Chapter 698: Hero

"What did you say? Kick them out now?"

Father Zhao stared at his son in disbelief, never imagining that his son would utter such heartless words: "Didn't I tell you the other day? One should be lenient when possible."

"Yes, I know." Zhao Fusheng nodded and looked at his father. "But the problem is, I asked the lawyer. Do you know that if we don't buy the shares now, when the rights issue comes, if they get external financial support, things will become more and more troublesome."

This was the conclusion he had reached after much deliberation.

Although Hou Liangping and the others had sworn they would never cause trouble again, Zhao Fusheng had little confidence in their integrity.

More importantly, as he had said to Father Zhao, why spend more money to solve the problem during the rights issue when it could be solved now with a few hundred thousand?

For Zhao Fusheng, since those families had already severed ties with his own, there was no need to feign civility. Forgiveness is a virtue, but it must have its limits.

Father Zhao, at this moment, was stunned. His son's words made him realize a serious problem: he had indeed forgotten about the rights issue that Zhao Fusheng had mentioned earlier.

It wasn't that he begrudged the extra money; what Father Zhao now thought about was, if it really happened as Zhao Fusheng said, and someone like Ma Qianli appeared to get involved, how would Hou Liangping and the others choose?

The answer was obvious: someone who could betray you once could betray you a second time, without hesitation.

Seeing his father's hesitation, Zhao Fusheng sighed. He knew his father must have realized the problem.

Those who feel the world is unfair never truly want fairness; they just want to be in a more advantageous position. It's like those so-called elites who clamor for the rich to donate all their wealth—if they themselves were worth billions, they'd run faster than rabbits, hiding their wealth to improve their own lives. As for charity, ha, donating thirty or fifty thousand would already be considered conscientious.

Zhao Fusheng had heard a joke in his previous life: after a man turns forty, life is like Journey to the West—under the pressure of Sun Wukong, with a belly like Zhu Bajie, a hairstyle like Sha Wujing, chanting the scriptures of Tang Sanzang, and worst of all, getting closer to the Western Paradise every day.

At a time like this, if he found someone trying to undermine him, Zhao Fusheng could imagine how his father felt.

"You mean, buy back all the shares now?" Father Zhao hesitated for only a few minutes before looking up at Zhao Fusheng.

Clearly, he found Zhao Fusheng's proposal reasonable.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Let's not give them a reason to say we're ungrateful. Fifty thousand per family, three hundred thousand for six. No matter what they did before, from now on they have nothing to do with Wanda."

This was the result of his careful consideration.

Although spending three hundred thousand to buy back the shares seemed a bit foolish, these people were his father's old comrades who had started the business together. Even now, deep down, his father probably didn't want things to escalate to an irreconcilable point.

More importantly, Zhao Fusheng didn't want his father to earn a reputation for getting rid of those who had served their purpose.

Driving away founding partners is not good for a company's reputation.

But if the partners betrayed first, and for the company's future stability, the company buys back the shares at a high price, no one could criticize that. In fact, they would praise his father for being loyal and righteous.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng wouldn't explain this to his father. It was better for him to play the villain.

Father Zhao pondered for a long time before looking up: "I need to discuss this with Uncle Chen, and also ask your mother and Aunt Li."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "As you wish. But in my opinion, the sooner this is resolved, the better. Take advantage of the fact that the previous turmoil hasn't passed. Otherwise, if they refuse to sell, you'll be in a difficult position."

He didn't say it, but if those families shamelessly held onto the shares, unless his father treated it as a loan and forced the issue, it would be quite unpleasant.

Father Zhao nodded: "I understand. You can go back."

From his reaction, Zhao Fusheng knew his father had likely agreed to his suggestion.

As for where the three hundred thousand would come from, it was simple: a bank loan.

These days, if you can build a business and maintain good relationships, getting a bank loan in the Northeast is relatively easy, without so many constraints.

Walking out of the Wanda Commercial Building, Zhao Fusheng looked up and let out a long breath.

The world has struck me with pain, demanding I sing back in praise.

Tagore's poetry is often seen as hopeful, open-minded, or strong, as if with this line, many people's lives change. But don't forget, the tiger wrote that the world demands I sing back in praise, not that I am willing to.

Poetry expresses aspirations; often, poets don't showcase themselves but depict the world. In Zhao Fusheng's view, what Tagore expressed with this line was the filth and ugliness of the world.

Slap someone on the left cheek and expect them to offer the right cheek for another slap, then swallow their anger and endure it.

There are too many damn things in this world.

Zhao Fusheng never hesitated to assume the worst about others. Since Hou Liangping and the others colluded with Ma Qianli, in Zhao Fusheng's eyes, they were no longer the comrades his father could trust with his back.

After all, money moves people. These guys had probably forgotten how they got to where they are today.

But it didn't matter. Their leaving now was much better than causing trouble later when his father's business grew bigger. Zhao Fusheng had seen too many such cases; he didn't want his father to end up in court with his old comrades.

Taking out his phone, Zhao Fusheng dialed Tan Kaixuan: "Where are you?"

"At the store." Tan Kaixuan's side was noisy; who knew what he was busy with.

"I've thought it over. Let's sell the agency rights." Zhao Fusheng said with a light laugh.

Tan Kaixuan was taken aback, seemed a bit surprised, then said, "I understand."

Hanging up, Zhao Fusheng smiled. He hoped Tan Kaixuan understood that both of them had a stage far beyond just this corner of the Northeast.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng had seen a movie with a line he really liked.

In the end, how many of us outran time but lost each other? How many returned home in glory, and how many gave up their dreams?

In Zhao Fusheng's eyes, happiness is not a story; misfortune is.

He had missed too many things in his past life. In this life, he didn't want to miss out.

Opening stores one after another might allow him and Tan Kaixuan to live comfortably, but Zhao Fusheng knew neither of them liked that kind of life.

Neither had a rich father to do as they pleased; individuality was a luxury for them. So what he could do was keep moving forward.

Back in the dorm, lying on the bed, Zhao Fusheng sorted through his thoughts and realized he had quite a few cards in hand.

Whether it was the thriving Future Advertising, the ready-to-launch navigation webpage, or the lucrative chain of internet cafes, he had unknowingly achieved considerable success.

This didn't even include the arcade and KFC, let alone the shares in Tencent and Shanda.

He hadn't counted the entertainment industry either; it was purely for fun, and he never expected to make money from it.

Tan Kaixuan returned only in the evening. As soon as he entered, he asked Zhao Fusheng, "Have you really thought it through?"

He was referring to Zhao Fusheng's decision to sell the agency rights.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "I've thought it through. There are many projects; opening stores one by one is too hard."

This was true. Neither of them was an expert in this area. Opening stores would require market expansion. If Zhao Fusheng didn't participate, it would all fall on Tan Kaixuan, and just thinking about it gave him a headache.

But he also understood that Zhao Fusheng's choice took this into account.

"Thanks," Tan Kaixuan suddenly said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and waved his hand: "Some things don't need to be said."

...

...

As we grow older, many so-called realities make us realize that the childhood dream of being a hero is just an illusory journey we must experience. We smile faintly, without any nostalgia.

Then we choose other life goals: become a doctor, a teacher, a worker.

The word 'hero' appears again only in comics or movies.

Often, people console themselves by saying that if they can play their role well in social life—being a good father, a good husband—they are heroes.

But such heroes are merely compromises with reality, or rather, a redefinition of yielding to reality.

Zhao Fusheng never thought of being a hero, because he knew his own limitations too well. Everything he had now was built on foreknowledge. Once that advantage was gone, he figured he was just an ordinary advertising planner.

Since that was the case, he'd better work hard to become stronger, because one day, the golden finger of rebirth would disappear. When that time came, no superhero would show up; the only one Zhao Fusheng could rely on was himself.