From Wage Slave to Tycoon

’What a shame...’ Chen Fei sighed to himself.

Su Chen went over the plans for the research base’s office area again, along with a few things to keep in mind. He left the specifics up to them, since the finer details could only be sorted out on-site.

After breakfast, Su Chen sent the two of them off. As they left, they took the over nine hundred million in startup funds that Su Chen had given them.

What could he do? February only had twenty-eight days, and it was already the 23rd. If he didn’t spend the money now, it would soon be March.

As for the nine hundred million in project startup funds he had given Pei Rang before the New Year, Su Chen planned to transfer it after the research project officially launched.

With all his affairs in order, Su Chen felt a weight off his shoulders. He was planning to spend a couple of days slacking off at home, but an international phone call disrupted his plans.

"Longteng Technology?" It took Su Chen a moment to recall that this was a reward he’d received for finding a system bug. If not for today’s call, he would have completely forgotten about it.

The call was from the foundation that held his Longteng Technology shares on his behalf. The message was simple: Longteng Technology had made a massive breakthrough in network security, and its market value had multiplied several times over from its original five hundred million US Dollars.

Coincidentally, a corporation under a major financial group had taken an interest. They wanted to achieve a controlling stake through financing and share acquisition, and Su Chen’s fifty-percent ownership had become a crucial piece of the puzzle.

The other party was hoping Su Chen would make a trip to the US to discuss the matter, as they wanted to acquire his shares.

Su Chen didn’t agree immediately, only saying he would consider it and get back to them.

’To be targeted by a company under one of those financial groups... it seems I’ve underestimated Longteng Technology. Looks like I really do have to make a trip to the States and see what they’re really up to.’

Su Chen didn’t believe it was just a simple technological breakthrough. A mere network security technology wouldn’t attract such a corporate giant.

He would definitely go, just not right now. Su Chen planned to make the trip to the US only after the research base was up and running. He could also take the opportunity to look around while he was there.

Besides, he could use this time to see just how important this technology was. The more frequently they called, the deeper the rabbit hole went.

......

’Can’t believe it’s already March. I wonder how Xiao Peng and the others are doing!’

Su Chen lay on a lounge chair in the central courtyard, leisurely basking in the sun. After muttering to himself, he called out the system panel, ready to see what this month’s system blind box would contain.

"Twenty million?" Su Chen knew from the blind box’s price that there wouldn’t be any huge surprises, but he bought it without much thought anyway.

"Open system blind box!"

"Ding! System blind box opened. Congratulations, Host, on acquiring a nearly 5,000-acre ranch and farm by Lake Baikal!"

Hearing the system’s notification, Su Chen quickly sat up. ’A nearly 5,000-acre ranch... just how big is that?’

The blind box’s special effects vanished, and several certificates appeared in his system inventory, all related to this ranch.

Su Chen checked the location. The ranch was near Listvyanka Town in Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast, right on the shores of Lake Baikal. It was one of the few areas in Siberia suitable for farming and ranching.

According to the system’s description, the scenery there was exceptionally beautiful, resources were abundant, and there were even various mineral deposits.

Among the certificates Su Chen received was a mineral exploration and mining license, which allowed him to legally excavate any minerals found within the boundaries of his ranch.

Just as Su Chen was about to examine the other certificates, he heard voices from the front courtyard. He could only suppress his curiosity and decided to study them later when he had time.

"Hm? Brother Cheen, what brings you here?" Su Chen asked, looking at the visitor with some surprise.

SLAP. A manila envelope was tossed onto the stone table.

"Ah, I’ve been so exhausted lately." Xiao Chen casually sat down on the lounge chair next to Su Chen, picked up the tea, and GULP GULP, downed two cups in a row.

Su Chen picked up the envelope from the table and shook it, silently asking if it was for him.

Xiao Chen glanced over and said, "Didn’t you mention before that you wished you had a better education? These are the papers for an advanced studies program at Peking University. Just take them with you and register when the time comes."

Su Chen was taken aback. When he returned to the Imperial Capital, he seemed to remember casually mentioning it in a chat with Xiao Chen. But he had been thinking of just getting a degree for show, so why did this now seem like he actually had to go and study?

As if sensing Su Chen’s confusion, Xiao Chen turned to the side and said, "This program is very flexible. To put it bluntly, it’s set up for rich people like you. You have to show up for the first day, but after that, it doesn’t matter if you attend or not. In any case, you’ll get a master’s certificate after two years."

Su Chen opened the envelope. Inside, besides some documents, was an admission notice for the program.

He held the notice, flicking it a little, and said with a sigh, "Other people study bitterly for more than a decade to cross this threshold, and I just get in without any effort. It’s kind of disheartening when you think about it."

"This is standard procedure. It’s just like those rich people in the country who send their kids to famous overseas universities. You think they’re really going there to study? They’re just there to get a fancy diploma to show off, so they have something to brag about!"

Hearing this, Su Chen didn’t continue the topic. As the saying goes, some people are born in Rome, while others are born as beasts of burden.

What you might think of as years of arduous study is just a joke to the rich and powerful. How can ten years of toiling over books compare to the efforts of three generations?

It’s all just feel-good chicken soup for the soul you’re feeding yourself.

"The program starts tomorrow?" Su Chen asked in surprise, looking at the start date.

"Yep. It was all settled a while ago. I’ve just been busy with the Pino family’s donation. By the way, something really interesting happened at the donation ceremony."

As he said this, a meaningful smile appeared on Xiao Chen’s face.

Su Chen felt as if a flock of crows had just flown over his head. Seeing the look in Xiao Chen’s eyes, he knew the man was waiting for him to ask.

"Brother Cheen, stop leaving me in suspense. Just tell me, what was so interesting?"

"What else could it be but that damn competitiveness? For this donation ceremony, the Pino family spent over twenty million of their own money just to make the event grander and more magnificent, all to one-up the Arno family’s previous event."

Su Chen’s mouth twitched when he heard this. He already knew the two families were secretly competing, but he never expected they wouldn’t let up even on an occasion like this.

"Didn’t that just play right into your hands?" Su Chen said teasingly.

Xiao Chen said with a smug look, "It was alright. We just made a small extra twenty million, that’s all."

Su Chen was baffled. The Pino family had paid over twenty million out of their own pockets, yet Xiao Chen and his people had *made* twenty million. Didn’t that mean the actual cost was only a few million, or even less...?

"Brother Cheen, you guys are ruthless."

Xiao Chen shot Su Chen an annoyed look. "What do you mean ruthless? It was a consensual transaction. Besides, the money went to the National Museum, not into my pocket."

Su Chen couldn’t help but retort, "Brother Cheen, don’t tell me you’re going to sell me out one day and still expect me to help you count the money!"

"Get lost!"

......

’I never thought the day would come when I, Su Chen, would be attending classes at Peking University.’

Su Chen drove to Peking University early in the morning. He arrived quite early, so aside from a few morning joggers, not many people on campus noticed him.

Using the campus map included in the envelope, Su Chen easily found the school where the program was being held.

After parking his car in an outdoor spot, he started wandering around the school’s grounds.

"Tsk tsk, Peking University really is on another level. They even have dedicated shuttle buses!" Su Chen remarked with some emotion as he watched a shuttle carrying three or four people slowly drive past him.

It was a scene Su Chen could never have imagined before.

After wandering around for a bit, he found there wasn’t much else to see, so he took his envelope and headed toward the classroom for his program.

Along the way, he saw many signs directing people to the program. Su Chen couldn’t help but marvel to himself that the university seemed to place a lot of importance on this particular program.

Following the signs, Su Chen soon arrived at the designated classroom.

However, the classroom was completely empty. Su Chen randomly picked a seat in the back and sat down to wait quietly.