Chapter 1127: Still Have to Go

The most important thing to remember when doing business together is not to resent your partner's success, nor to stand by and do nothing at certain times.

Of course, the prerequisite is that this partner is worth your help.

Take Ye Jing, for example. Back then, Zhao Fusheng knew he was in trouble but still chose to help him because, at the very least, this person was not bad. Helping him would bring returns, and his character and conduct were worthy. Conversely, someone like Tong Zhenbang was simply not suitable as a business partner.

Long ago, Zhao Fusheng had realized that some money cannot be earned.

"By the way, do you also learn martial arts in the military?" Zhao Fusheng withdrew his thoughts and asked Zhang Qian with a smile.

Zhang Qian was startled, then shook his head.

He was telling the truth. He had never practiced kung fu; he only learned combat techniques in the army.

In ancient times, kung fu was a killing technique, just as a sword was always a lethal weapon, not a tool for performance. Although with the progress of modern civilization and social development, orthodox martial arts have become more performance-oriented, castrated versions, in fact, true kung fu still exists.

At the very least, even castrated martial arts, if practiced well, not only strengthen the body but also enable one to handle three opponents without much trouble.

However, this kind of folk martial art is still different from military combat techniques. Although both evolved from ancient killing techniques, military combat focuses on efficiency, aiming for a single fatal blow.

For an expert like Zhang Qian, three or five burly men would be no match for him.

But Zhao Fusheng didn't understand these things. Seeing Zhang Qian shake his head, he didn't press further.

"Go home?"

Zhang Qian asked Zhao Fusheng while driving.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Let's go back."

Earlier at the club, telling Tong Zhenbang that he had something to do was actually a bluff; Zhao Fusheng just didn't want to have dinner with Tong Zhenbang.

As for the appointment with Jiang Wen, that guy hadn't yet confirmed who would attend the dinner party, so Zhao Fusheng was in no hurry.

When he got home, Fan Baobao hadn't finished work yet. She had been busy lately; it was said that the People's Art Theatre was rehearsing a play for the National Day celebration. As a young actress valued by the theatre, Fan Baobao naturally had to perform, so she was extremely busy, even having less time to eat with Zhao Fusheng.

"I'll head back now. Call if anything comes up." Zhang Qian sent Zhao Fusheng inside and said to him.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, not finding it strange. Zhang Qian surely had to deal with the matters he had previously asked him to handle, as his identity made him most suitable for the task.

Washing some fruit for himself, Zhao Fusheng sat on the sofa, reading "Microeconomics" with great interest. He didn't consider himself a genius who knew everything about heaven and earth, so to succeed, he had to keep learning and constantly enrich himself.

This was probably the simplest and most effective way for young people from ordinary families to achieve something in their careers.

To borrow Tan Kaixuan's words to Zhao Fusheng in his previous life: in this era of relying on one's parents, if you don't want to be a stepping stone for others, you can only work harder than others.

After all, while all roads lead to Rome, the problem is that some people are born in Rome. You might struggle for half your life only to earn a chance to have coffee with them.

It's often said that life is ninety percent unsatisfactory. For Zhao Fusheng, his previous life had already had enough disappointments; in this life, he didn't want to repeat the same mistakes.

…

…

Around seven in the evening, Fan Baobao pushed open the door and walked in, looking exhausted.

"Oh, you're back." Zhao Fusheng looked up and frowned at Fan Baobao's tired appearance: "Does the People's Art Theatre have to be like this? A tribute play, and everyone's in a panic."

Fan Baobao pursed her lips, tossed her bag onto the table, then sank into the sofa, saying weakly: "Apparently some big leader is coming to inspect, so our performance is very important. The theatre's leaders demand we make no mistakes; we've already rehearsed four times."

Rolling his eyes, Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to say anything more.

Those in subordinate positions follow the example of their superiors. It's often said that social morals are deteriorating, but in many cases, it's because certain leaders set a bad example. They always like to put up a front, making things look splendid and harmonious to cover up real problems.

The situation at the People's Art Theatre can't be solved by one or two so-called tribute plays. With the development of the market economy, pure stage actors are finding it increasingly hard to make a living. For one thing, Zhao Fusheng had learned from Fan Baobao that many actors at the theatre were struggling.

The reason was simple: they had elders to support and children to raise, and the cost of living in the capital was high. Relying on a fixed salary each month was far from enough.

But the problem was that the People's Art Theatre had regulations restricting acting in films or shooting commercials. Unless you were willing to give up your status at the theatre, you had no chance to go out and earn extra money.

Not everyone was like Fan Baobao, who had Zhao Fusheng's support behind her.

"By the way, how did your business go today?" Fan Baobao leaned on Zhao Fusheng's shoulder and asked.

Hearing her question, Zhao Fusheng put down his copy of Microeconomics and began massaging her shoulders: "Not bad, basically settled. But I might have to go abroad again in a few days."

"Abroad?" Fan Baobao was puzzled. "Where?"

"The United States."

Zhao Fusheng replied: "This time I'm going to make some investments and also meet someone."

"Who?" Fan Baobao asked curiously. "Tan Kaixuan?"

In her impression, among Zhao Fusheng's acquaintances, only Tan Kaixuan was developing his career in the United States.

Of course, to be precise, among the people Fan Baobao knew around Zhao Fusheng, only Tan Kaixuan was in the United States.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "Not just him. An American. Last time I made a bet with him, and now the result is out. Naturally, I have to go collect the debt."

His words were inexplicable, and Fan Baobao was confused. In her memory, Zhao Fusheng didn't like gambling, and neither did she, because her father had gone astray due to gambling.

But the problem was that Zhao Fusheng spoke seriously, and the matter of gambling debts seemed plausible, which made Fan Baobao curious.

She glanced at Zhao Fusheng, clearly indicating that Miss Fan needed a reasonable explanation from him.