Chapter 1943: The Meeting

Is rising housing prices a good thing or a bad thing?

From a professional perspective, on one hand, rising housing prices constrain the growth of residents' savings and other consumption. The rapid increase in housing prices drives up residents' housing expenditures, limiting the increase in savings corresponding to consumption and the growth of other consumption.

In particular, the rise in second-hand housing prices forces a considerable number of young people to spend more than half of their income, or even go into debt, on housing, while reducing their spending in other areas.

Rising housing prices also drive up prices, especially the excessive rise in production material prices such as land prices and building materials.

Prices are like a big cycle: the rise in building materials and land prices increases development costs, causing housing prices to rise, and then expectations of further price increases lead to more investment by developers, including increased purchases of land and building materials, and finally, prices continue to rise.

Furthermore, excessive housing price increases in a city can lead to a short-term loss of economic vitality, which is extremely detrimental to the development of the real estate industry. High housing prices not only affect a city's prosperity to a certain extent but also manifest as urban decline, because high housing prices drive up the cost of urban development.

Both Zhao Fusheng and Tan Kaixuan were clear on this point, and they were even more aware that the impact behind this was greater than what economists analyzed.

To put it bluntly, after housing prices rise, ordinary people have no choice but to spend their money on buying houses. As a result, consumption in other areas inevitably decreases.

Unless wage growth keeps pace with housing price increases, the economic situation will inevitably become more severe.

But the country has no choice. With the global economic crisis erupting now, if consumption isn't stimulated, what will happen to the economy?

Is it really going to be negative growth?

This is a deadlock.

"Sigh, thinking about making this money makes me uncomfortable," Tan Kaixuan suddenly said to Zhao Fusheng.

"Heh, then just build a few affordable houses here and there."

Zhao Fusheng, however, was very calm and didn't have as many thoughts as Tan Kaixuan.

It wasn't that he was heartless, but Zhao Fusheng clearly understood that this was the general trend. His and Tan Kaixuan's meager strength was powerless to stop the fact that housing prices in China were soaring.

Even the country couldn't stop such a thing, let alone two ordinary businessmen.

The chain of interests behind the real estate industry was too huge, so huge that Zhao Fusheng didn't even dare to touch it.

This kind of thing, he'd leave it until Xue Yuanfang's uncle took power and let that old man worry about it.

As for himself, Zhao Fusheng felt that quietly making money was more suitable for him.

He was very clear about what matters to get involved in and what not to.

…

…

That guy Tan Kaixuan ultimately listened to Zhao Fusheng and gave up his real estate business in Hong Kong.

In his own words, even if he were a mighty dragon crossing the river, he might not be able to defeat that group of local snakes in Hong Kong.

Those old schemers were all too cunning; dealing with them was like trying to negotiate with a tiger for its skin.

Rather than living in fear like that, it was better to listen to Zhao Fusheng and honestly pick up money on the mainland.

Exactly!

In Zhao Fusheng's depiction, within the next ten years, doing real estate in China would be like picking up money.

This wasn't a random claim but a solid fact.

And it wasn't just Tan Kaixuan; Zhao Fusheng himself was also laying out plans.

"Chairman, are we really going to acquire land?"

Looking at Zhao Fusheng, Zheng Yao asked in confusion, "Are you so sure that housing prices in the capital will skyrocket?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "It's not just the capital's housing prices; housing prices across all of China will rise."

"I know you saw that internal reference Xue Yuanfang got, but what does that prove? At most, it shows the higher-ups intend to make some reforms; it doesn't prove it will have a major impact on the domestic economy!"

Zheng Yao was not Tan Kaixuan. Tan Kaixuan could trust Zhao Fusheng without reservation because he had witnessed Zhao Fusheng's operations countless times.

As for Zheng Yao, even though she had experienced Zhao Fusheng's entrepreneurial journey from scratch, she still maintained a vigilant heart at all times, because she knew that no matter how well Future Group was developing now, a single misstep could still lead to a capsizing in the gutter.

"Wait and see."

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "But to be honest, even if you think the real estate industry might not take off, there's no harm in us acquiring a few more plots of land, right? Doesn't Future Group need land to enter the real economy?"

There was no help for it; since Zheng Yao was so resolute, Zhao Fusheng had to adopt a roundabout strategy.

"That's true."

These words satisfied Zheng Yao.

Clearly, she agreed with Zhao Fusheng's idea.

In the Internet age, although the tertiary industry was developing rapidly, many people still believed that the manufacturing industry had a future. Zheng Yao's thinking was simple: she hoped Future Group would become a comprehensive conglomerate, not just an enterprise relying on a few businesses.

This wasn't wrong; it was just a different perspective.

"Then it's settled."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Have Future Real Estate acquire as much land as possible. If funds are insufficient, we can apply for loans from the bank."

"Loans?"

Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng in surprise.

In her memory, Zhao Fusheng had always been very averse to his companies borrowing from banks.

Back when the company had cash flow problems, they borrowed one billion from China Construction Bank, but repaid it shortly after.

Since then, Future Group had never taken loans from banks. Even if project progress was slow, it didn't matter; Zhao Fusheng always kept loans at arm's length.

But now, he actually agreed to let Future Real Estate take bank loans to buy land. What was this guy up to?

With such doubts, Zheng Yao left Zhao Fusheng's office.

Watching her back, Zhao Fusheng chuckled.

No matter the reason, holding land in hand was a surefire profit.

Although Zheng Yao had been very resolute, she was still convinced by his sleight of hand and conceptual substitution.

He had no choice; if he didn't do this, Future Group would fall behind others. In business competition, falling behind meant losing money.

And for Zhao Fusheng, losing money was absolutely unacceptable.

…

…

Future Group does not allow losses!

This was the concept Zhao Fusheng instilled in all his trusted subordinates.

In his view, since business was about making money, who would do a business that didn't make money?

Or rather, if a business didn't make money, wasn't it just charity?

"Get ready. Tomorrow, my uncle is coming back for a meeting and can spare an hour to meet with you."

Xue Yuanfang came to Zhao Fusheng's office and said to him.

Zhao Fusheng was naturally delighted: "Is there anything I need to pay attention to?"

"Not really. My uncle is very nice; you don't need to worry," Xue Yuanfang comforted Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng didn't take his words to heart at all.

That was a figure who would eventually reach the top, a true big shot.

It was impossible not to be nervous.

This nervousness persisted until the next day when Zhao Fusheng met that person.

"Hello."

Standing before the big shot, Zhao Fusheng was very nervous, even a bit restrained.

It was an eye-opener for Xue Yuanfang, who usually saw Zhao Fusheng as someone with a plan in hand, to see him like this.

"Hello, hello." The big shot smiled, looking very kind: "I'll call you Fusheng."

"As you wish, as you wish."

Zhao Fusheng quickly nodded.

With only an hour, the two didn't actually say much. The big shot mainly asked about Xue Yuanfang's situation at the company, the development of Future Group, and Zhao Fusheng's personal matters. Upon learning that Zhao Fusheng was going to be a father this year, the big shot even offered his congratulations.

Sometimes, a very important thing between people is chemistry, or compatibility.

Whether they truly hit it off determines whether their relationship can become close.

People who find each other disagreeable certainly can't become friends.

Although it was only an hour and their first meeting, the big shot still appreciated Zhao Fusheng. When leaving, Zhao Fusheng asked him to inscribe a calligraphy piece, and the big shot agreed.

"A Bright Future"

Looking at the four large characters before him, Zhao Fusheng kept grinning foolishly.

"Hey, what are you laughing at?"

Seeing Zhao Fusheng return with a calligraphy scroll, Fan Baobao was a bit baffled.

This guy was really strange. He went out in the morning to meet someone, came back with a scroll, and was just staring at it and laughing. If he hadn't seemed normal otherwise, Fan Baobao would have suspected he was sick.

"You wouldn't understand."

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand and said to Fan Baobao, "Let me tell you, with this scroll, for at least ten years, we won't have to worry about anyone deliberately causing trouble for our family's business."

"Really?"

Fan Baobao was a bit surprised and looked at Zhao Fusheng in confusion: "Is that a thing?"

She really hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to say that.

Zhao Fusheng nodded but didn't explain further. Instead, he called Liu Yiming and asked him to come and take the scroll away.

"Find the best craftsman to have it mounted, and then hang it in my office, understand?" Zhao Fusheng said to Liu Yiming with great caution. "Don't damage it."

Liu Yiming dared not be careless; he carefully held the scroll and left.

Watching his back, Zhao Fusheng smiled with satisfaction.

Beside him, Fan Baobao furrowed her brows slightly. She always felt that her husband was hiding something from her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

This feeling was really strange.

A woman's intuition is quite accurate.