He won 900 million in the lottery.

Chen Sheng looked at me and asked me what I thought.

Me: "Profit?"

Chen Sheng: "I give whatever I feel good about what I say. If the divination is accurate, I usually give 100. If I have money, I give 200."

[100 for those with thick skin, 200 for those with thin skin.]

[The divination method never goes empty: This means that you have to pay to have your fortune told; if you don't pay, you'll be treated badly and it will make you feel uncomfortable.]

Me: "Equally?"

Chen Sheng: "The money for the divination all belongs to the teacher, we don't want it. We earn 300 for the ritual implements and 3000 for the consecration."

Me: "Is there a cost?"

Chen Sheng: "20 ritual implements, 800 consecrated."

I exclaimed in surprise, "There's a fee for consecration?"

Chen Sheng laughed and said, "That's for sure. We all hired monks from temples to chant scriptures."

Me: "Do I need to mail it there and then mail it back?"

Chen Sheng: "No need, just turn on the video."

One a day, 6 a month, the profit is considerable.

Me: "How many people a day?"

Chen Sheng said with a hint of helplessness, "We set our sights on the high-end market from the beginning, but it's not easy to find a target. In our third- or fourth-tier city, money is hard to come by. We've only had fifteen stores in two months."

Me: "Is it enough to cover the costs?"

Chen Sheng: "The monthly operating costs are very low, but it took me a lot of effort to establish the club. I found an investor, the club's renovation cost 40 yuan, and we also invited leaders to endorse it, spending tens of thousands of yuan on food and drinks."

Me: "That's not like you."

Chen Sheng, a man whose name perfectly reflects his character.

Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, kings, nobles, generals, and ministers, are they born with a special destiny?

Chen Sheng's greatest ambition was to manage a high-end business empire, bringing together resources from both the political and business spheres to create his own business.

Chen Sheng's family actually belonged to the system and benefited from the era's dividends. But when it came to his generation, he studied finance and dreamed of becoming Warren Buffett.

He disliked going to work and preferred to dominate the financial world, which resulted in him being frustrated and unfulfilled.

Chen Sheng: "The one who understands me is Tianyi."

Why do I say that?

Who wasn't once a young and impetuous youth, with ambitions that soared to the heavens?

We were once on the same path.

Me: "Make some tea, and then tell me more."

I'm not interested in what came before; what I want to hear is what comes after.

Chen Sheng: "Next year is the Nine Purple Fire Luck period, which is suitable for investing in culture and traditional Chinese studies. I am making preparations in advance this year."

Me: "I really don't know that."

Chen Sheng: "It's just a gimmick, exploiting the Chinese people's belief in fate to create a 'traditional Chinese studies' track."

Me: "What does this have to do with your future career?"

Chen Sheng: "A tall building rises from the ground; only with a solid foundation can a pyramid be built. Chinese studies can be divided into major and minor categories. Minor studies attract traffic and build private domain traffic. Major studies reap the benefits, establishing resource and network circles, ultimately achieving our goal."

The following content is entirely fictional.

Mini-Chinese Studies

Plum Blossom Divination, palmistry, fortune telling, marriage, wealth, career, family, yang house (living space) and yin house (burial site) are all subjects of traditional Chinese studies.

Simply put, it's about paying money to get things done.

Great Chinese Studies.

Cultivating the mind and body, going into seclusion in the mountains, seeking a master and traveling for study, and spiritual sublimation.

The former costs a few hundred yuan for small amounts and twenty or thirty thousand yuan for large amounts.

The latter starts at 30,000, averaging over 100,000 per person.

Isn't this just robbery?

No, this is a scam.

Me: "Do you have a backend service?"

Chen Sheng: "The mountain is a rented farmhouse, and the master is an actor who pays 200 yuan a day. He recites the Tao Te Ching and the Four Lessons of Fan, plus some empty and pretentious ideas, and that's it. Rich people want high-end things for the sake of inner peace."

Me: "Ideals are lofty, but reality is harsh. I think it's hard to close a deal worth tens of thousands. At the very least, the person who drinks your tea won't pay that much."

Chen Sheng: "So, you have to start with acquaintances. Strangers are more wary. Start with acquaintances, whether it's out of politeness or because you really want to elevate your relationship. As long as they spend money, their heart is with their money. Then introduce their friends, and your circle will expand. This will make things much easier."

I've already mentally rejected this model.

Chen Sheng invited me because my circle of friends is full of wealthy people, especially second-generation rich kids.

I didn't say anything.

Chen Sheng added, "I'll set up the business, you lead the people, and we'll split the profits 50/50. We'll also share the high-end connections and resources we have in the future."

Me: "Okay, I'll think about it when I get back."

Chen Sheng thought he understood me and assumed I only wanted to make money.

I saw through his thoughts. In fact, I am just his tool, his high-level employee, just like any stranger Chen Sheng calls in tomorrow.

Chen Sheng set up the stage to perform, and we invited our relatives and friends. We didn't care what kind of show it was; at least we made money from the tickets.

Unfortunately, I'm not that kind of person.

Leaving Chen Sheng's club, I already have my answer: I'll just send him a WeChat message tomorrow to reject him.

Of course, it's possible that like-minded people will join him on his journey to success.

It's a pity I can't ride this express train.

Open TikTok.

Everywhere you look, there are people talking about traditional Chinese culture, palm reading, and fortune telling.

A palm reading costs 38 yuan.

200 yuan can avert disaster.

Selling magical artifacts for 998.

They all use the same old tricks.

There are also rituals that cost 2999 yuan, where one ritual involves 100 mobile phones, 100 angles, and 100 clients.

Have you ever seen a live stream where only one hand is shown?

Have you ever seen a master speaking in esoteric terms that you can't understand?

Have you heard the overwhelming propaganda about the Nine Purple Fire Luck?

Later, Chen Sheng took me up to the second floor of the club, where a dozen or so live streamers were broadcasting live to thousands of viewers.

Add them on WeChat.

For those seeking marriage partners, provide your birth date and time (according to the Chinese zodiac), input the information into the computer, and the results will be available instantly.

You can earn 38 yuan in no time.

If you're looking to improve your fortune, buy a lucky charm; before you even earn money, spend 888 first.

For career advice and home feng shui adjustments, the price is 999 for in-home visits and 200 for non-in-home visits. The five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) are considered; arrange accordingly to address any deficiencies.

It suddenly occurred to me—

In real life, when I travel, I've encountered people who casually have their fortunes told in front of temples, and somehow end up spending hundreds of dollars.

Some people go to burn incense and pray to Buddha, only to end up spending 99 yuan to learn the difference between 9-yuan incense and 99-yuan incense.

I often see people go to a fortune teller. They've been having some bad luck lately, and then the fortune teller tells them they're destined for a calamity. Do you feel uncomfortable or not? Should you try to avert it or not?

Someone asked you for a son because you have two daughters. He said you are destined to have a son, but after three to five years, you were very happy and donated 500 yuan. Whether you will have a son after three to five years is unknown, but he will definitely become rich.

Internet finance isn't about metaphysics; it's about playing a game of strategy.

The metaphysics in reality isn't about metaphysics; it's about probability.

Now, listen carefully to what I have to say.

Hey bro/girly, anything been going wrong lately?

Check if there's a dead-end road or T-junction to the southeast of your home.

Did you or your family experience a disaster a few years ago?

Haha, don't worry.

In this messed-up society, who hasn't run into some trouble? 100% of people have had some issues lately. With so many emotions and desires, there's bound to be something that bothers us.

Don't worry about the T-junctions near your home; every home has one.

Who hasn't experienced misfortune? Fever or cold, pandemic, gastroenteritis, circumcision, hemorrhoids, business losses, heartbreak or divorce—you're bound to experience at least one of these!

The key question is about you and your family!

You are young, but your family members are old; everyone has age-related illnesses!

Got it?

Eat well and drink well, and you'll live forever.