Chapter 2064: One Surprise After Another

Naturally, Zhao Fusheng accepted Lee Kun-hee's invitation, but the timing was postponed until after the New Year.

For him, since Hanxing Investment had already obtained the benefits it wanted, there was no need to get further involved in Korean affairs.

Small-scale cooperation was acceptable, but Zhao Fusheng would not agree to truly face other chaebols together.

He wasn't running a charity and had no interest in shielding Lee Jae-yong and Lee Jae-hyun from trouble.

Nevertheless, Zhao Fusheng called Lee Kun-hee to congratulate him and Lee Meng-hee on finally selecting a suitable heir.

After all, for these chaebols, this was a very important matter.

Additionally, Zhao Fusheng called Wu Sijie and Liang Jingyu, instructing them not to venture into South Korea's real estate industry.

Naturally, they had no objections.

Near the end, Zhao Fusheng suddenly remembered something and instructed Wu Sijie to look after Song Qian when he had time, to prevent her from being bullied after her debut.

Wu Sijie readily agreed. He knew very well that everything he had was given by Zhao Fusheng, and he had to do well what his boss asked.

When Zhao Fusheng made the call, Fan Baobao was right beside him, wearing a smile.

After hanging up, Zhao Fusheng laughed and said, "Don't you mind?"

"Mind what?"

Fan Baobao looked bewildered.

Zhao Fusheng reluctantly explained about Song Qian and finally said, "I'm asking someone to take care of another woman here."

"Isn't she Beibei's friend?"

Fan Baobao chuckled. "Besides, since it's one of our own in a place like Korea, it's only right to have our people protect her."

She shrugged and added, "Don't think I don't know—those Korean chaebols are very bad."

"Very bad?"

Zhao Fusheng was astonished. "You actually know that?"

He really hadn't expected Fan Baobao to be aware of the situation with Korean chaebols.

Fan Baobao nodded. "I'm not stupid. I figured it out from the materials you gave me, and from the occasional chats with Dong Chenxi and Zheng Yao."

Seeing Zhao Fusheng's blank expression, Fan Baobao smiled. "Actually, it's the same principle. We humans don't take ants seriously either. No matter how hard they work to carry food, in our eyes they're just bugs."

"By the same token, ordinary people are probably just ants in the eyes of those high and mighty big shots. No matter how hard they struggle to survive, who cares about an ant's feelings? Stepping on one while passing by is normal. When bored, you can poke it with a twig, right?"

Zhao Fusheng was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected Fan Baobao to have such a clear understanding of society.

"So I think the situation in China is actually not that bad."

Fan Baobao shrugged. "At least the big shots in China still care about face; they don't act so gracelessly. Look at places like South Korea..."

Zhao Fusheng fell silent, as if seeing Fan Baobao for the first time.

While soothing their son, Fan Baobao casually said, "The ones who make laws and govern the country are the big shots, the elite. Once these people hold high positions, aside from the law, only morality can restrain them. The more power and influence they have, the easier it is to ignore the law. After all, many times they don't need to worry about trouble falling on themselves; a phone call, or even a hint, can solve all problems..."

"Watch your words, watch your words."

Zhao Fusheng quickly said to Fan Baobao, "You haven't said this outside, have you?"

"Why would I say that?"

Fan Baobao shook her head. "I only talk about this with you. Outside, I can't be bothered."

She paused and smiled. "Besides, it's been ages since I went out, and reporters wouldn't ask me these questions."

Zhao Fusheng nodded. Although his wife's thinking wasn't wrong, the problem was that saying such things would cause trouble.

He didn't want to attract undue attention, nor did he have any intention of changing the system.

In business, though it's impossible to avoid entanglement with politics, if possible, it's best to stay away from it.

But to be honest, he really hadn't expected Fan Baobao to have grown to this extent.

Thinking about it, it made sense. People are different; what you can do, others may not. What you can't do, others do effortlessly.

What you care about, others may not; what you don't care about, others value highly.

Similarly, what you know, others may not; but what you don't know, others might know inside out.

Take Fan Baobao, for example. Zhao Fusheng never imagined she would have such insight.

But on second thought, she had been with him for so many years. Her status and position were no longer what they used to be—she was no longer the little star of the past. The people and things she dealt with were no longer lowbrow or beneath notice.

In short, the current Fan Baobao, even just sitting there, had more presence than some top-tier celebrities.

This was the confidence that came with status.

……

……

"An old fox is still an old fox after all."

After ending her vacation, Dong Chenxi returned to China and couldn't help sighing when she met Zhao Fusheng.

It was while she was abroad that she learned what had happened with Samsung and CJ. She really hadn't expected those two old foxes to strike so ruthlessly.

"It's mainly because those people at Hyundai Group were too greedy."

Zhao Fusheng drank a cup of tea and said calmly.

"Who wouldn't be tempted?"

Dong Chenxi shook her head. "In that situation, anyone would have ideas."

As she spoke, she curled her lip. "I heard that Lee Mi-jin and Lee Seo-hyun were sent abroad directly."

"I know."

Zhao Fusheng nodded.

In this incident, Lee Kun-hee's second daughter Lee Seo-hyun and Lee Meng-hee's eldest daughter Lee Mi-jin had been the most active, colluding with outsiders to get their hands on Samsung and CJ's shares, so naturally they received the heaviest punishment.

No matter what Koreans said about modernization and democracy, in fact, they were very traditional.

The mindset of favoring sons over daughters had been firmly preserved in the hearts of Korea's big chaebol families from beginning to end.

"Are you really not planning to go to Korea for a visit?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Dong Chenxi and asked.

Dong Chenxi shook her head. "No need. The matter has already come to an end. I think it's best for us to digest what we've gotten in hand now."

She was now even more cautious than Zhao Fusheng thought.

The bigger the ship, the harder it is to turn around.

Since that was the case, one had to act carefully.

That was Dong Chenxi's current thinking.

The development speed of Future Investment in the past few years had been too fast.

Even Dong Chenxi herself had only recently realized that if the companies in which Future Investment held shares went public, they would probably become one of the most successful investment firms of the twenty-first century.

Under such circumstances, how could she take risks?

Just follow the routine and quietly wait for success.

That was Dong Chenxi's current thinking.

Coincidentally, Zhao Fusheng had no interest in it either. Hearing Dong Chenxi's words, he immediately laughed. "That's what I think too."

To be honest, the waters in Korea were too deep. Future Investment could get involved, but Zhao Fusheng really didn't intend to wade in too deep.

After all, no one knew when something might go wrong there.

And Zhao Fusheng also knew that domestically, sentiments toward Japan, Korea, and even Europe and America had always been strong, just lacking a suitable opportunity to erupt.

If a situation really arose one day, that would be a big problem.

"That would be for the best."

Dong Chenxi laughed and said to Zhao Fusheng, "Actually, I think it's best for us to digest the shares of these companies we have now."

"I think so too."

Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily and suddenly felt that the people around him had really grown up. At the very least, the surprises they gave him were increasing.

"Then it's settled." Dong Chenxi looked at Zhao Fusheng.

"Good."

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "But I've seen the situation at Alibaba. Keep an eye on it. I always feel that Ma Xiaoyun will stir up trouble again."

"Him?"

Dong Chenxi's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Clearly, she didn't quite believe Zhao Fusheng's words.

In her view, Alibaba's development prospects were so good now. After listing in Hong Kong, its stock market value had been climbing. Under such circumstances, would Ma Xiaoyun be crazy enough to cause trouble?

Zhao Fusheng shook his head but said nothing more.

He couldn't exactly tell Dong Chenxi that Ma Xiaoyun had never been a person who stayed content.

Since some things hadn't happened yet, he couldn't point them out. At most, he could only hint at them.