Chapter 6

Extreme selfishness manifests in two ways: one is being wildly irresponsible, and the other is extreme indifference. This happens for a simple reason: people do not speak honestly about their own affairs and cannot help but embellish when talking about themselves.

In a relationship between two people, expectations often amount to a subtle form of violence, as it is a demand for others to conform to one's will.

When someone sinks too deep, they forget their own strengths and become discouraged. Conversely, if they stand out too much, they become arrogant, thinking they are the authority.

Therefore, people should venture out. Only by doing so can they realize their narrow-mindedness and prejudices, and achieve breakthroughs and changes.

It took Zhao Fusheng nearly twenty years to understand these truths.

He had experienced moments of great success and times of reveling in his achievements, but more often, he would quietly hide in a small bar on the street, like a wounded beast, licking his wounds in solitude.

At first, it was uncomfortable, as the taste was not pleasant, but over time, with more failures, he gradually adapted.

Because this is life, this is growth.

Now, after all this, Zhao Fusheng stood at his front door, faintly hearing his parents talking to Jiang He inside. He had to admit that Jiang He was a good actor, or perhaps, over the years, he had been seen as a decent person by his old colleagues, and he had used this to successfully deceive them.

"What's wrong with you?" Fan Baobao, standing beside Zhao Fusheng, was a bit puzzled, as she could clearly sense that something was off with Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng forced a smile and gently pushed the door open.

"Mom, we're back." Zhao Fusheng smiled and then looked at Jiang He. "Uncle Jiang, you're here."

"Hey, Fusheng is home too? Is it a school holiday?" Jiang He looked particularly kind.

"No, I just missed my parents and came back to visit," Zhao Fusheng said calmly.

Zhao Fusheng quietly observed the expressions of the people inside. His father looked troubled, his mother was conflicted, and Li Yuan was holding Fan Beibei, seemingly hesitating to say something.

Jiang He, seeing Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao come in, paid no attention and continued talking. "After all these years of working together, would I lie to you? This time, the information is very reliable. Several people are ready to invest, and I thought, given our long-term relationship, I should ask if you're interested."

Zhao's mother hesitated and said, "But we already have plans for that money."

What Jiang He had said earlier was indeed tempting, but the problem was that Zhao's father had not yet received the five thousand yuan for his buyout, which would take at least three to four days. And that money was intended to pay off the Fan family's debt.

"Brother, don't you understand? If we buy this stock, it will double in just three days. What's a few more days to you?" Jiang He was smooth-tongued, seeming to read Zhao's mother's thoughts.

His words even swayed Li Yuan.

Zhao's father, however, remained silent, smoking a cigarette.

Zhao Fusheng knew that his father was in a difficult position. On one hand, a longtime friend was offering a way to make money and was willing to help, but on the other hand, he had already promised to pay off the Fan family's debt and arrange a marriage for his son and Fan Baobao.

"Fusheng, you and Baobao go out for a walk. I need to talk to Uncle Jiang about something."

Zhao's father thought for a moment, stubbed out his cigarette, and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng knew that his father did not want him involved in this matter.

"No problem, we'll stay and listen too," Zhao Fusheng pretended to be clueless, deliberately sitting next to Li Yuan and Zhao's mother, looking calm.

Although Fan Baobao was also a bit puzzled, she walked over to her mother, took her sister, and returned to their home.

In the living room, only Zhao's father, Zhao's mother, Li Yuan, Zhao Fusheng, and the smiling Uncle Jiang remained.

"It's fine for Fusheng to listen. Stocks are a good thing. Let me tell you, a friend of mine bought a stock that went from ten yuan to forty. Guess how long it took?"

Jiang He held up one finger. "One month, quadrupled his assets."

"So much?"

"Is that true?"

Li Yuan and Zhao's mother were both shocked.

For ordinary working-class people like them, stock trading was undoubtedly mysterious.

Zhao's father was also surprised. "So much?"

"Of course. The country is doing well, and we're approaching the new millennium. The stock market will definitely soar," Jiang He blinked and continued to persuade.

"Old Zhao, let me tell you, take a chance, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle. If you don't act now, you'll just be left with the scraps."

"Just trust me, would I lie to you?"

It had to be said that Jiang He had the skills of a salesperson, speaking eloquently and convincingly. If Zhao Fusheng didn't know his true nature, he might have been deceived.

Seeing his parents swayed, Zhao Fusheng knew he couldn't let Jiang He continue. If he kept talking, his parents might be convinced.

Thinking this, Zhao Fusheng blinked and asked curiously, "Uncle Jiang, what's the name of that stock?"

"Ah?"

Jiang He was taken aback, then smiled. "Tongbao Shares."

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "I have a classmate from Shanghai. I'll ask him to check on this stock."

The most effective way to deal with a scammer is to expose them directly, leaving them no place to hide. Otherwise, they can come up with a thousand excuses.

Except for Zhao Fusheng, no one knew that the Tongbao Shares Jiang He mentioned was not a stock about to soar but one he was stuck with, having invested all the money he had scammed from others into it.

Jiang He was a tragic figure, having invested all his savings in the stock market, only to encounter a major crash. He kept adding more money, but in the end, he couldn't hold on.

But Zhao Fusheng had no sympathy for him. If Jiang He had been initially pitiable, his later actions of deceiving old colleagues like Zhao's father to cover his losses were despicable. Not to mention, he could have borrowed money but chose to scam everyone, tying them all to the same sinking ship.

As Zhao Fusheng spoke, Jiang He's expression changed slightly.

He hadn't expected that Zhao's son would understand stocks.

Jiang He had dared to come because he knew Zhao's father was not knowledgeable about stocks. But now, Zhao Fusheng's words made him uneasy.

Once someone is unsure, they lose their confidence and become suspicious.

Jiang He thought for a moment and said, "Old Zhao, think about it. I'll be going now."

Zhao's father was taken aback, then thought Jiang He felt it was too crowded to discuss things, so he nodded. "Alright, we'll talk on the phone later."

He personally saw Jiang He to the door. When he returned, he looked at his son. "Fusheng, do you really have a classmate from Shanghai?"

Clearly, Zhao's father was swayed.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "Yes, but he said not to believe any insider information, as it might be from a scammer."

He looked at his father, taking advantage of the moment when Zhao's mother and Li Yuan were talking, and whispered, "Besides, given our situation, Dad, instead of thinking about stocks, why not consider starting a small business?"

After his father's buyout, he was effectively laid off. Li Yuan was in poor health, and both Fan Baobao and Zhao Fusheng were in college, meaning the father had to support two families. If he didn't think of something, how could they manage?

"Brat, I think you're afraid I won't help the Fan family pay off their debt and that you'll lose your fiancée," Zhao's father didn't follow Zhao Fusheng's suggestion but instead tapped his son's head.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then realized with a bitter smile that the idea of a reborn person suppressing everything was just a novelist's fantasy. In his parents' eyes, he was still a child.

"Alright, I understand," Zhao's father patted his son's shoulder. "Remember, always be down-to-earth. Don't be like Uncle Jiang, always thinking about quick money."

Zhao Fusheng was stunned, blinked, and felt his brain cells were not enough. Had his father seen through Jiang He so quickly?

In fact, he had underestimated his father. Zhao's father was in his forties and had been deceived by Jiang He in his previous life partly because of trust in a longtime colleague and partly due to the urgency of making money after being laid off.

But now, Jiang He's strange reaction, leaving just because of Zhao Fusheng's words, made Zhao's father doubt him. Plus, as Zhao Fusheng said, after paying off the Fan family's debt and arranging the marriage, the family would have to support two college students. Zhao's father would not take any risks.

When a man shoulders the responsibility of two families, he will not take risks but will seek stability.

And this stability was exactly what Zhao Fusheng hoped to see in his father.