Chapter 1865: A Sincere Invitation

Zhao Fusheng's plan was actually very clear: even if he retired and sold off all his shares in the company, what he sold were only the shares.

As for the management rights of the company, they would definitely be handed over to someone familiar.

After all, from the very beginning, Zhao Fusheng had a clear plan for the companies under his umbrella.

As members of management, Dong Chenxi, Zheng Yao, and others all held shares.

This meant that once Zhao Fusheng stepped down, as long as they held voting rights, they could control the entire company, and even the major shareholder would be powerless.

Of course, that was a matter for the distant future. For now, Zhao Fusheng was still the master of the vast empire known as Future Group.

"By the way, about sponsoring sports projects we discussed earlier, are we really not considering football?"

Zheng Yao recalled something and casually asked Zhao Fusheng.

"Football?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned: "Why sponsor them? I don't like eating chicken anyway."

"Huh?"

Zheng Yao looked completely bewildered.

Clearly, she didn't understand the joke in Zhao Fusheng's words.

Thinking of the male football players' chicken-breast-like physiques, Zhao Fusheng couldn't help but sneer: "For the women's team, we can provide some financial support. But forget the men's team. I'd rather sponsor small projects that have achievements but lack support and attention than give money to the men's team."

As he spoke, Zhao Fusheng said irritably: "If I throw a meat bun at a dog, the dog will bark a couple of times after eating it. The men's team? Hah..."

Clearly, his resentment was deep.

"How about we buy a football club?" Zheng Yao thought for a moment and said to Zhao Fusheng: "Maybe it could enhance our company's image and reputation."

"No need."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "With that kind of money, it's better to invest in internet projects."

This was the truth. Running a football club in China was not easy, even if you spent money to buy a bunch of star players. If the youth training wasn't done well, performance would inevitably decline sharply after a few years. What then?

Would they just keep buying star players?

For a club, the most important thing was youth training.

A club without youth training could not stand tall in the long run. Look at big clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid—they spend money every year to buy superstars, but their youth training is also very successful.

Take China, for example. Youth training is a mess. Even if a genius occasionally emerges, sustainable development is hard to achieve.

Look at Germany and France. With their excellent youth training systems in place, even if they lie low for one or two major tournaments, a bunch of geniuses soon emerge and rise rapidly.

And Huaxia?

Well, Zhao Fusheng felt he'd better stop thinking, because he was afraid he couldn't help but complain.

Seeing his clear opposition, Zheng Yao dropped the matter.

She naturally didn't understand these things; it was mainly a plan proposed by the company's strategic planning department, suggesting that the group could purchase a Chinese Super League club in the future, thereby enhancing the group's reputation and influence, which was also a form of indirect advertising.

But obviously, the boss disagreed.

Within the Future Group, there was an unwritten rule: any plan the boss disagreed with would be rejected outright.

This sounded a bit strange, but in fact, Zhao Fusheng rarely interfered with the decisions of subordinate companies. Many times, even if Zhao Fusheng didn't like or agree with plans made by Dong Chenxi, Zheng Yao, and others, he wouldn't veto them.

But if he vetoed a plan, whether from a subsidiary or the group itself, no one would raise any objection.

After all, over the years, Zhao Fusheng had proven his judgment with facts.

"But if we sponsor sports, there are actually benefits."

Zheng Yao thought for a moment and said to Zhao Fusheng, "I think, at least for now, it would be very beneficial."

Zhao Fusheng nodded, smiled, but said nothing more.

He certainly knew that.

The effect of sports sponsorship is natural and easily accepted. It is essentially a form of soft advertising, but since the ad does not appear alone, its commercial and utilitarian nature is less obvious than hard advertising.

Sponsorship targets a wide and large audience with precision. At major events, there are tens of thousands of spectators on site, and countless more media audiences.

Even some local events, if well-organized, can attract enthusiastic audiences, making it very conducive for companies to communicate effectively with target audiences, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

It must be understood that the biggest characteristic of sports marketing is its public welfare nature. It can be said that sports are a common cause for humanity. Sponsoring sports and conducting market operations in sports marketing have effects that ordinary advertising cannot match.

Especially for a company like Future Group, which is involved in many industries, sponsoring sports projects would definitely be very beneficial advertising.

This reasoning, Zheng Yao understood, and Zhao Fusheng understood even more.

After chatting for a while longer and listening to Zheng Yao's report on the recent status of the group and its various subsidiaries, Zhao Fusheng left the headquarters.

...

...

Of course, after leaving the Future Group building, Zhao Fusheng didn't go home but went to Future Film.

Jiang Wen was already there waiting for him.

"Aren't you supposed to be with the 'Wulin' crew?"

Zhao Fusheng said to Jiang Wen with some surprise.

This guy should be in Zhejiang Province at this time, as Yu Feihong has already taken the crew there.

"Don't even mention it. Old Ge is easy to deal with, but as for Fa Ge, I'm really worried. What do you think about the company sending him a direct invitation?"

Jiang Wen said to Zhao Fusheng with a wry smile.

"Like that, is it sincere enough?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned and said to Jiang Wen.

"See, that's what I think too," Ye Jing interjected from the side.

He had told Jiang Wen before that while a direct invitation from the company would be formal, Fa Ge probably wouldn't care much.

Given his status and position, any company in the industry would invite him that way; it was nothing special.

Jiang Wen immediately smiled bitterly, looking helpless.

Ever since he decided to invite Fa Ge to star in this film, he had become increasingly convinced that Fa Ge was the perfect choice for the role.

You see, there weren't that many actors who could hold their own opposite him. Back in *Guan Yunchang*, even Universe Dan, who was so good at stealing scenes, was firmly overshadowed by him.

In the entire Chinese-language film circle, only Fa Ge could match him in presence.

But Fa Ge no longer took roles as casually as before; he now paid more attention to the director and personal connections.

Take Wong Jing's *Macau Money* series, for example.

Moreover, this time in *The Bullet*, Jiang Wen was the lead, and Fa Ge was the villainous big boss. How could he play that role?

Besides, Old Jiang really wasn't familiar with Fa Ge. Although they were both top figures in the Chinese film circle, they had only met once, at a certain year's Golden Horse Awards.

He had already used the method Zhao Fusheng suggested to invite Old Ge.

And now, it was Fa Ge's turn.

"What to do?"

Frowning, Jiang Wen was deeply troubled.

"Why don't you write a letter?"

A flash of inspiration struck Zhao Fusheng, and he said to Jiang Wen.

Write a letter?

Jiang Wen was startled, but then suddenly realized it might be a good idea.

Inviting an actor by writing a personal letter was a tradition among the older generation of filmmakers in mainland China and Hong Kong. When Jiang Wen was young, his mentor, the renowned older-generation director Xie Jin, had used a personal letter to invite Jiang Wen, then an unknown nobody, to star in the film *Hibiscus Town*.

Although this method was a bit old-fashioned, it was still a way to show sincerity.

And Jiang Wen felt that Fa Ge might like it.

So, three days later, a letter handwritten by Jiang Wen was placed before Fa Ge.

"To Mr. and Mrs. Fa Ge:

Our brief meeting in Hong Kong was most enjoyable. The story of the new film is enclosed.

The script is nearly ready. The story has been polished for years. The characters are wonderfully unique, surpassing ancient and modern times. In the film, you will play dual roles, true and false, providing vast space for your acting skills and creating a legend in cinema.

Fa Ge's fame is widely recognized; your artistry is generous and your skills surpass all. This role will surely help you build on your existing glory and reach even greater heights.

The new film aims to create a Chinese western gangster movie—humorous, absurd, sharp, and gripping.

In the past, there were American spaghetti westerns; now, we have our own spicy brotherhood western.

Your role combines the ambition of Cao Mengde, the brilliance of Zhou Gongjin, and often boasts of being Zhuge Kongming.

Thrilling and unexpected, with Fa Ge in action, it will surely be effortless and masterful. Millions of fans are eagerly waiting! Who else could be considered?

Besides myself, Brother Ge has also joined. Truly, where three rivers meet lies a land of plenty; three heroes stand tall, a marvelous tale.

Magnificent and beautiful!

Looking across the land, vitality abounds; the stars shine brightly, converging within. Hearing that Mrs. Fa has given the order and Fa Ge will come, all colleagues below are thrilled.

In early spring February, the grass grows long in Lingnan; trees bloom with flowers, and gulls fly in flocks.

On this pleasant and breezy day, we sincerely invite you to join us in this wonderful endeavor. Words cannot express all; we will discuss in detail when we meet.

Respectfully yours, Jiang Wen."

The entire letter was full of classical Chinese. When Fa Ge saw it, he was completely baffled.

"What, what does this mean?"

Fa Ge and Fa Sao looked at each other in confusion. After a long while, he turned to his wife and asked.

Fa Sao was also utterly bewildered, having no idea what Jiang Wen's letter was about.

To be honest, she recognized every word in the letter, but put together, she really didn't understand what Zhao Fusheng meant.

"I don't know either."

Fa Sao blinked and said to Fa Ge.

After a moment, she thought: "Why don't we ask someone?"

"Alright, alright."

Fa Ge nodded. He could probably guess the intention behind Jiang Wen's letter, but the problem was, he was also curious about what the letter actually said.