Zhang Tianxing didn't bother to estimate the score after he returned. Fate was sealed, so there was no point in making useless efforts. He would put his energy into what mattered.
Zhang Tianxing passed by the lottery store where he had bought Kong Lu Feng Cai.
He saw a large red banner hanging above the entrance.
"Joyfully celebrating our store selling five second prizes!"
Well, he had become famous. It seemed that store was doing well. Should he buy two more tickets?
Zhang Tianxing grinned. It seemed his mother had claimed the prize money. He would see how much it was when he got back. He planned to use the lottery winnings as startup capital.
When his parents returned that evening, Zhang Tianxing prepared to talk to them.
He wanted to see if he could get their approval. If they approved, things would be much easier for him.
If his parents didn't believe him, he would have to resort to subtle maneuvers. There were always ways to deal with policies, all for the sake of living.
He prepared a simple home-cooked meal and waited for his parents to return.
Zhang Tianxing said to Liang Juan, "Mom, you went to cash in the ticket, right? Was my Kong Lu Feng Cai ticket real?"
Liang Juan smiled and nodded, "It was real, but you can't buy any more tickets from now on. Only a few people win. Most people don't even get their money back."
"I understand, Mom. Let's talk business. How much was my five tickets?"
Liang Juan beamed, "We received over fourteen thousand yuan. Xiao Xing, this money is a godsend. It's just in time for your tuition and our emergency fund."
Liang Juan then breathed a sigh of relief, "It feels so good not to worry about money. We used to borrow from Peter to pay Paul. What kind of life was that?"
Seeing his mother's expression, Zhang Tianxing felt a pang in his heart, "Mom, don't worry. Your son has grown up, and things will only get better from now on."
"Oh, right, son. Here's four thousand yuan. Take it. This is for your tuition and living expenses. Keep it safe and don't spend it carelessly!" Liang Juan advised. Zhang Tianxing was generally reliable in this regard, which put his family at ease.
"By the way, how is my second uncle's restaurant doing?" Zhang Tianxing asked.
Liang Juan said, "It's closed now. Your second uncle is injured and can't cook, and your aunt is in the hospital. How could such a good family encounter such misfortune?"
Zhang Tianxing filed this information away, considering if there was a way to help his uncle's family.
Children from poor families grow up faster because they know how hard-earned money is. They don't know how to spend it and haven't experienced much.
Otherwise, there wouldn't be the saying that it takes twenty-one days to form a habit, but only three days to go bad.
It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, and difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.
Zhang Tianxing rejoiced inwardly. His mother was so kind to give him his tuition in advance. Now, he had startup capital for his little business.
He would start tomorrow and first gauge the market.
He directly found Zhu Dayong and Gao Tianming, and the three of them rode their bicycles towards Yancun Township.
"Zhang Tianxing, why are you carrying a net bag? Where are we going?"
"Don't ask. Our destination is Yancun Township. I have my own plans."
Zhu Dayong and Gao Tianming asked confusedly, "What are we doing in Yancun Township? It's not a short trip back and forth."
Zhang Tianxing looked up at the sky, his face full of confidence, and asked them, "Have you ever heard of crayfish?"
The two nodded. Gao Tianming asked with some confusion, "I know about them. There are a lot of them in the fields, almost an infestation. They can be used to feed pigs."
"Have you ever eaten them?"
Gao Tianming shook his head, "They're so small. If I want to eat, I'd eat big prawns. Their texture isn't good. Pig feed, nobody would eat that."
Zhang Tianxing smiled. If his memory was correct, the boom in crayfish consumption would begin soon.
So, let him be the one to take the first step.
The idea was good, but it remained to be seen if he could pave the way.
After all, he only knew how to make spicy crayfish and garlic crayfish for now.
He would have to rack his brain and think about how crayfish were prepared in later years.
How to conquer people's palates with crayfish.
"Zhang Tianxing, is the money-making business you mentioned crayfish? If that's the case, then I won't join you."
"Whatever. Forced actions don't yield sweet results. I didn't force you to come; you insisted on tagging along."
Gao Tianming couldn't stand Zhang Tianxing's words and said angrily, "Fine, I asked to come. I'll do as you say. Let's see how you lose money."
"Then are you investing or not?"
"No. I won't invest in something I know will lose money."
"That's a pity. You should leave then. Why are you here if you're not investing?"
"We're college classmates. I can offer advice, and I don't need any wages. I'm here to prevent you from having any improper intentions towards Wen Qing and Li Fang."
"A beautiful woman is a gentleman's desire. Liking beautiful women is a normal human reaction."
"Regardless, I have to supervise you two, lest you do anything bad."
Well, he couldn't get rid of him, and it wasn't bad to keep him. He would have a free laborer, as long as he was willing to work.
Anyway, what Zhang Tianxing was doing didn't require much skill; it was just spicy crayfish.
In the hot summer, after work, having some beer and crayfish was like living in paradise.
However, for now, Zhang Tianxing's main headache was how to catch the crayfish and where to sell them.
The market was a blank canvas. How should he paint this canvas with crayfish?
How to make crayfish popular? Only when they became popular could he make money from the industry.
Forget it, he'd first see what the crayfish situation was like here. If they were difficult to catch or in short supply, Zhang Tianxing wouldn't be able to do anything and would have to find another way.
However, Yancun Township was close to Yangcheng, which was convenient. If he were to do other small commodities, there would be many more things to consider.
Even a clever cook cannot cook without rice. The most pressing matter now was to find a stable supply of crayfish.
Everything begins with difficulty. Things are done step by step. Haste makes waste.
After two hours, the three arrived at Yancun Township and saw rice fields everywhere.
Zhang Tianxing smiled. This was the kind of environment crayfish loved.
Zhang Tianxing walked directly to the edge of the rice fields and ponds. He took a look, and as he expected.
Crayfish were almost rampant at this time, and there was no mention of widespread crayfish consumption.
Zhang Tianxing found a pole, tied the net bag to it, and made a simple shrimp net.
Zhang Tianxing picked up the net and walked back and forth in the areas with abundant aquatic weeds for more than ten minutes.
Zhu Dayong and Gao Tianming watched Zhang Tianxing.
"Is this method of yours effective? You've been walking for so long, why haven't you reeled in the net?"
"Right, is this pond contracted by anyone?"
"If it's not effective, let me try. Also, if we catch fish here, will anyone bother us?"
Zhang Tianxing listened to their words and felt speechless. These were high school students. How pure people's hearts were at this time!
Zhang Tianxing felt the net bag getting heavier and heavier. With a heave, he lifted the net bag.
Good heavens, the net bag was not light. It seemed they had caught something.
Fortunately, they were young and strong, with plenty of energy.
The three of them looked uniformly at the net bag.
At first glance, all three were stunned.