course, to ensure sales, she offered samples by cutting the ducks into cubes and providing the sauce for tasting. The taste was instantly different once dipped in the sauce.
What’s the big deal about eating roast duck? Whether it’s tasty or not all comes down to the sauce.
With samples to taste and her enthusiastic sales pitch, the Beijing-characteristic combo of roast duck for 178 yuan and pastries for 22 yuan—a 200 yuan package, including a Jingtai Blue bracelet (costing ten yuan for three)—this potent combination attracted many inquiries as soon as it hit the market.
In one evening, she sold about fifteen packages, totaling 3,000 yuan. If her cart could carry more, she definitely could have sold more.
With the Lunar New Year approaching and New Year’s Eve drawing crowds out for a stroll and excitement, Zhou Yiyi’s business was actually quite good.
On Chinese New Year’s Day, the streets were lined with various gift boxes for visiting friends and family—yogurt, milk, pastries, local specialties, everything was available. Zhou Yiyi chose to set up near the market, the same place she had sold at before. Although it was Chinese New Year’s Day, there were still many vendors selling fruit and pastries who hadn’t closed up shop. Her stall rode this popularity next to the market, and with its prime location at a bustling intersection, anyone passing by could see it. Coupled with the loudspeaker announcements and the tastings offered, how could the business not come knocking?