Chapter 1385: The Official Start

The saying 'Fine clothes make the man, gold makes the Buddha' holds true.

Perhaps a piece of clothing, or a hat, can change a person's temperament.

Just like Sun Honglei now, wearing a gray Zhongshan suit and a pair of glasses, deliberately slowing his pace as he walked, with a harmless smile on his usually expressionless face.

"How is it?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Zhao Baogang and Ye Jing and others, his face full of pride.

Everyone exchanged glances but had to admit that after this transformation, the sharp aura on Sun Honglei had indeed vanished without a trace.

At this moment, Sun Honglei looked more like a scholar.

"You have to say, it really does have that feel." Ye Jing looked Sun Honglei up and down, then said to Zhao Fusheng.

This wasn't because Zhao Fusheng was the boss and he was just going along with his words; it was a genuine feeling. After all, Ye Jing himself had been an actor and director, so he had that discernment.

"Yeah, I didn't expect he had this side either." Zhao Baogang also nodded, speaking with emotion.

Although Sun Honglei was an artist under his banner, and his current status was entirely due to his efforts, even Zhao Baogang himself hadn't expected that he would fit the role of Yu Zecheng so perfectly.

Standing there now, Sun Honglei was clearly a living figure from the Republic of China era.

"How did this kid come up with that?"

Yu Feihong looked at Zhao Fusheng, a strange thought suddenly popping into her mind.

"You all continue the discussion."

Zhao Fusheng smiled at everyone. "My task is done."

Everyone was taken aback, then understood his meaning.

In the eyes of outsiders like Zhao Baogang, Zhao Fusheng was explaining his choice of Sun Honglei as the male lead, proving his judgment was correct.

To Ye Jing and others, Zhao Fusheng was telling them how to shape the male lead's image in this drama.

But in fact, Zhao Fusheng hadn't thought that much; he was merely showcasing the image of Sun Honglei from the drama 'Lurk' as he knew it in history.

This was no joke. Most of these people were somewhat resistant to Sun Honglei playing the male lead, and his role was the most important in the entire drama. If he didn't change their mindset, Zhao Fusheng was worried about what the drama would turn out like.

Now that he had changed everyone's thinking, he could naturally bow out.

As for how to shoot the rest, that was a matter for the professionals to consider; Zhao Fusheng wouldn't interfere.

……

……

Leaving Future Film and Television, Zhao Fusheng didn't go home but headed to a hotel in the capital, where Liu Qiangdong was waiting for him.

"Chairman Zhao, hello."

After a long time, Liu Qiangdong looked in good spirits. It seemed JD.com was developing well, and he was moving toward becoming the 'Matcha Prince.'

"Hello." Zhao Fusheng shook hands with Liu Qiangdong with a smile. "I heard JD.com has been developing well lately. Congratulations."

"Chairman Zhao, you're too kind."

Liu Qiangdong smiled at Zhao Fusheng. "JD.com's development to where it is today owes much to your generous help back then. The company and I will never forget it."

Although his Subei-accented Mandarin sounded a bit awkward, one had to admit the guy was quite capable; otherwise, JD.com wouldn't have developed so smoothly in his hands in the previous life.

Of course, there must have been some credit due to his father-in-law. Without a father-in-law who could act with impunity in the capital's ministries, he wouldn't have come this far.

The era of grassroots heroes rising only lasted until the 1980s and mid-1990s. After the millennium, China no longer saw so-called grassroots heroes emerging.

This is not an exaggeration but a fact.

Because in this era, class is gradually solidifying, and achieving a reversal is not that easy.

Liu Qiangdong hadn't gained weight yet and didn't look that distinguished. 'Distinction' is a very elusive thing; generally, only successful people have the right to talk about it. Otherwise, a failure doesn't have that so-called distinction.

For example, in a group playing cards for money, it's hard to discern any outstanding quality from the biggest loser; we only notice that the person seems in low spirits.

After all, losing money doesn't make anyone happy.

But one must admit, Liu Qiangdong is indeed a very legendary figure.

When he first went to Renmin University of China in the capital, because his family was poor, Liu Qiangdong only brought five hundred yuan. He told himself: I hope not to ask my family for money during my four years of college. So, in the first semester of freshman year, he tutored; in the second semester, he copied invitations. He would even go through local Yellow Pages and write invitations one by one, earning six cents per letter.

After copying envelopes for over a year, a classmate of Liu Qiangdong's got rich by publishing a book. Inspired by him, Liu Qiangdong started selling books, riding a bicycle every day with a dozen or so sample books and a book list, visiting office buildings.

In his junior year, he started programming, which was very lucrative at the time. By writing a set of programs in his spare time at night within a month, he could earn fifty thousand yuan. By the second semester of his junior year, he spent over twenty thousand to buy a mobile phone.

In his senior year, Liu Qiangdong wanted to start a business. A good restaurant near the school that he frequented was up for transfer. He saw it as an opportunity and took out all the 240,000 yuan he had earned to take over the shop.

After running the restaurant for half a year, Liu Qiangdong was earning money outside while continuously pouring money into the restaurant. Later, he even had to borrow money from his family. He got anxious and checked the accounts, only to find he was deeply in the red.

It turned out that the cashier and the chef were dating, so the income and expenses couldn't be reconciled. The young man buying vegetables kept inflating the purchase prices: bean sprouts rose from eighty cents to two yuan, beef from eight yuan to seventeen...

There was no choice but to close the restaurant. At that time, Liu Qiangdong had no money left, so he borrowed over a hundred thousand from relatives. He paid off the restaurant's debts and gave each employee two months' wages. When he left, he didn't even take a single bowl.

On June 18, 1998, Liu Qiangdong founded JD Company in Zhongguancun, Beijing. 'Jing' was his girlfriend's name, 'Dong' his own. The company was positioned as a traditional channel distributor, with him as general manager. Early on, the company acted as an agent for optical and magnetic products and within just two years became the most influential agent for such products nationwide.

In 2001, Liu Qiangdong planned to replicate the business models of Gome and Suning to operate IT chain stores. By 2003, JD.com's IT chain stores had grown to over a dozen, but they were forced to close due to the SARS outbreak. Over the next year, he began experimenting with a combination of online and offline operations.

In January 2004, Liu Qiangdong led the company into e-commerce, officially founding 'JD Multimedia Network,' which later developed into JD.com.

It was also that year that he received help from Zhao Fusheng, rapidly expanding his business scale.

Now, Liu Qiangdong had a new idea.

"Chairman Zhao, I have an idea I'd like to discuss with you." As a major shareholder of JD.com, Liu Qiangdong had to take Zhao Fusheng's opinion seriously.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. "Go ahead, speak freely."

This was true. In business matters, Zhao Fusheng greatly respected figures like Liu Qiangdong, after all, he was a top-tier figure worth tens of billions of yuan in the future.

Although the internet is full of criticism, no one can deny that Liu Qiangdong is indeed a capable man.

"It's like this: I'm considering whether to close the company's current retail stores and transform into a professional e-commerce company." Liu Qiangdong looked at Zhao Fusheng, speaking somewhat hesitantly.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback but didn't speak immediately.

Seeing Zhao Fusheng silent, Liu Qiangdong thought his plan displeased him. Anxious, he quickly explained, "Chairman Zhao, hear me out. The competition in the physical retail market is too fierce now, whether it's Gome or..."

Clearly, Liu—who only loves flat-chested women—our Brother Dong was a bit insecure.

But Zhao Fusheng laughed and shook his head. "President Liu, don't misunderstand. I don't doubt your words. I'm just thinking, isn't your plan a bit late?"

Huh?

This time, it was Liu Qiangdong's turn to be dumbfounded.