Chapter 0316: A Small Suggestion

After midnight, Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao didn't go back to the Normal University side to sleep. Li Yuan and her two daughters slept in one room, while Zhao's dad and mom shared another.

"And me?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at his parents with utter surprise.

Zhao's mom chuckled and pointed at the sofa: "I think that's a good spot, what do you say?"

Blinking his eyes, Zhao Fusheng asked: "Can I go back to the school to sleep?"

Zhao's mom smiled, casually picked up the rolling pin she'd use for making dumplings the next morning, and looked at Zhao Fusheng: "Son, what did you say?"

"Nothing, Mom, could you get me a blanket?" Zhao Fusheng's smile was written with the word 'flattery' from the bottom of his heart: "I haven't slept on our sofa in ages, I really miss it."

"Mm, get to bed early. Tomorrow morning after we eat dumplings, your dad and I have to go visiting." Zhao's mom instructed, and brought him a quilt.

Zhao Fusheng resignedly nodded. Since it had come to this, he could only obediently sleep on the sofa.

Nothing happened that night. On the first day of the New Year, Zhao Fusheng was sleeping soundly when he felt a tickle in his nostrils. Opening his eyes, he saw a pair of chubby little hands rubbing his face.

"Brother, you're awake." Seeing Zhao Fusheng open his eyes, Fan Beibei said with a smile.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, looking around with sleepy eyes: "Beibei, why are you up so early?"

The clock had just struck seven, and Fan Beibei was already up, which really surprised him.

"Beibei loves brother..." The little girl rubbed her head against Zhao Fusheng's face: "Brother, get up. Good kids don't sleep in."

Rolling his eyes, Zhao Fusheng wanted to say he wasn't a good kid, but under the little girl's expectant gaze, he could only obediently get up from the sofa.

Soon, the whole family was up, even Fan Baobao had dressed neatly and gotten out of bed.

"Today's task is tough." Zhao's dad and mom said while making dumplings.

Li Yuan also nodded: "Let's try to finish it all by noon."

Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao looked at each other, not knowing what they were talking about.

There was no help for it; the elders' words were really disjointed. Not just a young person like Fan Baobao, but even an old hand like Zhao Fusheng was a bit confused—what were they discussing?

"Your mom and I talked it over. During the Spring Festival, our mall is busy. I plan to visit all the relatives today. For those too far away, I'll just call and skip them." Zhao's mom said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng paused, then shrugged: "No need to go to so much trouble. If you visit all the relatives in the city today, the only one left is Grandpa. If you ask me, Dad, you should take the time to go get him and bring him out. Then Grandpa can look after Beibei."

He said this for a reason.

Zhao Fusheng's grandmother died early. His grandfather had three sons and two daughters—that generation was like that, every family had many children. Zhao's dad was the eldest. Zhao Fusheng's aunts and uncles, though not particularly accomplished and farming in the countryside, were honest folks and caused no trouble. The old man had a small thatched cottage and lived comfortably enough.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng remembered clearly that his grandfather, nearly eighty, still tended a small vegetable garden and worked the fields without any trouble.

Now his grandfather was just over sixty. Zhao Fusheng thought he should bring him to the city to enjoy life.

"I think it's a good idea." Zhao's mom thought for a moment and said to her husband.

Zhao's dad hesitated, looked around, and said nothing.

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and knew what his father was worried about. He said directly to his father: "Dad, I think we should change houses."

"Huh?"

Zhao's dad was startled, looking at Zhao Fusheng in surprise. He hadn't expected his son to guess his concern.

In that instant, he had indeed been thinking about the house issue. After all, Li Yuan and her daughters were living there. If they also brought Zhao Fusheng's grandfather to the city, their current house would definitely not be enough.

Recently, the mall had made a fair amount of money. Zhao's dad was thinking whether to wait a bit and just buy a house outright.

Seeing his father's reaction, Zhao Fusheng knew he had guessed right. He shrugged and said: "The mall's daily profits are considerable now. If you ask me, while those shareholders are still willing, you should return their pooled funds with principal and dividends, keeping only Uncle Chen's and the like."

This was an idea he had thought over carefully. After all, although the state didn't regulate fundraising now, that didn't mean it would turn a blind eye forever. A few years later, illegal fundraising would be a form of economic fraud.

Zhao Fusheng didn't want his father to be stuck with that label.

Rather than wait to be caught, it was better to take precautions and nip the danger in the bud.

Zhao's dad thought for a moment and nodded: "I know that. But what does it have to do with us buying a house?"

Zhao Fusheng grinned: "Of course it does. If the small shareholders get their dividends, you, the big shareholder, should get yours too, right?"

"I do get some, but the problem is, it's not enough." Zhao's dad said hesitantly.

Zhao Fusheng blinked: "The bank has money..."

Having said that, he didn't speak further. If his father still didn't get his meaning after all that, Zhao Fusheng could only say the old man wasn't cut out for business.

How many real businessmen foolishly invest all their own money? They all take loans.

Zhao's dad naturally understood what Zhao Fusheng meant, but he didn't speak. He frowned in thought, clearly mulling over his son's words.

Zhao's mom, Li Yuan, and the others had no idea what they were talking about. Fan Baobao looked thoughtful.

Not until Zhao's mom, Zhao's dad, and Li Yuan had all left did Fan Baobao ask Zhao Fusheng: "You mean for Uncle Zhao to take out another loan from the bank?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "I'm just making a suggestion. The mall's business is so good now. Those small shareholders who pooled funds might cause trouble later. If we give them their dividends and principal back now, at least we can ensure the mall won't have problems."

Fan Baobao hummed in agreement. She didn't really understand, but since Zhao Fusheng said so, it must be right. After all, the guy had always had plenty of ideas since childhood.

"Alright, let's watch TV." Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Fan Baobao.

These matters were just his suggestion. The final decision was still in his father's hands. Besides, when it came to business, Zhao Fusheng didn't consider himself a master. He could point out a general direction, but for specifics, he was feeling his way across the river. Maybe his father would come up with a better solution.