Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 32 was plagiarized?
Chen Xuebing didn't have much time to let his mind wander.

"Take off your clothes."

A cold, clear voice came from beside me.

Chen Xuebing was taken aback, turned his head and stared at her, only to find that Xin Mengzhen was just carefully rummaging through the medicine box, and knew that she was probably going to apply some other medicine to herself.

"...Then I can just lift up the back, right?"

Xin Mengzhen didn't even look up: "There are two kinds of medicine. After applying the first kind, you need to wait five to eight minutes for it to be absorbed and completely dry before you can apply the second kind. If you want to keep applying it, then go ahead."

Chen Xuebing could only sit on the ground, pull his clothes down past his neck, and hook them over his chest to cover his back.

Xin Mengzhen saw his healthy-looking back, the muscles were not bulging, the lines were smooth, and there were several bruises of different sizes on his lower back and back, which added a touch of violent beauty.

Her face began to flush, but she muttered nonchalantly, "It's not like I haven't seen it before."

"You've seen it before?" Chen Xuebing was genuinely stunned this time.

"When school started, on the basketball court, people not only took their clothes off, but they also tore them open, running and blowing kisses to the stands."

Xin Mengzhen spoke in a teasing tone, as if recalling a funny scene, biting her lower lip, her face growing redder and redder.

Chen Xuebing: "..."

Have I ever done such a thing?
I have absolutely no recollection of it.

I've forgotten everything!
“…Don’t hold it in, or you’ll get facial paralysis.” Chen Xuebing said speechlessly.

Xin Mengzhen burst out laughing.

The more I thought about it, the funnier it became, and I laughed so hard I almost fell over.

It wasn't until he accidentally pressed hard on Chen Xuebing's back, causing Chen Xuebing to yell, that he stopped and properly applied the medicine.

"By the way, that girl who went with you, was she hurt?" Xin Mengzhen suddenly asked casually.

Just then, Chen Xuebing's phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and looked at it.

Huo Xiaowen.

Xin Mengzhen, who was behind him, also saw the name. She stopped what she was doing and seemed to want to get up and leave.

Chen Xuebing waved his hand: "It's nothing, just a friend. You can continue."

When Xin Mengzhen saw that name, her curiosity made her stop and remain seated.

The phone was answered, and the voice on the other end sounded slightly excited.

"Sold! Sold! And it was an expensive one!"

Now Chen Xuebing was also excited. This was his first deal, and he jumped up and asked:
What did you sell?

"I sold the Nokia 7200 last year! Today I went to Nanshan and set up a sign with the phone models we wanted to ship! A Toyota pulled up and someone asked if I had a Nokia 7200. Old Zhao didn't sell that model, so I got his contact information and contacted Gao Shu. He helped me get a refurbished one from a stall owner for 2600! I sold it for 3500! I just finished delivering the goods, settled the payment, and went downstairs. The taxi fare to and from the store cost 40 yuan, so I made 860 yuan!"

"You're awesome, bro!" Chen Xuebing laughed, then cautiously asked, "Was there a problem with the money you received?"

"You think you can fool me? I always carry a counterfeit money detector with me! Don't worry! Hey, I say, should we give Gao Shu 200 of this 860?"

Chen Xuebing pondered for a moment and nodded: "Just give us 100. Just say we made 300. Giving us too much is not good. We were lucky this time, but if the supplier hears about it and thinks you're selling at a high price, they might raise the price of the goods they send you next time. Don't talk about the money you make. Keep it to yourself."

"...Yeah, that's right. After I do another used phone order, I'll treat Gao Shu to drinks."

"clever."

"Okay, I'll stop here then. You keep track of the accounts, and I'm going back to my stall!"

The call ended abruptly.

Chen Xuebing stood there for a long time, initially excited that his first deal had been completed so unexpectedly, with a profit of 760, of which he received a full 380.

Looking back on his first week after his rebirth, he couldn't even afford to treat everyone to a bus ride for 12 yuan.

Huaqiangbei truly is an adventurer's paradise.

Then comes the anxiety.

Damn it, if we can't even outsell Huo Xiaowen online, we'll be incredibly embarrassed.

Chen Xuebing slowly sat down and pondered for a while.

Xin Mengzhen continued to apply the medicine to him.

After rubbing and massaging his back, Chen Xuebing still didn't react.

“Huo Xiaowen…isn’t she a girl?” Xin Mengzhen’s voice broke the silence.

These days, you don't need to turn on speakerphone; you can hear everything clearly from three meters away.

"Huh? A guy." Chen Xuebing snapped out of his daze, remembered something, and turned around with a smile, saying, "Huo Xiaowen, he's the leader of that group from the milk tea bar last time, nicknamed Brother Ma. He came to Shenzhen with me this time. We sold mobile phones together and made some money."

"..." Xin Mengzhen inwardly cried at her own stupidity.

Huo Xiaowen is not Huo Xiaowen; he is a boy, and a "boss" at that!
Why would a boy choose such a feminine name?
"Oh, what did you just ask me? What girl?"

"No, you misheard." Xin Mengzhen immediately shook her head, but her direct denial revealed a hint of panic.

Chen Xuebing gave her a strange look and then said, "By the way, I apologize for the milk tea incident last time. My uncle had some business at the construction site that day and had to leave in a hurry, so when Yang Qingyue asked me to come, I really didn't have time and that's why I declined."

Xin Mengzhen pursed her lips and shook her head again.

This time, however, the shaking was very slow.

Chen Xuebing discovered Xin Mengzhen's special qualities. She wasn't introverted; she wasn't shy when communicating with him, a boy, and was even somewhat proactive. However, when she didn't want to answer a question, she would fall silent, just like she was now. Perhaps there were very few things that could pique her interest, so she was always silent, neither speaking nor answering, making her seem unapproachable.

Chen Xuebing gradually came to understand her personality, so he changed the subject.

"By the way, I bought a phone. What's your phone number? I'd like to save it."

"My phone is upstairs. I don't use it often. I'll call you in a bit," Xin Mengzhen said, then added, "You just said... you sell mobile phones?"

There was a second round of applying the medicine, which would take a few minutes, so Chen Xuebing simply turned around and sat facing Xin Mengzhen on the yoga mat.

Xin Mengzhen's appearance was pleasing to the eye. In his previous life, Chen Xuebing had hoped to travel and chat with her, but this did not happen after half a year, so he had to give up.

Now, however, we can sit cross-legged like old friends from ancient times, which fills me with deep emotion.

“Yes, it was you who gave me the inspiration last time. We went to Huaqiangbei and got a low-priced source of goods. We just made our first order and earned 380 yuan. I have to thank you for this. However, we didn’t have to use the ‘thank you’ phrase you taught us this time.” Chen Xuebing said with a faint smile.

"Oh..." Xin Mengzhen was surprised for a moment, and said sincerely, "Amazing!"

She praised Chen Xuebing's strong sense of action.

It seems like only a few days after we started talking about this, Chen Xuebing really left and actually found a way to make money.

“My grandfather always said that taking the first step bravely is the shortcut to success. You are the bravest person I have ever met. You are amazing. You and he will definitely get along well. Next time he comes to Chongqing, I will definitely introduce you to him.” Xin Mengzhen praised him generously.

She said this because she remembered Chen Xuebing's insightful remarks last time. Perhaps the last time alone was not enough, but Chen Xuebing's courage to venture to Shenzhen shows that he is a person who dares to think and act.

Chen Xuebing, however, did not take it seriously.

Taking the first step bravely is only applicable to this era. In another ten or twenty years, taking the first step cautiously may be the way to survive.

"If your grandfather saw me, his first reaction probably wouldn't be admiration, but rather concern about my relationship with you. Hey, what if he didn't even ask any questions and just threw a check for 500 million at me, telling me to leave his granddaughter?"

A seemingly casual remark was actually a test.

Xin Mengzhen was surprisingly easy to tease and immediately retorted:
"You wish! He wouldn't worry about me having a crush on you, you wild boy."

She spoke a little softer when she said the last three words.

"You don't know how?" Chen Xuebing placed his hands on the blanket, leaned back, and looked at her with a serious expression.

The playful atmosphere had its moments of both advancement and retreat.

Xin Mengzhen finally frowned slightly under his gaze and looked down at the ground. "No way!"

Chen Xuebing realized that success was still some distance away, but since she didn't remain silent or avoid the situation, it showed that she wasn't averse to it. So he smiled slightly to defuse the awkwardness.

"That's good. Actually, I'd love to talk to such a successful entrepreneur... But your foreign trade company should pay attention to online cross-border trading platforms."

He discovered that Xin Mengzhen was quite interested in business topics, so he catered to her interests.

Sure enough, Xin Mengzhen's eyes began to focus on him: "Online trading? But my grandfather deals in bulk commodities, will anyone be able to afford it online?"

Chen Xuebing didn't believe that one person could handle all the business, so he didn't mind chatting about it.
“The digitalization process in developed Western countries is faster than ours. Amazon is already doing it, and Alibaba in China has also started its international platform. Domestic and international online trade is inherently a large-scale transaction. I think in the future, the path may be simplified, and cross-border businesses can directly connect with overseas customers. This is very different from domestic B2C. It's not just about simple transaction profits. They have established channels that allow OEM manufacturers like yours to directly reach small overseas distributors. This is an opportunity for you to build your own brand.”

Xin Mengzhen understood some of it: "But... it's not worth it to do small orders."

Chen Xuebing smiled and said, "Improving and refining management capabilities is a path that factory owners must take. As channels become more and more refined and goods are sold more and more scattered, where will there be so many large orders in the future? In other words, if there are no large orders, will the factory still be able to operate? Will we still have to support the skilled workers and technicians that we have worked so hard to train? Small orders provide a safety net, large orders generate profits, and even small orders can generate profits. This is what makes a mature and sustainable enterprise."

The factory's management approach is similar to that of the construction industry: improving management capabilities, adopting a humble attitude, and dealing with systemic risks brought about by industry cycles. Chen Xuebing has a deep understanding of this point.

In fact, he believes that after 2024, the infrastructure industry will eventually recover its vitality. This will always be an important standard for measuring a country's comprehensive strength. It will explode again during a country's sprint period. Policies will change, trends will change, functional building products will be iterated in large quantities, and new product directions may also emerge in large numbers.

Everything has a cycle.

Only by maintaining cutting-edge management and technological capabilities and keeping pace with the times can one survive the fierce competition during a period of economic downturn.

For a century-old enterprise, surviving two or three major waves is enough.

Of course, he is rather pessimistic about the real estate market, as the iteration cycle is too long; a person's lifespan may only be able to withstand one or two cycles.

However, with more and more old houses being built, the market for subsequent maintenance of real estate might become quite profitable.

"What exactly do you mean by improving management capabilities?"

While Chen Xuebing was still pondering, Xin Mengzhen had also processed some of the information and continued to ask questions.

"Information technology, automated equipment, a rematch of senior management skills and positions, and a lights-out factory." Chen Xuebing stated succinctly, then glanced at his watch and smiled.
"With such a strong thirst for knowledge, is your family grooming you to be their successor? Take your time, you'll understand later. Now, apply the medicine."

Xin Mengzhen took a breath, wanting to ask Chen Xuebing why he knew so much, but she was afraid that if she asked, he would actually tell her, and then she wouldn't be able to refuse to answer any questions he might ask her in the future.

Secrets are meant to be exchanged.

She began applying the medicine.

The second application of the medicine was very quick.

Xin Mengzhen looked at the bruises on Chen Xuebing's back and the scars left by old wounds, and her heart clenched. She really couldn't understand why Chen Xuebing, who had learned so much, used to like fighting so much.

This boy is full of secrets.

"Remember to apply the medicine a second time tomorrow. I'll give it to you in a bit."

Xin Mengzhen's warm palms kept sliding on Chen Xuebing's back, and the breeze from her voice blew against the back of Chen Xuebing's neck, making him feel a little uneasy.

"You're going to apply it to me?" Chen Xuebing turned around, his face full of teasing.

"Apply it yourself!" Xin Mengzhen patted him hard again.

"Alright, alright." Chen Xuebing stood up and put his clothes back on. "I have to go now. I still need to take care of the distribution tonight."

"Medicine!" Xin Mengzhen immediately picked up the medicine from the ground, looked around for a bag, and prepared to give it to him.

"Really, you don't need to." Chen Xuebing put on his coat and said seriously, "My mom can't see this. I can't apply it at home, so who will apply it for me at school? You should eat that glutinous rice ball quickly, or it will spoil."

Chen Xuebing spoke in a tone like a husband about to leave, which made Xin Mengzhen momentarily dazed.

Seeing that Chen Xuebing had already taken off his shoe covers at the door, Xin Mengzhen quickly chased after him, angrily saying:
"Come to school tomorrow afternoon, I'll apply it for you! Okay?"

Chen Xuebing then smiled, took out a phone book and a ballpoint pen, wrote down his phone number, tore off the page, and handed it to Xin Mengzhen.

"If you serve me personally, I would be impolite to refuse."

"Hmph!" Xin Mengzhen clenched her fist. "Sometimes I really want to punch you!"

Chen Xuebing chuckled: "That won't do, the law doesn't allow it. But here, no one cares about domestic violence."

Xin Mengzhen's eyes widened.

"you"

"court death!"

Chen Xuebing disappeared in a flash.

By the time she angrily chased after him, Chen Xuebing had already run down the fire escape stairs.

She went home and closed the door. Looking at the yoga mat and medicine box in the living room, and the "Hui Lau Shan" packaging on the table, everything seemed to still bear traces of Chen Xuebing. She sensed something was amiss tonight, and instead of rushing to put things away, a thought struck her, and she hurriedly ran to the refrigerator.

The refrigerator was a luxurious double-door unit. When the freezer side was opened, it was completely empty except for a cup of frozen milk tea, which stood quietly wrapped in its packaging.

The freezer compartment of the refrigerator hasn't been used much for meat. People in Guangzhou have their own habits. Following my father's habits, my aunt would buy a little bit of fresh meat every day when she came to cook. Just a little bit, and she would cook it all every day.

The milk tea is packaged in a bag, so there shouldn't be any cross-contamination, right?

A mischievous glint suddenly appeared in her eyes. She closed the refrigerator door, went into the room, and turned on the computer.

Start searching on the webpage.

Can you still drink milk tea that's been frozen for a week?

What to do if you get diarrhea after eating unclean food?

Which hospital in Chongqing has a good gastroenterology department?

……

"Network administrator! Top up three yuan on the 22nd! My computer's logging off in two minutes! Hurry up! I'll give you the money after I finish this monster!"

"Second brother, come help me run a loop, I need to go to the bathroom!"

"All Flying Alliance members, pay attention! Flying Alliance members, Shabak is about to begin!"

The internet cafe was bustling with activity, filled with countless teenagers who treated online gaming as a career. They were all intently staring at their computers, their emotions and blood pressure rising and falling with the screen.

Chen Xuebing finally managed to shove the USB drive behind the locked computer, crawled out from under the table, dusted off his head and pants, and slowly opened a webpage, completely out of sync with the energetic rhythm around him.

After not opening Taobao for two days, Chen Xuebing was stunned when he finally did.

Has the page been updated?
The text and layout of the entire page were much clearer, and "forum" had been changed to "community." He quickly opened a shop and found that two red hearts had appeared below the merchant's name!

The store credit system is here!
Click on that red heart and take a closer look at the store's upgrade rules; they are almost exactly the same as the post he made!
Chen Xuebing was overjoyed. He returned to the main page, entered the Taobao community, and looked for his post.

After searching for a long time without finding it, he even searched for his own account name: Chongqing Digital Electronics Technology.

The post is gone.

The backend did not receive any messages, but it can still be seen from the backend that the post once had hundreds of replies, but the content is no longer visible after the post was deleted.

Chen Xuebing's face fell.

Damn it?

They copied my plan, didn't even offer any compensation, and then deleted my post?

This is the first time Chen Xuebing has encountered online plagiarism.

Damn it, what do I do?
Having an idea given to me "for free" has ruined my mood for stocking goods.

Chen Xuebing let out a long breath, calmed himself down, opened the new post editor, and started typing away on the keyboard.

……

(End of this chapter)