Chapter 1675: Asking an Exorbitant Price

"I heard that Huayi has started production on '1942'?"

In the car on the way back, Ye Jing asked Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, not surprised that Ye Jing, though in the United States, was well-informed about domestic news. After all, Ye Jing was the general manager of Future Film and a big shot in the Beijing circle. If he didn't even know this, he would have wasted all those years.

"It seems Huayi wants to rise again."

Ye Jing sighed.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled but remained noncommittal.

"What, you don't think they can succeed?" Ye Jing was a bit puzzled by Zhao Fusheng's reaction, knowing that Zhao Fusheng rarely showed such an attitude.

As someone familiar with him, Ye Jing and others knew that once Zhao Fusheng showed this attitude, it meant he really didn't have high hopes for something or someone.

"It's not that they can't succeed, but the movie they're making is destined to disappoint many people," Zhao Fusheng said calmly.

"What, have you read the script?" Ye Jing asked curiously.

"I haven't read the script," Zhao Fusheng shook his head. "I had someone find me the book and took a look. I found that if this movie is made, a lot of people will be dissatisfied."

"Why?" Ye Jing asked, puzzled.

"Simple. Because the so-called Republic of China complex is popular now. If this movie comes out, it will shatter many people's dreams," Zhao Fusheng said flatly.

"Well..."

Ye Jing was taken aback but said nothing.

Zhao Fusheng smiled, knowing that Ye Jing probably understood his meaning.

In fact, in recent years, with the development of media and the opening up of ideological fields, more and more people have begun to pursue a petty bourgeois lifestyle.

What is petty bourgeois?

In Zhao Fusheng's view, it's self-indulgence and whining without cause—the daily life ingrained in the petty bourgeoisie's bones.

The so-called Republic of China complex beautifies that era as a wonderful time, believing it was progressive and that society was developing.

But in reality?

From the 1920s to the 1940s, the thirty years of the Republic of China were marked by social turmoil, with the people living in destitution, unable to secure even basic necessities.

There are always those who like to proclaim how happy the literati of that time were, but in fact, that's just some people's wishful thinking.

It has to be said that in an era where even a fleeing general can be whitewashed, it's truly a tragedy.

"Understand?"

Zhao Fusheng said calmly.

Ye Jing smiled bitterly: "I understand."

"I hope Huayi doesn't fall too hard," Zhao Fusheng said flatly.

"Fall?"

Ye Jing was startled.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "The scariest thing in the world is not the truth being exposed, but the people who fly into a rage when the truth is revealed."

Ye Jing fell silent.

He now understood what Zhao Fusheng meant.

After the emperor's new clothes are exposed, the angriest people are not the emperor or the swindlers, but the ministers who loudly praised the emperor's beautiful clothes.

In Zhao Fusheng's view, Huayi's movie is that child who tells the truth.

And those who love to promote the Republic of China complex are the ministers about to fly into a rage. Their counterattack will completely drive Huayi to ruin.

"Alright, that's their business, not ours," Zhao Fusheng said, seeing Ye Jing a bit down, and smiled to comfort him. "You'd better focus on our own affairs."

He meant it.

As the saying goes, see but don't expose. The Wang brothers might not be unaware of some things, but they still chose to do it, surely for profit.

If he rashly intervened or said something, they might not appreciate it and might even blame him for meddling.

Zhao Fusheng didn't want to be inexplicably dragged into any conflicts.

He didn't want to care about or bother with external affairs now, focusing solely on how to make money and make his life more enjoyable.

Maybe that's a bit lacking in social responsibility, but life is like that. If you pay too much attention to others' lives, your own life often suffers. Zhao Fusheng didn't want that to happen.

He didn't mind using his money to do charity and help those in need, but only if it didn't affect his own life.

For example, if someone asked Zhao Fusheng to go bankrupt to help them, he would flatly refuse without a second thought.

Because he too has to live and support his family.

Being a good person has its limits.

If he became a doormat, his wife and children would suffer along with him. Zhao Fusheng wouldn't do that.

The distance between us and kindness is actually not far from the distance between us and evil; it's just a matter of a single thought.

"I know, don't worry."

Hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, Ye Jing nodded and sighed.

He naturally understood Zhao Fusheng's meaning—he didn't want Ye Jing to cause trouble for Future Film.

After all, Ye Jing was not only a big shot in the Beijing circle but also the general manager of Future Film, the head of a subsidiary under the Future Group.

To put it bluntly, if Ye Jing expressed support for the Wang brothers of Huayi, many would see it not just as Ye Jing's personal opinion, but as Zhao Fusheng's idea, the entire Future Group's stance.

If that happened, it would be a huge mess.

"Life is full of disappointments, nine times out of ten."

Zhao Fusheng sighed but said nothing more.

...

...

Since he was in the United States, he naturally wanted to buy some things for his family. Although they weren't in the capital, Zhao Fusheng could still have Wu Sijie mail them.

With Ye Jing as his guide, Zhao Fusheng, Wu Sijie, and the others spent a whole day shopping on the busiest commercial street in New York, buying a ton of stuff.

"Here, this is for your wife."

Zhao Fusheng handed a bag to Ye Jing.

Ye Jing smiled, didn't stand on ceremony, took it, and said to Zhao Fusheng, "Since Marvel and Disney are planning to cooperate, what about us..."

"Us?"

Zhao Fusheng showed no change in expression and said calmly, "We don't need to do anything. You should just go back to China."

"Go back to China?"

Ye Jing was startled, a bit surprised that Zhao Fusheng wanted him to go back. Was he planning to give up on Marvel?

No, impossible!

From his understanding of Zhao Fusheng, he believed Zhao Fusheng would never do that.

"Yes, go back to China."

Walking forward, Zhao Fusheng said as he walked, "We don't need to be responsible for the production and promotion of 'Iron Man 1'. You don't need to worry about that. Just help them get through the censorship in Hong Kong and the mainland. As for what comes next, Disney will definitely choose to negotiate, and Marvel will probably drag it out."

"Holding out for a better offer?"

Ye Jing wasn't stupid; with a little thought, he understood what Zhao Fusheng meant.

In the current situation, both Marvel and Future Group have a clear goal: to make the company develop better.

Disney, on the other hand, is more conflicted.

After all, if 'Iron Man' explodes at the box office, on one hand, it proves Disney's attention to Marvel was correct. But on the other hand, it means that if they want to acquire Marvel, they'll have to pay a higher price.

The same goes for Marvel.

Business is about return on investment. For Marvel's shareholders to agree to the company being acquired by Disney, or to agree to add new members to the board, ultimately, tangible benefits must be presented.

If 'Iron Man' performs poorly at the box office, Disney might not change its acquisition intentions, but the price certainly won't be high.

In that case, even if Marvel sells to Disney, the shareholders won't make much money.

Conversely, if Marvel's movie is a box office hit, it means the subsequent development value is extremely high. In other words, Disney will have to pay a higher price to acquire Marvel.

Then, the shares in their hands will become more valuable.

Under such circumstances, how could they not hope for a better box office?

As for Zhao Fusheng, he had already conveyed his intentions to Kevin Feige, and he believed Mr. Feige would inform Disney.

Zhao Fusheng, as Marvel's largest shareholder, is not opposed to Disney acquiring Marvel. In fact, if the benefits allow, he wouldn't mind selling or diluting his shares.

But the prerequisite is that Disney must offer attractive enough terms!

This is the message Zhao Fusheng wanted to convey to Disney and Marvel through his meeting with Kevin Feige.

"Yes, we are businessmen," Zhao Fusheng smiled and said calmly. "Since we're doing business, naturally we support whoever offers the highest price."

He paused, as if thinking of something interesting, and said flatly, "If Disney offers me fifty billion, I might consider selling half of my shares to them. What do you think?"

"Fifty billion?"

Ye Jing was stunned, then looked at Zhao Fusheng incredulously: "Are you talking about US dollars or RMB?"

"US dollars, of course."

Zhao Fusheng curled his lip: "If it were RMB, I'd be losing money."

When he acquired Marvel, his portion of the shares cost a full one billion US dollars. Selling for fifty billion RMB now would be a loss.

"Then I guess unless Disney's boss is crazy, they'll never agree to pay fifty billion US dollars for twenty percent of Marvel's shares," Ye Jing shook his head, looking at Zhao Fusheng as if he were insane.

In his view, Zhao Fusheng must be dreaming, even starting to talk nonsense.