Making Money Just By Breathing (Patreon)

Chapter 2: Habit Cultivation Ritual

(Tn: Huabei: A platform from Ant Group that functions like a virtual credit card where consumers can pay in installments for the goods they purchase from Alibaba or from Alipay partners who have chosen to opt in the program. ​ The name Huabei roughly translates to "let's spend".)

Lying on the wicker chair, an idea suddenly popped into Wang Yanguang's mind, startling even himself.

"Is there any way to upgrade the system faster?"

The idea that comes to his mind is not how to spend money, but how to upgrade the system.

A man's ambition, sometimes, is like dry grass in autumn, just needing a spark to ignite.

The natural growth rate of his ability isn't slow, but Wang Yanguang doesn't want to wait that long.

It took him an entire week!

Clearly, there are things he can do to speed things up. Why wait like an idiot?

According to the system's mechanism, using borrowed money for consumption should still count as experience points.

Since that’s the case, let's try it!

Thinking about it, Wang Yanguang opened Taobao, selected a discounted pack of tissues, 300 sheets per pack, 30 packs for 29 Yuan, cheaper than toilet paper, and paid with Huabei.

After a successful payment, he immediately checked the system panel, and the experience points showed...

29/10000!

Indeed, it works!

Wang Yanguang was overjoyed and, glancing at his Huabei account with a remaining credit limit of 7171 Yuan, suddenly felt that Alipay's "Dad" was quite cute.

Sorry, Alipay's "Dad," I misunderstood you!

I used to think, as a poor student, you gave me such a high credit limit because you wanted to trick me into working for you. Therefore, I never cherished it. I never used installment payments and always tried to take advantage of your promotions.

Now I know I was wrong. Dad, please love me again —

Let’s try to increase the limit!

Naturally, increasing the limit is impossible, but Wang Yanguang calculated and found it was just enough.

Huabei has a total of 7200, Jingdong Baitiao 1100, and there's still 1983 in savings. It's not only enough but also leaves 283 Yuan.

Since there's a surplus, Wang Yanguang decided to conduct another experiment.

Opening a private chat with He Meng, he sent a 200 Yuan red envelope and a message.

— He Meng, sorry, I might not be able to attend your graduation celebration. Anyway, I wish you to obtain happiness every day. —

The red envelope was quickly opened, but soon, she sent another red envelope back.

— Thanks, I might not have time to attend your graduation celebration either. Let's call it even. —

Wang Yanguang couldn't help but be stunned.

Is He Meng, the beauty, this straightforward?

The normal courtesy process would be to say thank you, exchange a couple of casual remarks, and when Wang Yanguang organizes his graduation celebration and informs his classmates, He Meng would reciprocate with polite words.

By immediately returning the gift that he had sent to her, it's clear she doesn’t want to establish a relationship with Wang Yanguang and just wants to be done with it.

After the initial surprise, Wang Yanguang shook his head and chuckled.

Whatever, he doesn't care.

Things are different now, and as for who can't keep up with whom in the future, let time speak for itself.

Looking at the experience increasing by another 200, now at 229/10000, Wang Yanguang opened the red envelope and withdrew the 200 Yuan.

He didn't reply to any messages.

Next, it's time to think about how to spend the money.

Honestly, Wang Yanguang has never had so much money to freely dispose of.

The urban village he originated from is essentially a rural area. Wang Yanguang's parents were farmers before, and after two failed business attempts, they have been working as laborers.

Wang Yanguang never had much pocket money since he was a child. Now suddenly having 10,000 Yuan (1.404 USD) to spend, he's trembling with excitement.

When he first got Huabei, there was an inexplicable credit limit of over 9,000 Yuan, but at that time, Wang Yanguang didn't dare to use it. Even though he drooled over the latest iPhone 6, he never dreamed of having one himself.

Now— isn't it just five days' worth of breathing?

There is no reason for him to restrain his desire to buy it!

Today is July 26, 2015. As long as there is no surprise delay, the new iPhone will be launched in two months.

Even so, the official store hasn't lowered its prices. They still dare to sell the 128GB version for 6,888 Yuan, just throwing in an extra tempered glass film.

In the past, Wang Yanguang would have felt like it was a rip-off. Two months later, it would surely be discounted. Why not wait?

Now—

My good sir, here's 7,000! Now throw in an aluminum alloy case!

When communicating with customer service, Wang Yanguang's fingers were shaking.

Dear lord, he’s really living the high life!

Just five minutes ago, he was calculating the cost difference between 300 sheets of tissue and toilet paper, and now he's boldly choosing an alloy phone case. Tsk tsk—

After the big purchase, he converted all the remaining change into mobile phone credit and used the Baitiao (Shopping App).

What can you buy with 1,100 Yuan?

Wang Yanguang couldn't think of anything, so he casually clicked on the main ad on the homepage.

Oh my!

Is that thing so expensive?

Wang Yanguang widened his eyes.

CK classic four-cornered underwear, genuine guarantee, 550 for three pairs, black and white, choose either, now buy and get a box of three packs, uh-huh—

With such an excellent free gift, Wang Yanguang didn't hesitate and silently placed an order.

As the money was spent, Wang Yanguang realized the extent of his inflation—

Despite only wearing shorts that cost 20 Yuan, an 18-Yuan T-shirt, a 10-Yuan belt, he dared to match them with 183-Yuan underwear!

The crucial issue is, does he really have to unbuckle his belt first to show off his wealth?

Hmm...

He didn't think much when buying, and after buying, he didn't care. It's just to meet the minimum order requirement, and it's rare that the price is right and exactly 1100 is spent. Love what you love.

With this mindset, when spending the last 1500 Yuan, Wang Yanguang directly bought a pair of beige Converse Chuck70 on Tmall. After the discount, it was exactly 1499, and the seller also threw in two pairs of boat socks.

He used to always wear the 20-30 Yuan canvas shoes. Now it's just a try, let's see what's different about the high-end version of Return.

The experience points reached 9999/10000, and after recharging 1 Yuan for mobile phone credit, the system successfully upgraded.

[The Life Rich System has been upgraded to level 2]

[Every breath will earn you 10 cents]

[When tasting delicious food, there is a 1% chance of obtaining a mysterious reward related to eating]

[Upgrade experience: 0/30000]

[The system store is open, and a new product will be updated every Monday at midnight. If not purchased within the week, it will be refreshed]

The first thing Wang Yanguang noticed was the newly added attribute—the food reward.

Tasting delicious food?

It should have certain requirements for the quality of food...

When you're extremely hungry and eat a bowl of instant noodles, that's just satisfying survival needs and far from enjoyment.

Real delicacies may not necessarily be expensive, but at least they should be made with care to bring a pleasant experience.

So, the system is indeed thoughtful. Being able to eat delicious food for free is already a form of enjoyment by itself, and now there's even an additional reward?!

He felt ecstatic!

Still, the probability is a bit annoyingly low, only 1%. If you eat a hundred meals in three months, you might get that mysterious reward once... Well, just go with the flow.

Hopefully, when the system upgrades again, the probability will be increased.

Next is the main event—the cash reward doubled!

Now, earning 120 Yuan per hour, that's 2800 Yuan a day!

Wang Yanguang is overjoyed, feeling like he has reached the pinnacle of life.

Making a quick 3000 with a nap, then another 3000 with the next nap— With this kind of money making ability, he can just laze around all day in his house, what’s the point of going to school or looking for a job?

For a second-tier normal university student, what job could provide a monthly salary like this?

Of course, he’s just joking, not going to school is not an option, or else his parents would kill him.

In fact, Wang Yanguang is even more looking forward to university life now because a university life without any pressure is bound to be explosively enjoyable!

No endless homework to complete, no need to worry about working part time all day just to survive, and definitely no need to rack his brains to find excuses to ask for money from his parents. He would have plenty of time to laze around, and plenty of senior and junior sisters to hang out with...

Tsk tsk! What a heavenly life!

After daydreaming about his almost certain future life for a while, Wang Yanguang suddenly remembered: Oh, there's still a store?

Opening it, there was a lone item lying inside.

[Habit Cultivation Device]

[Quantity: 1]

[Usable Times: 3/3]

[Selling Price: 30000 Yuan]

[Function: Instantly effective each time used, cultivates a deeply ingrained good habit for the host]

[Note: First-time opening of the store, the selling price is originally discounted to one-tenth]

How expensive! Despite the huge discount, it’s still being sold by that much!?

Well, looking at its function, if what the system said is true, then it's not that expensive.

In fact, setting aside those freaks who effortlessly get into top-notch schools, ordinary students in first-tier and third-tier universities shouldn't have a significantly large IQ difference.

Many times, poor grades are due to bad study habits.

Wang Yanguang can relate to this deeply. Lack of focus in class, solving problems without understanding why this formula is used, getting bored after a few minutes of studying...

So, the grades gradually widen, and in the end, the quantitative change triggers a qualitative change.

If I could get this thing earlier, cultivate some good habits, it would not only be helpful for studying but might also have significant meaning for my entire life.

Well, it's not too late now. Spending 30,000 Yuan to develop three good habits is practically a steal.

Huh?!

Wait a minute!

Where the heck am I going to get 30,000 Yuan?!

Wang Yanguang suddenly remembered the system store's setup, hitting him like a bucket of cold water, chilling him inside out.

[If not purchased within the week, it will be refreshed]

Today is Sunday the 26th, the store will refresh at midnight.

Less than half a day's time, not even enough to sell my kidneys.

Damn it, what was I thinking about!

Wang Yanguang reluctantly looked at the [Habit Cultivation Device], sighing.

Once upon a time, there was a magical tool right in front of me, but I had no money. The most painful thing in the world is this.

If only I had a chance to start over...

I still wouldn't be able to get 30,000 Yuan! (4.214 USD)