Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"This kind of niche business can't function without someone who can keep things under control."

"Your reputation at school, and your father's remaining influence in the county, are sometimes more effective than anything else."

"At least, it can scare away most of the petty thugs who want to cause trouble or get a share of the profits."

"Our cooperation is complementary and a win-win situation."

He leaned back against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), his tone becoming somewhat distant: "Besides, Lao Fu, let's think long-term."

"This path may bring in money quickly, but it's not the right way to do it. It's not sustainable and carries a lot of risk."

"We're just using this to get some start-up capital and accumulate our first pot of gold."

"The road ahead is long, who knows which of us brothers will make a name for ourselves in the future?"

"To hoard such a small benefit for oneself is to have a very narrow mindset."

These words reflect both practical considerations and a vision for the future. They not only praise Fu Chao but also demonstrate the speaker's attitude and "broad vision."

After listening, Fu Chao remained silent for a moment. The only sounds in the air were the faint crackling of cheap cigarettes burning and the faint noise of the city outside the window.

The doubt on his face dissipated like smoke blown away by the wind, replaced by a resolute, almost ruthless decisiveness.

The long-standing uncertainty about the future seemed to be temporarily dispelled by this seemingly crooked yet alluring "unorthodox path."

"Alright! Li Yunjing, I'll trust you this time!"

He stubbed out his third cigarette, which he had just lit, on the kang table, as if stamping a decision.

"This is daring and fast! I, Fu Chao, will do it!"

He straightened up, his gaze fixed intently on Li Yunjing, without the slightest hesitation: "Tell me, how exactly do we plan to do it? How exactly will we cooperate?"

He paused, tapping his fingers on the greasy kang tabletop, making a dull thud. "How should the profits be divided? Even between brothers, accounts should be kept clear. This needs to be made clear first."

He cut straight to the core and most practical issues, revealing a shrewdness that was inconsistent with his usual carefree demeanor.

"readily!"

A weight was lifted from Li Yunjing's heart, and his spirits lifted, knowing that the matter was already half accomplished.

He stubbed out his cigarette and said seriously, "Since we're doing this together, let's share the profits and risks, and no one should suffer losses or take advantage of anyone."

He held out his right hand, fingers spread, and waved it in front of Fu Chao. "After we make money, and deduct all costs, including prizes, printing, venue, vehicles, meals, and other expenses, we'll split the remaining net profit 50/50. How about it?"

"Fifty-five?"

After a moment's thought, Fu Chao felt that the ratio was quite fair, even somewhat biased towards him, the "latecomer".

He subconsciously turned his head to look at Ding Dong, who was staring at them expectantly with a face full of tension and anticipation, and added, "What about Ding Dong? This kid may be a bit slow, but he's still one of us. We can't let him work for nothing, can we?"

"Since Dongzi works for you, his men will naturally be counted on your side."

Li Yunjing had already thought it through, and smiled naturally, while giving Ding Dong a reassuring look, "How you arrange things for him, whether he runs errands for you, looks after the venue, or does something else, is up to you."

"He's definitely indispensable when it comes to manual labor and errands."

"You two can decide how much he'll take from your share; I won't interfere."

"Brother Chao, Lao Li, don't worry!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Dong immediately straightened his back, his face flushed with excitement. He patted his thin chest forcefully, making a muffled "thump thump" sound, and assured him, "I, Ding Dong, may not be good at much else, but I have a lot of stupid strength. I'll be obedient!"

"You tell me to go east, but I'll never go west!"

"You want me to run the place? My eyes will be bigger than light bulbs!"

"I absolutely won't let you down!"

At that moment, he understood completely!

This is no longer just playful banter among classmates; it's a money-making venture!

This is an opportunity to change your current impoverished life!

He also yearned to never fall behind others.

"Alright! Fifty-fifty it is! That's fair!"

Fu Chao nodded, expressing his satisfaction with Li Yunjing's clear, generous, and flexible arrangement.

Li Yunjing gave him sufficient respect and room for profit while skillfully maintaining his dominance in the cooperation.

However, after the initial excitement, the practical problems immediately surfaced, and a look of difficulty and embarrassment appeared on his face that was beyond his years: "But... Old Li, to tell you the truth, I don't have much cash on hand right now."

"I save up the pocket money my parents give me, and I also secretly withhold some of my New Year's money. I have about three thousand yuan."

He gave a rough estimate, not daring to say for sure, "They were all exchanged for ten-yuan notes, wrapped in kraft paper, and locked in a tin biscuit box at the bottom of my grandma's old camphor wood chest."

"The key is with my grandma, but I know where she hides the spare key..."

He spoke somewhat vaguely and lowered his voice considerably, but his meaning was clear: the three thousand yuan was his "secret stash," and to use it as capital, he needed to "find a way," which would likely require keeping it a secret from his family and perhaps even some "technical means."

"We can solve the startup capital problem step by step; I'll figure something out."

Li Yunjing immediately expressed his understanding and took the initiative to share the pressure to reassure Fu Chao. "I can persuade my dad. He knows people in the factory's fleet and should be able to help borrow a 'Daifa' van for a few days. It's convenient for hauling goods and setting up a stall. This kind of thing is quite rare now, and it looks impressive when displayed."

"But we still need a 130 truck. After all, we have a lot of prizes and promotional materials; we can't rely on just a van to make a living!"

"Furthermore, the most crucial and confidential technical step—printing the lottery cards—is entrusted to me."

Li Yunjing pointed to his head, his tone confident, "I know where to find someone to make this, and I can design some simple anti-counterfeiting features, such as special hidden marks and paper materials, to make it harder for others to counterfeit."

"I'll handle this personally; I guarantee it will be done perfectly."

Ding Dong listened with great excitement, but when he heard about money and a car, he couldn't help but feel discouraged. His family was from the countryside, and his parents toiled in the fields. Let alone three thousand yuan, they could hardly even make three hundred.

He weakly raised his hand, as if asking a question in class: "I...I have nothing, not even a decent bicycle at home...all I can do is send someone out to run errands and look after things..."

"I wasn't expecting you to contribute money or a car anyway. Do you think I don't know what your financial situation is?"

Fu Chao glanced at him with a mix of helplessness and amusement, then slapped his raised hand down: "Be smart, put in more effort, keep your eyes open, and keep your mouth shut. That's better than anything else."

"Didn't Old Li say that if you work for me, you won't suffer losses?"