Chapter 1472 Little Calculations

Zhao Fusheng naturally had no idea what Zheng Yao was sighing about in her mind; he was never one to indulge in sentimental melancholy. Life was already hard enough, and while chicken soup for the soul could offer some encouragement, it was still less satisfying than something tangible that could truly fulfill him.

This might seem a bit philistine, but if a person didn't live realistically and spent all day thinking about empty, insubstantial things, that would be an irresponsibility toward their own life.

"Something on your mind?"

Fan Baobao, seeing Zhao Fusheng return home and sit there lost in thought as if pondering something, asked him softly.

Shaking his head, he didn't answer Fan Baobao's question, just sat there silently, as if thinking about something.

Seeing this, Fan Baobao didn't press further. She knew that whenever Zhao Fusheng wore that expression, it meant he was considering something very important.

Even between spouses who shared everything, they needed some space. Fan Baobao understood this principle well.

And she also knew that if it was truly necessary for her to know, Zhao Fusheng would definitely tell her.

In fact, the issue Zhao Fusheng was currently considering really didn't require Fan Baobao's knowledge.

"Not easy."

Zhao Fusheng sat on the sofa, muttering to himself after a long while.

Though he had spoken lightly to Zheng Yao, Zhao Fusheng himself knew that going public was not that simple.

It was like how we see others making money effortlessly in school, as if casually investing could yield several times or even dozens of times the profit, and even after graduation, salaries were often in the tens of thousands.

But if you tried it yourself, the boss might only offer a monthly salary of one or two thousand.

That's when we realize that the true face of life is often embellished.

Why do people particularly dislike chicken soup for the soul nowadays? Because everyone has discovered that while it sounds inspiring, the problem is that relying on chicken soup can't change your destiny at all, unless you're a university professor peddling chicken soup to your students in class.

But the problem is, not everyone has the cloak of a female professor from Fudan University to protect themselves.

So, knowing is easy, doing is hard—this has become a growing consensus about life for more and more people.

For Zhao Fusheng, the scale of Future Group definitely had to be kept within a certain range. He truly didn't want to become a thorn in someone's side or a target of envy one day.

Life is far more absurd than film and television works. Those who covet your business and then move to seize it do exist; they're just well-concealed.

...

...

Zhao Fusheng was troubled, but he couldn't change anything. The world wouldn't change for anyone's will, not even for the greatest of people.

In the capital in August, the weather grew increasingly hot, and all kinds of news emerged endlessly. The subprime mortgage crisis in the United States was worsening, and Tan Kaixuan had called Zhao Fusheng more than once, grateful that he had listened to Zhao Fusheng's advice back then.

Of course, there were more unhappy people.

Whether it was Ono Masao of SoftBank or James of Sequoia Capital, both expressed concern when talking to Zhao Fusheng on the phone.

After all, these people's roots were in the United States, and the subprime mortgage crisis had not only affected Wall Street but the entire U.S. economy.

Even emerging internet companies like Facebook and Twitter were impacted, let alone other industries.

"America is doomed!"

The first thing Tan Kaixuan said to Zhao Fusheng when he returned to the country was this.

“Get lost.”

Zhao Fusheng said irritably, “You think this is a movie? ‘America is finished’?”

“It’s true. I feel the entire US economy is in bad shape. People in many places have started declaring bankruptcy…” Tan Kaixuan explained to Zhao Fusheng. “This is what my think tank advised. They think America won’t be suitable for us to invest in for at least three to five years.”

Zhao Fusheng frowned at these words.

As far as he could recall, he really didn’t remember how long it took the US to recover after the subprime mortgage crisis, but it shouldn’t have been that long.

“Don’t listen to those American experts’ analyses.”

Zhao Fusheng said bluntly, “Those people have no skill other than scaremongering.”

Tan Kaixuan was taken aback, then laughed.

He hadn’t been keen on those experts’ advice anyway, thinking it less sensible than Zhao Fusheng’s analysis. Now hearing Zhao say this, he felt even more so.

“Speaking of which, the Facebook and Twitter you invested in seem to be getting a lot of bad press lately.”

Tan Kaixuan recalled another matter and said to Zhao Fusheng, “Before I came back, the investment community was very pessimistic about that Twitter. That Evan Williams guy is called a fraud from Yahoo…”

Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily and waved his hand: “It doesn’t matter. Time will tell.”

He couldn’t be bothered to explain. After all, Evan Williams was a vengeful man; those investors who badmouthed him would probably never have a chance to partner with Twitter.

“The whole country is laying off people. I think the US might be facing a wave of mass unemployment.” Tan Kaixuan looked at Zhao Fusheng and said in a low voice.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: “If that’s the case, I think we can take the opportunity to recruit some useful talent. Of course, that’s only if you plan to go into manufacturing.”

Tan Kaixuan agreed wholeheartedly.

You see, times are different now. In the 1970s and 1980s, whether in Japan or the United States, some large corporations practiced lifetime employment.

In other words, a person would graduate from school and stay with one company until retirement, never changing jobs.

Of course, the purpose was to make employees love the company like home, be dedicated to their work, while the company treated its employees well—everyone happy, giving full play to the spirit of ownership, mobilizing initiative, and making the enterprise successful.

But now it’s different. Today’s employees are highly mobile. Most people understand that their talent and skills are their means of making a living.

For them, if they’re unhappy at a company or find a better opportunity, they will leave without hesitation.

So, unless he went into manufacturing, Zhao Fusheng didn’t plan to recruit people abroad.

Those not of our kin are bound to have different hearts.

Zhao Fusheng remembered these words clearly.

“I know. Don’t worry.”

Tan Kaixuan chuckled: “So, when is your wife due?”

Zhao Fusheng gave him a helpless look: “Still a few months. What’s up?”

Clearly, the guy was very happy. After all, he wasn’t married, but Zhao Fusheng was about to become a father. Tan Kaixuan felt a sense of shared pride.

“Nothing, hehe. I was thinking of giving a gift when the baby is born.”

Tan Kaixuan said with a grin.

The guy obviously had some idea but just didn’t want to say it.

Since he didn’t say, Zhao Fusheng didn’t bother to ask. Their relationship was such that even if Tan Kaixuan gave a billion, Zhao Fusheng would eventually return it to his child.