Starting a Company

The information Mifeng had given Zhang Hao had really caught his attention: Mifeng had a way to extend his life. Zhang Hao had no idea how that might work. Throughout human history, setting aside mythology, ordinary people rarely lived past a hundred. Eighty or ninety was already considered a long life. Could Mifeng really help him live for several hundred years?

That was absolutely impossible!

Zhang Hao didn't need to think twice about it. Even with Black Technology, it would be hard to achieve something like that. Still, he had a lot of faith in Mifeng. In just a few short months, Mifeng had given him so much confidence. Honestly, so far, there hadn't been anything Mifeng wanted to do that it couldn't accomplish.

What was Mifeng?

Zhang Hao had already stopped thinking of Mifeng as a person. Was it a program? Or some kind of intelligent object?

He thought about it for a long time, but couldn't imagine what Mifeng looked like. He pictured aliens with enormous heads—the kind people dreamed up for TV and computers—and hoped Mifeng wasn't one of them. If it really was, that would be terrifying.

Then Zhang Hao wondered what would happen if he called the police. He quickly dismissed the idea. He wasn't stupid. Mifeng was so powerful that it could surely eliminate any potential threat. If he called the police, he probably wouldn't make it out alive. Mifeng had all sorts of methods at its disposal, and with Zhang Hao's current abilities, there was no way he could keep it in check.

He gave a wry smile, but wasn't discouraged. He had a feeling that Mifeng truly meant him no harm. On top of that, Mifeng could bring him a fortune. That alone was enough to make Zhang Hao want to keep working with it. He had no reason to oppose Mifeng, though he still felt uneasy.

That unease came from not knowing what would happen. Zhang Hao had no idea where Mifeng would lead him.

Zhang Hao was careful and not reckless, but he wasn't a coward. He was a bit of a perfectionist and liked an orderly life. He had little taste for adventure, was content with a modestly comfortable life, and preferred peace and quiet. So getting rich only meant more pressure for him.

He felt at ease with the wealth he earned himself, especially when he'd worked hard for it. But a windfall—particularly one as vast as this—made him uneasy, even when he knew exactly where it came from. No matter how thoroughly anyone investigated, they wouldn't find a problem. But deep down, he knew he hadn't truly earned this fortune himself. It had come from Mifeng, almost like cheating.

Rich or poor, life had to go on. Now that he'd come this far, Zhang Hao could only keep going. There was no way to return to his old life. And Mifeng's promise that it could extend his life only made him yearn for the future even more.

Suddenly, the computer began clacking as if someone were typing. Zhang Hao hurriedly looked over.

Set up a company!

Factory construction plan!

A document appeared. Zhang Hao opened it. First came instructions for setting up a company, followed by a factory construction plan—a complete set of procedures. He was stunned. Every step was laid out clearly. All he had to do was follow the instructions, and he could build two actual factories: one for machinery and one for electronics.

He sighed to himself. There was no way he could keep living quietly and getting by anymore.

"I can't handle this by myself, and I don't know anything about machinery or electronics..."

You don't need to know. Just follow my instructions!

It's very simple!

Zhang Hao gave a wry smile. "I'm just a freelancer who makes a little money here and there. How could starting a business possibly be simple?" He felt timid, even a little afraid, but Mifeng wouldn't let him back down.

Just follow my guidance!

It couldn't be simpler!

Zhang Hao had no way to refuse. Fine, he'd do it. If things went badly, Mifeng could bail him out. "All right, all right. I'll do as you say, but don't blame me if I mess it up!"

Still, just thinking about it gave him a headache. Zhang Hao couldn't help asking:

"But I don't have anyone! How am I supposed to do this alone?"

Starting a company and setting up a factory were nothing like buying a house. To buy a house, all he needed was money. He could go to a sales office, pick one, and pay. But setting up a company and opening a factory meant organizing a team. If he had to recruit people, he wouldn't even know where to start. It was a real headache.

The seventeenth floor of Jinfeng Building has been arranged. Go sign the lease tomorrow.

The lease is for two years, paid in full upfront. It's five million a year, so the total payment is ten million. The price is reasonable. A company just went out of business, so the space is already vacant. It will serve as the company's temporary office.

You don't need to handle recruitment, either. The new hires will report tomorrow. They've already been hired.

Just assign them work according to my instructions.

Lines of text appeared on the computer screen. Zhang Hao was left speechless. He felt like a complete waste of space. Mifeng was incredible—it had really taken care of everything. All he had to do was pass along the instructions.

Zhang Hao immediately relaxed. "All right. I'll go to Jinfeng Building tomorrow." He knew the building, which was in the Innovation Park. He'd passed it before; it was a very attractive office building.

Given Zhang Hao's laid-back, lazy nature, if he had to do everything himself, he'd go crazy. He wasn't cut out to be an entrepreneur. But with Mifeng backing him up, he was willing to make the effort and do as he was told.

The next day, Zhang Hao had barely gotten out of bed when he received a call from the property management office. A Bentley had arrived outside.

Before Zhang Hao could react, a line of text appeared on the computer screen beside his bed.

I bought you a car. The driver is named Cheng Yuan, and he's already been hired by the company.

Zhang Hao couldn't help saying, "You're really thoughtful!"

Of course!

Looking at those two words on the screen, Zhang Hao couldn't help marveling. Mifeng was simply amazing. He told the security guard to let the car in, and a moment later, he went to the gate and saw it slowly pull up.

It was a black Bentley. Zhang Hao knew next to nothing about cars because he couldn't drive. As a shut-in who rarely left the house, he'd never considered owning a car, even if he had money. It wasn't that he couldn't learn to drive; he was just too lazy, and he rarely went out, so a car was no use to him. In modern society, Zhang Hao was quite an oddball.

A middle-aged man got out of the car. He looked honest and sincere. When he saw Zhang Hao, he hurried over. "Hello, General Manager Zhang. I'm Cheng Yuan." He was quite surprised. Zhang Hao looked so young that he didn't seem to be in his early thirties at all. Since he spent most of his time at home, his skin was very fair, making him look at least seven or eight years younger. He could easily pass for someone in his twenties.

Cheng Yuan had been a taxi driver, working the night shift and sharing the job with a partner. After more than ten years, he was physically and mentally exhausted. Recently, he'd had a disagreement with his partner. It was a simple matter: he'd wondered if he could switch to the day shift, and the two of them ended up falling out. He was an honest man, but when an honest man lost his temper, he could be incredibly stubborn. In the end, he simply quit.