Chapter 1256: People Always Have to Grow Up

"Wang Zhen, you bastard, why did you only call me now!" Zhao Fusheng gripped the phone, practically grinding his teeth as he cursed.

Indeed, the person calling him was Wang Zhen.

In fact, Wang Zhen had been released from prison during the Spring Festival this year, but unexpectedly, neither Zhao Fusheng nor Tan Kaixuan had received a call from him, nor even Wen Yu.

When they called the Wang family, although Wang Zhen's parents were very warm, they couldn't say exactly where Wang Zhen had gone.

At that time, Zhao Fusheng thought that the guy didn't want to see him, feeling upset that he had achieved success and fame while they had started a business together.

Unexpectedly, he received a call from Wang Zhen at this moment.

"I'm in Xichuan. I want to ask you for a favor."

Wang Zhen didn't beat around the bush either, saying to Zhao Fusheng, "If possible, could you come over here?"

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback.

He hadn't expected Wang Zhen to go to Xichuan, and more importantly, what could have happened that made this man, who originally didn't plan to contact him after being released from prison, take the initiative to call him?

Character determines destiny. Everyone has their own personality traits. Take Wang Zhen as an example: he was the kind of ordinary person content with a small fortune. Grand ambitions occasionally flashed through his mind, but when truly given an opportunity, Wang Zhen would hesitate and agonize, and in the end, he would most likely choose to live a stable life.

This was no joke, because not everyone liked taking risks like Zhao Fusheng and Tan Kaixuan.

Wasn't Wen Yu the same? After graduating from university, he chose to return to his hometown and, following his father's arrangement, became a civil servant.

Everyone has the right to choose their own future life. Only oneself can decide the path ahead, because the one who bears all the consequences of that choice can only be oneself.

"Wang Zhen, what exactly is it?" Zhao Fusheng didn't immediately agree to everything. He wasn't a god. Since Wang Zhen thought to call him, it meant the problem he encountered was no small matter; otherwise, given the guy's awkward personality, he would never have called.

Zhao Fusheng had a clear judgment on this.

Moreover, long ago, Zhao Fusheng had received advice from his father, who told him: "Son, Dad knows you've been smooth sailing out there, but Dad still advises you: never get carried away, never be arrogant. Because in this world, capable people are everywhere, and even those without ability but with immense backgrounds are everywhere. Your current position is very important. If you're not careful, the career you've worked so hard to build could be in danger of collapse."

Therefore, Zhao Fusheng was very cautious. Even though he was now worth billions, he still adhered to his father's teachings: do things with high profile, but keep a low profile in life.

"Do you remember that student council president from our school? Cough, cough, cough..." Wang Zhen suddenly asked Zhao Fusheng, then began to cough violently.

Frowning slightly, Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment. He couldn't recall the name of that student council president from his impression, but he clearly remembered that the person had a good personality. It was said that after graduation, he led a group of people to teach in Xichuan. However, he hadn't expected Wang Zhen to know him.

"Are you with him?" Zhao Fusheng asked curiously.

This was something he hadn't anticipated.

"Sort of," Wang Zhen said, thinking of something and sighing. He slowly continued, "Come over first. Make sure to bring people with you. Otherwise, if you come alone, I'm afraid you won't be safe."

Zhao Fusheng was stunned upon hearing this. He was still pondering Wang Zhen's last words even after Wang Zhen hung up.

What did he mean?

Unsafe?

Recalling Wang Zhen's tone, Zhao Fusheng's intuition told him that Wang Zhen wanted to tell him something.

With that in mind, he directly dialed Zhang Qian's number.

"Prepare ten people. Lead them yourself and accompany me to Xichuan," Zhao Fusheng said to Zhang Qian on the phone.

Zhang Qian was startled but still agreed.

Although he was now the general manager of Future Security Company, what he really enjoyed was still the days of being the big steward by Zhao Fusheng's side.

That was probably just everyone's different fate.

Because of Wang Zhen's condition and tone, Zhao Fusheng acted very quickly without delay. The next day, he bid farewell to Fan Baobao and Fan Beibei and boarded the train with Zhang Qian and ten veterans from the security company.

Yes, Zhao Fusheng simply didn't like flying.

He cherished life immensely. In his previous life, he had spent decades struggling and fighting, using all his strength to struggle in growth, crying alone, trembling in fear, shivering. He knew all too well how indescribably precious it was to still be innocent and kind like a youth after surviving a disaster.

If possible, Zhao Fusheng wanted to be that light in this life, bringing warmth and kindness to those who, like his former self, were sensitive, fragile, and helpless.

...

...

Following the address Wang Zhen gave him, Zhao Fusheng took a bus after getting off the train, hired two vans, then walked for another hour. When he finally arrived at that small mountain village that would never appear on any map in Xichuan, he was completely stunned.

Looking at Wang Zhen, who was greeting him at the village entrance, Zhao Fusheng was quite astonished.

The guy used to be fat, but now he was so thin it was surprising—high cheekbones, clothes washed white. Except for his eyes, which were still bright, Wang Zhen's appearance was completely different from before.

"Cough, you're here," Wang Zhen said, a smile appearing on his pale face as he reached out and gently hugged Zhao Fusheng.

"Yeah, how did you get so worn out?" Zhao Fusheng frowned.

Then he looked at the surroundings, his expression turning grim: "Why did you come to a place like this?"

This place was quite unexpected for Zhao Fusheng.

"This place is... not bad," Wang Zhen patted Zhao Fusheng's shoulder. "There are only about forty households here. Usually, only the elderly and children are in the village. All the able-bodied men and women go out to work, scattered across the country, toiling for a year. Only around the Spring Festival does it get lively. Electricity was connected two years ago, and the whole village has only one TV."

"You wouldn't believe it. I used to think the worst was begging, and as long as you didn't die, you'd eventually make it. But after living here for a week, I realized that sometimes begging is a kind of happiness. You know, many people here have never been to a hospital in their lives. If it's not a serious illness, they just tough it out. If it's really unbearable and they're about to die, they'll be taken to the hospital, and even then, they might not survive."

"The rich always have richer ones; the poor always have poorer ones. For the wealthy, money eventually becomes just a symbol, but for the unfortunate, the suffering is truly bone-deep, driving them to death or madness, so bitter they can't even cry."

"For the people here, studying is a difficult and sacred thing. Most can only go up to third or fourth grade. Few can go to the county town for sixth grade or even middle school. After a few years of schooling, once they can recognize their own names, most drop out to work..."

Wang Zhen talked with Zhao Fusheng as they arrived in front of a brick house.

"How come there's a brick house?" Zhao Fusheng raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise.

"Our senior paid for its construction," Wang Zhen shrugged and said bitterly. "But unfortunately, he didn't live to see it finished."

Zhao Fusheng's expression froze instantly. He looked at Wang Zhen in shock: "He..."

"He's gone. They say he accidentally fell off a mountain path into a cliff. When they found him, he was a bloody mess, unrecognizable," Wang Zhen said hoarsely.

Zhao Fusheng's brow furrowed deeply, and he remained silent for a long time.

Clearly, Wang Zhen was implying something.

"The front yard is the classroom. The dozen or so desks and chairs were all bought by our senior. Later, too many children came to class, and the desks weren't enough. Some parents cut down a few trees nearby and made some desks and benches to send over..." Wang Zhen didn't continue talking about the senior but instead started introducing the surroundings to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng frowned deeply, suppressing his doubts, and stood quietly beside Wang Zhen. He believed that Wang Zhen would tell him eventually.

Otherwise, why would he have asked him to come?