Chapter Four: The Idea of Entrepreneurship

In an era when the average monthly wage barely reached a thousand yuan, three hundred yuan was no small sum.

“Wow, Brother Yu is making a fortune!”

On the way home, Wang Xiaowei’s face flushed with excitement—it was, after all, his first time earning money.

“Here, 150 yuan is yours. Don’t waste it; let your mother save it for when you need to get married,” Du Yu said, handing Wang Xiaowei half of the money and advising him not to spend it all.

When Du Yu returned home, his mother had already left for work at the shell-thinning workshop, leaving the house empty except for him.

He planned to take a nap and then head to the seaside later that evening.

According to his memories, not far from the village, when the tide receded, there was a narrow path leading directly to a small island covered with mangroves nearby.

That place was abundant with blue crabs, which were in high demand.

Whether in 2002 or 2022, the prices remained consistently high.

For Du Yu, who urgently needed to repay debts and improve his family’s living conditions, it was a promising spot.

Just as Du Yu was drifting into sleep, the front gate creaked open.

He opened his eyes and glanced toward the yard, spotting a stealthy figure sneaking in who seemed very familiar with the layout of the Du household.

Du Yu quietly watched from behind the window.

When the figure reached the front door, Du Yu slipped quietly out of bed and flung the door open—only to find his eldest brother, Du Cheng, standing there.

“Big Brother?”

Du Yu looked at Du Cheng, half amused and half exasperated. Although the family had separated households, there was no need to be so secretive.

“Xiao Yu, you’re home. I wanted to ask you something,” Du Cheng said, rubbing his palms. Actually, after returning home yesterday, Du Cheng had heard from his wife that Du Yu might have gone to the seaside.

“You’re not working right now. There’s a spot open on the fishing boat I’m working on. Want to join?”

“On the boat?” Du Yu glanced at his brother, unsure of his intentions.

“Forget it. I’m doing fine picking seafood by the shore. No need to get on the boat.”

Before gaining the system, Du Yu had considered going on a fishing boat since a single trip could earn a few hundred yuan.

But now, with the system, he had no shortage of ways to make money, and the family’s debts would soon be cleared.

“Alright then. Actually, Xiao Yu, your sister-in-law…”

“Stop. You’re you, and she’s her,” Du Yu interrupted.

After a brief chat, Du Cheng left.

Back when their father was alive, the Du family owned a boat and lived comfortably in the village.

Having just seen off his brother, Du Yu no longer felt sleepy.

His mother managed the household, eating salty vegetables with porridge every day. Du Yu had seen it all.

Now that he had some money, he wanted to improve their meals.

After changing clothes, he went outside the village to buy some eggs and scallions.

Since his rebirth, he had never tried oyster omelet.

Oyster omelet, known as “oyster pancake,” was a famous snack along the southeastern coast.

It only required fresh small oysters mixed into a batter of eggs and sweet potato starch water, seasoned with a bit of salt, then pan-fried, and finally sprinkled with scallions.

Delicious and easy to make.

When Li Chunhong came home that afternoon, Du Yu was in the kitchen plating the last oyster omelet.

Oysters were cheap along the southeast coast, especially the small ones that few people wanted to gather.

But to Du Yu, this dish embodied his childhood memories from two lifetimes. Beyond its taste, it symbolized his hopes for a new life.

“Mom, try a piece!” Du Yu offered a piece to his mother upon her return.

“Mmm, delicious,” Li Chunhong tasted it, her eyes revealing a trace of surprise.

The Du Yu she knew before only studied books, but recently, he seemed like a different person—earning money from the sea and suddenly learning to cook.

“Mom, I’ve been thinking. Our current situation can’t continue.”

After dinner, Du Yu discussed with his mother.

As long as the debts lingered, so would the troubles.

Besides, he truly wanted to make a name for himself in this era.

“What do you want to do, son?” Li Chunhong asked.

“I want to start a business in the city.”

“Start a business?”

In those days, entrepreneurship was still a distant dream for ordinary people.

But Du Yu already had a plan.

“Yes, Mom. Look, so many people in our village fish and gather seafood, but Zhao San always buys it all up, and everyone barely makes any money.”

Du Yu considered carefully.

“So I want to set up a stall in the city and sell our own products.”

“Son, I’m not trying to discourage you, but opening a stall in the city costs thousands. And if you don’t sell to Zhao San, what will he do with the village’s goods?”

Li Chunhong hadn’t expected her son to think so ambitiously.

But Du Yu smiled faintly.

Because today he had gained something money couldn’t buy.

When selling seafood that morning, he not only got the old man’s contact information but also saved other customers’ numbers.

In essence, these few clients were his first private customer base.

With the system, Du Yu never worried about finding good seafood.

Those who gave him their contacts clearly had money to spend.

This was a network of connections; whenever he had good products, a call would bring in a crowd of customers.

“Alright, son, I still have 800 yuan here. When you need it, I’ll withdraw it from the bank for you,” Li Chunhong finally agreed, knowing her son was well educated.

The next morning, Du Yu called Wang Xiaowei to go to the seaside together.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Zhao Qinqin leaving her house.

“Brother Yu…”

Wang Xiaowei, having heard about Du Yu’s situation with Zhao Qinqin, didn’t know how to address her now.

But Du Yu kept his gaze straight ahead, treating Zhao Qinqin as if she were invisible.

Qinqin’s lips trembled, the atmosphere awkward.

Though she hadn’t approached Du Yu these days, she had clearly seen him selling seafood from a distance yesterday.

A whole bucket sold for three hundred yuan!

Before, whenever Du Yu had money, he would buy her things. Seeing how differently he now treated her compared to a stranger, her heart was a mix of emotions.