Chapter 2298: Tan Kaixuan's Path

Zhao Dad and Zhao Fusheng chatted for a while, mainly about the recent economic situation in China and the development of the company. Only then did Zhao Dad realize that his son had already achieved such great success.

"What are your plans next?"

Zhao Dad looked at Zhao Fusheng and asked.

To be honest, given his son's current situation, he knew very well that he could no longer offer him any advice.

There was no helping it, because Zhao Fusheng's current development had exceeded the scope of Zhao Dad's understanding.

For example, you can't ask a seventh-rank official to teach an emperor how to govern a country.

Because the greatest skill of a seventh-rank official is governing a county, while the emperor must consider the rise and fall of the entire nation.

From this perspective, Zhao Fusheng could be said to have surpassed his teacher.

"I haven't figured it out yet."

Zhao Fusheng smiled and explained to his father: "You know, Future Group is doing well now. Under these circumstances, if I choose to integrate resources, barring any surprises, many people should be willing to cooperate with me."

"Then what can you gain?"

Zhao Dad frowned and asked Zhao Fusheng.

This question was the most critical.

No matter how it was done, the ultimate goal must be to prioritize one's own interests.

In other words, if Zhao Fusheng's resource integration didn't bring him benefits, it would be a failure.

But conversely, if it made Future Group or his personal wealth grow faster, it would be a success.

That's why Zhao Dad had this question.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Me? I should gain more collaborators, more information channels, and the influence of Future Group will become even greater."

He shrugged: "Now, among the companies under me, except for Future Investment and Hanxing Investment, the others all have opportunities to go public.

Especially the real estate company and Future Advertising, and even Future Technology—once it goes public, I think it could become the top tech stock in China." "Too high-profile!"

Unexpectedly, before he could finish, Zhao Dad shook his head and spoke.

"What's wrong?"

Zhao Fusheng was somewhat surprised, amazed that his father would think that way.

Zhao Dad glanced at his son and said seriously: "Remember, in China, especially in the stock and finance industry, you can't be number one."

"Huh?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned. He knew his father's level best.

Back in the day, Zhao Dad had lost a lot of money in stocks, and now he was starting to lecture him. Could it be that over the past few years, Dad had improved?

Seeing his son's expression, Zhao Dad glared at Zhao Fusheng: "You brat, I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. This is life experience, understand?"

"Heh..."

Zhao Fusheng laughed but nodded: "I understand, Dad, don't worry."

He could understand his father's meaning.

The saying 'the tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind' does hold some truth in China's stock market.

For instance, Future Technology is developing so well now that once it goes public, all kinds of shady characters will inevitably emerge wanting a piece of the pie.

Then he would face a difficult choice.

After all, doing business in China inevitably involves dealing with officials, and Zhao Fusheng knew all too well the greedy faces and behaviors of certain people.

That's precisely why Zhao Fusheng had brought in so much investment.

He had no intention of becoming a target of public criticism.

Money, for him now, was already more than enough.

Moreover, Zhao Fusheng's family was now here; he had bought an island, a boat, and a plane. In his view, what he needed to do next was to enjoy life while making some money on the side.

Not to make money first and then consider enjoying life.

He would not put the cart before the horse.

On this point, Zhao Fusheng was clear.

...

...

After staying in Italy for a week, Zhao Fusheng flew to Seattle, USA.

In 2010, Seattle had not yet encountered the Chinese capital.

As soon as Zhao Fusheng got off the plane, he found it was raining, and according to the people around him, it had been raining for a week.

"In a place like this, you actually bought a house? Are you crazy?"

Zhao Fusheng complained helplessly to Tan Kaixuan, who had come to pick him up.

"What if I said I like Boeing and Microsoft? Would you believe me?"

Tan Kaixuan said with a smile.

Zhao Fusheng curled his lip and gave him a look that said 'figure it out yourself.'

"Be grateful; it's like this here. It rains all year round."

Tan Kaixuan explained.

"Really?"

Zhao Fusheng raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

"A while ago, I went out and met a kid. I asked him: 'Little friend, doesn't the rain ever stop here?'" Tan Kaixuan casually laughed: "Guess what the kid answered?"

"What did he say?"

Zhao Fusheng asked curiously.

"He told me: 'How would I know? I'm only six!'"

Tan Kaixuan laughed heartily.

Zhao Fusheng was speechless.

Tan Kaixuan was never good at telling jokes; no matter the joke, once it came out of his mouth, it lost its effect, just like now.

The group arrived at Tan Kaixuan's villa in Seattle.

"What's going on? You want to start a research firm?"

Zhao Fusheng asked Tan Kaixuan, puzzled.

He had come this time because Tan Kaixuan had called him, saying he wanted to set up a research and consulting company.

"Here are the materials. Take a look."

Tan Kaixuan didn't answer Zhao Fusheng immediately but tossed him a stack of documents.

Zhao Fusheng, somewhat baffled, took them and glanced at them, finding they were materials on a research company called Muddy Waters Research.

"Muddy Waters?"

Zhao Fusheng raised an eyebrow and asked Tan Kaixuan.

"Yes."

Tan Kaixuan nodded: "The founder of this company is Carson Block. After graduating from law school in 2005, he went to China. Over the past few years, Carson Block has been prospecting in China. He speaks some Mandarin and has practiced law for a year, doing research for hedge funds. The thirty-four-year-old Carson Block founded Muddy Waters Research, mainly to expose false financial reports and fraudulent behavior of small Chinese companies listed in the US."

"What?"

Zhao Fusheng was startled: "Investigating Chinese concept stocks?"

"Yes."

Tan Kaixuan said helplessly: "I suspect that behind this company, there are hedge funds operating. They specifically target Chinese companies with dirty hands and profit by shorting them."

"So?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at him, puzzled: "What does that have to do with the company you want to start?"

"If he can do it, so can I."

Tan Kaixuan shrugged.

Hearing this, Zhao Fusheng was stunned.

He looked at Tan Kaixuan in confusion, truly not understanding if this guy intended to go after those Chinese concept stocks.

"Are you joking? Do you know how many interests are involved? If you do this, I doubt you'll be able to do business in China anymore."

Zhao Fusheng said to Tan Kaixuan.

This was his honest opinion.

When a company's stock goes public, it inevitably goes through many processes.

Moreover, for those listed on NASDAQ, the forces involved are too numerous.

To put it bluntly, it's a collection of interests.

Under such circumstances, if someone shorted them, the losses would be enormous.

That's why Zhao Fusheng said that.

"Heh, I don't have much business in China now anyway."

Tan Kaixuan shook his head and said to Zhao Fusheng: "Besides, isn't it more appropriate for me to do it than for these Americans? And I can short not only Chinese concept stocks but also US stocks."

Holy crap!

Zhao Fusheng was instantly unsettled.

He suddenly realized that if Tan Kaixuan's plan succeeded, his influence would be considerable.

But he had to admit that the plan was highly risky.

"You need to know, if you start this company, there will definitely be great risks."

Zhao Fusheng said to Tan Kaixuan.

"Heh, it's simple."

Tan Kaixuan said indifferently: "I won't disclose the office address or phone number; I can run the company remotely."

"..."

Zhao Fusheng was silent.

He had to admit, if it were done exactly as Tan Kaixuan said, there might be a slight possibility of putting it into practice.

"So, do you want to join in?"

Tan Kaixuan asked with a smile.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "I'll pass. I've been considering a transformation recently."

Transformation?

Tan Kaixuan was slightly surprised, then listened as Zhao Fusheng explained.

Then he was dumbfounded.

Because no matter what, Tan Kaixuan never expected Zhao Fusheng to have such an idea.

He wasn't stupid; this clearly meant that the guy wanted to start a semi-retired life.

Otherwise, why would he make such a change?

"Are you joking?"

After Zhao Fusheng finished, Tan Kaixuan still couldn't believe it.

"Of course I'm not joking."

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "Don't worry about me. Let me tell you, if this project of yours isn't handled well, it could cause trouble."

Tan Kaixuan nodded, indicating he understood.

Since Zhao Fusheng wasn't interested, he naturally wouldn't force it. He knew that Zhao Fusheng was always cautious and rarely made risky decisions.

"Alright, then stay here and play for a few days."

Tan Kaixuan said to Zhao Fusheng with a smile.

They hadn't seen each other for a long time, so he planned to have Zhao Fusheng stay and hang out.

...

...

Zhao Fusheng naturally had no objections; he really hadn't spent time with Tan Kaixuan in a while.

Their identities were no longer what they used to be, so naturally, they couldn't be as free as they were back in college.

Wherever they went, a group of bodyguards and assistants followed, and even if they didn't like it, there was no way around it.

This was the inconvenience brought about by the change in status.

Achieving fame and success always comes at a price.

Of course, the two didn't stay in Seattle; it kept raining there, and honestly, it wasn't really suitable for staying.

Three days later, they and their entourage appeared on a beach in Miami.

"This is much better."

Standing on the beach, Zhao Fusheng looked into the distance, smiled, and said to Tan Kaixuan beside him: "Sun, sand, bikinis—how is that not better than your villa in Seattle?"

"You..."

Tan Kaixuan looked at Zhao Fusheng speechlessly: "Since when did you start liking this kind of thing?"

In his impression, Zhao Fusheng had never been fond of this kind of indulgent lifestyle.

The Zhao Fusheng he knew had always cared less about enjoyment and more about business.

Even when he bought villas, estates, islands, and planes, Tan Kaixuan felt that Zhao Fusheng hadn't bought them for himself but for his family.

He was almost one hundred percent sure of that.

Because that was the kind of person Zhao Fusheng was.

And now, this guy was actually criticizing him.

This was utterly incomprehensible to Tan Kaixuan.

Seeing Tan Kaixuan's expression, Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily: "What, you're allowed to enjoy life, but I'm not allowed to retire early?" Tan Kaixuan was speechless.

This guy really was planning to retire!

"Are you really planning to retire?"

Tan Kaixuan walked over to a bench and sat down, saying to Zhao Fusheng: "You're not even forty yet. If you retire now, won't you find the next few decades boring?"

"Why would it be boring?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled, looking at the distant sea, and said meaningfully: "What I want to obtain has never been much. And now, I've already gotten it all. I'm content."

Tan Kaixuan was stunned. Upon reflection, Zhao Fusheng's words made a lot of sense.

Or rather, Zhao Fusheng wasn't wrong at all.

While others were still striving for the future, Zhao Fusheng no longer needed to strive.

The wealth he possessed had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the world's population.

In fact, if Zhao Fusheng wanted, he could even start being a spendthrift from now on.

Even so, Zhao Fusheng's money probably wouldn't run out.

They say comparing people can drive you crazy, and this truly applied to Zhao Fusheng.

This life, as if blessed by a cheat code, was indeed admirable.

"You, this guy."

With a sigh, Tan Kaixuan stopped dwelling on the topic.

He had to admit that Zhao Fusheng's choice had its reasoning.

"By the way, what do you think about me buying a yacht and leaving it here?"

Tan Kaixuan casually asked Zhao Fusheng.

"If you come often, buying one is fine."

Zhao Fusheng said: "I feel like you're planning to make this your regular base."

By 'here,' he naturally meant not just Miami, but the United States.

After his setback in Italy, Tan Kaixuan had decisively turned to the financial markets. Taking advantage of the global financial crisis, it seemed he was going to carve out his own battlefield on Wall Street.

"Yeah."

Tan Kaixuan was silent for a moment, then finally didn't hide it from Zhao Fusheng. He nodded and said: "I plan to live here permanently. After all, I've already got my green card, haven't I?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded and said nothing more.

Everyone has different choices. Perhaps this was the right choice for Tan Kaixuan.