Reaching the age of thirty, my income randomly doubled
Chapter 1082: 806: A More Distant Future

Chapter 1082: Chapter 806: A More Distant Future

Afternoon.

Zhang Wanyi drove her Bentley alone to meet Mu Lanqing.

The two companies weren’t far apart, and without traffic, it was just a few presses on the accelerator.

After thinking about it, she decided to change into casual clothes, dressing leisurely.

She’s forty-five, and no matter how she dresses, there are still traces of time on her face.

She looks just over thirty.

After treating a few newcomers in the group to a meal, Chen Pingsheng quickly arranged new work for them. Ye Qi and Li Yuxin went to shoot a short drama, while Yue Yuting had to wait a bit longer.

Unless an actor is particularly popular, they can’t possibly have films to shoot every day.

By the time Zhang Wanyi arrived, Mu Lanqing was already waiting downstairs, a bit nervous. In the past, it used to take several days to schedule a meeting with Zhang Wanyi.

Seeing her come over so leisurely for an appointment, as if she had no work usually, was quite surprising.

Zhang Wanyi parked downstairs, with security helping her find a parking space. She was also wearing big sunglasses.

“Is Chen still upstairs?”

“Mr. Chen is upstairs, writing scripts by himself. CEO Zhang, with his position, does he really need to work in our small company?” Mu Lanqing asked curiously.

“You aren’t him, so naturally you don’t understand his thoughts.” Zhang Wanyi took the elevator upstairs with Mu Lanqing.

Chen Pingsheng was indeed writing a script, intending to write a highly inspirational piece based on his wife.

The script tells how his wife, unparalleled in talent, married an ordinary man without any disdain, making him famous as a ‘soft rice king’ in China full of sparks and lightning.

Zhang Wanyi quietly approached and asked softly, “Chen, what are you writing?”

“Writing a story about my wife, conquering challenges to become an inspirational figure for countless women in the country.”

“Mr. Song would be very pleased to see this.”

“Naturally, even when old, one shouldn’t forget to make the wife happy.”

Chen Pingsheng put down his editing work; he typed slowly, at most two thousand words an hour.

“Wanyi, now that you’ve become the media queen, our President Xiao Mu still wants to use you as a blueprint for an inspirational novel, and she wants me to ask for your opinion.”

“My opinion has always been whatever Chen says.”

Zhang Wanyi asked him, “Chen, what do you want to take me to eat today?”

“There’s a small Hunan Restaurant downstairs, the taste is quite good.”

Chen Pingsheng got up and went downstairs with them; this meal was very casual, no need for any high-end restaurant, just like a regular family gathering.

Finding a window seat, after ordering the dishes, Chen Pingsheng asked, “Wanyi, are your two children well-behaved?”

Zhang Wanyi married late, almost at thirty; now her eldest son is in high school, and her young daughter is in third grade.

As for the children’s father, he is also a well-known businessman in Guangdong.

A strong alliance is normal, but a strong-weak relationship is a short drama story.

Zhang Wanyi shook her head, “My daughter is quite capricious, she surely wouldn’t be happy if she didn’t spend over a million from home each month. As for my eldest, he fought with classmates at school last week.”

Putting down his chopsticks, Chen Pingsheng seriously asked, “Have you thought about what they should do in the future?”

Zhang Wanyi was taken aback; this was no simple question. Although Teng You Media was founded by Chen Pingsheng, it is also where Zhang Wanyi has worked for over twenty years.

She has been the CEO here for twenty years, and over ninety percent of the executives were promoted by her, recognizing her as the chairman and executive CEO.

If a company is in one person’s hands for too long, inevitably there will be other thoughts.

Naturally, Zhang Wanyi also had some; she is not a saint and could not just ignore a trillion-dollar company like Teng You Media.

This is also why the Economic Research Institute and the Consulting Team have tried several times to have her transferred to oversee other large enterprises but failed.

As early as 2020, to prevent the excessive concentration of power in the CEO position, Chen Pingsheng proposed that the executive CEO should be periodically transferred every four years.

After he stepped down, this policy was gradually overturned.

It’s just because these CEOs don’t want to leave their comfort zones, meaning their power bases.

“Chen, I haven’t thought about it.”

“You’re lying.”

Chen Pingsheng wiped his mouth with a tissue. On the side, Mu Lanqing was exceptionally nervous, feeling that discussions at this level shouldn’t be heard by a small president like her.

“Not only are you lying, but Yang Qian and Chu Qiuyan are too.”

Chen Pingsheng said, “I remember your daughter frequently visits Teng You Media, and everyone there calls her a little princess; her name is even bigger than An’an or Erya.”

“Chen, I…” Zhang Wanyi wanted to explain, but had nowhere to start, knowing that any words would be a lie once spoken.

“I don’t need your explanation, nor did I call you out here for criticism; I’m not as rigid as you think.”

Chen Pingsheng continued, “Power, once in hand, can easily bewilder someone. Having personal motives is actually quite normal; having none would be strange. Whether it’s your son or daughter, if they want to take your place, it should be through their own abilities, rather than you promoting or appointing them directly.

“The reason is clear to you too. Whether it’s your two children or my son Chen Lu, if they end up in the same position their predecessors occupied without competition, the company would eventually face a decline in executive ability generation after generation, eventually disappearing rapidly from the long course of history.

On a public level, Tengyou Media employs over a million people, many of whom rely on the company for their livelihoods. If we let unsuitable or mediocre individuals take senior positions, Wanyi, you were once an intern too; don’t you despise seeing that happen?”

“Chen, material desires blind people’s eyes; I didn’t even realize how deeply entangled I’ve become over the years!”

Zhang Wanyi was very honest, as she had no choice but to be.

Chen Pingsheng is the person she respects most in this world, bar none.

He had also made a promise before that if his children weren’t capable, he wouldn’t parachute them into inheriting the company actually ignoring the loyal veterans of the company.

He has achieved that, while she herself got entangled in this selfish loop.

“As early as ten years ago, Tengyou Media’s value far exceeded a trillion; look at what it’s worth ten years later?”

Teng You is influential not only in short videos and short dramas but also in the influencer realm.

It also boasts a huge shopping app under its belt, with nationwide warehousing and logistics established everywhere.

The annual sales exceed five hundred billion.

Consolidating all its platforms, Teng You Media’s actual assets cannot be less than 1.5 trillion.

It is now valued at just 1.08 trillion.

Thirty-five percent down from five years ago.

In other words, not only has it not grown in five years, but it’s shrunk by a third.

This is the result of staying in one position for too long; human abilities have limits. There are no truly perfect saints who can keep progressing rapidly in this society.

For most people like them, the best outcome is to lead the company for a while.

After a long time, the effect of individual ambition on the company aside,

it exhausts one’s thinking and abilities during the peak period.

What’s left is a downhill path following one’s fixed routines.

They must learn to make way for more capable successors to ensure continuous company progress.

It was because of Chen Pingsheng’s complete concession that the company could quickly nurture a batch of more outstanding successors.

Now, many intend to cling to the position after he stepped down for long.

Financial freedom has already been achieved by them, sparing no shortage of money despite however lavishly spent over generations.

Still, they can’t let go of the supreme company power in their hands.

Chen Pingsheng has to fulfill his responsibility and obligation to remind at such a time.

Everyone holds company shares and should look towards a more distant future.