Chapter 2097: Discussing Cooperation

Zhao Fusheng presided over the celebration banquet very successfully.

After all, he was essentially a mascot; the specific work he needed to do was just to go on stage and say a few words to encourage everyone. As for how to handle other matters, someone had already taken care of them.

If the boss had to do everything himself, then the company would have no reason to exist.

"Thank you, Chairman."

Xu Shanzheng was naturally extremely grateful and took the initiative to toast Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Do a good job. The company will go public this year, and I have high hopes for you for next year's Spring Festival season."

Starting in 2010, China's film market would officially take off.

Under these circumstances, with Ning Hao and Xu Shanzheng as two box-office weapons in hand, Zhao Fusheng naturally wanted to maximize profits.

As for Old Jiang, that guy didn't count.

After finishing "Let the Bullets Fly," Zhao Fusheng felt that Old Jiang could start transitioning to management.

After all, given the company's situation, as it grew larger, having Jiang Wen enter management would make Zhao Fusheng more at ease.

"Thank you, Chairman. Rest assured, I will work hard," Xu Shanzheng said sincerely.

He naturally understood that his current achievements were all due to Zhao Fusheng's regard. To put it bluntly, if Zhao Fusheng hadn't given him the opportunity, this film wouldn't have been released.

Besides, Ye Jing had previously said that all company artists could subscribe to original shares.

Someone like himself was even qualified to subscribe to a substantial amount of original shares, without needing to pay cash, but deducting from annual dividends.

This meant that the company hoped he would stay.

Xu Shanzheng wasn't stupid. If he still chose to leave under such conditions, it would mean he didn't intend to stay on the same boat as Future Film.

Just look at Huayi, and you'd know what the outcome would be.

As a smart person, Xu Shanzheng was well aware that his level was far too distant from Zhao Fusheng's—so far that even if he chose to leave Future Film, Zhao Fusheng probably wouldn't personally do anything to him.

It was like an ant accidentally bumping into an elephant; the elephant wouldn't feel a thing because the gap between them was too large, large enough to ignore certain things.

But conversely, if he chose to leave after receiving so many benefits,

the one who would truly care about this matter was Ye Jing.

As the actual controller and operator of Future Film, Ye Jing was primarily responsible for its management. In other words, if Xu Shanzheng left after achieving success at Future Film, the one who would be truly angry was Ye Jing.

As a big shot with significant influence in the Beijing circle and even the entire entertainment industry, and himself a part of capital, under such circumstances, would Xu Shanzheng dare to offend Ye Jing?

Of course not.

Therefore, Xu Shanzheng had long since decided to stay at Future Film.

After all, it could provide him with a bigger stage.

...

...

After attending the celebration banquet at the company, Zhao Fusheng left.

He didn't like such occasions anyway. He attended today only because Yu Feihong, Ye Jing, and others were not in the capital, and Zheng Yao had something urgent.

"Chairman, going home?"

Sitting in the car, Liu Yiming asked Zhao Fusheng.

"Yeah, let's go back."

Zhao Fusheng smiled and nodded.

He increasingly disliked socializing; staying at home made him feel more cheerful.

The more mature a person became, the more this seemed to be the case.

Tired of all kinds of social engagements, disliking going out, preferring to stay home.

Back home, Zhao Fusheng let Liu Yiming leave, sat on the sofa, played some music, and read a book.

Carefree and content—that was his current state of life.

"What are you doing?"

Just as he was about to sleep after reading for a while, Zhao Fusheng received a call from Fan Baobao.

In Italy, it happened to be daytime.

"Getting ready to sleep."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "What, missing me?"

"Not at all." Fan Baobao, though married to him for so many years, was still a bit shy and chose to ignore his teasing.

"Look at you."

Zhao Fusheng said with a smile: "Why so lacking in romance?"

"Cut it out."

Fan Baobao said irritably: "Beibei and Sister Feihong are coming back in a few days. Take good care of her, got it?"

"I know, don't worry."

Zhao Fusheng nodded.

He had raised that girl like a daughter since she was little, and he had taken good care of her. Really, she didn't trust his ability to take care of children.

Zhao Fusheng expressed great dissatisfaction!

"What's my daughter doing?" Zhao Fusheng asked with interest.

"She went to the seaside with her grandpa."

Fan Baobao said: "The old man is training her to walk."

"Mm, be safe."

Zhao Fusheng instructed with concern.

"Don't you care about your son?" Fan Baobao asked helplessly.

"What's there to care about that little brat?"

Zhao Fusheng said matter-of-factly: "Boys should be tough. Look at me; when I was little, my dad often beat me."

"Heh..."

Fan Baobao decisively indicated that she shouldn't discuss this topic with him.

In Zhao Fusheng's worldview, sons should be raised freely, while daughters should be well protected.

They chatted for a while longer before Zhao Fusheng hung up.

He now desperately missed products like WeChat, simply because at the very least, they allowed video calls to see his family.

"Oh, a computer can do that too."

Slapping his forehead, Zhao Fusheng suddenly realized.

He had just been incredibly stupid.

He had actually forgotten such a simple thing.

Turning on the computer, Zhao Fusheng browsed the news and read some random forum posts, finding it quite interesting.

You know, ten years later, he probably wouldn't need to go through all this trouble.

The biggest advantage of smartphone普及 was that people gradually moved away from computers and switched to phones as their way of understanding the world.

Technological progress brought changes in lifestyle.

"Should I create WeChat?"

Sitting in front of the computer, Zhao Fusheng suddenly thought of something.

Zhao Fusheng knew how much benefit the WeChat application brought to Tencent.

If Future Technology developed WeChat, it would undoubtedly be greatly beneficial to the company's development.

But the problem was that WeChat's popularity was accompanied by QQ's massive user base.

In other words, many people initially used WeChat because they could log in directly with QQ.

As for later using phone numbers to log in, that was a different development.

But in the promotion stage, the binding of WeChat and QQ was the reason for the software's rapid spread.

Under such circumstances, it seemed he would need to cooperate with Tencent Technology.

But that was actually fine; as the saying goes, money can't be earned all by oneself.

Those who hog everything rarely end well.

Zhao Fusheng didn't mind sharing profitable businesses with others, because the greater the profit, the higher the risk. Having someone out front to attract others' attention was actually a good choice.

With that in mind, Zhao Fusheng took out his phone and dialed a number he hadn't contacted in a long time.

"Chairman Zhao?"

A somewhat surprised voice came from the other end of the line, clearly not expecting Zhao Fusheng to call him.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled: "What's the matter, Old Ma? Didn't expect me to call?"

On the other end of the line was none other than Little Ma from Tencent Technology.

Little Ma was a bit surprised and said frankly: "Indeed. What's up?"

Their relationship wasn't yet good enough for casual private calls.

Both of them knew this well.

Although Future Investment held shares in Tencent Technology, and Future Technology was jointly promoting the game "Dungeon & Fighter" with Tencent, in fact, the two sides were only cooperating for mutual benefit.

In other words, they were doing business.

As for the leaders of the two companies, they might have had common ground before, but at that time, neither Future Group nor Tencent Technology had reached their current positions.

Whether it was Zhao Fusheng or Ma Huateng, they could both accept a competitor who hadn't yet made it big as a friend. But now, each leading a huge company, with countless people behind them who might have to put in effort and hard work because of their decisions, they knew very well that they could no longer happily discuss the pros and cons of a project like before.

People always change.

Whether willing or not, they inevitably change over time.

Whether this change is good or bad depends on each person's own feelings.

At the very least, Zhao Fusheng felt that this change was actually quite good.