Rebirth 08: A Happy Life Begins in Elementary School

The day I was reborn back to my elementary school days was March 7th.

Today is April 12th, which is only about a month ago.

He has already done a lot.

Huang Keyun was constantly impressed by his English proficiency honed over twenty years, and he enjoyed a privileged treatment, making his first prize in the national competition a sure thing—the results are expected to be announced before the May Day holiday.

He published articles in newspapers and magazines, jumping from a weekly magazine for primary and secondary school students to the top publication in the south. Three articles were published in a row, and within a month, he had developed the pen name "Four Knives" and experienced the joy of being a writer.

By exploiting information asymmetry in the stock market, one can acquire astonishing capital amidst disastrous stories and pave a stable path to financial freedom, earning wealth that one could not have obtained even in a previous life.

He shocked his parents by revealing his genius and gained control of the family from the sixth grade by buying a prime storefront, which in turn forced his parents to grow in the right direction.

Experiencing primary school life from an adult perspective makes one understand even more how precious friends like He Shuyao and Chen Nian are.

The power of information asymmetry is truly terrifying.

How else can he use information asymmetry to obtain happiness?

Looking back, Li Zhao suddenly realized that the "happiness" system was actually an auxiliary system.

How to live one's life, and what kind of life it should lead, is ultimately a question that belongs only to Li Zhao.

Therefore, Li Zhao needs to answer the same question from both positive and negative perspectives.

On the other hand, there's something he's been constantly reflecting on: "Why am I, in my thirties, not living the life I imagined?"

He already had many answers, all of which were things that had awakened him and that he needed to avoid.

On the positive side, it's about "What kind of life do I want to live in the future?"

Given that financial freedom is inevitable in the future, what kind of life constitutes happiness?

Extravagant lifestyle? Indulging in material pleasures?

These are certainly things to have, but they can only be a part of life. If you make them your only pursuit, you'll definitely get tired of them.

In his previous life, Li Zhao had done business with many big bosses and had seen plenty of people who became extravagant and wasteful after they got rich.

First, they buy luxury cars and mansions to show off, then they eat delicacies every day, then they become obsessed with high-end sports, and in the end, without exception, they all succumb to lust.

Those with substantial wealth quickly reach their threshold for enjoyment and lose interest in normal pleasures after a short while; conversely, those with less wealth can immerse themselves in pleasure for a long time.

But eventually, everyone gets tired of it, so tired that they become indifferent to worldly desires.

On the surface, it seems like people have higher standards; they've become picky eaters after indulging in ordinary delicacies and can only crave rare finds; they've grown tired of good things and now crave a more intense, more luxurious lifestyle; they've gotten used to a comfortable life and now want to try extreme sports; and women, having grown tired of everything, have become interested in men altogether…

In reality, it's just that my heart is empty.

Li Zhao was deeply impressed by a retired CEO of a large real estate company.

After the old man made his fortune in his early years, he treated money like paper for a long time. When discussing projects over a meal, he would spontaneously give everyone red envelopes, and even the waiter responsible for pouring water would unknowingly receive a four-figure sum.

When people go to karaoke, they carry briefcases to hold money. When banknotes are just pieces of paper, they suddenly possess an unparalleled magic.

Let alone the girls who came specifically to earn this money, even the foremen, managers, and even colleagues who went out to play together, when stacks of cash could be thrown at them, there was nothing they wouldn't do.

Later, at only forty years old, this boss gradually stopped playing, not because he was willing but unable, but because he had the ability but not the will.

He started to indulge in more refined pursuits: calligraphy, painting, and writing articles...

But they had no money, even though they didn't have any.

Even if it's just random scribbles, the veteran members of the calligraphy association can still offer some praise.

Later, the boss started investing heavily and became engrossed in his work. His subordinates and younger colleagues couldn't understand it and wondered how the boss could be so senile at only fifty years old. They thought that reckless investments would ruin even the most successful businesses, and how could he not understand that?

Of course he understood, so he quickly rejected the risky venture and made another fortune with his keen insight gained from years of business experience. Everyone thought he was going to move towards large-scale capital investment, but he backed out again.

Going fishing!

He retired at sixty, handed the company over to his descendants, and spent his days fishing and collecting things.

Li Zhao met him because he had a project to discuss with his company and also attended the boss's private banquet.

That day, the boss drank too much and grabbed Li Zhao, the youngest person in the room, to introduce his collection one by one.

Li Zhao had been listening attentively, but then he noticed that the boss suddenly fell silent.

He said that in fact, he had just been searching for "meaning" all his life, from spending money to have fun, to taking the highbrow route, to investing, fishing, collecting... He made a lot of money, but in the end he didn't understand life.

He said that looking back on his life, apart from being lucky and capable enough to make a lot of money, there was nothing worth leaving behind. When he died, he would just be a jar of ashes, which would be thrown into the mountains in a few decades.

He said that even with these collections, he didn't feel they had any real meaning. He said that living is just about seeing who can better deceive themselves.

He said that the most important thing in life is to figure out what you want.

He said he didn't dare say these things aloud because others would think he was being pretentious. He also knew his own limitations; he had earned so much money, experienced so many things that ordinary people couldn't, and had the freedom of choice that was a luxury for ordinary people. He felt that no one would understand if he complained like this.

Li Zhao asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

The boss laughed. "I always felt that you, young man, would have the same troubles in the future. You have very few things on your mind, which should be a sign of determination, but it is clearly not what you seek in life."

At that time, Li Zhao had just completed a major project and was given an important position. He felt proud and eager to prove his strength.

So after hearing that, he just smiled and shook his head.

I think this boss is really pretentious. He lives a life that many people envy, but he's just not satisfied.

Looking back now, Li Zhao feels a mix of emotions that are hard to describe.

Having something is certainly better than not having it. If you really think that a CEO's life is worse than that of an ordinary person, that's not just pretentious, it's downright stupid and wicked.

But simply having it isn't enough; you also need to know how to use it.

Li Zhao came into this life solely for happiness.

But what exactly is happiness?

Family, friendship, love, ideals.

Four kinds of companions.

The deep bond of family, the unwavering friendship, the unforgettable love, and the ideals for which one strives tirelessly.

These things cannot be obtained by waiting; Li Zhao needs to cultivate and strive for them himself.

The richness of happiness lies in the fact that it emphasizes not only possession, but also how to possess.

Li Zhao knew what his parents were like later. In their younger days, they were just as reasonable as they were in their previous life, but as they gradually became disabled, they were plagued by various negative emotions and would cause trouble to seize control of the family.

Li Zhao wouldn't feel at ease; he needed to firmly grasp control and initiative from this moment on, until he was the undisputed leader in the family.

Parents are human too, and they have their own thoughts and feelings. We shouldn't look at parent-child relationships from this perspective.

Regarding friendship, Chen Nian is definitely a close friend, but what about the others?

From the moment he enrolls in New Taipei First Senior High School, everything will be different; the people he meets will be vastly different from those in his previous life.

What's even more interesting is that although Li Zhao attended New Taipei Experimental Middle School, failed to get into New Taipei High School, and didn't even attend university in Linjiang, he returned to New Taipei for work and made a name for himself there.

As a result, he got to know many outstanding students from New Taipei First Senior High School, New Taipei Middle School, and even Linjiang University.

They come from all walks of life, including a group of prodigies who have carved out their own niche in the era of internet self-media.

Right now, they are still in elementary or middle school.

Even Li Zhao's ex-wife was a graduate of Lin University.

Li Zhao will meet them with an even more outstanding demeanor.

Even personal connections involve information asymmetry.

As for his career, Li Zhao, with his advanced information advantage, can certainly do a lot in his old profession of urban planning. But beyond that, how can he take advantage of the many opportunities that will arise in the future?

The power of information asymmetry is enormous; "changing the world" is not an unattainable ideal.

And love...

I'm still a primary school student, so it's too early to think about this.

Just like He Shuyao said, no dating allowed.

Right?

[Understanding the true meaning of happiness, happiness level +2, total 23]

Li Zhao was taken aback. Had he already grasped it? How come he didn't know?