The year I graduated, I don’t know where I got the courage from, but I borrowed tens of thousands of dollars and ran to a pyramid scheme den by myself, and almost participated in the "1040 Sunshine Project."

This project was recommended to me by my good friend from high school. He said that if I invested 69,800 yuan, I could earn 10.4 million yuan in one year, which was a guaranteed profit.

One day after graduation, I received a call from my high school best friend Wang Xiaoshuai. He asked me how I was doing. I thought he was short of money again, but he said, "Brother, I have a big project that can make 10.4 million a year. Are you interested?"

I was making less than 3,000 yuan a month at the time, so I was very excited when I heard this: “Is this true? Is this reliable?”

"Damn it! We have known each other for so many years, how can I harm you? Come and inspect it, I will pay for the travel expenses!"

I was a little surprised to see Wang Xiaoshuai being so rich, so I asked him where he was in City A. It happened that I had other friends there too, so I could stop by to visit him.

I did what I said. The next day I bought a plane ticket and flew to City A.

I first went to meet another gaming friend, Wei Ge.

I met Wei Ge when I was playing Dota. We have been online friends for 5 years, but we have never met.

After getting off the plane, I sent him a WeChat message and asked him where he was. He said on the other end of the phone:

"The one on your right with the least hair is me!"

I turned around and saw a bald man in the crowd on the right, holding a phone and smiling at me.

I couldn't help but ask, "That bald guy over there smiling foolishly at me, isn't that you?"

"It's your grandpa, come here quickly!"

It was the first time we met as netizens, but it felt like old friends.

Wei Ge took me to a restaurant, and after three rounds of drinks, I took the address Wang Xiaoshuai sent me and asked him, "Brother, can you help me see if this place is far?"

Wei Ge is an old native. He just took a glance and said, "This place? It takes three hours to get there. There is no one around. We usually call this a rural area."

"Why, you want to go here?" he asked me.

I nodded.

Wei Ge laughed and said, "There are a lot of people doing MLM here. Are you going to join one?"

Wei Ge's words immediately clicked in my mind, and I suddenly understood what Wang Xiaoshuai meant by 10.4 million.

I thought to myself, "Shit, this guy is not trying to trick me!"

Seeing my expression change, Wei Ge also became serious: "No way, I was right?"

I told Wei Ge what Wang Xiaoshuai had told me. He took a big bite of the mutton skewer and said:

"Brother, your friend is obviously involved in a pyramid scheme. It's called the 1040 Project. It's been going on for years and it specifically defrauds people from other places. Don't go. Just call your friend and tell him what to do."

I am quite touched that Wei Ge cares about me so much.

But now that I'm here, it's not my style not to go. Besides, I'm a psychologist after all. I really don't believe that anyone can brainwash me!

I said to Wei Ge, "Brother, I must go this time. He is my good friend from high school. I have to go and see him."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade me, Wei Ge said, "You can go. When you get there, send me your address. If you lose contact, I will call the police for you."

"no problem."

After eating and drinking, we went to the Internet cafe to have some fun.

The next morning, I took a bus to Wang Xiaoshuai's place.

After taking the subway, changing to two buses, and walking for another ten minutes, I finally arrived at my destination.

It was a fairly new neighborhood. When I arrived, it was almost 12 noon and people were coming in and out from time to time.

Wang Xiaoshuai picked me up at the gate of the community. I hadn't seen him for about a year and he had gained weight.

He saw me at once and waved to me in front of the fountain.

I walked up to him and said with a smile, "You are doing well, have you gained weight again?"

He didn't care: "I can't help it, my life is too regular, this is healthy fat."

I didn't have breakfast and was starving: "Hurry up, take me to get a meal first, I'm starving."

Wang Xiaoshuai chuckled: "Come home with me to eat, someone will cook!"

I was a little confused: "It's been less than a year, and you've even found a wife?"

"No, no, I don't have that ability. We're just friends who I live with."

I followed Wang Xiaoshuai into the community. When we passed the fountain, he suddenly asked me:

"Brother Hai, do you know why this fountain has five holes?"

I looked at the fountain reflecting rainbows in the sunlight and replied without thinking: "How would I know? It was designed by a designer!"

"Haha, maybe."

Wang Xiaoshuai agreed with me in a rather mysterious way. Later I found out that there was a hidden meaning behind his words.

I followed him, turning left and right, into a building, and we got off the elevator on the 6th floor. He took out the key and opened a door at the end.

When I walked into the room, it was not too hot in May and the room did not have air conditioning on, but it still felt cool.

The living room was very bright, and there were already a few dishes on the table. I couldn't help but say, "Wang Xiaoshuai, you're great, this place is quite big!"

Wang Xiaoshuai was silent. When he heard our voices, a clear voice came from the kitchen: "Brother Wang, is your friend here?"

Wang Xiaoshuai responded, and a blue figure walked out of the kitchen like a cool breeze in summer.

The young lady was wearing a Garfield apron, holding a bowl of braised pork in her hand, her face was red. She just glanced at me, and I felt like my heart skipped a beat.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting." said the young lady with a smile.

"No, no, we just got back."

We sat down at the table, and Wang Xiaoshuai pointed at the young lady and said, "This is Zi Han, and this is Fang Hai, my good friend."

I nodded gently to Zi Han, and she blinked her big eyes and greeted me.

"Brother Fang, it's your first time here. I'll make some soup."

Before I could say anything, she went back to the kitchen.

I whispered to Wang Xiaoshuai, "Fuck, you're so lucky... you're really lucky."

Wang Xiaoshuai said softly, "Brother Hai, you think too much. We don't allow dating here, so don't talk nonsense."

"Huh? What on earth are you doing with such a weird rule?"

We didn't talk for long when Zi Han came out with a big bowl. The three of us sat around the table. Wang Xiaoshuai opened a bottle of beer and said, "Come on, let's have a drink together!"

"Brother Fang, you're welcome. Try my cooking." Zi Han also said.

My stomach was empty, so when I heard this, I picked up the bowl and started eating.

The three of us were eating and chatting, and I casually asked, "Zi Han, do you work here?"

Zi Han picked up a string bean and said, "I'm here to participate in the project just like Brother Wang."

I couldn't help but ask, "Participating in a project again, what the hell is this project?"

Wang Xiaoshuai said, "Why are you in such a hurry? I'll take you to class tomorrow and you'll understand everything."

I thought to myself, isn’t it just a pyramid scheme? Why is it so formal?

In line with the principle of not alerting the enemy, I said nothing more and finished my meal happily.

There was nothing else to do that day, so we watched TV in the room. During the conversation, I learned that this house was allocated by the "organization" and it only cost 400 yuan per person per month. Wang Xiaoshuai currently shares the house with Zi Han.

I happened to be here, so the remaining room belongs to me.

Wang Xiaoshuai said that he had finally helped me contact a "teacher" who would give me a lesson tomorrow and asked me to prepare first.

But what I was thinking about was how I could get him out.

In the evening, I sent a WeChat message to Wei Ge, telling him not to worry for the time being as the highlight would be tomorrow.

The next morning at 7:30, Wang Xiaoshuai knocked on my door.

"What are you doing so early in the morning?" I asked him, opening the door.

"Eat breakfast. Early to bed and early to rise is good for your health."

"What's wrong with you? I've never seen you get up at 9 o'clock before."

"Brother, this is the fine tradition of the Organization. You have to start getting used to it!" he said.

I couldn't do anything about him, so I had to rub my eyes and wash them.

After breakfast, he took me to another building through many twists and turns. The elevator went up more than ten floors before stopping. I followed him into a house.

The person who greeted me was a young lady who looked only a few years older than me. She was wearing a light yellow dress and looked quite elegant and intellectual.

I thought to myself, this is the "teacher" who teaches me? Is he going to use a "honey trap" on me? I am a hot-blooded young man, and I can't control myself!

The young lady led us to the living room and poured us tea. Wang Xiaoshuai sat obediently on the sofa and seemed quite respectful to her.

I looked indifferent. I came here to expose the lies of the pyramid scheme organization and save Wang Xiaoshuai from danger. How could I be tempted by beauty!

The young lady sat down and said softly, "Xiao Shuai, have you introduced our organization to your friends before?"

Wang Xiaoshuai said, "Sister Lan, he just came yesterday and I didn't have time to tell him."

Sister Lan took a sip of tea and looked at me. I looked up at her. This woman seemed to have hooks in her eyes. I felt like I was trapped in them at first sight.

"You are Xiao Fang, right?" she asked me.

"Yes, hello, Sister Lan."

"Have you heard of the 1040 Sunshine Project?" she continued to ask.

"No."

"In 1978, when Secretary Deng visited the south, he put forward such a slogan..."

Sister Lan began to tell me the history of the 1040 Sunshine Project, from reform and opening up to the development of the western region, from common prosperity to a well-off society.

In a trance, I felt as if the person sitting opposite me was not a young lady, but the secretary of our school.

In addition to citing evidence, she occasionally asked for my opinion. Although I found some loopholes in her words, I just agreed calmly. In short, she told me a lot of history that I couldn't verify (my history is really bad), and took out a few books and showed me the information related to the 1040 Sunshine Project in the books, trying to prove the rationality of this matter to me.

After a long while, she suddenly asked me, "Xiao Fang, what is your major?"

"Applied Psychology from XX University." I replied.

"What a coincidence! I'm a law graduate student at X University. Come to think of it, I'm your senior."

This is probably just a rhetoric, I thought to myself.

Sister Lan continued, "I fell in love with this project two years ago and thought it was very reliable, so I came here. Xiao Fang, you must not give up this good opportunity."

I was assigned to the law major when I was a freshman. When I heard that she was also studying law, I followed her topic and started chatting with her. I didn't expect that she actually had a legal background.

I asked her tentatively, "Sister Lan, is this thing legal?"

Sister Lan smiled and said, "Whether it is legal or not, it is not up to us to decide. It is up to the country to decide. I have just told you so much, don't you know whether it is legal or not?"

I still had some doubts, but Sister Lan seemed tired, and said to Wang Xiaoshuai, "Xiaoshuai, I'll leave it at that for now. If you have any questions, you can ask me later."

Wang Xiaoshuai responded in a low voice, I added Sister Lan on WeChat, and then Wang Xiaoshuai took me away.

This was only the first class, and then we changed to another building, where I was greeted by a middle-aged man.

The uncle was a man of action. He drew a diagram called "Five-level Ternary System" on a piece of paper, densely filled with various numbers. He pointed to a number 69800 and told

He told me: "Xiao Fang, look here, it's only 69,800 yuan now, but next year, it will suddenly become 10.4 million! This is the magical value of the 1040 Sunshine Project!"

Let me pause for a moment to explain to you what the five-level ternary system is: to put it simply, if you pull in 3 people you can upgrade 1 level, and if each of the 3 people you pull in pulls in 3 people, you can upgrade another level, so there are a total of 5 levels. When you reach level 5, you can get 10.4 million.

Hearing this, I immediately became defensive and asked, "Uncle, isn't this a pyramid scheme?"

"How is that possible! MLM has a pyramid structure, and ours has a trapezoidal structure, how can they be the same?"

"But they are all recruiting people, the essence is the same."

The uncle didn't seem angry at all, and said with excitement: "There is a huge difference. Let me ask you, when you came here, did you see the building opposite the community?"

I shook my head to indicate that I hadn't noticed.

"That's the xx bureau (a government agency). Go and see for yourself later. If we were pyramid schemes, why didn't the police come to arrest us?"

I can't answer this question. Maybe the police don't have enough evidence.

The uncle added, "MLMs will restrict personal freedom, but you still have your phone and money. If you don't believe me, you can leave at any time. If we are a MLM, how can we let you chat with me freely?"

Indeed, this is also something that confuses me.

"Finally, you have seen the situation in the community. Everyone lives in harmony and goes to bed early and gets up early. This is the meaning of our work together! We help each other and make progress together. A good organization can cultivate excellent talents. We are a big family and a big collective full of love, not a cold institution."

I remembered the scene of Wang Xiaoshuai getting up so early in the morning. After hearing these words, I was a little shaken. The uncle grasped my last sore spot and continued, "Besides, we don't want your money. Most of it has actually been given to the country for "investment". Let wealth create more wealth, which is what we really want to do!"

Wang Xiaoshuai beside me also added at the right time: "Yes, Brother Hai, let me tell you, we also have subsidies every month. I received 2,000 yuan last month!"

The uncle talked for a long time, and his mouth was dry. He asked me, "How is it, Xiao Fang, do you have any other questions?"

The uncle's three consecutive questions made me dumbfounded. At that time, I suddenly had an idea and asked the uncle: "If that's the case, then there should be a lot of people who earned 10.4 million, right?"

The uncle waved his hand and said, "There are so many. Last year, tens of millions of people withdrew from the "Shangzong". Just think about the scale. We have people all over the country. Common prosperity is..."

The uncle was still talking, but I silently calculated in my mind. Tens of millions of people, each getting 10.4 million, the minimum would be 100 trillion.

But to get 10.4 million, each person needs to recruit about 300 people, with each person investing 69,800 yuan.

For one person to succeed, he needs 300 people to help him. If tens of millions of people get 10.4 million every year, then at least 3 billion people are needed!

The uncle said that this organization has existed for decades. According to such data, everyone in China should be a wealthy person.

Thinking of this, I looked at every number the uncle wrote on the paper and suddenly felt scared.

He said so much, but in the end he didn't get around one point: this does not create value, its essence is still passing the parcel, the first comer to come sits on the dead body of the later comer and reaps the fruits of their labor!

No matter what the answers to the questions the uncle asked are, the essence of this matter is nothing more than a money game!

A general's success is the result of the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers. Even if he earned 10.4 million, that money was stained with blood and tears!

Suddenly, I understood everything!

Wang Xiaoshuai saw that I was not showing any enthusiasm, so he quickly said, "How about it, brother, let's do it together?"

I looked at his eyes, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.

I nodded slightly, and he thought I agreed, and smiled happily, "I knew you were reliable!"

I went out with Wang Xiaoshuai in a daze. He finally dealt with me and he was very happy.

We walked slowly to the gate of the community. A large number of people came in from outside the community. Most of them had serious expressions and walked hurriedly. Most of them were middle-aged people between 30 and 40 years old, both men and women.

Wang Xiaoshuai patted my shoulder and said, "Look, brother, these people are all here to do the project. So many people believe in the 1040 Sunshine Project. Are they all fools?"

I didn't answer, I just felt sad. Everyone does it, so it's right, right?

Standing in front of the community fountain, Wang Xiaoshuai began to speak directly to me for the first time:

The five openings of the fountain represent the number 5 in the five-level ternary system; the layered platform under the fountain has three layers, representing the number 3 in the five-level ternary system; the xx Bureau opposite represents national support; the development zone where we are located has so many people in the community, which not only drives the local economic development, but also reflects the country's secret "investment".

He said a lot, but I didn’t know where my heart was wandering.

In order to make a lie come true and satisfy their own selfish interests, people do not hesitate to fabricate numerous lies to cover it up, and yet so many people still believe them.

This world is too magical and too sad. In the rushing crowd, I felt my weakness and powerlessness for the first time.

I asked Wang Xiaoshuai, "What if someone can't recruit any downline members and thus loses a lot of money?"

Wang Xiaoshuai said, "No, our organization is a family that helps and loves each other. Only when everyone has settled their subordinates well, can they move up!"

"What if this really happens?" I still insisted.

He lowered his head and thought for a while: "Then there is nothing we can do. They are not capable enough. The organization has already given them a lot of help. Besides, with our abilities, if we can make more money, we can go to the headquarters and withdraw next year, and we won't encounter such a thing!"

It turns out that the Wang Xiaoshuai whom I had always thought was dull and kind-hearted had already deeply understood the essence of the matter. Not only was he not stupid, he also thought very clearly.

Sadly, he was eyeing the 10.4 million, but others were eyeing the 69,800 in his pocket.

When we got home, Zi Han had already prepared lunch for us. She was not at home. Wang Xiaoshuai said that she was probably visiting a client.

She and Wang Xiaoshuai came at the same time. In less than a month, Zi Han already had two clients. With one more, she would be promoted to the next level.

After dinner, I slept for a while and woke up at about 3 o'clock.

When I walked out of the room, I found that both of them had left. Wang Xiaoshuai left a note on the table, asking me to go around by myself while he went to visit clients.

I washed my face in the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I felt my head was very tired. A lot of seemingly plausible knowledge was spinning wildly in my mind, making it difficult for me to judge what was true and what was false.

I received a WeChat message on my mobile phone from an internet user named "Konggu Youlan", which is Sister Lan's WeChat.

Sister Lan: "Xiao Fang, I want to discuss some project details with you. Please come over."

Me: "What details? Can't we talk about it on WeChat?"

Sister Lan: "It's hard to explain on WeChat, just come over, I'm already downstairs at your place."

Me: “Okay then.”

I felt a little nervous and thought that I might not be able to handle Sister Lan. That woman was too cunning.

But they were already downstairs, and it would be embarrassing if I didn't go. I hurried downstairs. Sister Lan had already changed into a black long skirt with a slit at the thigh, revealing her seductive thighs.

I walked over slowly and asked, "What's the matter, Sister Lan?"

Sister Lan put on a pair of sunglasses and walked forward: "Let's talk while we walk."

I thought about it and decided that I had nothing to be afraid of.

After walking for a while, I thought we were almost at Sister Lan's building. She suddenly asked me:

"Xiao Fang, have you bought a car?"

I shook my head: "Sister Lan, I just graduated, how can I afford a car?"

"Can you drive?"

"I just learned how to drive, so I guess I got a driver's license."

Sister Lan was standing next to a blue BMW downstairs and suddenly said, "How about I give you a car?"

I felt a little dizzy and didn't react for a moment: "Send me a car? Sister Lan, did I hear it right?"

"Of course, all these cars here are mine."

Sister Lan pointed to a row of lanes on the opposite parking lot and said, "If you like, you can pick one."

I looked at the row of colorful cars. Looking around, I saw a Mercedes-Benz S, a BMW five series, and I even saw a Porsche.

I was stunned for a moment as to where this woman came from.

"No, no, your car is too expensive. I won't accept the gift without any merit."

Sister Lan didn’t say anything else, but just walked into the building. I followed her. This time we didn’t go to the previous room, but stopped on the 10th floor.

I'm used to it. It seems she has quite a few houses.

The room was still furnished in a similar way, but this time it was just her and me.

I didn't bother to be polite with her and asked directly, "Sister Lan, what exactly did you want me to do?"

Sister Lan sat on the white sofa and lit a cigarette. Her temperament was very different from when I first met her. She threw the lighter back on the coffee table, making a series of "clicking" sounds.

"Xiao Fang, I know that deep down you don't believe in the 1040 Sunshine Project at all."

These words stirred up waves in my heart, and I tried to control myself and remain silent.

She blew out a smoke ring and said slowly, "Actually, I don't believe it either."

When she said this, she kept looking into my eyes, which made me feel a little guilty. I also asked, "Sister Lan, if you don't believe it, then why are you still here?"

Sister Lan didn't say anything. She threw the cigarette into the glass, then gently pulled open the coffee table. The coffee table could be separated from both sides, and there was a large storage space in the middle, which was filled with stacks of RMB.

"Because of this." She said lightly, and her tone seemed as if the money did not belong to her.

But it is true that the money, after all, was not hers.

The first time I saw so much money was not in a movie, but in real life. The money belonged to a woman who was only a few years older than me. At that moment, my three views were strongly impacted. Looking back on it now, I can't help but exclaim "Wow".

"Sister Lan, what do you mean?" I asked her.

"You are a smart person and you studied psychology. You have a bright future in the organization. I don't need to say more."

At that time, I had just graduated and was still young. I didn’t look that good, but I thought it must be my appearance and knowledge that impressed the other person.

"Sister Lan, I'm not short of money."

"Oh?" She laughed. "You can control yourself even with so much money in front of you. I underestimated you."

"No, you want something else?"

Sister Lan closed the coffee table, supported it with both hands, and leaned towards me.

I swear, I just took a glance at it, but that one glance was enough to make me unable to leave.

I felt a little dry in the mouth, and my tongue was a little knotted: "Sister Lan, I really... am not interested."

"It's okay, you can think about it again, there's no rush."

Sister Lan sat back on the sofa and lit a new cigarette.

"As long as you join, I will support you with half of your share."

Let me explain here, the membership fee of 69,800 yuan is for 20 copies, each copy is 3,490, and one copy can also be used for membership. If I give 34,900, Sister Lan will help me pay another 34,900. This is a one-for-one subsidy. The more money I pay, the higher my level can become, the more money I get, and the more authority I have.

Sister Lan’s suggestion was indeed very attractive, but I was a pauper at the time and could only borrow money from Wei Ge if I wanted to stay. I was very worried that I would become like Wang Xiaoshuai and end up going along with them.

Sister Lan wanted to say something else, but I felt like I couldn’t stay any longer.

I didn't agree to her directly. I responded with a few random words and said I would go back and think about it carefully and get back to her later.

Then he found an excuse and hurried out the door.

I walked out of the room, and what Sister Lan said to me echoed in my mind: a car, so much money, and... so much more.

A few more days passed, and Wang Xiaoshuai kept brainwashing me. Finally, I couldn't stand his nagging anymore, so I borrowed 40,000 yuan from Wei Ge and decided to give it a try.

I returned to the room, opened WeChat, and sent this message to Sister Lan: Sister Lan, I have thought it through. I will follow you from now on. I will invest in 10 shares first, and you will help me invest in 10 shares.

Early the next morning, Wang Xiaoshuai came to my room and asked me to get up.

I opened my phone and saw that Sister Lan and Wei Ge had both replied to my WeChat messages.

Sister Lan replied: Not bad, I’m rooting for you.

Wei Ge’s reply was: Forwarded.

I looked at the balance in my bank card and silently thanked Viagra in my heart.

Although I have known him online for more than 5 years, I really didn’t know he was so generous (I later found out that his family is very wealthy)!

While washing up, I said to Wang Xiaoshuai, "Xiaoshuai, I've decided to join the club."

He seemed a little surprised: "Brother Hai, are you serious? Have you figured it out?"

I nodded. "Of course! I keep my word."

"That's great. I'll ask later when the initiation ceremony will be held and take you in then!"

"What? You guys have a ceremony for joining the sect?"

Wang Xiaoshuai said: "Of course, we have to have a sense of ceremony. After all, this is a major project supported by the country!"

Then he went out, and about an hour later, Wang Xiaoshuai came back.

"Done?" I asked him.

"Well, it's done. There will be a general meeting on Saturday afternoon, and it will be held together with the induction ceremony for new members. Brother Hai, you can just come with me then."

In the following days, I either watched TV at home or went out for a stroll. Zi Han and Wang Xiaoshuai were like hardworking little bees. They got up on time every day, did morning lessons, visited clients, studied theories... I was stunned by what I saw.

On Friday night, Sister Lan transferred the money to my bank card, and Wang Xiaoshuai accompanied me to the ATM to withdraw the money.

Looking at his expression, I knew that it must be Sister Lan who asked him to monitor me and not give me the chance to run away.

But I didn't mean to run away at all, so he could do whatever he wanted.

Wang Xiaoshuai said that cash would be used during the meeting and asked me to remember to bring it with me tomorrow.

I remember this sentence clearly because I fell asleep with that stack of money as my pillow that night!

Soon, Saturday finally arrived.

The meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday. Wang Xiaoshuai took me around the community, from the ground to the underground garage, and finally entered a small door. Inside the door was a freight elevator. There were already quite a few people standing in front of the freight elevator. Many of them were holding bags like us, and I guess they were full of RMB.

Everyone was silent, expressionless, and looked very serious.

After waiting for a few minutes, the freight elevator finally arrived. Everyone filed in, filling the elevator to the brim.

I watched the freight elevator go up and up until it reached the 18th floor, the highest floor in the neighborhood.

The three of us followed the main group forward, and I consciously kept my mouth shut.

After walking for about half a minute, the line in front slowed down. From my perspective, everyone lined up in a long queue and entered the small room one by one.

"So many people." I couldn't help but mutter.

"Of course not, there are more people inside!" Wang Xiaoshuai agreed just right.

Finally it was our turn, and I saw clearly that everyone who entered had to be searched and had to take out their cell phones and other things.

My idea of ​​recording with my mobile phone was killed, but luckily I secretly bought a recorder the day before and hid it in my shoes.

Although I'm not sure whether the recording can be used as evidence, it's better than nothing.

After taking out our cell phones and having our bags checked, we finally walked into the room where the meeting was to be held.

The house is very big. I estimated it to be at least 400 or 500 square meters.

Every so often there was a huge pillar, stretching across the middle of the house. At that time, I didn’t understand why there were such large houses in the community, I just felt amazed.

Later I learned that these people probably bought all these houses and then connected them up, but the load-bearing walls could not be removed, and those beautiful pillars were all load-bearing walls.

The huge reception room was filled with chairs. On the podium in the front, there were more than a dozen large chairs and a long banner hanging on it: Celebrating the general assembly and induction ceremony of new members of the 1040 Sunshine Project in District XX.

"Such a big deal?!" I was a little surprised.

"Now you believe that we are supported by the country." Wang Xiaoshuai smiled.

The three of us sat on chairs. More and more people came to attend the conference. I roughly estimated that there were at least 500 people.

There was an audio file in the house that kept repeating, "The 1040 Project is a great national strategy, a macro-control, and... Our goal is to eliminate poverty and build a comprehensive

"Building a well-off society..." and so on, made me sleepy.

"Why hasn't it started yet?" I asked Wang Xiaoshuai.

"Don't worry, those bosses usually come late."

After waiting in the lobby for another half an hour, I secretly put the recorder in my pocket and turned on the recording button.

A young lady in a black miniskirt stood on the stage at some point. She said a few words into the microphone, and the whole hall suddenly became quiet.

The scene was even more unified than when we were in military training.

Then I saw several middle-aged people standing up from their seats in the first row and walking onto the stage one after another. Sister Lan and the uncle were among them.

The host introduced the identities of the people above one by one, and then handed the microphone to a middle-aged man sitting in the middle.

We were sitting far away and couldn't see clearly. We could only hear his voice: "Dear family and friends, today is a good day. We are welcoming a new batch of Mr. Shang's family members and many new friends. On this..."

This is the official jargon part that I hate the most.

"Too long-winded." I couldn't help but complain.

"Brother Fang, you don't understand. The boss always speaks like this, and you have to say the same thing when you go up there."

"What's the next step?" I asked him.

"The next step should be to announce the list of top executives."

"On the general list?"

"Those who have received enough shares to be 'out of the game'."

Zi Han added on the side.

"Oh~"

The middle-aged man talked nonsense for about ten minutes, and finally got to the point: "Next, please invite the family members of our new general manager to the stage."

As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, thunderous applause broke out from the audience, which made my ears hurt.

Then, a man from the second row walked onto the stage in a neat suit.

He walked up to the middle-aged man and bowed to him. The middle-aged man shook his hand, turned to us, and said in a clear voice: "Congratulations, General! Thank you for your contribution to the country and the people.

Contribution made!

Then the people in the audience said in unison: "Congratulations to the General! Congratulations to the General! Congratulations to the General!"

Wang Xiaoshuai next to me also roared along with the crowd. Their expressions were full of fanaticism and madness, which made me a little scared.

I was watching these people amidst the waves of "Congratulations, Mr. Shang" and secretly thought: It turns out that when people go crazy, they can't see anything.

Finally, all those who were going to the general meeting had come on stage and several representatives had finished speaking.

The next process is the second key process today: new members joining the club.

The female host, who was wearing very little on the stage, took out a large cardboard box with "Welfare Fund" written on the outside of the red cardboard box.

"Next, it is the second part of today. Please invite the following newcomers to come on stage one by one and donate to the welfare fund. Please go on stage in the order I announced, and don't crowd."

"First place, Zhang Xiaoyun, 20 shares of the welfare fund!"

The host was speaking and there was another round of applause from the audience. I saw an older woman walking up to the stage with a black bag. She took out a stack of RMB from the bag and put it into the cardboard box.

The host then said: "Dear family members, let's give this sister some encouragement and support!"

"good!"

The people in the audience echoed this, and the host began to clap rhythmically: "Pa", "Papa", "Papapapa"...

As the applause sounded, the older sister put stacks of money into the box one by one.

The host said: "Congratulations to Ms. Zhang Xiaoyun for successfully donating 20 welfare funds!"

There was another round of warm applause from the audience!

Then, the second person came on stage...

The crazy crowd below the stage was shouting slogans in unison, and I seemed to be able to see a demon controlling their souls.

When it was almost my turn, the door in front of me was suddenly kicked open.

The female host's impassioned speech was interrupted in an instant, and the whole hall fell into noise.

The leader rushed to the host, picked up the microphone and said, "Don't move! We are the police!"

Then large groups of plainclothes police officers walked in, and the room fell silent.

After that, everyone was taken away, and we were released because we were the victims. As for the money that I had not yet paid, it was naturally returned to me, as well as the money that Sister Lan gave me (hehe, I made more than 30,000 yuan for free). As for the recorder, it was naturally handed over to Captain Hat. Oh, by the way, after the pyramid scheme gang was seized, several leaders were all put in jail.