Reborn in 2000, starting from the university website

Just after six o'clock, the smell of smoke in the private room of New Century Internet Cafe was so strong it stung the eyes. Zhang Jian and Wan Lianghao were arguing fiercely about a bug in multi-threaded data capture, their cursors bouncing around on the screen like headless flies.

The door to the private room was pushed open, but instead of Liu Jing's usual boisterous noise, it was the second brother, Yang Bo, who entered.

He didn't speak, but instead placed the briefcase full of documents on the empty chair with a heavy, almost explosive motion. A layer of fog formed on his glasses; he took them off and wiped them haphazardly with the corner of his shirt. His usually methodical face was now etched with dejection.

"What's wrong, second brother? Did someone cook you?" Bai Yuhang, a cigarette between his fingers, spun around in his chair with a smile. "Did the clerk from the Industry and Commerce Bureau give you a hard time?"

"If only they had just given me a hard time," Yang Bo said, putting his glasses back on his nose. His voice was muffled. "Sixth Brother, I really messed up this time. I didn't do enough research beforehand, and when I went to check the name just now, they threw the policy in my face. In Heilongjiang, registering a technology company with paid-in registered capital and strong leverage requires at least 30,000 yuan."

The keyboard noise in the room stopped instantly.

Zhang Jian poked his head out from behind the monitor: "How much? Thirty thousand? Are you robbing me? Can't you pay less?"

"It won't work. Registering a company requires capital verification, which means the funds have to be in an account." Yang Bo plopped down in a chair, ran his hands through his hair, and scratched them in frustration. "We only have 13,000 yuan in our account right now, plus the boss's secret stash, and my 1,000-odd yuan, but it's not enough. We don't even have 20,000 yuan. If this gets stuck here, we won't be able to get the license, and we won't be able to get the contract stamped with Blue Speed. If word gets out that we couldn't get it done, how are we supposed to operate in the future? The key is that we're still out there doing business without a license, and that doesn't feel right. This is a dead end."

The air felt somewhat stagnant.

Thirty thousand yuan, in an era when housing prices in Harbin are only a few hundred yuan per square meter, is indeed a huge burden for a few freshmen.

Yang Bo lowered his head, not daring to look at everyone: "It's my fault. I should have gone to the window to ask earlier. Just reading the legal provisions is useless; there are differences in local regulations."

"Alright, second brother, is everything except the money done?" Bai Yuhang ignored his dejected words and stubbed out his cigarette in the ash-filled can.

"Yes, the name has been approved, and the preliminary review has also been passed. As long as the money is deposited into the verification account, we can get the business license on the spot with the bank receipt. The organization code certificate can also be processed at the same time, and the seal will be made."

"Then it's no big deal." Bai Yuhang stood up, looked at the open leather notebook in his hand, picked up a pen and wrote down a number: 30000.

"What we lack right now is time, not money." Bai Yuhang pointed to the number with his pen. "The company has 13,000, the eldest has 2,500, and the second eldest has almost 2,000. That's 17,500. The shortfall is 12,500."

He turned around, his gaze intense: "Didn't Fifth Brother just bring back nine potential clients? He got nine thousand in deposits, and they're planning two thousand each, that's eighteen thousand. Add that to what we have, and we have thirty-five thousand five thousand in total. Isn't that enough?"

"But..." Yang Bo paused for a moment, "Those nine families are spread across three districts. It would take the eldest and fifth brothers two days to cover them all."

"So we have to change tactics." Bai Yuhang put on his jacket and zipped it all the way up. "Special times call for special measures. Third brother, fourth brother, you two stay put and keep your butts glued to your chairs. This music website is our nuclear weapon. It has to be online by the weekend. Even if the sky falls, you two have to get the code out."

Zhang Jian and Wan Lianghao exchanged a glance, nodded heavily, and then turned back to continue outputting to the screen.

"Seventh Brother, stop flipping through the dictionary and pack your things." Bai Yuhang patted Zhang Qingheng on the shoulder. "Second Brother, don't blame yourself. Put down your briefcase and put on your tool bag. The three of us will set off now to meet up with the eldest and fifth brothers. We'll split into five groups and sweep through the area tonight."

"All night?" Zhang Qingheng, the seventh brother, was somewhat taken aback. "The internet cafe is open, but will the owner pay us?"

"As long as the system is installed well, as long as we can clean up that mess of 'Speed ​​Navigation,' they'll be willing to pay even in the middle of the night. We're providing timely help." Bai Yuhang's eyes revealed a ruthless edge. "Tell everyone, work hard these next two days. Once we take down these nine companies, we'll be a legitimate force. By Friday morning, all the money must be in place."

Seeing Bai Yuhang's confident demeanor, Yang Bo felt a weight lift from his shoulders, though not entirely. He gritted his teeth and stood up: "Alright, I'll contact the boss right away and reassign the areas."

"Okay, let's go to the bar and page the boss. Wait! There's something else." Bai Yuhang followed Yang Bo to the door, then stopped. "Having money isn't enough. Friday is too rushed. If the clerk drags their feet, we'll have to wait until next week. We can't afford to wait."

He turned and left the private room, heading straight for the bar, with Yang Bo and Zhang Qingheng following him.

Zhao Jianjun was dozing off behind the bar with a beer bottle in his hand when he was startled awake by Bai Yuhang's tapping on the table.

"What's up, bro? Want some extra ham?"

"Brother Zhao, I need your help with something. I'll have to use some of your connections." Bai Yuhang leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Do you know anyone at the Industry and Commerce Bureau? Or someone who can put in a good word for you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jianjun threw the fly swatter on the table and sat up straight: "What? Is someone blocking you?"

"It's not that there's a problem, it's that I want to go through the fast track." Bai Yuhang briefly explained the situation. "I'll definitely have the money ready by Friday, but I'm worried the process might be slow. I want the money to be deposited by Friday morning, and the license to be in hand by the afternoon. Our contract with Blue Speed ​​can't be delayed because of some trivial matter."

Zhao Jianjun stroked his stubble and rolled his eyes: "Old Li from the Industry and Commerce Bureau... he was one of the recruits I used to train as a political instructor, and now he's in charge of registration. It's not difficult. As long as you have enough money and all the paperwork is in order, you can get him to cut in line. It's just a matter of a word."

"Then I'll trouble Brother Zhao to put in a good word for me." Bai Yuhang took out two hundred yuan from his pocket and placed it under the calculator on the bar counter. "This money is for me to buy cigarettes, or to treat Brother Li to dinner tomorrow night. It's just a small token of my appreciation."

"Trying to embarrass me, huh? My family owns a restaurant!" Zhao Jianjun glared, stood up, grabbed the money, and stuffed it back into Bai Yuhang's pocket. "You're running a legitimate business, not doing anything shady. I'll help you out, but I don't want the money. You can use it to raise the 30,000 yuan for the capital verification. Hurry up and get on with your work. If you don't get the license back by Friday, I'll eat this bar alive."

Bai Yuhang didn't stand on ceremony. He pocketed the money, clasped his hands in a fist and fist salute to Zhao Jianjun, and said, "Thanks, Brother Zhao. Once the license is issued, the first big drinking session must be at your place."

After saying that, he turned around and called to Yang Bo and Zhang Qingheng, who had just finished contacting Jiao Liwei, before plunging into the deepening night of Harbin.