I was forced to start the second round because I was raised in poverty

Chapter 387 Su Sheng's defection
"President Sheng."

"How are the preparations going?"

The day after Long Ruoli met with Su Cheng, she went directly to Su Sheng.

Su Sheng secluded himself in his private residence to devise the STX Group acquisition.

The difficulty in this case lies not in the merger itself, but in the integration of technology and industry after the merger.

"well enough."

"Is there anything your father wants you to tell him?"

"No, I just came to offer my condolences."

The exams were scheduled as follows:

Bai Zihua handed out the exam papers to Su Sheng.

Long Ruoli handed Su Cheng a curling iron.

As of now, Su Sheng is still unaware that he and Su Cheng are handling the same case together.

Su Tianyan concealed this information gap, and Su Sheng thought he was just dealing with an unexpected case in the group, leading him to mistakenly believe that it had nothing to do with the "succession plan".

This will allow Su Sheng to remain independent and objectively assess the gap in abilities between his two sons.

The purpose of Long Ruoli's visit to Su Sheng today is to leak information about the current case.

The situation is rather complicated this time.

Because this is not a test of adopted son versus biological son.

To be precise, it should be lavish upbringing vs. frugal upbringing.

Su Tianyan definitely wants to see Su Cheng succeed, because it means that raising her in poverty will be successful.

I don't know about Bai Zihua...

However, Long Ruoli guessed that he probably wanted to see Su Cheng fail?
I don’t quite understand.

Long Ruoli definitely wanted to see Su Cheng fail, but her motives and reasons were different from those of Su Tianyan and Bai Zihua.

What she wanted to see was that raising children in poverty had not yet been successful.

There is a fundamental difference between success, failure, and not yet succeeding.

The fact that it has not yet succeeded means that the "poor upbringing" plan will have to be extended, and Su Cheng's succession will also be delayed by a few years.

and so.

She wants to help Su Sheng win.

Ideally, you should win big.

We can't hold back like we did last time.

Long Ruoli also wrote an answer sheet based on this exam paper, and asked Su Sheng to refer to it when designing the business plan he was to submit.

Su Sheng genuinely believed that Long Ruoli was trying to help him out of kindness, so he accepted her proposal.

I took a quick look.

Long Ruoli's idea is to make acquisitions, but conservatively invest more than $100 billion; otherwise, it would be better not to acquire STX Group at all.

It has some reference value, but it's not very helpful.

Because Long Ruoli's plan was similar to his own ideas.

Seeing that Su Sheng only glanced at the proposal a few times before tossing it aside, Long Ruoli couldn't help but say, "President Sheng, you should take a closer look."

"I've read it. Thank you for considering the group's interests."

Long Ruoli: ? ? ?

Why make it so serious?
Don't you trust her?

Or do you think her proposal isn't good enough?
If it's the latter, then she thinks it's pretty good.

At the very least, Su Sheng can come up with something better, so she doesn't need to get involved.

but.

I'm afraid Su Sheng is blindly confident.

Therefore, she had to remind him and tell Su Sheng the truth.

"President Sheng, you must do this seriously this time. Why don't you take my proposal into consideration?"

Su Sheng narrowed his eyes.

When has he ever failed to take the group's affairs seriously?

There's no need for Long Ruoli to give any instructions here.

"Aunt Long, if you have nothing else to say..."

Just as Su Sheng was about to send Long Ruoli away, Long Ruoli told him, "Your younger brother is also working on this plan."

Long Ruoli's words instantly made Su Sheng swallow the rest of his order to leave.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly, you're just there to make up the numbers in this STX acquisition."

Accompanying someone to the exam?
Long Ruoli couldn't figure out what Su Sheng was up to.

This is hardly a story about accompanying someone to an exam.

Are there any accompanying students who also go into the exam room to take the exam paper?
"This is your father's order. If anyone can't do it, it's Brother Tianyan who will make it impossible for you."

Su Sheng replied without hesitation: "Then you shouldn't have told me."

Since his father asked him to accompany Su Cheng to the exam without telling him that Su Cheng was also doing the same set of papers, his father meant that he should handle the situation objectively.

Long Ruoli asked herself, "What's going on?"
Long Ruoli had anticipated that Su Sheng would say this, and she had already prepared the corresponding wording.

"Oh, Mr. Sheng, I was just worried something might happen to you."

Do you think something unexpected might happen to me?

Su Sheng's eyes were questioning; Long Ruoli's words were clearly an offensive challenge to him.

Long Ruoli adopted a submissive and humble stance: "This is a difficult matter to judge; everyone makes mistakes sometimes."

"Do you remember the semiconductor company your father acquired in 04?"

"If you don't do as well as Xiaocheng, wouldn't your standing with Brother Tianyan plummet?"

"I'm doing this for your own good!"

Su Sheng silently watched Long Ruoli.

He remained silent for a long time, and his attitude was no longer as firm and resolute as before.

"Then please don't do this again, or I will report it directly to my father."

Today's meeting was planned by Long Ruoli.

She first gave Su Sheng her own plan and case file, and then told him about accompanying him to the exam.

This meant that Su Sheng had no choice but to accept her help, otherwise he wouldn't be able to explain it to the old man.

Su Sheng's reaction was exactly what she expected, and even easier than she had imagined, requiring less explanation.

After noticing the change in Su Sheng's attitude, Long Ruoli secretly praised him for being a smart man, and her smile became even more affectionate: "Of course, of course."

The two talked for about 40 to 50 minutes before Su Sheng said he had to get back to work.

"Okay~ Xiao Sheng, take care and get some rest."

"See you."

Back in his room, Su Sheng didn't look through the files anymore, but instead gazed out the window.

During the conversation just now, Long Ruoli mentioned the semiconductor merger and acquisition case in 04, which drew his particular attention.

Su Sheng knew this, of course.

Although his father did not let him see the relevant case files, he did not cover up this strategic failure.

STX's situation is similar to that of the semiconductor industry back then, and it could even be said that semiconductor mergers and acquisitions are more complex.

Because semiconductors require the integration of more technologies and upstream and downstream supply chains.

Today's STX is even simpler.

Long Ruoli's proposal was particularly inspired by the case from back then, and her conclusion was that the total investment should exceed 100 billion.

This is the same as Su Sheng's own framework.

He proposed an even larger investment, injecting at least $150 billion into the STX Group, and outlined a detailed plan to become the industry leader within ten years.

Su Sheng had a question he originally wanted to ask Long Ruoli, but in the end he didn't ask it.

"Was what Father did really right?"

The 04 semiconductor acquisition can be seen as a strategic error resulting from misjudgment.

Who hasn't made a mistake?
The father isn't omniscient or omnipotent, but that doesn't diminish Su Tianyan's authority in Su Sheng's eyes. Was the father's strategy regarding his children's education correct?

Raising Xiaocheng in poverty, without investing any resources in her?
Previously, Su Sheng had always envied Su Cheng.

Although Su Cheng did not receive high-quality material resources, including educational resources, his father had always devoted himself to him.

But what if the father was also wrong in this regard?

Su Sheng has already verified the UNV case.

He not only questioned Su Cheng herself, but also the other K2s and K3s in the group, including K22s whom he knew, admired, and trusted.

Su Sheng even inquired about the opinions of some K20 members within the group regarding the UNV case.

It was just to prove that my father had a better solution, and two better solutions at that.

There is no exception.

These outstanding elites all said that Su Cheng's solution was the optimal one.

There are no other answers.

Moreover, they were making their deductions from an hindsight perspective, which gave them an informational advantage.

Su Sheng couldn't help but doubt the truthfulness of his father's words.

Su Sheng pressed his father for an answer, but his father refused to say, saying that things had already progressed to this point and there was no point in talking about it.

Even if just one person successfully deduces the UNV case, Su Sheng will not have any doubts.

But as it turns out...

The father didn't actually have a better solution than Xiaocheng.

But why does the father still deny and belittle Xiaocheng?

Encouragement plays a vital role in a child's development.

It nourishes that young heart like sunshine and rain.

Encouragement and affirmation are important sources of children's self-confidence. When their efforts are recognized, they feel that their value is seen, thus building a positive self-perception.

This self-confidence will become a solid foundation for them to face various challenges in their studies, work, and life in the future.

That's what Su Sheng thought, and that's what he did.

His purpose in personally leading Su Cheng to the negotiating table with the people from Jin Hong Group last time was precisely this.

Su Cheng is very important to the group, and so is her hard work.

Children who lack self-confidence will find it difficult to walk steadily on the path of life.

Many parents mistakenly believe that this approach will motivate their children to "feel ashamed and then strive harder."

Or as some might say, "Heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility upon this person."

However, numerous facts and studies have shown that this educational approach is entirely harmful and can cause long-term or even irreversible damage to children.

Suppressive parenting is a major contributing factor to children's anxiety, tension, frustration, and even depression.

Verbal abuse from parents can cause children enormous emotional stress and psychological burden. This kind of harm done in the name of "love" can have lasting effects, like a needle deeply embedded in the hearts of children.

Surely Father wouldn't be unaware of this?

If Su Sheng remembered correctly, Xiao Cheng already had suicidal tendencies last year.

He checked the logbook of the training program and found that his father had been completely indifferent at the time.

At that time, the father followed Uncle Bai's advice and gave Xiao Cheng a permanent position, which helped Xiao Cheng recover.

However, the subsequent series of 'educational actions' still followed the old model.

This was something Su Sheng couldn't understand.

He judged that even if the previous ten years or so were disregarded, starting from the time his father attempted suicide, if he had recognized his mistakes and changed his "poor upbringing" strategy, things would probably be much better now.

What truly shook Su Sheng's resolve was his conversation with Su Cheng in Selamat that day.

Xiao Cheng herself said it.

His initial goal was to become a permanent employee in the group, get this respectable job, enjoy the group's high-level benefits, settle down in Jingzhou, buy a house, get married and have children.

His experiences back in his hometown of Yuzhou were all a burden to him.

What Xiaocheng wants is... freedom!
Su Sheng put himself in Xiao Cheng's shoes and imagined what Xiao Cheng would go through.

If I were Xiaocheng, would I still be able to get into K11?

Definitely not.

Su Sheng will get through the two-year internship, but he may only ever be a senior specialist in the group for the rest of his life.

Because he devoted all his energy to the internship, his eyes were only on getting a permanent position.

After being officially hired, I might instantly lose motivation and just drift along.

The final result is either being purged by the group's corrective mechanism or remaining anonymous within the group.

Neither of them is what Su Sheng wants.

But why is it that Xiaocheng can do it?

It's not because of her father's upbringing, but because Xiaocheng is Xiaocheng.

Because Su Sheng is himself, not Xiao Cheng.

Even he might not have succeeded in such a nurturing environment.

Su Sheng felt that he was more suited to being "free-range" or "laissez-faire".

All his previous thoughts were wrong.

Because he is who he is, even if he doesn't take advantage of the resources of the Emperor Group, he may not fall into the cycle of class solidification.

He certainly wouldn't have the social status he has today, but he would probably still be living a very comfortable life.

If given the resources, it would be at this level now.

What about Xiaocheng?

If Xiaocheng obtains the resources, will he be more powerful than me?

Su Sheng recalled his past thought processes, which were based on naiveté and a lack of understanding of the situation, and he felt like slapping himself.

In matters of education, he should not take his father's actions as the ultimate guide; doing so is wrong.

Father was wrong.

He was wrong too.

Who is right?

Xiaocheng is right!

Su Sheng's thinking has changed.

Let's return to this "exam paper".

It's not hard to guess why the father wanted him to accompany him during the exam.

It's simply a matter of trying to see whether a son raised in a wealthy family is more capable, or a son raised by his father using a frugal upbringing system is stronger.

If Su Sheng wins this exam, it means that the "poor upbringing" strategy has not yet succeeded, and Xiao Cheng's training cannot end for the time being. It may have to be extended for several more years.
This also explains why Long Ruoli revealed information to him and why she helped him.

Her stance was completely opposite to Uncle Bai's, so naturally she hoped he would win the match.

If that's the case, then Su Sheng has even less chance of winning.

He hoped that Xiaocheng could end his father's ordeal as soon as possible.

If he loses, it will mean that his father's policy of raising him in poverty has been successful.

Does this mean that everything Xiaocheng is going through can finally end?
He wouldn't tell Xiaocheng; the truth would be too cruel for her.

However, losing the match directly does not guarantee that the father's plan to raise his child in poverty will end as a result.

He pondered for a long time, and an idea came to him.

However, the price was heavy.

He needs to sacrifice his glory within the group, as well as all the prestige he accumulated in front of his father during the first half of his life.

At this moment, two paths split apart before Su Sheng, so clear it was almost cruel.

He could see every foreseeable detail of what would happen if he embarked on that path: his father's scolding, punishment, roaring, and hysteria.

Su Sheng felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his chest tightly, and every breath he took was accompanied by a burning pain.

He could clearly hear his heart pounding heavily and erratically behind his ribs, like a war drum being pounded wildly, urging him to make a decision quickly.

"Ok."

"That's it."

(End of this chapter)