Chapter 1935 A Generous Move

The gala was broadcast live. After a minute of silence for the entire audience, it officially began.

The entire gala alternated between artistic performances and broadcasts of earthquake relief short films: a segment of performance, a segment of real footage, and a round of donations. Nearly a thousand celebrities from all walks of life performed on the same stage, and people from all sectors generously contributed.

The largest fundraising event in the propaganda and cultural circles since the founding of New China gathered a torrent of love in the broadcast hall. The hosts did their utmost to read out the names of every donor who came on stage, racing against time.

Fan Baobao naturally saw Jiang Wen and Ye Jing. Behind them were the artists of Future Film.

She even sent a message to Zhou Yun.

"How much is your family donating?"

"Two million."

Zhou Yun replied quickly.

Fan Baobao nodded. She naturally understood this principle. Jiang Wen was different from Zhao Fusheng. Jiang Wen was an artist. Although he held a certain status in the film industry, in the whole of China, he was not really a big shot.

"There's a change in the situation."

At that moment, Zheng Yao received a text message. Her expression changed slightly, and she whispered beside Fan Baobao.

"What's wrong?" Fan Baobao was startled and put away her phone.

"China Petroleum over there donated three hundred million. And I heard that Huawei is planning to donate three hundred and fifty million."

"God!"

Fan Baobao was stunned. She never expected such a turn of events.

Zheng Yao's face darkened at the other party's actions. She said to Fan Baobao, "What do we do?"

To be honest, in her plan, she had never imagined such a formidable competitor would suddenly appear.

Originally, she had planned that the Future Group would donate at most three hundred million. Unexpectedly, the other side came out with an astronomical figure right away. What to do now?

Fan Baobao didn't say a word. She sat there, even more nervous than Zheng Yao, constantly thinking in her mind: if Zhao Fusheng were sitting here, what would he choose?

Dong Chenxi also learned the news. She and Zheng Yao both looked at Fan Baobao.

At this moment, as Zhao Fusheng's wife, Fan Baobao was naturally the one to make the decision.

Although she usually didn't participate in the company's management, this matter was of great importance. Donating several hundred million yuan, even Zheng Yao dared not make a decision lightly.

"Problems that can be solved with money are not problems."

Suddenly, Fan Baobao remembered a saying Zhao Fusheng had once said.

She finally made a decision.

"The company donates two hundred million. In addition, in the name of Fusheng and me, we donate three hundred million. We donate a total of five hundred million!"

Fan Baobao looked at Zheng Yao and said firmly.

Five hundred million!

Zheng Yao's head buzzed. She looked at Fan Baobao: "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Fan Baobao nodded vigorously: "Let me go up and speak alone then. I'll explain clearly."

"Okay."

Zheng Yao nodded. Since Fan Baobao had made the decision, she could only carry it out.

Zheng Yao quietly typed on her phone, and her assistant outside immediately reported her decision.

Xue Yuanfang didn't come in; he was outside keeping an eye on this matter.

The news quickly spread quietly on site. For a moment, within a certain small circle, the words Future Group, Zhao Fusheng, and Fan Baobao quickly became the focus of attention for some people.

It wasn't five hundred thousand, five million, or fifty million, but a full five hundred million!

And it was cash!

Without exaggeration, everyone who learned of this news was shocked by Fan Baobao's generous move.

"Holy shit! Five hundred million!"

"Group two hundred million, boss couple three hundred million!"

"What kind of international joke is this? That woman must be crazy!"

"What the hell is Zhao Fusheng doing!"

Representatives attending the gala immediately relayed the news back to their respective company headquarters.

But at that moment, whether they received the news or passed it on, everyone felt as if they had been screwed over, utterly frustrated.

Especially those heads of companies that had donated over one hundred million, even two hundred million, trying to strive to become the largest donor, felt particularly helpless at this moment.

Comparisons between people can be deadly; comparisons between goods can lead to discarding.

These people all knew that Zhao Fusheng hadn't come today. That is, the one making decisions for Future Group here was that pregnant actress Fan Baobao.

Women!

They are all unreasonable animals!

That was everyone's thought now.

Five hundred million!

A full five hundred million!

Everyone knew that Future Group's original budget was two hundred million: the group donating one hundred million and Zhao Fusheng and his wife donating one hundred million.

But after learning that someone had donated three hundred million, Fan Baobao directly raised the donation to five hundred million!

It was like two people fighting: one picks up a stick to scare the opponent, but the opponent, without a word, pulls out a Desert Eagle from their bag and even puts on a posture that if you dare fight back, they'll bring out a Gatling gun to mow you down.

What to do?

This is no joke!

If Zhao Fusheng were here, people might think from a business perspective.

Now the person in charge was Fan Baobao. Although Zheng Yao and Dong Chenxi were Zhao Fusheng's confidants, they couldn't go against the boss's wife's wishes.

This meant that if someone followed by increasing the money, Fan Baobao might continue to raise the donation amount.

Then it would become a bidding war between the two sides.

"Forget it, forget it, not going to be like a crazy woman."

"Can't afford to get hurt!"

"Women, truly unreasonable creatures!"

After some consideration, a group of big shots ultimately chose to give up.

...

...

Donations started from the smallest. First came the thank-you list for donations of hundreds of thousands.

"Thanks to the donations of renowned director XX, renowned actor XX..."

It began with well-known figures in the literary and artistic circles. According to their status, everyone generously contributed.

Fan Baobao sat in the audience and saw many familiar faces.

"When disaster strikes, help comes from all sides. Although we cannot personally go to the disaster area, each of our hearts is with the people there."

As one of the artist representatives, Big Brother said emotionally on stage.

Looking at him, Fan Baobao smiled.

"What's wrong?" Zheng Yao asked, somewhat surprised.

"Nothing. I remembered Fusheng once said that although Big Brother has minor flaws, on major issues of right and wrong, he is really smart." Fan Baobao whispered.

This was true.

You could say Big Brother is flirtatious, you could say he is uneducated, and sometimes because of his lack of education, he might say things that don't convey the meaning.

But you have to admit that on matters concerning the nation and the people, Big Brother has principles.

"It's almost our turn."

Zheng Yao nodded and said to Fan Baobao.

This was inevitable. After the entertainment stars came the entrepreneurs and enterprises.

Soon, individuals and companies donating over ten million began to go on stage.

After standing in place, the enterprise representatives started to speak.

Then, the host emotionally expressed feelings and played a video of the disaster area.

Next came companies and individuals donating twenty to thirty million.

The same process.

For fifty million, it was the same routine.

By this time, the audience in front of the TV had begun to understand.

It was going from small to large.

In other words, the next companies and individuals to go on stage had donations no less than fifty million.

Some might even be over one hundred million.

Sure enough, in the host's subsequent introduction, representatives of several companies donating one hundred million walked onto the stage.

Then, representatives of companies donating two to three hundred million, such as China Petroleum and Huawei, went on stage.

That's it?

All the viewers in front of the TV thought so.

After all, donating three hundred million was already a lot.

But those sitting at the scene turned their gaze to the woman with a big belly, sitting there with a calm expression.

She was the highlight of today.

"Dear audience, next, please watch a video from the disaster area of Suying County."

At this moment, the host stood on stage, holding the microphone, and spoke slowly.

Then, a video appeared on the big screen.

"Future Group? I know them. Their chairman came with us the day before yesterday." This was a PLA soldier covered in dust, saying honestly: "When we came, there was no road. We walked dozens of miles of mountain paths."

"Future Group? Is that the company that invested in building schools? Thanks to them, the children's school was fine. My son was in class when the earthquake struck and escaped disaster."

This was a relieved mother.

"The first private enterprise to deliver relief supplies to the disaster area."

"Chairman Zhao Fusheng personally led a team to rush to the disaster area."

The host said emotionally: "Next, let's welcome Mrs. Fan Baobao, wife of Future Group's chairman, Ms. Zheng Yao, CEO of Future Group, and Ms. Dong Chenxi, general manager of Future Investment under Future Group, to the stage!"

At that moment, the big screen displayed the donation amount from Future Group this time.

Five hundred million!

Five hundred million!

Five hundred million!

In front of the TV, all the audience was dumbfounded. What kind of joke was this!

That was five hundred million!

In the current economic crisis, let alone five hundred million, some companies would find it hard to come up with fifty million in cash. Yet Future Group actually donated five hundred million!

Too ruthless!

"For many years, Future Group has been committed to philanthropy. Chairman Zhao Fusheng has sponsored the construction of nearly a hundred Hope Primary Schools in the southwestern region. In this earthquake, all the Hope Primary Schools sponsored by Future Group remained standing, saving the lives of thousands of children! Moreover, Chairman Zhao Fusheng led a team to the disaster area to participate in relief efforts immediately after the earthquake, and instructed his wife to contribute her strength to this disaster relief."

"Mrs. Fan Baobao, understanding the greater good, after the group company decided to donate two hundred million, together with her husband, they donated an additional three hundred million."

"Let's give a warm round of applause and invite Mrs. Fan to say a few words!"

At that moment, thunderous applause filled the CCTV broadcast hall.