Zhen Yan: "..." In that case, wouldn’t his arcade basically turn into a video hall? You can watch whatever you want! Incredible... Mrs. Zhen and her son exchanged glances for a moment, then suddenly, she exclaimed, "How did your sister even come up with such ideas?!"
Zhen Yan shook his head vigorously, as if to say, "Don’t ask me! I have no idea either!!"
Mrs. Zhen felt that recently her daughter was coming up with ideas one after another, and the key was that all these ideas sounded like they could make good money!
As long as it makes money! Even if it’s a bit more tiresome, Mrs. Zhen is more than willing!
"Alright! Leave this matter to me! You two go downstairs and watch the shop. I’ll make a few more calls and ask around!"
"Okay!" Zhen Yu was in an exceedingly good mood and unknowingly acted cutely, "Go, mom!"
Although it was just a simple cheering gesture, combined with her sugary voice at the moment, it instantly melted Mrs. Zhen’s heart.
She waved her hand cheerily, "Go on, go on, go downstairs. Grab whatever you want to eat, just let mom know after you take it."
Zhen Yan’s heart was bubbling with pink bubbles, just like water bubbles popping when boiling water, uncontrollable! In his heart, he marveled, "Ah! So cute! So cute! This is exactly how a little sister should be!"
"Hmm?" Zhen Yu, unaware that she had inadvertently charmed her brother, turned her head in confusion when she heard him call her name.
Zhen Yan suddenly stretched out his hands and vigorously rubbed her slightly chubby baby face, laughing like a child teasing a pet, "Why are you so cute! Ah! Why are you so cute!!"
Zhen Yu was stunned for a second, then suddenly yelled, "Zhen Yan!!!"
She quickly pulled down her brother’s hands and was about to kick him!
Zhen Yan swiftly stepped back, finally realizing that even if his sister is a little pet, she has sharp teeth and claws! So he immediately turned and ran downstairs.
"Stop right there!!" Zhen Yu pretended to be very angry and chased after him. Mrs. Zhen stood frozen in place for three seconds, then shook her head with a laugh and turned to continue making calls.
After the playful fight, the siblings settled behind the counter eating snacks. Zhen Yan asked while munching, "Little sister, I want to read Huang Yi’s books, can we stock more?"
"We will stock them, but you probably won’t have time to read!" Zhen Yu directly crushed her brother’s hopes.
"Can’t I read them during the winter break?" Zhen Yan’s mood was now like someone who has a treasure mountain but couldn’t access it, pleased yet conflicted!
"Don’t ask me!" Zhen Yu shrugged it off, "Ask mom during the winter break! If mom agrees you can read, then you can! I won’t interfere."
"You really won’t interfere?!" Zhen Yan immediately confirmed with his sister.
He felt that if he could get past his sister, then convincing mom would be easy! Just need to act a bit spoiled, hehehe...
"I really won’t!" Zhen Yu chuckled inwardly.
She wouldn’t overtly interfere, but she would secretly whisper in their mother’s ear. If Zhen Yan thought he could freely read extracurricular books during the winter break, that was absolutely impossible!
"Little sister, then it’s settled! You better not go back on your word later! Don’t be untrustworthy!" Poor Zhen Yan believed it was all set.
"Alright! It’s a deal!" Zhen Yu decisively promised.
After making the promise, she thought for a moment and suddenly decided to paint a big picture for her brother!
"Brother! Keep up the good work! The games and extracurricular books are just getting started! When you get into college, you’ll know what real games are, and see many more wonderful novels!"
Zhen Yan had no doubt about his sister’s words, and said with a longing face, "Are there even better games than these?"
"Yes! Of course, there are!" Zhen Yu leaned on the counter, gazing at the people engrossed in games not far away, her wise eyes seemed to see the future through them.
After a long while, when Zhen Yan thought his sister wouldn’t speak anymore, she suddenly murmured softly, "In a flash, it’s already 1997! In just over two years, it will be the millennium. The digital age! It’s almost here! I’m really looking forward to it..."
"What millennium? You mean the year 2000? What’s this digital age about?" Zhen Yan asked curiously, like a curious baby.
"Yes! The millennium refers to the year 2000!" Zhen Yu was a bit excited, "And the digital age refers to the era when the internet becomes widespread! It means the era when everyone is online! Our game room could officially be renamed as an internet café then! Oh! Right! I need to hurry and train Brother Zhang and Brother Li on internet knowledge! And you should learn too!"
"What do you mean ’huh’! Even our mom has to learn! Especially you! Brother Li! Come here..."
After conducting ’market research’, which meant repeatedly asking people who had processed Sincere membership cards in the internet café, Zhen Yu finally set the deposit for starting the book rental service at 30 yuan! The rent would vary, set between 20 cents to 50 cents per day, with 50 cents as the cap!
The number of books rented each time and the rental fee could be flexible, decided by Mrs. Zhen depending on the situation!
Zhen Yu suggested her mother to decide how many books to rent out per time based on the pricing of the books, ensuring the total price of books rented does not exceed the deposit! Except for acquaintances, of course!
Rental fees were much simpler, they could be set based on the thickness of the books, less for thinner books and more for thicker ones!
Zhen Yu also expanded the variety of old books Mrs. Zhen would collect, not just novels, but also comics and magazines! It was best to have complete sets! If not, it was also okay, they could collect multiple times and slowly try to make complete sets! Additionally, they could also collect High School study guides like essay collections and some specialized books when feasible!
The bookshelves arrived, and the books came in fits and starts.
While Mrs. Zhen spent money like running water, Zhen Yu and Zhen Yan also contributed all the extracurricular books they had.
Every day, the family got up early, taking advantage of the free time on the computer, Zhen Yu taught the internet café manager and her brother about internet security, while directing three people to copy TV shows and songs to the computer.
After dinner, Zhen Yan stayed upstairs with his brother to sort old books, and the romance novels that their mother had ordered as Zhen Yu specified. Each book had to be stamped with the Sincere Bookstore’s seal, then categorized and placed in different sections of the bookshelves.
Their days were busy yet happy, and Zhen Yu also hand-drew a big poster to hang in front of the store.
"Sincere Card! Hotly processing! Enjoy endless benefits..."
"Do you want to wear headphones and enjoy a movie all to yourself?"
"Do you want to enjoy delicious food without stepping out of school during the harsh winter and summer heat?"
"Martial arts! Romance! Comics! As low as 0.2 yuan, you can read a good book! Are you tempted by such a good deal?"
"Being tempted isn’t enough! Take action now! Just pick up your ID card or student pass and come to process it!"