While Feng Yu was still buried in his studies with Li Na at school, something major happened at Li Shiqiang's home.
"What did you say? You want to quit? You little rascal, when I got you into the post and telecommunications office, I had to put aside my pride and beg my old leader. I had to give gifts and treat people to meals. Now you actually want to quit?"
Li's father, trembling, pointed at Li Shiqiang, wishing he could slap him to death.
"Father, do you know how much money I've made in the past few months? Tens of thousands! How much can I earn in a month at work? Less than a hundred yuan! Now I can earn in a month what it would take years to earn at work. Why should I keep working? I just took a few days off, and look at how our director treated me, scolding me in front of everyone!"
"Did you just take a few days off? I didn't know until now that you've only worked four days this month. Which leader can tolerate such behavior? If it weren't for my old face, you would have been fired long ago!"
"Then fire me, I don't want to work there anyway. There's nothing to do every day, what kind of future is there?"
"Shiqiang, how can you talk like that? What's wrong with this job? It's not tiring, it's stable, and you can get a house in the future," Li's mother also tried to persuade him.
"Mother, it's just a house, right? We can afford it now. Wherever you want to buy a house, even in the capital, we can afford an apartment!"
"You're being defiant, and you won't even listen to me!"
"Father, Xiao Yu said that we should look forward and view things with a developmental perspective. This job may seem good now, and many people envy it, but if we buy a big house and a car, won't even more people envy us? That's how we can live a more valuable life!"
"Nonsense! Don't think I don't know what you're up to, trading government bonds, running to Shen City every day. That's speculation!"
"This is normal trade. Xiao Yu said that the state allows the free trading of government bonds, and there's no tax. Look at Uncle Zhao's son, Chuanxi. He bought a big color TV for his family during the New Year. What did you say about him then? Look how capable he is. Now we can afford an even bigger and better imported color TV!"
Li Shiqiang kept mentioning Xiao Yu, which made Li's father's temples throb. A man in his twenties, listening to a teenager, how embarrassing is that?
The news eventually reached the Feng family. Feng Xingtao, after finishing the spring planting, went to the school to pick up Feng Yu and rushed to Bing City. The in-laws implied that Li's decision to quit his stable job at the post and telecommunications office was all due to Feng Yu's advice.
"Father, what does this have to do with me? I really didn't encourage him to quit," Feng Yu weakly defended himself.
Of course, Li Shiqiang was scolded by his leader because he kept taking leave. Ultimately, it was because Feng Yu had him running between two places, trading government bonds. But he wouldn't admit to this!
"Shut up. When we get to Uncle Li's house, apologize first. Uncle Li is a leader, and he can ride in a car and receive gifts during holidays. If your brother learns from him, he can become a leader too."
Feng Yu pouted, "What's so good about being a leader? Uncle Li is just a deputy section chief. We can afford a car now. During holidays, he has to give gifts to his superiors too. Look at your brother, he earns more in a month than he used to in a year. That's what it means to be a winner in life!"
Seeing his father glare, Feng Yu gave up on trying to persuade him. Forget it, the funds are almost ready. Let Li Shiqiang be a bit more obedient, and he can still make waves with this money.
When they arrived at Li Shiqiang's house, not only were the Li family members there, but Feng Danying was also present. Everyone sat in silence. However, when Feng Xingtao entered, Li's father and mother stood up to welcome him.
But after sitting down, the room fell into a dead silence. Feng Xingtao glared at Feng Yu, what are you doing, why don't you admit your mistake?
Feng Yu, feeling helpless, thought to himself, being a genius ahead of his time is lonely. No one can understand his ideas, which are twenty years ahead of their time. This situation will likely continue for another twenty years. High places are indeed cold!
Feng Xingtao slapped Feng Yu's head hard. He was waiting for him to apologize, but he was just sitting there pretending to be clueless!
You little rascal, don't you know that your sister's lifelong happiness is at stake? If Li Shiqiang quits because of your encouragement, will his family still agree to your sister's marriage?
Feng Yu gave his father a pitiful look and stood up, saying, "Uncle Li, Auntie, this is all my fault. I shouldn't have involved Li Shiqiang. Li Shiqiang, you should go back to work honestly. Work hard all your life, and you'll have a house and a car."
At first, Feng Xingtao thought his son was saying the right things, but the more he listened, the more it didn't sound right.
"Besides, you took tens of thousands of yuan from home, and you've already earned tens of thousands. That's more than you would earn in ten years at work. Our teacher said that people should know when to be content. It's their business if others earn more. If others live in big houses and watch big color TVs, we can live in small houses and watch small black-and-white TVs, or even live in a bungalow and listen to a radio."
"When you and my sister have a child, let him study hard and work at the post and telecommunications office in the future. The pay is less, but it's easy. Other children have parents driving them to and from school in cars, but we can ride bicycles. Men don't need to be the first to do everything or think about being the best. It's enough to work hard for the four modernizations. Let others have the glory."
Feng Yu was also skilled at persuasion. To put it bluntly, he could brainwash most people. Otherwise, how could he have attracted so many investors? With the current mindset of the people in the room, Feng Yu was confident that he could make anyone forget what they were discussing after just five minutes.
Li's father and mother frowned. Yes, what future does working at the post and telecommunications office have? If they have a child in the future, and if they follow Xiao Yu's advice, wouldn't it be a disservice to their child if other children are driven to and from school in cars while theirs ride bicycles?
This is the first time their son has had his own ideas. Should they really stifle them? If he goes back to work, will he be content?
Li's father suddenly asked, "Shiqiang, what do you think?"
Li Shiqiang, who had been keeping his head down, suddenly looked up, "Father, I've thought it through. I want to make money, a lot of money, to give you a good life and ensure that Danying won't suffer. Didn't the great leader say that we should develop the socialist economy and allow some people to get rich first? Why can't I be one of those people?"
Li's father looked at his son, then at his in-laws, and finally sighed, "Alright, I'll talk to the leader and arrange a one-year leave of absence for you. If you can't make it, go back to work honestly and don't think too much. If you can really do it, then quit."
PS1: The first wave of people entering the business world was in 1984 and 1985, when coastal companies were everywhere, and doing small businesses earned more than working.
PS2: Can the recommendations be more enthusiastic? If you haven't added this to your favorites, do it now. It won't make you pregnant, I promise.
Page break for ads starts