Chapter 0916 Vanity Fair

Who was Hu Run?

Born in Luxembourg in 1970, he graduated from a London university in 1993. The only thing that set him apart from ordinary people was that during his college years in 1990, Hu Run spent a year studying at Renmin University of China. After graduation, he entered the accounting profession like his father. Leveraging his Chinese language advantage, he moved from London to Andersen in Shanghai in 1997, initially hoping to return to England as a middle-class citizen after a few years of work in China.

In 1999, Hu Run began using his spare time and holidays to review over a hundred newspapers, magazines, and listed company announcements and reports. Driven by interest and professional expertise, after months of effort, he finally compiled the first wealth ranking in China's history that aligned with international standards.

To make such a list known, and thereby make himself known, Hu Run clearly understood that he needed to find an influential channel of dissemination. So he approached Forbes magazine.

Although Hu Run knew from the start that his cooperation with Forbes was merely a 'one-time game,' that he had always been a freelance writer outside the system, and that the ranking was only introduced to Europe and America with little impact in China, what mattered most to him was that a survey representing China's wealth ranking be recognized by the globally influential Forbes.

In the year 2000, successive reports by domestic media suddenly exposed 'China's first generation of billionaires' to the public eye. 'Where did the rich people's money come from?' became the most heated question across all social strata.

In 2001, Hu Run resigned from Andersen and changed his business card to read 'Chief Researcher for Forbes China,' with Forbes' tacit approval. He expanded the number of people on the rich list to one hundred.

Overall, this foreigner, who almost single-handedly broke into the world of China's wealthy, had been using his own methods to bestow various 'halos' on the rich—such as Charity Billionaire, Real Estate Billionaire—regardless of whether these tycoons were willing. In fact, in China's Confucian and Mencian atmosphere of modesty, where people were not accustomed to 'showing off,' this ostentatious 'rich list' became a darling of public opinion from its inception due to its novelty.

Over three years, it had attracted increasing attention. Zhao Fusheng even knew that it would remain popular more than a decade later, enduring without decline, and the list's creator Hu Run would become famous. Years later, as the battle of wealth rankings intensified, his name became a brand known even to children, and he began developing subsidiary industries under the brand. In other words, this foreigner, accustomed to judging Chinese people, ultimately made a living from it.

But Zhao Fusheng hadn't expected that Fan Baobao would also pay attention to this.

"What are you laughing at?" Seeing that Zhao Fusheng didn't seem to acknowledge her, Fan Baobao glared at him and asked in confusion.

Zhao Fusheng looked innocent: "Can't I even laugh? Can you be reasonable?"

"Hmph!"

Fan Baobao snorted in dissatisfaction, wrinkled her nose, and said to Zhao Fusheng, "So what? Do you think that magazine is wrong? I think it makes a lot of sense, except it doesn't mention you."

"Is that so?" This time it was Zhao Fusheng's turn to be surprised.

"Well, it says that Shengda Technology merged with the country's largest virtual community from the very beginning, and later, when purchasing that Korean game company, they also received help from a mysterious person. According to information revealed by Shengda, it was a shareholder who wished to remain anonymous."

Fan Baobao said with a smile, "I knew it had to be you."

Zhao Fusheng laughed. He had originally thought that Hu Run would get some inside information from Chen Tianqiao, but now it seemed that this Mr. Hu Run's fame in the country was limited to a certain circle of people.

In other words, even if he had come up with this almost sensational so-called rich list, in the eyes of those listed billionaires, he was still nothing.

Otherwise, the information about Shengda Technology wouldn't just be the data circulating on the internet or in media reports.

In short, Hu Run probably hadn't even met Chen Tianqiao.

Thinking about Chen the richest man's personality, Zhao Fusheng really felt it was quite possible.

That guy was just like him—disliked media interviews and shunned the limelight. Otherwise, he wouldn't have decisively delisted and privatized the company after cashing out through the IPO.

"This Hu Run is really something..." Fan Baobao said with a sigh of admiration. "He managed to tally up the assets of so many billionaires and analyzed them so convincingly."

Clearly, in the girl's mind, someone like Hu Run was definitely a media elite.

But Zhao Fusheng chuckled and shook his head. "Don't be fooled by him. Let me tell you, if he's met even a quarter of the people on this rich list, that's a lot. Most of the information he found himself, plus some random analysis, and he put together this list. Honestly, a lot of what's listed here is inaccurate."

"Fake?"

Fan Baobao was taken aback and asked in surprise.

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand. "It's not a matter of real or fake. The problem is his statistical method is flawed. Besides, our countrymen have a habit of not flaunting their wealth. Many rich people would rather stay low-key and unknown than expose themselves. How many Chinese billionaires does Hu Run really know, to dare rank them so arrogantly?"

"That so-called rich list is just for show at best. It doesn't represent anything." Zhao Fusheng finally gave his verdict on Hu Run's rich list.

Fan Baobao was still somewhat skeptical. After all, in her eyes, what Hu Run wrote in the magazine seemed quite accurate. How could it be, in Zhao Fusheng's words, nothing but meaningless sensationalism?

At this moment, Zhang Qian's voice came from ahead: "Fusheng makes sense. For one thing, he didn't even investigate the relationship between Fusheng and Shengda Technology."

Fan Baobao was immediately speechless. Zhang Qian was right; Hu Run couldn't even find out the relationship between Zhao Fusheng and Shengda, yet he speculated in the magazine that Zhao Fusheng held at least twenty percent of Shengda's shares—even Fan Baobao couldn't be fooled by that.

"But seriously, this list is actually quite interesting. This Hu Run is a talent."

Zhao Fusheng tapped his fingers lightly on the car window and spoke.

He meant it sincerely. Hu Run, starting as an ordinary accountant with no knowledge, had a flash of inspiration to use Forbes' rich list method to make China's wealthy famous—that counted as talent.

You see, although this list was highly inflated, it was still useful for many people.

Not admitting defeat and pursuing fame and prominence is probably a human instinct. For the sake of this instinct, some people would definitely care deeply about this ranking.

In short, fame!

Very illusory?

Just a title?

No use?

If you think that way, you'd be completely wrong.

Why does Forbes exist? Why does Hu Run exist?

Why do they release rankings? To let everyone know who's rich for free? Do those on the list just want everyone to recognize their names and faces?

Certainly not, because there's profit to be made.

How does Forbes make money?

It certainly doesn't produce rankings for free. Ordinary people see the list it creates, but behind this list is the vehicle that carries it. Forbes is actually a famous publishing and media group. They have magazines that sell globally and control the publication of a large number of books. After building their reputation, advertising fees, copyright fees, agency fees, and many other incomes we can think of or not come in continuously. Over the years, it has become a global giant.

As for those celebrities, their names and faces appear on the most authoritative rankings, which is more effective advertising than any media. It leaves a deep impression and invisibly enhances their corporate brand value and market value, influencing ordinary people's consumption and even ideas.

Clearly, Hu Run's ambition is not small; he wants to be China's Forbes.

Zhao Fusheng had no particular thoughts on this. For him, he had too many opportunities. If he wanted to make money, it wasn't that he looked down on Hu Run's approach; he simply had no interest in such operations.

Just like the so-called Bazaar Charity Gala, in the end, it's just a show where each gets what they need. The organizers need fame, and celebrities need an opportunity to display their so-called charitable hearts.

As for the so-called drama like who donated more or less, who should sit where or stand where, in essence, it has deviated from the nature of charity.

When doing good deeds becomes a means of profit and fame, the thing itself has already deteriorated. Not to mention, how much of the raised charity funds actually reach the ground, and how much is donated willingly by the celebrities.

After all, using moral coercion to force donations was nothing new even a dozen years later.

Even Louis Koo encountered fans claiming difficulties and needing him to donate a million.

What the hell...

That's getting off track.

Back to the point, regarding Hu Run, although Zhao Fusheng was interested, he was more curious. He felt that a foreigner making a name for himself in China with bare hands was quite remarkable.

"If he's a talent, go find out if he's willing to help you." Fan Baobao, hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, quickly said, "I wonder where he's from. It would be even better if he's from our north."

Huh?

Zhao Fusheng was dumbfounded, stunned for a moment, staring at Fan Baobao, unable to speak for a long time.

Fan Baobao was a bit baffled. Seeing Zhao Fusheng's reaction, she felt something was off, but no matter how she thought about it, she couldn't figure out what she had said wrong.