Chereads / STARTING AT HOGWARTS / Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: This is Depravity

Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: This is Depravity

Classes at Hogwarts are easy.

After one Transfiguration class in the morning, there were no other classes!

Soon!

It was lunchtime.

However, William Li did not head to lunch first, but approached the Weasley twins.

Upon meeting!

"William, I heard that you became the King of Slytherin?" George asked excitedly.

When they first heard the news, the two of them were thrilled.

You know, the two are followers of Li William—albeit reluctantly, they are still followers.

If their boss is so impressive, it's a point of pride for them!

"What King of Slytherin? I'm just a prefect, and that's self-appointed and not recognized by the school!" William Li waved his hand and explained nonchalantly.

"It's all the same!" Fred said with a smile.

In their view, there's no difference between the Head Prefect and the King of Slytherin.

Anyway, they both essentially lead Slytherin.

"Okay, I have business with you!" William Li said seriously.

The twins listened, and the smiles on their faces vanished.

George asked, "What's the matter?"

"I heard you want to open a joke shop specializing in making prank products?" William Li inquired.

After George and Fred exchanged looks, Fred responded in surprise, "How do you know? We haven't told anyone about this dream, right?"

They had this idea, but they really hadn't shared it with anyone. Only the two of them knew.

"Don't worry about how I know!"

William Li waved his hand nonchalantly, and then said, "Just tell me whether you want to realize this dream!"

"Yes, of course we do!"

After another exchange of looks, they responded in unison.

"Well!"

William Li showed a smile and said, "I'll give you a chance. As long as you promise me two things, I will ensure that after you graduate, I will help you open this store with funds!"

"Really?!"

Both of their eyes lit up.

They had no doubts about whether William Li had the means to do so.

As William Li's influence spread throughout the academy, so did news that the Happy Farm was his home.

"Absolutely!"

William Li nodded.

"What's the matter?"

George and Fred quickly asked, even more eager.

"Firstly. While at school, your mother entrusted me to oversee Ron's studies. It's best if he studies until ten o'clock every night!"

William Li explained, "However, since he's in a different house, it's not convenient for me to supervise him, so I want you two to oversee his studies!"

"Supervise Ron's studies?" George and Fred looked at each other, their eyes sparkling.

They loved this!

Causing mischief was their specialty!

Even if the "victim" was their "dear" brother!

Seeing their expressions, William Li knew that not only had they accepted the conditions, but they were also enthusiastic about the task.

Thinking about it, he adopted a sorrowful expression and said, "Yeah, you don't know, just these two days without your mother's supervision, he was even late in the morning!"

"What's this?"

"This is depravity!!!"

"I think we can't let him continue to deteriorate like this. Today he dares to be late, tomorrow he might skip class, and the day after he might drop out of school!"

"So, for the sake of your mother's trust, and for Ron's academic welfare, I hope you two can supervise him rigorously for me!"

Finished!

He stretched out his hand and solemnly patted the two on the shoulders.

"Don't worry, leave it to us!"

After another exchange of looks, George and Fred adopted a righteous demeanor, patted their chests, and declared, "As brothers, we have the duty to oversee our younger brother's studies!"

"So, we will definitely supervise him strictly and prevent his fall!"

At the end of their statement, the corners of their mouths couldn't help but turn upwards, as if they thought of something amusing.

In fact, they probably guessed what William Li was plotting.

It was simply his peculiar hobby of forcing Ron to study.

They had been treated similarly back then.

However, as the saying goes, you eventually become the person you hated the most.

Although they were embarrassed back then, now that they were tasked with this duty, they could only use one word to describe it—delight!

Seeing them like this, William Li showed a satisfied smile and sighed, "With your commitment, I feel relieved. Ron is lucky to have brothers like you. It's truly his 'blessing'!"

The words fell!

The three exchanged knowing smiles.

Meanwhile!

Ron, who was with Harry, suddenly shivered inexplicably and felt an indescribable sense of dread.

It was as if

Something bad was going to happen?

Later!

William Li composed himself and continued, "The second matter concerns investing in a joke shop!"

"Although I can invest, let's be clear. It's not about making more money, but at least you can't make me lose money, right?"

"Um!"

George and Fred looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

"So, I hope you can present a new prank product every month until graduation!" Li William stated seriously.

If the first condition was about pushing Ron to improve, the second was to drive George and Fred to innovate!

Prank products are also magical products.

Developing a new magical product is no simple feat.

Although prank products are less complex than typical magical products, designing a new one every month is challenging.

So!

Once the twins agreed, they would have to work diligently in the future to ensure a new product each month.

This would also allow them to contribute more to Li William's interests.

Upon hearing this, they frowned.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Li William raised an eyebrow and inquired.

"We have no money!"

After a mutual glance, they said in unison.

Li William was initially surprised, then understood.

Indeed!

Although developing products costs money, and even though the cost of developing prank products is lower than typical magical products, the Weasley family clearly couldn't afford such an expense.

"Here, take this as the research and development cost for this month, and I will give you the same amount every month going forward!" Li William pulled out twenty gold Galleons from his pocket and handed them over.

This sum might seem modest, but it's actually quite substantial!

In the wizarding world, the average income for ordinary wizards is about fifteen gold Galleons a week, roughly sixty to seventy a month, and professors earn more, but only about a hundred.

Twenty gold Galleons represent about one-fifth of a professor's monthly income.

Of course!

It's not that Li William couldn't afford more.

In fact, his financial status in the wizarding world was not insignificant.

Because the goods from Happy Farm were imported from the non-magical world, and the currency collected after sales was wizarding currency which couldn't be converted into Muggle money, apart from the profit, the cost itself was borne by Li William.

Thus!

Li William could garner nearly three thousand gold Galleons every month—this was because the daily life of wizards is quite traditional. Most wizards grow their own crops and keep livestock at home, and don't often need to shop at markets, otherwise, he could earn even more.

Among this, one thousand was profit excluding labor, and two thousand covered costs!

However, this doesn't mean Li William hadn't paid any costs, but those costs were in Muggle currency.

It costs about tens of thousands of Muggle currency every month.

That is to say, his business ventures in recent years allowed him to make a significant income each month. Otherwise, relying on the five thousand Muggle currency pocket money given by Li Wenhua each month, there wouldn't be enough to invest so heavily.

And over the years, excluding regular expenses, his net worth was also about 100,000 gold Galleons.

Measured, he was also a wealthy man in the wizarding world.

Except for those ancient families, few others were as affluent as him.

But the reason he only gave twenty gold Galleons to the twins was primarily because the cost of prank products themselves was relatively low.

Twenty wasn't much, but it was appropriate.

If he had given more, he would have been the one taken advantage of.

He had wealth, but he couldn't be reckless!

"Thank you!"

George and Fred's eyes sparkled as they quickly accepted the gold Galleons.

"Anyway, do your best with my tasks, and I won't treat you unfairly!" Li William said with a smile.

"Yes, yes!"

The twins nodded repeatedly.

Both tasks were their hobbies; how could they not excel at them?