Why are the poor most often exploited? Have you ever thought about this? Because exploiting the poor isn’t illegal—that’s the most precise answer to this whole issue. Try exploiting a wealthy person instead. If you use fraud or forged contracts to swindle money from the rich, and you’re caught, you’ll face criminal investigation for fraud and bear criminal liability. But many of the methods used to exploit the underprivileged operate entirely within the rules. Annual interest rates of 36% on consumer loans and high-interest online lending are all compliant financial products. Lotteries with a payout rate of only 50% are perfectly legal. Betel nut labeled as carcinogenic, liquor clearly harmful to the liver—both continue to circulate normally. Every act of exploitation targeting ordinary people is carried out by licensed institutions with proper permits, following fully compliant procedures that are entirely legal. Borrow 10,000 yuan, repay 13,600 yuan after one year. The borrowed money goes toward rent, generating no return, yet leaving you with an extra 3,600 yuan in debt. That sum could be an ordinary person’s monthly food budget. Forced to pay one debt by borrowing more, they fall into a vicious cycle. The architects of this system are financial professionals from top universities. They sit in office towers, using risk models to calculate the absolute limits of what the underprivileged can bear—setting interest rates precisely at the legal maximum, not a single cent more or less, to achieve legal, precise, and sustained profits. The same applies to lotteries: spend two yuan, and one yuan goes directly to public welfare and issuance costs—the payout rate is only 50%. Everyone dreams of winning five million yuan, but the moment you buy a ticket, half your money is already gone. Some exploitation tactics affect both rich and poor, but the vast majority of compliant schemes target almost exclusively the poor. How “reasonable” your exploitation feels depends, in part, on how poor you are. The lower your status, the more legally sanctioned the methods used against you—and the fewer avenues you have to appeal. Call customer service—they’ll tell you the interest rate complies with regulations. Go to court—the contract was signed by you personally. Post online—your voice rarely gains traction. Wealthy individuals who suffer losses can hire lawyers, file lawsuits, and contact media to push for regulatory intervention. But most ordinary people can only silently repay their debts, endure this round—and wait for the next one.