Chapter 0059: Stingy Fan

Zhao Fusheng wasn't a hedonist, because he knew he didn't have the capital for pleasure-seeking. After all, not everyone had a father who was China's richest man, allowing them to unabashedly say, 'I don't care if my friends have money, because they definitely don't have as much as I do.'

So when Zheng Yao suggested a gathering, Zhao Fusheng directly gave a negative answer.

"You guys go ahead, I still have to study."

Zhao Fusheng said to Zheng Yao, "Also, give me the spare key to your office. I plan to learn computers recently."

"Learn computers?"

Zheng Yao was a bit surprised. She knew that Zhao Fusheng often went to her office to tinker with the computer, but she never understood why someone studying advertising design would be so interested in computers.

"That's right, I plan to use the computer to create the advertising proposals I have in mind." Zhao Fusheng blinked, giving an answer convincing enough.

"Alright, use it as you like." Sure enough, as long as it was related to advertising proposals, Zheng Yao handed over her spare key without a second thought.

"By the way, are you really not coming to the gathering tonight?" Zheng Yao asked Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "Not going. Remember to transfer my share of the proposal fee into my card later."

Rolling her eyes, Zheng Yao watched Zhao Fusheng's retreating back and muttered, "That bastard, such a money-grubber!"

Qin Wentao didn't dare to say a word. He wasn't stupid. Although Zhao Fusheng and Zheng Yao interacted like advisor and student on campus, off campus they were more like close friends. They bickered all the time, but Zhao Fusheng never asked Zheng Yao how much he should get for his proposal, and Zheng Yao never hesitated to lend her office to Zhao Fusheng to learn computers.

Trust, sometimes, is beyond words.

With the key to Zheng Yao's office, Zhao Fusheng leisurely entered the office building, opened the door, brewed a pot of tea, then turned on the computer, waiting for the Windows 98 startup screen to appear.

Originally, he had planned to become a network administrator so he could use the internet for free and learn to make web pages, but after learning that the faculty computers had internet access, Zhao Fusheng changed his mind.

It's a fool not to take advantage of a good deal. Since Zheng Yao's computer was unused during the summer break, Zhao Fusheng would make himself at home.

As for any complaints about him occupying someone else's nest, he simply ignored them. After all, he had helped her set up the studio and hadn't even charged General Manager Zheng a consulting fee.

"At the current pace, another week should do it." Flipping through the book in his hand, Zhao Fusheng let out a long breath.

Normally, for someone with little computer background, learning to use the internet and then to make web pages would take about three to four months. Zhao Fusheng already had some foundation and understood many computer operations, so learning programming was twice the result with half the effort. In just about a month, he could already make web pages independently.

Of course, finishing the web page wasn't the end of the task. Domain names, hosting, filing, resolution, uploading—every step required Zhao Fusheng's personal attention.

But he didn't find it hard at all. The satisfaction of getting closer to his goal made him feel very fulfilled.

"Next, it's about how to promote it." Frowning slightly, Zhao Fusheng muttered to himself.

Building a website was easy; making it the go-to site for many people required a certain strategy.

In 1999 China, Chinese websites were not only lacking in content and limited in number, but also remembering the URLs composed of English letters was no easy task.

Zhao Fusheng knew very well how useful a navigation page was for novice internet users.

After all, being able to quickly find the websites they wanted to visit without having to memorize those URLs was undoubtedly a delightful thing.

"Hmm, internet cafes..." Zhao Fusheng suddenly thought of a very interesting promotion method.

Maybe he could go to the internet cafes near the school, give the owners a little money, and have them set the browser homepage to his web page.

Thinking of this, Zhao Fusheng smiled. He began to collect addresses of various websites on the internet, categorizing them by purpose.

Over the next few days, Zhao Fusheng seemed possessed. He would enter Zheng Yao's office after breakfast and start collecting URLs, not leaving until nightfall.

After several days like this, he had visibly lost weight and looked especially haggard and tired.

Fortunately, just then, Zhao's mother called. She told Zhao Fusheng that Li Yuan was about to undergo surgery.

Taking a taxi to the hospital, Zhao Fusheng arrived at the ward to find everyone there: Fan Baobao and Fan Beibei, his own parents, and Li Yuan lying on the hospital bed.

"Sorry, Auntie, I'm late." Zhao Fusheng said with slight apology.

He had been really busy these past few days. Collecting URLs seemed simple but was actually tedious; after all, doing the same thing repeatedly was also hard work.

Seeing Zhao Fusheng's heavy dark circles, Li Yuan felt a pang of sympathy: "This child, he's really suffering."

The family still thought he was working as a network administrator, working day and night, so naturally he would be exhausted.

Seeing that Li Yuan was in good spirits, Zhao Fusheng chatted with her for a while until she needed an injection, and then his parents shooed him out.

Of course, also shooed out were Fan Baobao and Fan Beibei, the two sisters.

"Brother, why does Mommy need an injection?"

Miss Fan the Second clearly didn't understand why her mother had to lie in bed and get injections.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "To get better. Mommy is sick, and after the injection she'll get well, and then she can take our Beibei to kindergarten."

"Great, great! Beibei wants to go to kindergarten." The little girl clapped happily, then reached out to Zhao Fusheng for a hug: "Brother, hug."

Zhao Fusheng smiled and picked up Fan Beibei, then asked Fan Baobao, "How have you been lately?"

Since the commercial shoot ended and summer vacation began, Fan Baobao had returned home. The Zhao family had a two-bedroom apartment: one room for Zhao's parents, and Zhao Fusheng's room was vacated for the Fan mother and daughters, which worked out perfectly.

"Not bad. I found a temporary promotion job, thirty yuan a day plus meals." Fan Baobao's expression wasn't good. Her mother was about to undergo surgery. Although they said the risk was low, it was still an operation on her body. As a daughter, how could she not worry?

Zhao Fusheng understood her, but he couldn't find words of comfort. After all, under the circumstances, for Fan Baobao to be able to earn money through temporary work was a good thing.

"By the way, are you really working as a network administrator?" Fan Baobao asked quietly.

Beibei was still young and wouldn't repeat what she heard, so she asked directly.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Mm, sort of."

It wasn't a lie. Once the website was successfully built, Zhao Fusheng would indeed have to deal with internet cafes.

Fan Baobao was skeptical. She felt that ever since her family's troubles began, Zhao Fusheng seemed to have more and more secrets, and she simply couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

"Don't overwork yourself. Take care of your health." Fan Baobao hesitated, then said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, then smiled: "You earned over a thousand from the commercial shoot. How about treating me to something to eat?"

"Sure, General Manager Zheng gave me a three-hundred-yuan bonus," Fan Baobao thought for a moment and said, "I'll treat you to a popsicle."

"Thanks..."

Wait—Zhao Fusheng had just said 'thanks' when his eyes widened as he stared at Fan Baobao: "You earned fifteen hundred for the commercial shoot, plus a three-hundred bonus, and you're treating me to a popsicle that costs ten cents?"

"Zhao Fusheng, you've changed! You never used to criticize me." Fan Baobao said calmly.

Zhao Fusheng's face darkened. What did this have to do with criticism? "Fan Baobao, are you being unreasonable? It's clearly you being stingy, how is that me criticizing you?"

"Take it or leave it." Fan Baobao stuck out her chin.

"Fine, I'll have ten!" Zhao Fusheng gritted his teeth, pointed at the small grocery store not far away, and said to Fan Baobao, "Go, buy me some popsicles."

Fan Baobao looked as if she couldn't be bothered with him and walked toward the grocery store.

Watching her sister walk away, Fan Beibei, in Zhao Fusheng's arms, smacked a kiss on his cheek and then said in a milky voice, "Brother, sister isn't stingy."

"Huh?" Zhao Fusheng was puzzled, then heard Fan Beibei say, "Sister bought toys for Beibei, cigarettes for Uncle, cosmetics for Auntie, and gave the rest of the money to Mommy. She didn't buy the skirt she's liked for a long time."

Zhao Fusheng was stunned. Looking at Fan Baobao in the distance, he suddenly couldn't say a word.