Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Sky Is Boundless, Let the Birds Soar

“You’re saying Li Mu helped you make twenty thousand yuan?!” When Zhao Kang’s parents heard this, their first reaction was utter disbelief.

Zhao Kang took out his cellphone and two thousand yuan in cash, placing them on the family’s coffee table. “After paying for the phone, there’s still fifteen thousand left in the account. If you need it, I can withdraw it for you tomorrow.”

His parents exchanged glances, uncertain.

Their family’s circumstances were similar to Li Mu’s—perhaps even a bit worse. At least Li Mu’s father was a seasoned surveyor, and his mother worked in finance. Zhao Kang’s father, however, was just an electrician, and his mother was a cashier in the mine’s cafeteria, handling not even cash but meal tickets and work coupons unique to the mining community.

In terms of monthly income, they earned several hundred less than Li Mu’s parents combined—a significant gap.

After a long pause, Zhao Kang’s father asked, “What exactly did you do with Li Mu? You didn’t get involved in anything illegal, did you?”

Zhao Kang replied calmly, “He developed a plugin for a computer game and sold it for two hundred thousand. I just helped him with odd jobs—not even worth two hundred, but he gave me twenty thousand.”

“Heavens above!” his mother exclaimed in shock. “Li Mu made two hundred thousand just tinkering with something on the computer?”

His father was too stunned to speak, looking deeply shaken.

Zhao Kang thought to himself, it was a good thing Li Mu had insisted on telling them the total income was only two hundred thousand. If they knew the real amount, the shock might have been too much to bear.

His parents had always been proud and ambitious. Though their status at Xiling Mine was only below average, their drive far exceeded most others. Both had only junior high educations and had inherited their jobs at the mine from their parents, working there for twenty years. But limited education meant few prospects for advancement, which was why they insisted Zhao Kang pursue a university degree. To them, without an education, promotion in any company was difficult, and the future would hold even fewer opportunities.

But now, seeing their son earn more in a few days with Li Mu than they made in a year, their pride inevitably faltered—not because they were blinded by money, but because the gap was simply too vast for pride alone to bridge.

Zhao Kang added, “Xiao Mu hopes I’ll keep working with him. Since he’ll be going to study in Yan Capital, I put down a college in Yan Capital as one of my choices.”

At the mention of a college rather than a university, Zhao Kang’s mother immediately grew anxious. She had told her son to at least try for a third-tier university—after all, what if his exam results turned out well, or if the university had supplementary enrollments?

Just as she was about to scold him, Zhao Kang said coolly, “I could always repeat a year, but Xiao Mu is leaving this year. People and opportunities won’t wait for me. If I miss this chance, who knows what else I might lose?”

His parents fell silent.

They looked at each other, and for the first time, each saw uncertainty in the other’s eyes. Usually, when discussing important matters, their tone, attitude, even their gaze, was firm and unyielding—hard as stone.

After a while, Zhao Kang’s father sighed, “Ordinary college graduates in Haizhou make just over a thousand a month, maybe two thousand at most? I haven't heard of any starting at two thousand right out of college.”

Zhao Kang’s mother tried to argue, but her voice lacked conviction: “But Li Mu’s success may not last.”

“But he’s willing to take our son under his wing,” Zhao Kang’s father said with a sigh. “It’s not easy to meet a benefactor nowadays.”

“Dad, Mom, Xiao Mu is really remarkable. I saw how he made that two hundred thousand—he’s extremely capable and smart. He considers every detail. Honestly, even you two, with all your life experience, can’t compare.”

Zhao Kang briefly recounted how Li Mu promoted “Stone Age Overlord,” kept the buyer interested, arranged the deal in Peng City, and even pretended to be a local. His parents’ expressions changed; though they didn’t understand games or plugins, they could sense the shrewdness and foresight of this eighteen-year-old.

“Old Li truly raised a fine son,” Zhao Kang’s father remarked, pulling out a cigarette and putting it between his lips.

Zhao Kang quickly picked up the lighter and lit his father’s cigarette.

Now that he saw his parents’ attitude softening, Zhao Kang wisely took a step back, switching to a tone of persuasion and request, “A college is still higher education—it’s just specialized. I’m not dropping out. Besides, I found out that after finishing college, I can apply to transfer to a university. If things don’t work out, I can always go back to school.”

This was the final blow to his parents’ resistance.

His father stubbed out his cigarette, stood, and said to his wife, “Come on, let’s buy something and go visit Old Li’s house with Xiao Kang.”

“No need to buy anything,” Zhao Kang said, barely containing his excitement. “Xiao Mu has money now, and everyone in the neighborhood knows us. If we show up with gifts for no reason, what will people think?”

Then, lowering his voice, he added, “Let’s keep this matter between our two families.”

His mother shot him a look. “Do you think your mother is a fool? Fine, we won’t buy anything.”

While Zhao Kang was persuading his parents, Li Mu was also explaining things to his own.

First eight thousand, then eighteen thousand—less than a week apart. Li Mu’s parents were struggling to take it all in.

“Unless you secretly started printing money somewhere, nothing works this fast!” his father exclaimed, unable to accept it.

Li Mu just laughed. “I made this money fair and square. Didn’t I tell you? I was going to try making money online. I got lucky, and it worked.”

“But this is all happening so quickly!” his father protested, almost overwhelmed.

Li Mu sprawled out on the sofa. “Can’t help it—I’m just too good. And this is only the beginning. You’d better get used to it, Dad.”

If Li Mu had kept trying to explain, his parents’ doubts would only have grown. The more he explained, the more questions they’d ask. But by taking the approach of “Your son is just that capable—better get used to it,” he left them with no room to resist.

With this, Li Mu resolved everything about ten minutes before Zhao Kang did.

Soon, his family was relaxed and happy again. Not long after, there was a knock at the door—Zhao Kang’s family had arrived.

Zhao Kang’s parents were proud people with high hopes for their son, but they were also honest and decent. Now that their sons were in a business they didn’t really understand, it didn’t take long for their initial astonishment to turn into laughter and conversation.

After all, who ever thought of making money as a bad thing?

They stayed for over half an hour. As they left, Zhao Kang’s father shook Li Mu’s hand with both of his and said earnestly, “Xiao Mu, when Zhao Kang gets to Yan Capital, you two must look out for each other!”

Though he said “look out for each other,” the real meaning was a hope that Li Mu would take care of Zhao Kang—but he couldn’t say this outright for the sake of his son’s dignity.

Li Mu nodded. “Don’t worry, Uncle Zhao. We grew up together. Of course we’ll take care of each other.”

Relieved, Zhao Kang’s parents left. Zhao Kang shot Li Mu a look of gratitude, knowing that from this moment, he was truly free—all thanks to Li Mu.

He couldn’t help looking forward to September, when he would leave Haizhou and set foot in Yan Capital with Li Mu.

Then, the sea would be wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky high enough for birds to soar.