Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"Old Li, this is all the wealth I, Fu Chao, have!"

He took a half step forward, his joking expression vanishing, and stared intently at Li Yunjing, saying in a deep voice, "Whether he's a mule or a horse, we'll see in this one deal!"

"Brother, I've staked everything on your 'scratch card' plan!"

These words were half true and half false, used in a joking tone to tell Li Yunjing the seriousness of the matter, and also made Li Yunjing feel tremendous pressure.

This represents all of a young man's possessions, his trust, and his desperate determination to change his fate.

"rest assured!"

Li Yunjing's voice was not loud, even lower than before, "With the money here, the matter is half settled."

"Let's work together to double, even multiply, this money!"

He paused, carefully stuffed the money into the inside pocket of his coat, tucked it close to his body, and then asked, "Where are the motorcycle and the television?"

"This is of utmost importance for presenting a good image and attracting attention; it cannot be taken lightly."

"Done!"

Seeing that Li Yunjing had accepted the money, Fu Chao's expression visibly relaxed. He snapped his fingers, the sound not loud, but the action was full of confidence.

He began to recount his "achievements" of the week with great enthusiasm, his speech quickening: "The motorcycle, I borrowed it from my second uncle's eldest cousin!"

"His family is well-off. They just bought a brand new 'Happiness 250' last year. That thing, the body is red, it's polished to a shine, and the exhaust pipe is as thick as a cannon barrel. When it's just sitting there, it looks newer than the real thing!"

"I spent the whole afternoon pleading with my older cousin, offering him cigarettes and saying nice things, and finally he reluctantly agreed after I asked if I could borrow it for a few days. I repeatedly told him not to break it."

Ding Dong chimed in at the opportune moment: "The television is a bit more complicated."

"It's my second uncle's 'Panda' brand 18-inch color TV. Although it's a bit old, after cleaning and tidying it up, it still looks okay."

"It's okay!"

Li Yunjing nodded, "Once I figure out a way to get a new TV case to put it in, no one will be able to tell if it's new or old!"

"Where are the manpower?"

With the two key "gatekeepers" resolved, Li Yunjing felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. He then pressed on, "I specifically emphasized last time that we should find those with kind faces, good communication skills, and an honest or cheerful appearance. We absolutely cannot choose those petty thugs who look shifty and shady at first glance!"

"Those kinds of people standing by the stall aren't there to help, they're there to cause trouble!"

"It will scare away all the respectable customers."

"I remember that! I won't forget it!"

Fu Chao had clearly given this issue serious consideration and put a lot of effort into selecting candidates. "The guys I usually hang out with are good at fighting and causing trouble, but when it comes to doing this kind of work that requires 'acting skills' and 'affability,' most of them are not up to par. Their eyes are too fierce and their behavior is too thuggish."

"I sifted them several times, like sifting sand, and finally picked out three that I thought were okay."

He counted on his fingers: "The first one, nicknamed 'Fathead Fish,' real name Wang Hai."

"Don't let his unpleasant nickname fool you, he actually has a very auspicious appearance!"

"Round face, small eyes, always smiling, speaks slowly and gently, and has a good temper."

"Having him sit there collecting money, handing out lottery tickets, or acting as a 'peacemaker' is absolutely deceptive, making people think that our business is reliable and that we make money through harmony."

Li Yun nodded in agreement.

"The second one, nicknamed 'Glasses,' is named Liu Ming."

"This kid is just like me; he can't seem to get into studying, but he's got a silver tongue!"

"Quick-witted, quick-thinking, able to speak to people in a human language and to ghosts in a ghost language, even able to make the dead seem alive."

"He's absolutely adept at being a 'shill,' or at chiming in from the sidelines, fanning the flames, and setting the mood!"

"Moreover, he wears glasses and looks somewhat cultured, which makes it easier for him to gain the trust of some people."

"The third one is called 'Heizi,' whose real name is Zhang Qiang."

"This guy is rather quiet, doesn't talk much, and doesn't usually have a strong presence."

"But he's burly, dark-skinned, has an honest-looking face, is incredibly strong, and fights like a madman!"

"Let him be in charge of maintaining order around the stall, or moving those piles of soap, towels, and prizes. Standing there like a guardian deity makes people feel safe and that our stall has 'strength' and that not just anyone can come and cause trouble."

Fu Chao concluded, "Including me, you, and Ding Dong, there are six of us. We can allocate resources flexibly, which should be enough."

"I've had preliminary talks with all three of them. I didn't go into too much detail, but I got the gist of it, and they're willing to join in. If it really turns out to be profitable, I definitely won't treat them unfairly."

Li Yunjing carefully considered the three candidates described by Fu Chao.

Wang Hai (Fathead Fish), Liu Ming (Glasses), Zhang Qiang (Blackie).

One has an honest and cheerful face, another is eloquent and quick-witted, and the third is silent, powerful, and reliable.

This team has members responsible for "appearance" and "approachability," members responsible for "incitement" and "rhetoric," and members responsible for "security" and "physical strength."

With the addition of the three responsible for overall planning, technology, and core operations, Fu Chao actually managed to build up the team structure in just one week!

He had to admit that Fu Chao did indeed have a natural talent and drive when it came to social connections and recognizing and employing people.

"Let's aim for the National Day Golden Week and officially get to work!"

Finally, Li Yunjing looked at Fu Chao and said, "By the way, Lao Fu, give me your backpack!"

"Holding so much money in my hand, my palms are sweating and feeling weak!"

He added, "It's safer to put it in a bag."

Upon hearing this, Fu Chao and Ding Dong couldn't help but burst out laughing, which eased the tense atmosphere slightly.

Fu Chao suppressed a laugh and handed over the schoolbag.

Li Yunjing took it, carefully unzipped it, and neatly placed the five thousand yuan wrapped tightly in newspaper into the bottom of the backpack.

He checked the backpack inside and out again, making sure there were no holes or loose seams, before finally letting out a long sigh of relief.

"Alright, we shouldn't stay here any longer."

Li Yunjing slung his backpack over his shoulder, adjusted the straps, and looked at the two of them. "You two should hurry back to the classroom. The afternoon classes probably aren't over yet."

"From now on, I'll be the one to wear the hats of 'King of Skipping Classes' and 'Vanity Maker'."

"With only ten days left, I need to get everything running smoothly and properly arranged. I don't have time to waste at school."

That afternoon, Li Yunjing did not wait for her parents to close the shop before going home together, as she usually did.

He rode his bicycle alone and left the school ahead of schedule.

Back in my own bungalow, the yard was quiet.

etc.