Guo Jingyu tucked the price list into his pocket and said, “My cousin, who is my uncle’s son, is studying game development in college. Their major has quite high requirements for computers. They even need them for doing homework. Can you imagine how many freshmen will need computers when school starts?”
Li Tongzhou replied, “That depends on the enrollment size of the school.”
Guo Jingyu chuckled, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying, “Li Tongzhou, I really like you.”
Li Tongzhou was taken aback.
Guo Jingyu stood up, stretched lazily, and added with a smile, “I like the way you earnestly answer questions. Let’s go back. I’ll find my cousin first and discuss it.”
Guo Jingyu took him back to Gu Benshu ‘s store.
Papa Guo was already sitting there, having drunk a lot of tea. He saw them coming in and quickly asked, “Jingyu, have you found a suitable computer?”
Guo Jingyu smiled and said, “Dad, don’t worry. I’ve looked at a few options, and the products are similar, but the prices differ by about two thousand yuan. I can’t make up my mind, so I want to ask my cousin.”
Gu Benshu said, “Guo Yu? He only knows how to play games.”
Guo Jingyu replied, “Uncle, you don’t understand. Computers are divided into categories for home use, office use, and gaming. High-performance configurations are needed for gaming. That’s the best.”
Papa Guo said, “Oh, now that you mention it, Guo Yu happens to be studying in that field. I remember he’s studying computer science, right?”
Gu Benshu said, “What computer science? He’s studying game development. He comes home every day and all he does is play games. Even though he claims it’s his homework, I don’t think he’s studying seriously. He’ll just study casually for a couple of years, and after graduation, I’ll set him up with a shop so he can support himself.” The Guo family always had a tough exterior but a soft heart. Despite criticizing his son, they had already paved the way for him, never hesitating to provide money and resources.
“University students definitely know more than us,” Papa Guo said with a smile, trying to please his older brother.
Gu Ben Shu made a phone call to Gu Yu , and he agreed to come over right away.
Guo Jingyu had some impression of his cousin. Gu Yu was a simple and honest person with average grades. He had graduated from a third-tier university with a diploma. The only time he caused a fuss was when he insisted on studying game development as his major in college. After graduation, he went to Beijing and struggled for two years, ending up extremely poor. When he returned home, he didn’t cause any more trouble and faithfully joined Gu Ben Shu in running the family business. When Guo Jingyu accompanied his family back home for a visit, he had met Gu Yu a few times and was envious of him pursuing a career he loved. He still had some lingering thoughts about games.
At that time, Guo Jingyu had some spare money and wanted to invest in Gu Yu . However, Gu Yu had been worn down by time, and even his ideals had faded away. He had become a simple and honest middle-aged man. He laughed and waved his hand, saying, “No, no. Now I just play a few games for fun. My mind is empty, and I can’t remember anything.”
This time, Guo Jingyu wanted to do something, but he couldn’t do it alone. He needed to leverage his cousin’s help.
After all, he was just a high school underachiever with very limited freedom. Gu Yu , on the other hand, was different. Although he was also an underachiever, he had already attended college and had much more freedom in his actions.
Gu Yu quickly arrived at the store.
Gu Yu , now in his early twenties, was tall and thin. He wore a pair of glasses on his high bridge nose, and his hair looked a bit messy. His clothes seemed hastily chosen, as if he had just grabbed two random pieces and put them on. The collar of his checkered shirt was half-folded without him noticing. It was clear that he had spent many days at home without going out.
While Gu Ben Shu scolded him for playing computer games at home again, he also asked if he had eaten.
Gu Yu had a gentle temperament. He smiled and greeted everyone. When he saw Guo Jingyu, he asked, “Jingyu, are you on summer break?”
Guo Jingyu felt particularly close to him and, with one hand pulling Li Tongzhou and the other hooking his cousin’s arm, took them to a corner to talk. “Cousin, you came at the right time. I want to discuss something with you.”
Guo Jingyu showed him the list of computer components from his pocket and shared his ideas.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Although Gu Yu himself used a computer, he was surprised to see such low prices. He asked, “Is there really that much profit in it?”
Guo Jingyu felt that there should still be some profit in it, although it would be difficult to squeeze out any more. He believed that this price was acceptable and much better than Boss Wang had offered. At least he knew the bottom price now. By visiting the store and taking a stroll, he would have a better understanding when it came time to make a purchase, ensuring he wouldn’t be ripped off.
Gu Yu was concerned about the quality of the products. He asked, “Can we trust the online sellers?”
Guo Jingyu replied, “That’s easy. We can ask if there are any physical stores or distribution points. We can go and check them out. When I was browsing online, I specifically searched for sellers located in the provincial capital, and I noted down the addresses. It’s just a bit far, so we’ll need to take a taxi to go and have a look.”
Being a young person, Gu Yu was intrigued by his cousin’s words. He said, “No need for a taxi. I just got my driver’s license. Tell me the address, and I’ll drive you there.” As he spoke, he hesitated and couldn’t help but turn back to look at the adults.
Guo Jingyu said, “Hey, don’t bother looking. I’ve already made arrangements.”
Gu Yu asked, “Do you know what I’m thinking?”
Guo Jingyu chuckled, “Of course I do. You’re worried that Uncle will want to come along too, and then after just a few words, he’ll figure out your intentions. So here’s the pla. I’ll leave Li Tongzhou behind.”
Only then did Gu Yu turn around to look at the classmate who was accompanying his cousin. He was puzzled and asked, “If he stays, my dad won’t go?”
Guo Jingyu said, “You don’t understand. He’s a top student.”
Ten minutes later, Gu Benshu brewed a fresh pot of tea and sat with his sister and brother-in-law, eagerly looking at Li Tongzhou. He had just heard about Li Tongzhou’s achievements from his nephew, and now that he saw him, his eyes sparkled with excitement. “Xiao Zhou, come and sit down, have a cup of tea. It’s our own homegrown tea, taste something fresh.” He invited Li Tongzhou to take a seat and asked, “I heard that you won an award in that math competition, right?”
Li Tongzhou nodded and said, “Yes.”
Gu Benshu asked again, “Do you participate in any other competitions regularly?”
“I also participate in physics and chemistry competitions,” Li Tongzhou replied.
“Oh, oh, what place did you get?” Gu Benshu asked.
“First place,” Li Tongzhou answered.
“You got first place in all these competitions?” Gu Benshu inquired.
“Yes,” Li Tongzhou confirmed.
…
The Gu siblings had an envious look on their faces. For some reason, Gu Benshu’s son barely managed to graduate from a third-tier university and studied game development, becoming deeply immersed and unable to extricate himself. As for Gu Changqing, it goes without saying. Ever since she married into the Guo family and gave birth to Guo Jingyu, she had never lifted her head at a parent-teacher meeting. And it wasn’t just Guo Jingyu, the entire Guo family had a strong and upright appearance, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, but they were all academic underachievers.
There wasn’t a single parent who didn’t like a child who excelled in their studies, and Li Tongzhou was the epitome of someone else’s child!
The three adults looked at Li Tongzhou, completely unaware that their own children had strayed far from the path.
Gu Yu drove his father’s Santana sedan and had a pleasantly surprised expression on his face. “It’s just as you said. My father and aunt really like your classmate.”
Guo Jingyu proudly said, “Of course.”
Gu Yu said, “You used the ‘beauty trap’ tactic so well. If in the future…”
Guo Jingyu immediately interjected, “There won’t be a future. One time is enough.”
Following the addresses they had noted, Gu Yu drove them to the various shops. After visiting one of them, Gu Yu finally relaxed and became a little excited along the way. “Jingyu, I think this can work. I’ve seen the products, and they are all good. They’re not much different from the ones sold in the computer city.”
Guo Jingyu crossed out that particular shop and said, “This one won’t work. Regardless of the after-sales service, it’s too troublesome.”
Gu Yu was surprised and asked, “With this price, you still care about after-sales service?”
Guo Jingyu replied, “Of course. Isn’t that the most basic thing? What if you buy the computer and it doesn’t work?”
Gu Yu said, “That usually doesn’t happen. If there are minor issues, you can pay out of your own pocket to get it repaired at the repair shop near the school gate.”
Only then did Guo Jingyu remember that there was no seven-day return policy. He rubbed his chin and sighed, “Modern university students have such good temperaments.”
Gu Yu looked at him and smiled, “I can see that you’ve changed quite a bit since you came back. Why suddenly interested in making money?”
Guo Jingyu replied, “Because I’m broke. I don’t have any money, and it’s making me anxious.”
“You’re just a kid. What do you need so much money for?”
Guo Jingyu looked at the scenery outside the car window. At first, he was joking, but as he continued, his tone became more serious.
“Cousin, you don’t understand. The economic foundation determines the superstructure. I’m just being proactive. I’ll need money in many areas in the future. Dreams aren’t fulfilled just by dreaming. They require money and time. For example, if I want to learn something, I can save up money in advance for studying abroad. And if I happen to find a partner, no matter where we are or what we do, we’ll need money.”
It was after he went abroad that Li Tongzhou had his accident.
He didn’t know what Li Tongzhou had experienced that year, but he often woke up from dreams with a sharp pain in his chest.
Li Tongzhou was gone, and he didn’t even have a chance to see him one last time. Li Tongzhou’s family didn’t mention a word about him either.
All he saw was a cold tombstone.
These days, he feared that it was all just a dream. He needed to see Li Tongzhou every day to feel at ease. As he spent more time with him, he began to feel a sense of security.
At the same time, he also felt a sense of urgency.
Guo Jingyu didn’t plan to study abroad again this time. He wanted to stay by Li Tongzhou’s side without leaving.
If Li Tongzhou performed well in the college entrance examination, he would follow wherever he was admitted. If Li Tongzhou failed the exam like in his previous life and decided to start over, he would accompany him. It would only be a waste of one more year, but he had already missed too many years with Li Tongzhou. This time, he would never let go.
Guo Jingyu fell silent and looked out of the car window without saying a word.
Perhaps influenced by his words, Gu Yu frowned slightly after listening, but he didn’t say anything either. The car became quiet for a while as both of them were lost in their own thoughts.
Guo Jingyu and Gu Yu looked around and finally stopped at the third store.
The store had a decent size, similar to the one owned by Boss Wangthey had visited earlier. It was also made up of two adjacent shops, but the location was more remote, and it seemed relatively quiet.
A young man sat behind the counter, typing on the keyboard and occasionally hearing the sound of “ding dong.”
Guo Jingyu walked over, tapped the table, and the young man looked up at him, quickly greeting politely, “Hello, what can I do for you?”
Guo Jingyu smiled and said, “Hello, my friend. I’m the one who asked for the price just now.”
He had asked about the prices for a while but had gone offline afterwards without responding. The young store owner thought he was just casually asking and didn’t expect him to actually come. Seeing him so quickly, he stood up with a smile and said, “Oh, it’s you. Come, this way, please. I’ve already prepared the things you wanted. Let me show you.”
The young store owner stood up, and only then did Guo Jingyu notice that he had a limp, one of his feet disabled.
The accessories shown by this store were the same as what Boss Wang had shown them earlier, but the prices were much better. The entire set would only cost 5,700 yuan.
Guo Jingyu was about to strike up a conversation with the store owner, but Gu Yu, who was standing by, took over and spoke instead. He had already observed Guo Jingyu asking about the details in the previous two stores, so he knew the general information. It was the first time he was discussing business so seriously.
The store owner, Boss Lu, had recently started an online shop and was also interested in expanding his business. Hearing Gu Yu’s proposal piqued his interest.
Gu Yu divided the computer configurations into three categories: high, medium, and low. They would find customers, and when they came to collect the goods, they would receive a commission from Boss Lu based on the proportion. Eventually, they agreed on prices of three categories being: 7,500 yuan for high, 6,500 yuan for medium, and 4,500 yuan for low.
On-site, Guo Jingyu wrote a simple contract, securing exclusive agency rights and stipulating that they would sell at least one computer per month. Otherwise, the contract would be void. As Guo Jingyu was underage, both Gu Yu and Boss Lu signed the contract, each keeping a copy.
Boss Lu smiled and said, “This is the first time I’ve signed such a formal contract. College students are really something.”
Feeling in a good mood, Guo Jingyu praised him, “Thanks to your support, let’s all prosper together. I’ll take one computer with me now, and I appreciate it if you could package it nicely.”
“Sure thing!”
Boss Lu happily went to pack the computer, completely unaware that it was originally intended for Guo Jingyu’s personal use.
With the deal settled, Gu Yu drove them back. He remained silent throughout the journey and only spoke to Guo Jingyu when they arrived downstairs at the computer city. “Jingyu, I think you’re right.”
After speaking so much today, Guo Jingyu wasn’t sure which statement Gu Yu was referring to.
“Dreams can’t be achieved just by dreaming. They require money and time,” Gu Yu whispered. “Now that I’ve earned some money, I plan to go to H Country to study game development.”
***
The author has something to say:
Small theater:
Uncle Gu: My son doesn’t have many other strengths, but he is obedient.
Gu Yu (excitedly): Dad! I want to drop out of school! I want to study game development abroad!
Ah! the ripples of changed events, let’s hope everything works out in the end