Chapter 1944: Zheng Yao's Hesitation

"Who is it, exactly?"

Fan Baobao waited until bedtime, when Zhao Fusheng came to say goodnight and they were alone, before she asked him.

"Xue Yuanfang's uncle, the top leader of Mingzhu City."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "I have high hopes for him. Maybe he can go even further in the future."

"Really?"

Fan Baobao's expression instantly changed.

She naturally understood what Zhao Fusheng meant. In other words, if it succeeded, it would mean the Future Group had a huge umbrella of protection.

Just imagine: people doing business with Zhao Fusheng would walk into his office and see that calligraphy.

Tsk tsk!

The picture was too beautiful to imagine.

Fan Baobao had always been a bit worried. After all, both she and Zhao Fusheng were children of ordinary families—truly ordinary, unlike Little Brother Ma's family.

In other words, neither family had any backing.

Seeing the Future Group grow bigger and bigger, Fan Baobao always worried: what if someone tried to scheme against their company?

This wasn't alarmist; it was a real possibility.

No matter where on Earth, the two words "official" and "business" are inseparable.

Every enterprise has countless ties with the government. Even if not a certain big shot's front man, there's always a big shot who appreciates the company.

As for the Future Group, it had never had one before.

Now, Fan Baobao was a bit surprised. Why had Zhao Fusheng chosen Xue Yuanfang's uncle?

"Don't overthink it."

Seeing her expression, Zhao Fusheng knew she was letting her imagination run wild. He quickly explained: "I just admire him, and he thinks I'm a decent person. That's all."

"Hmph, I don't believe it."

Fan Baobao didn't buy it at all, looking at him with contempt.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head helplessly and couldn't be bothered to explain further.

The truth was always hard to say, or rather, the truth itself was often frustrating.

"Alright, as long as you know what you're doing."

Fan Baobao said to Zhao Fusheng.

……

……

The next day, when Liu Yiming placed that piece of calligraphy in Zhao Fusheng's office, all the senior executives of Future Group were dumbfounded.

"Wait, when did you get in touch with him?"

Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng with surprise.

"He is Xue Yuanfang's uncle. Isn't it normal for me to meet him?" Zhao Fusheng said matter-of-factly.

"Heh..."

Zheng Yao couldn't even be bothered to complain.

This man was about to become the principal of the Party School, a position akin to that of the 'crown prince.' Under such circumstances, what it meant for Zhao Fusheng to have connected with him went without saying.

"Don't overthink it."

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand: "You always complicate simple things. That will make you tired."

He couldn't exactly tell Zheng Yao and the others that he had merely chatted about everyday matters with that big shot, without touching on anything substantive. The other party simply appreciated him and was very satisfied with what he had done.

To put it bluntly, this piece of calligraphy was just a way to borrow influence, much like how those WeChat sellers like to post photos of celebrities on their Moments.

Just to bluff.

"Alright, alright, I won't overthink it, I won't overthink it." Zheng Yao smiled and heeded Zhao Fusheng's words.

Of course, what she really thought, Zhao Fusheng had no way of knowing.

"Tell me, you didn't come to see me just for this calligraphy, did you?" Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Zheng Yao.

Zheng Yao nodded: "There is indeed something."

"What do you think of the current situation of the group?"

Looking at Zhao Fusheng, Zheng Yao slowly began to ask.

The group?

Clearly, she had come prepared.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Speak your mind, no need to beat around the bush."

"I feel that the company's development now relies too much on you." Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng and said slowly: "This is not a normal development model."

No one knew better than her how important Zhao Fusheng was to Future Group, which was why she had always been so concerned about his safety.

Because Zheng Yao was well aware that Zhao Fusheng held the key to the entire Future Group's development.

If something happened to Zhao Fusheng, Future Group would face a very difficult situation.

For one thing, would Xue Yuanfang still be so content to serve as the head of the Public Relations Department?

Would Ye Jing still manage Future Film with such dedication?

As for Liang Jingyu, who was still far away in South Korea, and Wu Sijie, who had just arrived in the United States—didn't these two understand the principle that when a general is in the field, he may disregard the sovereign's orders?

The Qin dynasty fell after just two reigns. Those who overthrew the Qin had all been obedient subjects under Qin Shi Huang's rule.

So why did they become powerful contenders for the empire?

The reason was simple: the great mountain before them had vanished.

When the First Emperor was alive, the brutal Qin still enforced harsh laws, yet all the ambitious men in the realm had to keep their tails between their legs.

Why?

Naturally, out of fear.

The same principle applied to Future Group now.

The reason these arrogant and fierce soldiers had always been working diligently was not that Zheng Yao was so capable that they were sincerely convinced, but because Zhao Fusheng was the boss.

If something happened to Zhao Fusheng, Zheng Yao could guarantee that she wouldn't be able to control any of them.

Not everyone was like Dong Guoxiang and Zhang Qian, loyal only to Zhao Fusheng.

Many others indeed had their own little schemes.

"I know."

Zhao Fusheng nodded.

He was well aware of the problem Zheng Yao mentioned, but the key was that it was now a deadlock, a trouble not easily resolved.

He was the boss of Future Group, guiding the company's development direction.

But at the same time, Zhao Fusheng was also the most outstanding planner for each subsidiary of Future Group.

No one knew better than him what the future would look like. Under such circumstances, how could Zhao Fusheng not participate in the company's management?

Being both an athlete and a coach—that was what troubled Zhao Fusheng the most.

"I'm thinking, should we change our strategy regarding the subsidiary's IPO?" Zheng Yao considered and asked Zhao Fusheng.

"What, do you have a new idea?"

Zhao Fusheng glanced at Zheng Yao and asked in confusion.

Clearly, she must be considering something; otherwise, she wouldn't have brought this up to him voluntarily.

After all, many senior executives at Future Group knew about this situation. If Zheng Yao mentioned it now, Zhao Fusheng wouldn't believe it was just a casual remark.

That would be an insult to his intelligence.

"List to raise funds, then bring in new investors."

Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng and said, "You know about raising gu insects, right?"

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then laughed.

He naturally understood what Zheng Yao meant. This woman seemed to be planning for the future.

"The next Tencent, or Alibaba?"

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and asked Zheng Yao.

"Well, if you plan to retire before you're forty, this is the best way." Zheng Yao said frankly.

No one knew Zhao Fusheng's thoughts better than she did. This guy really intended to retire.

What does it mean for an entrepreneur to retire?

It means no longer managing the company, that Zhao Fusheng planned to keep only a small stake and completely leave the front-line management of Future Group.

If that time came, where would Future Group go?

As the company's CEO, Zheng Yao had to consider this issue.

"Let's wait and see."

Zhao Fusheng smiled but made no comment on Zheng Yao's plan.

There were some things he couldn't explain to Zheng Yao. He couldn't tell her that in ten years, his foresight would no longer work, and by then, nearly forty, if he didn't want to fall from grace, he would have to choose retirement.

But Zheng Yao was right: once he left, Future Group in its current state would not work; it had to develop into a normal modern enterprise.

So Zheng Yao's idea was actually correct; it just needed time.

Seeing this, Zheng Yao didn't continue. She just mentioned it to Zhao Fusheng; the specific implementation would take time.

"By the way, since we donated to the disaster area, many charities have come knocking to ask for money. What should we do?" Zheng Yao recalled something and asked Zhao Fusheng.

"Asking for money?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned: "What's going on?"

"Just that." Zheng Yao shrugged: "Your and Baobao's reputation is so good now, it's almost like you have 'rich and gullible, come quickly' written on your foreheads. So those so-called charities have all come knocking, hoping we'll donate to them."

She laughed and said, "The Red Cross even indicated they hope we'll hand over the Future Charity Fund to them for management."

"Dream on!"

Zhao Fusheng refused outright: "Don't pay any attention to any of them. Especially those from the Red Cross. Tell them we can do it ourselves, we'll make our accounts public, and we don't accept or solicit public donations."

His feelings toward the Red Cross were complicated. He admired the grassroots members of the Red Cross; they truly acted with goodwill.

But as for the top brass, ha, Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to say anything.

In later years, various news media had already stripped this organization bare.

Starting with Guo Meimei, the mysterious aura of this organization had long been exposed to the world.

Including Jack Li's One Foundation, it was the same kind of stuff.

So Zhao Fusheng would never throw his money to these people to manage and do good deeds. No matter how well they spoke, out of ten yuan, only two or three would ultimately be used for charity; the rest would end up in personal pockets.

This kind of charity was better left undone.