Chapter 1: Getting Rich with the Bricklaying System

Chen Xiao rubbed his eyes, once again confirming that what he saw was not an illusion.

It was as if some kind of aerial projection technology had been activated—a clear interface appeared before his eyes, displaying the following content:

[Brick-Moving Wealth System:
1. Daily Basic Income: The system provides a daily basic subsidy, with the amount calculated as Host’s position base salary × Basic Income Level.
2. Diligence Blessing: All bonuses the host receives will be multiplied by the Diligence Value for an extra reward.
Friendly Note: For every month the host remains in their current position, 2 Diligence Points are awarded; if the host changes companies, all Diligence Points reset to zero, and the system requires one year to reboot.]

It read like a user manual, the explanation crystal clear. When Chen Xiao turned the page with a mere thought, the second page displayed his current status, confirming his understanding.

[Host: Chen Xiao (Diligence Value: 2)]
[Position: Business Specialist, Dr. Feng Robotics]
[Height: 178 cm, Weight: 75 kg]
[Constitution: 75, Endurance: 60, Health: 70, Charisma: 80]
Basic Income LV1: 8,000 yuan/day
Diligence Blessing: Multiplier 2
[Assets:
Balance: 3,200 yuan
Real Estate: None
Vehicle: None]

As expected, the basic income was based on his current position’s base salary, meaning the system would pay him his daily wage based on that. Good heavens, that was a lot of money—just the basic income alone added up to 240,000 yuan a month, amounting to an easy three million yuan a year. So even basic income could lead to financial freedom! Chen Xiao was so excited he almost jumped up.

It seemed he needed to work hard, strive for promotion and a raise, and break through to an annual salary of ten million as soon as possible. Wait—something was off. He glanced at the note about the Diligence Value—it only increased if he stayed in his current position.

His Diligence Value was 2, likely because he had joined the company just over a month ago. He wondered if a promotion would allow the value to accumulate or would reset it to zero.

"Transferring positions within the same company resets the Diligence Value, but the system does not require a reboot!"

The system provided a timely explanation. Did this mean he was expected to devote himself forever to this business specialist role? Was the world’s richest business specialist about to be born?

"Chen Xiao, it’s time for the meeting!"

Just as he was pondering how to maximize the system’s benefits, a colleague called him to a meeting—today’s session was to be chaired by President Feng!

Feng Feifei was a 25-year-old postdoctoral AI prodigy who had returned from studying in Germany to inherit Dr. Feng Robotics Technology Company from her father. Her father had founded the company a decade earlier and named it "Dr. Feng" in hopes that his daughter would earn her doctorate and bring honor to the family. Feng Feifei did not disappoint; she achieved remarkable success in artificial intelligence and returned home after her studies.

Upon her return, her father handed over the ailing company to her. With resolute determination, Feng Feifei set out to turn things around, aspiring to expand and strengthen the business. Yet academic prowess and industrial management were two different worlds. Her strengths lay in technology, but she lacked experience in product definition and market research, causing the R&D direction to go astray and products to miss market demand. As a result, development funds were wasted and orders failed to materialize, plunging the company into a cash flow crisis.

Chen Xiao entered the office to find almost the entire company present. He took a seat next to his colleagues from the marketing department. Including him, there were only three people in marketing: department head Yuan Kai, and Wang Jing, a fellow specialist who had joined a few months earlier.

Seated, Chen Xiao noticed that many in the room were quietly chattering among themselves. Wang Jing leaned over and whispered, "Chen Xiao, what are your plans for after this?"

"What do you mean, plans?" Chen Xiao asked, puzzled.

"You haven’t heard?" Wang Jing looked at him in surprise.

Before Chen Xiao could inquire further, the room fell silent as Feng Feifei entered with a solemn expression.

Feng Feifei was an exceptionally elegant general manager. Her eyes were deep and bright, like the brightest stars in the night sky. Clad in a sharp business suit, she was the epitome of simplicity and grace.

She sat down, surveyed the room, and began, "I’ve called everyone together today to report on the company’s current operations."

Chen Xiao sat up straight, sensing the deep exhaustion hidden beneath Feng Feifei’s radiant exterior.

"Our newly developed drone project for bridge inspection went in the wrong direction. We invested vast resources, but the resulting product is unsellable, and now, halfway through the year, we have virtually no orders."

The staff exchanged glances. The issue was already a topic of discussion—half a year had passed without orders. Though the company was small, with just over a dozen employees, the monthly payroll alone was in the hundreds of thousands.

"As a result... the company’s accounts are empty," Feng Feifei said, her voice tinged with sorrow.

At that, the room erupted in whispers.

"Is the company going bankrupt?"

"We still haven’t received last month’s salary. Are they going to stiff us?"

"Sigh, women are meant to stay home and tend to the family. Managing a company is just not their forte. Look, the company is going under after just a year in her hands!"

"What now? I haven’t lined up another job. If I leave, I’ll be unemployed at home!"

"Guess we’ll be living on unemployment benefits for a few months."

Chen Xiao felt a wave of anxiety. What was going on? He had just received his system—under no circumstances could the company shut down! If it did, he’d have to wait another year for the system to reboot.

He hadn’t minded before, but now that he had the system’s benefits, he couldn’t live without them. The thought of losing the system made him feel life would be unbearable.

Feng Feifei knocked on the table, restoring some order. She continued, "As the leader, I am responsible for the company’s predicament, but rest assured, not a single cent of your salaries will be withheld!"

She had already sold her newly renovated home at a loss—the home she’d bought with years of savings after returning to China—just to pay the staff and fund a comeback.

"I called you here to report on the company’s situation. You have stood by the company through thick and thin, and you deserve to know the real state of our finances. But don’t misunderstand: I am not announcing the company’s dissolution!"

"No money left—if we don’t dissolve, what are we waiting for?"

"Exactly, the wrong R&D direction is a fatal blow. If we need to invest in new development in the second half of the year, where will the money come from? With no product, there will be no orders for a long time. How will salaries be paid?"

The room was abuzz again. Chen Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. President Feng, as long as you don’t dissolve the company, I will work hard to add bricks and tiles to your enterprise. You must persevere and build a century-old company, and I will gladly carry bricks for you till my dying day!

Chen Xiao calculated quickly: over a century, he could amass 2,400 Diligence Points. If he earned a bonus of 100,000 yuan a year, that would amount to an extra 240 million yuan in rewards.

Two hundred and forty million? Chen Xiao was shocked by his own calculations. When he looked at Feng Feifei again, she seemed like a mountain of gold, and his imagination began to run wild.