Chapter 1418 Delong

Many people probably cannot understand the true meaning of the word 'friend.'

Because in their eyes, friends are merely a relationship of mutual exploitation, or a relationship of eating and drinking together. They simply do not understand that a friend is not someone you chat idly with every day, but someone who can show up by your side or give you a call when you are truly in trouble.

Of course, there are many kinds of friends and many circles. One person's friends may not be another's, and this requires effort to distinguish.

Zhao Fusheng had many friends, but Yu Feihong and Jiang Wen were undoubtedly the simpler ones.

And the simpler the friend, the more worthy of cherishing.

"Sometimes I feel that you live a very tiring life." Zhao Fusheng glanced at Jiang Wen and said slowly, "Don't overthink things. When you reach the level Yang Shoucheng and I are at, you no longer consider so many messy matters. If necessary, perhaps Future Film and Emperor Entertainment might even cooperate in the future."

This was the truth. Although he greatly disliked Yang Shoucheng, Zhao Fusheng knew that at the very least, their conflict was only about interests. Since it was about interests, it was naturally not irreconcilable.

Zhao Fusheng did not believe that Yang Shoucheng was unaware of his relationship with Jiang Wen. Yet despite that, he still invested in The Sun Also Rises. In essence, it was because he saw profit in it.

"Alright." Jiang Wen smiled bitterly and nodded. He naturally believed Zhao Fusheng's words, but he still felt somewhat uncomfortable. After all, Zhao Fusheng had always been good to him. Faced with such a situation, Jiang Wen felt that he might as well have swallowed his pride and asked Zhao Fusheng for investment in the first place.

Little did he know, Zhao Fusheng was secretly hoping that Jiang Wen would quickly fleece Yang Shoucheng.

After sending Old Jiang home, Zhao Fusheng sat in the car, squinting his eyes, and told Hu Donghai to drive.

"Just now, President Zheng called for you." At that moment, Wu Sijie, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke up.

"Oh?"

Zhao Fusheng was startled for a moment, then opened his eyes: "Give me the phone."

Because he was having dinner with Jiang Wen and Yu Feihong, Zhao Fusheng had handed his phone to Wu Sijie for safekeeping.

Of course, he kept his personal phone himself, since if Fan Baobao or his parents called, he couldn't let his assistant answer.

Zheng Yao naturally knew Zhao Fusheng's personal number, but she had called his work number instead, clearly because it was about company matters.

"What's the matter?"

After the call connected, Zhao Fusheng asked directly.

It seemed there was someone with Zheng Yao, so she didn't answer immediately. After a moment, apparently having moved somewhere else, she said to Zhao Fusheng, "It's like this: someone wants to meet you."

"Who?"

Zhao Fusheng asked curiously.

"Surname Lu." Zheng Yao said, "Previously worked at Delong."

Delong?

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, and three words instantly popped into his mind: Delong Group.

The so-called Delong Group was named after a company founded by Tang Wanxin. Back then, the Delong Group was actually based on Tunhe Group Co., Ltd., Xiangtorch Investment Co., Ltd., and Shen Alloy Investment Co., Ltd.—the so-called 'Old Three Stocks'—which served as the listed company platform for the entire enterprise group. Under Delong's control, the stock prices of the 'Old Three Stocks' soared to unimaginable heights from 1997 to 2001, even rising against the overall market downturn, becoming the 'aircraft carrier fleet' of Delong's industrial domain. The comprehensive financial sector, based on institutions like Northwest Financial Leasing Company, Jinxin Trust, Deheng Securities, and Dongfang Life Insurance, played a role in 'escorting' Delong's series of industrial integrations and capital market operations.

The Delong phenomenon manifested as a massive financial holding group whose controlled listed companies' stock prices invariably surged dramatically.

In simple terms, there were many factors involved, and in the end, even the founder Tang Wanxin could no longer control this vast interest group.

In Zhao Fusheng's memory, Delong eventually controlled assets worth sixty billion yuan, earning the title of China's number one market manipulator.

Of course, this colossal financial empire had now completely collapsed. The boss, the Tang brothers, were behind bars, and other core members were either arrested or fined. And now, suddenly, someone claiming to be from Delong wanted to see him?

Zhao Fusheng frowned, feeling quite uneasy.

After thinking it over, Zhao Fusheng said, "Where? I'll go now."

Regardless, since the other party wanted to meet, he might as well see them.

To be honest, Zhao Fusheng was always curious about these big shots who in his previous life only existed in friend circles or obscure topics. This curiosity even surpassed his curiosity about figures like Ma Xiaoyun and Ma Huateng.

No joke. After all, the two Mas were semi-public figures; people could always find various news and anecdotes about them. But these big shots in the capital circle were truly low-key. Unless one deliberately sought them out, it was often hard to trace their whereabouts.

…

…

Half an hour later, in a restaurant in Haidian, a middle-aged man smiled at Zhao Fusheng: "Director Zhao, nice to meet you. Lu Jianzhi."

"Mr. Lu, nice to meet you." Zhao Fusheng smiled and politely shook hands with him.

After some small talk, Zhao Fusheng learned that Lu Jianzhi had previously been a department manager at Delong. During the Delong incident, because of his good attitude and lack of misconduct, he was given a suspended sentence and now worked at a private equity fund.

"It's like this: our company is bullish on a company's development and wants to cooperate with Director Zhao." Lu Jianzhi looked at Zhao Fusheng and said slowly.

"Oh?" Zhao Fusheng was startled, then laughed: "Why me?"

He was curious why the other party had approached him.

Lu Jianzhi smiled: "Director Zhao is joking. In the domestic investment field today, who doesn't know Director Zhao's name? News from Facebook has already reached China. Everyone says Director Zhao is the number one figure in internet investment."

Although Zhao Fusheng was very young, Lu Jianzhi did not show the slightest contempt because of his youth. His words were full of respect for Zhao Fusheng.

It was clear that this was a truly clever man.

But Zhao Fusheng was not fooled by his flattery. These people were big shots playing with capital; they wouldn't approach him without a motive. There was never a free lunch in the world, and pies didn't fall from the sky. So Zhao Fusheng maintained a high level of vigilance toward any stranger who actively sought to befriend him.

Especially clever people like this who played with capital.

"Mr. Lu flatters me." Zhao Fusheng said calmly, "Although I have never met President Tang, I still admire the people at Delong. Since Mr. Lu worked at Delong, you must have met President Tang, right?"

Delong's Tang Wanxin was definitely a remarkable figure. Starting with just four hundred yuan and building a business worth sixty billion, even if he was now behind bars, he was still worthy of respect.

Speaking of this, Zhao Fusheng had to admire Tang Wanxin.

You see, Delong's original accumulation came from developing photos—collecting film rolls in Jiangxi, developing them in Guangzhou, and bringing them back. It was essentially a photo-developing shell company. At that time, color printing was popular, and even with a two-week turnaround, demand outstripped supply. Through this business, Tang Wanxin earned hundreds of thousands, eventually becoming a millionaire.

Most people would have been satisfied with that, but Tang Wanxin was a ruthless man. After some research, he decisively entered the capital market and began playing the game of on-exchange repurchases.

"Of course. President Tang has always been a leader I deeply respect." When Lu Jianzhi heard Zhao Fusheng mention Tang Wanxin, his face showed a solemn expression as he said earnestly.

Clearly, Tang Wanxin held a special place in his heart.

"I have always felt that President Tang's situation was a pity." Zhao Fusheng glanced at Lu Jianzhi and said slowly, "Mr. Lu must know that Future Group's financial situation is sound. Although I personally have an investment company, I have not been involved in the capital market for a long time. So I'm afraid I really can't help with capital matters."

People who play with capital have dirty hearts. Zhao Fusheng felt it was better to keep his distance from such people.