Zheng Binyang snorted coldly and swaggered away, following Lu Yu.
As soon as they stepped out of the classroom, he instantly switched into a curious baby, pulling Lu Yu's arm and asking, "How exactly are you going to make money? Tell me first so I can hear it."
Lu Yu calmly withdrew his arm. "It's a secret for now."
"No way, why are you keeping secrets from me? How close are we?" Zheng Binyang jumped up and down, pestering Lu Yu, but he just couldn't get an answer out of him.
He could only scratch his head in anxiety and wait for tomorrow.
The next morning, Lu Yu saw Zheng Binyang as soon as he arrived at the school gate.
"Lu Yu, Lu Yu, can you tell me now?"
Lu Yu walked to the trunk of the car. "Come help me move some things first."
"Move what?" Zheng Binyang took a look and was surprised to find a trunk full of notebooks.
"What are you doing with so many notebooks?"
Lu Yu's answer was infuriatingly concise: "Selling them."
"This is your way of making money?" Zheng Binyang worried as he helped move them. "Will they be hard to sell? There are so many stationery stores outside."
Lu Yu discussed it with the security guard and temporarily stored the notebooks at the school gate, then asked Zheng Binyang to take out his phone.
"Don't you have the large school group chat? I'll send you something, and you can post it in that group later." Lu Yu had left the group after roasting someone last time.
"Sure." Zheng Binyang tapped on what Lu Yu sent him—
"Selling notebooks in Class One, Grade Twelve during today's big recess. Affordable prices, welcome to buy."
Below were several photos of the notebooks, beautifully taken.
Zheng Binyang was shocked after reading it. "Such a big notebook for only eight yuan? I remember they sell for over ten yuan at the school gate. You aren't selling at a loss just to attract attention, are you?"
Lu Yu: "The wholesale price was five yuan. Small profits, quick turnover."
Zheng Binyang was even more surprised. "Damn, that cheap? Where did you get them?"
Lu Yu: "I'll tell you later."
As soon as Zheng Binyang sent this message, it instantly caused a sensation throughout the school.
Yan Zhuxi also saw it quickly.
After the first class, she turned around and poked Lu Yu's desk. "Did Zheng Binyang post that message for you?"
Lu Yu said yes.
Yan Zhuxi whispered, "I have a small suggestion, I don't know if you think it'll work."
Lu Yu: "Please tell me."
Yan Zhuxi: "Have Zheng Binyang edit the message and send it again, mentioning that you are the one selling the notebooks, and any student who buys three can take a photo with you."
Lu Yu was stunned. "You mean..."
"It's like the celebrity effect. Aren't you the school heartthrob? I heard many girls like you. You can just sell your looks a little bit, for the sake of making money." Yan Zhuxi's tone was sincere, with a hint of coaxing.
Lu Yu was silent for a few seconds. "...No need..."
Yan Zhuxi was anxious. "How can you say that? Those who achieve great things don't sweat the small stuff. Didn't you want to show Li Xincheng your ability to make money? Relying on your looks is also a kind of ability."
Lu Yu: ...
Before he could decide whether to agree, Zheng Binyang happened to come over.
Hearing what Yan Zhuxi said, Zheng Binyang thought it was a great idea and immediately edited a new message to send to the large group.
Lu Yu remained silent for a moment, silently consenting.
It was raining, so the recess exercises were canceled as usual.
Only this time, everyone wasn't busy catching up on sleep or going to the supermarket; instead, they swarmed toward Class One, Grade Twelve.
Zheng Binyang and a few friends were responsible for maintaining order. Lu Yu, Yan Zhuxi, and students A and B were in charge of selling. In less than half an hour, the two hundred notebooks Lu Yu had prepared were swept clean.
Of course, many people hadn't gotten their turn to take a photo with Lu Yu, but Yan Zhuxi thoughtfully stated that she would help arrange a time for them after school.
Taking advantage of the time before class started, the group divided the work and quickly tallied the total amount of electronic payments and cash.
"The total revenue is 1,600 yuan, and the wholesale cost for the two hundred notebooks was 1,000 yuan." Lu Yu let Li Xincheng look at his payment record for the inventory. "The final net profit totals 600 yuan."
Lu Yu said: "In other words, I made 600 yuan in less than half an hour."
Li Xincheng pressed his lips tightly together. He worked part-time outside, making at most 36 yuan an hour, while Lu Yu had made 600 in under half an hour.
Li Xincheng clenched his fists and said after a long time, "Your behavior violates school rules. I will report this situation truthfully to the homeroom teacher."
Zheng Binyang was really about to explode with anger. "You bastard, you're really like a dead pig that doesn't fear boiling water."
The other students also looked at him with contempt.
In the afternoon, Teacher Zhang indeed called Lu Yu to the office.
However, there were no specific school rules stating that students couldn't sell items. Teacher Zhang only told Lu Yu not to let it affect his studies and let him go back.
Zheng Binyang felt very satisfied when he found out. "Let him tattle, it won't be any use even if he tattles to death. By the way, Lu Yu, how did you come up with this idea to make money?"
Lu Yu said, "When school started, my mom took me and Lu Xun to buy stationery. We went to a wholesale market where things were very cheap, so I bought a batch of notebooks from there."
"Awesome, Aunt Shu is really amazing. No, I want to make money too. Lu Yu, take me to that wholesale market right now, let's get some more stuff to sell."
Seeing his eager expression, Lu Yu couldn't help but laugh. "Sure, but we have to wait until the weekend."
"Ah? Why?"
Lu Yu pointed to the podium. "There's evening self-study."
Zheng Binyang instantly started wailing, "Damn it, being a high school senior dog is really too hard!"
Lu Yu chuckled. "Alright, but everyone helped me earn this money together. I want to treat you all to a meal when we have a break, as a thank you."
"That sounds great. I love gatherings and meals." Zheng Binyang took out his phone. "I'll create a group chat right now."
At the Lu residence, only Shu Qingqing and Lu Xun were at the dining table.
After entering the senior year, Lu Yu not only had added evening self-study classes, but he also had to go to school during the day on Saturdays.
And Lu Bochuan working overtime was the norm; he wouldn't eat dinner at home for half the month.
With two people missing, it seemed exceptionally quiet and lonely.
Lu Xun poked the greens on his plate. "Mom, when will my brother be able to come home for dinner?"
"We have to wait until the weekend," Shu Qingqing said, placing a few more greens onto his plate. "Don't poke at your food, eat properly."
Lu Xun looked at the small pile of greens, his little face falling even more. Recently, with his brother away, his mom made him eat half of the greens every time. Boohoo, he really missed his brother.
"Mom, let's go pick up my brother together tonight, okay?"
"Alright, I'll ask your brother what time exactly his class ends." Shu Qingqing picked up her phone to send Lu Yu a message, and happened to see a group announcement in the class chat:
"Parents, Teachers' Day is coming up soon. To thank all the hardworking teachers, I propose that each parent contribute 10,000 yuan to buy Teachers' Day gifts for the teachers of each subject. I hope all parents can actively cooperate."
Below the message was a group payment notification.
Shu Qingqing was startled. Ten thousand yuan from each parent? What kind of gifts were they planning to buy?
She tapped on the group payment and found that no one had transferred any money yet.
It seemed the parents were still very rational. Shu Qingqing ignored it as well.
Unexpectedly, a short while later, the person actually tagged every single parent in the group chat one by one, and finally even singled out Shu Qingqing by name—
"@Lu Yu's Parent, Lu Yu's Mom, you are the parent representative for our school. Shouldn't you set a good example and be the first to transfer the money?"
