Chapter 1428: Persuasion

In fact, both Dong Chenxi and Zheng Yao had some understanding of the state of China's financial markets.

There was no helping it; since they were interested in such matters, they unconsciously collected information on the topic in their daily lives. Naturally, they also knew that Zhao Fusheng was not talking nonsense. China's financial market, as Zhao Fusheng had said, was essentially growing wildly, completely devoid of any rules.

"But I still feel very unwilling."

Facing Zhao Fusheng, Dong Chenxi did not beat around the bush and spoke seriously.

Having weathered storms together for so many years, her relationship with Zhao Fusheng was naturally deeper than that of ordinary company executives, so she spoke more directly.

Zhao Fusheng laughed. Dong Chenxi's reaction was entirely within his expectations; if she had shown no reaction, he would have found it abnormal.

It is often said that character determines destiny, and Dong Chenxi was exactly that kind of person.

It couldn't be said that she was shortsighted, only that she cared more about immediate gains. Without sufficient evidence to convince her, it was hard for Dong Chenxi to change her mind.

"There's no such thing as willing or unwilling." Zhao Fusheng looked at Dong Chenxi and said slowly, "This is the current situation. We have to make a choice: continue with angel investments or engage in financial investments. You know that just with Future Investment, the projects we have on hand will become a big problem later on. If we follow your idea and put some funds into the financial market, to be honest, if something goes wrong, the losses would be too great."

Dong Chenxi fell silent. She understood Zhao Fusheng's words, but it was a mental hurdle she couldn't get over.

"Alright, don't be too upset." Zhao Fusheng smiled. "Let me put it bluntly: we definitely won't touch the domestic financial market, but if there's an opportunity abroad, we can give it a try."

Dong Chenxi's eyes lit up.

Clearly, Zhao Fusheng's words made her realize something.

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly. "You should know the name Soros. Keep an eye on his movements. If there's a chance, we can follow in his footsteps and maybe get a little taste."

To be honest, Zhao Fusheng didn't remember Soros's specific moves after the 2000s, but following him in short selling wouldn't lead to losses. At worst, the company's professionals could be reminded to be cautious; making less profit was fine.

As for saving the financial market?

No way. Zhao Fusheng didn't have that awareness, nor did he have that much money to throw in. He found it normal to harvest retail investors, because no one who enters the stock market is innocent. If you aren't greedy, you won't be harvested.

Zhao Fusheng didn't have the ability, as depicted in novels, to spar with Soros. That was Quantum Fund, a behemoth that could move tens of billions of dollars or more. Future Investment's resources wouldn't even last a minute in that game.

Making a fortune quietly—that was the goal Zhao Fusheng set for Future Investment.

With his words, Dong Chenxi was all smiles. Although Zhao Fusheng was the boss, Future Investment embodied years of Dong Chenxi's hard work, and she naturally didn't want anything bad to happen to the company.

After calming Dong Chenxi and letting her leave, Zhao Fusheng turned to Zheng Yao.

"What, trying to fool me?"

Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng with a half-smile and said.

Hearing her words, Zhao Fusheng was startled, then laughed. "What are you saying? Why would I fool you? We're just having a casual chat."

With that, he said to Zheng Yao, "I want to hear your opinion on the company's restructuring."

Zheng Yao waved her hand. "I don't really have any opinions. In fact, those in the Strategic Planning Office have long advised me to restructure the company, but due to some issues, I never mentioned it to you. Now that you've realized there's a problem and want to reform, that's for the best."

She wasn't lying. The people in Future Group's Strategic Planning Department were all elites. Although their practical experience might be slightly lacking, their theoretical research was top-notch. They had long realized that Future Group's current development had significant problems, so they proposed to Zheng Yao that the entire group should be integrated.

Unfortunately, Zheng Yao did not agree and simply sealed their report.

"What happened?" Zhao Fusheng frowned upon hearing Zheng Yao's words. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He was surprised. Given his relationship with Zheng Yao, if such a thing had happened, she wouldn't have hidden it from him. As for whether Zheng Yao was colluding with others, Zhao Fusheng didn't believe it. From his understanding of her, she wasn't that scheming.

"Because their plan was too radical." Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng and said slowly, "They intended to carry out a thorough integration within the company, eliminate those old-timers who couldn't keep up, and introduce a new management mechanism..."

Then she recounted the Strategic Planning Department's plan to Zhao Fusheng.

After a long while, the expression on Zhao Fusheng's face became interesting.

He had to admit that if the restructuring were carried out according to this plan, Future Group might indeed become a proper modern comprehensive conglomerate.

But at the same time, a large number of people would have to leave the company in disappointment.

Among them, even old-timers like Dong Chenxi and Dong Guoxiang.

Even if they didn't leave, they would be sidelined. The reason was simple: their abilities were no longer suitable for their current positions.

Very cruel.

But it was the truth.

No wonder Zheng Yao had suppressed the report. Once its contents were exposed, it would inevitably cause controversy throughout the company.

"You did the right thing." After a long silence, Zhao Fusheng looked up at Zheng Yao and said slowly.

Zheng Yao chuckled softly and said nothing more.

In fact, both of them knew that rejuvenating and professionalizing the group's management was inevitable. But the key issue was that it couldn't be done now.

The Strategic Planning Department submitted this report partly to test the waters and partly to demonstrate their capabilities to upper management.

For the company's CEO Zheng Yao and Chairman Zhao Fusheng, keeping the report itself signified an attitude.

As long as those young Turks weren't fools, they would understand.

"Do you think my choice was wrong?" Zhao Fusheng asked Zheng Yao after a moment of silence.

Zheng Yao was taken aback, then shook her head with a smile. "We're in business, not running a charity. If someone can't keep up with the company's pace, they have to leave. Not just others; the same goes for you and me."

Her expression was serious, and Zhao Fusheng could see that Zheng Yao wasn't joking. She was genuinely speaking about this matter.

That is, if one day she felt she was no longer suitable as CEO of Future Group, she would definitely choose to resign.

Thinking of this, Zhao Fusheng laughed.

"What are you laughing at?"

Zheng Yao was puzzled by Zhao Fusheng's laugh, which turned the originally serious atmosphere into something strange. She asked curiously.

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand. "Nothing. I just think we're considering things a bit too far ahead. Don't forget, Future Group is still just getting started. The things we're thinking about might not happen for a long time."

Zheng Yao was startled, then nodded. "You're right. Let's drop this. I'll arrange for someone to carry out the integration according to your plan as soon as possible."

Zhao Fusheng nodded and personally saw Zheng Yao out of his office.

Turning back, he shook his head helplessly. In fact, there were a few things he hadn't made too clear. Zheng Yao was good in every way, but she was too lenient with her subordinates.

A group of strategists from the Planning Department dared to play the game of forcing the hand of higher-ups. Zhao Fusheng had already mentally sentenced those young Turks to "death." No matter what, he would not let such radical people become part of Future Group's management.

The reason was simple: no matter how clever the young Turks were, they would eventually become old-timers one day. Would they have the courage to resign then?

Their current behavior was purely armchair criticism, aimed at advancing their own positions.