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

The next day, in the conference room of Xinlu Financial Big Data Center.

"Mr. Chen, I heard you had some objections to the data center project. Why is that?" The meeting room was filled with banking elites. The speaker was a manager from Ming Sheng Bank, the same bank that had locked Chen Xi's account in his previous life because he refused to invest. It was also one of the banks that Shi Danai had invested in.

Chen Xi was very unhappy with the bank. He glanced at them expressionlessly and said, "I didn't object to you initially saying you were collecting financial data, but what about collecting and storing users' private data? I mean the contacts, photos, and personal information on users' phones."

"Isn't this also part of the data? As for its use, it's of course used to improve the credit system!" the person from the Ghost Sacrifice Bank explained with a smile.

“Collecting users’ privacy data is illegal, don’t you understand?” Chen Xi glanced at the other person.

"Of course we can't do anything illegal. When users use the app, a privacy agreement will automatically pop up, and data collection can only be done with the user's permission. In other words, we will not secretly collect data without the user's knowledge."

"If users don't click 'agree,' can they not use the app? How can they transfer money then?"

"Haha, of course. If you can't transfer money via mobile phone, you can go to a physical branch to do so. But now that we live in the internet age and electronic payments are so widespread, it is indeed a bit of a hassle," the man laughed.

"When you mentioned improving the credit system, did you mean relying on this data to control users? For example, if someone borrows money from a bank and doesn't repay it, could this data be used to force them to pay?"

"Isn't this a huge boon? Lowering the bad debt ratio is the lifeline of our financial institutions. Once a borrower defaults or maliciously evades debt, the system can directly access their authorized contact list and call their family and friends for cross-collection. At the same time, we can also work directly with the authorities to accurately scan and lock down their hidden funds, instantly freezing all related accounts. With this comprehensive deterrent, low-level debtors will have nowhere to hide. We are using technology to build the most perfect financial moat." The man spread his hands, a matter-of-fact smile on his lips.

"Isn't this just putting a digital collar around everyone's neck and keeping them in captivity, yet they shamelessly call it improving the credit system? They're packaging all the private contact lists, photos, and travel records of users nationwide into one basket. Once the database has a vulnerability, or is stolen by some poorly regulated, makeshift organization, or even by illegal foreign groups, they can use this information to create precise profiles of everyone involved in 'pig butchering scams.' At that point, criminals will know more about a user's family situation and vulnerabilities than the user themselves. This will be a data disaster for hundreds of millions of people nationwide. Aren't you executives thinking about building physical-level risk barriers, besides those few profit points on the financial statements?" Chen Xi scoffed.

"Mr. Chen, you're exaggerating. Our center uses encrypted protocols, and the server room is surrounded by multiple firewalls. All underlying data is stored in anonymized form, so hackers can't get in at all. Even internal staff need strict approval processes to access it; access is tightly controlled. Technological innovation always comes with a bit of trial and error. We can't abandon the vast blue ocean of big data credit scoring just to guard against that one in ten thousand chance of a leak. And to put it another way, as long as those users are law-abiding and repay their principal and interest on time, who has the time to look through those stupid photos on their phones? A clear conscience fears no accusation!" The man straightened his back.

“Yes, these data are definitely monitored by a dedicated department, why are you worrying about it! Once our data center is set up, our social credit system will be far ahead of other countries!” another bank executive complained.

"Heh." Chen Xi sneered after hearing this.

He remembered chatting with these bankers in his past life. They asked Chen Xi why foreign countries were so backward, not even using electronic payments. They also said the user data wasn't complete enough, and that the credit system built by domestic banks was far superior to that of foreign countries. Their proud tone was like that of someone whose child had gotten a perfect score. (He also remembered a time when he went to the bank and casually mentioned this; one female employee, head held high, was as proud as a rooster. She acted as if she had invented some powerful, advanced weapon… They usually acted pitifully, saying they were just employees, but when it came to controlling and manipulating others, they all became incredibly smug…)
Chen Xi leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the pairs of gleaming eyes across the long table.

These well-dressed financial elites, spouting sophisticated terms about technological innovation and credit systems, are actually still using the feudal-era methods of controlling the people.

Packing users' contact lists together for cross-collection is no different from the ancient baojia system, where if one person owes money, the whole family is implicated.

Restricting those without data records from using electronic payments is equivalent to the travel permits of the Ming and Qing dynasties; without this data pass, one cannot move an inch.

They want to write everyone's consumption habits and weaknesses into the server. These unalterable digital tags are the personal files and classifications of that special era. A single form can directly define a person's life.

Chen Xi picked up the bottle of mineral water in front of him and took a sip, his mind flashing through a few absurd scenes from old movies.

In the movie "Hibiscus Town", Qin Shutian was labeled and forced to sweep the streets in the snow every day. That broom became a badge of identity that he could never take off for the rest of his life.

In "To Live", Fugui lost all his family property and became a farm laborer, but by a twist of fate he escaped a calamity, while Long Er, who won all the land, was directly taken away and shot.

In this system, how much wealth you possess is not the key factor; what matters is what label that massive management machine assigns to you.

Then there's Ma Dasan from "Devils on the Doorstep," who steadfastly adhered to the basic rules and kindness of the lower class, only to become a victim of violence in the end. So-called rules and trust have always been shackles imposed solely on the lower classes.

"After all this trouble, it turns out that the system you painstakingly created wasn't for risk prevention at all, but rather to satisfy your lust for power and control over the lower classes," Chen Xi sneered.

The meeting room fell silent instantly, and the smug smiles on the faces of the executives froze.

"Using technology as a shell to package the core of collective punishment, and transplanting the Baojia system from thousands of years ago to the internet, you really think you're doing something for the benefit of society? In this system, ordinary people are no longer customers, but strings of labeled data. Once the system determines that someone is creditless, they will become a cyber-era vagrant, unable to even pay for a steamed bun. Is this what you call being ahead of the curve?" Chen Xi continued sarcastically.

A bespectacled executive across from him blushed and pointed his finger directly at Chen Xi's nose.

"President Chen! Your thinking is too extreme. Without rules, there can be no order. We are just providing efficient management tools!" The executive slammed his hand on the table.

The moment the slap landed, the conference room erupted in chaos. A group of people whispered amongst themselves, pointing and gossiping about Chen Xi.

Chen Xi now understands.

For every Ding Ningwen who falls, there will be thousands more.

This big data center was probably originally intended to serve these people. Now that the person in charge has changed, the people at the organization must be grinning from ear to ear.

It's possible that Ding Ningwen's arrest was orchestrated by these people.

Just imagine, all the banks, financial companies, and insurance companies are using this data center. Based on the market price of information and the number of users, the potential for future profits is unimaginable.

If we continue to exploit Ding Ningwen's industrial parks in the south, everyone will become a piglet...

His brows furrowed at the thought.

"Mr. Chen, today's meeting is just out of respect for you. Even if you have objections, it's useless; the minority must obey the majority!" a fat man spoke up.

"Who said I disagreed? I'm a businessman, of course I need to know how much money I can make." Chen Xi put on a smiling face.

"Ok?"

"Huh?" Everyone present was stunned by the reversal.

"I don't care how you operate, I just want to see the money! You asked me so many questions, do you think I'm a saint? Saving the world isn't my job. I just want to know how much I get!" Chen Xi slammed his hand on the table, regaining control.

“Since Mr. Chen supports it, then the profit sharing is naturally easy to discuss. However, we have one small request…” The man from the Ghost Sacrifice Bank immediately beamed with joy.

"Speak!" Chen Xi said bluntly.

"As we all know, Mr. Chen's security company is quite famous both at home and abroad. They have connections with banks in everything from cameras to systems. Now that they're building a data center, they'll naturally need to provide assistance. I've inquired around and found that your cousin Chen Ran is one of the top cybersecurity experts in China. Many elites from major companies were his apprentices before. I think it would be helpful for him to help with data security."

That's true; in his previous life, Chen Ran was among the top in the country in this regard.

Although I was moved to New Delhi in this life, I still make time to visit the security company.

However, Chen Ran is a person who dislikes trouble and basically doesn't spend time training apprentices. So, in order not to do all the work himself, he occasionally gives public lessons.

Those who attended his lectures naturally became his disciples and followers.

“I can help, but only by giving public lectures and guidance. My company is very busy, and he can’t stay in the data center.” Chen Xi did not refuse.

"It's alright, it's alright as long as you can come! The data center will serve many companies across the country, and it will be incredibly profitable! The revenue will definitely be substantial!"

"Okay!" Chen Xi tapped the table with his hand.

That basically settled the matter.

The people in the conference room were overjoyed to see him agree, and then they began to flatter each other.

Hmph, you'll be crying then!

Chen Xi watched these ruthless bastards celebrating with glee, and sneered inwardly.

Meanwhile, at the Xinlu Convention and Exhibition Center.

The annual international auto show is in full swing.

The cross-oceanic partnership between Tesla and Evergrande Auto, featuring a top-of-the-line interior and comfortable sofas, dropped a bombshell in the automotive industry.

This made the domestic new car manufacturers, who originally planned to launch new cars in an orderly manner, completely uneasy. Major manufacturers sounded the alarm overnight and forcibly brought all their best-kept modified backup plans to the exhibition.

The entire convention center has now become a huge spectacle.

"I simply don't understand, how can anyone still buy a gasoline car these days? Can a gasoline car cook on an elevated highway? No way! Look at our Future Auto's latest mobile private chef edition! The trunk unfolds with a single touch and becomes an integrated stove, with the chassis battery pack directly supplying a high-powered induction cooker. While others are stuck in traffic during rush hour, you can simply open the trunk and stir-fry a plate of twice-cooked pork. This is a game-changer for traditional gasoline cars!" The CEO of Future Auto, dressed in a sharp suit, held a stainless steel spatula in his hand, spitting as he spoke into the microphone under the spotlight.

The Dapeng Motors booth next door immediately raised the volume of their speakers, not to be outdone.

"Cooking in a car produces so much oily smoke! Look at our new flagship car from Dapeng! It has a double-door refrigerator built into the back of the driver's seat, the passenger seat folds down to become a two-meter-long bed, and the roof can be lowered to reveal a large-screen TV. Other car companies are building vehicles, we're building fully furnished luxury apartments!" The head of Dapeng opened the car door and pulled out several cans of ice-cold cola from the refrigerator, throwing them generously into the crowd below.

The media and audience at the scene were completely bewildered by these two companies, and what followed was even more outrageous.

In a corner of the exhibition hall, a booth belonging to an unknown new energy vehicle company was shrouded in mist, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of hot pot. Four scantily clad car models were gathered around the center console, which had been transformed into a nine-compartment hot pot, with each person holding a pair of long chopsticks and dipping tripe in it.

"Refrigerators and color TVs are a thing of the past! Look at our flagship car, a complete closed-loop ecosystem for eating, drinking, and even going to the toilet! The center console has a hot pot function, the driver's seat has a hidden toilet underneath, and the chassis is directly connected to an odorless waste disposal system. As long as you don't get out of the car, this car will be your eternal haven!" The salesman, holding a megaphone, shouted at the top of his lungs, the veins on his neck bulging.

Passersby stopped in their tracks, and the area in front of the booth quickly became packed with people, with bursts of laughter and complaints erupting from the crowd.

"This isn't a car, it'll evolve into an apartment building in two more years. Will the next new car release include a three-bedroom apartment, so you have to pay for the shared area when you buy it?" A guy with a DSLR camera frantically snapped photos and shook his head repeatedly.

"Good heavens, the passenger was enjoying hot pot with mutton when the driver suddenly lifted the seat and took a dump. The sight was too gruesome for me to bear. If the chassis were too stiff and went over a speed bump, wouldn't the soup and the septic tank mix right there? Is this what they mean by 'eat and poop'?" The young man with the backpack next to him slapped his thigh with amusement.

"You guys don't know anything. This is called precisely hitting the pain points of today's young people. In the future, you won't need to take the girl to see houses when you go on blind dates. You can just take her to see the cars in the underground parking lot. You can cook in the car and take a shower when you get out. It's a proper mobile detached villa."

"That's right, I'm already planning to give up my shared apartment in the city. I can park this car in the company's underground garage, plug it into the company's charging station to get free water and electricity, sleep in a big bed at night to watch TV, and even work overtime on the toilet in the middle of the night. Even capitalists would be moved to tears!" A programmer with a receding hairline stroked his chin and agreed earnestly.

The entire convention center was no longer discussing 0-100 km/h acceleration and chassis suspension; the only thing left in the air was the frenzied competition among household appliances and kitchenware.

At this moment, two men were chatting in a corner.

"These people are quite innovative. It's a real shame they're not building aircraft carriers." Xu Jia looked at the car company booths in the distance and clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"A bunch of idiots, let them do it." The chairman of Dadao Group chuckled.

"I told you so, Hengxiao's stock price soared immediately. You were worried about this and that before."

"Mr. Xu is really good at this. I still have a lot to learn from you."

The two exchanged a glance and then burst into laughter. (End of Chapter)