Chapter 2016 The Big Talker

To be honest, Zhao Fusheng was actually an outlier among the wealthy.

He had quite a few business partners, but only to the extent of acquaintance; in fact, within the entire circle of the rich, he basically had no friends.

Although people found it strange, they didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Not everyone is keen on socializing and proud of having a wide circle of acquaintances.

So-called wide social connections, in plain terms, actually mean that not many people are willing to be completely sincere with you.

But that was fine, at least Zhao Fusheng didn't have to attend all kinds of tedious social engagements due to various personal obligations.

Even Zhao Fusheng himself was actually quite happy about this.

What he disliked most was socializing.

Socializing itself reeked of hypocrisy.

Outside the hospital room.

"Several companies we're cooperating with have sent congratulatory telegrams."

Dong Chenxi reported to Zhao Fusheng: "Samsung and CJ Group, as well as the US side, have all sent congratulations."

"Hmph, they think I'll pass the company to my son?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled faintly, noncommittal.

He paid no attention to the various speculations about his successor; even though a group of people in the company were hinting or excited, Zhao Fusheng had not made any public statement.

To him, the child had just been born, and he himself was in his prime, so there was no need to make any messy preparations.

Even the issue of succession didn't worry Zhao Fusheng.

He had long since written his will: if something unexpected happened to him, his property would be shared by his parents and wife.

As for the child?

With hands and feet, he wouldn't starve.

Moreover, money, for many people, is actually an abstract concept.

Like some authors or screenwriters who casually write about a protagonist throwing ten million in cash in front of someone, and so on.

But in reality, that's really foolish.

Ten million in cash weighs about one hundred and ten kilograms, or two hundred and twenty pounds.

What should a normal adult carrying two hundred pounds look like?

How could they look handsome or graceful?

Damn, at least they'd have to hold it with both hands, okay!

...

...

"By the way, a few entrepreneurs have contacted us recently."

Dong Chenxi said to Zhao Fusheng: "One of them is called Luo Yonghao. I think his idea is good—he plans to do English training. What do you think?"

Generally, if it wasn't a very important project, she would decide on her own.

It seemed Dong Chenxi had a good impression of this Luo Yonghao and was considering long-term investment.

Luo Yonghao?

Zhao Fusheng frowned, then sneered.

"What did he tell you?" Zhao Fusheng asked Dong Chenxi.

"Ah, mainly this..."

Although a bit surprised, Dong Chenxi still repeated what she had heard to Zhao Fusheng.

After a moment, Zhao Fusheng sneered.

Just as always, this guy.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Zhao Fusheng silent and instead showing a hint of a sneer, Dong Chenxi couldn't help but be surprised.

"Business is business. Why coat it with a layer of dream-and-passion breadcrumbs and fry it in a pan? Don't you find it greasy?" Zhao Fusheng looked at Dong Chenxi and asked slowly.

Dong Chenxi was a bit startled, then realized that Zhao Fusheng was talking about Luo Yonghao.

After all, in her just-repeated account, Luo Yonghao had indeed talked a lot about ideals and passion, like improving the quality of the whole nation.

Then Zhao Fusheng continued: "You know, when talking cooperation with others, you should take the words of those with ideals and passion in reverse. A gentleman understands profit, a petty person understands righteousness. Reliable entrepreneurs will tell you straight up: I have this, and I hope to get that from you. They say it clearly; whether it works out or not, we don't waste each other's time, right?"

Dong Chenxi thought about it and found it true, so she nodded and continued looking at Zhao Fusheng.

Clearly, Zhao Fusheng had more to say.

Sure enough, he did.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled and continued: "But some people start by talking about passion, ideals, life, repeatedly emphasizing the need to focus on future development and growth, not caring about immediate interests, but they never talk about what they can actually do or want to do. Do you know what that means?"

"A con."

Dong Chenxi's face darkened as she slowly uttered these two words.

If she still hadn't realized that she had been fooled by that Luo Yonghao, then Zhao Fusheng would really have to take her to the hospital for a check-up.

"Do you know what's most annoying about people like Luo Yonghao?" Zhao Fusheng suddenly asked Dong Chenxi.

Dong Chenxi frowned but said nothing.

"Some people go out looking for fun and say straight up, 'Sis, two thousand, all night, you in?' But others sit in a karaoke bar and say seriously to a pretty girl, 'Girl, you're so young, why are you doing this? Do you have some difficulty? Tell me, I'll think of something for you. You still have a long life ahead; doing this isn't a long-term solution.'"

"Huh?"

Dong Chenxi was dumbfounded.

She just stared at Zhao Fusheng, then heard him sneer: "The former is honest, while the latter is just disgusting."

Dong Chenxi was speechless for a long time. Thinking carefully, what Zhao Fusheng said really made sense.

"That's it."

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand: "From now on, that guy is not allowed in our company."

He was, of course, referring to Luo Yonghao.

If he remembered correctly, a few years later, this guy would announce he was making phones, then mess it up completely, struggle for years, and eventually become a deadbeat, shamelessly saying it wasn't his fault, just that he had encountered difficulties.

In Zhao Fusheng's view, Old Jia from LeEco and Luo Yonghao were both weirdos cut from the same mold.

In the eyes of such people, entrepreneurship is a way for them to get rich.

No matter what they do, they first talk about ideals; success or failure doesn't matter.

"I understand."

Dong Chenxi nodded and left.

...

...

"What are you doing here?"

Zhao's mother returned and saw Zhao Fusheng standing at the door, asking curiously.

"Nothing, just discussed some company matters with Dong Chenxi. What were you up to?" Zhao Fusheng asked in surprise.

"I went shopping, but then I saw people outside holding signs asking the pharmacy to lower the price of medicine..." Zhao's mother's words made Zhao Fusheng freeze.

"Lower the price?"

Zhao Fusheng was a bit surprised.

"Yeah, it's for treating leukemia, called something like 'Liewei'." Zhao's mother replied.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of a certain movie from later years.

If he remembered correctly, the movie "Dying to Survive" starring Xu Zheng actually described the issue of leukemia treatment drugs.

But in fact, there was a lot of exaggeration in it. For instance, to create conflict for the movie, the pharmaceutical company was portrayed as unscrupulous, profit-driven merchants, shifting all the blame onto the company.

But in reality, there were many issues involved.

Novartis, as the developer of Glivec, in Zhao Fusheng's view, was actually quite a responsible company.

What really kept the price of this drug high domestically was actually some domestic policies.

You see, China is the place where Glivec is sold at the highest price in the world.

Glivec, also known as Gleevec, is the first molecular targeted drug for cancer developed by Swiss company Novartis.

Before its advent, chronic myeloid leukemia was considered a terminal illness; after Glivec, the five-year survival rate for CML patients rose to nearly 90%, and their quality of life was almost normal.

In China, due to patent protection, generics cannot be produced. An imported box of Glivec costs as much as 24,000 yuan.

In India, because drug patent protection is not recognized, manufacturers can legally produce generics. A box of Indian Glivec now costs as low as about 200 yuan. However, this drug cannot obtain import approval from the National Medical Products Administration and is classified as counterfeit; buying it is smuggling, selling it is selling fake drugs.

That's just one reason. The more important reason, Zhao Fusheng knew very well, involved too many interests.