Era: Rise from the Wilderness

Faced with his parents' alarmed reaction, Li Yunjing remained surprisingly calm.

He calmly walked to the dresser next to him, picked up two enamel mugs with the red double happiness symbol printed on them, poured two mugs of warm water from the thermos, and placed them in front of his parents.

"Dad, Mom, have some water first. Don't rush, let me explain slowly."

Li Yunjing pulled up a chair and sat down opposite his parents, a relaxed smile even on his face. "This money is clean."

"It was my very close classmate, Fu Chao, who provided the seed funding."

"We're planning to team up and do a small project during the National Day holiday to earn some pocket money and get some exercise."

"Pocket money?!"

Li Hongfeng's voice suddenly rose, almost shouting. He pointed at the stack of money on the table, his fingers trembling, "Five thousand yuan! This is your so-called pocket money? That's enough for me to earn in the factory for two and a half years without eating or drinking! Do you know how much money that is?!"

His face darkened completely, veins throbbed on his forehead, and his tone was terrifyingly serious, carrying an unquestionable paternal authority: "Li Yunjing! Tell me everything from the beginning!"

Explain it clearly and in detail, down to the last detail!

"What exactly is this 'project'?"

"Why should Fu Chao's family give you so much money?"

"What exactly do you want?"

"If you dare utter even a single lie, I... I'll break your legs!"

He Ling gripped her son's arm tightly, her eyes filled with worry and lingering fear: "Yun Jing, you can't go astray!"

"Our family may not be wealthy, but living an upright life is more important than anything else!"

"If this money...if it's ill-gotten, we need to return it to them immediately!"

Li Yunjing knew that things had come to this point and could no longer be kept secret, and he had never really intended to completely hide it from his parents.

He composed himself, took a deep breath, and began to speak.

From Fu Chao's family background, to how the two discovered the "two-yuan lottery" game that was popular in other places, to how they analyzed the gap in the local market and felt that this was an opportunity.

He explained in detail how the "two-yuan lottery" works.

How to set up prize levels, how to control the probability of winning, and the basic logic and expectations for making profits.

He then clearly explained how he and Fu Chao divided their responsibilities: he was in charge of planning, technology, and core operations, while Fu Chao was responsible for funding, connections, and venue coordination.

He didn't even hide the "gray" tactics he planned to use "empty boxes" and arrange "shills" to create an atmosphere and control the situation; he just tried to downplay their nature by using terms like "business strategy" and "marketing technique."

He spoke slowly and clearly, trying to make his tone sound objective and calm, as if he were analyzing a business case rather than describing a risky street scam.

He mentioned the risk assessment, the safety contingency plan and evacuation plan, and emphasized the principle of "never forcing anyone, only those who are willing will take the bait." He also explained that this was only a short-term trial aimed at accumulating experience and earning his first pot of gold.

The main room was extremely quiet, with only Li Yunjing's calm and clear narration and his parents' heavy and suppressed breathing.

The dim light enveloped the three of them, casting long, stagnant shadows on the mottled wall.

The stack of hundred-yuan bills on the table emitted a faint, alluring yet unsettling blue glow under the light.

The expressions on Li Hongfeng and He Ling's faces gradually changed from initial shock, anger, and worry to confusion, contemplation, and disbelief, eventually intertwining into an extremely complex and solemn look.

It was as if they were seeing their son for the first time.

This seemingly clever but sometimes foolish teenager was now presenting a plan that they had never heard of before, yet which seemed to contain both enormous benefits and risks, in a clear, logical, and well-organized manner.

The words "probability," "marketing," "marketing," and "risk hedging" sounded so abrupt, yet strangely persuasive, coming from the mouth of this nineteen-year-old.

With five thousand yuan of "start-up capital" right in front of them, they had no choice but to believe that this "project," at least at Fu Chao's level, was being taken seriously and had received a significant investment.

The role her son played in it seemed to be far more than just "following along blindly".

The long narration has finally come to an end.

Li Yunjing stopped, picked up the jar of water in front of him that had already cooled down, took a big gulp to moisten his dry throat, and then quietly waited for his parents' judgment.

Time passed by, second by second.

After he finished speaking, Li Hongfeng and He Cailing looked at each other, speechless for a long time.

What's going on in this kid's head?

How did he come up with this trick of getting something for nothing?

Li Hongfeng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed the words back.

He suddenly felt that he could no longer teach his son anything.

He was unaware that what Li Yunjing said was less than half of the actual plan. At least Li Yunjing hadn't told his parents about his own principal and some other preparations.

After all, he needs to keep some secrets too, right?

Even if your parents are your closest relatives, you can't tell them everything!

"You little rascal, I really..."

In the end, he could only shake his head and sigh.

"It's just a short-term project, a way to earn some pocket money during the National Day holiday, don't worry about it."

Li Yunjing smiled easily: "We've already found the people to come forward. Fu Chao and I will just direct from behind the scenes and won't show our faces."

Looking at her son's composed expression, He Ling felt both surprised and worried, but she didn't know what to say.

"Are you telling us all this because you need our help with something?"

After a while, Li Hongfeng finally spoke: "Not enough money?"

"We have enough money."

"Fu Chao originally said he only had three thousand, and I was thinking of borrowing some from you, but I didn't expect him to take out five thousand directly."

"The two most urgent things right now are finding a printing factory to make the raffle tickets and borrowing the van from your workplace, Dad!"

"It would be even better if we could borrow another 130."

Li Yunjing said with a grin.

Li Hongfeng was both amused and exasperated.

That brat has quite the nerve, asking for two cars with just a few words!

Do they really think this company is their own private business?

"It's not that we can't borrow a car, but do you know how to drive?"

Li Hongfeng asked instinctively, "What if something goes wrong?"

"I can drive!"

Li Yunjing answered readily, "Dad, if you don't believe me, borrow the car, I'll take you for a spin, and you'll see!"

When did you learn to drive?

Li Hongfeng asked curiously.

"Just take a closer look when you're driving with me, and you'll get the hang of it!"

"Start the engine, depress the clutch and brake, release the handbrake, engage the clutch slightly, and gently apply the accelerator! It'll go, won't it?"

Seeing his father's curious expression, Li Yunjing couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Damn it! I'm going to beat you up today!"

Li Hongfeng, both angry and amused, slapped his son several times before stopping.