Chapter 2: Launch and Hustle

Zhang Wei stood in the open field behind the academy, his heart pounding in his chest. Before him, a small, crude rocket motor sat in its launch rig. It was barely half a meter long, cobbled together with the materials the system had instructed him to use—stump remover, powdered sugar, baking soda, and a few additional components he managed to procure from a nearby hardware store."Here goes nothing," Zhang Wei muttered, stepping back.The system had guided him through every step of building the motor. Now, it was time to see if it actually worked. He lit the fuse, took several more steps back, and watched with bated breath.Seconds later, a loud whoosh filled the air, and the small rocket blasted off into the sky, leaving behind a trail of white smoke. Zhang Wei's eyes followed it, wide with excitement. It wasn't a huge rocket, but it flew straight and true, climbing higher and higher before eventually sputtering out and falling back to the earth.It worked.A grin broke across his face. "I did it!"The system chimed in, confirming his success.

[Rocket motor test successful. Efficiency: 85%.]

Zhang Wei couldn't help but feel proud. The system had given him the knowledge, but it was his hands that had built the motor. With this, he could start his journey to earn money—and hopefully save his sister.He hurried back to his dorm, pulling up the system interface. It was time to put his product on the market.[Flagship Store Available][Do you wish to list your rocket motor for sale?]"Yes," Zhang Wei confirmed, typing in the details. He named the product "Stellar Rocket Motor Mk I" and set the price at 1,200 yuan. It wasn't too high, but it would give him a decent profit. He had calculated the production cost of each motor to be about 400 yuan, meaning he would earn 800 yuan per sale.[Product listed in Flagship Store.][Inventory: 1 unit]Zhang Wei sighed in relief, knowing that the system would handle the logistics of selling and delivering the product. All he needed to do now was focus on producing more motors and finding ways to gather materials cheaply.The next day, Zhang Wei found himself working a shift at a nearby café. It wasn't glamorous, but it paid 50 yuan per hour, which helped cover daily expenses. He wiped down tables and served drinks, his mind constantly running through calculations.Hours worked: 8 hoursIncome: 8 x 50 = 400 yuanAfter his shift, Zhang Wei tucked the 400 yuan he had earned into his pocket. His total funds were now:Initial balance: 300,000 yuanMinus rocket motor materials: 400 yuan

Plus café income: 400 yuan

Balance: 300,000 yuan

Still, he knew he would need more than just part-time work to achieve his goals. Xiaoyu's treatment would require tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of yuan. The rocket motors might be his best shot at earning big money.Later that night, Zhang Wei decided to explore another avenue for gathering materials. He had read online about "dumpster diving" and figured it could be a way to get scrap materials for free.Under the cover of darkness, he made his way to the alley behind a local recycling center. He started digging through the dumpsters, looking for anything he could salvage. After a few hours of searching, he struck gold.Total findings:503 Coca-Cola cans382 Sprite cans1,042 used toilet rollsThe system chimed in as soon as he collected the items.

[Ding! Material found.][Cans can be cleaned and used for rocket motor shells. Used toilet rolls can be processed for motor casings.]

Zhang Wei smiled. The system would clean and process the materials for him, turning what most people considered trash into valuable components. Every little bit would help him cut down on production costs.[Materials cleaned and processed.]With the system's help, the cans and toilet rolls were cleaned and ready for use. Zhang Wei calculated how much he could save by using these materials instead of buying new ones.Cost of 1 rocket motor (before): 400 yuanCost of 1 rocket motor (after using scrap materials): 300 yuan

Profit per motor (at 1,200 yuan sale price): 1,200 - 300 = 900 yuan

That was a 100-yuan increase in profit per motor. If he could sell ten motors, he would earn an extra 1,000 yuan in profit just from using scrap materials. The thought motivated him further—every bit of savings could go toward Xiaoyu's medical expenses.The next morning, Zhang Wei sat down at his desk and opened the system interface, checking his balance.Initial balance: 300,000 yuanCafé income: 400 yuan

Minus living expenses: 100 yuan

Balance: 300,300 yuan

With the rocket motors now listed in his Flagship Store and his work at the café bringing in a steady income, Zhang Wei felt more determined than ever. He had to hustle—every hour, every yuan counted. His sister's life was on the line, and he wasn't going to let her down.As he worked on refining the rocket motor design, he realized that this new world wasn't going to be easy. But with the system at his side and his own grit, he believed he could turn his small company into something far bigger.And who knows? Maybe one day, his "Stellar Innovations" would be more than just a humble startup—it might be the key to humanity's future in the stars.