Chapter 0813: Walking in the White Night (Part 1)

Most ordinary middle-aged people feel that being middle-aged is like a Journey to the West: the pressure of Monkey King, the figure of Pigsy, the hairstyle of Sandy, the nagging of Tang Monk, and getting closer and closer to the Western Paradise.

Zhao Fusheng was no exception. In his previous life, the things he hated most were going home and going to work, because both were equally exhausting for him.

At the root of it all, it was still because of poverty.

The saying 'poverty makes a hundred sorrows for a couple' contains a bitterness that many people can deeply understand.

So Zhao Fusheng didn't mind accumulating more wealth. At the very least, ensuring that he and his family could enjoy a comfortable material life was never a bad thing.

"From now on, you'll be more responsible for matters here."

Sitting in the car on the way back, Zhao Fusheng said to Zhang Qian.

His identity indeed made it inappropriate for him to be too involved in this matter. As an assistant, Zhang Qian should naturally take on more responsibility.

"I understand." Zhang Qian nodded.

In his mind, since Zhao Fusheng had said so, he would just do it.

Although the matter of the knockoff carried risks and exploited legal loopholes, Zhang Qian was not a rigid person. To be fair, he felt he had already given enough to this country. When the welfare home was on the verge of collapse, the country he had served and fought for did not extend a helping hand. When his grandfather, who had worked hard for most of his life, fell seriously ill, the people's hospital did not let him stay for free. If not for Zhao Fusheng, his grandfather might never have seen the day when the welfare home's conditions improved.

Therefore, Zhang Qian did not think there was anything wrong with what Zhao Fusheng was doing. Better to let a good person like Zhao Fusheng make money than to let those heartless rich folks profit.

Moreover, Zhao Fusheng had already said that once the state issued clear regulations, they would immediately stop sales and production.

In short, it was about making money while no one was watching.

"Remember, don't show your face. The studio will be handled by Dong Guoxiang. You just go and collect the money, understand?" Zhao Fusheng was afraid Zhang Qian wouldn't get it, so he reminded him again.

Zhang Qian nodded. He also knew that Zhao Fusheng was doing this for his own good.

In fact, he didn't know that Zhao Fusheng had another purpose: to help Zhang Qian grow up quickly, because he had too few reliable people around him.

Zhao Fusheng didn't want Zhang Qian to remain a mere bodyguard-like figure. He hoped that one day Zhang Qian could stand on his own.

Of course, this idea couldn't be spoken out loud now; it needed to be done gradually.

The Avatamsaka Sutra says, 'If you wish to be the dragon and elephant of the Buddhas, first be the ox and horse of sentient beings.'

This Buddhist proverb reveals a truth of life: dragons and elephants are mounts for deities, while oxen and horses are servants of mortals—both are servants, just at different levels. In short, no matter what you do, you must start from the most basic level, so that you can gradually improve and elevate yourself. The principle is the same: even those who become Buddhas must first undergo trials and enlightenment amidst the suffering of all beings. Whoever wants to become a Buddha must start by overcoming arrogance and self-importance. The Buddhas of the ten directions are like the flowers and fruits on a tree, while sentient beings are the roots. All Buddhas of the past, present, and future achieve Buddhahood by beginning with complying with sentient beings.

Instead of always looking up at dazzling big shots, it's better to start humbly as an ox or horse. Climbing is a gradual trajectory, a stage for accumulating capital and demonstrating ability. Even if your father left you a legacy, if you lack ability and strength and only know how to be arrogant, what qualifications do you have to hold on to that legacy? Who would obey you?

One day, someone might seize your family business—it's not impossible.

What Zhao Fusheng wanted Zhang Qian to become was someone who could truly leave him and do great things on his own.

The more such people he had around him, the more Zhao Fusheng felt his career could grow bigger and bigger. Otherwise, he would be alone and unable to handle many tasks.

Sitting in the car, Zhao Fusheng finally felt a sense of belonging matching the city of Beijing, and then more ambitions arose. For some people, once the seed of ambition takes root and sprouts, it quickly gets nourished and fattened by the social melting pot. Either it stands out and is eventually broken by the winds of the world, or it eventually grows into a towering tree. The outcome was not for Zhao Fusheng to speculate recklessly. In short, as he said to Fan Baobao, he couldn't stop. All he could do was to seize everything within his sight and ability in one go.

Perhaps this seemed a bit greedy, but Zhao Fusheng had missed too many things in his previous life, and he didn't want to end up empty-handed in this one.

When he got home, Zhang Qian went upstairs first. Fan Baobao was not at home. Zhao Fusheng frowned and dialed her number.

"Where did you go?"

Zhao Fusheng asked curiously.

At this time, she should be at home. After all, graduation was approaching, and there wasn't much going on at school. The supervision of students wasn't that strict either. If Zhou Yun and the others weren't around, Fan Baobao usually came home.

"There's an interview at the company. I came to check it out." Fan Baobao held the phone and said softly, "I'll talk to you later. It's almost my turn."

With that, she hung up.

Zhao Fusheng held the phone, blinked, and then smiled bitterly. He always habitually wanted to protect her, but forgot that this girl had already entered the entertainment industry and become a full-fledged artist.

Many times, the profession of an artist is not one's own choice. They enjoy the cheers on stage, so naturally they have to pay with their time and private life.

It's often said that artists have no secrets. This saying is really quite true.

The price of choosing to be a public figure is to expose oneself to the spotlight.

"What's wrong? Do you want me to go check?" At that moment, Zhang Qian came down from upstairs and asked Zhao Fusheng.

He hadn't heard clearly what Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao had said on the phone; he was just guessing.

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and shook his head: "No need. She's at an interview. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to show up suddenly."

After all, Zhang Qian was his man. If he had followed her from the start, it would have been fine. But with the interview halfway through, showing up like a bodyguard would be out of place.

After all, Fan Baobao wasn't a big star now—just a somewhat famous commercial model. The film and television works she had appeared in were all minor roles with few lines. If she left a bad impression on the producers and directors, her reputation would be ruined.

For an actor, if their reputation is gone, their space to survive in this circle will shrink, and eventually they will lose all opportunities.

Zhao Fusheng didn't want Fan Baobao's dream to be criticized because of him.