Han Tao wasn't sure if the personal shopping venture Wang Qiqi mentioned would actually take off, nor did he know how much capital it would require. What worried him was that even if the initial procurement needs weren't huge, the cost of round-trip airfare and accommodation for the three of them wouldn't be insignificant. "It looks like our responsibilities will be substantial going forward; we really need to focus on earning money."

"Tell me about it. Qiqi, are you really confident about the stocks you bought a few days ago? All my money is tied up in the market. If you had told me earlier we were starting this business, I never would have dabbled in stocks." Shi Man was quite anxious now. After all, the stock market carried risks; if one misstep led to losing everything, where would they find the capital for the business? Alas.

Stock trading? Han Tao hadn't expected to hear such explosive news shortly after his return. Regarding the former idea—the procurement—he figured they wouldn't lack customers; even if they didn't make a profit, at least they wouldn't lose money, and they’d get to travel. But the latter, trading stocks, struck Han Tao as rather incredible. "While it might be an easy way to earn, the problem is you can also lose money. The market conditions from a few years ago..."

Han Tao knew something about that market crash because his uncle had apparently lost a significant amount of money around that time. He worried Qiqi might suffer the same fate.

"Relax, we know what we’re doing. Plus, the foreign markets are developing; if our domestic market doesn't keep pace, what does that say about our great nation? We’d lose all face." Wang Qiqi thought to herself: if the stock market didn't develop, how could they claim to have a developing market economy? For leaders concerned with appearances, and for the array of people looking to profit from the market, this wouldn't be a good look. "All kinds of demand will drive the market's growth. Of course, there will be adjustments later, but not within the next year or so." Wang Qiqi recalled that the market began its downward slide around May of the millennium year, meaning she still had about twenty months left to operate in the market.

"Besides, if we can make the trip next summer, we’ll need to pull money out of the market anyway, right, Qiqi?" Zhu Lina suddenly realized something. If they were going into business, whether it was because she herself was unwilling to take money from home, or because Shi Man couldn't get any from her parents, they would only draw from the stock market. This meant the principal capital would be almost entirely withdrawn, leaving only the profits in the market. This gave Zhu Lina a different perception of Wang Qiqi—was this the kind of person her parents often spoke of, someone who planned three steps ahead? Zhu Lina always assumed such foresight belonged to people her parents’ age; she hadn't expected Qiqi to operate on that level.

Wang Qiqi was unaware that an unintentional thought of hers had caused Zhu Lina to view her this way. Of course, if Qiqi knew, she would boastfully declare that she was simply a clever person. "Exactly, so the pressure on us isn't actually that high. If the stock market makes money, and even doubles, we'll pull out the principal to fund the business." While leaving the money in the market might yield more, Wang Qiqi felt the smartest move was to quickly retrieve the principal, perhaps adding a little interest. That way, regardless of market fluctuations, the initial investment wouldn't be hit. "Manman, do you agree?"

"I agree." Shi Man considered it. Although she really wanted to say she needed to buy a house, buying a house she wouldn't live in wasn't as important as making money. "Oh, and you absolutely cannot tell my parents about this beforehand." If they found out, they would just assume she was carelessly squandering money. They would lecture her first, then give her the money while ordering her not to engage in activities unrelated to her studies. Shi Man didn't want to miss this opportunity—it wasn't the money she cared about, but the chance to advance or retreat with Qiqi and the others. "If we can actually bring things back from Europe, when we tell our parents then, they'll have to agree, no matter how opposed they are."

"Got it. Besides, I won't mention it to my parents until this whole thing has some definite direction." Zhu Lina also wondered how her parents would react.

"But getting visas for overseas travel isn't easy. I was hoping we could ask Lina to see if her family's company could help with the visas." Wang Qiqi remembered that Lina’s family company had overseas business dealings, and perhaps their intervention would make obtaining visas smoother.

"I can talk to my parents about that. We plan to go to Europe for a vacation—they already agreed to take me, but I’d have to follow them around learning things, and you all weren't going." Zhu Lina thought that tagging along with her parents meant she’d spend most of her time shopping, while her old man would likely shadow her mother or just hang out at a café drinking coffee and soaking up the sun. It would be much more interesting to travel with Qiqi and the others. "I'll go back during the winter break to get my passport sorted."

"Han Tao, you need to get one too." Wang Qiqi called over to Han Tao, who was sipping tea nearby. Regardless of whether he studied abroad later or accompanied them to haul goods in Europe, a passport would be necessary.

"Me?" Han Tao pointed to himself. "I don't need to bother with a passport, do I?" He wasn't going abroad; why waste the money?

"Yes, you need one too. Next year, we'll scope things out first. If the items are popular, Han Tao, you’ll be coming with us to carry things later." Zhu Lina realized she had been dense when Wang Qiqi told Han Tao to get a passport. Shopping and browsing were fine for three girls, but if they were dealing in luxury brands, the purchases wouldn't be few. Given the physique of the three of them, could they even lift the merchandise? "The first trip might be manageable, but later, when we have a lot of stuff, we won't be able to carry it. Besides, Han Tao, this is a business venture for the four of us."

"Exactly! And while we're at it, we can take a look at so-called capitalism." Wang Qiqi’s heart swelled with excitement at the thought of visiting Europe in this life and the next. "Han Tao, when we have money, you can take Aunt Luo with you, so you can proudly tell your mother's relatives that you have an accomplished son."

Han Tao strongly disagreed with this notion of bringing glory to his mother in front of relatives. "Forget it. If my relatives knew I could buy discounted designer goods, they’d never let me keep the profit. They’d probably demand I bring back cheap stuff for free." They hadn't offered any help during his family's most difficult times; they were practically waiting to feast on their misfortune. "And when I finally make my fortune, my mother and I will leave this place. The only memory I have of my hometown, besides my father's resting place, has absolutely no sentimental value."

Han Tao could have easily secured a university spot through recommendation. Shanghai University had already extended an offer, and Han Tao was quite satisfied with it. But the thought of it being so close to home, and the high probability of staying in Shanghai after graduation, meant he’d still be near those hometown relatives. Thus, he politely declined the admission letter from Shanghai University. Moreover, he felt that for his major, attending A University was the best choice, offering broader prospects for employment or further study abroad after graduation. Regarding the latter, although Han Tao desperately wanted to study abroad, he knew his mother would agree if he insisted. However, could his family's finances support him going overseas? Although he could cover tuition and living expenses for those years by tutoring, the cost of studying abroad was considerable. Han Tao had forced himself to bury that dream deep, but now, perhaps he could resurrect it—though he would need to work even harder.

Han Tao suddenly remembered the stock market Qiqi had mentioned. "Qiqi, does it matter how much money you put into stock trading?" Even though his own capital was small, Qiqi and Zhu Lina had invested heavily. Zhu Lina came from a family steeped in commerce; if there wasn't real money to be made in the market, would she have gotten involved? Han Tao pondered it and felt he should probably give it a try too.

Wang Qiqi paused when Han Tao asked that. Just moments ago, the man was cautioning her about the risks of the market, yet now he was asking such a question. "You're not thinking of getting involved too, are you?" Heavens, Wang Qiqi thought, two of the three people closest to her had been pulled into the scheme; now, the last one—the most rational one—was feeling the impulse to trade stocks. Was her rhetoric that persuasive? Wang Qiqi suddenly mused that if she decided to work at a brokerage firm someday, she might be able to recruit quite a few traders.

"Yes, I was thinking that if I rely only on tutoring, I might not earn enough capital for the business venture," Han Tao admitted, feeling no need to hide it from Qiqi and the others. "I know you’ll say you have the capital, but I need to strive on my own as well. Besides, fortune favors the bold; I doubt my luck is that terrible."

Wang Qiqi understood Han Tao's meaning. "Fine, but rest assured, if you can't come up with the equivalent capital later, we will charge you interest." This wasn't charity, and while interest was being charged, Han Tao understood the underlying meaning was different. "Alright, it’s getting late; let's get some rest. Tomorrow is your registration day for A University; let's go check out the campus tomorrow."

Han Tao froze. "Huh? The three of you are taking me to register?" Heavens, the thought of the three of them accompanying him to registration filled him with dread—he would surely become the center of attention. "Let me live a few more years, please. I don't want to become a target for everyone the moment I step onto campus." His major was already dominated by males, and A University was known for its strength in the sciences; there weren't many girls to begin with.

"We’re going to see if there are any outstanding guys. After all, anyone who gets into A University is outstanding," Shi Man had been looking forward to the A University trip. She had been busy procuring goods and worrying about the stocks lately, and the university wasn't open yet, so she hadn't seen any scholars. Thus, Shi Man had already decided to use Han Tao’s registration day as an opportunity to visit A University.

"Hmph. Most people at A University are just bookworms," Zhu Lina wasn't entirely convinced by the concept of 'outstanding students.' Getting into A University didn't automatically make someone excellent, but she could check if there were any truly exceptional talents. Her father was looking to expand into the computer field, and she was going to scout for potential talent on his behalf. (To be continued)