Chapter 142: Zhao Dongye's Request

Inside the campus of Yanhuang University in the Imperial Capital, Li Fu, Zhao Dongye, Qian Jin, and Wang Wanli were strolling and chatting. Li Fu's primary purpose for this trip to the Imperial Capital was naturally to propose marriage to Wang Yun's family and discuss their wedding plans for the end of the year. However, upon learning of Li Fu's return to the capital, the other three naturally insisted on gathering together.

It was now the depths of winter. Within the campus of Yanhuang University, the world was blanketed in a pristine, bright white snow. All four of them wore thick overcoats, seemingly unfazed by the bitter cold.

"In the blink of an eye, it's been nearly two years since we graduated. It's been so long since we all got together like this."

Zhao Dongye looked around the familiar campus, reminiscing about the past, filled with deep emotion.

"The three of us have it relatively easy since we're all based here in the Imperial Capital and can get together often. It's just Li Fu—he's always busy and lives so far away that getting together is truly no easy feat. He didn't even have time to attend the company's annual meeting. It seems his empire is so vast now that he no longer has time to bother with our company's little ventures."

The company Qian Jin referred to was naturally the Honor of Kings Company they had co-founded back in the day, which was now the developer of "Wulin," the hottest virtual game in the virtual world.

Qian Jin wasn't just talking idly; he was well aware of Li Fu's current net worth. Virtual reality pods, drugs for treating AIDS, derivative products of bio-sensing technology, and materials companies—any single one of them was a supreme wealth generator. Among them, the most booming virtual reality pods went without saying, raking in hundreds of billions of US dollars from the global market every month, earning it the reputation of a super money printer.

Although Honor of Kings Company was now a very renowned gaming company both in China and globally, pulling in tens of billions of RMB in revenue each month, and the user base of "Wulin" was growing increasingly massive as the number of virtual pod owners multiplied—with Wall Street even evaluating that if Honor of Kings Company went public, its market value could easily break one trillion RMB—it still fell far short compared to the companies in Li Fu's hands.

"With you and Wanli managing the company, what is there for me to worry about? The company's booming prosperity right now is the best proof of that."

Li Fu smiled and shook his head. For one thing, he truly lacked the time; had it not been for his lifelong romance, he wouldn't have come to the Imperial Capital at all. For another, just as Li Fu said, although Qian Jin had acted all flippant back in their university days, he was actually a person of genuine capability.

Back then, Zhao Dongye had handed the company over to Qian Jin for management because he held high hopes for him, and indeed, facts proved him right. Ever since the emergence of virtual reality pods, Qian Jin had immediately chosen to break into the virtual gaming industry, concentrating the company's strength to develop the virtual game "Wulin," which instantly surpassed the original Honor of Kings in every metric, and this was merely the beginning.

Had they lacked the courage and boldness back then, remaining content with the past glory of Honor of Kings, the company would likely have gradually declined by now. With the popularization of virtual reality pods, traditional games could no longer satisfy players' demands; only virtual games—highly complex and ultra-realistic ones—held the future.

"I'm under immense pressure! With such a huge company, you guys just wash your hands of it and pay it no mind. If I mess the company up, I'll have no face to face our elders and brothers back home."

"Ah, I really miss the old college days—nothing to do every day, flirting with girls, eating, drinking, and living the good life. Unlike now, slaving away as an employee for you guys every day."

Qian Jin put on a pitiful expression, shaking his head and sighing.

"What do you mean 'slaving away for us'? You're the majority shareholder, in case you forgot! Didn't you say yourself that when you went home for Chinese New Year last year, your old man looked at you in a completely new light? Your net worth right now is probably many times that of your dad's."

Wang Wanli, who had remained silent until now, chimed in. As the youngest shareholder, he had also been helping with the company's operations and knew quite a bit about Qian Jin's situation.

"That's right! I almost forgot to mention this to you and Dongye. When I went home for New Year last year, you guys have no idea the look my dad gave me—tsk tsk, even saying 'one must look at a scholar with new eyes after three days apart' wouldn't be enough to describe it. When I showed him our company's financial data, the old man was completely dumbfounded. Hehe, ever since then, he hasn't bothered me at all anymore."

At this point, Qian Jin beamed with pride as he recounted his experience of returning home for the New Year last year. As a second-generation wealthy heir, what he desired most was to surpass his father. Last year, he had effortlessly surpassed his father, who was in the real estate business, and this year was completely incomparable.

In 2019, because the state proposed shifting industrial centers toward space industries, the real estate industry had entered a trough period. Coupled with the fact that the real estate industry had developed to a point where it essentially reached its peak, Qian Jin's father's company faced numerous hardships in 2019, with revenues, profits, and market value shrinking drastically.

On the contrary, thanks to the advent of virtual games, Honor of Kings was thriving, and its performance was soaring day by day. Currently, Qian Jin's net worth was at least ten times that of his father's. And this was still considering that Honor of Kings Company was unlisted, whereas his father's real estate company was publicly traded. If Honor of Kings were to go public, the gap would be even wider.

"Impressive!"

Zhao Dongye couldn't help giving a thumbs up. He had seen all kinds of wealthy second-generation heirs, but very few could truly surpass their own fathers.

"I'm nothing compared to Li Fu. Comparing people only makes you want to die of frustration! Look at Li Fu's titles now: Nobel laureate, Chinese Academy of Sciences academician, aerospace hero, manned lunar landing hero, boss of Fuyun Group... Damn, just thinking about it makes it feel unbelievably badass."

Qian Jin glanced at Li Fu beside him and couldn't help feeling a bit discouraged. Sometimes, comparison really was odious.

「I just got lucky. Let's not talk about this anymore. Dongye, how are things going in the government department? When are you getting promoted? You must remember to treat us to dinner."

Li Fu smiled and shook his head, steering the conversation toward Zhao Dongye. Ever since Zhao Dongye resigned from his position at Honor of Kings Company, he had entered the government sector under family arrangements.

"Speaking of which, I actually have a favor to ask of you," Zhao Dongye said with a smile at Li Fu.

"I've been in my department here in the Imperial Capital for nearly two years, and my family is preparing to arrange my transfer to a local post. By then, I'll probably start out as the top leader of a small town. I certainly won't get any plum assignments; most likely, I'll be sent to a remote area. When that time comes, you big bosses must help me out by coming over to invest."

Descendants of prominent families like Zhao Dongye were generally seconded to a certain department to further their education while building up their credentials. Soon after, they would be transferred down to local grassroots levels, followed by minor promotions every two years, major promotions every three years, and stepping up to major plateaus every five years.

Don't underestimate the seemingly insignificant starting point of serving as the top leader of a small town; one must remember that Zhao Dongye was only twenty-four years old. After a year or two in a small town, he could quickly be promoted to deputy county head, become the top leader of a county within three or four years, and attain leadership of a city by his early thirties.

Of course, despite the family's cultivation and support, going further and higher naturally required sufficient personal diligence and excellence, as well as delivering corresponding performance metrics. Otherwise, he would end up much like Wang Yun's father, Wang Zhengguo, peaking upon reaching the top leadership post of a single locality.

Zhao Dongye was well aware of this, which was why he had already given a heads-up to Li Fu and the others when he left Honor of Kings Company. Political achievement was paramount. Right now, what mattered most was boosting GDP growth. As long as he could pull in a heavyweight Buddha like Li Fu, it would effortlessly cause even a small locality to undergo earth-shattering changes.

"Tsk tsk, you're going to be governing a region so soon! Even if it's just a small town, that's already quite remarkable. Those classmates of ours who entered government units are probably still pouring tea for others right now."

Qian Jin couldn't help praising him. He knew a thing or two about descendants of such prominent families. Don't look at how inconspicuous Zhao Dongye seemed right now; in a few years, he would be extraordinary. Furthermore, judging by Zhao Dongye's current conduct and principles, reaching the absolute pinnacle in the future was entirely possible.

"What's so special about that? Many of our classmates are actually quite exceptional; I merely had a better background. Once I head down to the locality in the future, whether I can achieve political accomplishments and benefit the people will be the true test."

Zhao Dongye smiled modestly and shook his head. He knew very well that, at least for now, he wasn't relying solely on his own abilities to gain promotion. The real test lay ahead when he arrived at his local post.

"Li Fu, you need to make your stance clear right away. I am in dire need of your investment. If you casually invest in a project through your company and set up a branch there, things will be much easier for me."

"Over the past two years, people from your hometown, Meijiang County and Sanjiang Town, have been promoted at rocket speed. Their political achievements are stellar, making countless people envious and jealous."

Zhao Dongye looked at Li Fu. The earth-shattering changes that had taken place in Sanjiang Town and Meijiang County over the past two years were witnessed by the entire country. Discussions were already underway to upgrade Meijiang County to Meijiang City, and Sanjiang Town to Sanjiang District of Meijiang City, which would elevate their administrative rank by a substantial notch.

All of this was naturally thanks to Li Fu establishing his company in his hometown. Sanjiang Town and Meijiang County had undergone massive transformations. To put it simply, the total GDP alone was astronomically terrifying; factoring in the output value of Fuyun Group, the 2019 GDP exceeded one trillion US dollars, surpassing that of most countries on Earth.

Consequently, Meijiang County and Sanjiang Town had long since applied for an upgrade and were currently awaiting approval. In fact, the top leaders of Sanjiang Town and Meijiang County already held higher ranks than those in other regions.

"Of course, no problem. Just let me know when the time comes."

Li Fu agreed without hesitation. Supporting Zhao Dongye could also be considered a form of investment.