The Rich Rely on Technology

Martin Li left in disgrace like a beaten dog.

May Parker was at a loss. She looked at the composed Gwen Stacy, then at Li Wei, whose anger had yet to fade.

"Mr. Li, shall I head out first?"

"Not yet. I have something to ask you."

Li Wei stopped Aunt May.

May Parker grew a little nervous, her large eyes glistening as she looked at Li Wei, her long hair spilling down her back.

"How long have you worked here?"

Li Wei motioned for Gwen to close the door, then asked kindly.

"Only a few weeks."

Hearing that kind of question, Aunt May visibly relaxed.

"And you're already so well-loved?"

Li Wei asked in surprise.

"Maybe because I'm more diligent."

May Parker said shyly.

No, it was because you were beautiful.

Li Wei smiled. "All right. I won't be coming here often in the future, but this place needs someone in charge. Do you think you can handle it?"

May felt as though immense happiness had struck her senseless. She could hardly believe it. "Me? Why?"

"Because you're diligent."

Li Wei smiled.

"Thank you, Mr. Li. You're a good person."

Hearing that, Aunt May seemed to have been pumped full of energy and immediately went out to work diligently.

To her, it did not matter whether the shelter had changed owners, as long as it did not shut down.

Li Wei had been handed a good-person card. He rubbed his nose.

It was the first time anyone had ever given him one...

"Gwen, find the subsidy documents."

Li Wei beckoned her over.

Gwen, who had been watching the show, could only come over. "Boss, weren't you a little too arrogant just now?"

Li Wei had directly confronted Martin Li, which had worried Gwen greatly.

"What was there to be afraid of?"

"I'm afraid he'll retaliate against you."

Gwen spoke seriously. She had always felt that Martin Li was strange. He made the hairs on her body stand on end and had nearly triggered her Spider-Sense.

Perhaps that was a woman's intuition.

Li Wei glanced at her and nodded. "I understand."

At the desk, Gwen searched with her back to Li Wei.

She soon found the documents.

They detailed New York City's annual homeless subsidies.

On the surface, the shelter was a social welfare organization and operated on a nonprofit basis.

But everyone knew that nonprofits were often the easiest way to make money, and they could even directly profit off America's money...

According to the Friends and Family Shelter Program launched by New York City, each family received roughly forty thousand dollars in annual subsidies, while individual homeless people received over ten thousand dollars a year.

That money was not handed directly to the homeless. Capitalists were not that kindhearted.

They merely used it as an excuse to make money.

For example, New York City would transfer money to shelters, which would then have the funds to distribute free food and provide a place to stay.

Aside from making money through the underworld, Martin Li had relied on the shelter to profit from America's money.

There were many homeless people registered with the shelter, nearly ten thousand in total.

Compared to all of New York, however, that was still a small number.

Nearly a hundred thousand people slept on the streets of New York every night...

This was Metropolis. Very nice.

Li Wei put away the documents. From now on, that money would be his to earn.

"Let's go."

"Okay."

Gwen immediately nodded. She did not want to stay here at all.

After leaving the office, May Parker happened to come over.

"Boss, there's something important."

The moment she saw Li Wei, May spoke up.

"What is it?"

Li Wei asked curiously.

May said, "The medical company we worked with before found out that the shelter had changed owners, and they immediately ended the partnership."

Upon hearing that, Li Wei knew it was a medical company under the Fisk Group.

"If they don't want to cooperate, then forget it. What were we cooperating with them for before?"

Li Wei asked.

"Many homeless people and nearby residents come here to sell blood."

May Parker had already been working here for several weeks, so she explained.

"Sell blood?"

Li Wei froze for a moment. He had forgotten that this was one of America's beautiful sights.

People across the ocean probably had never even considered selling blood.

After all, they had to mentally prepare themselves just to donate blood...

But in America, selling blood was an everyday occurrence for ordinary people.

America accounted for only five percent of the world's population, yet it made up seventy percent of the global blood market.

Ordinary people relied on selling blood to survive. Normal wages were simply not enough to support themselves.

"Then let the partnership end. We won't collect blood anymore."

Li Wei said with distaste.

He was not a vampire.

"All right."

May Parker nodded and did not say anything else.

In truth, even if these people did not come here to sell blood, they would go elsewhere.

Selling blood once could earn them several hundred dollars.

Many people had already become "addicted."

They could make money by selling blood, so why not?

In America, this sort of thing could no longer be stopped.

In Aunt May's eyes, the new boss really was a good person!

After getting into the Maybach, Li Wei said, "Go to Empire State University first."

He would drop Gwen Stacy off at school first.

Upon arriving at the university, Gwen waved. "Boss, I'll get out here."

"Study hard."

Li Wei waved her off.

He was tired too and planned to go home and rest.

Watching Gwen's figure disappear through the school gates, Li Wei closed the window and rested his eyes. "Take me home."

As the car started moving, Li Wei's thoughts drifted elsewhere.

The company was already on track, but he still had many things he could not bring out into the open.

Once the technology matures, should I get a brain-computer interface too?

Forget it. It's not that I'm afraid of pain. It just wouldn't feel original anymore.

Li Wei chose to play it safe.

As the saying went, the rich relied on technology, while the poor relied on mutation.

In a Marvel world, Li Wei needed some strength of his own.

He had the technology now, but he was hesitant when it came to upgrading himself with it.

He could not seriously embrace the idea that flesh was weak and ascend through machinery, could he?

It would be great if I could get myself an Iron Man Suit.

Li Wei thought to himself.

But Tony Stark had not even become Iron Man yet. He was still a playboy.

With Tony's current personality, Li Wei only wanted to curse him out.

Of course, people changed. Tony Stark would only become mature after going through certain experiences.

"Boss, vehicles are following you."

At that moment, the Red Queen appeared on his phone.

"I've changed the traffic lights to red, but they're still charging ahead without hesitation. Judging by the vehicle models, they should belong to Mr. Negative's Devil's Gang."

Hearing the Red Queen's analysis, Li Wei sneered.

He had not taken Gwen's warning seriously because he had already made preparations.

"Have the people been positioned?"

"They're already nearby."

The Red Queen replied.

"Then make your move."

Li Wei said.

Others might fear retaliation from gangs.

But why would a capitalist like Li Wei, a capitalist who employed a group of retired veterans as security for his company, fear a street gang?

At Li Wei's level, there was no need to control both the legal and illegal worlds. He could simply crush the illegal one.

Boom!

The next second, an explosion rang out from the street beside them.