Chapter 6: First Taste of Success

Putting aside these chaotic thoughts, Lin Feng returned to the newly renovated computer game room with three computers. After a series of installations and adjustments, Lin Feng's first computer room officially began operations.

Four computers (including the one at home, making a total of four), a storefront of over ten square meters, and no internet connection—everything looked so shabby. However, the business was as booming as Lin Feng had anticipated.

3 yuan per hour, 20 yuan for an all-night session. This was the current market rate in Chushi City, which seemed expensive, but the computers were almost never idle. As soon as someone left, someone else would take their place, with several people waiting in line to play.

There was no choice; in 1999, home computers were not widespread in Chushi City, but computer games had already become deeply ingrained in people's hearts. At this time, computer games were mainly single-player RPGs (role-playing games) or SLGs (strategy games). "Age of Empires" and "StarCraft" had not yet become popular in Chushi City, and for most people, these were still relatively unfamiliar games.

Over the course of a week, Lin Feng's average daily gross income was around 240 yuan. After deducting various expenses, the net income for the week was truly astonishing.

Electricity: Four computers running 24 hours a day consumed 14 kWh per day, at 1 yuan per kWh.

Rent: 450 yuan per month, 15 yuan per day.

Sanitation fee: 2 yuan per day.

Industry and commerce tax: 300 yuan per month, 10 yuan per day.

Local tax: 300 yuan per month, 10 yuan per day.

Business tax: 600 yuan per month, 20 yuan per day.

Electricity for the week: 84 yuan.

Rent for the week: 105 yuan.

Sanitation fee for the week: 14 yuan.

Industry and commerce tax + local tax + business tax for the week: 280 yuan.

Total expenses for the week: 483 yuan.

Lin Feng's net income for the week was 1197 yuan, which not only brought him comfort but also reassured his parents, who had been worried about him losing money. In 1999, the average salary in Chushi City was 400 yuan, and Lin Feng's weekly net income of 1197 yuan was considered a high income.

The reason for such good business, apart from the allure of computer games, was that certain high-income industries could afford the 3-yuan-per-hour game fee. Although the average salary in Chushi City was 400 yuan, many industries paid several times that amount.

Over the past ten days, Lin Feng had been busy renovating the storefront and adjusting the computers, and he had not seen Huang Piaotian for a long time. He was either maintaining the computers or helping people buy various drinks and snacks, which left him exhausted.

However, the clay figurine given by Huang Shuqi was always with him. Lin Feng felt that since he had the clay figurine, everything seemed to go smoothly.

Just as Lin Feng was thinking about how to expand the storefront and add more computers, something unexpected happened.

On October 25th, Yi'an Technology suddenly hit the daily limit. When his father, Lin Qixiong, told him this good news with a smile, Lin Feng could not bring himself to smile. In his memory, Yi'an Technology's stock price would rise continuously from around 26 yuan over the next 70 trading days, breaking the 100-yuan mark, before plummeting.

"Father, do you have any money left?" Lin Feng asked anxiously.

"What? Do you want to expand the storefront?" Lin Qixiong, seeing the good business, was also thinking about how to expand. After all, no one would complain about having too much money. Even if he had initially doubted whether it would be profitable, the bustling scene of the past week had completely dispelled all his doubts.

"No, do you have any money left?" Lin Feng asked again.

"No, we don't have any money at home. But if you want to expand the storefront, I can borrow from your second uncle and aunt." Lin Qixiong said, thumping his chest.

"Not for expanding the storefront, but for borrowing money to buy stocks." Lin Feng had not originally intended to say he wanted to borrow money to buy stocks, but if he borrowed money and did not see the addition of computers, it would be troublesome. It was better to tell the truth now.

"Ah?" Lin Qixiong was surprised, "With the business so good, why not expand the storefront? Why invest in stocks? The stock market is risky, and you need to be cautious."

Lin Feng felt dizzy at the cliché financial news phrases.

"Father, just borrow the money. I guarantee it won't be a loss. This is the key to whether we can expand the storefront or not." Lin Feng urged.

"Borrowing money to buy computers can also expand the storefront. Investing in stocks is too risky." Lin Qixiong disagreed with Lin Feng's view.

"Father!!!" Lin Feng was truly anxious. Yi'an Technology was rising almost to the daily limit every day, and any delay in entering the market would result in significant losses.

Lin Feng knew he had no money and could only rely on his father's connections to borrow. As for his mother, she could still be asked to borrow money for the computer room, but not for stocks.

Lin Feng was truly anxious. After some thought, he took advantage of the absence of customers and pulled Lin Qixiong aside.

"Father, Yi'an Technology is really good..." Lin Feng paused, looked around, and whispered, "The stock will rise to over 120 yuan. If you don't buy it now, you'll never get the chance again."

How could Lin Feng not be anxious? The computer room currently had only four computers, and although the monthly profit was considerable, it would take a long time to develop it into a large internet cafe with hundreds of computers. By the time his internet cafe became a large one, the entire Chushi City might be filled with internet cafes, and the golden time for making money would be over.

To quickly overcome the initial capital accumulation, the already rising Yi'an Technology was the best opportunity, and he could not afford to miss it. Thinking about Yi'an Technology rising from 26 yuan to 126 yuan, with a profit margin of 500%, such a high return was hard to find elsewhere.

"Where did you hear this insider information? Don't believe people easily; be careful not to be deceived." Lin Qixiong