Chapter 1501: A Gift?

The reply from the Xue family came quickly. To be precise, faced with readily available benefits, no one would push them away, especially when it was legal and reasonable.

"Thirty percent dry shares, and one of my cousins will join the board of the future real estate development company," Xue Yuanfang said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "Agreed, but let me make it clear: she can only be a director of Future Real Estate."

His meaning was clear: the Xue family could send someone into Future Real Estate, but they could not interfere with the Future Group.

"Don't worry about that."

Xue Yuanfang said, "The family mentioned that you are quite interesting."

Interesting?

Zhao Fusheng frowned. He couldn't quite grasp this evaluation.

"Mm, it was said by an elder in the family," Xue Yuanfang said with a smile. "You know, he served in Jiangsu and Zhejiang..."

Holy shit!

Zhao Fusheng instantly understood—it was that great man!

"Overpraise, overpraise!" Zhao Fusheng said repeatedly.

If it were someone else from the Xue family, it would be one thing, but it happened to be that big shot who was about to reach the top. His respect was beyond words.

"Then let's leave it at that. In a few days, have Zheng Yao contact my sister," Xue Yuanfang said to Zhao Fusheng. "I'm going to Shenzhen; there's something at the advertising company."

He was the head of the Future Group's public relations department, so naturally work came first.

Zhao Fusheng nodded and personally saw Xue Yuanfang out of his office.

Glancing at the calendar on his desk, he took a deep breath.

September 25, 2006, clear weather.

From today onward, the Future Group would have an incredibly powerful backer.

Of course, the prerequisite was that he didn't court disaster, since he wasn't a direct member of the Xue family, only a partner.

But that was enough.

Sometimes, you don't need too many talismans of protection.

Moreover, Zhao Fusheng didn't want to get involved in political struggles. After all, although the Xue family were the ultimate victors, there were bound to be countless hidden conflicts behind that. Rushing in recklessly would only make him a scapegoat, with no other outcome.

Zheng Yao soon got in touch with that cousin from the Xue family. As for the rest, Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to follow up.

At a previous internal company meeting, Zhao Fusheng formally proposed that starting from 2007, the subsidiaries of the Future Group would operate on a self-financing principle.

Moreover, Zhao Fusheng also planned to readjust the equity structure of the subsidiaries.

Simply put, since they were preparing to go public, they naturally had to consider how to maximize their own interests after listing.

At the same time, Zhao Fusheng was well aware that heavy rewards would bring brave men. If he didn't offer enough incentives to attract people, who would be willing to work for him?

Of course, this needed to be done step by step, not rushed.

...

...

After finishing these matters, Zhao Fusheng finally had a few days of leisure.

He took the time to go shopping with his wife and even made a trip to a maternity and baby store, picking out a few toys for the baby, whose gender was still unknown.

During this time, Tan Kaixuan, under the pretext of visiting his future goddaughter, came to see Zhao Fusheng.

Yeah, he insisted that Fan Baobao would give birth to a daughter.

"The situation in the US is getting worse," Tan Kaixuan said to Zhao Fusheng after chatting with Fan Baobao for a while.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. This was normal; the subprime crisis had just begun and was far from its true peak. It wouldn't erupt worldwide until 2008.

"What should we do? Should we make another move?" Tan Kaixuan whispered to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng frowned. "What do you mean? Have you heard something?"

"Nothing much, just news from the US that the Federal Reserve might bail out the market..."

"The Federal Reserve?"

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then sneered. "You believe such nonsense? Are you crazy, or am I?"

Zhao Fusheng didn't believe a single word of Tan Kaixuan's news about the Federal Reserve bailing out the market.

Americans bailing out the market?

And the news reached the Chinese?

Bullshit!

That was nothing but bait!

Like Jiang Taigong fishing—those willing rise to the bait!

Does it matter to the fisherman whether the hook is straight or curved, or whether there's bait on it?

As long as others believe it exists, it exists.

Zhao Fusheng suddenly thought of Bitcoin, which would appear a few years later. That was exactly the same.

Decentralization, empowerment, and such—logically they held up, but the premise of the logic didn't hold.

To achieve decentralization, you'd first have to eliminate all the central banks and governments on Earth. Only then would Bitcoin have value.

Otherwise, at most it would circulate within a small scope.

In short, it was just a game of passing the parcel!

Looking at Tan Kaixuan, Zhao Fusheng said solemnly, "Old Tan, trust me. Don't bother with what the Federal Reserve says. This time, we'll just sit back and watch the show—a big show!"

Tan Kaixuan was stunned. It had been a long time since Zhao Fusheng had spoken to him so formally.

Could it be that there was really some huge risk?

But the question was, if the Federal Reserve stepped in, couldn't it solve the subprime crisis?

To be honest, if Zhao Fusheng hadn't spoken, Tan Kaixuan wouldn't have believed it no matter what.

"Alright, I understand."

After a moment of silence, Tan Kaixuan finally nodded and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Between the Federal Reserve and Zhao Fusheng, he naturally chose to trust his good brother.

"By the way, what gift should I give when your Baobao gives birth?" Tan Kaixuan suddenly asked Zhao Fusheng.

"Give me your head."

Zhao Fusheng said irritably, "Don't think I don't know you set up a trust fund for the kid..."

That guy Tan Kaixuan had picked up some weird stuff in the US and set up a trust fund for Zhao Fusheng's unborn child. Zhao Fusheng didn't know the exact amount.

"I'm giving it to the kid, not to you," Tan Kaixuan waved his hand, not taking Zhao Fusheng's words to heart.

He paused and said to Zhao Fusheng, "I'm talking about a gift for your wife. After all, she's going through a lot."

"Whatever."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head indifferently. "She'll accept whatever you give. Don't worry."

His relationship with Tan Kaixuan was what it was, and Fan Baobao knew that too. So no matter what Tan Kaixuan gave, Fan Baobao would accept it without hesitation.

Because it was the same for Tan Kaixuan—whatever Zhao Fusheng gave him, he would take it calmly.

"Hmm..." Tan Kaixuan frowned deeply, clearly pondering what to give Fan Baobao.

After a long while, he looked up at Zhao Fusheng. "How about I give her a car?"

"A car?"

Zhao Fusheng was a bit surprised. "She already has one."

"Come on, that car is ages old," Tan Kaixuan couldn't help but complain upon hearing Zhao Fusheng's words. "I can't stand that piece of junk you drive."

"Cough, cough..." Zhao Fusheng felt awkward, not expecting his car to be so poorly regarded in Tan Kaixuan's eyes.

"Hey, isn't mine a new Mercedes bulletproof model?" Zhao Fusheng said helplessly to Tan Kaixuan.

"Ha, you know I'm talking about the one your wife drives..." Tan Kaixuan mercilessly exposed Zhao Fusheng.

Now Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao actually had two cars: one was the Mercedes bulletproof car he rode in when going out, custom-made by the company, and the one Fan Baobao drove was a Volkswagen bought a few years ago.

Neither of them had high demands for cars, so they hadn't thought about changing them.

"It's settled then." Tan Kaixuan waved his hand. "I'll give her a car. In a day or two, let her go pick one, how about that?"

"As you wish." Zhao Fusheng nodded indifferently. A car was nothing much; it didn't cost much.