With Xu Jing demanding money in front of others, Xiang Li couldn’t possibly admit she planned to default.

“Fine, give me a week, I’ll get you the 1000 dollars. After that, we’ll have nothing to do with each other – whether you default on debts or commit other crimes, it won’t concern me!”

Years of a relationship ending in a bitter confrontation – for most Chinese people, remaining friends after a breakup was unrealistic.

While Xu Jing felt hurt, Ma Hai shouted:

“It’s just 1000 dollars, Miss Xiang. No more installment payments. Words mean nothing – let’s show some contract spirit. We’ll write it down, and you both sign and fingerprint it!”

Xiang Li looked at Xu Jing in disbelief:

“You’re listening to him? You don’t trust me?”

Xu Jing stayed silent. He wanted to trust her, but after carelessly giving her their contact information, she had nearly destroyed their only opportunity.

Xiang Li repeated “fine” several times and wrote out an agreement to pay Xu Jing 1000 dollars within a week.

Both parties signed and fingerprinted two copies, and Xu Jing carefully stored the agreement:

“Xiang Li, I wish you well!”

After he left with Ma Hai, Xiang Li was so angry she wanted to slam the table. Her host was confused: “What’s going on?”

Xiang Li sighed: “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have accepted the car from Xu Jing. We were doing well, even planning a marriage, thinking as future family members it didn’t matter whose name the car was under. Who knew he’d suddenly want to start some entrepreneurial project? Our differences grew until we broke up. I’ve been using the car and planned to repay him in installments… You’ve heard, right? Xu Jing and Ma Hai borrow money everywhere without repaying. This time I didn’t want them scamming another junior who just arrived in New York, so I came to warn her. You saw what happened!”

The host was speechless:

“That junior lacks subtlety and sold out a good person like you! Why be so kind? These young girls fresh abroad still think America is like home, counting money for those who betray them. After a few falls, they’ll learn their lesson!”

America had so many thieves and con artists, unimaginable to those used to life in China.

Interpersonal relationships were also very cold. In China, working parents could leave their children with neighbors all day, and whoever was free would help watch them. In America, forget it – neighbors had no obligation to watch children without daycare fees!

Being helpful like Xiang Li only resulted in pleasing neither side. Over time, everyone learned to mind their own business.

Xiang Li shook her head, “That’s true, small stumbles are fine, but if she falls for this, it could be a loss of tens of thousands of dollars. I also don’t want Xu Jing and Ma Hai getting in deeper.”

“Tens of thousands…”

That was real money!

Among Chinese mainland students studying in New York, how many could produce tens of thousands of dollars these days?

Self-funded students would apply for scholarships and choose cheaper schools, often working part-time to support their expenses abroad. Having tens of thousands made one truly wealthy among Chinese international students.

“Xu Jing and Ma Hai are bold, daring to scam so much money. They’ll face legal trouble!”

Xiang Li smiled bitterly: “I’ll try again, hopefully prevent one person from being scammed and keep them out of legal trouble. I’m not looking down on them, but Xu Jing didn’t even study computer science before, how long has he been learning in America? Ma Hai convinced him to start a business… If entrepreneurship was that easy, wouldn’t America be full of rich people?”

Was earning dollars that simple?

The host strongly agreed.

Her landlord was a high school teacher with over ten years of experience, earning only $18,000 annually. Sounds like a lot? That’s pre-tax income, about $14,000 after tax, not even $1,200 monthly. The teacher’s salary covered expenses, his wife’s income paid the mortgage, plus raising two children – $1,200 barely got them by. Large purchases still required installments, and they rented out spare rooms due to financial strain.

If Americans had to work steady jobs to earn money, Xu Jing and Ma Hai’s entrepreneurial obsession seemed crazy and unreliable!

The host thought Xiang Li did the right thing.

Seemingly encouraged, Xiang Li said, “Tomorrow’s Saturday. I’ll visit Junior Xia again in the morning. I’m worried Xu Jing and Ma Hai won’t give up and will keep bothering her.”

…

Xiang Li was destined to find an empty house.

Fearing delays would bring changes, Xu Jing and Ma Hai arrived at the Wen house early. Xia Xiaolan was always an early riser, and since these two had come, she packed up to drive them out.

This time, Professor Wen and Hu Ying were also going to New York. The professor’s health had improved, and he wanted to prepare for returning to teaching, visiting Wen Manni before starting work.

Wen Manni had only visited once when picking up Xia Xiaolan, with no meetings in over a month.

It was too far for Hu Ying or Professor Wen to drive, so they hitched a ride with Xiaolan who was already heading to New York.

Xu Jing remained nervous throughout the trip, but Professor Wen, learning he had been a teacher at Beijing Normal University, chatted with him more as a fellow educators.

“How long does young Xu plan to study abroad?”

“I hope to complete my doctorate before returning home, though I’m not sure if I can achieve this goal.”

“There’s no such thing as too much education, that’s the right thinking…”

Professor Wen glanced at Xia Xiaolan – she could also continue studying at Cornell if she wanted, but she couldn’t fully focus.

Initially scared straight by McCarthy for a month.

Just as she found her rhythm at Cornell, she was already looking to do other things.

These two Chinese students seeking investment from a young girl like Xia Xiaolan – Professor Wen couldn’t stop her from spending her own money but wanted to help screen things for her.

After conversing with New York, Professor Wen had nearly reached his conclusion – Teacher Xu Jing and the somewhat impetuous Ma Hai didn’t seem like truly bad people.

“New York’s safety isn’t great. Be careful, and if you’re not staying at Manni’s, give us a call at night.”

Professor Wen’s words carried a double meaning, which Xia Xiaolan understood.

“Yes, I know. You and Aunt Hu go ahead.”

Would this couple notice that Wen Manni and her husband Klaus were separated when they visited?

Or maybe the couple had reconciled since last time?

Xia Xiaolan just hoped Professor Wen and Hu Ying had become as open-minded as Americans after living here long enough, to minimize their shock.

In Xu Jing and Ma Hai’s basement rental, Xia Xiaolan saw their so-called prototype:

A mess of cables connected to a computer monitor from who knows where. Xu Jing demonstrated the software’s effects and some samples they had tried to create.

“The theory is really simple-“

Indeed, it wasn’t difficult.

While studying in America with access to cutting-edge products, others saw novelties and excitement, but these two saw business opportunities.