World's Richest Man: I Leaped Across Time

Chapter 45: First Day

As he left, I couldn't help but think about the guy.

Matt was always talking about commodities, and FOREX. He had this habit of trading currencies everywhere he went and bragging about his latest "big win."

But I had a hunch this call wasn't about a win. Knowing Matt, it was probably his broker informing him that his latest trade had zeroed his account...

The guy was a gambler at heart.

Matt was also interested in a certain girl, but I didn't even want to think about it.

Professor Blake finally started on the actual part of the lecture.

He rarely looked at his students, preferring to gaze at the ground or at the ceiling.

His voice remained monotone, with no hint of enthusiasm.

"Today, we will be discussing unemployment," he began, his eyes fixated on a spot somewhere behind the students. "Its outlined in the first chapter of your macroeconomics textbook."

"In a capitalist economy, unemployment can be a result of various factors, such as technological advancements, shifts in consumer demand, and global competition. Capitalism depends on new ideas that increase productivity but those ideas can also cause people to lose their jobs."

This hits...

"On the other hand, socialism attempts to mitigate unemployment through state intervention. The government may provide guaranteed jobs, control major industries, and distribute resources to ensure employment for all."

Then Professor Blake droned on for an hour or so about the positives and negative of capitalism and socialism instead of focusing on the topic of uneployment...

This man was something else.

"Both systems are flawed," he concluded. "Capitalism may create wealth and innovation but at the cost of social inequality and job instability. Socialism may provide employment stability but often at the expense of economic growth and individual incentives."

With an absent-minded expression, Professor Blake suddenly looked up and asked, "But should we always prioritize higher employment?"

I glanced around.

Maybe some of them had an idea, but they weren't sure enough to speak up.

The question was simple, but not for someone just starting their education.

"If someone wants to answer, just speak up," the professor added. "No need to wait for me to give you permission."

I could easily answer this question, but I knew that someone else was about to speak up.

"No. We shouldn't." Sam said on my left.

Professor Blake looked in my and Sam's direction There was actually a faint hint of interest in his eyes. "And why do you think that?"

Sam looked somewhere in the general direction of the stage and took a deep break. "Prioritizing higher employment without considering other factors like inflation and productivity is not going to work in the long run. We can destabilize the economy as a whole and erode purchasing power and savings. People need to keep fighting for work and social status.

If they don't, we will lose touch with what capitalism is all about."

I could actually see a spark ignite within Professor Blake's eyes; like he'd just discovered how to turn water into wine.

"Name?" he asked abruptly.

"Sam Johnson."

"Mr. Johnson," he began, "I appreciate your insight. I will give you additional credit for this." His gaze then shifted to the rest of the class. "I'll be offering extra credit for those who actively participate."

The professor cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. "Now, aside from the midterm, there will be short quizzes at the start of each lecture. You don't need to write them... but failing them means the highest grade you can get in this course is a C+. That's it for today."

I did drink the coffee, but only when the professor finally dismissed us did I really come alive.

As if the physical act of standing reminded my entire body that yes, it was daytime and consciousness is the order of the day.

I glanced to my left, where Sam was in the process of stopping his recording. I nudged him lightly. "Don't bother listening to that recording," I said with a smirk.

"Hmm? Didn't he say there would be a test at the beginning of the next lecture?"

"Nothing from today's lecture will be on that test."

A blonde guy a few rows down, jumped in with a grin. "He's right. These professors love throwing in random stuff. My sister warned me about it."

I turned to him. "Lucas, right?"

"Yeah, that's me; nice of you to remember," he replied, slightly surprised. He then came up to us, "Lucas Surfer." He put his hand out.

Sam chuckled. "NO WAY that's your actual last name."

"It is!"

Lucas was wearing another Hawaiian shirt, this time with palm trees.

I interrupted them. "Five bucks says the test will cover frictional, structural, and cyclical unemployment, along with how it's measured."

Lucas perked up, flashing a grin. "Ooh, a gambling man. Did you read the book already? Sure thing." He held out his hand.

"Jack. Good to meet you." I shook his hand firmly. "I hope you keep your side of the deal, by the way."

As I turned to leave, I glanced back at Sam. "Better get someone to record the first chapter of the macroeconomics book and learn from that."

Sam nodded. "I will."

Lucas's eyes bulged out. "Oh, Fuck! Almost forgot. You're blind, no?" he bombed in.

I left them to their conversation, exited the lecture hall and walked to my next class.

'Five bucks for free...' I thought.

"Ey, Jack!" Alex Gagnon caught up with me. " I heard you talking about the test. Do you know what it will be on?"

"Just focus on the first chapter of the book. Forget about the lecture."

Alex laughed. "Are you serious?"

We stopped at a nearby food stall so Alex could grab a quick bite, then we headed to the Microeconomics class.

Unlike the lecture hall, this was a regular classroom but slightly larger, with three columns of desks, each with four seats, instead of the usual two.

Some desks were already taken, likely because of the detour we took.

Sam was sitting on a bench with Mia and two other girls. Maybe they felt safer with Sam around, given his blindness.

Raheem Reddy, the quiet Indian guy, was sitting alone

I walked up to him, "Is this seat free?"

Raheem looked up from his textbook and simply nodded. "Yes."

'He might chat up the librarian, but if it's not about science, he isn't a man of many words,' I thought to myself with a smile.

I sat down next to Raheem, with Alex to my right.

We would be forming groups in this class, and I wondered if could potentially stop a certain ill-fated relationship from happening right here and there.