Before we knew it, it was 2008. Before the Lunar New Year, the stock market had been hovering around 4,000 to 5,000 points. Instead of the expected big breakout, investors were met with a continuous crash, with the market falling steadily from the beginning of the year.

Li Xingguo used Dong Yun's ID card to apply for several credit cards and kept buying more shares, believing that the stock would definitely soar.

Li Xingguo's family did not go home for the Spring Festival, but called a few elderly people to wish them a happy new year.

First, he was afraid that if he went back, Li Mancang and the others would continue to ask him about stocks. He didn't want to talk about it or explain it now. He thought that once the market took off, his family would look at him with new respect.

Secondly, he felt that it was his second son's home, and it wasn't appropriate for his family to go there, so he didn't go back for the New Year.

In October 2008, the stock market had been falling for a year, dropping from over 6,000 points to over 1,600 points. The stock market was in a slump, and many people, like Su's father, had cut their losses and fled the market early.

There are quite a few people like Li Xingguo who have always held onto hope, but now they have to accept reality. The bull market is long gone, and they are trapped in it.

Li Xingguo sat dejectedly at his desk. Many of his colleagues were in the same boat, but they used spare money to invest in stocks, so even if they lost money, the impact wasn't too significant.

Just then, the phone rang.

The other party is a bank, urging me to repay the loan. If I don't repay within a month, they will seize the house.

I had just hung up the phone when it rang again. The loan secured by my car was due, and the debt collectors were at my workplace, demanding either the money back or the car back.

Li Xingguo dared not let those people cause trouble at his workplace, so he quickly sent the car away.

The debt collectors were quite disgusted. They didn't want the car, but it was better than nothing. Recently, there have been quite a few people like Li Xingguo who couldn't repay their loans. Being able to take away the collateral was considered pretty good.

Li Xingguo's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at his beloved car that had driven away, his heart aching with heartache.

The phone rang again; it was the girl, Xiaoyuer.

Li Xingguo composed himself and answered the phone.

"Dad, the teacher wants you to pay your tuition right away. It's been almost two months already. If you don't pay, I'll be kicked out of school," Xiaoyuer said in a low voice, her tone full of dissatisfaction.

Li Xingguo took a deep breath. "Little Yu'er, something's come up on Dad's end. I'm afraid I won't be able to afford to send you to international school. You should come home first."

"What? Dad, how could you do this? I'm doing so well in my studies, how can you just stop? I don't care, just pay the tuition right now, I want to study here!" Xiaoyuer raised her voice, which became somewhat shrill.

"Dad also wants to support you, but..."

"I don't care, if you don't have money, go borrow it. My grandparents have money, my second uncle and third uncle have money, go borrow it and pay the tuition fee right away!" Xiaoyuer shouted and hung up the phone, afraid that Li Xingguo would persuade her to drop out of school.

Xiaoyuer wiped away her tears and came out of the restroom. Several female classmates gave her a mocking look.

"This school isn't for everyone. Earning a little money and dreaming of transcending social classes is just overestimating your abilities."

"I guess he's a stock trader. When stocks plummeted, he couldn't even afford to go to school anymore. Just like me, all his allowance is tied up in stocks."

"If you can't afford the tuition, then get out of here. You think you can just freeload off me?"

Several girls were teasing Xiaoyuer.

Little Fish bit her lip. "My third uncle owns two big factories, and my grandma got several large courtyards relocated. Who can't afford this measly tuition fee?"

"Oh, your family is so well-off, you don't even need to pay the tuition? You probably have enough pocket money for that, right? Hurry up and give it to the teacher. Don't make things difficult for a working person like her. The teacher is waiting for you in the classroom."

"What does it matter to her if her third uncle and grandmother are rich? Why doesn't she mention her parents?"

What's the point of mentioning people who have no money?