Reborn with Consumption System

It was reminiscent of Xi Luting in his usual state, full of distance.

For example, when someone bombarded him with several questions, "What do Han Lie's parents do for a living? Given your level, it must run in the family, right? Is there a chance we could collaborate?"

He just replied with a single sentence, "My parents are just ordinary citizens." And that was the end of the conversation.

In terms of politeness, there was actually no problem. His gaze was calm and his tone sincere, but he was indeed a bit... cold.

Fat Sheep A hurried to smooth things over, "Wow, then Han Lie is really a genius! It's not easy, truly not easy. No wonder President Pan and Principal Zhang hold you in such high regard..."

While they were singing his praises, Han Lie suddenly became serious.

"I am indeed one of the lucky few with a greater share of talent, but my diligence, industriousness, self-discipline, and caution are the very foundation I stand on.

The market does not praise talent; it only rewards outcomes.

I firmly believe my future will be very brilliant, but I am also acutely aware that I am still too young, lacking in experience, and have a weak foundation.

So, the prerequisite for embracing a brilliant future is that I must constantly maintain my current effort, focus, caution, and humility, and move forward step by steadfast step.

Actually, I am not lacking funds right now.

Given the current market conditions, the 40 million from Uncle Pan and Uncle Dou is already quite a handful to manage. Furthermore, without splitting positions, a single stock can hardly accommodate such an amount.

For me personally, the most scientific and rigorous approach is to focus on my own capital and quickly roll up a snowball.

The main reasons I accepted everyone's investment were to put some pressure on myself, maintain my fighting spirit and focus, and simultaneously express my gratitude for Uncle Pan and Uncle Dou's trust and support.

For a considerably long time in the future, I will not accept any new commissions.

Because I want to be responsible to everyone.

Uh, I can't promise profits, so let me offer a wonderful wish instead—

I hope that before the Lunar New Year, you all can throw a one-hundred-million celebration banquet for me, and we can all have a good year together!"

With a calm and unhurried tone, speaking as if telling a story, Han Lie's steady and warm presence was like a shot of potent 'wild chicken blood' for them. Wild chickens can fly, and their blood is said to be much fiercer than that of domestic chickens. Good heavens, that got them all fired up!

"Han Lie is so commanding!"

"Come on, let's drink to Han Lie's proposal!"

"One drink is not enough? I'll sponsor Han Lie three more!"

Huh? How did Wu Bai get here?

The scene at the banquet was chaotic. Everyone's enthusiasm was completely maxed out, and they howled as they raised their glasses.

What Han Lie actually wanted to convey was quite simple: he was a stock with potential, already somewhat impressive, but destined to be even more so. They should thank Old Pan for this opportunity; for now, he wasn't accepting new investors, so they should consider themselves fortunate.

It was so damn pretentious, but also incredibly effective.

A quick tally: The total funds everyone had handed to Han Lie amounted to about 70 million. The Lunar New Year was on January 31, 2014, less than two months away.

What did a profit of nearly fifty percent in two months signify?

That was faster than robbing a bank!

Apart from Panzi, who truly could afford to disregard that profit, who among the rest—every single one of them—would dare claim they didn't care for it?!

In the comment sections of future platforms like TikTok, people would often treat thirty or fifty million as pocket change, claiming that earning "only" three to five million a year meant one wasn't even fit to live. It was utterly ridiculous.

Dou Mingde was a vice president of SAIC. Impressive, right?

He was also a true native of the Magic Capital, with numerous family-owned commercial properties and real estate, boasting a solid net worth well over 300 million. Impressive enough, wouldn't you say?

Yet the most cash he could muster was thirty or forty million, tops.

As for his annual income... less than three million.

During a previous drinking bout, Dou Mingde had complained bitterly, lamenting his lack of money, excessive workload, immense pressure, and an income insufficient to support his two daughters.

Don't think it's an exaggeration.

As a matter of fact, SAIC's chairman, Hu Maoyuan, had an annual salary of only 1.6 million, while Dou Mingde's was at the 800,000 level.

Of course, they enjoyed many hidden perks, such as housing, company cars, meal reimbursements, and the freedom for their children to choose any school. These benefits were quite generous, but their actual cash in hand wasn't much.

And don't assume every leader has substantial extralegal income; many genuinely steered clear of it.

Dou Mingde's family had long been wealthy, possessing ancestral shops, properties acquired through demolitions, and later-purchased real estate. They had no need to dirty their hands.

Perhaps this was precisely why he had been able to reach his current position safely and securely.

Therefore, while the couple's annual post-tax income of over two million might allow ordinary people to live quite comfortably, it was indeed tight at his level.

Annual expenses for gifts for various occasions alone would amount to three to five hundred thousand.

Private dining and banquets would cost at least a million.

The elder daughter studying abroad cost over nine hundred thousand for tuition and accommodation alone, with another five hundred thousand for living expenses, clothing, and flights.

The younger daughter, who hadn't gotten into a top-tier public high school and instead attended an international one, incurred another five hundred thousand for tuition, extracurricular activities, and living expenses...

That was three and a half million gone, without even factoring in his wife's expenses.

Looking at their income composition: their combined salaries, after tax, were less than one million. Rental income provided another million. An investment of ten million in a principal-protected financial product yielded 520,000 a year. The remaining twenty-odd million was used for stock trading and private lending, sometimes profitably, sometimes at a loss.

Ever since the elder daughter went abroad, their annual income of over two million was simply not enough to cover expenses, forcing them to dip into their savings year after year.

He was quite the tycoon, possessing luxury cars, mansions, savings, and insurance. He had even prepared houses worth tens of millions as dowries for his two daughters. But so what?