"Forty-two thousand!"
"Forty-three thousand!"
"Forty-four thousand! Ziyan, how much change do you have?"
In the courtyard of the old Xicheng house, Wang Zihao sat on a bluestone slab, clutching a thick wad of banknotes. When he finished counting the last bill, his eyes lit up.
"Brother… there's only two hundred thirty-four left."
Wang Ziyan hung her head, disbelief written all over her face. She had meticulously counted every penny, yet they were short by 210 yuan.
Chen Yansen patted her shoulder. "It's just a few hundred yuan. Don't dwell on it—just be more careful next time."
The town market was chaotic; small losses like this were within the acceptable range. Better to focus on which town to hit next.
"Chen Yansen, we earned 20,484 yuan today!" Wang Zihao held up the money, grinning ear to ear.
"Really?" Chen Yansen replied, expression calm, tone indifferent. He barely even raised an eyebrow.
"That's nothing!" Wang Zihao said, growing slightly anxious. "Should we order another batch? Two thousand MP3s and six hundred MP4s won't be enough!"
In Chongqiao Town alone, they had sold 336 MP3s and 141 MP4s in one morning. With 22 towns around Chunshen, he thought they could make 400,000 yuan before school started.
Chen Yansen chuckled faintly. "First, foot traffic varies by market—not every town will be as successful as Chongqiao. Second, some buyers travel by bike, meaning today's sales might already cover two or three towns."
"Third, don't underestimate imitators. Within half a month, someone will figure out our supply channels and copy our methods. Blindly hoarding goods will only lead to ruin."
Wang Zihao froze, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him. "Really?"
"Really." Chen Yansen stood, patting him on the shoulder. "Think about how to use this money. Making money isn't the goal—spending it wisely is."
"Damn… you're right!" Wang Zihao laughed, half in relief, half in disbelief.
"Stop joking. Pack all the money. Bank closes soon." Chen Yansen kicked him lightly. Cash this heavy was risky; depositing it was safer.
"Right away!" Wang Zihao replied, still chuckling. But a mischievous thought crossed his mind. "What do you think Coach Huang's face will be when he sees us tomorrow? Should he call you Boss Chen or Student Chen?"
The next morning, at Daxing Driving School.
"Brother Sen, what's your score?" Wang Zihao asked eagerly, sidling up to Chen Yansen.
"90," Chen Yansen said casually.
The August sun beat down, white shirt soaked with sweat, even his underwear damp.
"I got 98! I'm taller than you!" Wang Zihao boasted.
"Few more points won't put food on the table," Chen Yansen scoffed, uninterested in the competition.
Huang Boxiang, notorious for his temper, rarely had students willing to choose him. Most high school grads already had licenses; this was off-season. Only with Chen Yansen's brother as the owner would he even consider teaching an unlicensed driver.
When he came to pick up his students, there were only two on the list.
"Mr. Chen… you're here to learn too?" Huang Boxiang stammered, stunned.
"Master Huang, what a coincidence!" Chen Yansen extended his hand, masking his true identity until the goods were sold.
"I'll teach you with all my might. You'll get your license soon," Huang Boxiang promised, patting his chest.
"Actually, Master Huang, I can drive, but I don't have a license. My colleague is learning, so feel free to practice with him," Chen Yansen said seriously.
"Oh? Let's find a place to practice then." Huang Boxiang wasn't surprised; he'd seen countless self-taught drivers.
"No problem," Chen Yansen agreed, not wanting to waste time sunbathing in the heat.
"When did you learn to drive?" Wang Zihao blurted out, curiosity and anxiety written across his face.
"My family has a second-hand Jinbei van. I secretly drove it a few times last year," Chen Yansen lied smoothly. Belief was optional.
"Better to have a license," Huang Boxiang advised gently.
"That's why I'm here," Chen Yansen chuckled casually. Wang Zihao trailed behind, suspicious but silent.
At the training ground, Huang Boxiang assigned a student car. Chen Yansen got in, started the engine, shifted gears, and navigated the S-curve flawlessly, staying within the lines. Parallel and reverse parking? Perfectly executed.
"Boss Chen, your skills are better than some veteran drivers with ten years of experience!" Huang Boxiang praised sincerely.
"I won't be coming anymore. Please take care of my colleague," Chen Yansen said, stepping out.
"Don't worry. You'll get your license next week," Huang Boxiang assured, making a grand promise.
"Damn! You're really not coming with me?" Wang Zihao shouted.
"With Coach Huang here, practice with confidence," Chen Yansen replied with a mischievous smile.
He turned to Huang Boxiang. "Meet at the usual place at seven the day after tomorrow. We're going to Anfeng."