Start with a blacksmith shop.

Li Zhenhua immediately got out of bed.

He took out his notebook and found the registration portal for the Kyushu region of the sword forging competition.

I filled in all my information and clicked confirm.

This is a way for him to find something to do.

Thinking about it, this matter actually has potential. You know, in a small county, the vast majority of people only earn between two and four thousand yuan a month.

Very few people can earn more than 4,000 yuan a month, and they might only earn 40,000 to 50,000 yuan a year.

But the competition that Li Zhenhua wants to participate in now, just the third place in the Kyushu region alone costs 50,000.

If you get third place, which means you only need to prepare for a little over a month, you can earn the money that an average worker can only earn in a year.

Moreover, as long as the competition isn't predetermined, he's confident he can get a ranking.

Don't forget that he has a virtual laboratory with him. Thinking this, Li Zhenhua suddenly felt as if he had a personal old man by his side.

"If you can't get a ranking even with a cheat code, then I believe there must be something fishy about this competition."

After registering, Li Zhenhua was still thinking about some things related to the competition and muttered a few words to himself.

After washing up, Li Zhenhua went downstairs and opened the door of the blacksmith shop.

You can't go back on your word after saying you'd reopen the blacksmith shop and only working on it for two days.

Just as Li Zhenhua was wondering if his registration would be successful, his phone rang.

"Grandpa, your grandson sent you a message. Could you please take a look?"

Li Zhenhua picked up his phone and started looking at it. He saw that the phone displayed the official number left by the knife forging competition.

Dear participant, please send your preliminaries' knives by the end of this month.

Please include a production video as evidence in the package.

Address: ...Wishing you a pleasant life, Preliminary Round of the Sword Forging Competition.

After seeing these things, Li Zhenhua felt a little more at ease.

After dropping out of school, I had something to do first, and with a goal, I was no longer lost and confused in life.

Li Zhenhua pondered the specific information revealed by this message, the first thing being that he needed to make a knife.

This is for the preliminary rounds. He estimated that the requirements for this knife wouldn't be too high; as long as one has a normal skill level, one should be able to pass the preliminary rounds.

Secondly, it should include a video of the entire knife-making process, which is easy to understand.

This is the most direct evidence, without ever meeting in person, to prove that the knife was made by hand.

These two conditions were nothing to Li Zhenhua. The first one, knife making, was easy to say and could be said to be a piece of cake for him.

But what about the next item?

Recording the entire process means that someone needs to film him the whole time he's making the knife.

This could have been done with the fat guy's help, but it would have been fine for a day or two.

If it takes too long, it will interfere with other people's affairs, which is not Li Zhenhua's original intention.

"Are we going to hire a cameraman too? That's outrageous! Maybe we should call Fatty and ask!"

Li Zhenhua then dialed Liu Xiaodong's number.

I called, but no one answered.

When Li Zhenhua called a second time, the phone was finally answered. But before Li Zhenhua could speak, Liu Xiaodong's complaints came through the line.

"Oh my god, you're a real father figure."

Please check the time, sir. What time is it?

It was five o'clock, and it was still dark.

You drank me so much yesterday I almost drank myself under the table, and my head still hurts.

"I didn't get enough sleep at all. Couldn't you have waited until I woke up before calling me?"

Liu Xiaodong's voice was noticeably different, revealing the grievances, discomfort, and anger he felt from not getting enough sleep.

Li Zhenhua then realized what was happening and went to the window to look outside.

It's really early; it's not even dawn yet.

"Hey, Fatty, sorry, I really didn't check the time."

"Since that's the case, you go to sleep first. Remember to call me back when you wake up. Bye."

Li Zhenhua looked embarrassed. It was indeed inappropriate to disturb them so early in the morning. Fortunately, he wasn't awake for too long, and if he went back to sleep, it wouldn't really count as taking a nap.

But not long after, Li Zhenhua's phone rang.

When I picked it up, I was surprised to see that it was Liu Xiaodong calling. Hadn't he just hung up the phone?

"Why did they call back so quickly?" Li Zhenhua answered the phone with a puzzled look in his eyes.

"Let me tell you, I'm not done with you today. One phone call from you and I couldn't sleep at all. Even if you asked me to sleep now, I wouldn't be able to."

You really are my good brother.

"Speak, what is it?"

On the other end of the phone, Liu Xiaodong leaned against the headboard and asked Li Zhenhua.

At this moment, Li Zhenhua completely understood him, because he had also encountered this situation, and the feeling of being woken up while asleep was really unpleasant.

Now that things have come to this point, Li Zhenhua didn't hesitate and asked Liu Xiaodong directly.

"That's how it is, the sword-forging competition you mentioned yesterday."

I decided to participate, so I registered on the website right after I woke up.

Then I received a text message from them, which told me what I needed to prepare for the qualifiers.

Everything else is fine, except for one thing.

I need a videographer to film the entire process of me forging knives. However, I don't have one. Do you have any suitable candidates you could recommend?

Li Zhenhua recounted his story, fearing that he might upset Liu Xiaodong even more.

Liu Xiaodong didn't take it seriously at first, but the news he heard next excited him.

At this moment, the fat man was more enthusiastic than anyone else, and he even jumped out of bed.

"Brother Hua, let me tell you, you absolutely have to take me with you this time when you participate in the competition."

"I'll be a great helper. I've worked with sledgehammers before, I'll be your assistant."

"I wouldn't dare use you as an assistant, think about it quickly."

Where can I find a cameraman? I've been away from home for the past two years and don't know where to find suitable resources. If you know anyone, please let me know.

Li Zhenhua then started talking to Liu Xiaodong about participating in the preliminary rounds.

Liu Xiaodong went through all the things he had in mind about being a cameraman.

But he always thought of Teacher Chen, who was the pinnacle of a cameraman's skill.

As he was thinking, he suddenly thought of someone: that rich second-generation.

Liu Xiaodong then shouted directly into the phone:

"Brother Hua, I've thought of someone. I'll call him and see if he's interested."

"Hey, hey, don't hang up yet, damn it, I hung up."

Li Zhenhua shouted into the phone, but no matter how fast he rushed, he couldn't keep up with Liu Xiaodong hanging up the phone.

"Dude, this isn't my fault, don't blame me for not warning you."

It's not even 5:30 yet. Is it appropriate to call someone at this time?

I wonder who he'll call.

Li Zhenhua was at a loss for words.

He could only look at his phone and shake his head.