Chapter 0251: Opening

From the end of September when the mall began renovations to its upcoming opening in December, Zhao Fusheng had hardly been able to help much. Father Zhao managed everything on his own, only asking him to come up with a name for the supermarket. He searched online for the names of large shopping malls that had left an impression on him, only to find that almost no famous trademarks were unregistered.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng also knew that famous trademarks were built step by step.

Moreover, Zhao Fusheng understood that for now, his family's mall was just a small venture, hardly worth mentioning in terms of brand effect. After checking online, he decisively named the mall Wanda and had his father register the Wanda Plaza trademark in advance.

If he remembered correctly, in July of the following year, the legendary King of Wealth, Wang, would soon enter the commercial real estate business. Zhao Fusheng was very much looking forward to seeing the expression on his face when he discovered that the four characters 'Wanda Plaza' could not be used.

Ninghai was neither too big nor too small. News that the Zhao family's Wanda Plaza was about to open on Christmas Day quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys.

After all, at that time, Ninghai had never seen such a novelty as a supermarket.

"Have you heard? A so-called Wanda Plaza is opening on the first floor of Hualian Commercial Building."

"Yeah, I heard it's a vegetable market."

"No, I heard it's an amusement park."

People said all sorts of things, and for a time, there was much discussion.

On opening day, there were no fussy ceremonies like ribbon-cutting, only the bustling crowd outside the store.

Of course, among the crowd were Father Zhao's old comrades and those who had invested money in the mall. Although there was no clear division, Father Zhao, following Zhao Fusheng's advice, had promised them that anyone who invested would receive dividends. So in many people's eyes, this was their own business.

That's how Chinese people are—often they side with family over reason. It may seem ridiculous, but it's indeed a truth.

If these people were merely employees in this business, perhaps they wouldn't be so dedicated. But once they became shareholders entitled to dividends, it was a different story.

Zhao Fusheng even saw more than one person pulling others to introduce what was in the mall. Such free promoters were hard to come by.

"Dad, what's going on over there?" Zhao Fusheng pointed not far away, where an old man was guiding two young people.

"Oh, that's your Uncle Zhang's father. The old man has nothing to do, so he says he's here to keep an eye on things," Zhao's father replied with a wry smile.

Zhao Fusheng frowned, then noticed many other elderly people elsewhere, all in their fifties, sixties, or seventies. It seemed they were either the elders of various shareholders or simply those who had pooled money into the investment.

Thinking this, Zhao Fusheng chuckled and said to his father, "Dad, how about this: since the uncles and aunties are willing to help promote our mall, why not give them the title of honorary promoters? Give each of them a uniform and let them be responsible for supervising the supermarket's operations. What do you think?"

Zhao's father was taken aback, then thought it over and found his son's suggestion reasonable. He nodded, "Alright, let's do as you say."

Zhao Fusheng had his reasons for this. The mall had just opened and still had many shortcomings. In short, everything was like crossing a river by feeling the stones. These elderly people, having investments in the mall through their families, were half-insiders and would certainly value the mall's interests highly. They were the most suitable promoters and supervisors.

Zhao Fusheng didn't get too involved in what followed. After all, his father had his own plans. If he interfered too much, it might backfire.

Moreover, Zhao Fusheng also believed in his father. There is no such thing as ease in adult life. The fact that his father had managed to raise him in his previous life and now dared to take over such a large supermarket showed that he truly wanted to accomplish something.

In this world, difficult things and things that ought to be done are often the same thing. Meaningful endeavors that turn one's life around are never easy, because in the world of adults, easy things simply do not exist.

Once upon a time, Zhao Fusheng had also plunged into the torrent of the world with pure ideals, but in the end he discovered that he and the world were the same, and this world would not be changed.

So we have come this far, not to change the world, but to keep ourselves from being changed by the world.

……

……

“How’s the shopping mall?”

The only person who could call Zhao Fusheng at this time was Miss Fan Baobao.

As the unpaid spokesperson for Wanda Mall—and indeed, with the mindset that making use of waste is simply taking what's free for the taking—under Li Yuan and Zhao Ma's planning, Fan Baobao's headshot was plastered all over Wanda Mall.

Not only that, but Li Yuan also specially made a large photo of Fan Baobao and placed it at the mall entrance.

It was said that the original photo was taken after Li Yuan personally called Fan Baobao and asked her to mail it back after having it taken.

Zhao Fusheng deeply sympathized with Fan Baobao over this, because no matter how you looked at that photo, it was full of that so-called shamate style.

No helping it—the trend among young people these days was an outfit resembling the wash-cut-blow style.

"Not bad, quite a few people," Zhao Fusheng said with a smile. Although he hadn't seen today's revenue, he was sure that at least for the first month of operation, sales would be good.

People all have a sense of novelty, especially on such a bustling central street. Suddenly a comprehensive mall appears, including a large shopping center, children's playground, and café—no one can resist the urge to check it out.

Whether middle-aged or elderly, children, or young people in love, Zhao Fusheng believed that the desire to consume was simply uncontrollable.

"That's good, that's good," Fan Baobao muttered to herself. Clearly, she was worried even while in Beijing.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Don't worry, even if we lose money, I'll find a way."

"What way could you possibly have? Don't worry, Sister Hua said that when I'm a senior, she'll get me acting roles. Then even if Uncle Zhao loses money, I can support our family," Fan Baobao said smugly.

Clearly, she was now full of confidence about her future.

Even without seeing her face, Zhao Fusheng could imagine that Fan Baobao was now smug and especially happy.

"Alright, I'll wait for the day you become famous," Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said, "How about when you come home for winter break, you give me a few hundred autographed photos?"

Fan Baobao was taken aback: "What do you want my autographed photos for?"

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "As souvenirs! After you get famous, I'll wholesale them out at fifty bucks each. What do you think? Isn't that a way to make money?"

At that moment, Fan Baobao really wanted to rush through the phone and give someone a good beating.

Couldn't this guy, just once, not provoke her?

Taking a deep breath, Fan Baobao told herself: I'm a lady, I'm a lady. Stay calm, stay calm.

"Why aren't you talking? Dumbstruck by me?" Zhao Fusheng's "annoying" voice still sounded over the phone. Clearly, he had absolutely no self-awareness.

Fan Baobao snorted: "Don't you worry, not just fifty, even at a hundred bucks, people would be willing to buy this young lady's autograph."

Zhao Fusheng chuckled and nodded: "Looks like you're really confident in yourself."

"Of course, who do you think I am?" Fan Baobao said smugly.

Zhao Fusheng suddenly said: "But no matter how much money you make, you can't hire people to buy autographs from me..."

"Zhao Fusheng!"

From some female dormitory at the Central Academy of Drama, a furious roar suddenly rang out. At that moment, many people were curious about who exactly this Zhao Fusheng was.

Hanging up the phone, Zhao Fusheng was in a pretty good mood. He actually felt that sometimes teasing Fan Baobao when bored was quite an enjoyable thing.

In this world, there is a difference between petty cleverness and great wisdom, and those who can tell them apart naturally have different fates.

Fan Baobao was undoubtedly a person of great wisdom. Although she never said it, Zhao Fusheng knew that this girl was actually very smart.

But that was fine too—the smarter she was, the better she could protect herself in the complex and treacherous entertainment industry.

Zhao Fusheng had once read a book that said: "A person should not live in others' words, nor in others' eyes."

Simple as it sounds, in reality, achieving it is not so easy, because this is a damn world where those who don't compromise find it hard to win.