Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"You think it's over what happened last time?"

He paused, his voice low but each word clear: "The kind of person he is, he never learns from his mistakes."

"If I don't kill him first, he might come out again and disgust people one day after he recovers."

"Today, it's just to teach him a lesson, and incidentally... collect some 'tuition fees'."

This was just an excuse; Li Yunjing's plan was too frightening, and he didn't want to scare Lü Ruoxi, so he didn't tell the truth.

"tuition fee?"

Lu Ruoxi murmured to herself, a chill running down her spine as she thought of the thick stack of IOUs stained with red fingerprints.

"Yes, tuition fees."

Li Yunjing withdrew his gaze and looked at Lü Ruoxi again. His eyes softened slightly, but the coldness in them had not disappeared. "Ruoxi, thank you for your help today."

"However, this matter ends here."

"You saw nothing, you know nothing, understand?"

His tone carried an unquestionable air of admonition.

Lu Ruoxi's heart tightened suddenly.

"I……"

She opened her mouth, wanting to say that she wouldn't tell anyone, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Li Yunjing didn't seem to need her answer.

"It's getting late, let's hurry home."

Li Yunjing smiled and pointed to the building where Lü Ruoxi lived.

"Yeah! Anyway, you're not allowed to play anymore!"

Lu Ruoxi nodded, hesitated, and finally just whispered, "You...you should go home early too."

Li Yunjing smiled until Lü Ruoxi's figure disappeared into the corridor.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Li Yunjing was awakened by a rustling, hesitant knocking noise.

He frowned, shuffled to the window in his slippers, and pulled back a corner of the curtain.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and in the gray light of the sky, a familiar yet disheveled figure was pacing anxiously beside the utility pole outside his yard, glancing up at his window every now and then. It was Gao Fu.

The kid's eyes were bloodshot, his hair was a mess like a bird's nest, and his floral shirt was wrinkled. He was nowhere near as arrogant as he was yesterday.

Li Yunjing sneered inwardly, slowly finished washing up, ate breakfast, and then pushed open the door and walked out of the yard.

Hearing footsteps, Gao Fu turned around abruptly like a startled rabbit. When he saw Li Yunjing, he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and jogged over.

"Yun...Brother Yun Jing."

Gao Fu's voice was dry and hoarse, carrying a clear hint of ingratiation and fear, "Good...good morning!"

"What's up?"

Li Yunjing had his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless.

"Brother Yun Jing, yesterday... yesterday's money, six hundred and twenty... I, I really can't come up with it right now."

Gao Fu rubbed his hands, his eyes darting around, and after stammering for a while, he finally lowered his voice and said, "Could you... perhaps give me some more time? Or... or perhaps less?"

By the end, her voice was almost inaudible, filled with pleading.

Li Yunjing looked at him quietly without saying a word.

A cool morning breeze blew by, causing Gao Fu to shrink his neck.

"Grace period? Less?"

After a long pause, Li Yunjing finally spoke, his voice low but sharp like ice beads hitting the ground: "Gao Fu, black and white on paper with red handprints, do you think this is child's play?"

Gao Fu's face turned ashen instantly, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.

"Brother Yun Jing, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong!"

"Please, have mercy on me this time!"

"If my dad finds out... he'll beat me to death!"

By the end, her voice was trembling with tears.

Seeing his cowardly appearance, Li Yunjing's scheme to use him became even clearer.

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice so that only the two of them could hear: "If you want to pay back the money, there is a way."

"Please speak!"

Gao Fu suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes: "As long as I can do it!"

"Did your timber mill issue a batch of treasury bonds a few years ago? The kind from 1987-89?"

Li Yunjing asked.

"Yes, it was given out. My dad told me it was a task assigned from above, and it was given out as a bonus. Everyone received it."

Gao Fu was taken aback, not expecting Li Yunjing to ask this. He nodded subconsciously, "That thing... what's it used for? You can't use it as money, it just takes up space at home."

"It didn't work?"

Li Yunjing's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "That's because you don't know how to use it."

Gao Fu blinked, not quite understanding.

"There must be people in your factory who urgently need money at home, or who feel that these vouchers are useless."

Li Yunjing patiently continued to instruct: "Go collect them, use cash, and pay a lower price than the face value. For example, for a 100-yuan coupon, buy it for 80 or 85 yuan. Then..."

He paused, looking at Gao Fu's eyes gradually brightening, "Then you give me the coupons you collected, and I'll settle the bill with you at... ninety."

"The difference between the prices is your profit."

"Use the money you earn to slowly fill that 620 yuan hole in your pocket."

"Do you understand?"

Gao Fu's mind was buzzing as he quickly began to calculate.

He buys a 100-yuan coupon for 80 yuan and gives it to Li Yunjing for 90 yuan, making a profit of 10 yuan.

If we collect a lot... it seems like... it really is a path?

"But...Brother Yun Jing, are treasury bonds really useful? You're not... lying to me, are you?"

Gao Fu was still a little hesitant.

Believe it or not.

Li Yunjing straightened up, his tone becoming indifferent. "I'll point you in this direction. You own your own factory, you know a lot of people, so it'll be easy to take it over. Whether you do it or not is up to you. But..."

His eyes suddenly sharpened. "That 620, not a penny less."

"I want to see the first repayment, or an equivalent amount of treasury bonds, by the end of the month."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't mind letting your dad 'admire' these IOUs."

That last sentence was like a cold pair of pliers, clamping down hard on Gao Fu's heart.

He shivered, all his hesitation instantly vanished in fear.

"I'll do it! I'll do it!"

Gao Fu nodded hurriedly, as if grasping at a lifeline, "Brother Yun Jing, don't worry! I'll go to the factory to inquire right away! I'll definitely get the coupons!"

"Be smart, don't make a big fuss."

Li Yunjing gave a word of advice: "Find a plausible excuse, and don't arouse suspicion."

"Also, the coupons you receive must be in good condition, without any damage or stains."

"Understood! Understood!"

Gao Fu readily agreed, his face finally regaining some color, and even revealing a hint of excitement at having discovered a "way to make money".

Li Yunjing said no more, waved his hand, and indicated that he could leave.

Gao Fu felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He bowed and scraped as he took a few steps back, then turned and ran away in a flash. Compared to his dejected appearance yesterday, his back showed a more urgent drive.

Li Yunjing stood there, watching Gao Fu disappear into the misty street corner in the early morning, his face expressionless.

This stuff is very profitable. Ordinary workers who are in a hurry for money, or who don't understand that this "waste paper" can be used as money, sell it to him at a low price.

Li Yunjing can simply wait for the maturity date to redeem his principal plus interest; he earns far more than Gao Fu.