Chapter 0024: In the End, Resentment Lingers

Money can save lives, but ideals cannot. Zhao Fusheng once didn't understand this, but when he did, he laughed until he cried.

Some say that in a person's temperament lie the people they've loved and the books they've read.

Zhao Fusheng actually agreed with this, but he felt that a person's actions also concealed their life experiences and education. A person born into poverty and hardship would find it hard to grow up with elegance and composure, neither humble nor arrogant. A person who has suffered torment and hardship would find it hard not to bow for five bushels of rice and treat money like dirt. People often use the saying, 'When heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a man, it first frustrates his spirit, exhausts his muscles and bones, starves his body, and leaves him destitute...' to encourage someone who has endured hardships that it's all worth it.

In truth, hardship is just hardship; hardship does not bring success.

Hardship is not worth pursuing; tempering the will is necessary because hardship cannot be avoided.

No one is born willing to live in adversity. If given the chance to enjoy life, who would forsake fine clothes and rich food for plain tea and simple meals?

Everything, everything, is merely forced by life.

Fan Baobao's words made Zhao Fusheng even more certain of one thing: he needed to speed up his money-making efforts. Otherwise, if that woman really became successful, she would likely make things worse.

After all, Fan Baobao had a magical ability: turning a joyous event into a displeasing disaster.

Stock trading?

No capital. The stock market seemed to be surging now, but the problem was that Zhao Fusheng had no money. He couldn't just find some boss and tell him to buy stocks now, sell in November, buy back in December, and then wait a year to double or triple the investment. If he did that, he'd probably be thrown out as a lunatic.

Start a company?

No projects. Even if there were projects, now wasn't the right time. The major internet giants were just starting up or preparing to start. Zhao Fusheng didn't want to be the former wave washed onto the beach by the latter. Moreover, he knew well that without connections or background, his company would likely be swallowed up before it could grow strong, leaving not even a scrap.

Thinking it over and over, until he got off the bus, Zhao Fusheng still hadn't figured out how to make money.

"Could it be, like in some novels, that I have to sell songs or books?" he muttered to himself, feeling that doing so would be utterly lacking in style.

Of course, the bigger problem was that he wasn't a god. For writing songs, he remembered the lyrics but couldn't compose music. For writing novels, he remembered the general plot but had no idea about the specific descriptions.

Fortunately, he still had time.

Back in the dorm, that guy Tan Kaixuan was still out, apparently having accompanied Hu Xia for breakfast early in the morning. Only the Fat and Thin Ascetics were frantically washing up.

"Old Zhao, the counselor was looking for you over the weekend," Wen Yu said when he saw Zhao Fusheng.

"Counselor? Teacher Zheng?" Zhao Fusheng raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.

If he remembered correctly, Zheng Yao should have taken leave. According to his memory, she was supposed to resign directly.

What was going on?

"Don't know. She just said to go to her office on Monday," Wang Zhen explained while pulling on his shirt.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "I see."

Whatever decision Zheng Yao made, in Zhao Fusheng's eyes, it had little to do with him. He would just honestly be himself.

…

…

There was only one class in the morning. After all, they were sophomores, seasoned veterans on campus, well-versed in certain unspoken rules.

In the entire dorm, except for Zhao Fusheng, who had recently taken a sudden interest in studying, even Tan Kaixuan didn't accompany Hu Xia but quietly sat with Wang Zhen and Wen Yu at the back of the classroom.

"Where's Old Zhao?"

Tan Kaixuan slipped in through the back door and whispered to Wang Zhen.

Wang Zhen shrugged and gestured for him to look forward.

Following Wang Zhen's gaze, Tan Kaixuan saw Zhao Fusheng sitting seriously in the first row, looking like he was ready to listen attentively.

"This guy, what's gotten into him lately?" Tan Kaixuan rubbed his chin and muttered.

"Who knows," Wang Zhen shook his head, equally puzzled.

"Could he have been scolded by the counselor?" Wen Yu leaned in.

"Impossible. The counselor doesn't have that kind of power." Tan Kaixuan blinked, looking like a great detective. "In my opinion, there must be something behind this."

"Come off it. He's strange, but I think you're even stranger." Wang Zhen glanced at Tan Kaixuan. "Tell me, when are you treating us to a meal?"

"Well, the revolution hasn't succeeded yet; comrades still need to work hard." Tan Kaixuan's expression turned grim as he sighed helplessly.

He really liked Hu Xia. Lately, he had been accompanying her all the time: eating together in the cafeteria, studying together in the library, and even running to fetch hot water for her in the morning. In Wang Zhen's words, this guy was like a eunuch attending to a postpartum confinement.

"What's up? Didn't Hu Xia agree to go on a date with you?" Wen Yu asked, puzzled. Because of his personality, he usually kept his distance from girls and spent most of his time on the basketball court. He had thought that since Hu Xia agreed to date Tan Kaixuan, things would naturally fall into place. He didn't expect it wasn't as he imagined.

"You wouldn't understand. This is what they call push and pull," Wang Zhen explained with the air of an experienced person.

"Push and pull, my foot. She's just shy." Tan Kaixuan said helplessly. "I think I need Old Zhao to write me a poem."

In response, Wang Zhen and Wen Yu simultaneously rolled their eyes.

But they could understand Tan Kaixuan. These days, to chase a girl, you either send flowers, sing songs, or, like Tan Kaixuan, occasionally compose a touching love poem to send over, guaranteed to make the girl come running with teary eyes.

Then again, poems weren't so easy to write. Writing a poem was easy, but writing a good poem was not that simple. So everyone thought Tan Kaixuan was just daydreaming.

The class period passed quickly. During the break, as Zhao Fusheng was organizing his notes to leave, he saw Tan Kaixuan approach with a fawning smile.

"Something up?" Having known him for so many years in both lives, Zhao Fusheng knew Tan Kaixuan's habits too well. Whenever he needed a favor, he would put on that expression.

As it turned out, he was right.

Tan Kaixuan rubbed his hands together, then cautiously lowered his voice and said, in a tone only the two of them could hear, "Old Zhao, does your neighbor have any more masterpieces?"

Huh?

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then remembered that he had told Mu Qingqing that the poem was written by a neighbor from his childhood.

Frowning, Zhao Fusheng shook his head. "No."

He really didn't want to write this stuff. On one hand, it wasn't his own work; if someone had already written it, it would be awkward. More importantly, Zhao Fusheng felt it was pointless.

Having said that, he picked up his textbooks and prepared to leave the classroom. He still had to go see Zheng Yao later.

"Hey, hey, hey, Old Zhao, Old Zhao, brother, bro, bro, you're my bro, okay? Help me out, help me out. From now on, whatever happens, through fire and water, just say the word, deal?" Tan Kaixuan quickly blocked Zhao Fusheng's way, hands clasped together. "This is about my lifelong happiness, I'm begging you!"

In fact, after he said 'through fire and water,' Zhao Fusheng stopped in his tracks.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng had fared poorly. After graduating from university, he chose to start his own business but failed countless times. Once, in Shandong Province, he was set up, lost all his money, and owed someone over a million in debt.

It was Tan Kaixuan who flew overnight to Shandong, slammed a check on the other party's face, and brought him out.

Later, Zhao Fusheng learned that because of his matter, Tan Kaixuan had turned down a negotiation worth millions.

He truly lived up to the words he left in Zhao Fusheng's yearbook upon graduation.

"No matter where you are, if something comes up, give me a call. Through fire and water, I'll be with you."

Zhao Fusheng had always been an introverted person. He firmly believed that all encounters in the world, whether people or events, were the most appropriate arrangements by heaven.

Although waiting sometimes made time seem long, and sometimes made it pass very quickly.

But in the end, he had the chance to fulfill a promise.

With that thought, Zhao Fusheng sighed and looked at Tan Kaixuan. "Do you really like Hu Xia?"

"Mm," Tan Kaixuan nodded emphatically.

"Alright, I'll write it for you." Without another word, Zhao Fusheng turned around, leaned over the desk, took out paper and pen, and wrote a poem.