Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"Li Yunjing,"

Li Hongfeng lit a "Hongtashan" cigarette, took a deep drag, and the pungent smoke temporarily dispelled the foul smell in his nasal cavity.

"Dad knows you're quick-witted, have a sharp mind, are resourceful, and bold."

"In these aspects, you are indeed better than your father, who has spent half his life in the factory and whose thinking is rigid."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, the smoke from his cigarette trembling slightly with his breath: "But there are some things I, as a father, must say, even if you find me long-winded."

"Making money is a good thing."

"If it makes life easier for the family, reduces your mom's worries, and makes Dad happy too."

His gaze pierced through the smoke, landing on his son's young face, now showing early signs of aging. "But you must always remember, there must be a bottom line in everything you do! And principles in everything you do!"

His voice lowered, but it carried even more weight: "Our Li family's children must never do anything illegal, speculative, or fraudulent!"

"It seems a bit more relaxed outside now, and there are more people doing business, as if no one is regulating it."

"But policies, like the weather, can change in an instant!"

"Who can say for sure what the wind will be like tomorrow?"

"You can't let a little bit of short-sighted gain cloud your judgment and get you into serious trouble!"

"What if you end up in jail without making any money? What will your mother do then?"

"Where am I supposed to put my old face?"

"Did you hear me?!"

Li Yunjing knew that his father was just worried and confused, expressing his deepest concerns and bottom line in such a harsh way.

"Dad, you can rest assured!"

He listened patiently, without the slightest impatience, nodding solemnly from time to time: "Your son may be bold, but I'm not stupid! I know what I'm doing!"

He tried to explain in a way his father could understand: "What I do is, in the end, just small-scale operations. I take advantage of information gaps and my spare time to tinker with little things that students like and earn a small profit from the hard work."

"I don't steal, I don't rob, I don't cheat; it's all legal and compliant, so it's very safe."

"It's the same principle as our family's small shop buying and selling goods, except I have a more flexible range of channels."

"Safe? Hmph,"

Li Hongfeng was clearly not so easily persuaded, especially since he was still bothered by that lottery idea that sounded "weird." "Your idea of ​​'sales with prizes' and 'two-yuan scratch-off lottery'—I heard you mention it once, and it sounds so far-fetched!"

"What's the difference between this and those old street tricks where people set up intricate chess puzzles or guess the outcome of a game with melon seeds?"

"It's like gambling!"

"Is this the kind of legitimate path a respectable person would take?"

"What if someone finds out, or something happens? How will you handle that?"

"Dad, you don't understand. Your mindset needs to be updated."

Li Yunjing knew this was what his father didn't understand and was most worried about. He lowered his voice and tried to explain in plain language, "In the southern coastal areas, this is nothing new. People have come up with all sorts of creative ways to do it, and it has even become a mature business model."

"In the North, especially in our small place, information is lagging behind and ideas are conservative. People think that anything new is a 'crooked way'."

He gestured to the name: "This is called a business marketing strategy, which stimulates potential consumer desire."

"As long as the prizes are reasonably set, the operation process is open and transparent, the prices are clearly marked, and people are willing to participate without coercion or fraud, it's the same as a shopping mall's promotion or giving away free gifts with purchases. There's absolutely no problem with it, and it doesn't violate any current regulations."

To put his father's mind at ease, Li Yunjing didn't care whether it was true or not. In the end, regardless of whether Li Hongfeng believed it or not, he believed it.

"Anyway... I can't argue with you!"

Li Hongfeng was somewhat speechless as his son rattled off a series of new terms, but his worries were not completely dispelled. He could only reiterate, "Your mother and I don't expect you to be rich or famous."

"We just hope that you will be safe and sound, study hard, get into university, get a nationally recognized diploma, and have a decent job and future."

"That's the foundation for a stable life!"

"These crooked and unorthodox methods... are ultimately not a long-term solution!"

"Okay, Dad, I understand."

"I've kept your words in mind."

Li Yunjing knew that his father's stubbornness stemmed from the limitations of the times, and that arguing further at this point would be pointless and would only make his father more worried.

He stopped trying to persuade him and readily agreed, his tone sincere, "I will be careful and cautious, proceed step by step, never act rashly, and I will never do anything illegal or disorderly that would cause you and Mom worry."

"Don't worry!"

Seeing his son's sincere attitude, Li Hongfeng's worries seemed to ease a little.

He sighed heavily, threw the cigarette butt on the ground, stomped it out, and said nothing more.

An hour passed quickly in this conversation, which was sometimes serious and heavy, sometimes trying to be relaxed, but the overall atmosphere was somber.

The clock in the waiting hall finally pointed to the moment when the train would begin boarding.

Suddenly, a female announcer's clear but slightly static-filled announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Attention passengers, train number XX, departing from this station and bound for XX, is now boarding. Passengers, please take your luggage and proceed to gate number X for ticket inspection..."

As if by an invisible command, the crowd, which had been sitting or standing and seemed somewhat numb, suddenly came to life and surged toward the designated ticket gate like a floodgate being opened!

Shouts, urging, dragging luggage, and children's cries filled the air, and the scene briefly spiraled out of control, with pushing and shoving inevitable.

"Dad! Hold on to me!"

Li Yunjing reacted quickly, grabbing his father's travel bag with one hand and holding his father's arm tightly with the other. Relying on his youth and strength, he struggled against the flow of people and squeezed towards the ticket gate.

The father and son struggled to carve a path through the gaps between people, and finally, with sweat pouring down their faces, they squeezed to the vicinity of the ticket gate.

The area was incredibly crowded, with people jostling to hand their tickets to the ticket inspectors, as if being a second late would mean missing the train.

"Dad, be careful on the road! Be safe!"

"Once you arrive and settle in, remember to call the school's reception office to let them know you've arrived safely!"

Li Yunjing shoved the travel bag into his father's hands and raised his voice, giving him a loud instruction amidst the noise.

"I know! Stop nagging!"

"Listen to your mother at home, and don't make her angry!"

Study hard! Don't forget the monthly exam you promised to take!

Li Hongfeng took the heavy bag and gave his son a deep look.

In that instant, Li Yunjing saw too many complex emotions in his father's eyes: worry about traveling far away, concern for his wife and children at home, and deep concern about his son "taking the road less traveled".