Blackstone Code

Around a small round table, five well-dressed gentlemen were engrossed in playing poker. Gambling was always an effective way to quickly build relationships. When Lin Qi, who had recently just moved into the community, expressed his desire to organize a small friendship card game during a community event, it quickly caught the attention of some people.

Due to Lin Qi's frequent appearances in newspapers recently, and even successfully outsmarted the leader of the Sabin City Tax Bureau investigation team, some individuals may unconsciously shy away from getting overly close to him. However, there were also those who were eager to establish a closer connection with him. The Tax Bureau was the enemy of every high-income group, and the ability to outmaneuver the Tax Bureau brought joy to those who brainstormed ways to evade taxes every month.

Moreover, moving into this community meant that Lin Qi, at least economically, had the ability to have equal conversations with them. Therefore, they didn't mind expanding their social connections.

In this environment and atmosphere, the first gathering for the card game and friendship went smoothly. This was a gameplay different from any Lin Qi knew in another world. It involved five players, each with ten cards. The rules were simple, with the core being card exchange, followed by a comparison of hands after the exchange.

Before the game started, each person had to choose an ending card type for themselves. After the final hand was formed, it had to meet the requirements of the chosen card type. Then, based on the values of everyone's card types, scores and deductions were made.

Apart from the "cards" used for exchanges, there were also points used in the game. Before the match, each person contributed two hundred bucks. One hundred bucks became their base score, and the other hundred bucks became the public points in the pool, totaling five hundred points.

After the game, each person could receive an amount of money equal to the points in their hand. This gameplay was immensely popular worldwide. Many believed it embodied the core foundations of business trade. Every card game was an intense trade war, with each person representing a company, a business association, or even a conglomerate. The point pool represented the bank.

Winning was not as simple as winning as much as possible because point transactions often occurred during the card exchange process. It was a genuine gamble; sometimes, the person winning all along ended up losing money in the end, and the one consistently losing might still have won some money.

This gameplay was called "PAY(匹艾瓦)" a word with many meanings. It could be seen as the "payment" at the core of the game or as the "demand" after victory. Its charm was irresistible, captivating the world.

Not far from these gentlemen, several ladies sat on rattan chairs near the floor-to-ceiling windows, sipping exquisite tea and engaging in lively discussions. Of course, their topics always revolved around fashionable things—from fashion shows and new seasons of jewelry design exhibitions to newly released movies and the movements of celebrities and politicians.

Sometimes, men found it challenging to discover how knowledgeable and versatile their wives were when they sat together. They seemed to know everything when sitting with other women; it was quite different from the foolish ignorance exhibited when alone. Just as women sitting together would foster vanity and competition, men sitting together would also discuss various matters, not just confined to the card table but extending beyond it.

"In the first half of the year, the economic development index has dropped by eleven percentage points compared to last year. The economic recession is quite evident. Until when do you think this will continuel?" spoke the gentleman sitting opposite Lin Qi. He wore a shirt with silver trim, and at this point, he casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing the thick body hair on his arms, creating a somewhat unusual impression.

It was as if... there was an ape disguised as a human among them. He was a factory owner, and second-tier cities with low labor costs and various expenses were the favorite gathering places for factory owners. Opening a factory in a second-tier city could save a considerable amount on various expenses: land usage fees, warehouse rental and management fees, and most importantly, labor costs.

Another gentleman shook his head, "We all feel that the market is rapidly shrinking. Goods are not selling, profit margins are decreasing, but the financial market is still very prosperous. It is said that the Baylor Industrial Index(拜勒工业指) has set a new record."

The other gentlemen, including Lin Qi, couldn't help but burst into laughter. The laughter was filled with sarcasm. Perhaps they didn't quite understand why there was such a mood or why they were laughing. They relied on their feelings, feeling that these things were not quite normal. The stagnation or even regression of economic development had not affected the performance of the financial market. Instead, it frequently created miracles, indicating that something was amiss.

In fact, even before Lin Qi came to this world, economists had already expressed their opinions, believing that the Federation's economy was about to suffer a severe blow. However, most people, caught in a brainwashed frenzy, ignored these views.

Worldwide cessation of hostilities had ushered in a long-awaited era of peace, and the prevailing optimism was that the specter of war had finally receded. With conflict no longer dominating the landscape, attention had shifted towards economic development. There was a widespread belief that the global economy was poised for improvement rather than decline, marking a hopeful and promising phase for the future.

Some economists timely put forward the unheard-of concept of the "peak rebound," successfully becoming the only cognition in the eyes of the public. They believed that the short-term downturn was just the society digesting economic results, and soon the economy would usher in another round of rapid development.

People were willing to believe in favorable statements, even if deep down they knew that these statements might be incorrect. They forced themselves to believe that this was the right thing.

The gentleman sitting on Lin Qi's left casually placed a card on the table. It was now his turn to call, "One point, I need a 9 of Diamonds..." He picked up a solid-colored Colofu resting on the ashtray, took a slow drag, and exhaled, "If the financial market maintains this high momentum, it may continue for a long time."

After saying this, another gentleman took out the 9 of Diamonds and threw it to him, taking his exchanged card and a chip representing one point. The game continued, and everyone was aware that the unexpected prosperity of the financial market meant that many people were benefiting. The financial market's profits compensated for their losses, and there was even a surplus of money, leading to more funds flowing from the real economy into the financial market.

The market of numbers was thriving even more due to the rapid influx of speculative capital. Many business owners were scaling back their physical operations, investing money into the financial market to make money with money. This was much simpler and easier for them than waiting for returns on unsold goods.

Almost all the gentlemen in this room had their stock and futures accounts. Besides socializing everywhere, they listened to stockbrokers or futures brokers conveying how much money they had earned each day.

Although they kept making money, they were still worried. It was a phenomenon contrary to common sense, but they didn't know what to do. They could only silently adapt to the development of the times, being swept along by the torrent of the era toward an unknown future.

"Oh, Lin Qi, can I address you like that?" After getting Lin Qi's confirmation, the speaker continued, "What business are you in?"

Lin Qi and another gentleman reached an agreement to exchange cards. As he tidied up his hand, he answered, "I have a service company and an auction house. If any of you have good business, feel free to approach me anytime."

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