Chapter 14: It’s Just Wasting Money
By the time Jiang Zhou finished submitting his university applications, it was already August.
As he had hoped, he was admitted to the School of Economics and Finance at Shangjing University.
As a top-tier institution, this university was a dream school for many.
However, Jiang Zhou didn’t have much passion for studying. After all, his soul was already 35 years old.
He had said goodbye to his student days more than a decade ago. It was hard for him to get back into the mindset of studying hard.
To put it another way, if Jiang Zhou had been reborn before the college entrance exams, forget Shangjing University, he probably wouldn’t have even gotten into the Shangjing Vocational College.
“Old Jiang, how about we go report to school together?”
“I was thinking the same thing. But isn’t your family coming to see you off?”
“No time. They told me to go by myself.”
On the way to the post office to pick up their admission letters, Guo Wei and Jiang Zhou were riding their bikes side by side, chatting about reporting to university.
However, Guo Wei and Jiang Zhou weren’t going to the same school. While Shangjing University was prestigious, Guo Wei’s grades weren’t quite enough for admission.
He had applied to North China University of Technology instead, which wasn’t far from where Jiang Zhou would be.
“Alright then, just come to my place and we’ll head out together.”
Guo Wei raised an eyebrow. “The bus station’s right by my house. Why should I come to you?”
Jiang Zhou smiled mysteriously. “We’re not taking the bus.”
“Then how are we getting there?”
Guo Wei’s eyes widened. “Your dad’s letting you drive his car?”
Jiang Zhou shook his head. “Not his. Mine.”
“What? You actually bought a car?”
“It wasn’t expensive, only about 100,000 yuan. It’s parked downstairs. My dad doesn’t even know.”
“So that rumor about you making a million is true??”
Jiang Zhou glanced at him. “Did you think I was just bluffing?”
Guo Wei scratched his head. “I mean, I wanted to believe you… but a million yuan is like a fantasy for students like us.”
“That’s fair,” Jiang Zhou replied. “But in the future, I’ll be earning millions over and over again.”
“You mean through starting a business in college?”
Jiang Zhou nodded. “In this era, money sitting in your account just loses value. Only by doing business can you make your money grow.”
Guo Wei blinked in confusion. “What does ‘loses value’ mean?”
Jiang Zhou explained, “For example, 100 yuan ten years ago could buy you a lot more than 100 yuan can today. That’s purchasing power.”
“Oh yeah, my mom said that back when she was a kid, a steamed bun only cost a few cents.”
“Exactly. That’s what I mean. But even if you save 1 million yuan in the bank, the interest won’t keep up with rising home prices.”
“Now you sound like a totally different person,” Guo Wei said. “Why are home prices even rising like that?”
Jiang Zhou chuckled. “To stimulate domestic demand and raise GDP. If everyone hoards their money, the economy can’t move. But if you make housing expensive, people won’t save. They’ll spend.”
Guo Wei nodded slowly, still only half-understanding.
It was 2009, the start of a major real estate boom that would continue until around 2020. But at the time, people were still largely unaware.
Most folks thought, “So what if prices go up? They’ll fall again eventually.”
But what they didn’t know was that even Jiang Zhou, who had lived more than ten years longer in his previous life, never saw housing prices drop.
That’s why saving money for interest was the worst plan.
“Guo Wei, how much savings do your parents have?”
“Huh? How would I know? They never tell me.”
“Yeah, true. Even I don’t know how much my family has.”
“Why are you asking?”
“I just want to give you a heads-up. If your family has extra cash, use it to buy a house.”
Guo Wei laughed. “Even if prices are going up, it can’t be that crazy, right?”
Jiang Zhou smirked. “Wait until the end of this year. The rise will blow your mind.”
“As serious as it gets.”
While chatting, they arrived at the Linjiang City post office.
Each school sent out admission letters at slightly different times, but usually within a few days of each other, so the post office was busy with young people coming and going.
After reporting their ID numbers to the staff, they both received their letters.
Just as they were about to leave, they spotted Zheng Yu standing at the entrance.
Zheng Yu saw Jiang Zhou too.
If it had been before, he’d definitely have come over to throw a few sarcastic jabs, maybe throw in a couple of snide remarks.
But recently, he’d been quiet. Even in group chats, he barely spoke.
Still, just because Zheng Yu stayed quiet didn’t mean Guo Wei would.
“Hey, Class Monitor! You here to pick up your admission letter too?”
Zheng Yu nodded. “Yeah, got the notice and came right away.”
Guo Wei glanced at the envelope in his hand. “Which school did you get into?”
“North China University of Technology.”
“No way, we’re going to the same school!”
Hearing that, Jiang Zhou looked a bit puzzled. “With your grades, shouldn’t Shangjing University have been a sure thing?”
Zheng Yu hesitated. “I applied for the law program there, but the competition was too fierce. I got bumped.”
“Alright, I’ll head off if there’s nothing else.”
As Zheng Yu walked away, Guo Wei muttered, “No wonder he hasn’t been bragging in the group chat. He got bumped down.”
Jiang Zhou gave him a look. “Don’t mock others. You’re going to the same school as someone who got bumped.”
“Come on, we’re best buds. Can’t you give me a little face?”
“Alright, alright. My bad. I’ll treat you to lunch.”
Guo Wei lit up. “You’ve got money now, so I get to choose the place, right?”
Jiang Zhou didn’t even flinch. “Knew you’d try to milk me today, so I brought enough cash.”
“How about Hongyun Restaurant? I’ve been dying to try that place!”