pjbooks Chapter 12: [347.5 yuan]
Chapter 12: [347.5 yuan]
"When I was receiving the red envelope, my mom caught me and asked me a few questions. I casually explained that I was lending it to you for an emergency, but they immediately got worried. They thought it was unreliable and were afraid that I would be scammed, so they took all my New Year's money away."
After Liu Zhuohao finished speaking to Zhuang Zicong, he didn't dare to look into his own eyes and lowered his head, as if he felt guilty for not being able to lend the money.
He hurriedly added, his tone earnest and tinged with a naive certainty:
"But they don't know your capabilities!"
"If I told them that you earn six or seven thousand a month, which is more than their salary, they definitely wouldn't think that way anymore, and they would definitely agree!"
There was even a hint of apology in his tone.
Looking at his guilty and anxious expression, Liu Zhuohao felt no resentment, but rather a bit uneasy.
He reached out and patted Zhuang Zicong's shoulder forcefully.
"Brother Cong, you've got it backwards."
His voice was calm. "I'm the one borrowing money from you now; you're the creditor. What kind of creditor apologizes to the person who borrows money?"
"A thousand yuan is a considerable sum for ordinary people like us."
"Your aunt and uncle think it's perfectly normal for a recent graduate like me to not be able to pay it back. If it were my parents, they would probably react even more strongly than your parents if they heard that I lent so much money to my classmate."
He smiled and eased Zhuang Zicong's embarrassment with a joke: "It's okay, I'll just borrow money from someone else."
Before he finished speaking, Zhuang Zicong's hand had already reached into his pocket and was rummaging around inside.
Then, he opened his palm.
A small roll of banknotes lay in his palm, crumpled and carefully rolled up. He unfolded it gently—
Two hundred-yuan bills, several fifty-yuan bills, twenty-yuan and ten-yuan bills, two five-yuan bills, and even a few shiny coins mixed in.
It cost a total of 347.5 yuan.
"Here, this is all I have left." Zhuang Zicong's voice lowered, somewhat embarrassed, yet unusually insistent, "This is the pocket money I usually save."
The money lay in his hand, some in small change and some in large bills, yet it felt incredibly heavy.
Liu Zhuohao looked at the pile of loose change, his throat feeling like it was blocked by something.
His previously relaxed and teasing expression froze instantly, then slowly faded, replaced by an extremely complex emotion.
This is not a scenario he could handle based on any line he learned from his experience in the business world, where he could speak to people in a way that suited him.
He was silent for a few seconds before speaking, his voice softer and more serious than before: "Brother Cong, this money... you keep it for yourself."
He reached out, not to take the money, but to gently close Zhuang Zicong's palm. "You'll be going to study in another city soon."
Liu Zhuohao stared into his friend's eyes, his tone almost stern, yet filled with the deepest concern, "Being alone in a foreign place without money is very difficult!"
"Every day I calculate the cheapest dishes in the cafeteria, I dare not participate in any group activities that cost money, and I have to keep using my phone even though the screen is cracked..."
He paused here, realizing that his tone was no longer that of someone his age, but that of someone who had been through it all.
Zhuang Zicong's hands were closed: "Then, what are you going to do?"
He spoke with some stuttering.
Liu Zhuohao replied with a helpless smile:
"I'm sure I have a way. Don't you believe in my abilities?"
The two looked at each other, then replied in unison, "We definitely believe you."
Of all the people they had ever known, no one else at this age had ever done something like this.
More precisely, no one can "say what they mean and do what they say."
Everyone's just joking around, their enthusiasm only lasts three minutes. Today they're thinking about how to make money, tomorrow it's about chasing after some girl, and the day after that...
Who can do that? They say they want to set up a stall today, and tomorrow they actually start buying food trucks, and the day after that... Such execution is simply unheard of among the people they know.
"Since that's the case, let's talk about the second thing. You all think that I'm doing very well to earn six or seven thousand." Liu Zhuohao looked at the two of them and tapped the ledger on the table with his finger. "Business is good this month, six or seven thousand. Next month, with the summer vacation starting, it will probably have to be scaled back, maybe only around four or five thousand."
"That year, it added up to about fifty or sixty thousand."
Upon hearing this number, both Cai Jiahao and Zhuang Zicong's eyes lit up with excitement.
But Liu Zhuohao changed the subject:
"But think about it, with this amount, is it enough to settle down in this city, buy a car, and raise a money-devouring beast? Wouldn't it drain us brothers dry?"
They were all somewhat puzzled.
"Look, if you're buying a house in an urban village, or an old-style community like ours, or a self-built house, it'll probably cost around 300,000 to 400,000 yuan." Liu Zhuohao calculated the costs one by one. "And let's not talk about the car, just a few tens of thousands of yuan for transportation. So, if you have a car and a house, you'll need at least 400,000 yuan."
"Four hundred thousand. My breakfast stall is doing so well. I earn a meager living. Even without considering daily expenses, it would take me four or five years to save up. If you include expenses and other things, it would take me six or seven years."
"This is assuming a stable income. What if something unexpected happens, like a change in health policy, or the weather, or..."
And this is all based on the assumption that I can earn six or seven thousand a month.
Are you confident you can earn that amount after graduation?
"Would you rather live in this kind of old building, or in Country Garden, Evergrande, or...?"
Have you thought about getting married in the future?
……
One question after another was thrown at the two young men who had just graduated from high school, leaving them looking ashen-faced.
They didn't have a clear concept of this before.
Now, after Liu Zhuohao recounted everything, he felt that the road ahead was bleak.
"So, does that mean ordinary people like us can't survive?"
Cai Jiahao muttered to himself, "What the hell is the point of continuing like this?!"
He used to be quite satisfied with earning even three or four thousand, let alone six or seven thousand.
After all, that's all the money my parents earn from their daily jobs!
"Of course we can make a living. Like I said, we don't necessarily have to buy a house in a neighborhood, and we don't necessarily have to buy a car worth hundreds of thousands," Liu Zhuohao replied. "As long as we lower our requirements, we can make a living even with a house worth 3,000 or 4,000, let alone 6,000 or 7,000.
"As long as you don't think about the future, don't think about your parents getting old, and don't think about... three or four thousand yuan is definitely enough for you to live on your own in this area."
"But if you're in another city, you'll have to deduct rent, utilities, and broadband fees, and then it might not be enough. But you can also choose not to rent a place and stay in an internet cafe."
The two couldn't help but recall, as he spoke, those people they had seen sleeping huddled in their seats when they stayed up all night.
Liu Zhuohao leaned forward, his gaze sweeping over his two brothers' faces. His tone was no longer one of discussion, but rather one of certainty: "Since you two trust me, I won't mince words. I want to lead you in starting a business."
Cai Jiahao stared blankly, "Start...start a business?"
Zhuang Zicong remained silent.
Previously, they had all listened to Liu Zhuohao and were willing to lend him money.
But what if they do it themselves?
The two of them had dreamed of getting rich, after all. On TV, there were always people giving business advice, from raising cockroaches, scorpions, and pigs to selling health products and opening franchises for milk tea shops...
They certainly had their own thoughts, but that was all they ever thought about.
As long as it's put into practice, the thought of how to invest funds and how to put in the hard work immediately puts the motivation to stop.
"Brother Cong."
Liu Zhuohao looked at Zhuang Zicong and said, "You've always liked playing computer games and you can sit still for long periods of time. Aren't you going to college? I've heard that there are majors like digital media or film editing."
"If you're interested, study here. In the future, when we make videos and do promotions, it will all depend on your operations. Isn't this more interesting than the major your parents originally chose, and it's also more relevant to your field?"
Zhuang Zicong was stunned. "Me? Can I do it?"
Liu Zhuohao raised an eyebrow:
"How do you know it won't work if you don't try? Besides, you're so good at computer games, how could learning video editing be harder than defeating a boss?"
He counted on his fingers: "Color grading, timing, music—aren't these the same thing as calculating skill cooldowns and memorizing map locations when you're playing a game?"
Zhuang Zicong was even more stunned: "Is it...the same thing?"
"Jiahao".
Liu Zhuohao patted Cai Jiahao's strong arm again, "You're strong and loyal."
"Think about repeating a year again. I'm not trying to discourage you, but if you really don't want to study, forcing yourself to endure a year will only make you suffer."
"Why don't we settle down in the night market together, brothers? Let's make a name for ourselves. You can take care of the front, greet people, and keep the stall running. I really can't manage this stall by myself. I don't feel at ease without you by my side."
But when he said this, he looked a little embarrassed. "But to be honest, in order to start earning money as soon as possible, I still occasionally have a few arguments with my parents."
"It won't be easy for you to convince your parents to let you skip high school and start a business with me!"
Cai Jiahao didn't speak. When he heard the words "retake the exam," he had already given up hope. He muttered, "I don't want to study either. I told my parents before that I would go to a junior college like Cong Ge, but they scolded me for it."
Should I try to persuade them to stop studying altogether and go set up a stall together?
This is harder than getting yourself to the Diamond rank!
"I know, but..."
Liu Zhuohao leaned back and looked at the two of them: "That's the thing."
"I've charted the course for you. Do you continue down the path your parents chose, taking it one step at a time, or do you continue to trust my brothers and forge your own path?"
The two looked at each other, unable to give an answer.
……
……
"What is this?"
Holding an envelope, the mother looked at Liu Zhuohao as he came out of the bathroom after showering and asked, "Did you earn this?"
She's already torn it down inside; it's all money.
All told, it must have cost a thousand dollars!
"……no."
Liu Zhuohao denied it immediately, then quickly added, "It was borrowed."
Upon hearing this, the mother froze, quickly walking over and demanding, "How much money did you lose?"
Her tone was somewhat nervous.
Even her father came over when he heard the noise.
Liu Zhuohao: "I didn't make much, but I didn't lose anything either!"