Chapter 2239: Returning Home

Women are actually a very easy type of creature to deal with.

If you want to satisfy them, it's simple: just listen to everything they say.

At least, with Fan Baobao, Zhao Fusheng's approach worked.

“What do you plan to do next?”

In the evening, Fan Baobao lay in Zhao Fusheng's arms and asked him.

“Next?”

Zhao Fusheng smiled. “Actually, nothing much. I haven't figured it out yet.”

“Ah?”

Fan Baobao was taken aback. She really hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to not have a plan.

Zhao Fusheng nodded seriously. “Wealth doesn't last three generations, and neither does poverty. Many things are beyond my control right now, so my idea is to lay as solid a foundation as possible.”

Fan Baobao thought he was right.

She wasn't the kind of woman who was useless; she naturally understood that although Future Group was developing well now, no one could guarantee that they wouldn't encounter insurmountable problems in the future.

If that time came, they would probably have no choice but to go with the flow.

“By the way, do you think we should have Beibei study business management in the future?”

Fan Baobao suddenly remembered something and asked Zhao Fusheng.

“No need.”

Zhao Fusheng laughed and shook his head. “She's still young. Besides, for the company's affairs, we'll definitely hire professional managers. When our generation gets old, if the kids want to join the company, they can; if not, I still hope they live the life they want.”

In Zhao Fusheng's view, family-run businesses were undoubtedly a very inadvisable practice.

After all, no one could guarantee that their descendants would be just like them.

It was like the ancient dynasties. The founding emperors were all wise and mighty, hoping their dynasties would last forever. But in reality, as long as it's human, there will be differences in talent. If descendants were capable, they could barely maintain it. But if an unworthy descendant appeared, then in the end, the hard-earned foundation would vanish.

The so-called dynastic changes were roughly like this.

Zhao Fusheng knew this well.

That's why he told Fan Baobao not to束缚 the children's ideas.

Because in Zhao Fusheng's view, after the first generation of entrepreneurs—his generation—relinquished power, Future Group would become a modern enterprise managed by professional managers, not a family business run by his descendants.

He didn't intend to hide this from Fan Baobao, because there was no need.

Moreover, he didn't like lying.

Lies are like snowballs; as they roll, they only get bigger until they melt in the sun.

Zhao Fusheng was very clear about this.

…

…

After staying with Fan Baobao in Italy for half a month, Zhao Fusheng returned to China with his people.

As the chairman, he still had matters to attend to. Though romantic feelings were nice, they couldn't hold him back.

Jiang Wen and the others had already returned to China.

It turned out Zhao Fusheng's guess was correct.

Although *Let the Bullets Fly* sparked some discussion at the European film festival, winning awards was out of the question.

But regardless, the copyright was sold for a few hundred thousand US dollars, which was better than nothing.

To be honest, in Zhao Fusheng's view, this film festival felt no different from the Spring Festival Gala.

In essence, it was just for the lively atmosphere. A bunch of stars and directors gathered together, screening their works in turn, then the media reported, everyone commented, fooling the public.

Things like 'this film has deep content, that film has no substance' and so on.

In the end, it was like dividing a cake: you get a trophy, I get an award.

Divide and finish!

Yeah, just like Old Wang next door selling clothes at a clearance sale.

Moreover, overseas distribution was a deep game.

Overseas distribution usually came in two forms: buyout and revenue sharing.

The big global distributors wouldn't offer high prices for buyouts.

They'd usually give a minimum guarantee, fluctuating based on the director's status. For example, national treasure Zhang or sunglasses Wong might get five hundred thousand to a million US dollars, while a rookie director might only get twenty thousand.

Then, on that basis, the distributor deducts all promotional and distribution costs, and finally sees how much is recovered.

If there's a surplus, they share the revenue; if not, you only get the minimum guarantee.

Nowadays, many domestic companies claim a film sold for millions of US dollars, which is pure bragging.

Jiang Wen was a well-known director, so selling for nearly a million US dollars was considered a success.

Of course, that million wasn't global; it was for a specific country.

Copyright division in Europe and America was usually divided by country or region.

Future Films, General Manager's Office.

“I told you, we definitely wouldn't win an award.”

Zhao Fusheng sat in Ye Jing's office, wearing a big smile.

“You jerk, you're such a jinx.”

Jiang Wen looked at him helplessly and said with contempt, “Aren't you the company boss? Everyone else hopes their company's films win awards, but you hope they don't…”

He wasn't angry, just teasing Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily and looked at Ye Jing. “Tell me, isn't he stubborn?”

Ye Jing agreed wholeheartedly. “Stubborn? Old Jiang is always stubborn in heart but not in mouth.”

“Saying one thing but meaning another?”

Zhao Fusheng smiled.

“Exactly. Wang Yangming practiced the unity of knowledge and action, but Old Jiang here says one thing and means another.” Ye Jing quickly nodded.

Jiang Wen simply pretended not to hear their teasing. Those two were just spouting nonsense; expecting them to praise him was like expecting a pig to climb a tree.

“Seriously, do you have any ideas for your next film?”

At that moment, Ye Jing suddenly asked Jiang Wen.

“Next film?”

Jiang Wen was startled, then smiled bitterly. “Honestly, I haven't figured it out yet.”

Little did he know, his words made Zhao Fusheng breathe a sigh of relief.

There was no helping it; Zhao Fusheng knew all too well how destructive Jiang Wen could be.

If there were no other way, Zhao Fusheng really didn't want Jiang Wen to continue shooting his “Republic Trilogy,” because, to be honest, it was too expensive!

Future Films was now a listed company. If Jiang Wen were allowed to do as he pleased and something went wrong, it would be a real problem.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng clearly remembered that the film company that once supported Wu Jing in shooting *Wolf Warrior* and *The Wandering Earth* ended up having to sell its shares to other enterprises because it invested in a bunch of unprofitable films later on.

He didn't want something like that to happen to Future Films.

Even if he wasn't short of money, Zhao Fusheng couldn't afford to lose face like that!