Soon.
Qin Feng's parents returned home.
As the couple approached the gate, they noticed a luxury Mercedes-Benz parked right in front of their house and couldn't help but feel curious.
"Why is such a nice car parked at our doorstep?" Qin Guangzhi, Qin Feng's father, muttered to himself.
Li Fengxia, Qin Feng's mother, turned her head and was startled to see a crowd of people in the yard:
"Goodness, why are there so many people here?!"
Qin Guangzhi quickly redirected his gaze from the Mercedes to the yard and realized there really were quite a few people.
Looking more closely, he recognized them as fellow villagers.
As it turned out, the yard was no longer just occupied by the few people Qin Feng had greeted at the village entrance earlier.
After those villagers had arrived, more people had gradually shown up—all of them were people Qin Feng had greeted on his way home, who had heard that he had returned in a luxury vehicle worth over a million.
"Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Guangben… What are you all doing at my house?" Qin Guangzhi asked, puzzled.
Hearing his voice, the crowd quickly turned around and replied:
"Guangzhi, Fengxia, you're back?"
"Brother Guangzhi, you're finally back! I was just saying we should invite Qin Feng to our place for a meal. You should all come too!"
"Nonsense! Come to our house! My old man has already killed a chicken—it's probably plucked by now!"
"No, come to my house! My family…"
Watching everyone compete to invite them for a meal, Qin Guangzhi and Li Fengxia were even more confused.
What was going on today?
What was everyone up to? Why were they suddenly being so enthusiastic?
Just then, Qin Feng walked over, took the groceries and meat from his parents—many of which were ready-to-eat dishes—and held them up to politely decline the offers:
"My parents have already bought food. We'll be eating at home today."
"Besides, I just got back and would like to have a meal and chat with my parents at home."
Hearing this, the crowd had no choice but to drop the matter.
However, they didn't leave immediately. Instead, they gathered around Qin Guangzhi and Li Fengxia, showering them with praise.
They complimented Qin Feng for being ambitious and successful, and praised Qin Guangzhi and Li Fengxia for raising such an outstanding son.
After listening for a while, Qin Guangzhi and Li Fengxia finally understood.
So the luxury Mercedes-Benz parked at the door belonged to Qin Feng?
And it was worth over a million?!
Their first reaction wasn't excitement but shock.
Qin Guangzhi asked anxiously,
"Son, you haven't done anything illegal, have you?"
He clearly remembered that not long ago, Qin Feng had asked him for money, saying he didn't have enough to buy a birthday gift for his girlfriend.
How could he possibly afford a car worth over a million in such a short time?
Could this car be stolen?
"No!"
"How could I do anything illegal?!"
Qin Guangzhi didn't quite believe Qin Feng's explanation.
After all, what legal method could make someone rich so quickly?
As the saying goes—
"The fastest ways to make money are all listed in the Criminal Law!"
But he wasn't foolish enough to press further in front of everyone. He decided to wait until the guests had left to question his son in detail.
After some more conversation, the guests finally departed together.
Qin Guangzhi escorted them to the gate.
Feeling the unprecedented flattery and courtesy from these people, and glancing at the Mercedes emblem on the car his son had driven back,
he realized—
That emblem wasn't just a Mercedes logo; it was the symbol of his dignity, which had been bent low for many years.
Yet, he felt no joy about it.
Instead, his heart ached!
Because he believed Qin Feng had obtained it through illegal means.
Before the guests had even gone far, he couldn't help but lower his voice and ask Qin Feng urgently,
"Tell me the truth. What illegal things have you done?"
Qin Feng immediately replied,
"Dad, the way I made this money is absolutely legal!"
"Not only is it legal, but it's also beneficial to the country."
As he said this, Qin Feng didn't even blush.
Because there was nothing wrong with that statement—consuming the funds of illegal online loans could indeed be considered another form of doing a good deed.
"Not only that, but my way of making money is simple. It requires no effort, no brainpower, and no time."
"All you need is an ID card to do it."
"You could call it a 'public welfare project,' except very few people know about this 'project.'"
"Coincidentally, I happen to know about it!"
"This is also a way of making money through information asymmetry."
As he said these words,
Qin Feng deliberately raised his voice, hoping that the people who had just left would hear him.
He glanced over and noticed that those people had paused in their steps. Some even seemed tempted to turn back but managed to restrain themselves.
Good, it seemed they had all heard what he just said.
Returning to the main room,
Qin Guangzhi was still pressing Qin Feng about where the money had come from.
Qin Feng smiled and said,
"Dad, you'll find out soon enough."
"But don't worry, this money is definitely not illegal."
Then, turning to his mother, who was busy arranging cooked dishes on plates and preparing to make another dish, he said,
"Mom, could you set out a few more pairs of chopsticks later?"
Both Father Qin and Mother Qin asked curiously,
"Do you have friends coming over?"
Qin Feng shook his head mysteriously and said,
"They're not my friends."
"They're people from our village."
"Didn't you notice how a few people earlier seemed like they wanted to turn back but held themselves back? I'm sure they had some thoughts on their minds."
"But I'm certain someone will come over soon."
Qin Guangzhi glared at him and said irritably,
"I knew there had to be a reason you were speaking so loudly at the door earlier. So this is what you were planning, huh?"
"You won't tell me where this money really came from, and now you're pulling this stunt. I really don't know what kind of scheme you're hiding up your sleeve."
But despite his complaints, his actions spoke otherwise.
Qin Guangzhi rolled up his sleeves and said to Li Fengxia,
"I'll be your assistant, so you can make a few more dishes."
Qin Feng waved his hand and said:
"No need. They definitely won't come empty-handed. Just prepare a few more bowls and chopsticks."
Qin Guangzhi didn't stop and continued:
"We'd better make a few more dishes, just to avoid embarrassment. It wouldn't look good otherwise."
...
...
At the same time,
those people chatted as they walked.
"Did you hear what Qin Feng said earlier? His way of making money is not only quick but also simple. All you need is an ID card."
"Quick, simple, and not illegal—how can such a good thing exist?!"
"Didn't you hear him? This is a 'public welfare project.' When it comes to public welfare projects, it must be a benefit given by the state!"
"Nonsense! If the state had such benefits, everyone would be rich. Who would still be toiling in the fields?!"
"Hey, didn't Qin Feng also mention this? Very few people know about this project, but he happens to know. What's that called... belief gap or something?"
"Information gap! I know this term. My son mentioned it to me a while ago. It basically means that some information is only known to a few people, while others are unaware."
"Hmph, what information gap? I don't believe it. The money must've come from some shady means."
The one who said this was Qin Guangyuan, the person Qin Guangzhi referred to as Second Brother.
He was Qin Guangzhi's cousin, making him Qin Feng's uncle.
After saying this, Qin Guangyuan put his hands behind his back, turned around, and walked home without looking back, picking up his pace as he went.
As for the remaining people,
some doubted Qin Feng, saying his way of making money must be questionable,
while others believed in him, thinking he earned it through an information gap.