The Rich Code

"Do you found a job?"

Rich, who had just returned home after going out, looked at his girlfriend who was cooking and shook his head apologetically.

His girlfriend didn't seem disappointed or emotional, as if...... not finding a job was a normal thing.

Rich tried to avoid verbal communication as much as possible, fearing that this woman who slept next to him every day would notice something unusual about him.

His girlfriend walked over to the worn-out wooden table, holding a deformed frying pan, and placed a fried egg on a plate of minced meat before sitting down.

"Don't worry too much. I still have some money here. Maybe you'll find a job tomorrow. Let's eat first!"

Rich nodded and started eating the not-so-delicious dinner.

The fork pierced the slightly solidified outer layer of the egg, and the thick yolk flowed onto the minced meat, like a natural seasoning or some kind of sauce, making the meat more appealing.

He mechanically ate his food while his mind was thinking about other things.

He had traveled through time. He didn't know the scientific principles behind it or any other reasons, but one thing was certain - he had traveled through time.

Before the time travel, he had done many jobs: a deliveryman, an insurance salesman, a runner, a part-time cook...

In the thirty years before his time travel, he had done many insignificant jobs, and there had been a huge change after he turned thirty.

In his later words, he had accumulated experience in the first thirty years, and then he used that experience to succeed in moving the judge with his eloquent speech...

Then, after sleeping in that cramped room for the first time and planning to write an autobiography to recall his legendary life, he gradually fell into a daze and fell asleep, only to wake up in this world.

After the time travel, he appeared in this home, and the owner of this body happened to be named Rich as well, but this was another world unrelated to his "previous life."

Apart from a girlfriend, he had nothing.

Now, he resembled the kind of social scum that was the most failed, living off his girlfriend, relying on her for food and shelter. Apart from helping his girlfriend with some troubles at night, he was like a parasite.

For the past few days, he had been using the excuse of going out to find a job and exploring this world, which gave him a sense of novelty that he couldn't quite describe.

It felt like the 1940s or 1950s, or the period of technological explosion in the 1960s or 1970s. Technology wasn't very advanced, but it was also in a period of technological breakthroughs.

Many products kept appearing in front of the public, making it overwhelming. He saw a slogan on a propaganda poster in the street : "everyday, is a new day."

In his eyes, this world, this society, was full of money, and all he had to do was bend over and pick it up.

His blood was boiling slightly, and his heart became strong and powerful. Deep down, he had a desire. He firmly believed that there was a reason for his time travel.

Perhaps, something brought me here to leave behind my own legend!

"Go heat up some water. Let's take a shower today," his girlfriend said as she cleaned the dishes.

Rich nodded, stood up, and walked towards the nearby bathroom. As he walked, he casually asked, "We just showered yesterday..."

During his time since the time travel, he discovered that he and his girlfriend had very specific plans for their lives, not completely chaotic.

The weather now wasn't hot or cold, and if he didn't engage in intense physical activity, he wouldn't easily sweat, so they didn't need to shower every day.

It wasn't that people didn't want to clean their bodies every day, but it was because changing clothes and hot water required payment.

Rich people don't care about these small expenses. They even install a boiler in their house to provide heating and buy a washing machine to do laundry anytime, anywhere.

But for poor people, these are unnecessary expenses that they cannot afford, so their lives have to become regular. They carefully calculate every expense and live a disciplined life like a monk to save every penny. This is their life, not because they want it to be disciplined, but because of poverty.

They meticulously calculate every expenditure and live a disciplined life like monks to save every penny. This is their way of life.

It's not that they want to live this way, but it's mostly because of poverty.

Rich's girlfriend turned and walked to the sink, turning on the valve to wash the dishes. "After midnight, our hot water will be shut off. We'll pay next week to save some money."

Rich shrugged and walked into the bathroom, turning on the valve. After letting out the cold water in the front, hot steamy water flowed out of the pipes.

After taking a shower, the two of them lay on the narrow bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Rich's girlfriend works at a supermarket as a cashier, working ten hours a day, including one hour of break time.

She often brings back some expired or discounted groceries and household items from the supermarket. This is why they can survive with only one person working.

They were high school sweethearts who couldn't get into college. Rich worked as a laborer for a while but quit because the job was too tiring. Catherine, his girlfriend, found this job at the supermarket and has been holding onto it.

Catherine, who is his girlfriend, found this job at the supermarket and has been able to keep it.

This is a typical loser's family. Neither Rich nor Catherine knows how long they can sustain this kind of life.

Maybe they can hold on until they get married and continue to barely make ends meet.

But it's also possible that this fragile relationship and feeling could end anytime due to some sudden emotional outburst.

The next morning, Rich quickly freshened up, and Catherine had already left. There was a box of cereal and a bottle of milk left on the table.

He poured the milk into a pot and heated it, glancing at the expiration date. Not surprisingly, it was already two days past the expiration date.

Such milk would be discarded directly at the supermarket, but many supermarket employees endure long working hours and low wages just to have access to these free things.

The rich milk aroma was somewhat intoxicating. Rich was used to using hot milk to soak something, while Catherine and others were used to direct soaking, which didn't feel good.

After breakfast, he briefly tidied up his appearance and stopped at a street not far from where they rented.

These days, he hadn't done nothing, but of course, it didn't mean he was looking for a job. He was just considering where to get his first sum of money.

Although this world is completely different from another world, the development trajectory of some things can still be traced.

For example, you know that land is worth every inch of gold a hundred years later, you know that the price of artworks increases every year, and you know...

When everyone is in Rich's current position, they all feel ambitious because most of them can grasp the future's pulse.

But the problem is, most people's ambitions can only remain as ambitions. They won't become reality because now is not the future, and anything requires capital.

Where does capital come from?

This thing didn't fall from the sky, nor did it float in with the water. In fact, many people, even if given the opportunity to go back in the past, still wouldn't have the ability to change their lives.

Maybe there are some who can, but it's limited. They might just buy one or two more houses and then watch their assets double when they grow old, which is different from what they initially envisioned.

Some people are destined to make a difference, while others, even if given the chance, are powerless.

It is clear that Rich belongs to the former category. He already possesses all the qualities and has achieved success, which is the decisive factor.

He stands here, staring at the laundry shop across the street for most of the morning, writing and drawing in a notebook. He is earning his first bucket of gold.

When the crowd on the street starts to thin out around noon, two men in trench coats block their way. One of them has his hand inside the coat, seemingly holding something.

"Mr. Fox wants to see you, friend!"

These two men don't look like good people, but it's also possible that Rich is overthinking. He shows no fear at this moment, instead, a smile appears on his face. "I've been waiting for you guys for days. What are you waiting for? Lead the way!"

Mr. Fox is quite well-known on this street. He belongs to the kind of people with "abilities" who are willing to help the poor by lending them money to get through difficult times.

Of course, he is not purely a good person. He also requires the poor to give him a kind return, perhaps even more than the principal.

But overall, he is a good person, maybe, perhaps, probably.

In an underground office, Rich met Mr. Fox, a gentleman who appeared to be in his thirties or forties.

He was wearing this year's most popular dark gray suit with red and blue dots, and a red and blue silk scarf tied around his collar, which was somewhat informal but also very elegant.

Before Rich arrived here, Mr. Fox had heard from his subordinates about Lynch's unusual qualities, such as the words he had said before, which made him curious.

"Aren't you afraid of me?" he had his subordinate press Rich into the chair opposite the desk, "There are few people on this street who are not afraid of me."

Rich showed no signs of fear, and this scene was nothing to him. He shrugged his shoulders and asked in return, "Mr. Fox, would you harm me?"

This question immediately stunned Mr. Fox. He thought for a moment and then shook his head, "I generally don't actively harm anyone, but if you do something unfriendly first..."

Harming others for no reason is a very foolish thing for anyone to do. It will first damage one's own image, and secondly, such purposeless actions will attract the attention of the investigation bureau.

Most people are seeking money, not trouble, and Mr. Fox is no exception.

"That's right, so why should I be afraid?" Rich's calm expression and smile made Mr. Fox momentarily puzzled.

He glanced at his assistant and then refocused on Rich's face. "But my people say that you have been watching me these past few days. Maybe you can tell me why. Are you an agent of the investigation bureau?"

Before they came, they had already searched Rich's body and found nothing that could prove his identity. Moreover, with the way he was dressed, which did not match the style of the investigation bureau, Mr. Fox did not believe he was an investigator.

This was also what intrigued him. This kid had been watching his business, the laundry, for some time now, and he had also found out about this kid's identity. Out of curiosity and caution, this scene unfolded.

He really wanted to know what Rich was up to.

He picked up the notebook from Rich's pocket, flipped through a few pages, but couldn't understand anything. He asked his college-educated assistant, who also didn't recognize what the characters on the pages represented.

The warm smile on Rich's face made Mr. Fox feel... a little uncomfortable. It felt like... he didn't know how to describe it, as if he was being cared for.

"Well, Mr. Fox, it's like this. I noticed the business of the laundry store and some of your minor troubles, and since I believe you have already investigated me and know the problems I am facing now..." Lynch pointed to the ceiling, using a small gesture to catch Mr. Fox's attention and regain control of the conversation, "You're right, poverty!"

Mr. Fox nodded and emphasized, "Poverty!"

Rich pointed at the ceiling, making a small gesture to catch Mr. Fox's attention and regain control of the conversation. then explained, "That's why I need to quickly overcome my financial crisis. I want to do a little business with you."

In an instant, everyone in the office burst into laughter. Mr. Fox, his assistant, and two tough-looking men couldn't stop laughing.

Rich looked at Mr. Fox without embarrassment and waited until they had laughed for about thirty seconds before they stopped. Then he asked, "This is not a joke."

Mr. Fox smiled again and asked, "But I don't think we have any business to do between us..." His laughter naturally stopped as he furrowed his brows and asked, "Do you want to borrow money?"

Rich shook his head, "No, do business, Mr. Fox!"

Mr. Fox had laughed enough, but his curiosity and thirst for knowledge as a human being made him continue the conversation. At least until he knew the answer or lost interest, he wouldn't stop this interesting conversation.

"So, what kind of business do you want to do with me?"

Rich, as always, had a confident and sunny smile that easily made people have a good impression of him. "I can provide more spare change, nickels, dimes, quarters, and fifty-cent coins, both old and new..."

Mr. Fox's expression suddenly changed, and there was something chilling in his slightly narrowed eyes. If one had to interpret what that gaze meant, it must be murderous intent.

"Do you know what I'm doing?" He couldn't help but take out a cigarette and light it. "You have a lot of guts!"

Rich was not moved at all, "I'm not afraid of being poor, why would I be afraid of anything else?"

The two stared at each other for a moment. It seemed that this guy named Rich was indeed a bold person, and his words also made Mr. Fox start to become truly interested.

Some industries have gray areas, such as the financial company he currently operates, which is not completely legal. Not only is the Bureau of Investigation keeping an eye on him, but even the Federal Tax Bureau is also watching him.

He needs to reasonably and legally pay taxes on the money he has in hand, but without attracting too much attention. The laundromat is a good channel for this.

No one cares where every coin comes from, and they can't figure out where those coins come from. In the entire Bailey Federation, almost all laundromats are controlled by these people.

But they also have a problem: they are too slow!

The middle class and the upper class have their own washing machines, and they don't need to send their clothes to the street to be washed. Only the poor would do that.

But the poor often accumulate a week's worth of clothes before coming to wash, and they have to wash them all at once.

For this reason, people like Mr. Fox have created a new fee structure, charging by the pound, but this is still insignificant.

You can't force everyone to come and wash their clothes every day. Doing so will only attract the attention of the Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Tax Bureau, which is Mr. Fox's biggest pain.

Even though the safe is filled with money, he can't spend it, and that feeling is simply terrible!

Now, the bastard in front of him says he can solve this problem, which immediately piques Mr. Fox's interest. "How do you plan to do it?"

Rich didn't hide anything and said his method. He couldn't hide it, and neither his current status nor position could stop Mr. Fox from finding out. It's better to just say it and show his sincerity.

"I will collect a large number of coins to sell to you in exchange for a portion of the fee, and my income will be the difference."

Mr. Fox glanced at his assistant again. After whispering to him for a while, he frowned and asked, "How much do you want?"

Rich's enthusiastic smile made Mr. Fox feel that strange and inexplicable feeling of being cared for again. "Ten percent!"

"Are you crazy?" Mr. Fox couldn't help but exclaim, "I'd rather wait patiently!"

He couldn't accept the price of ten percent. When the amount of the transaction was one dollar, it was just ten cents.

But when the amount of the transaction was a hundred thousand dollars or a million dollars, it was a number that could make people feel distressed.

Rich didn't immediately negotiate with him, but raised a new question, "Mr. Fox, do you have the 'Trading Post' here?"

The"Trading Post" is one of the largest newspapers published by the Bailey Federation. It covers all seventeen states of the federation as well as all regions, focusing on national and international financial and economic trends, as well as local financial and economic changes.

In a series of confrontations, Mr. Fox gradually lost the initiative. He glanced at his assistant, who nodded, indicating that there was something here.

Although their business was not exactly appropriate, their work was indeed closely related to finance.

"Give me an early version and the latest one. I'll show you who the real winner of our deal is!"

With a firm and confident voice, Rich's expression made Mr. Fox start to believe, reminiscent of the time when Rich held a microphone and spoke in front of a large crowd.

People looked at him, believed what he said was true, and finally put money in his pocket and thanked him!

A few minutes later, Mr. Fox's assistant brought two newspapers, one from four months ago and one from this week.

Financial companies like Mr. Fox's are actually very concerned about the financial trends of the entire country and even the international community. They deal with money every day and understand what these trends represent.

In addition, they are also very concerned about some social changes, such as employment rates, unemployment rates, and social security.

If the unemployment rate continues to rise, they have to lower interest rates and reduce large loans to reduce risks, which will make their business more attractive.

When the national economy improves significantly, they will increase interest rates and encourage people to borrow more because people can afford to pay back.

Every day, Mr. Fox's assistant has to read a large number of newspapers to analyze the upcoming national situations, and then decide whether to terminate certain businesses in advance or pretend to forget about them.

This is definitely not a simple and straightforward business. Those who cannot handle it well will find it difficult to sustain it for a long time. Only people like Mr. Fox can manage such a business in the long term.

That's why he spent a lot of money to hire a college student to assist him. He sees it as a career, not just a way to make quick money.

After opening the newspaper, Rich flipped through it for about ten minutes. Mr. Fox didn't interrupt him, and even had coffee and cigarettes brought to him.

He had a faint sense of anticipation. This ordinary person named Rich would surely give him a surprise.

This is not a baseless guess. It's something he observed.

An ordinary person like Rich couldn't possibly remain calm when invited, let alone maintain eye contact when he revealed his intent to kill.

He's not an ordinary kid - Rich is only twenty years old, considering Mr. Fox's age.

After about ten minutes, Rich outlined some lines with his pen and then placed both newspapers in front of Mr. Fox. "I've underlined the parts that you need to read so that you can see them more clearly."

Mr. Fox and his assistant looked at them seriously. After reading them several times, they still had no clue. It was all information about real estate agents, and they didn't find anything significant.

Mr. Fox was puzzled. "I don't know what these represent. Do they have any special meaning?"

Rich was not impatient at all. He was patient because he faced an excellent client and money in his pocket. Anyone who needs money can be patient.

He walked to Mr. Fox's side, and his subordinates wanted to stop him, but Mr. Fox stopped them, which also meant that Rich gained Mr. Fox's trust in a short time.

If he could fulfill what he said before, this trust would last a long time.

"This newspaper provides leasing information for two street-facing apartments, and the rent for this one is..." Rich pointed to the place he underlined, but didn't continue speaking.

Mr. Fox instinctively replied, "One hundred and thirty-five dollars."

Rich nodded in affirmation. "Yes, one hundred and thirty-five dollars. Let's ignore everything else and see how much the adjacent house costs..."

Mr. Fox cooperated very well, shifting his gaze to the information on the other newspaper that had been underlined. He continued to cooperate, saying, "One hundred and seventy-two dollars!"

"These two apartments are on opposite sides of the street and are less than one hundred meters apart. From the change in prices, Mr. Fox, what have you noticed?"

After pondering for a moment, Mr. Fox began to think seriously and said, "The monthly rent has increased by thirty-seven dollars!"

In Rich's past mature and successful cases, he always believed that involving participants at a deeper level could save a lot of time and avoid problems that people may not have even thought of.

They persuade themselves and firmly believe that the conclusions they draw are correct, which is particularly evident in math problems.

Before clearly pointing out that some of the answers to math problems are wrong, every participant believes that their answer is correct and that others' answers are wrong.

Mr. Fox went through a deep engagement process with a simple "math equation," which made him begin to be surrounded by a hypocritical illusion, a false sense of security that he created for himself.

He would not think that Mr. Rich is a fraud because Rich did not tell him these things. He came to these conclusions himself through his own clever mind and he believes in his conclusions.

"The increase in rent means that it takes more money to buy these houses, four months' time..." Rich paused and continued, "No, actually it is increasing every day, little by little. You may not notice it, but it is indeed changing. Do you agree, Mr. Fox?"

Mr. Fox nodded his head. "So what does this have to do with our previous business?"

"Of course it does, Mr. Fox. These houses are still there. They do not change with the passage of time, like adding a few bricks or removing a few tiles."

"What it looked like when it was built and what it looks like now, it hasn't changed. It is constant. But the price has changed. What does that mean?"

Before Mr. Fox had time to think, Rich gave the answer because Mr. Fox would not have come up with it himself.

What he did was guide people to the corners that he needed them to discover at the right time, rather than encouraging them to think diver-gently!

"If the value of something has not changed, but it changes during the 'payment' process, it can only be said that the value of the thing used for comparison has changed."

"In other words, in the past four months, the currency in our hands..." Rich didn't know when he took out a coin from his pocket and held it between his thumb and index finger.

He flicked it lightly, producing a slightly secretive but audible metal tremor that attracted the attention of Mr. Fox, his assistant, and the nearby bodyguard. Their gaze fell on the flying coin.

Confidently, Rich said, "It has been depreciating, and it has depreciated by about 22 to 25 percent in the past four months, Mr. Fox."

Mr. Fox's attention shifted from the five-cent coin lying motionless on the newspaper and he began to seriously contemplate Rich's words, looking towards his assistant.

The assistant felt somewhat awkward. He wasn't studying finance; he was studying management. If it weren't for Mr. Fox's higher salary on this side, if it weren't for the fact that Mr. Fox was his father, he wouldn't be here.

He felt that Rich's words weren't quite right, but he also felt that there were no obvious mistakes in what he said. In this process, Lynch used gold for a second round of examples and instilled the concepts of "depreciation" and "currency is also a commodity" into the people in the room.

He didn't lie because these things were true. There was nothing wrong with his examples, and he even brought up the fact that ten years ago people could buy a newspaper for five cents, but now they need fifty cents.

The newspaper is still a newspaper, whether it's ink or paper, the production process and flow haven't changed much. It's not that the newspaper has become expensive, but that the money has depreciated.

Mr. Fox gradually began to understand and suddenly felt a bit horrified. He changed his sitting position a bit and said with a stiff scalp, "But our interest rates are high, some even compounded!"

He wanted to give himself some sense of security in this way, but these fragile sense of security was shattered by Rich's laughter a few seconds later.

"I know, Mr. Fox, the problem is that our depreciating currency is not something you can take out and show to people, but rather it is all of your assets!"

"All of your assets are depreciating at a rate of five percent per month, and this is also a form of 'compound interest'. If you don't quickly send all of your money to the Federal Tax Bureau to complete the final procedures..."

Rich returned to the chair across the table and sat down, shrugging his shoulders and spreading his hands, "Your proud wealth now may not even be worth a fart in a few years!"

"Do you still care about that insignificant ten percent now?"

......