Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"Dad, Mom, I toast you!"

He proclaimed loudly, "I wish my dad success at work, and my mom eternal youth! I wish our family shop booming business and our lives getting better and better!"

"Haha, this little rascal's got a sweet tongue!"

Li Hongfeng laughed and scolded.

"Cheers to a better life for our family!"

He Ling's eyes were a little red.

"when!"

Three enamel mugs bearing the double happiness symbol clinked together, producing a crisp sound.

The golden liquid sloshed in the vat, reflecting the hopeful faces of the family.

This meal took an unusually long time.

The family ate and chatted, mainly discussing their plans after the convenience store opened.

What goods to stock, what prices to set, and how to attract students.

Li Yunjing took the opportunity to offer many suggestions: get some novel snacks, trendy stickers, and create a points card system... His parents nodded in approval.

After finishing the meal, Li Yunjing insisted on clearing away the dishes.

He Ling wanted to help, but he insisted on pushing her back to the bedroom to rest: "Mom, you've worked hard today, I'll do these chores!"

By the time he finished getting ready, it was just in time for the 7 o'clock news broadcast.

The family huddled together on the bed watching a black-and-white television broadcast major domestic and international events.

"Let's all get up early tomorrow."

Li Hongfeng said while smoking a cigarette, "First, go to the school to pay the fees, then clean up that empty house properly. I've seen it; it's quite dusty and needs a thorough cleaning."

"Yes, we need to go withdraw the money soon."

He Ling chimed in, "Two thousand is no small sum."

She subconsciously touched her pocket, wondering where she had put her bankbook.

"Oh, about that..."

Li Hongfeng seemed to have just remembered something, slapped his forehead, and said, "We don't need to withdraw the money."

"Don't you need to take it?"

He Ling was taken aback.

"I've prepared the payment for the contract."

Li Hongfeng's expression was complex, a mixture of pride and感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of mixed emotions), "I won't touch our family's savings account."

"Where did you get the money?"

He Ling asked curiously, and Li Yunjing also looked at his father, wanting to hear where the money came from.

"To be honest, it was inspired by what our son said a few days ago."

Li Hongfeng glanced at Li Yunjing, who was pretending to watch TV but actually listening intently, and said, "I'm thinking that while I'm still in this position and have some power and influence, I should use it."

"After signing the contract today, I stopped by Brother Ma's house on the way and said that I needed start-up capital to run the convenience store and wanted to borrow 3,000 yuan to tide me over."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I didn't expect Brother Ma to be so generous. He just took five thousand out of his bag and gave it to me, saying that I could keep it as a congratulatory gift for the opening and that I didn't need to pay it back."

"Five thousand? You don't have to pay it back?"

He Ling was so shocked she almost jumped out of bed. "My God! Is this...is this appropriate? Why should they give us so much money?"

No wonder she panicked.

Five thousand dollars in 1990 was equivalent to two or three years' wages for an average worker.

This windfall brought not joy, but unease.

"Mom, please don't worry."

Before her father could explain, Li Yunjing interrupted, her tone calm beyond her years, "My dad has followed Ma Baiwan for so long, always at his beck and call. Even if he hasn't done anything great, he's certainly put in a lot of hard work."

"My family is running a small business now, and it's perfectly normal for you to lend us some 'startup capital' as a matter of courtesy."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Besides, Ma Zhifu needs my dad's help in many ways."

"Kid!"

Li Hongfeng abruptly turned to stare at his son, his face filled with shock. "Who told you that?!"

His voice was low and tense.

"Dad, don't worry."

Li Yunjing remained calm and composed. "There's not a whisper of rumors outside. I figured this out myself."

He looked into his father's eyes and said clearly, "You are a purchasing agent, mainly in charge of coal."

"Ma Zhifu owns a small coal yard and sells heating coal to rural areas and workplaces in winter."

"With the power and connections you have, you don't need to do anything special. Just give him some leeway in terms of project allocation and railcar arrangements, turn a blind eye, and the freight costs and grease the wheels you help him save would probably be more than five thousand, wouldn't they?"

"He's definitely getting a good deal on the money."

Li Yunjing concluded, "On the contrary, it makes him seem righteous."

The room was quiet.

Only the voices of the news anchors on the television were playing.

Li Hongfeng stared at his son as if he were meeting him for the first time.

The dim light danced on the faces of the father and son; on this summer night, something was quietly changing.

He looked Li Yunjing up and down as if he were seeing his own son for the first time, his eyes filled with shock, confusion, and a hint of indescribable admiration.

"Hahaha! Good lad! Your analysis is spot on!"

After several seconds, he suddenly burst into a hearty laugh: "Great! Really great! My son, Old Li's son, will definitely be more successful than his father! Bringing honor to the family depends on you!"

He Ling listened from the side. Although she didn't quite understand some of the "tricks" involved, seeing her husband laughing so heartily and agreeing with their son's statement, her anxiety gradually subsided.

Looking at her son's confident and composed demeanor, she felt a surge of immense pride and satisfaction.

Our son has really grown up, become sensible, and is far smarter and more knowledgeable than they imagined!

This is simply the greatest blessing God has bestowed upon their family!

The atmosphere became relaxed and pleasant again.

"Dad, Mom, now that the money problem is solved, we can start afresh tomorrow."

"I went to the school during the day and saw that there is an open-air water tap next to the guardhouse next to the convenience store, which makes it easy to get water."

"But we don't have suitable cleaning tools at home."

"I think we should prepare buckets, basins, mops, rags, and laundry detergent before we set off tomorrow morning."

"We'll clean the little shop spotless and make it shine in a single day, so we can open as soon as possible!"

Li Yunjing seized the opportunity to steer the conversation back to the specifics of cleaning tomorrow.

"Our son is so quick-witted and insightful!"

Seeing that her son had arranged everything so well and considered everything so thoroughly, He Ling nodded in satisfaction, a pleased smile spreading across her face. "You even thought of the cleaning tools in advance. Okay, we'll do it your way!"

Li Hongfeng also gave his son an appreciative look, feeling that the family had gained a "little strategist" who could make decisions.

"Okay! Then everyone should go to bed early!"

With a wave of his hand, he outlined tomorrow's plan: "Get plenty of rest, get up at six tomorrow morning, and while it's still cool, let's go to school and give it our all!"

"Alright!"

"I'm going to sleep now, Mom and Dad. Goodnight!"

Li Yunjing didn't hesitate and quickly went back to his room to sleep.

Tomorrow I need to go with my parents early to clean the small shop. Around 10 a.m., I also need to meet Lü Ruoxi, who is very busy!

Career, family, and girlfriend—you can't neglect any of them!