Chapter 59: Will He Know the Value of Money?

If it’s merely 1.5 billion, then for a prestigious family like the Xu family, it’s not much.

The Xu family’s business empire is extensive, encompassing jewelry, gold, and cosmetics. Although most of these industries were inherited from the previous generation and some were distributed from the main Xu family, an eighteen-year-old possessing 1.5 billion is still an extraordinary concept.

It’s important to understand that most of the Xu family’s assets are immovable properties that cannot be liquidated easily, and they have limited liquid capital. The entire Xu family, when fully accounted for, can only muster a few billion in liquid assets.

This is already an enormous concept!

Yet, Xu Mo took only a few months to start a business and created a 1.5 billion company. Whether in Xiahai City or in the capital, this is undoubtedly a miracle.

You must realize that he’s only eighteen, just freshly graduated from high school.

“Boss, you can’t be serious, right? Someone like him can create a 1.5 billion company?” Xie Bingyan looked at Xu Wanting with a face full of disbelief.

Xu Deming frowned and said, “Was he scammed? Who financed him?”

Hearing this, Xie Bingyan immediately turned serious: “Eldest, you better explain clearly what’s going on! Xu Mo, that unfilial son, could never build a 1.5 billion company. I know him; he’s simply incapable! Who deceived him? Is someone targeting our Xu family?”

“No!” Xu Wanting hurriedly responded to the comments, “Xu Mo undertook a project, and it was very successful. Recently, he secured funding, and he’s still working on this project!”

“What kind of project can make 1.5 billion in just two or three months? Do you not understand, or do I not understand? This isn’t fifteen yuan, nor a hundred fifty, but 1.5 billion! Are you telling me he made 1.5 billion in just two or three months? With his abilities?”

Xie Bingyan was furious, utterly disbelieving such a claim.

This was simply absurd.

Xu Deming remained silent, gravely staring at Xu Wanting.

“His project is called bike-sharing, also known as the web-based sharing economy^[1]The sharing economy refers to the sum of economic activities that utilize modern information technology such as the Internet, with the sharing of usage rights as the main feature, to integrate … Continue reading. It’s already widespread, covering most of Xiahai City! No one deceived him; many people have high hopes for this project!” Xu Wanting hastily explained when she saw the disbelief.

“Sharing economy? What’s that?” Xie Bingyan turned to look at Xu Deming.

Xu Deming, who hadn’t heard of it either, replied gravely, “Eldest, you need to explain clearly what’s going on! What do you mean by the web-based  sharing economy? Is it a pyramid scheme?”

“Pyramid scheme?” Xie Bingyan’s face instantly turned icy as she angrily gritted her teeth, “I knew he wasn’t up to any good. I knew he was useless and couldn’t succeed at anything! So he’s involved in something illegal! This unfilial son is driving me mad. How dare he get involved in a pyramid scheme?”

“No, it’s not that! Xu Mo’s project isn’t illegal; it’s bike-sharing, a type of bicycle!” Xu Wanting hurriedly explained.

“A bicycle? What kind of bicycle project can make 1.5 billion? Do you think I’m a three-year-old?” Xie Bingyan exploded in anger. “Stop making excuses for him. I know all about this! Ever since he came to our Xu family, he’s never had a peaceful day, and it’s the same now!”

Hearing these words, Xu Wanting felt suffocated.

In the past, when Xu Mo was with the Xu family, he likely faced such accusations and prejudices most of the time.

He clearly had excellent grades and was highly talented in many areas, but the family always felt he had too many bad habits and was like mud that couldn’t stick to the wall.

But now, Xu Mo had succeeded. He had successfully realized his past dreams and owned his own company and office.

Even in this situation, Xie Bingyan and Xu Deming still didn’t believe in him.

Xu Wanting felt her eyes welling up again and sniffed, then patiently explained to the two of them.

“First of all, Xu Mo is not involved in a pyramid scheme; it has nothing to do with that! What he’s doing is a project called the sharing economy. It’s about sharing his bicycles for others to use!”

“Secondly, right now, there are many small yellow bicycles on the street outside the Fu Yi Hospital. They are very noticeable, and those bicycles are from Xu Mo’s company! After securing funding, the company has grown rapidly, and it’s said that they have now spread across the entire Xiahai City!”

“Thirdly, Mom and Dad, you shouldn’t be prejudiced. The Web-based sharing economy is an emerging economic model, which Xu Mo brought up and is currently trending! Xu Mo once explained the concept of the sharing economy at an investor meeting, receiving a lot of applause. Several investors are very confident in the viability of this economy!”

“So, this is why he doesn’t come home or visit us? He thinks he’s really grown wings now?” Xie Bingyan angrily retorted after hearing the explanation.

“He might be very busy with work and doesn’t have the time!”

“Busy with work? What work is more important than parents? Xu Wanting, don’t make excuses for him. I see him as an ungrateful wretch!” Xie Bingyan fumed. “Even if he can really run a 1.5 billion company, so what? He’s heartless and ungrateful, and he’ll always be a failure!”

Xu Wanting fell silent and turned to look at Xu Deming.

Xu Deming frowned and asked, “Wanting, when did you find out about this?”

“I found out a few days ago. Shuying told me! She just found out recently too!” Xu Wanting spoke up.

“If it’s a 1.5 billion company and not illegal, then we need to take a good look at it! I’m worried someone’s targeting him to harm our Xu family!”

“It’s definitely someone targeting our Xu family!” Xie Bingyan gritted her teeth. “If he goes bankrupt and can’t compensate, won’t it be our Xu family’s loss? Xu Deming, your son is a failure! He’s utterly useless!”

“I looked at the reports, and Xu Mo’s company is doing very well. It’s unlikely to collapse in the short term. They’ve reportedly deployed five to six hundred thousand bicycles, and they’re all over Xiahai City!”

“Five to six hundred thousand bicycles? Placed on the streets?” Xu Deming’s face grew serious.

Xu Wanting nodded. “Yes! They’re on the streets near the Fu yi Hospital and also at the subway station. There are a lot of them!”

“Isn’t he afraid they’ll be stolen?” Xu Deming stared at Xu Wanting.

Xu Wanting shook her head. “Some people have asked him these questions, but he said not to worry, he believes no one will take his bicycles! But I did see in the reports that some of his bicycles have indeed been stolen!”

“I knew it! I knew it!” Xie Bingyan cursed angrily. “This wastrel must be up to no good! What Web-based sharing economy? I’ve never heard of it! Those investors are targeting him to trap our Xu family, to drag us down! This unfilial son is driving me mad!”

Xu Wanting couldn’t answer this question and could only look to Xu Deming for help, hoping he could make the right judgment.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Deming said, “Wait a moment. Let me make a call to find out what’s really going on.”

With that, he walked over to the window, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

He should be calling one of the company’s vice presidents.

As a leader in the jewelry industry, Xu Deming had many contacts, and he himself was a very good angel investor.

Soon, Xu Deming got the information he wanted and looked back at Xu Wanting.

“When did Xu Mo start this?”

“It should be several months ago! But he probably secured funding about ten days ago!”

“This project carries a lot of risks, and many things are uncontrollable! Xu Mo’s efforts to succeed must be very difficult!” Xu Deming thought for a moment and remarked.

Xu Wanting face froze.

“I don’t understand why you brought him back from the orphanage! You could have just left him there!” Xu Wanting said, her eyes reddening.

“What nonsense are you talking about, Eldest? He’s already out of control. If we didn’t bring him back, wouldn’t he be even more out of control? Let me tell you, none of you should speak up for him! I’ve figured it out now. This unfilial son returning to our Xu family is purely to settle scores!” Xie Bingyan cursed. With that, she struggled to get up from the bed. “Where is he now? Take me to see him! If I don’t give him a good lesson this time, my name isn’t Xie!”

“Mom, how can you still discipline him now? Xu Mo is an adult! He’s already an adult!” Xu Wanting suddenly burst into tears.

“If I don’t discipline him, who knows what other mischief he’ll get into that could harm our Xu family! This bike-sharing thing, I think it’s just a scam! Maybe he’s just swindling money from investors!” Xie Bingyan angrily retorted.

“Mom, how can you see it like that? I’ve told you, this is a legitimate project. Despite the risks, Xu Mo has really made it happen! Why don’t you believe in him?” Xu Wanting cried.

“How can I believe in him? You tell me it’s 1.5 billion, but who knows if he’ll be bankrupt tomorrow! If he owes money outside, who’s going to bail him out? Isn’t it going to be our Xu family bailing him out?” Xie Bingyan stared angrily at Xu Wanting.

Xu Wanting felt suffocated, unable to hold back any longer. She cried out, “Mom! What has our Xu family ever given him? Mom, you said yourself, you only give him five hundred bucks a month for living expenses! Five hundred bucks! Not even enough to buy a decent pair of shoes! Xu Mo had to take on extra jobs for days just to afford a pair of shoes! He doesn’t even have a decent pair of shoes at our Xu family’s place. What have you given him? And now you’re saying this!”

Xie Bingyan glared at Xu Wanting, “Wanting, did he drug you with some kind of potion? Making you talk to me like this? If I don’t do this, will he know the value of money?”