Chapter 1278 Long-Term Planning

Many people, once they ascend to a high position, feel they have lost many old friends.

Of course, this feeling is mutual; old friends also feel that the person who used to sling an arm around their shoulder and shoot the breeze has disappeared.

Actually, the reason is simple: because their positions differ, their circles differ, and their perspectives on problems differ. In short, they walk different paths, so naturally it's hard to find the same resonance as before.

Moreover, the higher one's status, the fewer people around dare to speak the truth—this is perfectly normal.

Jiang Wen and Zhao Fusheng are exceptions. As for Zhao Fusheng's former college classmates, even if they meet him in the company, they only respectfully call him Chairman and no longer joke around as freely as before.

Even his roommate Wen Yu, as Tan Kaixuan put it, aside from New Year greetings, has no contact on ordinary days.

Wang Zhen, after his release from prison, no longer contacted Zhao Fusheng or Tan Kaixuan. Although it was due to heartache, it might also be because the gap between them had grown too large to interact as before.

So sometimes, for successful people, loneliness is a very unpleasant thing.

Jiang Wen didn't want Zhao Fusheng to become isolated one day, so he felt that as a candid friend, he should stop Zhao Fusheng when he made wrong decisions.

"Fusheng, the record industry in China is dead now. There's no need for you to get into this field." Old Jiang looked at Zhao Fusheng seriously. "If it were ten years earlier, I'd definitely agree with you, but now, to be honest, I'm not optimistic about the future of singers."

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then laughed. He hadn't expected Old Jiang to have done research on this.

"What are you laughing at?"

Jiang Wen asked, puzzled by Zhao Fusheng's expression.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "Nothing. I thought you were going to be my strategist."

"Me?" Jiang Wen was startled, then shook his head repeatedly: "I'm not that capable. Future Group has so many talented people; I'm just saying what I know."

Throughout history, the existence of strategists has been very important. In ancient times, whether emperors and generals in the court or feudal lords dominating regions, they always had military advisors like Zhuge Kongming or Liu Bowen, who left their marks in the river of history.

The same is true in modern society. The presence of staff and think tanks cannot be taken lightly by governments or enterprises. Even large corporations set up departments like Strategic Planning to pool wisdom and make the most beneficial plans for leaders.

Previously, Liu Ming worked in Future Group's Strategic Planning Department for a long time before Zhao Fusheng gave him an opportunity to showcase his talents.

We have to admit that there are many smart people in the world, like fish in a river. Even a reborn person like Zhao Fusheng cannot guarantee that his decisions are always correct.

Since that's the case, it's better to pool wisdom.

Old Jiang naturally couldn't be a strategist, but his words gave Zhao Fusheng a new understanding of the domestic record industry. In other words, apart from film and television production, other aspects of China's entertainment market were in a transitional phase. Before internet development reached a certain level, he couldn't easily get involved.

That being the case, he might as well make money from foreigners.

"You're overthinking. I mean I plan to invest in Korean companies. It's too late to set up now, but I think we can definitely make money from the Koreans." Zhao Fusheng explained to Jiang Wen, then smiled: "And in the US, although I'm not optimistic about the American economy, I am optimistic about Hollywood's film market."

Jiang Wen was baffled. He hesitated, wanting to persuade Zhao Fusheng, but on second thought, he found he had no convincing reason.

"Korea?" Jiang Wen finally asked Zhao Fusheng in confusion: "Can it work? The Korean Wave is powerful now. Those Korean TV dramas and singers have many fans here. Frankly, more and more young people are into Korean and Japanese culture—that's not a good thing."

By the end, Old Jiang was sighing with emotion.

He was the kind of filmmaker with a strong sense of responsibility, always inclined to inject certain patriotic sentiments into his work. In this respect, he was better than some later directors who, for high box office, didn't care about anything as long as they made money. Whether the content of the film aligned with correct values or was positive energy didn't matter to them at all.

Thus came bizarre films like "Love Apartment" and "Richard's Uncle."

"That's not how you see it. Opportunities and risks coexist. They can come in, and we can go in." Zhao Fusheng chuckled, not quite agreeing with Jiang Wen.

In his view, whether it's the Japanese or Korean Wave, it's the result of cultural export. When Hong Kong films and songs swept Japan, Korea, and even Southeast Asia, wasn't that also a form of cultural export?

Zhao Fusheng even remembered watching an episode of the Korean version of Running Man, where the idol of the host, known as Korea's top MC, was actually Leslie Cheung. The props used in the show were from "A Better Tomorrow." If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would have thought the Koreans were making it up, but it was true.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Hong Kong films and songs were the cultural products that truly attracted young people in Korea. It was only later, with the decline of Hong Kong cinema and Korea's vigorous development of its own cultural entertainment industry, that this gradually faded.

Jiang Wen naturally knew this history. Hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, he shook his head helplessly: "Everyone understands the principle, but the practical operation is never that simple. If it were that easy, we wouldn't be in this situation, would we?"

"I've never thought doing business is easy. From when I started Future Advertising to later Future Group, I've gotten used to it now." The topic was serious, but Zhao Fusheng's face showed no seriousness; instead, he was quite relaxed, even giving Jiang Wen a smile.

Everyone knows the half-glass theory: pessimists see half a glass of water as if hope is disappearing, while optimists see there's still half a glass—the beginning of hope.

Similarly, in Zhao Fusheng's view, although the domestic entertainment industry seemed to be in a trough, especially with the record industry nearly dead, this was both pressure and motivation. Complaining all day wouldn't solve the problem; it was better to find a new path.

"I see what you mean. You plan to counterattack?" Jiang Wen looked at Zhao Fusheng, somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to have such ambition to strike back.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled, adjusted his arms holding Fan Beibei to make the little girl sleep more comfortably, and then said slowly: "To be honest, I don't have the idea of being a savior, so I definitely won't get into the domestic record industry. Even domestically, apart from necessary artists, Future Film and Television won't sign too many. But abroad, at least in Korea and the US, I will take action. Since ancient times, China has never been a place where foreigners can come and go as they please."

Jiang Wen was dumbfounded, looking at Zhao Fusheng. He suddenly felt he should go out and brag about this guy—how noble was that!

But the next second, he heard Zhao Fusheng continue: "What can I do? It's a fool not to make money, especially when I'm sure I can. Why not?"

Well, Jiang Wen decided to take back his previous thought.

The car finally stopped at Zhao Fusheng's doorstep. After saying goodbye to Jiang Wen, Zhao Fusheng got out holding Fan Beibei.

Because it was summer, the days were especially long. The afterglow of the setting sun and the漫天晚霞映衬着, burning for a long time without dissipating. The entire sky was dyed a bright orange, translucent and vivid. Seen from afar or from the sky, the city was gradually turning dark, and in the darkness, neon lights flickered, illuminating the whole city, outlining a vague silhouette.

...

...

Zhao Fusheng wasn't joking with Jiang Wen; he really intended to enter the entertainment industry.

Of course, not domestically, but abroad.

And his first stop was aimed at the Korean entertainment industry.

As for Europe and America, to be honest, there wasn't much room for maneuver. At most, Zhao Fusheng could rely on some impressions from his memory to invest in a few films or something. Whether they would succeed, he couldn't guarantee.

At best, he could scout some currently unknown stars who were destined to become famous later, sign contracts with them, and maybe make some money.

The same logic could apply to some sports stars.

But the problem was, Zhao Fusheng couldn't guarantee that after signing them, their life trajectories would remain the same. What if their lives took a wrong turn? Wouldn't he lose out?

So Zhao Fusheng's plan was simple: his investment company would only sign advertising contracts with those people.

That is, once they became famous, they would shoot ads for him at extremely low prices.

Imagine: a star athlete or movie actor, or singer worth a hundred million, shooting an ad for you for only a few hundred thousand—what a satisfying picture.

Thinking about it, Zhao Fusheng felt a little excited.