Chapter 1471 Development Ideas

How fast is human thought?

Or, to be more precise, in an instant, how many thoughts can flash through a person's mind?

Zheng Yao didn't know the answer to that question, but she was well aware that in the moment Zhao Fusheng had just spoken those words, she had thought a great deal.

In her mind, it was like playing a movie, scenes switching constantly.

"What height do you think our Future Group will reach in its future development?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Zheng Yao and suddenly asked a question that caught her off guard.

Zheng Yao was startled for a moment, somewhat surprised, but still replied confidently, "I think if we keep developing along our current path, maybe in ten years, we'll be the next Cheung Kong Group."

There was no helping it—Li Ka-shing was so successful at the time that many younger business figures looked up to him as their idol.

Of course, they had no intention of surpassing him, given the terrifying amount of wealth he had accumulated over the years.

Even though Zheng Yao knew that Future Group had great prospects, she never thought about overtaking him.

It's fine to have ideals, but if you spend all day dwelling on unrealistic ones, that's just fantasy.

Zhao Fusheng laughed.

To be honest, he found it hard to hold any respect for Li Ka-shing.

Unlike Zheng Yao, the internet in later years was too developed; this tycoon's deeds, along with his many dark histories, had long been thoroughly exposed by the media. For this pure businessman, Zhao Fusheng admired his business acumen, but as for his character—hah.

"What, do you think I'm being too optimistic?" Zheng Yao asked, puzzled by Zhao Fusheng's reaction.

She thought that comparing Future Group to Cheung Kong Group might have displeased him.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head and said with a smile, "No, I just think you're oversimplifying things."

"Oversimplifying?"

Zheng Yao was taken aback, clearly not understanding his words.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "I'm not Li Ka-shing, and Future Group is not the next Cheung Kong Holdings. Let me put it this way: I want Future Group to become a large enterprise that can shake the entire industry with just a stomp of its foot."

Then he smiled and said, "Even if we can't become China's Rockefeller, our company must have enough influence to affect the whole of China."

In that instant, Zheng Yao felt her head buzz, and she stood there stunned, mouth wide open, unable to utter a single word.

Rockefeller?!

Even if she racked her brains, Zheng Yao never imagined that Zhao Fusheng's ambition would be so immense!

At its peak, the Rockefeller family could influence U.S. presidential elections, to the point where the U.S. government had to enact policies specifically targeting these powerful conglomerates.

But now, Zhao Fusheng was saying he wanted Future Group to become the next Rockefeller—did that mean he had intentions of getting involved in politics?

At that thought, sweat broke out on Zheng Yao's forehead, and she hurriedly said to Zhao Fusheng, "Fusheng, listen to me. Politics is not something just anyone can meddle in, especially businessmen. If we rush in recklessly and run into trouble, it'll be too late..."

Before she could finish, she saw Zhao Fusheng looking at her with a bewildered expression: "What are you talking about?"

"Who told you I was going to get involved in politics?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Zheng Yao speechlessly and said calmly, "I brought Xue Yuanfang in as a partner because I wanted someone to shield us. Of course, the Xue family is relatively low-key, but with them around, we can avoid a lot of trouble. But we're doing business and cooperating with them, not becoming their vassals."

He paused and continued, "My idea is for the company to develop in a healthy model. In other words, Future Group will be a parent company, and its subsidiaries will grow stronger and gain independence."

Hearing this, Zheng Yao finally understood what Zhao Fusheng meant.

"You mean you want to go the Samsung route?"

Zheng Yao thought for a moment and asked casually.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Sort of. But given our country's situation, a chaebol model is definitely not feasible. However, we can be sparks that start a prairie fire."

Some things didn't need to be said explicitly; Zhao Fusheng believed Zheng Yao would understand.

Sure enough, Zheng Yao's eyes lit up, and she immediately grasped his idea.

With a slight smile, Zheng Yao said to Zhao Fusheng, "Based on what you're saying, I think we might need to change our development approach."

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "The approach doesn't matter. As long as it benefits the company, we can change it anytime. It's like how Western medicine treats patients—use whatever medicine works."

This wasn't a joke or a dig.

That's how Western medicine works.

In Western medicine, humans are just that—treat the head when it hurts, treat the foot when it hurts. You know, Western medicine originated from barbers; anyone who could cut hair could practice it. In Western medicine, bloodletting was definitely a cure-all—no matter the illness, draw blood first.

Treat the head when it hurts, chop off the foot when it hurts. To be honest, this approach of treating symptoms rather than the root cause is essentially just relying on drugs.

No matter how famous a Western doctor is, as long as a new miracle drug appears, the doctor's role is infinitely diminished.

Running a business is the same.

For Zhao Fusheng, business management was a very complex matter. He knew his own abilities well—he could be a competent advertising copywriter, but if he wanted to be the operator of a company worth tens of billions or even more, he didn't think he had the skill.

It's important to know oneself.

If a person doesn't even understand their own basic level, it means they are bound to make mistakes sooner or later.

Not small mistakes, but fatal ones!

The reason is simple: people have impulsive moments, moments of blind confidence when they think they can take on the world. If someone has no awareness of their true abilities and speaks recklessly at critical moments, the consequences are truly terrifying.

The most terrifying thing in the world is when amateurs direct professionals, pretending to know what they don't.

There was a South Korean entertainment company called DSP, which once nurtured top stars like Sechs Kies and Lee Hyori. But when the founder fell ill and the company fell into the hands of his mistress, who had climbed up through her looks, she knew nothing about business management. In her view, nothing was more useful than cash in hand, so the company's operations suffered huge mistakes.

A company that was once among the top three entertainment agencies in South Korea ended up as a second-rate enterprise.

There are too many such examples.

Zhao Fusheng didn't want Future Group to end up like that, so he rarely interfered in the company's management.

But Zheng Yao knew very well who the true owner of the company was.

...

...

Zheng Yao really hadn't expected that Zhao Fusheng had such long-term considerations for Future Group's development.

Clearly, Zhao Fusheng genuinely wanted to turn Future Group into a company that could exist in China for decades or even a century.

Watching Zhao Fusheng's retreating figure, Zheng Yao remained silent for a long time.

Once upon a time, he had sat before her, obediently listening to her lectures. Back then, she was his counselor, and he was her student.

A few years later, their roles had changed completely.

Life always brings us all kinds of surprises, just as we once hoped—wonderful and full of joy.