Chapter 689: Contacting Qian Director

After I asked Shi Yong for Qian Director's phone number,

I then proactively contacted Qian Director.

The matters of Da Heng Group are all in the past; we should look forward between us.

Besides, when he resigned, I did not feel guilty toward him.

I quickly dialed Qian Director's mobile number.

After a short while, Qian Director answered the call,

and his voice came through the phone,

"Hello, who is this?"

"Hello Qian Director, I am Zhao Jianqiang. Do you still remember me?" I said directly.

"Ah, Chairman Zhao. Why did you contact me?" Qian Director's voice trembled a bit.

"Qian Director, thank you for still calling me Chairman Zhao; let me tell you, I am no longer the chairman.

I am contacting you today about something important and need your help.

I wonder whether Qian Director is willing to help me."

"Chairman Zhao, you are no longer chairman; what happened to Da Heng Group?" Qian Director asked hurriedly.

It seems he still cares quite a bit about Da Heng Group.

"Da Heng Group has already changed hands."

"Changed hands—who took over Da Heng Group?" Qian Director asked.

"Zhao Xiaohua," I replied.

"Oh." The line on the other side fell silent.

"Qian Director, some matters cannot be clarified over the phone. Zhao Xiaohua is only a figurehead.

Last year a lot happened: I was in a car accident. Your sister-in-law Zhou Wei became a vegetative patient and has not awakened yet.

Our Da Heng Group, because of cash‑flow problems, was schemed against.

There was no way out; I could no longer run it. It had to be handed over to someone else, with Zhao Xiaohua as a nominal chairman.

Qian Director, I can only tell you this much; if you believe it, we can continue talking.

If you don't believe it, then never mind.

We need not keep in touch then," I said briskly.

There was a pause on the other end, then a voice came,

"Chairman Zhao, I believe your words.

You just said you wanted me to help you; I wonder, how can I help?

I am now working in tourism and no longer in real estate," Qian Director said over the phone.

"Qian Director, I also left real estate; I have now invested in developing tourism projects. I hear your travel agency is doing well.

I am currently in Huaihai Ancient City,

I have already contracted the Ancient City.

Now I need your help."

"Chairman Zhao, you have contracted the tourism project of Huaihai Ancient City. Why didn't you tell me earlier? How could you take on that rundown place?

My travel agency was once ripped off there.

The guide took a group there, and the shop owners in Huaihai scammed us; not only that, they also beat people.

As a result, Huaihai Ancient City claimed our group caused trouble,

We had no choice but to pay compensation to the tourists out of our own pockets.

Since then, our travel agency no longer takes orders from Huaihai Ancient City.

That place is terrible," Qian Director recounted his experience over the phone.

"Qian Director, now that I have contracted it, things are different; I no longer charge admission, and I have replaced most of the shop owners.

Moreover, Shi Yong has been continuously supervising these shops to ensure they don't scam people.

We have been carrying out renovations in Huaihai Ancient City these days.

The results are good. You should come and see.

It would be best for us to meet and talk.

We haven't met for several years. All past matters between us are over; we should look forward, right, Qian Director?

Laughter came from Qian Director over the phone,

"Hehe, Chairman Zhao, you're right; we should look forward.

The past is past. After all, I was young then.

I had no experience. After so many years in society, I finally understand the warmth and coldness of human relations. I am now in the south.

I'll buy a ticket tonight and head to Huaihai.

I can arrive in Huaihai early tomorrow morning.

I believe that under Chairman Zhao's management, Huaihai Ancient City will certainly change dramatically."

"Qian Director, that's great; come tomorrow and we can discuss the details. Huaihai Ancient City is just an appetizer.

We are also preparing a main course for you," I said happily over the phone.

"Chairman Zhao, a main course as well. Great. The tourism market is booming now, but it's all old routes.

We need new selling points to attract people. I wonder, Chairman Zhao, what new tourism projects have you uncovered in Huaihai.

"Qian Director, that? We'll talk when you arrive. By the way, don't call me chairman anymore; I'm no longer chairman, just a commoner. I'm a few years older than you; call me Zhao Ge," I said.

"Alright, Zhao Ge. I'm no longer Qian Director either; call me Xiao Qian," Qian Director laughed on the phone.

"It's not small money, it's big money; we want to earn big money. I'll call you Qian Kang," I said with a smile.

"Zhao Ge, then that's settled; see you tomorrow," Qian Director said.

"See you tomorrow, Qian Kang." After I said that, I hung up.

After hanging up, I felt much more at ease.

The past unpleasant matters with Qian Director were swept away.

Simply put, why Qian Director got upset and resigned from Da Heng Group.

Mainly because, when I was at Da Heng Group, I overly trusted Zhao Xiaohua, even indulging him, which caused it.

Qian Director repeatedly reminded me that Zhao Xiaohua was unfit for important responsibilities.

And his heart was still big.

At that time, all I could think of was a close brother, wanting to nurture him well.

Zhao Xiaohua would also put on a show in front of me, and I didn't think much of it.

Actually, I was quite satisfied then; my real‑estate business was going smoothly.

I couldn't take anyone's words.

I had no sense of crisis at all, which bred a proud mindset, believing all my ideas were correct and every development direction was right.

I considered myself already a god.

People only by falling from a high place can reconnect with the earth's qi.

If Kong Shi hadn't been scheming behind me, perhaps I wouldn't have made such a big mistake.

Actually, falling earlier was a good thing; it let me see society more clearly and see exactly what I'm made of.

When everyone praises you as the best and countless honors embrace you, that is the most dangerous moment.

A successful man first learns to reflect, to find faults in himself, rather than shirk responsibility.

I do have responsibility; that must be acknowledged.

Many people don't capsize in adversity; most capsize in prosperity.

My experiences, my story, I want to explain to everyone. Life is never perpetually smooth sailing.

Only in adversity can a person grow and forge their will.

Only then can one calm down to learn.

As soon as one reaches prosperity, they immediately change.

They become arrogant, become conceited, and offend everyone.

I especially want to tell young people that enduring a little hardship when young is not frightening, even struggling more in adversity is not scary.

What's scary is a life that's too smooth; everything goes well when young, and in middle age one is bound to make a huge mistake.

Moreover, the fall will be terrible; essentially such a life leaves no hope of a comeback.

He did not forge his will in adversity,

so his will cannot bear this gap and he will go to extremes.

When a person goes to extremes, it's equivalent to racing toward the grave.

The reason I wrote the book "Guocheng" is to use my story,

to tell everyone that life must be tempered repeatedly.

Don't blame the heavens and the earth over a tiny difficulty.

Actually, difficulties are the best teachers in life,

teaching us how to be a person and how to act.