Siheyuan: I am a trader in both worlds!

Chapter 491 Money moves people’s hearts

Does more output mean more earnings?
This doesn't look like something that's being done for charity!

It's more like the idea that the wealthy return all their money, while the common people split their money 30/70!
I really think that Ximen Lang's behavior and demeanor are so similar to Huang Silang in Let the Bullets Fly, they are practically cut from the same mold.

Lao Luo is just too much like the sycophantic advisor next to Zhang Mazi!

It just flashed through my mind.
"Could it be that I am Zhang Muzhi?"

Bai Ling quickly stopped her.

"What do you mean by spending more and earning more? Don't forget we're doing public welfare, not making money! But look at what you're saying, it sounds like you're aiming to return all the money to the wealthy and split the money of the common people 30/70! What kind of talk is that!"

The more she talked about Master Huang and Master Tang, the stronger the connection became. Although she knew that with Ximen Lang and Lao Luo's tempers, this was basically impossible, Bai Ling still couldn't help but speak up.

"Wait, you guys don't really mean that, do you?!"

Ximen Lang did not answer Bai Ling's question directly, but instead said with a cryptic expression.

"So what if it is? So what if it isn't? Although I've transcended low-level interests, who would complain about having too much money? After all, this isn't just a few thousand, but hundreds of thousands or millions! If you extend the timeframe and do this every now and then, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's tens of millions or even hundreds of millions!"

"This is all pure, unadulterated money! The key point is that there's no risk involved! By using charity as a front, I can make money and gain fame—a win-win situation! If Lao Luo and I were a little more generous and took less, we could choose a few places each year, build a few empty shell schools, and then promote them extensively!"

"Wow, this is a sure way to make money! We'll have plenty of achievements to show for ourselves, and we'll also gain the love and respect of the whole country! This is a guaranteed profit, with absolutely no risk, and so many hidden benefits! You can't help but be tempted, right? So why can't we do it?"

A well-reasoned and measured persuasion made Bai Ling's eyes widen.

Seeing that Ximen Lang's words were rough but reasonable, what he said was indeed very reasonable.

Even she couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine, and Lao Luo immediately frowned and fell into deep thought.

Startled by Ximen Lang, Bai Ling's voice trembled as she spoke incoherently.

"How can you do this?!"

Why can't it be like this?

"You're deceiving the world, stealing fame, harming others for your own benefit, and doing so at the expense of the entire nation. Aren't you afraid of retribution?"

"I've never believed in any kind of retribution! As for deceiving the world and stealing fame, harming others for personal gain, so be it. What can you do to me? What can you possibly do to me?"

"But the truth will come out sooner or later."

"Then let's take advantage of the fact that things haven't been exposed yet, make our money, and then run away with it! Anyway, we two brothers have plenty of money, we'll just run to the US! We'll spend your money to live a life of luxury and indulge in debauchery, while also criticizing you vehemently! We'll do whatever we want, however disgusting or enjoyable we can be! And what can you do besides give us a few half-hearted insults? You can't do anything to us, can you?"

He completely silenced Bai Ling, leaving her speechless and unable to utter a single coherent sentence.

He could only point at Ximen Lang with trembling body, repeatedly cursing Ximen Lang for being shameless.

Seeing Ximen Lang's expression of being so angry that his liver hurt, he just chuckled.

After this little incident, Lao Luo finally stopped frowning and deep in thought. With a serious expression, he asked Ximen Lang.

"Ah Lang, I know you're not that kind of person. You just want to use these words to wake us up and tell us about the problems that are very likely to occur during the process. In your opinion, will such a situation really occur?"

I still have to see Lao Luo; he's the one who understands me best.

Ximen Lang also dropped his playful expression and said seriously.

"Old Luo, don't you already have the answer in your heart? Money can corrupt people's hearts. Even Bai Ling couldn't resist such a large sum of money. Do you expect others to adhere to professional ethics and keep their bottom line? They might be able to for a day or two, but in the long run, who can guarantee that they won't have crooked thoughts? Is it you who can guarantee it, or me who can guarantee it, or her who can guarantee it?"

"She can't even understand something this simple, not even me, who shares a bed with her! She actually thinks that I, a saint who has transcended vulgar interests and regards money as dirt, would be tempted by a mere little bit of money! You expect her to see through those people's true colors? Please, don't be ridiculous! How could that be possible!"

The tirade, in which the man practically reached his fingers to Bai Ling's nose, immediately made Bai Ling, who was already anxious, angry, and furious, blush red.

Seeing that Bai Ling was so angry with him that she wanted to pounce on him and bite him hard, he was afraid that if he continued to be angry, she would take revenge on him that night, disobey him, and even prevent him from going to bed.

That would be bad!
Ximen Lang quickly changed his words.

"Of course, Comrade Bai Ling's heart for the country and the people is beyond reproach! Her attitude of wholeheartedly serving the broad masses of working people is also highly commendable!"

"So, let's think carefully about what to do if this situation really happens! Whether we can prevent it before it happens and whether we can remedy it after it happens, these are the questions we should be considering right now!"

"After all, whether the great cause of Project Hope can continue depends entirely on whether the higher authorities can persevere and whether the people can have confidence in it! But embezzlement is the thing that most dampens the enthusiasm of the people!"

"So, we really need to think this over carefully before it's finalized! We absolutely can't let a good thing turn into a bad thing, that would be really terrible!"

Isn't it?
For example, there's a certain foreign lottery, and that certain association.

How many times?

Every single time, it has left the people feeling utterly disheartened.

Good heavens, I put in so much effort and money, just wanting to do something good, but what was the result?
They keep coming out to disgust people!
My heart has turned cold. How can you expect me to continue to trust you, or to unconditionally lend a helping hand next time something happens?

However, this kind of thing obviously can't be discussed openly or in depth.

That's why Ximen Lang gave Lao Luo and Bai Ling a simple and insightful reminder in this way.

Then, decisively.

Once the issue of corruption, which has plagued China for thousands of years, was brought up, Lao Luo and Bai Ling immediately fell into a long and complicated dilemma.

After all, even the Ming Dynasty's founding emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, who skinned and stuffed officials with straw and slaughtered countless people, couldn't wipe them all out, and he still couldn't scare these rats. What could they possibly do?
Not to mention the amount of money involved, it's really not just a little bit.

　I hope I don't get prosecuted.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)