Chapter 0592: Help Hotline

Zhao Fusheng wasn't really concerned about whether Wang Qiang could become a comedy superstar; what worried him was whether the fluttering of his own tiny butterfly wings would change too many things in this world.

After asking about recent events in Beijing with Fan Baobao and finding nothing different from what he remembered, he chatted for a while and then hung up.

Lying on the bed in his dormitory, Zhao Fusheng took out an economics book he had borrowed from the library, planning to read through it all night.

He had missed too many opportunities to learn in his previous life. Now he understood clearly that no matter how brilliant one's intelligence or mind, if one didn't devote a hundred percent of their effort to learning, they would ultimately end up as fish on someone else's chopping block.

To live, one must have effort; otherwise, the word 'success' would never be associated with that person.

Tan Kaixuan didn't come back that night; he was said to have gone out with someone, of course, only after he and Qian Dongliu had smoothed things over with the big shots at the Industry and Commerce Bureau.

Work was work, and life was life. Both Zhao Fusheng and Tan Kaixuan understood this clearly. So Zhao Fusheng never interfered in Tan Kaixuan's private life, even though they were best friends.

Since Tan Kaixuan felt that this lifestyle suited him, Zhao Fusheng wouldn't interfere.

As long as he didn't break the law, Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to care about what Tan Kaixuan did.

After all, ten years later, society would see things even more absurd than this. Driven by money and certain desires, men and women would repeatedly shatter everyone's worldview.

Even those lofty celebrities would tear off their hypocritical masks and reveal their true faces.

…

…

Early the next morning, as soon as Zhao Fusheng opened his eyes, he received a call from Qian Dongliu.

"I've talked to the Industry and Commerce Bureau. We'll officially register the company today."

Qian Dongliu didn't beat around the bush, knowing that Zhao Fusheng preferred directness.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Good, let's get started."

Everything was ready except for the crucial element. Having prepared for so long, Zhao Fusheng didn't want to wait any longer.

He trusted those he employed and didn't employ those he doubted; he was never the type to drag things out.

"By the way, hiring is easy, and I can negotiate the lease for the space. But if we assemble the computers at the computer mall in Ninghai, the cost seems too high," Qian Dongliu said after a moment of thought.

He was always the type to fulfill a trust once entrusted. After learning that he would manage the chain of internet cafes, Qian Dongliu had secretly looked into matters related to computers.

He might not understand the internet, but he knew that to go online, you needed a computer, and the configuration and price of the computers determined the cost of their internet cafe.

In other words, a machine costing three thousand yuan would have a different internet speed than one costing five thousand. But the problem was that the extra cost was also substantial.

"How much more?" Zhao Fusheng hadn't thought that far ahead and asked.

"I've checked. For the same price, the cost here in Ninghai is nearly four thousand yuan higher than the factory price," Qian Dongliu said with a bitter smile.

At that time, computers were still a luxury item. Ordinary families couldn't afford personal computers costing several thousand yuan, which was why internet cafes were so popular.

In later years, as computer prices dropped and every household had one, fewer people went to internet cafes.

"Four thousand?"

Zhao Fusheng raised an eyebrow. Even he thought the price was too high.

Four thousand yuan in the year 2000 was equivalent to nearly half a year's income for a civil servant. For example, in the provincial capital Binzhou, a civil servant's annual income was ten thousand yuan, so four thousand yuan was several months' salary.

Zhao Fusheng knew this because of a female singer who became famous online ten years later. Her mother was then the director of the Petition Office of Binzhou City Government. And that very year, the singer went abroad to study in Canada.

In the internet age, nothing was secret. Sixteen years later, when the singer's mother was sentenced for corruption, the case files revealed that in the year 2000, when the singer went abroad, the director's annual income was ten thousand yuan, while her daughter's study abroad expenses were two hundred thousand.

Hmph.

Zhao Fusheng didn't want to comment. There was a reason why a certain great leader was beloved by the people; at the very least, he never showed mercy when dealing with corrupt officials.

But if the price difference between the computer mall and the factory price was four thousand yuan, that was too high. Zhao Fusheng didn't want his money wasted on costs.

With that in mind, he said to Qian Dongliu, "Put this matter on hold for now. I'll find a way."

Qian Dongliu was taken aback: "You have a way?"

Zhao Fusheng chuckled and nodded: "Don't worry, I'll have it sorted within three days."

After hanging up, he dialed Ma's number. Who else would he turn to for this? After all, Ma was a graduate of Shenzhen University, and in Zhao Fusheng's view, Ma came from a technical background and definitely knew people in this field.

"Mr. Ma, how have you been lately?"

Once the call connected, Zhao Fusheng greeted Ma politely.

But the other side immediately became wary: "What do you want?"

Zhao Fusheng was speechless. It seemed that his previous dealings had left Ma, a tech guy, with a very cunning impression of him. Now, whenever Ma heard his voice, he suspected some scheme.

That wasn't a good thing.

Zhao Fusheng laughed self-deprecatingly: "Mr. Ma, you don't think every time I call you, I'm plotting against you, do you?"

Ma was startled, then shook his head helplessly. Reflecting on his reaction, he realized he had been overly tense.

From a certain perspective, he understood that Zhao Fusheng, like himself, was optimistic about the future of the internet and confident in Tencent's prospects; otherwise, he wouldn't have wanted to acquire shares in the company.

But the problem was that in the eyes of Ma, who valued control and came from a technical background, Zhao Fusheng always seemed like a speculator.

In the past few days, Ma's eyelid had been twitching, and then Zhao Fusheng called. It seemed that misfortunes never came singly.

"Fusheng, I'm sorry. I overreacted," Ma said politely, regardless of what he thought.

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly, not taking it to heart, and got straight to the point: "Um, Mr. Ma, do you have any friends in computer sales?"

Huh?

Ma was taken aback, a look of surprise appearing on his face.