"OC perfume? Does this brand even do such events?"
Zhao Hongjin asked as she lay on the pillow, enjoying the massage.
She had seen the products of this brand and had bought them too.
But with perfume, girls like her tend to unconsciously buy heaps of it, then only use each one once.
As a perfume brand, OC hadn't made much of an impression on her.
"Although such events are meaningful, but I'm not just being argumentative, CEO Cheng.
Think about it, isn't giving perfume to homeless people a bit outrageous?"
Cheng Daqi silently gave Zhao Hongjin a thumbs-up for her clarity of thought.
He found it outrageous too.
But America, the land of outrageousness, had no shortage of such things; this was just one more to add to the pile.
"Perhaps their planners think that this kind of activity can highlight the brand's human care and improve its reputation?
I joined in because I was having such a pleasant chat with friends, and got involved in the excitement."
Whether or not it's necessary, giving perfume to the homeless does seem quite humane.
Many luxury brands like to do this sort of thing.
Of course, the chat with her friends was also truly enjoyable.
In just three sentences, a woman had spent a thousand dollars on me.
How could it not be pleasant?
"But most importantly, I was inspired by you, your work at the church's relief point helping me and so many of America's homeless.
I thought, maybe I could do something too."
Flattery gets you everywhere.
Combining real-life cases to connect with someone's heart.
"Haha, you're making me blush. I was just there handing out food," Zhao Hongjin replied bashfully.
Her face felt a little warm and she felt wonderfully moved deep inside.
Influencing others with your own good deeds, which then continue to spread, is an experience unlike simple acts of helping and receiving thanks.
It touches a person's heartstrings more directly.
Cheng Daqi saw Zhao Hongjin's message but didn't reply right away.
"Bootlickers" tend to reply instantly.
They could learn a thing or two about the art of holding back from 369.
The right amount of waiting doesn't affect valuable communication.
People who really care about you won't mind if you reply a few minutes late.
The recent messages were enough to stir Zhao Hongjin's emotions; waiting a few more minutes to reply would let those peak feelings linger longer in her heart.
Meanwhile, Zhao Hongjin, who was still getting a massage, noticed Cheng Daqi had not replied and thought of another question.
"You came to America to look into entrepreneurship; have you found any good projects?"
Having crossed the ocean to study business, she was quite ambitious.
While most peers her age were still in school, Zhao had already begun researching various cryptocurrencies.
Though she had lost quite a bit on them.
Initially curious about Cheng Daqi, who she had met due to his 'stolen passport' incident, she first thought Cheng Daqi was a detective.
After chatting with him today, Zhao Hongjin found Cheng Daqi to be rather interesting.
He didn't panic about the lost passport; instead, he was busy spreading love.
CEO Cheng had a certain unhurried grace about him.
"Speaking of projects, I really want to rant. Are you sure you want to hear?"
There were simply too many entrepreneurial projects to choose from in America.
On the near end, there were cryptocurrency exchanges, and on the far, international e-commerce.
You could start small with a restaurant or aim big with artificial intelligence.
But most had barriers to entry, and generally, they weren't low.
Fancy a rant?
Zhao Hongjin found it amusing.
"Go on, tell me. I want to hear it."
"Before coming to America, I would hear about the American dream myth from the domestic venture capital circle, and it made me think this place was amazing.
But once here, I found that all the projects that didn't make it were just picking up scraps from the big companies, and anything slightly significant would be bought out.
There's also a lot of projects big companies aren't interested in, with unclear prospects. Even if they go public, the ceiling is low. Tough indeed."
The most promising tracks are all dominated by a bunch of star enterprises, such as artificial intelligence, new energy, robotics.
Industries like biomedicine, media, and finance have already been blocked off by big companies, leaving no chance for new enterprises—unless, of course, the entrepreneur is a bigwig in science research or government.
The hardest part is the invisible restrictions on us Chinese everywhere, with many industries in America unwelcoming to Chinese people and Chinese companies.
"What do you think, Boss?"
Cheng Daqi's words basically reflected the current state of entrepreneurship in America, mirroring his feelings from his past life when he visited America.
Of course, with a five-year informational advantage, he knew of many projects that could be started right now.
But right now, he wasn't looking for investors, just chatting with friends, so there was no need to lay all his cards on the table.
Listening to Cheng Daqi's sighs, Zhao Hongjin pondered deeply.
America had indeed entered the latter half of a major economic cycle.
This was the consensus.
During an economic downturn, all industries struggle.
The resources and space for expansion that were once available had now been taken over by industry giants who had evolved into monopolies, oligopolies, and behemoths.
Small companies often revolve around the needs of large companies, but during economic downturns, large companies prefer to cut ties with these service-type small companies and take on the formerly outsourced work themselves.
To cut costs and increase efficiency, of course.
This kind of 'self-preservation' under crisis further burdens the market, and the entrepreneurial environment in America becomes more and more like stagnant water.
(If not for XX, America's economy would practically be living in Bengbu—an inside joke, look up the data, haha, won't list them all or I'd be accused of padding the story.)
Of course, industries with an eye on the future are still running hot, but those require massive capital to get moving.
"What you're saying is the truth; I haven't personally experienced discrimination, but I'm aware of America's attitude towards us Chinese.
The media here has no bottom line, and those experts and commentators they hire spew slander every day.
It's as if by blaming everything on us, America could be instantly cured of its ailments!"
Zhao's ranting was on point, and Cheng Daqi strongly agreed.
America, don't ignore your own problems.
Part of the reason Cheng Daqi wanted to stay in America was exactly this.
God had given him a second chance, and he wanted to try doing something for his motherland.
Stay in America and stir things up fiercely.
"CEO Cheng is knowledgeable. Where did you graduate from? Is your major related to international fields?"
Waving to dismiss the massage therapist, Zhao Hongjin sat up, stretched, and inquired about Cheng Daqi's background.
Faced with a question that could reveal his secrets if he answered truthfully, Cheng Daqi responded effortlessly.
"I'm not as accomplished as you, Zhao. You've studied the distinguished PPD, while my humble diploma is only fit for shining your shoes."
Unexpected.
Cheng Daqi employed the unexpected.
You think I'm quite impressive, but I'm not as exceptional as you think, and I admit I'm not as good as you.
"So, I'll need your guidance, Zhao, to help Xiao Cheng avoid taking longer routes."
Seeing Cheng Daqi's offhand response, the corners of Zhao Hongjin's mouth twitched slightly.
You say you studied a vocational course, but do I believe that?
She guessed that Cheng Daqi might have a common bachelor's degree from a not-so-famous university.
So, instead of answering directly, she dodged the question with a joke.
She didn't probe further and replied directly.
"Let's not talk about it if you don't want to, quite mysterious. But you couldn't possibly be a vocational graduate."
Seeing Zhao Hongjin respond this way, Cheng Daqi almost laughed.
Interesting.
"Alright, Boss Zhao, please go ahead with your documents. I have something to deal with."
"Go on, little Cheng, your wish is my command."
Cheng Daqi's end of the chat had nothing to do with the author needing to conclude the chapter.
It was almost five o'clock, time to head to Red Street to get footage.
Moreover, the line for the soup kitchen was too long; go late, and you'll starve.
As for why Cheng Daqi didn't use today's earned Dollars to buy food.
Refer to a certain famous inequality.
Having several hundred Dollars in your pocket ≠ Cheng Daqi willing to spend money on food.
Be frugal where you must, spend where you can—on shared bicycles up to the bar.
The food money has already been covered by the old lady.
The immigration lawyer still needed a few thousand dollars for his fee.