Chapter 1122 A Man Has to Be a Bit Domineering

The place where Zhao Fusheng met Tong Zhenbang was a private club.

The decor was magnificent: a huge splashed-ink landscape painting, a blue-and-white porcelain vase as tall as a man, and a full set of first-class agarwood tables, chairs, and bookcases. Even someone with no appreciation for elegance could tell that this was not a place ordinary people could enter.

“I’m sorry to make you, Chairman Zhao, go out of your way,” Tong Zhenbang said apologetically.

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly, handed his coat to Zhang Qian beside him, and said calmly, “You’re too kind, Mr. Tong. Since there’s something to discuss, let’s sit down and talk first.”

Tong Zhenbang was taken aback, clearly not expecting Zhao Fusheng to be so direct. Such an opening was rare in business negotiations.

Obviously, the other party had an ulterior meaning.

With that in mind, Tong Zhenbang’s expression remained unchanged. He nodded to Chen Shijie behind him, and Chen Shijie strode out.

Clearly, he did not intend to stay.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Zhang Qian, “You go wait outside for me.”

Zhang Qian grunted in acknowledgment and walked out just like Chen Shijie.

Soon only Zhao Fusheng and Tong Zhenbang remained in the room. Sitting on the sofa, Zhao Fusheng picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and then laughed. “Rain before the Grain Longjing?”

Tong Zhenbang nodded. “The owner here is an old acquaintance. Knowing I like tea, he prepared this. Does Chairman Zhao also like it?”

Zhao Fusheng shook his head. “Not really. I have a friend who likes it, so I’ve tried it a few times before.”

He paused and smiled. “I don’t know much about tea ceremonies or such. If you gave me a pot of fine tea and asked me to judge it, it would be like a cow chewing peonies—no different.”

“I actually don’t understand it either. I just think it tastes good,” Tong Zhenbang said, squinting with an equally smiling face.

From start to finish, neither brought up the matter of cooperation, as if they were testing each other’s patience, waiting for the other to speak first. Yet it also seemed that each had already expressed their stance.

“Chairman Zhao seems very interested in the film and television industry,” Tong Zhenbang said, not directly stating his purpose as Zhao Fusheng had suggested, but instead chatting about other things.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. “I have someone at home who likes acting. No choice but to go along with her.”

He had no intention of hiding Fan Baobao’s identity. According to Chen Shijie, Tong Zhenbang had already investigated him in secret, so hiding it would be pointless.

Sure enough, Tong Zhenbang laughed. “I never expected Chairman Zhao to be such a romantic.”

When he said this, he was clearly teasing Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged. “I’m a single-minded person. Once I’ve set my mind on something, I don’t easily turn back.”

As he spoke, he gave Tong Zhenbang a deep look. “And I care very much about my family. The reason I’ve worked so hard until now is so they can live happily. If anyone disturbs my family’s peace, I’ll definitely go crazy.”

Winking, Zhao Fusheng chuckled. “When I was a kid, I used to wonder why rich people could call the shots. Now I kind of understand. For example, if my family were kidnapped, and I offered a hundred million dollars to have the kidnapper’s whole family killed, do you think someone would do it for me?”

In an instant, sweat broke out on Tong Zhenbang.

He could tell that Zhao Fusheng was hinting that he shouldn’t have any other ideas. After all, Tong Zhenbang’s background was something Zhao Fusheng could probably vaguely guess.

But this guy—wasn’t he a bit too crazy?

Even a real madman wouldn’t do something so ridiculous, would he?

Tong Zhenbang felt that he might have accidentally provoked a madman—using a hundred million US dollars as a bounty. It seemed this guy really didn't understand the underground world's market.

Tong Zhenbang could guarantee that if anyone were foolish enough to touch Zhao Fusheng's family, Zhao wouldn't even need a hundred million; ten million US dollars would be enough to make the kidnappers' entire family disappear.

Such was the power of money. Benevolence and morality had long ceased to exist in the hearts of those who walked in darkness. For them, money was everything; whoever paid was their master. As long as they got paid, there was nothing those lunatics wouldn't dare do.

If they encountered a crazy benefactor like Zhao Fusheng, anything could happen.

"Haha, Chairman Zhao is joking. A wealthy man like you—no one would dare have any ill intentions, after all, this is China," Tong Zhenbang said with an awkward laugh.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "Yes, I was just speaking casually. Don't mind me, Mr. Tong."

He shrugged. "I never planned to go into business at first. I just wanted to earn some pocket money to ease my parents' burden. Even when I started my venture with my current partner, I never imagined it would reach this level. But the more money I make, the more I feel that working hard like this is actually good—it lets my family work a little less hard and ensures my descendants won't have to worry about money. After all, the meaning of striving is to make oneself and one's family more comfortable, isn't it?"

Tong Zhenbang was speechless for a long time. He knew very well that Zhao Fusheng's words might not be mere reflection.

When false is taken for true, true becomes false. These words could be a casual joke or a warning.

"Chairman Zhao, you truly impress me," Tong Zhenbang said with a hypocritical smile. "You don't seem like someone just over twenty. You think far ahead. Admirable, admirable."

"You flatter me, Mr. Tong." Zhao Fusheng smiled faintly and waved his hand. "I just think a lot. To be honest, sometimes I feel that one shouldn't be too stubborn. If you're too stubborn, you lose your original intention. Am I right?"

"Right, right." Tong Zhenbang chuckled and nodded.

No matter what Zhao Fusheng meant by his words now, Tong Zhenbang was determined to just play along.

After a few exchanges, Zhao Fusheng figured out what the other party was up to. He decided to stop beating around the bush and said to Tong Zhenbang with a smile, "Mr. Tong, may I ask why you invited me here today?"

Tong Zhenbang breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, they were getting to the point.

His eyes swept over Zhao Fusheng's face, and Tong Zhenbang couldn't help but marvel. This guy was indeed a little fox. He had thought Zhao would come straight to the point, but instead, he had raised the topic high without letting it fall.

After wearing down his patience for a while, they finally got down to business. It seemed Zhao had already guessed his intentions.

With that in mind, Tong Zhenbang smiled at Zhao Fusheng. "Chairman Zhao, I invited you here today to tell you that I've agreed to the cooperation you mentioned last time."

Looking at Zhao Fusheng's face, Tong Zhenbang hoped to see a hint of surprise in his expression. But to his disappointment, Zhao's expression was quite calm, as if he wasn't surprised at all.

"Mr. Tong, my conditions are quite harsh. You'd better discuss them with your partners," Zhao Fusheng said with a faint smile.

Tong Zhenbang nodded. "Chairman Zhao, rest assured. Since we've agreed to your conditions, we will certainly keep our promise. But we also hope you will keep your end of the bargain and ensure our investment doesn't fail."

Zhao Fusheng laughed. "Mr. Tong, I've said before that when it comes to investment, I never trust anyone. Because I know very well that I am the best."

Tong Zhenbang was stunned into silence. After a long while, he came to his senses. But on second thought, this guy really had the confidence to say that—after all, not everyone had his abilities.

The phrase 'starting from scratch' sounded beautiful, but in reality, achieving it and doing so as successfully as Zhao Fusheng was not easy.

At the very least, Tong Zhenbang knew that if he were in Zhao Fusheng's shoes, he definitely couldn't have done as well. Although he often prided himself on being extremely clever, some things couldn't be solved by cleverness alone. Timing and luck were both indispensable.

Clearly, Zhao Fusheng had made the right choices at the right time and had been favored by fate.

That was the only thought in Tong Zhenbang's mind at that moment.

And he also hoped that through this cooperation, he and the group behind him could completely clean up their act and live a normal life.

Everyone has a dream!

Tong Zhenbang thought to himself.