The Show Was Just Beginning

Some concepts had long become commonplace, but piercing that thin veil was difficult.

"Shills" had already become an everywhere species ten years ago.

Restaurant shills and bar shills were still tolerable, but medical shills were practically hated by everyone at the time.

No matter which public hospital you went to, there were shills everywhere, inside and out.

Some medical shills tricked patients into going to private hospitals or clinics, where even a minor ailment could empty their pockets. Others were really selling health supplements, fooling terminally ill patients into skipping the doctor and claiming their products could cure anything.

Prize drawings had also been wildly popular for a time. Anyone who had not lived through that era simply could not imagine the scene.

At the height of illegal lottery sales, they had even spread into remote towns and villages.

Farmers carrying vegetables to the market could run into a whole crowd selling illegal lottery tickets. Then they would arrange for a lottery shill to win a huge prize, instantly whipping up the atmosphere and getting countless farmers to spend their hard-earned money on tickets.

Because of their terrible impact, illegal lotteries had been strictly banned, yet they could never be completely eradicated.

Just last year, when Chen Guiliang was in his second year of high school, he had gone into the city during the National Day holiday. Along a street only a few hundred meters long, there had been more than a dozen booths selling illegal lottery tickets, and they had even hired "Andy Lau" and "Jacky Cheung" to draw crowds.

They were really just celebrity impersonators, but the counterfeit acts were advertised as the real thing. Half a month in advance, they had started claiming that Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung were coming.

People flocked there in droves.

Chen Guiliang had an elementary school classmate who had gone to work at a hotpot restaurant after graduating middle school. He had painstakingly saved money for two years, only to blow it all in an hour scratching lottery tickets, winning nothing but laundry detergent, thermoses, and the like.

Once people got swept up in it, they simply could not withstand that atmosphere.

Chen Guiliang remembered it clearly. An old farmer in ragged clothes had been invited onstage to be interviewed by the host. The old man grinned foolishly the entire time and could barely speak properly, only saying that he had casually spent two yuan and won a full fifty-thousand-yuan jackpot.

Before the interview had even ended, countless onlooking residents rushed over to buy tickets.

Naturally, Tao Chenggang knew about what had happened during last year's National Day holiday. He even knew two of the illegal lottery bosses, while all the rest had come from the south.

Using "Andy Lau" and "Jacky Cheung" as promotional bait had been the southern bosses' devious idea. The local bosses, meanwhile, helped smooth over certain connections so they would not get arrested halfway through the prize drawing.

The moment he thought of running prize drawings in a game, Tao Chenggang became completely determined to develop one!

He stopped asking about any brilliant ideas and said with a smile, "Little brother, do you want to join my company? We can start a game business together. You don't need to put up any cash. Just contribute that game concept as your investment, and I'll convert it into some company shares for you."

"I still have to study. The College Entrance Exam is next year," Chen Guiliang declined politely.

Tao Chenggang continued trying to sell him on it. "Preparations on my end will take at least half a year. By the time we officially start making the game, you'll be about ready to enter university. You can study while starting a business, and neither will hold you back. Think about it. Before you've even left school, you'll already be a shareholder in a game company. How impressive would that be at school? Even the campus beauties would chase after you."

That was devastatingly persuasive to a young man.

If Chen Guiliang had not been reborn, he probably would have agreed on the spot.

"I need cash. My family still owes debts," Chen Guiliang said. He had his own plans for starting a business, and he did not want to be led around by someone else.

Before his rebirth, he had successfully started a business, only to be caught up in infighting among shareholders. The matter had always stuck in Chen Guiliang's craw.

This time, he had to keep control of the shares himself!

Besides, Tao Chenggang might not succeed. There was a strong chance he would lose everything.

When one plan failed, Tao Chenggang brought up his own university days, saying those female college students had all worshipped money and looked down on the poor.

Chen Guiliang paid him no mind and continued switching accounts to make provocative posts, turning Mengya Forum into a complete shitstorm.

That utterly unmoved attitude left Tao Chenggang speechless.

He was even afraid that if he did not buy the A4 pages today, Chen Guiliang would turn around and sell them to some big company.

Tao Chenggang finally made another offer. "Final price, fifty thousand. But it'll be paid in installments. I can give you ten thousand today, another ten thousand next July, and the remaining thirty thousand in one lump sum by the end of next year."

Tao Chenggang's intentions were simple: use the remaining payment to keep Chen Guiliang tied down and stop him from selling the idea everywhere.

He felt that the final forty thousand would be enough to keep a high school student steady.

Yet Chen Guiliang was becoming more and more shocked. This guy was actually willing to spend money making a game? He really had quite the gambling streak!

Shocked as he was, the negotiation still had to continue.

Chen Guiliang shook his head. "Fifty thousand is too little."

"Give me a realistic price," Tao Chenggang said.

"One hundred and eighty thousand."

"Eighty thousand. Let's make it quick!"

After haggling for a while, Chen Guiliang realized that he had misjudged purchasing power.

More than a hundred thousand yuan in 2003 was truly a huge sum. It was difficult to get that much with nothing but empty words.

In the end, they settled on one hundred thousand, which was a completely unexpected windfall for Chen Guiliang.

Before coming here, he had never imagined that he would succeed.

"We need an IOU. The down payment must be at least fifty thousand. As for the rest, you can split it into installments however you like." Chen Guiliang had already prepared himself mentally for never receiving the remaining money.

He only needed those fifty thousand yuan as startup capital. After that, he could work with Tao Chenggang on private servers.

As for the remaining payment, Tao Chenggang could give it or not. He did not care.

The show was just beginning.

"No problem," Tao Chenggang agreed immediately.

Tao Chenggang called out Yang Yuhui's nickname. "Potato, Potato, where are your paper, pen, and ink pad?"

Yang Yuhui came in from outside, found the paper, pen, and ink pad, and slapped them onto the table.

Tao Chenggang quickly wrote out the IOU. He even took out his ID card, wrote down his ID number, then signed and pressed his fingerprint.

"I hereby owe Chen Guiliang..."

Yang Yuhui lowered his head to read the IOU. One glance left him dumbfounded. Scratching his head in confusion, he asked, "Brother Gang, I wasn't gone for long. How come you're giving this kid a hundred thousand?"

Tao Chenggang smiled. "The little brother said he was going to bring me a fortune. He's keeping his word, so of course I have to show some sincerity too."

"What exactly happened?" Yang Yuhui became even more curious.

"Confidential." Tao Chenggang closed the lid on the ink pad and said to Chen Guiliang, "Let's go to the bank now. I'll transfer you the first payment."

Chen Guiliang casually took the whole ink pad, slipped it into his pocket, and said, "Borrowing this."

Yang Yuhui followed them all the way to the stairwell before he could not help tugging Chen Guiliang's sleeve and asking, "What do you have that's worth a hundred thousand?"

Chen Guiliang answered with a smile. "Knowledge is wealth. I'm a top student at No. 2 Middle School."

In the blink of an eye, Tao Chenggang and Chen Guiliang had disappeared.

Yang Yuhui stood there talking to himself. "Are top students at No. 2 Middle School really worth that much?"

After standing there in a daze for a while, he took out his phone and called Feng Tao.

"Hello, Feng Lao Er, what's going on with your nephew?" Yang Yuhui asked.

Feng Tao was in the store with his apprentice, installing an operating system for a customer. He worked as he asked, "Did he cause trouble at Brother Gang's place?"

Yang Yuhui said, "Brother Gang is inexplicably giving him a hundred thousand. Fifty thousand as a down payment, and an IOU for the rest."

"He really sold it for a hundred thousand?" Feng Tao was astonished.

Yang Yuhui asked, "What exactly did he sell Brother Gang?"

Feng Tao burst out laughing. "That's incredible. Just like my nephew."

"Fuck!"

Yang Yuhui grew anxious. "Just fucking tell me already. What did your nephew sell Brother Gang?"

Feng Tao deliberately kept him hanging. "You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Bye."

"Hello? Hello... hello... fuck!"

After that call, Yang Yuhui became even more curious. He scratched at his head and ears, feeling unbearably restless.

He returned to the studio to make a few arrangements, then hurried downstairs to chase after Tao Chenggang.

Red Star Department Store.

Chengtao Computer Store.

A middle-aged woman and her son were sitting nearby, watching Feng Tao install the operating system.

The middle-aged woman asked, "This isn't Win2000, is it? The computers at our workplace use Win2000. I heard it's the most advanced system."

Feng Tao loved customers like this: they had money and knew nothing. "Ma'am, WinXP was released in 2001. Just look at the release dates and you'll know which one is newer."

"That's true." The middle-aged woman nodded. "Our workplace only has one computer, and it was bought two years ago."

Feng Tao said, "WinXP hadn't made its way into China yet at that time. Ma'am, if your workplace buys new computers, come to my store and I'll give you a discount. I'll also give you a little kickback."

"I'll definitely recommend you." The middle-aged woman could not wait for the kickback and immediately asked for more perks. "I'm spending several thousand today, and I'll be recommending big clients to you. Give me some extra gifts too."

Feng Tao first looked conflicted and hesitant, then gritted his teeth and nodded as though taking a huge loss. "Fine. Consider it thanks for supporting my business. I'll give you a mouse and keyboard for free, and I'll throw in a Wubi typing practice program for your son."

"You're so generous, boss. You'll definitely make a fortune in business." The middle-aged woman felt she had gotten a bargain.

Her son was a first-year high school student. He had sat silently to the side the entire time, but he was already thrilled beyond words and only wanted to carry the computer home as soon as possible.

Feng Tao began bragging. "That call I just took was from a friend. Guess what? My nephew sold a proposal for a full two hundred thousand!"

He inflated his accomplishments and fabricated the battle report.

Just like that, another hundred thousand had appeared out of nowhere.

"What kind of proposal costs more than an apartment?" the middle-aged woman asked curiously.

Feng Tao said proudly, "A proposal for an online game."

Although the middle-aged woman saw online games as a scourge, she still thought it was impressive to make money from them. "You're so young, boss. How old is your nephew?"

"My cousin's son, my aunt's grandson," Feng Tao said. "He's only seventeen this year and still in his final year of high school."

The middle-aged woman was surprised. "He made two hundred thousand while still in his final year of high school? Does he play games all the time?"

Feng Tao smiled. "He's in the experimental class at County No. 2 High School. He's a top student and can get into a key university with ease. You don't have to be addicted to games to make game proposals."

Upon hearing that he was in the experimental class at County No. 2 High School, the middle-aged woman immediately believed he was a good student. Still, she refused to be outdone. "My son goes to City No. 2 High School. Its entrance exam cutoff was several points higher than County No. 2 High School's."

The student sitting beside her immediately held his head high and puffed out his chest.

Feng Tao continued boasting. "My nephew only lost a dozen or so points on the high school entrance exam. If he had gone to City No. 2 High School, he definitely would have entered the experimental class too. He used to complain to me that he had been too stupid to know students with county household registration could apply to City No. 2 High School. If he had applied there back then and gotten an acceptance letter from City No. 2 High School, he could have enrolled at County No. 2 High School without paying tuition."

"That is quite a pity," the middle-aged woman nodded.

Feng Tao said, "My nephew is a left-behind child. His parents haven't returned home in years, and he has relied entirely on his own efforts ever since he was little."

The middle-aged woman began lecturing her son. "Yangyang, did you hear that? His parents aren't around and no one is there to supervise him, yet he still got into the experimental class at County No. 2 High School. You need to work hard from now on. Get good results in the arts-and-sciences placement exam and try to get selected for the experimental class."

"Mm," the student responded.

"What do you mean, 'mm'? Speak louder when answering!" the middle-aged woman said. "Look at him. He's only in his final year of high school, yet he earned enough to buy an apartment all by himself. That... what was it? Some kind of game plan?"

Feng Tao said, "A game proposal, a proposal for an online game. One of my friends is a big boss, and he's also a major shareholder in this store. My nephew sold him a proposal, and not only did he obediently pay two hundred thousand for it, he's also investing several million to make the game. Heh, he's making the game according to my nephew's ideas!"

The student could not help asking, "A game like Legend?"

Feng Tao said, "No. They're making a free-to-play online game... There, the system is installed. I'll install the application software for you now."

Near noon, the computer was finally ready.

Feng Tao had the apprentice clerk in the store help the mother and son carry the computer downstairs to get a taxi.

He himself called his wife. "Chunhong, Guiliang sold what he wrote last night!"

"How much did he sell it for?" Lin Chunhong was breastfeeding.

"A full hundred thousand!"

Naturally, Feng Tao told his wife the truth. Excitedly, he said, "That's incredible. Brother Gang really bought it. I thought it was just scrap paper."

Lin Chunhong found it hard to believe. "Are you making that up?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Feng Tao said. "Guiliang is definitely going to make a lot of money in the future. That kid has been smart since he was little."

Lin Chunhong asked doubtfully, "It was just a few pages of paper. President Tao didn't need to buy them. He could have simply memorized them."

"You wouldn't understand." Feng Tao could not figure it out either, but that did not stop him from showing off in front of his wife.

Lin Chunhong reminded him, "When there's nothing else going on, have Guiliang come over and sit with us more often. Relatives hardly keep in touch these days."

Feng Tao said, "You wouldn't understand. My relationship with his family is the closest. I'm closer to them than his own second uncle. When his father was little, he came to stay at my home whenever he had the chance. He'd walk half a day just to get here."

The couple chatted for a while, and the apprentice clerk returned to the store.

The clerk was also intensely curious. In an envious tone, he asked, "Master, did that Brother Chen from yesterday really earn two hundred thousand by writing something?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Feng Tao embellished the story as he told it.

At noon, the apprentice clerk carried his boxed lunch next door to the store selling Subor consoles and started bragging.

"Did you know? My master's nephew sold something he wrote for five hundred thousand!"

"Quit making shit up."

"I'm not lying to you. He makes online games and wrote a game that's insanely awesome. He's still in high school, but he's amazing with computers. He even taught himself programming, like some hacker."

"What the hell is a hacker?"

"..."

In just half a day, every shop on the entire floor had heard the story: a County No. 2 High School student named Chen Guiliang had made a game in his spare time and sold it to a big company, earning more than a million yuan!