Chapter 1849: An Appointment

Even Zhao Fusheng himself probably didn't expect that Fan Baobao's views on certain matters would be more profound than his own.

"If you ask me, you might as well just do angel investments like you did in the US before."

Seeing Zhao Fusheng still hesitating, Fan Baobao thought for a moment and said to him, "Throw the money out, let fate decide, cast a wide net. If you happen to catch a big fish like Facebook, you'll make a fortune."

Hearing this, Zhao Fusheng's eyes lit up. He suddenly realized that what Fan Baobao said might actually be a way to solve the problem.

If he did this, he might even get a pleasant surprise.

Wasn't that how Sun Zhengyi rose to prominence back then?

Thinking of this, Zhao Fusheng said to Fan Baobao, "What you said makes sense. But one of the programmers below made a small game that's quite interesting. What do you think, should we run it?"

"A game?"

Fan Baobao was taken aback, somewhat surprised. She wasn't really interested in that area; she had never been someone who liked playing games since childhood.

People are like that—they basically choose to ignore things they're not interested in.

Fan Baobao was no exception. She really had no interest in the topic Zhao Fusheng brought up.

But since her husband asked, Fan Baobao thought for a moment and said, "It's up to you. I don't understand this, but I think since it's a game, there must be people playing it, right?"

Zhao Fusheng laughed. What she said was essentially about the user base.

Any game, whether single-player or online, ultimately involves the issue of user base.

For example, if a game has millions of daily active players, it can survive for at least ten years.

The reason is simple: the existence of these users gives the game long-lasting vitality, and the operator can at least see hope for profitability.

Conversely, if a game has no user base, it might fade into obscurity after a few months.

"This game is a web game."

Zhao Fusheng said with a smile, "We can promote it within the online games our company distributes."

"Are there many people?"

Fan Baobao asked casually.

Zhao Fusheng opened his mouth to answer but suddenly realized he had made a mistake.

Why had he been so fixated on developing online games while neglecting the profitable existence of web games?

"I understand."

Zhao Fusheng laughed, picked up the phone, and directly dialed Dong Guoxiang's number.

"What's up?"

Dong Guoxiang, clearly not asleep, asked Zhao Fusheng with some curiosity.

"Do this: contact Tencent Technology and ask if they're interested in collaborating to promote this software." Zhao Fusheng said to Dong Guoxiang, "Tell the programmer under you that if this web game cooperates with Tencent, he gets 40% of the profits, while the company and Tencent Technology each take 30%. Moreover, if anyone else develops new software programs in the future, we'll follow this model."

Dong Guoxiang never expected Zhao Fusheng to make such a decision. Somewhat surprised, he said, "This..."

Clearly, he didn't quite understand Zhao Fusheng's decision.

Zhao Fusheng laughed, "Just contact them like this."

He didn't explain too much, because Zhao Fusheng knew that Dong Guoxiang needed to figure this out on his own. Explaining too clearly would only make him overthink.

...

...

After hanging up, Zhao Fusheng felt much better. He chatted with Fan Baobao for a while longer before going to sleep.

The next morning, at exactly eight o'clock, Zhao Fusheng was woken up by his mother.

On the first day of the New Year, of course, they had to eat dumplings.

After having breakfast with his parents and wife, Zhao Fusheng started answering and making phone calls nonstop.

After all, it was the New Year; others wished him a happy New Year, and he had to do the same for them.

Fortunately, they weren't in Ninghai, or the house would be packed.

Chinese people have the habit of visiting relatives. It's said that the poor are ignored in the bustling city, while the rich have distant relatives in the深山. Although Zhao Fusheng's relatives weren't that extreme, if they visited each other, his family would definitely be on the receiving end.

So this year, not spending the New Year in Ninghai saved a lot of trouble.

There was no trouble on his parents' side, but Zhao Fusheng couldn't turn down a bunch of dinner invitations.

There was no help for it. In previous years, he wasn't in the capital, so these acquaintances had no chance to gather with him. This time, knowing he was in the capital, even Old Jiang specially arranged a meeting with Zhao Fusheng.

Fan Baobao was pregnant now, so naturally she couldn't attend, and Zhao Fusheng had to go alone.

Wu Sijie had been given a long vacation by him at this time, told to go home and rest.

Although Zhao Fusheng was a capitalist, he hadn't yet reached the point of being inhumane. These people had followed him through a whole year of hard work. Even though he paid their wages, he couldn't very well not let them leave on New Year's Eve, could he?

Even the bodyguards around him, if they had family outside the capital, Zhao Fusheng gave them leave as well.

Zhang Qian originally didn't want to leave the capital, but Zhao Fusheng forcibly drove him away, telling him to follow Yang Panpan back to his hometown for the New Year.

Of course, the person who could get Zhao Fusheng to come out must be of no ordinary status.

If it weren't someone very familiar, they wouldn't have that much face.

"You, why aren't you surrounded by a crowd today?"

Seeing Zhao Fusheng arrive in only one car with just two bodyguards, Xue Yuanfang asked in surprise.

"It's the New Year. I'm not Zhou Papi; I have to give them some time off, don't I?" Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Xue Yuanfang, "Besides, I'm meeting you, and here in the capital, do you think anyone would dare to cause trouble?"

"That's true."

Xue Yuanfang nodded. The place he had invited Zhao Fusheng to dinner today was a hotel under the General Office.

To put it bluntly, it was a place that was on the record with the higher-ups.

If anyone dared to stir up trouble here, they wouldn't even know how they died.

Today, Xue Yuanfang had invited Zhao Fusheng to meet, partly to get together during the Spring Festival, and partly, naturally, to discuss other matters.

"So, how are the preparations going?"

The two sat down in the private room. Xue Yuanfang ordered the dishes, sent the waiter out, and then asked Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and waved his hand: "What do I need to prepare? I don't need to prepare."

He naturally understood Xue Yuanfang's meaning. It seemed that the Xue family was also very concerned about his upcoming trip to Xichuan.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent Xue Yuanfang to probe his stance.

After all, although the two were good collaborators and could be considered friends, they hadn't yet reached the point of confiding in each other.

Between them, to be more precise, it was a relationship of mutual benefit.

Of course, each knew the other's character well, and under these circumstances, they were naturally willing to develop a better relationship.

Between any two people, except for friends who have long admired each other from afar, moving from strangers to acquaintances always requires an opportunity and a process.

For example, on first meeting, we might think someone is very nice and want to become closer and more familiar with them. Later, after we get to know this person, we understand some of their habits and then decide whether to become even closer and make them our friend.

But then again, if this person isn't that great, after interacting for a while, everyone might unconsciously keep a certain distance, becoming merely relatively familiar strangers.

Friends can also be divided into true friends and false friends. There are those who seem to have a good relationship on the surface, but in fact, their friendship is as insipid as water—such friends do exist.

Of course, here the phrase 'a gentleman's friendship is as insipid as water' is used in a derogatory sense, to satirize those so-called 'friends' who think they are very close but usually don't speak to each other, only turning to others for help when something comes up.

True friends are those who, no matter when, will be by your side if you need them.

At the very least, Zhao Fusheng and Jiang Wen, and Zhao Fusheng and Tan Kaixuan, were all such friends.

Of course, that's not to say Xue Yuanfang is a bad person, but Zhao Fusheng knew very well that the two of them were ultimately not on the same path.

A playboy, even if he seems amiable, in fact, knows perfectly well in his heart what should and shouldn't be done—too clearly.

Hearing Zhao Fusheng's answer, Xue Yuanfang sighed. He could naturally see that Zhao Fusheng had probably already guessed his purpose today.

Although he didn't want to say anything, he had no choice. After all, his family's hopes were now all pinned on that person; he had no alternative.

"This time, I really have to rely on you."

Xue Yuanfang said to Zhao Fusheng: "There are many variables at the top now. I can't say much specifically, but you must remember, this time, you have to invest in a few big projects."

Zhao Fusheng laughed upon hearing this and waved his hand: "Even if you told me, I wouldn't want to hear it. I'm just a businessman, doing what I want to do, that's all."

"Alright, alright."

Xue Yuanfang immediately understood Zhao Fusheng's meaning, and he also believed that Zhao Fusheng had understood his. Both were smart people; no one would do anything foolish.

"By the way, what do you think about the company setting up a film and television shooting base in Xichuan?"

Zhao Fusheng recalled something and asked Xue Yuanfang.

Xue Yuanfang was taken aback, furrowing his brow: "A film and television base would require a lot of investment, but the question is, will it become a stalled project?"

After all, as the head of the public relations department of the Future Group, responsible for external publicity, Xue Yuanfang knew very well that if it were that high-profile, there would certainly be hype, but nine times out of ten, it would lose money.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head, smiled, and then said: "What I mean is, it's not just for filming; we can also play the tourism card. What do you think?"

Tourism?

Xue Yuanfang was stunned on the spot. Clearly, he couldn't understand this move by Zhao Fusheng...