Chapter 2| The First Five-Digit Number (High School Setup)

On the first day of high school, the gate of the county's No. 1 High School was packed with people.Lin Mo and Su Qing stood side by side in the crowd.He had been admitted to the honors class.His father wore a clean shirt to see him off that day, his mother's eyes were red, and his younger sister, Xiaoyu, clung to his leg, refusing to let go."Brother, you must come home often.""Okay."His promise was light, yet heavier than any other.He knew that high school was a watershed moment.Either he remained ordinary, or he would fall far behind.—I. The Information Gap EscalatesIn his first month of high school, he didn't rush to earn money.He observed.Students in honors high schools had higher spending power than those in junior high.Tutoring materials, error correction notebooks, competition books, online course accounts… their needs were more complex.One evening during self-study, some classmates were discussing a math prediction class taught by a famous teacher from the city."I heard the prediction rate is very high, but one lesson costs 300 yuan.""Too expensive."Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat.He asked someone to contact the teacher's teaching assistant.He discovered that the so-called "prediction course" was essentially just compiling patterns from past exam questions.The materials weren't mysterious.He spent 300 yuan to buy one recording of the course.He listened to it for three whole nights.Then he started summarizing it himself.Formula breakdown, high-frequency question types, question traps, problem-solving templatesHe didn't just copy; he optimized it into a clearer structure.Three weeks later, he created an A4-printed book, "Compilation of High-Frequency Exam Points in Grade 11 Mathematics."He didn't sell it publicly.Instead, he showed it to the students in his class with average grades first."Try it."The first monthly exam ended.Several students' grades improved significantly.The news started to spread.He priced it at 20 yuan per book.The cost was 7 yuan.The first batch sold 120 copies.Net profit was over 1,500.This was just the beginning.—II. Scaling UpIn the second semester of his first year of high school, he did something smarter.He didn't work alone anymore.Instead, he approached Su Qing.“Would you like to help me?”Su Qing looked at him: “What?”“Organizing notes. I'll handle the model, and you'll handle the layout.”She smiled: “You've already started a business?”“Sort of.”They divided the work.Her handwriting was beautiful, and her logic was clear.The two of them created a three-subject study package.They distributed it through the grade's QQ group.Each subject was priced at 25.The three subjects were bundled together for 60.A week before the midterm exams, they sold over 400 sets.Net profit exceeded 10,000.That night, lying on his dorm bed, he watched his bank account balance break five figures for the first time.12,600.He wasn't excited.Instead, he calmly noted down:Customer Acquisition MethodReferral RateRepurchase RateSu Qing sent a message:“Have we succeeded?”Lin Mo replied:“This is only the first layer.”He had already begun thinking about the next step.—III. Family ImprovementHe went home for summer vacation.He didn't buy luxury goods.Instead, he replaced the refrigerator at home.His father was stunned: “How much did it cost?”“Secondhand, not expensive.”Actually, it was brand new.He told a little lie.His mother's eyes lit up.His younger sister circled the refrigerator: “Brother is so amazing!”That night, he sat with his father at the door.His father, smoking, said:“You seem to have changed recently.”“How?”“You're more stable.”Lin Mo smiled.He didn't mention that he already had 20,000 yuan in savings.nor did he mention his plan to do something bigger starting in his second year of high school.—IV. A Deeper StrategyThe second year of high school began.He discovered a much larger market.Competition preparation materials.Many wanted to compete in competitions but couldn't find a systematic path.Information was chaotic.He did something bold—He contacted alumni who had already graduated.He obtained authorization to use the competition notes through a profit-sharing arrangement.He compiled them into "A Guide to Beginners in Competitions."Priced at 198 yuan.Far higher than ordinary materials.On the first day, only three copies were sold.But he wasn't in a hurry.He knew this was a high-priced product.A week later, a top ten student in a grade bought it.After their grades improved, they actively recommended it.More than fifty copies were sold in a month.Profits exceeded 10,000 yuan.The second year of high school ended.His bank account balance was 48,000 yuan.His parents still didn't know.He still wore his school uniform and rode his bicycle.Su Qing occasionally stared at him blankly."Will you leave here someday?"Lin Mo thought for a moment."Yes.""To a faraway place?""To a place where I can make money."She said softly:"Then I'll go with you."He didn't speak.But that night, for the first time, he seriously thought about the future.Not about how many points he would get on his exams.But—How to turn a five-figure sum into a six-figure sum during his university years.—In his senior year of high school, he stopped expanding.He focused on preparing for his exams.Because he knew—A degree was the ticket to a bigger stage.He was going to Nancheng.A bigger city.A bigger information gap.Graduation day.He had 63,000 yuan in savings.His father celebrated with drinks.His mother cried.His younger sister hugged him and asked,"Will you become a big boss someday, brother?"Lin Mo squatted down and said seriously,"Yes. But we won't tell anyone."His sister tilted her head:"Why?"He answered softly,"Because only by keeping quiet can one make a fortune."—