Leave It Blank, Don't Be So Formal

The father and son talked for a long time about the inheritance, but still couldn't reach an agreement.

Shen Qi said, "Dad, why don't you sell your company shares and give me the cash to inherit?"

Old Shen was immediately displeased. "Although you look down on my low-tech parts supplier, it represents over an Old Shen of my hard work. I supply parts to famous car brands and contribute my modest efforts to China's automotive industry. I am proud and honored!"

"Shen Qi, you are a scientist. You should know that the automobile industry is a pillar industry of a country. A country that cannot produce cars cannot be considered a strong country. I have been fighting for the dream of a strong country for so many years. I will not sell the factory. I will never sell it!" Old Shen became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had invented cars.

"Relax, Comrade Old Shen," Shen Qi advised his father to calm down, saying, "Then your company can't be handed over to me. Once I take over, I'll definitely sell it and cash out."

"Son, can't you have a little pity for your old father?" Old Shen looked like he was about to cry. He asked, "Fine, then tell me, what big business will you do with this cash?"

Shen Qi had his own ideas. "I will set up a foundation called the Shen Zhishan Foundation, which will award scientific prizes annually in fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. I am very familiar with this business, and I can manage it very well."

"You're just squandering our wealth in disguise! Do you think you're the Nobel winner?" Old Shen disagreed. Once the family fortune is donated to establish a foundation and managed by a so-called professional team, it will be subject to public oversight, which is different from a traditional family business.

While Old Shen loves his country from a broader perspective, he also has the selfishness of a businessman. It is only natural for his family property to be passed on to his son, Old Shen finds it difficult to accept donating it to charity or supporting other people's scientific endeavors.

"My understanding is that you support my scientific career, but you can't accept donating our family's money to support other scientists' scientific endeavors?" Shen Qi asked, as father and son opened up to each other and had a deep conversation.

Old Shen revealed his true feelings. "You can interpret it that way, and you can call me narrow-minded too. Yes, that's exactly how I think."

Shen Qi made a new suggestion. "How about this, Dad, help me fulfill a wish: to build an independent laboratory, or rather, a research and development company. I've saved up some money over the years, I'll give it all to you, and you can subsidize it a bit more."

Old Shen asked, "How much money have you deposited?"

Shen Qi: "More than 100 million RMB."

Old Shen was quite surprised. "So many? There are many kinds of R&D companies, which one do you want to own?"

"Look around the market for small, poorly managed chemical or pharmaceutical companies. Ideally, we could acquire them all at once, taking over everything from talent and equipment to qualifications and distribution channels." Shen Qi was a very practical person. He had over 100 million yuan, and his father would contribute some more, but they could only wait for an opportunity to take over such a small company.

"That's a good idea. I'll help you realize this dream." Old Shen supports Shen Qi's business ventures. In his view, a business with talent, equipment, qualifications, and distribution channels is a legitimate industry and a family asset to be passed down through generations.

Old Shen didn't take Shen Qi's more than 100 million yuan; he told Shen Qi to keep it for spending money.

Old Shen will acquire a small company that meets Shen Qi's requirements in his own way, thus passing on the Shen Family's legacy in another manner.

The issue of the Shen Family's asset inheritance has finally been resolved relatively satisfactorily.

Shen Qi stayed in Nangang City for a few days and took the time to visit Nangang Second High School.

The Second Middle School has erected a statue of Shen Qi to commemorate this outstanding alumnus.

The school's publicity leader accompanied Shen Qi to inspect the statue and asked him what kind of message should be engraved on the base of the statue.

The walls of the classrooms and laboratories at No. 2 Middle School are adorned with portraits of various scholars, along with their famous quotes.

Bacon said, "Knowledge is power."

Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

"So, Shen Qi said?" the director of the publicity office asked.

"Leave it blank, don't be so formal." Shen Qi meant to leave people some room for imagination; after he's gone, you can carve whatever you want.

"Oh, then let's just leave this sentence blank. Don't be so formal," said a female subordinate next to the head of the publicity office.

"He Fang, be serious." The director gently reprimanded his female subordinate.

A female subordinate who is beautiful, mature, and elegant, alluring yet intelligent, is someone most male leaders wouldn't actually get angry with.

"I think it's fine. Let's just engrave the sentence I just mentioned. Leave it blank, don't make it so formal." Shen Qi laughed. Actually, he had noticed He Fang a long time ago.

He Fang, an employee of the publicity office of No. 2 Middle School, is Shen Qi's pen pal, Momo, who is also a part-time online writer.

Shen Qi knew this information, but he did not point out He Fang's other identity when he met her.

"Professor Shen, are you serious?" The director was speechless.

Shen Qi nodded. "I'm very serious, I'll carve this sentence."

"Professor Shen is a very humorous person," He Fang said with a smile, her laughter bright and cheerful.

"He Fang, you're quite witty too. This idea was yours," Shen Qi said with a smile.

At that moment, the director apologized and walked away to answer a phone call.

Shen Qi and He Fang had a brief moment alone together. Shen Qi said to He Fang, "Your novel has been on hiatus for a long time."

"Huh? A novel?" He Fang looked puzzled.

Maintain an air of mystery? Shen Qi understood; the female writer liked this kind of thing.

"OK, Momo, actually this is fine."

"Momo?"

He Fang remained puzzled; it didn't seem like she was faking it.

"Isn't your pen name Momo?" Shen Qi asked.

He Fang shook her head. "No, my pen name is Fangfang."

Shen Qi fell into deep thought, "Isn't mailbox A102 yours?"

He Fang: "It's mine, but I rarely use that mailbox. My niece has the key."

"Your niece?" Shen Qi had initially thought it was just a simple pen pal exchange, but now it seemed there was more to it than met the eye.

"Yes, she's my sister's daughter. She's a sophomore at No. 2 Middle School. By the way, my brother-in-law is quite familiar with you," He Fang said.

"Who is your brother-in-law?" Shen Qi felt that things were getting more and more complicated.

He Fang: "Vice Principal Zhang Wanbang."

"..." Shen Qi suddenly realized.

When Shen Qi was in high school, he visited Zhang Wanbang's home. Zhang Wanbang's wife's surname was He, and she was a music teacher. Zhang Wanbang had a daughter, whose name was something like... Zhang Moran.

Momo? Momo?

The logical deduction for this matter should be as follows: He Fang, the sister-in-law of Vice Principal Zhang Wanbang, works at the Second Middle School, and Vice Principal Zhang Wanbang's daughter studies at the Second Middle School.

The daughter got the key to the faculty mailbox from her aunt and wrote several letters to Shen Qi under the pseudonym "Momo".

"Your niece's name is Zhang Moran, right? Which class is she in in the second year of high school?" Shen Qi asked He Fang.

"Yes, Momo's full name Zhang Moran. She's in Class 2 of the second year of high school and is a top student."

"Okay, thank you, have a nice day at work."