Chapter 1928 Sacrifice

"I want to go to Xichuan."

Zhao Fusheng sat in the conference room, and his first words stunned everyone.

Almost everyone in the company knew that the boss was a man who valued his life greatly.

On ordinary days, he would rather stay out of sight than relax his personal security even a little.

A man of wealth should not sit in a dangerous place.

Everyone had grown accustomed to this, after all, with tens of billions in assets, if anything happened to Zhao Fusheng, the entire Future Group would be affected.

But this time, he actually wanted to go to Xichuan.

Didn't he know that was the earthquake zone, the most dangerous place?

"Chairman!"

Zheng Yao, who had rushed over, heard Zhao Fusheng's words, furrowed her brows slightly, and said solemnly, "It's very dangerous there. If you intend to慰问 the disaster victims, perhaps I should go."

As the CEO of Future Group, Zheng Yao's status was enough to represent Zhao Fusheng and the sincerity of Future Group.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled: "You are you, I am me."

"Huh?"

Zheng Yao was taken aback, looking at Zhao Fusheng with some surprise. Clearly, she hadn't expected him to answer that way.

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand and said to Ye Jing, "Turn on the TV and watch the news."

Although Ye Jing found it somewhat baffling, he still nodded.

Soon, someone projected the news content from the TV onto the conference room screen.

After the disaster struck, the entire Huaxia, like a precision machine, quickly began to operate. The people's soldiers rushed to the scene at the first moment.

And volunteers and rescue personnel from all over the country also threw themselves into the effort at the first moment.

When one side is in trouble, support comes from all sides.

In the provinces closest to Xichuan, the roads were bustling with traffic and endless streams of people.

In the news, the host said with deep emotion: "When our compatriots suffer misfortune, I am fortunate to see that so many people in our nation are crying at the same time, so many people have stepped forward at the same time, becoming volunteers, donors, prayer givers, people willing to share the pain of the unfortunate. Strangers who once did not know each other are now so close, so tightly connected... We grieve, we worry, we hope, but at the same time we are moved, inspired, and proud. Thank you, thank all those who have love in their hearts."

This is the strength of a nation.

This is a nation that is rising, somewhat lost, but bursting forth with power in the face of disaster.

At this moment, everyone felt the pride and honor of being descendants of the Yan and Huang emperors.

After watching the news, Zhao Fusheng looked up at the middle and senior management of Future Group.

"Many people think that earthquake relief is just about supplies and machinery, as if it's very simple."

Zhao Fusheng said calmly, "But don't forget, that's only part of earthquake relief. Post-disaster reconstruction and the安抚 of victims require the country to invest enormous human, material, and financial resources."

"We're just a company..."

Someone murmured.

Zhao Fusheng glanced at that person and asked calmly, "Name, position."

"Hello, Chairman. I am Lin Hai, deputy manager of the Financial Department of Future Investment. I..." The one who answered Zhao Fusheng was a young man in his early twenties.

"I know you. Dong Chenxi personally recruited you as a rising star, and your recent investments for the company have yielded returns." Zhao Fusheng looked at the young man named Lin Hai and said indifferently.

"You flatter me, Chairman." Lin Hai was pleased. The chairman personally praised him and even knew his name—this was a good thing.

"You're fired."

But Zhao Fusheng's next words stunned Lin Hai.

He never expected that the boss would praise him one moment and fire him the next.

"Chairman, this..." Dong Chenxi hesitated but still tried to intercede.

After all, Lin Hai was someone she had personally recruited into the company, and he had performed well, being an excellent talent in business.

"It's nothing."

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand, not giving Dong Chenxi a chance to speak, and looked at Lin Hai, saying calmly, "The reason is simple: my company doesn't need an employee without a sense of social responsibility."

"Sense of social responsibility?"

Not only Lin Hai, but everyone else in the conference room also found it somewhat surprising.

Zhao Fusheng said calmly, "To be honest, before, I always thought about being a good person, an entrepreneur with social responsibility, and also accumulating virtue for my child. But just now, the moment I saw the earthquake news, I suddenly understood that I am just an ordinary person. I only want to do what I can for the people in the disaster area. As for you, Lin Hai, your business ability is excellent, but I'm sorry, your ideological awareness doesn't sit well with me. At a time like this, you're still considering personal gains and losses. I can't believe what choice you would make if the company faced a life-or-death crisis one day."

Everyone fell into silence, and even Lin Hai himself couldn't say a word.

Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to say more and announced the decision he had pondered on the way.

"First, employees from Xichuan will be given a month's paid leave to visit their families. Second, the company will initiate a donation drive of money and goods, voluntary in principle, any amount is fine. Third, the Future Charity Foundation will fully devote itself to this disaster relief."

"President Zheng, you are in overall charge, fully coordinating this matter."

Zhao Fusheng said to Zheng Yao.

Zheng Yao nodded: "Okay, Chairman."

At that moment, Zhao Fusheng's phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the caller ID, he frowned, then stood up and walked outside to answer the call.

"Hello, are you a family member of Comrade Chen Shijie?"

A steady voice came through the phone.

"Uh, no, I'm his friend. What's wrong?" Zhao Fusheng suddenly had a foreboding feeling. If he remembered correctly, Chen Shijie was in Xichuan.

But he didn't seem to be stationed in the disaster area, did he? Had something happened?

"It's like this: Comrade Chen Shijie came to our area for support work and was among the first batch of volunteers to enter the disaster zone. Unfortunately, he was killed in an aftershock..."

The voice on the phone continued, but at that moment, Zhao Fusheng's mind went blank.

Chen Shijie was dead!

That guy who always wore a smile and had once faced drug dealers with calm and ease was actually dead!

Zhao Fusheng never expected something like this to happen.

"Comrade, are you sure? Could there be a mistake?"

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Fusheng's body swayed a few times. He struggled to control his emotions and asked the person on the phone, "Have you found him?"

"Not yet. He went missing during the rescue operation. His suicide note left your phone number."

The content of the call made Zhao Fusheng feel as if he had fallen into an abyss.

"Thank you. Please keep in touch with me."

Zhao Fusheng's voice trembled slightly as he said slowly.

Putting down the phone, Zhao Fusheng's steps felt heavy.

Parting between life and death is itself an ordinary thing, but when it truly happened to someone close, Zhao Fusheng still found it hard to accept.

During the New Year, Chen Shijie had called him, saying he would come back to Ninghai sometime for a gathering.

But now, at this moment, they were separated by the eternal divide.

"Chairman, you..."

Seeing Zhao Fusheng's pale face when he entered the door, those around him asked with concern.

"It's nothing."

Zhao Fusheng staggered slightly and slowly walked to his seat to sit down.

"What's wrong?" Zheng Yao asked with some concern.

Lifting his head, Zhao Fusheng gave Zheng Yao a bitter smile: "Chen Shijie is in the disaster area."

"Ah?"

Zheng Yao was startled. Dong Chenxi, who heard Zhao Fusheng's words, also turned pale.

They naturally knew who Chen Shijie was and the relationship between Chen Shijie and Zhao Fusheng. Suddenly hearing that he had died, the feeling was really bad.

"That's it."

Zhao Fusheng looked at his subordinates and said slowly, "CCTV will surely organize a gala. We'll attend then and donate the money."

After saying this, he stood up and walked straight out of the conference room. His back looked so desolate.

"What do we do?"

Looking at Zhao Fusheng's back, Dong Chenxi turned to Zheng Yao, her eyes seeking advice.

Zheng Yao smiled bitterly. She had no solution either. Originally, she had hoped to persuade Zhao Fusheng not to be so radical, but unexpectedly, Chen Shijie had died in Xichuan.

In that case, no one could stop Zhao Fusheng from doing what he wanted to do.