Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 5: Being Uncultured is Awesome

But Yu Chunyin simply didn't believe it.

How do you know the ratio of soil to rock below?

"Has it been dug up?"

"You dug? What were you digging for?"

"After the fight, the kid wasn't convinced, so a few of us dragged him to dig a hole and buried him halfway down to scare him. But we didn't dig very deep and all we found were rocks. We moved to another spot and dug, but it was all rocks and sand. We dug several holes, but they were all full of rocks and sand. We couldn't dig anymore, so we let the kid go."

As Chen Xuebing spoke, he realized that his version of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio had a touch of science fiction, so he added:
“Actually, I’m not sure of the location either, but if you don’t believe me, give me ten thousand yuan, I’ll provide the manpower, and you provide a manual crusher, and I’ll take you to dig it up.”

Forcibly demanding money is an example of that.

Reasonableness is not important, nor is labor cost. My uncle will naturally investigate if he becomes curious. Once he finds out, the 10,000 yuan will be his share of the profits.

To everyone's surprise, Yu Chunyin immediately believed the word "fight" and became furious.

He searched everywhere for something, but couldn't find anything convenient, so he pulled out his belt and glared at it menacingly.

"Damn it! How old are you to know how to bury people? That's illegal!! Kidnapping! What crime is that! Do you know that?!"

Chen Xuebing was also stunned; suddenly faced with this scene, his soul was awakened.

Damn, it's been years since I've been beaten up, so I'm talking a bit too casually.

Quickly get up and hide behind.

...

"Pia!"

A figure rushed out of the prefabricated house, shouting as he ran:

"Uncle! Uncle! I was just kidding! Picnic! Picnic! We'll dig a pit and roast beggar's chicken!"

Yu Chunyin appeared angrily at the door, carrying a belt, but stopped when he noticed everyone around him looking in his direction.

"You little bastard, tell me! What do you want the money for?!"

Chen Xuebing's casual remark about "burying someone" completely triggered the "care from an elder" plot point from the NPC uncle, causing Yu Chunyin to put the project aside and focus solely on Chen Xuebing's intended use of the money.

Ten thousand yuan is a huge sum of money these days. It can buy three square meters of housing, and for a child, it can do even more things.

Chen Xuebing hadn't actually decided to ask for money; he was just planning to raise some start-up capital first.

Asking for an exorbitant price? Try to bargain! Five thousand is fine too.

If all else fails, two or three thousand...

But when Yu Chunyin saw that he didn't answer, she had already taken out her phone.

Chen Xuebing knew who he was going to call.

Mom, Yu Chunyan.

Right now, Mom is facing her senior year of high school and her younger brother's schooling, so she's at her wit's end.

Chen Xuebing immediately raised his hand: "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

Yu Chunyin then took the belt and swept it inside.

"Come in!"

Chen Xuebing walked inside helplessly, his mind reeling.

……

"What kind of business should we start?"

"You didn't even graduate high school, and you want to start a business?"

Yu Chunyin stared intently at Chen Xuebing, trying to discern his true intentions from his eyes.

“Uncle, every family is different. My mother works so hard, and as the eldest son, it is my responsibility to share the family burden as soon as possible.”

Chen Xuebing didn't argue with him about the feasibility of high school students starting businesses, otherwise it would only lead to a zero-sum game. Given the controlling mentality of adults towards children, it would be almost impossible to persuade the other party; he would just feel that he has eaten more rice than you have eaten salt.

Only talk about the motivation.

Sure enough, Yu Chunyin's expression softened somewhat.

After a long silence, he sighed softly, "I've grown up."

After a long pause, he asked, "Is what you said true? Did you really go there?"

“I really have been there,” Chen Xuebing said confidently. “And I looked at the information for the second phase. The location is in a rural area. Such a long pipeline will definitely have to cross farmland, and the start date is June next year, with the compensation period along the pipeline route ending in September. In other words, the land acquisition for the project will be done on a rolling basis. For this kind of project, if the compensation for crops with the farmers doesn’t go through, the design can have a reason to change the route. It looks like four kilometers now, but in reality, it might not be. This design is clearly designed to make you money, with higher costs. The client must know that. It might even be a tactical lure. Uncle, I think you shouldn’t keep this project a secret. Find two trustworthy experienced engineers to consult, that would be safer.”

Yu Chunyin was stunned.

If what Chen Xuebing mentioned before was just basic knowledge, then this is industry insider information.

Moreover, it hit a nerve with him. This information wasn't something he kept to himself; it was internal information sent by his superiors, and naturally, he didn't want to show it to anyone, lest he give others something to gossip about.

"Who did you learn it from?"

Chen Xuebing chuckled: "If you need it, I'll learn it."

Gee tut.

Yu Chunyin was somewhat surprised, as he suddenly realized that Chen Xuebing hadn't given him a single direct answer all day.

His skill in Tai Chi was almost on par with his.

He firmly believed that Chen Xuebing's genius today was no less than that of his five-year-old nephew, Chen Xuejing.

They need to be nurtured properly.

"Since you're going to start your own business, will I still be coming here after you graduate?"

Chen Xuebing immediately said, "Come on! I've brought everyone! I plan to do some internet-related business in my spare time, so it won't interfere with my regular work."

"What kind of business specifically?"

"...It's still in the planning stages. I'll let you know once it's finalized."

Yu Chunyin then nodded:

“I’ll ask around about what you’re talking about! Your uncle supports your business venture! I can also give you the money, but ten thousand yuan is not a small amount. You haven’t explained to me what you’re going to do with it. I’ll give it to your mom first. If you really need it for your business, then you can ask her for it. You can only get it from her if she agrees!”

Chen Xuebing was overjoyed.

Not even a bargain?
Damn it, why didn't you ask your uncle for money in your past life?
What he didn't expect was that in just a short conversation, Yu Chunyin's mindset shifted from providing his nephew with a proper job to cultivating a successor, thinking that it would be good for Chen Xuebing to experience some setbacks.

In her previous life, Yu Chunyin only officially handed the project over to Chen Xuebing in 09 because Chen Xuebing had become capable.

Chen Xuebing was ruthless back then. Taking advantage of the 4 trillion yuan stimulus in 2009 and the massive lending by banks, he used the ID cards and project contracts of six accomplices and dozens of migrant workers to apply for bank loans, obtaining 10 million yuan. He then used the money to pay off material and machinery costs for four projects, paying off all the loans within two years and still having 10 million yuan left in his own hands.

Because of this "startup capital," Gou Hongyi has always believed that he also has a share in the company.

Of course, he should have received a share if he hadn't falsified accounts and stolen company money.

Chen Xuebing was excited for two seconds, but then he thought of his uncle's problem and suddenly realized that 10,000 yuan wasn't much.

In my past life, my first pot of gold came from policy and boldness. In this life, what can I do with this 10,000 yuan of start-up capital?
In 04, the year was neither too early nor too late. His business acumen wasn't particularly broad, but a good business could quickly attract many imitators. It was no longer an era where one could easily make a fortune by simply buying and selling. He didn't have that kind of time.

He was certain that only the internet offered the opportunity to quickly make money with ten thousand yuan.

However, he was still a bit confused about how to do it.

But there's no rush, we can think about it slowly. With limited funds, avoiding losses is the most important thing.

“I will be careful, Uncle. I’ll take them to the construction site for a look around.”

"Okay, go ahead. You're in your final year of high school, so you need to study hard. You're the older brother, so you should set a good example for the police officer and your cousin Xinxin."

"Understood." Chen Xuebing was about to leave when he remembered something and turned back.

"Uncle, since the next project involves a large amount of earthwork, the fuel for the machinery will be a major expense. It would be best to contact a cheap diesel station nearby in advance and sign a supply contract. That could save you several percentage points. Did your construction worker mention this to you? The boss doesn't handle these things and doesn't communicate about them proactively. The lower-level staff won't bring it up either; they're afraid you'll become suspicious."

That statement alone makes the 10,000 yuan price tag worthwhile.

Yu Chunyin stared blankly at Chen Xuebing's departing figure for a long time, then scratched his head and gave a dry laugh:
"Hey... damn it, I'm getting old."

……

If you're going to write about the wind, you can't just write about the wind; you have to write that even underwear is in mid-air.

"Damn, look, the wagging pants are blowing out."

"Soldier, with such strong winds, isn't the construction site going to take a break? Isn't that unsafe?"

"It's not a building construction site, it's all ground work. Are you afraid that the steel bars on the ground will blow up and poke your ass? If you take a break, who will reimburse you for lost work time?"

As the group of people came out of the construction site, the weather suddenly changed; the wind was strong and it was also quite cold.

But the workers had already finished eating and taken a nap, and then they started working again, the excavators clanging and banging. "It's so tough. I heard that many bosses are short of workers' wages? Damn it, if I were the boss, I would definitely pay them on time."

Lu Yiwen turned his head and glanced at the hardworking workers on the construction site behind him, a sense of justice welling up within him.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuebing's lips twitched violently.

"You better fucking remember this."

You're the one who's ruthlessly cutting wages.

The dreams of youth are truly unbearable to hear. I never imagined that ten years later, Mr. Lu, the resident ambassador of the labor inspection brigade who believes that "working people are superior to others," would still have such a naive and innocent moment.

"Hey, soldier, your uncle just chased you out, he looked really fierce, does he not want us to come?" Fatty Zhang Hang asked worriedly.

Chen Xuebing glanced at him. This guy was the most honest, the most obedient in his past life, and surprisingly efficient for his size. He was a confidant. So he patted him on the shoulder and said:

"Don't worry, I'll definitely bring you if you want to come. But I've been thinking, everyone still needs to go to university, even a civil engineering college would be fine, so you can learn and work at the same time."

Upon hearing this, the group of people were collectively dumbfounded.

"Brother... I can't even get into a vocational college!"

"Yeah, what's the use of going to a vocational college?"

Chen Xuebing didn't know how to explain the concept of "cognition" to them. He remembered a video he had watched in his previous life, so he looked at Jiao Gui, who said that going to a vocational college was useless, and asked, "Jiao Gui, do you think you're awesome?"

Jiao Gui was stunned for a moment, thinking that the soldier was trying to sell him some kind of pyramid scheme.

He had seen pyramid schemes before; he had gone with his mother. That's what the host asked him.

Later, the host and his mother were both arrested.

In a flash, Jiao Gui mimicked his mother, raising his hand and shouting, "I'm awesome!"

Chen Xuebing almost couldn't help but laugh. Where the hell did he learn this kung fu?

He could only turn to the next person and ask, "Gou Hongyi, do you think you're awesome?"

"Of course! Brother, I can get into a vocational college!" Gou Hongyi said proudly.

Chen Xuebing coughed and asked, "Where's Liang Hui?"

"Awesome! Soldier! If you're awesome, then I'm awesome too!"

"...Lu Yiwen, what about you? Do you think you're awesome?"

"Bro, if you say I'm awesome, then I'm awesome."

"...Xiao Tao."

"Awesome! What are you doing, soldier?"

Chen Xuebing asked around.

Nobody admits they're not awesome.

Chen Xuebing stood with his hands on his hips, frowning as he looked at everyone.

"I don't know what's so great about you guys? Do you even know where you'll stand in the workforce?"

A moment of silence followed. We looked at each other, wondering what the soldier was up to.

“The bottom of society.” Chen Xuebing gave the answer, then shook his head: “No, recent college graduates are the bottom. High school students like us, or even those with lower education, are the bottom of the bottom.”

Lu Yiwen looked puzzled: "Then what's the point of going to university?"

Chen Xuebing laughed and said, "The difference is that if you ask people at the university gate, they all know they are from the bottom of society, but if you ask people on the street who are shirtless, drinking and eating skewers, and they keep saying 'f***ing bastards,' they all think they are incredibly awesome."

After speaking, he looked at everyone and said something profound and enigmatic to them:

"Going to university is to instill in you a greater sense of awe for society. Knowing too much can indeed make life less enjoyable, but you must remember the higher classes; this awe is fundamental. In university, you can still swear and fight, but you must know which situations are off-limits, and whether to call your buddies first or consult administrative regulations and criminal law if something happens. You must know which departments are responsible for what, and what laws and precedents they follow. What I'm saying is actually just a small part, and it's very simple, but many people are unwilling to learn, hence their ignorance. Going to university is to teach you how to learn and how to think."

"If three generations don't study, the whole family will be pigs. You do the math, how many generations are you away from becoming pigs? Would you like to be one of those generations?"

Everyone fell silent, then shook their heads.

Chen Xuebing's last sentence was the final revelation to them, because it laid a clear conclusion before asking them questions, and thus none of them wanted to be the pig that drags down three generations.

Actually, Chen Xuebing sent them to university because he hoped they would understand the previous sentence.

The university of life is certainly not bad, but people are inherently lazy, and only those who know how to digest the education they receive can internalize it and turn it into experience.

Most people are not.

They don't necessarily have to pass the exam; as long as they find ways to acquire knowledge, Chen Xuebing's goal is achieved.

He wanted to try it himself.

……

When I got back to school, the first class had already ended.

Skipping classes was commonplace for these kids. Two of them didn't even go back to school; instead, they went to the New Concept Internet Cafe to snatch computers, and even asked if they needed help to snatch a few more.

However, Chen Xuebing did not express his opinion, and no one else spoke.

Chen Xuebing is the backbone of everyone. Not only is he strong, but he is also the first to come up with a solution when something happens. Now he is willing to find a way out for everyone. He said that everyone should study, and the goal he set is just to get a junior college degree. No one has any objections.

Just as they were about to part ways at the foot of the teaching building, Zhang Hang expressed his concern: he didn't have the money to go to university.

Zhang Hang's parents passed away one after another during his first and second years of high school. He now lives with his only aunt. His aunt doesn't want to support him financially; she's just fulfilling her kinship obligations by raising him until he graduates from high school.

Chen Xuebing knew his situation and immediately made an agreement with Zhang Hang: as long as he scored 300 points, he would take him to work on a construction site after the college entrance examination and give him a few months' salary in advance, which would definitely cover his tuition and living expenses.

Everyone started to care about the income from the construction site.

Chen Xuebing gave a reference figure: after a three-month internship, the salary is over 1,000. If you do well and become a construction worker or document controller, the salary can increase further, with some earning as much as 2,000 or 3,000.

This number is inspiring.

Construction site supervisors move with projects, staying for one or two years at a time, with little to no contractual protection. Therefore, their salaries have consistently been high. In ten years or so, based on Chongqing's market rates, good construction workers and document controllers will earn over 10,000 yuan, while managers will earn 4,000 to 7,000 yuan. (Note: Technicians in large companies typically have lower fixed salaries.)
These days, a thousand is already higher than the salary of a section-level civil servant. Although they have benefits and year-end bonuses, how high is the threshold?

Prices in Chongqing are not high. A bowl of noodles in Jiefangbei costs two yuan, and three yuan is enough to fill you up. The living expenses for boarding high school students are generally only 250 to 300 yuan. Day students eat out and only spend two or three yuan per meal, with a maximum of ten yuan a day.

They've never seen much money. When they brag, they say their brotherhood is worth a fortune, and they make bets starting at a million. But when it comes to actually taking out their pockets, they usually only pull out fifty cents or a dollar.

Upon hearing the word "salary," I suddenly realized that I could earn money, and that I actually had such high value, even surpassing my parents'. I was tempted.

Zhang Hang thanked them profusely, and the others also said that they would tell their parents when they got home that they wanted to go to university and follow the soldier.

Chen Xuebing knew that this time, there would definitely be more people who wanted to follow him than in his previous life.

There was no pressure; they were just thinking about how to make empty promises and exploit the free labor before the students graduated.

“Brother Bing, I’ve decided! I’m going to do it! I’ll start studying today! But will going to university affect my job?” Lu Yiwen, a classmate, asked, following Chen Xuebing around.

"Don't think too much about it, I'll make arrangements. Let's take the exam first."

"Hey." Gou Hongyi chuckled dryly, "Brother Bing, I have the best grades, I'll definitely pass the college entrance exam! I'm all set, right?"

"Hey." Chen Xuebing mimicked his expression and laughed, "You, you're only good for a third-tier university. Don't come here if you can't get in."

Gou Hongyi froze.

"Damn it, soldier, why are you targeting me?"

Chen Xuebing ignored him.

Gou Hongyi was a controversial figure from his past life; his falsification of accounts already revealed his character. However, this man was quick-witted, so Chen Xuebing decided to keep him by his side as a constant reminder.

Having been given a second chance at life, it's best to remain vigilant.

As they chatted, they arrived at the corridor of Class 16. A group of people were enjoying the scenery and getting some fresh air in the corridor, and Yang Qingyue was among them.

Chen Xuebing smiled at her.

"Hi."

Don't ask why I greeted her separately; she's getting special treatment.

Yang Qingyue rolled her eyes: "I thought you were going to study hard! I even said I'd get you some materials when I got home this afternoon, and you skipped class again!"

If this were Chen Xuebing from his past life, he would definitely feel a little embarrassed saying this.

But at that moment, he couldn't help but glance at the outer wall of his seat.

Missed one class, yet so conspicuous?
He really wanted to tease Yang Qingyue and ask her why she was paying attention to him, but a mature older man wouldn't be so rude.

"I have important business to attend to, so I'll try not to run away again in the future," Chen Xuebing explained with a smile.

The assurance from the "bad student" made Yang Qingyue smile.
"Do you still need the notes?"

"Sure, if you don't have any classes during evening self-study, tell me about it."

(End of this chapter)