I'm reborn and I'm an international student again?

"Do you think I'm an idiot? This is just a Ponzi scheme, and you're making it sound like you're on top of the world." Yang Dan suddenly stood up, pointing at the other person while smoking.

"No, no, no... Mr. Yang, you've misunderstood." The young man who had just introduced the project quickly waved his hand.

"I misunderstood your mother, I misunderstood..." Yang Dan sneered, then winked at the two men beside her.

The henchman walked over and grabbed the man by the collar in the next second. His accomplice immediately stood up and said, "Mr. Yang, this really isn't some Ponzi scheme. Our projects are all legitimate."

However, the henchmen ignored them and punched each of them several times.

"Mr. Yang, this project is real!"

"Good. You remain unfazed even when Mount Tai collapses before you. You're about to be beaten, yet you still insist that what you're saying is true. Not bad. Looks like you're suited for this line of work—deceiving not only others but also yourself!" Yang Dan stubbed out his cigarette and clapped his hands with a smile.

The two beaten men were thrown onto the sofa, looking at the approaching person with some fear.

“Actually, whether your projects are real or fake has nothing to do with me. What I care about is how much money I can make. Chongqing is the biggest internet gambling city, and 60% of the small-time gamblers come from there. People in coastal cities like to play Ponzi schemes, and I know exactly where the money flows across the country. So put away your clever tricks and let’s sit down and talk about how to make money.” Yang Dan sat down next to them and tossed each of them a cigarette.

"Yes, yes, yes." The two who had been beaten immediately nodded.

“I know more about the project you just introduced. It’s a good idea, but there are too few downlines to develop. I have a better idea. Do you want to hear it?” Yang Dan snapped her fingers.

"Please speak, Mr. Yang." The two people sitting on the sofa exchanged a glance.

“Running a Ponzi scheme is like selling goods; customers will compare prices from three different vendors. For example, the same product might be more expensive on the Apple App Store than on Android, so some people will buy it on Android. Similarly, we can run multiple Ponzi schemes. Each scheme has different incentives, so after investing in Project A, a user might see that Project B offers better deals. For instance, Project A might have a 5-month withdrawal period, while Project B only has a 3-month period. At that point, they'll have the idea to invest some money in Project B first, and then withdraw their money from Project A later. If someone doesn't have the money, we can provide them with loans. Then we can harvest profits from both sides simultaneously…” Yang Dan combined the operational methods she had seen from other online gaming platforms and applied them to Ponzi schemes.

"Wow, Mr. Yang is really brilliant."

"I knew I made the right choice coming today, it's truly an eye-opener."

After listening, the two men showered Yang Dan with compliments.

"Your exchange has only been established for a short time and doesn't have much capital. How did you manage to achieve a 24-hour trading volume of 240 billion US dollars? And this platform coin is worth thirty US dollars? Even the currently popular Mars Coin isn't worth that much." Yang Dan picked up a document on the table and asked.

One of the men scratched his head somewhat awkwardly after hearing this. After thinking for a moment, he told the truth: "It's like transferring money from one hand to the other... basically selling and buying back the same thing... You see, the assets are actually only a few hundred thousand dollars... and then there's the money spent on a ranking list. There are so many ranking lists now..."

“That’s interesting. So what kind of cryptocurrency license do you have?” Yang Dan asked again.

“That’s easy. There are more licensed exchanges than you can count on two hands. Like I said, all you need is money and connections. Southeast Asia, Malaysia, you know… hotbeds for Ponzi schemes!” Another person rubbed his hands together.

"So how much money do you expect to make with this project?" That was the question Yang Dan was concerned about.

Ponzi schemes typically advertise with the promise of high returns, but initially, they must allow investors to genuinely profit to keep them investing. In other words, the company must continuously use funds from the pool to pay early investors. Once the pool's funds dwindle to a certain level, the scheme collapses.

"The original estimate was 10 billion, but if we do as Mr. Yang just said, I estimate we can make 1 trillion!"

"You're really bold. How much money did Ding Ningwen make back then... But thinking about it, it's not impossible. Who am I, Yang Dan? How could I be inferior to others? Tell me the specifics, like what advantages you have." Yang Dan's lips were practically curled up in a smile from the praise. She had originally wanted to be modest, but she stopped pretending altogether.

"This was set up by Mr. Zhu, a big shot in the cryptocurrency circle, and we also have top-notch lecturers..." Seeing that Yang Dan was really interested, the man immediately told her everything.

New House.

Chen Yifeng had just returned home when he opened the door and saw two children crawling around on the floor.

He first looked at his son, a boy who resembled him quite a bit. Then he looked at the girl beside him; she didn't look like him at all. According to the latest investigation report, the daughter wasn't his, but Wu Yan's.

Seeing the little thing made him a little annoyed. He had acted like a complete idiot before, holding her and shouting happily every day. Now that he thought about it, he felt like he had a turtle shell on his head, like a turtle prime minister.

"You have no manners, whether you're sitting or standing. Where's your mother?" Chen Yifeng was quite strict with his children, expecting them to behave properly both at home and outside. He pointed sternly at his son, who was already quite sensible, and asked.

"Mom's not home," the boy said, then went back to playing with his toys.

"Not home? You two are left here? Get up, what are you playing? Look at your dirty pants, are you going to use them as a mop?" Chen Yifeng lifted his son up with one hand and patted his pants.

Then he looked at the girl on the ground. In the past, he would have chuckled, picked her up, and said, "Look at you, all messed up! You look like a little kitten, so naughty!"

But now, Chen Yifeng only glanced at it and then quickly went upstairs.

I don't care about other people's children!

He cried out in his heart.

I glanced around the master bedroom and saw nothing different.

Then he went to the study and looked at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall and the exquisite antiques on the bookshelf. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Hmph, that bitch. She secretly ran off to Hong Kong, sold the house, started the immigration process, and then had Wu Yan transfer the funds. She knows nothing about the valuables in the house; is she trying to use a smokescreen to keep me in check?

Chen Yifeng pulled out a chair and sat down, beginning to check if the items in the cabinet had been deliberately moved.

He enjoyed verifying his judgment by checking these things, just like how he used to check if his son had been playing on the computer while he was out. He'd check the computer's temperature before leaving, and then check it again when he got back…

Hmph, the cabinet was indeed ransacked.

After a while, Chen Yifeng finished his inspection and sneered inwardly.

This place is usually used to store documents, and sometimes envelopes containing money for emergencies are tucked inside.

Although the money is still there, the documents have been moved because the order in which they were placed has obviously changed.

"Mom's back!" Her son's shout came from downstairs, and Chen Yifeng quickly stood up and went out.

"Oh, so you do know to come back." Zhang Xuan said to the man who had just come downstairs as she took off her high heels.

"..." Chen Yifeng chuckled. This woman had actually said what he wanted to say first.

"Where have you been gallivanting off to? Don't you want to live anymore?" Zhang Xuan glanced at him.

"I think you're just tired of living, leaving the two kids here behind." Chen Yifeng pointed at the two people on the ground.

"Well, there's nothing I can do. You haven't paid me anything lately. I was thinking of hiring a nanny, but I can't. But I still have to go out eventually, and I can't be in two places at once. So this is the only way..." Zhang Xuan shrugged. Chen Yifeng was furious.

You just sold your villa in Hong Kong, and now you're saying you have no money.

However, he held back his outburst and changed the subject: "You texted me saying our son is sick and might need surgery. But he looks perfectly fine to me."

"Yes, he was sick, but now he's suddenly better. My son is truly a miracle worker!" Zhang Xuan chuckled.

"Chen Caiyue called and told me about the situation with your family members. They're refusing to leave, and they haven't been shortchanged on their compensation."

"What do you mean by 'those people in your family'? What do you mean by that?" Zhang Xuan put one hand on her hip and pointed at the other person.

"I don't want to argue with you. Your brother doesn't work and disrupts the factory's atmosphere. Giving him money and letting him go is already being very lenient..."

"You don't want to argue, but I do. Fine, I've given you two children, and now you want to discard me after I've served my purpose?" Zhang Xuan grew angrier and angrier, and directly unleashed the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.

If this had happened to another man, he probably would have swallowed his anger. But Chen Yifeng was different. After being scratched a few times, he slapped her across the face, sending Zhang Xuan flying. He had also laid a hand on Chen Caiyue before.

"Fine, you dare hit me!" Zhang Xuan didn't cry after being hit, but instead retaliated even more fiercely.

Chen Yifeng was red-faced and his neck was red. He wanted to calm down but couldn't control himself.

All the forbearance and plans made before coming here have now vanished like bubbles.

"Wow wow wow."

"Tattoo."

A series of loud banging sounds came from the living room, but the two children nearby reacted in completely different ways. The boy was crying and sobbing, while the girl was banging her toys on the floor, watching the fight with great interest.

Ningbo, a waste recycling factory.

"This is Mr. Pang, and this is General Manager Chen."

Inside the station, Xu Yun was making an introduction. Two men stood before her; the one on the left was plain-looking, dressed simply, and wore glasses; he appeared to be around thirty years old. The one on the right was Chen Xi, wearing a down jacket.

Since the waste recycling plant was established, the income has been incredibly high. Later, a second plant was built, so the income should have doubled, but the current accounts show that the profits have actually decreased.

The project has a complex shareholder structure and a wide network of interests. It started off smoothly, but has recently encountered numerous obstacles.

Either a hazardous substance was found in the inspected container, or pollution after construction began would have an impact on the surrounding environment.

Previously, Xu Yun had spent a lot of money to build the world's most advanced waste shredding center, which was so large that it ranked among the top in the world, and even Yangshi TV came to interview her.

But now this pulverizing center has become a source of pollution in the eyes of some.

"Mr. Chen is truly young and promising, with a refined manner of speaking; he's clearly a highly educated individual. Unlike some people who always speak loudly. By the way, there's a saying: 'I'd rather listen to Suzhou people arguing than Ningbo people talking.' I used to think it was a joke, but after witnessing it firsthand, I realize it's true." Mr. Pang's smile was deceptive.

Chen Xi understood that this guy had met with Chen Xu before to discuss investing. Chen Xu, of course, wasn't going to agree to such a cash cow. He believed that the shareholders were all wealthy and powerful people, and he had nothing to fear, so he directly rejected the offer.

"Hehe, my cousin has always had a loud voice, don't mind him," Chen Xi chuckled.

"That's just how it is. Money can be earned slowly, but it can't be left unearned. Mr. Chen should understand this, right?" Mr. Pang's words carried a hint of Beijing accent.

"Yes, I understand." Chen Xi nodded with a smile.

"Alright, then I won't bother you any longer." Mr. Pang extended his hand and shook hands with them, a smile on his face the whole time.

Chen Xi knew that this guy was a wolf in sheep's clothing, because he had already experienced it in his previous life.

"I'll see you off," Xu Yun said.

"No need, you're busy, you're busy." Mr. Pang waved his hand and pointed to the phone, as if he had an incoming call to answer.

After everyone left, Xu Yun glanced at Chen Xi and asked, "Why are you being so agreeable today? I thought you would be so angry that you would jump up and yell at the other person."

"Heh, do you think I wanted this?" Chen Xi's smile had vanished, and he lit a cigarette.

"Oh, do you know who he is? I don't think I told you who he is." Xu Yun said, somewhat surprised.

She remembered telling Chen Xi that the other party had a powerful background and that their recycling business was facing difficulties recently.

“I know, he’s just a pawn, there are people behind him. We can’t afford to offend those people…” Chen Xi exhaled a puff of smoke, but it sounded like a sigh.

In his previous life, he made a lot of money from the recycling project. Don't be fooled by the fact that the shareholders were all ruthless characters; the most ruthless one appeared at the end. He started out just like Feng Yun, thinking he was incredibly powerful, but later he couldn't even continue the business.

"Cough cough, don't you feel any heartache at all?" Xu Yun asked again.

"Don't you feel bad? What did your dad say?" Chen Xi retorted.

He said it was only right, that you should give back to society after making money!

"Hahaha."

After listening, Chen Xi gave a thumbs up.

"Why do you think people make so much money? I see those big bosses who are already incredibly wealthy, yet they still want more."

"Take this waste recycling plant for example. The guy just now only wanted shares, not the plant itself. The plant needs to keep producing to generate revenue, but right now, who's the one most likely to bring in profits for the project? It's us. Our role is indispensable for now. If you don't do it, there are plenty of other people who will make you continue..."

"What about the end?"

"If you can't do it anymore, there are plenty of people who can do it for you!"

Chen Xi stubbed out his cigarette. (End of Chapter)