Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"If Xiao Jing hadn't explained everything so clearly today, we would never have dreamed that that little counter in the school was actually a treasure trove!"

He Ling murmured.

"Mom, this job is easy!"

Seeing that the time was right, Li Yunjing quickly put down his chopsticks and bowl, saying, "You can take care of it all by yourself, as it's sheltered from the wind and rain."

"You can rest during class, and then you can be busy for a while after class."

"Locking the door shut at noon and going home for lunch and a nap is much better than standing in the workshop all day!"

"Where can you find such a good deal: earning money and taking care of your family?"

He turned to his father, his eyes burning: "Dad, our biggest advantage right now is that others haven't figured this out yet."

"This is the information gap, this is our opportunity!"

"We happen to have connections that others don't; that's what you call being in a privileged position!"

Li Hongfeng was completely persuaded.

Yes, if we have a connection to this, and we just watch someone else snatch this piece of meat away, won't we regret it to the core when we find out the truth later?

Think again about that debt your son owes!

Which child doesn't have a sweet tooth?

I usually give my son pocket money of five cents or one dollar. There are about two thousand students. Even if only one-tenth of their spending is used, it adds up to a considerable income!

"Alright! You've taught your dad a lesson today!"

He took a deep breath, as if making a decision: "This matter... seems promising. I'll find a suitable time to ask your Uncle Ma."

"wait?"

Li Yunjing immediately became anxious upon hearing this, "Dad, how can we wait for something like this! Things could change if we wait too long; what if someone else gets there first? We have to create a time difference!"

"Go now!"

He stood up, gesturing wildly, and spoke rapidly: "Uncle Ma should have just finished eating and be home by now."

"It's not appropriate to go empty-handed. You should go and buy two packs of good cigarettes and some seasonal fruit."

"It's never wrong to be polite; it shows our sincerity!"

Seeing that his parents were stunned by his series of arrangements, Li Yunjing lowered his voice and showed a maturity beyond his years: "By the way, Dad, when you see Uncle Ma and his wife, you have to... play the victim a little."

"Playing the victim?"

Li Hongfeng was taken aback.

"right!"

Li Yunjing nodded vigorously, "Just tell them that my mother hasn't worked since she was laid off, and the family relies entirely on your salary."

"Prices are rising sharply now, and I'm about to go to university. I really can't afford it anymore."

"The reason I'm thinking of taking over the convenience store is to find a job for my mom and supplement our household income."

"That's true, and they're happy to help."

These elaborate schemes came out of his mouth, leaving Li Hongfeng and He Ling looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Xiao Jing, tell me honestly, who have you been hanging out with these past few days?"

He Ling couldn't help but look her son up and down: "Have you met some shady characters? Let me tell you, don't go astray with those street thugs!"

Li Yunjing's heart tightened; he knew he had gone too far.

"Mom! What are you thinking!"

He quickly straightened his back and put on a wronged expression: "I'm about to go to college, I'm an adult now."

"How can I feel good seeing you all working so hard?"

"What's wrong with our family working together as a team to create a better life?"

He said with a disdainful tone, "Those street thugs, besides fighting and acting tough, can't even pull out ten yuan from their pockets."

"Me, hang out with them?"

"I'm ashamed!"

"I figured this out myself, by observing, listening, and thinking a lot."

"Given our family's situation, only a fool wouldn't seize this opportunity!"

These words both absolved him of personal responsibility and revealed his sense of duty to his family.

After careful consideration, Li Hongfeng and He Ling realized that although their son seemed mature for his age today, his words were reasonable and his assessment of the thugs was accurate. He certainly didn't seem like he was going astray.

"You always have so many reasons!"

He Ling breathed a sigh of relief and playfully patted her son, "You scared me half to death."

His tone, however, no longer held any doubt, but rather carried a sense of relief.

Li Hongfeng was deeply moved by his wife and children's words.

"Old Li, your son is right, this matter can't be delayed!"

He Ling, standing to the side, was wringing her hands anxiously: "If someone gets there first, we'll regret it!"

"become!"

Spurred on like this, Li Hongfeng didn't hesitate any longer and jumped to his feet: "I'll go right now!"

He quickly changed into a brand-new white shirt, carefully took out a hundred-yuan bill from the drawer of his dresser, and pushed his gleaming old bicycle out the door.

The rattling sound of the bicycle chain faded into the distance, disappearing into the twilight.

As soon as her husband left, He Ling couldn't sit still.

She paced back and forth in the room, which was less than ten square meters, occasionally peeking out the window, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her apron.

This business, which earns her several thousand yuan a year, is crucial to her family's future, so she can't help but feel anxious.

On the contrary, Li Yunjing acted as if nothing had happened, sitting back down at the table and eating the now-cold food with gusto.

He ate that plate of stir-fried shredded pork and bean sprouts with exceptional relish!

These days, pork is all fed with grains, so the meat is firm; the bean sprouts are also homegrown, so they're refreshing and delicious.

Compared to the meat fattened by feed and the vegetables grown with chemical fertilizers in later generations, this meal is a delicacy.

"You heartless little brat!"

Seeing her son's state, He Ling couldn't help but scold him, "Your father is out there working hard, and you're here enjoying your meal!"

"Mom, please put your mind at ease."

Li Yunjing picked up a bean sprout with his chopsticks and said indistinctly, "A big boss like Uncle Ma often needs my dad to do him favors."

"This is just a small favor, nothing more than his wife passing on a message; it'll be done!"

"You seem to have suddenly become a genius this summer."

Hearing her son's mature analysis, He Ling felt a little relieved, but she still couldn't help but sigh, "When you go to university, study hard, and after graduation, come back to the factory to take over your father's job and become a leader!"

Li Yunjing grinned, but secretly thought to himself: Study?

In this era, rote learning is no longer acceptable.

The hottest sectors for the next few decades are real estate and the internet... This time, we not only need to ride the wave, but also be the pig that flies the highest!

He was determined not to go to university; four years was enough time to make a name for himself in the business world.

He has no time to waste!

After all, he had already spent four years in college in his previous life. Wouldn't going back to college be repeating the same thing?

Why bother?

But his mother was in a good mood at the moment, and he didn't want to talk about such a discouraging topic!

A few days later, with school starting soon, his acceptance letter still hadn't arrived. No university wanted him, so his parents stopped urging him.

After the mother and son finished cleaning up the dishes, they turned on the 14-inch black and white television.

The screen was filled with static, showing the movie "The Fence, the Woman, and the Dog," but neither of them was paying attention to the plot.

He Ling kept looking up at the clock on the wall; the ticking of the clock was especially clear in the quiet night.

It wasn't until nine o'clock in the evening that the familiar sound of a bicycle bell finally came from outside the window.