Shanghai!
Old Nanshi District!
At 11:00 PM, the shantytown was still bustling with all sorts of noises. Many grunts who had just gotten off work sat at late-night food stalls, drinking, chatting, and venting their frustrations.
Su Chen dragged his exhausted body back to his rented room, which was less than ten square meters.
The moment he entered, Su Chen flopped straight onto the bed without even taking off his yellow battle uniform.
He stared blankly at the dilapidated ceiling.
Su Chen could be considered a veteran Shanghai drifter. After graduating high school, he fell for the "studying is useless" theory promoted by online "pundits," believing his own intelligence and talent would be enough to carve out a bright future.
Despite his parents' strong objections, Su Chen resolutely embarked on his journey to Shanghai.
When he first arrived in Shanghai, Su Chen dreamed of joining a big corporation, working hard to get promotions and raises, becoming a general manager, then CEO, and marrying a beautiful, rich woman!
Unfortunately... reality always deals a harsh blow to greenhorns just entering society.
Forget joining a big corporation; with just a high school diploma, Su Chen couldn't even get an interview.
In the end... his youthful refusal to admit defeat made Su Chen put down roots in Shanghai.
And just like that, Su Chen had been in Shanghai for four years!
He'd been a security guard, washed cars, and worked the factory line! Ultimately, he became a "Gastric Hunger Symptom Resolution Expert."
He had gradually been ground down by reality, from a hopeful young dreamer into a wage slave toiling from dawn to dusk.
"In a city of hurried footsteps, I still live alone. I once had dreams, but they came to nothing, with only a song to get me by..."
The ringtone from the phone in his pocket slowly pulled the listless Su Chen back to reality.
Seeing the caller ID on the screen, Su Chen hesitated for a moment... before his finger gently swiped across the screen.
"Hello? Mom, you're not asleep yet? It's so late!"
As he spoke, Su Chen glanced at the time on his phone. Exactly 12:00 AM.
"Xiaochen... I'm... not disturbing you, am I?" His mother's voice came through the phone, tinged with a hint of nervousness.
Su Chen's heart sank when he heard this.
'Did something happen at home? Otherwise, Mom wouldn't be calling me at this hour.'
"No, not at all. I just got back from work! Did something happen at home?" Su Chen sat up in bed, his heart starting to race.
He was terrified of hearing bad news over the phone.
"Trouble? No, nothing's wrong at home! It's just... isn't it your grandma's seventieth birthday next month? Your dad was thinking of throwing a banquet for her, so I thought I'd call and ask... will you have time to come back?" His mother's slightly trembling voice was tinged with anticipation.
Hearing this, Su Chen fell silent.
It had been over four years since Su Chen came to Shanghai to make his way in the world, and in all that time, he hadn't been back once. Every Chinese New Year, he'd make the excuse that he was too busy with work and had no time.
But what was the truth?
They were all just Su Chen's excuses. The real reason was that after several years of struggling in Shanghai, he... hadn't made any money, and his job... wasn't very respectable.
If he went back home for the New Year, he would inevitably be bombarded with questions by his relatives. And if they found out about his current situation... they would definitely gossip behind his back.
Comparing their children's jobs and incomes was a common pastime everywhere, and even relatives were no exception.
His relatives would all say, 'Su Chen has been working in Shanghai for years, but he only makes a few thousand yuan a month? He's still just scraping by in a big city like that? My son makes more than that in a month!'
Not only would Su Chen lose face, but his parents would be humiliated as well.
After all, what parent doesn't want their child to have a good job?
Su Chen had also dreamed... of becoming "the kid other people's parents brag about."
"Hello? Xiaochen, are you listening?" Seeing that Su Chen hadn't replied, his mother couldn't help but ask again.
"Mom... I... I might—"
Before Su Chen could finish, a deep, angry voice boomed from the other end of the line.
"Chen Shufen... why are you calling that little brat? Didn't I tell you... not to call him? The brat's wings have hardened now; he's been gone for years and won't even come home. What's there to say to him! You women are just so clueless. Hurry up and hang up..."
"I know, I know. But our son hasn't been home in four years, I miss him! And I don't even know how he's doing out there!" his mother retorted irritably.
"If he were doing well... would that brat skip coming home for the New Year? If he had actually made money... he would have been back long ago to show it off. Enough... I'm not talking about it anymore. I have to work tomorrow. Don't talk to him for too long, it's not easy for the little brat out there either!"
"Alright, alright, you talk too much. Go to sleep!"
Listening to the faint conversation, Su Chen knew his mother was covering the phone's microphone, trying to prevent him from hearing.
"Hello... Xiaochen, Mom knows you're busy with work and don't have time. You have to take care of your health. It's getting late, so I'll hang up now!" Before Su Chen could even react, his mother hung up the phone.
Staring at the disconnected call on his phone, Su Chen's eyes had already welled up with tears.
Su Chen hated how useless he was. If only he had studied hard and gotten into a good university, his life might be completely different now.
'There's no turning back in life. All you can do is keep your head down and push forward!'
Wiping the tears from his eyes, Su Chen opened his text messages and looked at his bank account balance.
"88,480.85!"
A bitter smile touched Su Chen's lips as he looked at the numbers.
This was all the money Su Chen had managed to painstakingly save over more than four years in Shanghai.
After paying for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, he had only managed to save about twenty thousand yuan a year.
Shanghai is vast, but living here is not easy!
This is a paradise for the rich, and a hell for the poor!
"DING! Infinite desire for money detected in Host. The Wealth God System is now binding..."
"10%"
"50%"
"100%"
"Wealth God System binding successful!"
The mechanical voice that rang out in his mind made Su Chen's face light up with ecstasy.
As an avid reader of web novels, he knew exactly what was happening!!
'A system?!'
'A surprise?'
'What the hell do you call a surprise?'
'THIS is a fucking surprise!'
Su Chen sat up in bed, trembling slightly. Just as he was about to ask about the system's functions, a stream of information flooded his mind—a simple introduction to the system.
The information wasn't extensive, just a simple introduction to the system's basic functions.
But it was more than enough to leave Su Chen ecstatic. He had to take several deep breaths before his heart could calm down.
"Open system panel!"
An azure... somewhat sci-fi-looking screen of light appeared before Su Chen's eyes.
[Host: Su Chen]
[Junior Wealth God: 0/1,000,000]
[Wealth: 0 Yuan]
[Inventory: None]
[Junior Wealth God: Earns one yuan per second.]
'One yuan a second?'
'Isn't that 86,400 a day?!'
'2.6 million a month!'
'And just over 31 million a year!'
'When you put it like that, it's not that much. Compared to those people who make hundreds of thousands in minutes, my system seems a little pathetic!'
The moment that thought flashed through his mind, Su Chen raised his hand and slapped himself across the face!
SLAP!
'Damn it! I'm already getting a big head! The system's income for a single day is more than what I've worked for in four years. What more could I possibly want?'
Besides, according to the information from the system, as long as he spent a million, the Wealth God System would upgrade, and his income would also change. As for how much, the system didn't specify. He would only find out after the upgrade.
'System, where's my starter pack??? Hand it over!!!' Su Chen finally realized. 'According to the usual trope, isn't there supposed to be a starter pack reward from the system? How come I didn't get one!'
He waited for about ten seconds... but there was no response from the system.
'Could it be that my system doesn't have a starter pack?'
Just as Su Chen was about to accept this cruel reality, a crisp, mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
[DING~ How can the Host of the Wealth God System remain subservient to others? A Novice Mission has been issued: Quit Your Job! Please submit your resignation before 5 PM tomorrow. Mission Completion Reward: Starter Pack!]
A smile appeared on Su Chen's face as he heard the system's voice.
'Looks like my system is a decent one after all!'
-----------------
"For crying out loud, Uncle Su, look at the time! It's ten-thirty! The sun's been up for hours! Do you want this job or not?!"
The roar from the phone instantly jolted the still-groggy Su Chen out of bed.
"I'm getting up right now, Wei-ge!" Su Chen said as he scrambled to find his yellow battle uniform.
"Hurry it up, or I'll dock this month's bonus! And don't call me Wei-ge!!!"
"Got it, Wei-ge!"
"Fuck!"
Halfway through getting dressed, Su Chen suddenly remembered what happened last night, and his hands froze.
'Goddamn it! The wage-slave instinct is practically carved into my bones!'
Su Chen hurriedly called out the system panel.
[Host: Su Chen]
[Junior Wealth God: 0/1,000,000]
[Wealth: 36,052 Yuan (Pending Withdrawal)]
Seeing the gleaming thirty-six thousand yuan on the system panel, Su Chen grinned from ear to ear.
He rubbed his hands together excitedly and silently commanded in his mind, 'Withdraw 36,000!'
The next second, the phone in his hand vibrated with a new message.
"Your savings card ending in 7890 has received a deposit of 36,000.00 Yuan. Current balance: 124,480.85 Yuan!"
Looking at the text message, Su Chen could no longer suppress his excitement. He burst out laughing in his tiny rented room, muttering to himself, "It's real. It's really real. I'm not dreaming! HAHAHAHA!"
Fortunately, all the neighboring tenants had already left for work. Otherwise, his wild laughter would have surely earned him a barrage of curses.
After composing himself, Su Chen remembered the mission the system had issued last night. The most important thing now was to complete the novice mission.
He was very much looking forward to the starter pack.
Su Chen picked out a tracksuit from his limited wardrobe and left, carrying his yellow battle uniform.
He hopped on his beloved little electric scooter and headed for the station.
"Still free, still me, forever I'll sing my song, roaming a thousand miles..."
Su Chen's cheerful singing drifted in the wind.