Darkstone Code

"We have brand new student loans!"

The Joey family sat in a bright office, listening to the insurance manager talk about something that seemed like they had heard not long ago, feeling a bit dazed.

Joey’s mother reached out again to take two fruit candies from the attractive glass dish on the table, unwrapped one and put it in her mouth, then slipped the other into her pocket.

She had already hidden three candies and thought she could hide a few more.

Although she didn’t quite understand why the father and son didn’t look happy even though the interview was successful, she felt that it was probably a good thing.

The sales manager had actually noticed the woman’s little actions long ago, but he didn’t point them out or think anything bad of it. After all, it was just some worthless fruit candy. Compared to his business commission... even if he gave this whole bowl to this family, he wouldn’t feel a pang.

He placed three cups of coffee costing no more than two dollars each in front of the three people, and then continued to explain, "The old student loan required repayment in full within six years, which actually created a great repayment pressure for many families."

"As far as I know, every year thousands of people can’t repay this money, and the bank eventually takes away their houses."

"But folks, rest assured, the days of being plundered by capitalists are a thing of the past, all because of our new business offering!"

The sales manager had decent conversational skills, by drawing comparisons, he raised people’s expectations and curiosity, making them patient enough to listen to him continue.

Lynch had also given lessons to these people before, taking the content he once told Richard and others as examples, including how to make people patiently let them finish their words.

In fact, oftentimes with sales, whether it’s selling insurance or products, if the client you’re facing listens to all your description and still doesn’t point at the door telling you to "get out," they are basically your real customer, the kind who spends money.

With those things Lynch said, combined with his own experiences, he quickly rose to become a sales manager and got his own office.

Of course, with a steady stream of clients coming through his door, he simply couldn’t possibly take all the benefits for himself; he had to share them with people in the school.

For outsiders, this might seem like two separate systems, but to Lynch, they were all his business...

Doing business requires having the looks of doing business.

The sales manager continued, "We have unprecedentedly launched ultra-long repayment plans ranging from a minimum of twenty years to a maximum of fifty years, distributed evenly, you might not even feel whether you have paid for it each month!"

Joey’s father couldn’t help but ask, "How much would that be?"

The sales manager skillfully took out a standard sheet of official paper, then began listing the data clearly and in detail.

"Personally, I recommend you go with a thirty-year repayment plan because it’s more cost-effective this way!"

As he wrote down the data, he also provided some plans, talking about inflation, consumption levels, trends in minimum wage growth and curves. Eventually, when the family saw a bill indicating payments of nearly five hundred dollars each month, they fell into silence.

Actually, this amount of money... seems not that unbearable?

Seeing the family’s hesitation, the sales manager continued with a smile, "This is a four-year full tuition plan, by the fourth year, you basically enter social internships, so there are no costs involved, and thus it only amounts to ninety thousand."

"If you currently have some savings, appropriately reduce the amount, maybe you only need to pay a little over three hundred dollars a month."

"But do you remember what I said just now?" he looked at Joey’s family, "Inflation, consumption standards, remember?"

Earlier, he had popularized some economic knowledge to this family. Seeing them nod, the sales manager continued, "Think about it, twenty years ago, what was one’s monthly salary?"

Joey’s father was taken aback, instinctively replying, "A minimum of eighty-six dollars and thirty-five cents..." He glanced at his wife, explaining why he knew this specific number, "My first salary!"

The sales manager nodded repeatedly, "Yes, only eighty-something dollars, but now?"

Without waiting for Joey’s family to answer, he continued answering himself, "This year, York State’s revised minimum state hourly wage has risen to two hundred seventy-nine dollars."

"Over in Bupen, it’s already over three hundred twenty dollars, sir, ma’am, do you know what that means?"

"It means our income costs have risen!"

"Actually, personally, I highly recommend you choose this thirty-year full student loan option, it might feel a bit tight initially, but trust me, it’s repayable."

"Once your child graduates and finds a great job, maybe their salary alone could cover this portion of the loan."

"With what I just mentioned, maybe in ten years our minimum hourly wage could be four or five hundred, even five or six hundred!"

"Twenty years later, maybe four or five hundred here won’t even be half of our minimum wage standard!"

Joey and his father felt as if... it made a lot of sense, because that’s precisely what’s happening.

Joey’s father couldn’t help but say, "Now almost every year, the minimum hourly standard is adjusted once, rising every year, ten or twenty something dollars, ten years is more than two hundred..."

He realized these figures actually matched what the insurance manager said!

This change of expression was caught by the sales manager in an instant, "See, I wasn’t lying. The hardship is just these few years, once the child graduates from college, everything will get better."

"Additionally, I believe you also have some savings, so actually it won’t pose much repayment pressure for a family like yours!"

At this point, Joey suddenly asked, "Then why not talk to us about the fifty-year plan?"

"According to your reasoning, wouldn’t the fifty-year one be even better?"

The sales manager shook his head, "You’re a smart kid, no wonder you’re going to college..."

This small compliment made Joey very happy, much more pleasing than praising his girlfriend’s looks of unknown youthfulness!

"But, you have to understand, what I’m discussing with you is all based on the help from Mr. Lynch!"

"Like you initially, Mr. Lynch didn’t have money to attend college, so he completely understands this feeling, hence creating our student loans."

"It was established to prevent more people from losing the right to pursue their dreams just because they don’t have enough money in their pockets, and these are Mr. Lynch’s own words."

"Help doesn’t mean Mr. Lynch is a fool. Actually, if you were to apply for the fifty years, I’d be thrilled because my commission would increase, but your actual repayment pressure wouldn’t decrease, rather, it would increase!"

"Plus, such a plan might just be temporary, maybe next year, or the year after, there will be some changes, like an increase in interest rates, or changes in the repayment term..."

He then listed a string of numbers, "If over thirty years time your total repayment stands at around over ten thousand, then over fifty years your total repayment would be around thirty-five thousand or more..."

A string of numbers listed down, watching the family break into cold sweat!

However, they still hesitated because if they were to repay over thirty years now, they’d need to repay eighteen thousand, which was more than double the over eight thousand calculated tuition!

The sales manager knew he had said enough, speaking further could only have a counterproductive effect; some people are just annoying.

You talk nicely to him, he thinks you’re scamming him, but if you show indifference, he instead crawls back seeking you.

"You can take these materials back to consider, there is still time before school starts, and you don’t need to make a decision so urgently."

He glanced at his watch, "Moreover, our time is just about up, there are other people waiting outside."

Joey’s father, originally wanting to think it over more, suddenly became inexplicably nervous, "Can we come anytime to handle this loan?"

The sales manager nodded with a smile, "Of course, it’s a long-term business that you can pursue anytime."

"But I need to remind you, new university enrollment slots have long been full. If others pay the tuition early and occupy all the spots, causing you to miss this opportunity."

"Even if by then you didn’t use this money for college, we still have to fulfill according to the contract..."

Joey’s father was taken aback, "Can we... pay in advance?"

The sales manager smiled without saying anything, just using his eyes and expression to tell this family, they could leave.

Joey’s father still wanted to say something, but the sales manager interrupted him, "Our time is indeed over. If you want to talk more, wait until I finish dealing with other people."

"Rest assured, even if it’s after hours, I’ll still wait for you!"

Joey’s family could only leave first.

As soon as they stepped out, another family impatiently went in, making Joey’s father clench internally, holding his breath!

He felt a bit upset, "I should have made a decision just now..."

In the next room, a family of three was escorted out by the sales manager. It seemed they had signed a student loan agreement, making Joey’s father even more nervous.

Joey also became nervous, but he didn’t say anything.

The family walked to a corner and started to discuss what to do.

"There are two ways now, the first way is the full amount, over thirty years we need to repay about eighteen thousand."

"The other way is the difference, we can pay first ourselves, and the insurance company covers the shortfall."

Joey’s mother felt the candy in her pocket, pausing, "If we pay first, our pockets would be empty, wouldn’t it?"

"With tax rates so high now, our store can only manage not to lose money, nobody knows how long the war will last. If we have no money on hand..."

At this moment, Joey’s father suddenly felt his wife was right, and gritted his teeth, "Then let’s go with the full amount!"