Chapter 179: The Importance of Trust
There's an old saying: You become like the people you surround yourself with.
Even in ancient times, people understood how deeply our environment shapes who we are. The story of Mencius' mother moving three times for his upbringing is well-known—it's a classic illustration of how one's surroundings affect a child's growth.
But this principle doesn't apply only to children—even adults are influenced by their environment.
If your friends are into gambling, even if you don't gamble at first, you might get dragged into it. Maybe one night after a few drinks, you give it a try. You win a little, and before you know it, you're hooked. It all starts with that first time.
The same goes for drugs. Humans are naturally curious. We're drawn to what we haven't experienced before, even if logic and warnings hold us back. You hear over and over how dangerous drugs are, so you stay away.
But when all your friends are doing it, and they keep urging you to try, eventually you might cave in. Just once. And once is all it takes to fall into the abyss.
Studies show that while many people manage to quit drugs, the relapse rate is extremely high—over 80%. Why? Because of their environment.
We're social creatures. Everyone has a circle, a social network. People who do drugs almost always know others who do, and the deeper they fall, the more of these connections they have.
Even if someone goes to rehab and successfully quits, they still have to return to society—to the same old environment, to the same old friends. And then it starts again. One relapse leads back to square one.
To truly quit, one must cut off all ties to the past. No more contact with old friends, no more familiar places. A clean slate, a new circle.
But of course, that's easier said than done. Making new friends as an adult isn't simple. In today's world, everyone lives on their own little island. Social anxiety is becoming more common. Why? Because people struggle to build new connections.
Jesse Pinkman may have quit drugs now, but as long as he stays around his old friends, temptation will always be there. Maybe he resists the first time, maybe even the second. But eventually, just one moment of weakness—and it all comes crashing down.
If Jesse truly wants a clean future, he has to leave those people behind. Not just distance himself—completely cut ties. No visits, no messages. Nothing.
But Frank hasn't made him do that. And not because Jesse wouldn't agree—Frank himself needs Jesse's old contacts.
After all, they're getting into the drug business. They need people like Jesse's friends. Recruiting strangers would be risky—no trust, no familiarity. You'd be constantly looking over your shoulder.
But Jesse's friends are known quantities. There's a foundation of trust. That makes cooperation possible.
So, Frank needs Jesse to keep up appearances with his old crew. Jesse may not protest, but in truth, it's an unfair burden on him. It puts his future recovery at risk.
Frank can only advise Jesse: When they start using, leave. Don't be around. Out of sight, out of mind.
In this line of work—where your life could be on the line—nothing is more important than trust.
Trust matters in every walk of life.
Take Wenzhou merchants, for example. Everyone knows they're famously successful in business. But why? What sets them apart?
Some say it's their unity. They support one another. That unity builds strength.
There's a story about a Wenzhou chef who wanted to open a restaurant but had no capital. So someone introduced him to a group of fellow Wenzhou natives—some wealthy business owners. After tasting his food and thinking it had potential, they each chipped in some money. No contracts. No IOUs. Just a handshake and their word.
That's the kind of trust that built Wenzhou's global business presence.
But unity is just the surface. What lies beneath is something deeper: trust.
They trusted their fellow countryman wouldn't cheat them. That trust let them invest freely, and let the chef work hard without fear. That's how success is built.
Even Jack Ma (Alibaba's founder) wasn't alone when he started. Eighteen people followed him through the toughest times, eating instant noodles and working without pay. Why? Because they believed in him. Some call that trust. Others call it charisma. Either way, it worked.
And this isn't just true in business—it's true in relationships too.
Why do people check their partner's phone?
Why talk about divorce settlements before even getting married?
Why doubt your partner's fidelity?
Why wonder if the child is really yours?
At the root of it all—a lack of trust.
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Back to the present.
"You've been back for a while," Jesse suddenly said. "Why didn't you come inside?"
Frank didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "You didn't tell your friends about me and Walter, did you?"
"No," Jesse said. "Why would I? I didn't say anything."
"Good," Frank nodded. "Keep it that way. And in the future, don't talk about us with them at all. In fact, avoid seeing them entirely."
"Why?" Jesse looked confused.
"Do you not understand what kind of business we're getting into?" Frank asked, his tone serious.
Jesse's mind flashed to those two corpses they had dealt with.
"This line of work... it can get you killed. It can destroy families. So we have to be cautious. Protect your identity. Always."
"When we scale up," Frank continued, "you'll need to protect yourself. Make sure your friends don't say a word about who you are or what you do."
"I... I got it," Jesse said, nodding, a little shaken by Frank's intensity.
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