Chapter 0006: Letting Go

Extreme selfishness manifests in two ways: one is throwing tantrums everywhere, the other is utter indifference. The reason for this is simple: people don't tell the truth about their own affairs; when talking about themselves, they can't help but embellish.

In a relationship between two people, expectation is often a subtle form of violence, because it demands that others conform to your will.

If a person wallows for too long, they forget their own strengths and become discouraged. Conversely, if they stand out too much, they become arrogant, thinking they are the authority in that area.

Therefore, people should actually step out; stepping out allows them to realize their own narrowness and prejudice, and only then can they make breakthroughs and changes.

It took Zhao Fusheng nearly twenty years to understand these truths.

There were times of riding high on success, and times of seizing the moment in life, but more often than not, he silently hid in a street-side tavern, like a wounded beast, licking his wounds alone.

At first, it was a bit uncomfortable, after all, the feeling wasn't pleasant, but as time passed and failures accumulated, he gradually got used to it.

Because this is life, this is growth.

And now, having experienced all this, Zhao Fusheng stood at his doorstep. Inside, he could faintly hear his parents talking with Jiang He. He had to admit, Jiang He was a good actor, or rather, over the years, he had appeared as a decent person in the eyes of his old colleagues, and he had used that to successfully deceive them.

"What's wrong with you?" Fan Baobao, standing beside Zhao Fusheng, was a bit puzzled because she could clearly sense that Zhao Fusheng's state was off.

Zhao Fusheng forced a smile and gently pushed open the door.

"Mom, we're back." Zhao Fusheng put on a smile, then looked at Jiang He: "Uncle Jiang, you're here."

"Oh, Fusheng is home too. Is school on break?" Jiang He looked particularly amiable.

"No, I missed my parents, so I came home to see them." Zhao Fusheng remained impassive.

Zhao Fusheng quietly observed the expressions of the people in the room. His father looked troubled, his mother was conflicted, and Li Yuan, holding Fan Beibei, seemed hesitant to speak.

Jiang He, seeing Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao enter, didn't pay much attention and continued talking: "We've been colleagues for so many years, would I lie to you? This news is especially reliable. Several people are planning to invest. I thought of you, given our long relationship, and wanted to ask if you're interested."

Zhao's mother hesitated, then said, "But our money already has a use."

What Jiang He had said earlier was indeed tempting, but the problem was that the fifty thousand yuan from Zhao's father's buyout hadn't been received yet; it would take at least three or four days, and that money was meant to repay the Fan family's debts.

"Sister-in-law, you don't get my point. If we buy these stocks and hold them for three days, they'll double for sure. Can't your money wait a few days?" Jiang He was eloquent, seeming to read Zhao's mother's thoughts.

Hearing this, even Li Yuan was tempted.

Zhao's father, however, hadn't spoken a word, just kept smoking.

Zhao Fusheng knew his father was torn: on one hand, an old friend had proposed a way to make money and was willing to help; on the other, he had already promised to repay the Fan family's debts and arrange the engagement between his son and Fan Baobao.

"Fusheng, take Baobao out for a walk. I need to discuss something with your Uncle Jiang."

Zhao's father thought for a moment, stubbed out his cigarette, and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng knew his father didn't want him involved in this matter.

"It's okay, we'll listen too." Zhao Fusheng played dumb, deliberately walking over to sit beside Li Yuan and Zhao's mother, looking calm.

Fan Baobao, though also a bit confused, went to her mother, took her sister, and carried her back to their own home.

In the living room, only Zhao's father and mother, Li Yuan, Zhao Fusheng, and the ever-smiling Uncle Jiang remained.

"It's good for Fusheng to listen too. Stocks are a great thing. Let me tell you, a friend bought a hot stock that went from ten yuan to forty. Guess how long it took?"

Jiang He held up one finger to Zhao's parents: "One month, assets quadrupled."

"That much?"

"Really?"

Both Li Yuan and Zhao's mother were taken aback.

For ordinary working-class people like them, stock trading was quite mysterious.

Zhao's father was also shocked: "That much?"

"Exactly. The country's situation is great now, and with the new millennium approaching, the stock market is bound to soar." Jiang He winked and continued his persuasive spiel.

"Old Zhao, I tell you, take a gamble, and a bicycle can turn into a motorcycle. If you don't get in now, are you waiting to eat the leftovers?"

"Trust me, would I lie to you?"

It had to be said, Jiang He had the skills of future salespeople—silver-tongued, eloquent, speaking methodically. If Zhao Fusheng hadn't known his true colors, he might have been fooled.

Seeing his parents wavering, Zhao Fusheng knew he couldn't let Jiang He continue his performance. If he kept talking, his parents might actually be convinced.

With that in mind, Zhao Fusheng blinked and asked with feigned curiosity: "Uncle Jiang, what's the name of that stock?"

"Huh?"

Jiang He was startled, then smiled: "Tongbao Shares."

Zhao Fusheng said, "Oh," and added: "I have a classmate from Shanghai. I'll ask him to check on this stock."

The most effective way to deal with a liar is to expose him directly, leaving him nowhere to hide in the sunlight; otherwise, he'll come up with a thousand excuses.

No one except Zhao Fusheng knew that the Tongbao Shares Jiang He mentioned were not about to soar; instead, they were stocks he was trapped in. The hundreds of thousands he had swindled were all sunk into this stock.

In a way, Jiang He was a tragic figure. He had thrown his entire fortune into the stock market, only to be caught in a crash. He kept adding positions until the end, but still couldn't hold out.

But Zhao Fusheng felt no sympathy for him. If Jiang He was pitiable at the start, later he resorted to deception, tricking old colleagues like Zhao's father into handing over their money for him to cover his positions—that was simply despicable. Not to mention, he could have borrowed money, but instead used fraud to drag everyone onto the same sinking ship.

As Zhao Fusheng spoke those words, Jiang He's expression shifted slightly.

He hadn't expected that Zhao Aiguo's son would know about stocks.

The reason Jiang He dared to come knocking was, frankly, because he knew Zhao Aiguo—he knew Zhao's father wasn't someone who understood stocks. But now, Zhao Fusheng's words made him uneasy.

Once a person feels guilty, they lose confidence and become suspicious.

Jiang He thought for a moment, then said, "Old Zhao, think it over. I'll head back now."

Zhao's father was taken aback, then assumed Jiang He thought it wasn't a good time to discuss business with so many people around, so he nodded: "Alright, we'll talk over the phone later."

He personally saw Jiang He to the door. When he returned, he looked at his son: "Fusheng, do you really have a classmate from Shanghai?"

Clearly, Zhao's father was tempted.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Yes, but he said that with stocks, you shouldn't trust any inside information; it could be from some scammer."

Then, while Zhao's mother and Li Yuan were talking nearby, he said quietly to his father: "Besides, given our family's situation, Dad, instead of dabbling in stocks, you'd be better off looking into starting some small business."

With his father's buyout, he was effectively laid off. Li Yuan was in poor health, and both Fan Baobao and Zhao Fusheng were in college, meaning his father would have to support both families. If he didn't figure something out, how could it work?

"You little rascal, I think you're afraid I won't help repay Baobao's family's debts, and you'll lose your wife," Zhao's father said, not following up on Zhao Fusheng's suggestion but instead tapping his son on the head.

Zhao Fusheng was stunned, then suddenly realized and smiled wryly. It seemed the legend of the reborn person dominating everything was nothing but wishful thinking by novel authors. In his parents' eyes, he was still a child.

"Alright, your dad knows what he's doing." Zhao's father patted his son's shoulder: "Remember, no matter what, stay grounded. Don't be like your Uncle Jiang, always thinking about making quick money."

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, blinked, and felt his brain cells weren't enough. Had his dad seen through Jiang He's true colors so quickly?

In truth, he had underestimated his father. Zhao's father was a man in his forties. In his previous life, the reason he was persuaded by Jiang He was partly due to trust in an old colleague and partly because he had just been laid off and was anxious to make money.

But now, Jiang He's suspicious reaction—leaving just because of one sentence from Zhao Fusheng—had greatly diminished his credibility in Zhao's father's eyes. Plus, as Zhao Fusheng had said, after repaying the Fan family's debts and arranging the engagement, the family would have to support two college students. Zhao's father wouldn't take any risks.

When a man shoulders the responsibility of two families, he won't take risks; he'll only seek stability.

And that stability was exactly what Zhao Fusheng hoped to see in his father.