Chapter 16: Just a Bit Over 6,000 Sets

Qin Feng's command struck like a massive stone cast into a calm lake, sending ripples through his vast team and spreading outward with astonishing efficiency.

Su Wenqian's assistant team sprang into action immediately, using various channels to screen, verify, and consolidate the information Qin Feng required—cutting-edge projects from frontier technology labs, struggling medical research teams, large-scale environmental initiatives crippled by funding shortages, and social enterprises brimming with idealism but lacking capital… Vast amounts of information were categorized and distilled into concise, clear reports delivered to Qin Feng's desk.

Sun Zhe ensured absolute liquidity of funds; five hundred million yuan lay dormant like a slumbering beast, ready to strike any target at once. Simultaneously, he initiated preliminary contact with several reputable, transparent national public welfare foundations and mainstream financial and tech media outlets. Though he revealed no specifics, the rumor of "potential involvement of hundreds of millions in funding" was enough to trigger intense attention and anticipation.

Chen Yongming's legal team went all out, researching the fastest route to establish a dedicated fund. In the end, they proposed a plan: "Collaborate with an existing large foundation to establish a named special fund," which would circumvent lengthy approval processes and enable funds to be deployed at maximum speed under proper oversight.

Time ticked away second by second. While the effect of his 【Investment Insight (Intermediate)】 had not yet fully faded, Qin Feng rapidly scanned the reports, processing information like a high-performance computer. He didn't just assess the projects' prospects and significance—he evaluated the breadth and depth of their "impact," as well as the speed and efficiency of capital consumption.

"This 'Daily Progress' project? Researching a third pathway to controlled nuclear fusion? The theory is novel, but too distant—five hundred million might not even yield a decent prototype. Impact won't show in the short term… PASS."

"This biopharma company developing a broad-spectrum anticancer drug? Good idea, but clinical trials take too long, uncertainty too high… Table it for now."

"Desert greening project? Meaningful, but five hundred million is negligible against the massive costs of desertification control—slow results, likely insufficient public attention…"

Qin Feng's fingers slid swiftly across the Tablet Computer, rejecting one option after another. He didn't want slow, steady drip— he wanted a lightning strike: one that would instantly ignite public discourse, profoundly alter the status quo of certain fields, and let him clearly feel the thrill of "wastefulness."

Finally, his gaze settled on a briefing specially flagged by Su Wenqian as "Urgent—Major Public Welfare Relevance."

【Project Name】: Dawn Project—Medical Assistance and Drug Support Program for Rare Disease Patients in Low-Income Families Nationwide.

【Current Crisis】: Existing charitable funds are nearly exhausted. Over 6,000 registered children face drug shortages. The rare disease medications involved are mostly imported specialty drugs, with annual treatment costs ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of yuan.

【Funding Gap】: Just maintaining basic drug treatment for currently registered children for the next year requires approximately 520 million RMB.

【Potential Impact】: Directly saves thousands of children's lives, preserves hope for thousands of families, nationwide in scope, with profound humanitarian appeal and high social visibility.

Six thousand plus children… five hundred million yuan… just enough to cover one year's medication…

Qin Feng's heart leapt. This was it!

It perfectly met the system's requirements—non-commercial investment, non-fixed asset, non-personal luxury consumption—yet generated massive, direct social impact, solving an urgent, critical societal problem! Moreover, capital consumption was extremely rapid: the moment the donation was confirmed, the five hundred million was effectively "spent" (paid to pharmaceutical companies and hospitals), perfectly matching the essence of "wastefulness!"

More importantly, this act itself was worth doing.

"Sister Su, contact the Dawn Project's lead and their primary drug suppliers and partner hospitals immediately," Qin Feng said, his voice steady and resolute. "Notify Sun Zhe to prepare the funds. Contact Lawyer Chen—initiate cooperation procedures with relevant foundations. Establish the 'Qin Feng Light of Life' Special Fund centered on funding the Dawn Project's full-year drug costs, totaling 520 million RMB. The extra twenty million will serve as project management fees."

"Also," Qin Feng paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "contact all our mainstream media partners—state media, portal sites, and social media influencers. I want a press conference tomorrow morning to officially announce this donation."

He wanted this "wastefulness" to shine brilliantly—not only to complete the task, but to build a positive image of Qin Feng and his enterprises. This was itself an intangible asset, the best counterstrike against Hongyuan Group's underhanded tactics!

With the order given, the entire team spun like a precisely wound clock, operating at full speed.

Contacting the Dawn Project, coordinating with foundations, verifying patient lists and drug inventories, arranging massive bank transfers, preparing the press conference… All steps advanced at an astonishing pace, propelled by money and efficient teamwork.

At ten a. m. the next day, the multipurpose conference hall of the Xingyao Department Store Headquarters Building was packed to capacity.

Cameras, microphones, reporters, invited medical professionals, philanthropists, and representatives of some affected families filled the hall to bursting. Everyone had heard the rumors—today, a massive donation would be announced—but the details remained shrouded in mystery.

Qin Feng walked onto the stage in a well-tailored dark suit, calm and composed. He offered no small talk, diving straight into the topic.

"Wealth's meaning lies in flow, in creating value, in shouldering social responsibility," Qin Feng's voice rang clearly through the hall's speakers, strong and unwavering. "Today, I hereby announce that through the Xingyao Charity Foundation, I will inject funds into the Dawn Project to establish the 'Qin Feng Light of Life' Special Fund."

A murmur of anticipation rippled through the audience.

Qin Feng scanned the room, his gaze lingering briefly on the faces of parents with red-rimmed eyes, clutching their children's hands, then announced slowly:

"The initial investment for this fund is 520 million RMB."

"Whoa—!"

Though prepared, the crowd erupted in unrestrained gasps when the number was clearly stated. Five hundred twenty million! This was among the largest single donations ever made in China for a rare disease relief program!

But what stunned them even more lay ahead.

Qin Feng's tone remained calm, as if describing something trivial: "This funding will be exclusively used to cover the full-year specialty drug costs for all registered rare disease children eligible under the Dawn Project."

He paused slightly, then delivered the number that shook every soul in the room:

"Roughly, just enough to cover 6,000-plus annual treatment regimens."

Just… 6,000-plus regimens…

A casual phrase—but it exploded like thunder through the hall!

After a brief silence, applause and shouts erupted like a volcanic eruption. Many reporters leapt to their feet; flashbulbs ignited in a blinding cascade, freezing Qin Feng's calm, authoritative figure in light.

Below, the parents of the children wept uncontrollably, hugging their kids as if clutching back hope they'd thought lost. This wasn't just money—it was their children's lives.

"Ding—"

At that moment, a pleasant system chime echoed in Qin Feng's mind:

【Detected: Host has completed "Wastefulness Task: The Cornerstone of Impact"!】

【Funds Consumed: 520 million RMB (Task Requirements Met).】

【Reward Distribution In Progress…】

【Super Technology】 Unlock Progress Increased by 20%, Current Progress: 72%!

【Wealth Prediction】 Unlock Progress Increased by 15%, Current Progress: 60%!

【Shenji Blessing】 Cooldown Reset!

【Congratulations! You've taken a crucial step on the path of "Spending Correctly"! Keep going!】

Feeling the changes on the system interface and the renewed surge of mysterious power within him—restored by the reset 【Shenji Blessing】—Qin Feng gazed at the agitated crowd and flashing lenses, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curving his lips.

Hongyuan Group? Short-selling?

Before absolute power and vision, those underhanded tricks were mere jokes.

And this was merely the opening chapter of his "Art of Wastefulness."