Chapter 82: Culture is a Knife with an Invisible Blade

When the economy declines, people’s spending power becomes a joke. With lower income, there’s no real consumption anymore—just expenses necessary to survive.

But not everything falls during a recession. Birth rates and abortion rates, for example, don’t simply drop in sync with the economy.

As entertainment options shrink and long-term unemployment drags on, certain needs grow restless. Newborns will become part of a wave that further pressures already fragile families. Some families planning to have children will abort due to economic hardship.

This surge in births and the rise in abortions are not contradictory—this is a notable point.

Crime rates also rise sharply. Many people, desperate for survival, turn to illegal activities. Some even commit crimes deliberately to enter prison for free meals.

In this anxious, pressured environment, society develops a pathological condition. Wealth flows faster from the bottom up.

Ordinary people lack fair labor-for-pay channels. Their money gets slowly drained just to survive, flowing into the hands of capitalists. Anti-rich sentiments grow.

Every recession and social downturn is a feast for capitalists.

Yet some industries quietly boom, closely linked to social conditions.

Discount stores, retail, and wholesale markets heat up. People must budget carefully—even the middle class can no longer enjoy wealth’s luxuries and class distinctions as before.

This is one of the few points where the middle class and lower class intersect. They don’t drive because gas costs money. They carry shopping baskets and haggle like the common folk.

Agriculture-related industries also rise. Many families grow edible plants near their homes to supplement food. If city laws allowed, some would raise cattle or poultry.

Investment funds have significantly increased their share in agriculture and animal husbandry compared to previous years. Financial institutions are highly sensitive to market shifts—investing more in agriculture signals a looming economic winter. Many overlook this.

Tobacco, alcohol, and entertainment also flourish.

Cigarettes and alcohol help people temporarily forget worries. Entertainment offers brief escapes from life’s pain. If the price is low enough, people squeeze out money to buy that relief.

With the coming storm shattering the semi-fortified walls of the Baylor Federation’s capitalist ruling class, artificial barriers fall. Some less conspicuous industries become easier to enter.

Besides these, the secondhand market will surge unprecedentedly. This is why Lynch plans to build a new statewide secondhand goods trading and auction company.

He holds the perfect timing and location. This storm will let him make a fortune. Unless something unexpected happens, after this storm, a business prodigy will rise here.

For now, these are just preliminaries. Lynch briefly explains to the Foxes, then moves to another money-making aspect behind entertainment.

“Entertainment related to culture profits mainly from two sources,” Lynch says, raising a finger, “First, normal business revenue… I believe you understand this.”

The Foxes nod; business revenue is like making movies and selling tickets—box office receipts.

Lynch raises a second finger, “Second, federal government subsidies.”

The Foxes exchange glances. This idea sparks their interest—moving from fearing the government to embracing its support. These two, once possibly involved in illegal dealings, suddenly feel tempted.

But they wonder if this government meal is truly worthwhile.

“Society will soon become unstable. Massive unemployment will destabilize every city. The Federation’s relative isolation internationally has caused issues. Releasing social pressure, calming the public, and seeking common ground internationally will be the government’s next key tasks.”

Lynch pauses, then asks, “Mr. Fox, if you stood beside a foreigner, under what circumstances would you quickly accept them as a friend?”

Fox thinks, “If we can communicate, understand each other’s topics and interests, we’ll become friends fast.”

Lynch points at him, “Exactly. Shared culture. We rarely finish reading a foreign book seriously, even if it’s a world-class classic.”

“But we do watch foreign films carefully, often reflecting on what’s behind them. That’s the power of movies.”

“Entertainment not only helps the upper class soothe lower-class dissatisfaction, reducing class friction, but also exports culture internationally to find common ground and recognition. Doing this allows making money openly, collecting government subsidies, and avoiding retaliation from some interest groups. This industry has a future.”

Lynch’s words deeply move Mr. Fox and Fox Jr. The latter studies management, not sociology or economics, but he senses Lynch’s logic.

He looks at Mr. Fox for confirmation. The elder asks directly, “Lynch, if we follow your advice and invest in entertainment, will you join?”

Mr. Fox knows Lynch won’t miss a money-making opportunity. Their time together proved Lynch is a pure businessman seeking maximum profit—including helping him go from illegal to legal and laundering money.

This effort to bite into him isn’t hated—Mr. Fox even appreciates Lynch’s methods.

If Lynch thinks this industry suits him, he’ll invest.

As if reading Mr. Fox’s mind, Lynch shrugs, “Why not?”

“When young, my teacher said I’d regret not studying hard. Yet those I once looked up to later called me their leader.”

“I smoked for over twenty years. Friends bet I couldn’t quit. The next day, I never smoked again.”

“Lately, I felt too fat; family said I’d never slim down. In two months, I lost over twenty pounds.”

“I’m not bragging—just proving that with persistence and determination, nothing can stop me.”

“Until someone asks, Do you have money? Then I realize, I don’t need to change for others. I am who I am.”