She had been in such a rush to go out today that she'd forgotten to check the almanac.
But Wen Baozhu could sense that today must be an auspicious day for her.
Otherwise, how could she have been so lucky? Having endured so many looks of disdain and sarcasm, she'd managed to receive praise and recognition from two different parties.
However, she didn't feel the joy of being appreciated, nor the elation of winning a battle.
She was like an acrobat on a tightrope, holding a board, treading carefully at every step to avoid falling off either side.
Either side would mean a bottomless abyss.
——
Before the Chinese New Year, the Fu Group was embroiled in a scandal regarding the embezzlement of charity funds. Thanks to Wen Baozhu's intervention, the public opinion crisis was successfully averted.
Moreover, the talent cultivation project she proposed at the press conference had earned the group a good reputation by the end of the year.
According to a public opinion survey conducted by the Fu Group at the beginning of the year, the public's expectations for the group's charity initiatives had increased significantly.
The public was highly concerned about the Fu Group's contributions and feedback to society this year, as well as its actual actions.
For large enterprises, it's not just about annual revenue and output value. Public evaluation and popularity are equally crucial.
Money is like a vote.
Over the years, more and more enterprises have realized the importance of public favorability, which is indispensable.
For old - money families that have passed down wealth through generations or newly - rich entrepreneurs, having lived in luxury for so long, they lack a keen sense of the lower - level social environment.
They have no idea what ordinary people's lives are like or what kind of assistance they value most.
So even when they engage in charity projects, they often come across as condescending.
But Wen Baozhu was different.
She understood the hardships of ordinary people better and was more aware of the public's social needs, hitting the nail on the head regarding the pain points of the grassroots.
After Li Wenshu read the reports, she couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
"I just asked you to step in and deal with the crisis back then, but you did an excellent job. To be honest, I'm quite surprised."
"It was the group that gave me the opportunity," Wen Baozhu replied politely. "The negative impact was so severe back then. I was worried I might not do well."
In fact, Wen Baozhu also thought she hadn't really done much.
She had just visited a few seriously ill patients in the hospital and made several trips to the equipment factory to supervise in person.
Which young lady would be willing to do such things?
Most of them would hold their noses and pull up their collars tightly, fearing they might catch germs and bring bad luck upon themselves.
"You..."
Li Wenshu glanced at her. "You were pregnant back then and still dared to go to the hospital. Weren't you afraid those patients would pass on their bad luck to you?"
The mention of the child brought a brief silence between them.
Li Wenshu coughed and shifted the topic awkwardly: "Judging from the current trend, you have a relatively high level of popularity among the public. This is a good sign."
Brands need high - profile celebrity endorsers, hospitals need ace doctors in key departments, and enterprises are no exception.
The public expects enterprises to create a positive external image, a living business card, as a reassuring pill.
"I think you can be this living business card," Li Wenshu tapped the table lightly. "The data shows that the public has a high level of attention on you. You might as well ride on this wave."
If Wen Baozhu could gain the support of most people in Hong Kong, it would be more beneficial for Li Wenshu's subsequent plans.
Li Wenshu gave her an encouraging smile: "I watched the replay of your speech at the charity press conference last year."
Wen Baozhu looked over.
"You mentioned that you wanted to invest in a school - assistance project. You can start working on this project now. Since you proposed it, you'll be in charge of it from now on."
The task was assigned so quickly that Wen Baozhu hadn't even had time to react. Li Wenshu continued: "You'd better cooperate with a big shot deeply involved in the education field. It will carry more credibility."
...
Back in her office, Wen Baozhu looked worried.
Following up on the school - assistance investment project itself wasn't difficult, but finding a big shot in the education field and convincing them to cooperate with a nobody like her was like a pipe dream.
Hong Kong was a city of glitter and gold, a place of grandeur.
But if you wanted to really make a mark and live comfortably here, you needed both money and connections.
Where could little Wen Baozhu find such connections?
A Yan came to deliver some documents to her. She grabbed him, not really expecting much, and asked him about it.
He replied casually: "All the major companies have some kind of investment in education."
Wen Baozhu had expected such an answer. She sighed, feeling a bit discouraged.
"However... Grandpa Zhou has been insisting on the school - assistance project for the past few years. He's even invested in several hope primary schools in the Chinese mainland."
"For the kids who reach school - age in the orphanage you visited last time, he also pays for their tuition fees."
After hearing this, Wen Baozhu's eyes lit up instantly.
Little Wen Baozhu had underestimated herself. Connections were about quality, not quantity. As long as they were useful, that was enough.
——
She called Zhou You in advance and showed up at her door early in the morning with gifts.
The servant of the Zhou family opened the car door and warmly invited her in. Taking the gift bag from her, the servant said, "Are you Miss Wen? Miss Zoey has been waiting for you."
Wen Baozhu smiled and asked, "Has she had breakfast?"
"She got up early this morning and said there would be a guest at home," the servant replied with a smile. "She told us to be extra careful and treat you well."
Sure enough, with a child in the family, the servants of the Zhou family were more lively than those of the Fu family.
Zhou You ran out to greet her, her face beaming with joy and excitement. "I've prepared some snacks for you!"
For kids, happiness was often simple. Inviting a friend over to play was a great thing.
Wen Baozhu sat on the sofa and chatted with Zhou You for a while. When she thought the time was right, she picked up the tissue on the table and wiped her hands. "Is your grandpa available now?"
The night before, Wen Baozhu had made her purpose very clear.
She had come not only to play with Zhou You but also to visit her grandpa and discuss something with him.
Zhou You nodded. "I've already told grandpa. He's reading in his study upstairs. I'll ask Stella to take you there."
At the door of the study, Stella escorted her to the destination and then politely stepped back with a smile.
Wen Baozhu knocked on the door. After hearing the reply from inside, she pushed the door open.
The old man was standing in front of the bookcase, running his fingers over the book covers. He was getting very close to them, as if looking for a particular book.
Finally, he pulled out the book he was looking for. He adjusted his reading glasses and turned to Wen Baozhu with a kind smile. "I'm getting old. My eyes are not as good as they used to be."
He placed the book on the table and politely invited Wen Baozhu to sit down.
Stella knocked on the door and brought in a pot of hot tea.
Wen Baozhu took the initiative to ask with concern, "How's your health recently? After you fainted due to low blood sugar last time, did you go for a re - check?"
Grandpa Zhou smiled. "Thank you for caring about this old man. I'm fine."
His eyes fell on her flat abdomen, and his tone was filled with a bit of sigh. "On the contrary, you've suffered a lot, haven't you, child?"