Chapter Fifty-One: The Path of the Tycoon

Li Mu’s parents had taken the day off again. Since morning, Li’s mother had been busy calling relatives, announcing her son’s college entrance exam score and inviting them to the celebratory dinner that evening.

She had repeated Li Mu’s score countless times throughout the morning, yet never seemed to tire of saying it. She felt that 636 had almost become her catchphrase—she even found herself muttering, “Six hundred thirty-six, six hundred thirty-six…” as she walked to the market. This score was enough for her and her husband to be proud for years to come.

Li Mu’s maternal grandparents were overjoyed when they heard the news. Three years before, their granddaughter—Li Mu’s eldest uncle’s only daughter, Xiao Yuanyuan—had scored 570 on her exams and entered a top university in the province. That achievement had made the old couple happy all summer. Now, hearing that their eldest grandson had outdone even that, their faces were lit with smiles all morning.

Li Mu’s eldest aunt and youngest uncle were both delighted and accepted the invitation without hesitation. Only the eldest uncle and the youngest aunt seemed slightly resentful—though, of course, they couldn’t bring themselves to refuse such an occasion, so they accepted as well.

The eldest uncle and his wife both worked at the tax bureau, earning forty to fifty thousand yuan a year with their salaries and benefits—making them a solidly middle-class, and the most well-off, household in the Xiao family. Next was the youngest aunt, who, having failed to get a job at the tax bureau years ago, had ended up at the city textile mill. After the mill went bankrupt a few years back, she opened a small children’s clothing store in an alley. It wasn’t a large investment, but the profit was good—reportedly, she cleared thirty thousand yuan a year. Among the five siblings of Li Mu’s mother’s generation, the eldest uncle and youngest aunt were the most financially secure, and thus, the most proud.

A little after five in the evening, the eldest uncle, Xiao Yunjian, and his wife, Cai Yanhong, set out together. Xiao Yunjian climbed onto his beloved Dayang motorcycle, and as Cai Yanhong settled herself sideways behind him, he asked, “Where’s Yuanyuan? She’s home for the summer but is barely ever around.”

Cai Yanhong replied casually, “I called her. She’s at a classmate’s house. She’ll go straight to Haizhou Hotel.”

Xiao Yunjian nodded. “That Li Daoping—his son gets a high score and just look at him showing off, even hosting dinner at the Haizhou Hotel. Is that really a place he can afford?”

Cai Yanhong patted his shoulder. “Let him put on airs if he likes. It’s not our bill to pay.”

Then, suddenly remembering something, she added, “Don’t be in a hurry to give Li Mu money today. Wait until he gets his admission letter and it’s certain he’ll leave this year. When Yuanyuan went to college, your sister gave her five hundred yuan—remember that number and do the same for Li Mu. Not a cent more.”

Xiao Yunjian started the motorcycle and replied, “I know, don’t worry.” With that, he twisted the throttle and sped away.

Li Mu’s parents had left work half an hour early, deliberately, and changed into more formal clothes at home. Li Mu refused his father’s suggestion to wear a dress shirt, sticking with his casual style: a loose white T-shirt and black shorts.

The Li family trio arrived at the hotel twenty minutes early. Seizing the moment before the others arrived, Li Mu ordered the dishes himself—choosing only the most lavish options: the best food, the finest liquor. The seafood and Maotai alone cost three thousand yuan. Even the waiter was surprised, but Li Mu remained nonchalant.

Before they left, Li Mu had reminded his parents: tonight at dinner, only mention his exam score—nothing about the money he had made. Furthermore, whatever he said at the table, they were not to contradict him, but to go along with his words. His requests might have seemed forceful, but he had his reasons: after more than thirty years of life, he’d seen too many families with nothing but feigned harmony or even open enmity among relatives. Truly harmonious, united families were rare. He had many grievances with his eldest uncle and youngest aunt, but today wasn’t about settling scores. He simply wanted to help his father regain the respect he’d lacked in the Xiao family for two decades, to ensure no one would look down on him again.

By six o’clock, eight cold dishes were already on the table, and two bottles of Maotai were open and placed on the large round table. Even though Li Mu’s father hadn’t ordered the dishes himself, he could tell that his son was spending generously today—just the two bottles of Maotai cost over a thousand yuan!

Soon, the youngest uncle, Xiao Yunshi, arrived with his wife and child, bringing along Li Mu’s grandparents. The youngest uncle’s family lived modestly: he worked at the water plant, his wife, Sun Qinqin, had no formal job and took on odd gigs, and they cared for the grandparents. The grandfather used his pension to help support the household. They didn’t have much money, but their family of five lived harmoniously, and the youngest uncle’s wife looked after everyone well.

The grandparents, upon arriving, showered Li Mu with praise for his exam results, especially his grandmother, who grasped his hand and wouldn’t let go.

Because of his parents’ work, Li Mu had been raised by his grandmother, who doted on him deeply.

“Such a high score, Xiao Mu. Which university will you attend?” his grandmother asked proudly, still holding his hand.

Li Mu smiled. “Grandma, I’m planning to go to Yanjing for school.”

“Yanjing is wonderful—a big city!” His grandmother’s eyes crinkled with joy. “You’re the most accomplished in our family.”

His youngest uncle pointed to his twelve-year-old son, Xiao Hao, who had just graduated from elementary school. “See, Hao Hao? Your cousin is your role model from now on!”

“Last year you said my sister was my role model,” Xiao Hao grumbled. Then, suddenly, he pulled Li Mu away from his grandmother, grinned, and begged, “Cousin, when do you have time to take me to the internet café to play Counter-Strike? My dad won’t give me any money. I’m bored to death at home this summer.”

“If your dad won’t give you money, just be good and stay home.” Li Mu looked at his cousin with amusement. In a few years, this kid would make quite a name for himself—not so much for his achievements, but for getting his girlfriend pregnant in his second year of high school. During summer break, he’d lied to his dad about paying for extra classes and snuck off with his girlfriend for an abortion. His youngest aunt—Li Mu’s aunt—had run into him at the hospital while delivering food to her father-in-law and, seeing him with a teary girl, had followed them out of curiosity.

The result: Xiao Hao’s father beat him within an inch of his life, and only the grandfather’s intervention saved him. Xiao Hao’s own college entrance exams were a disaster, and after high school his father paid for him to join the army, where he ended up staying and, by all accounts, did quite well.

At the moment, Xiao Hao pouted at Li Mu’s refusal and complained, “You’re my only cousin—so stingy!”

“What would count as generous?” Li Mu asked.

“Give me ten yuan.” Xiao Hao blurted out. “Give me ten yuan, and I’ll pay you back double when I start earning money!”

Li Mu could only laugh. This kid had always been a little rascal. In middle school, every holiday he’d come to pester Li Mu, driving him crazy, until finally Xiao Hao proposed a solution: he’d stop bothering Li Mu if he got fifty cents a day, paid every other day.

Still, for all his scheming, Xiao Hao was deeply loyal to Li Mu. As he often said, among his cousins, he had two older sisters—one from his eldest uncle’s family, one from his eldest aunt’s—and a younger male cousin from his youngest aunt, but the two boys had never gotten along. On his mother’s side, he was the oldest male, so in the end, Li Mu was his only older brother, and he had always looked up to him.

Li Mu thought for a moment and said, “Listen, kid—if you study hard and get into a good university, your brother here will pay your college expenses. But if you really feel you’re not cut out for school, don’t rush into anything after high school. Come find me first. If you ever run into trouble you can’t handle, remember to seek me out.”

Xiao Hao listened in confusion, but the promise that his cousin would fund his college education made him give a thumbs-up. “You’re the best, but college is years away. Just give me the ten yuan now!”

Li Mu was stunned, but as Xiao Hao persisted, he quickly added, “I’ll be honest, cousin—I want to treat our class beauty, Liu Mengmeng, to bubble tea. You’ve had it, right? The kind with big chewy pearls, like gummy candy.”

Li Mu clicked his tongue in amusement. Impressive—the kid was just about to enter sixth grade and already thinking about girls. His dad’s beating was surely unavoidable.

Still, Li Mu wasn’t stingy. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he slipped a banknote from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Hao.

“If you want to chase a girl, don’t be cheap. Bubble tea is nothing—take her for KFC instead.”

Xiao Hao stared, open-mouthed. His cousin had handed him a hundred yuan bill—a hundred! He’d never even held ten yuan at once before. His New Year’s money was always a few hundred, but he never saw any of it. For a primary school kid, five yuan was a fortune, ten made you a tycoon!

Xiao Hao was so excited he was trembling, his lips quivering. “Cousin, is this really for me?”

Li Mu nodded, stuffing the money into his hand. “Hide it well—if your dad confiscates it, don’t ask me for more.”

Xiao Hao felt as if a spring breeze had melted the winter chill within him. In that moment, Li Mu seemed a towering figure in his eyes, and he was nearly moved to tears.

After a moment, Xiao Hao cupped his hands and bowed. “Cousin, I won’t say thank you—such great kindness is beyond words. If you ever need me, just say the word. I’d go through fire and water for you!”

Li Mu couldn’t help but sigh. The kid was still young, but already had such a roguish air—clearly, academia was not his fate.

---

PS: Thank you to “Lu Ye,” “Phantom Celestial,” “Youth Must Be Seized Early,” and “The King’s Funeral” for your rewards and your support. Also, the author’s heart is shattered—the number of bookmarks and recommendation votes is truly dismal. I sincerely beg those who’ve bookmarked this book to use your soon-to-expire recommendation tickets each day on it, or else I’ll have nowhere to vent my daily grievances…