Chapter 144: How Can You Do This?

“You country bumpkin, do you even understand science? Digging wells is illegal, and even if you do dig, you won’t get any water because it’s underground water.

But this distiller extracts water from the air. If it can extract water from the desert, do you think it can’t get water here? It’s low-cost, fast, and effective. Isn’t it better than digging a well? If you weren’t my classmates, I wouldn’t even share this benefit with you.”

Several classmates quickly did the math and realized that if they introduced 10 people, they’d break even. If those 10 each introduced 1 more, they’d earn 10 work points, which is equivalent to 5 bottles of water. If those 10 people introduced another 10, they’d earn 100 work points...

Greed and desire took over their minds. With 100 work points, what could they do? They could buy 50 bottles of water, or 50 servings of white rice, and never have to eat maggots again. If they worked hard enough, they could drink as much water as they wanted and even eat white rice every day. How amazing would that life be?

Jing Shu saw in their eyes the same look she had in her previous life. Despite thinking about whether it was a scam or whether there were really no free lunches, Zhang Ling Ling’s next words dispelled all their doubts.

Zhang Ling Ling pulled out her phone and opened the *Overwhelming World* app:

“What are you hesitating for? Our company is legitimate. Download this app, then register... There are just over 20 of you, so split into five groups. One person buys first, then shares the invite code with the others. You’ll save 4 work points. If you don’t have enough work points, write an IOU. I’ll cover you first, but there’s a 1-point interest.”

What Zhang Ling Ling said convinced the remaining doubters, and they began asking about the process and how to go about it.

“Just scan my invite code and download the app. After that, go to the supermarket and transfer the work points from your account. If you don’t have enough, I’ll lend you the difference.

Then you can come to my house to get the distiller, and you’ll be able to share your own invite codes and introduce others. Every successful purchase will have the work points credited to your account.”

Hearing that even work points could be borrowed reassured everyone further. After all, if it were a scam, why would she lend them work points? Besides, they’d known each other for years—there’s no way she’d scam them, right?

Due to severe inflation, the government had implemented virtual currency, used only for purchasing food and water, though limited transactions were now allowed, but only at supermarket transaction zones.

At this point, Wang Chao asked, “This virtual currency is just in the app, right? We can’t use it at the supermarket or buy food with it.”

Zhang Ling Ling replied, “The government hasn’t opened virtual currency for trade yet, but it will next year. Once you accumulate 10 work points, come to me, and I’ll help you exchange them at the supermarket.”

Zhang Ling Ling had everything planned out, and everyone calculated that this was a 100% guaranteed way to earn work points. They all eagerly downloaded the app Zhang Ling Ling mentioned. After all, money was no longer useful, and they didn’t worry about viruses. They followed the steps she outlined.

The app was simple, mostly just showing who you had introduced, how many virtual points you had earned, your current balance, and a reservation option for withdrawing points. It was straightforward, giving everyone the illusion that money was multiplying.

Then, the group headed to the supermarket to transfer their virtual points to Zhang Ling Ling’s account.

For most families, owning a few virtual points was considered good. But these classmates, mostly having seven or eight points, were ready to borrow the rest to reach the full 16 points needed to pay Zhang Ling Ling.

“Jing Shu, Yao Zixin, aren’t you going to buy one?” After counting the participants, Zhang Ling Ling noticed that everyone had purchased except for these two. She frowned. “Everyone else is doing it. What’s the deal with you two?”

This was a classic case of using peer pressure. Yao Zixin coughed awkwardly and said, “Alright, I’ll get one too.”

The group quieted down and turned to look at Jing Shu, with expressions ranging from doubt to jealousy and disdain.

In her previous life, Jing Shu also fantasized about earning virtual points, drinking water, and eating white rice. But what was the outcome?

Her uncle's family and Su Mei Mei’s family, each of whom had bought one of these distillers, spent 60 work points in total. They brought in their friends and relatives to buy the product.

They finally managed to recoup 20 virtual points, but there was a problem—the distiller produced less water than a sip of saliva.

Her uncle and Su Mei Mei’s family noticed the issue too, but for their own benefit, they claimed the distiller worked fine and continued bringing in people.

When Jing Shu stood up and said it was a pyramid scheme scam, she was attacked by those who were trying to protect their own interests. They all claimed their distillers were working, ganging up on her until she left the group.

Later, the shortage of water ended thanks to the activation of the artificial sun. However, many people in Wucheng had already spent 20 work points recruiting others, and when the water shortage ended, they couldn’t find new recruits, losing their investment.

The scandal became so big that the government stepped in and shut it down, but it was too late.

One percent of people earned thousands of work points, ten percent earned back their 20 points, while everyone else lost out. Those who had earned virtual points had already spent them on water and food.

Because of this, Su Mei Mei’s family blamed Jing Shu, saying she had dragged them into a scam, costing them 60 work points without breaking even.

Now, Zhang Ling Ling asked her, "What’s the deal?"

Jing Shu replied, “These distillers don’t produce much water daily, so I won’t buy one. If I introduce it to friends and they’re unhappy, they’ll blame me.”

Jing Shu wanted to expose the scam, but surely, there were smart people in the group, right? Yes, there were.

Some people in the group didn’t even lack water, but they still bought the distiller, hoping to earn the 2 work points by introducing others.

She also remembered how extreme the reactions had been when she tried to reveal the scam in her past life.

This was as much as she could warn them.

“Jing Shu’s right,” Mu Xiaoxuan said. “I heard that solar distillers need sunlight and moisture from the air. With no sunlight and little moisture in the air, how will it distill water? I’ll pass.”

Mu Xiaoxuan’s words broke Zhang Ling Ling’s smile. “Mu Xiaoxuan, you’ve already registered on the app, and I’ve already submitted your details. The 20 virtual points have been deducted, so you can’t back out. You can introduce others to buy it.”

“But if the product doesn’t work, wouldn’t I be scamming them?” Mu Xiaoxuan shook his head. “I don’t have any work points left, so I’ll pass.”

Wang Chao, frustrated, said, “Mu Xiaoxuan, if you back out, I’ll lose my 2 work points, and Xie Zihao will lose 1 work point. How can you do this?”

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*Side Note:*

Thanks to o佞o for the reward!