Chapter 368: Go to America
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Dai Li's mind was messed up for a while, then he finally came to himself. Dai Li knew exactly how competent he was, or wasn't. He had no experience in running a business, and he couldn't even take good care of a small supermarket, let alone a huge Group Company worth hundreds of billions of RMB.
As for Dingtian Xiao's "Learn it, if you don't know" mentality, it was encouraging to some degree, but it also brought more pressure than inspiration. Dai Li was no longer an ignorant boy, who concentrated only on study, nor was he an enthusiastic newbie, who had just started his job. He had already become a successful coach. Now, he was told to enter into a completely unknown field, and start from the very beginning, so understandably, he was confused and anxious.
But such confusion and anxiety were outshone by the lust of wealth. Being possible to receive a company with hundreds of billions in market value, such an allure was like a stray that suddenly found a GPS navigation, offering such amazement, which was strong enough to destroy any confusion or anxiety. If Dai Li hadn't had the System with him, he would definitely have agreed without a slight hesitation.
Sitting on his opposite, Dingtian Xiao continued: "You may ask me, why don't I give Dingtian Group to Yunan. I know, she has been trying really hard on everything, and that she hopes to take my place, but I don't want her to sit on my seat and walk down my old path. Being a businessman is exhausting!"
Dingtian Xiao spoke, took a long sigh, then continued: "In outsiders' eyes, I, DIngtian Xiao, live a wonderful life, owning hundreds of billions worth in properties, being one of the richest people in the country, calling the wind and commanding the rain. But, in fact, it's sad to look back on those old days, when I just began my career. Even at present, when Dingtian has such a big scale, I still wake up at five a.m., work for sixteen to seventeen hours a day, and can't go to bed until twelve. Meetings, reports, activities, social parties, I fly around the country everyday dealing with various kinds of people...Day in and Day out, the same things repeat again and again, and I can't see its end!"
He went on: "This is a hard life. At the beginning, I felt my life was fulfilled and passionate, but now, I think it's more about fulfilling responsibilities." Dingtain Xiao was now looking at Dai Li seriously: "Since I have experienced the life a businessman is likely to have, I don't want to see Yunan go though the same hard life. I hope her life could be easy and simple, not being forced to shoulder so many responsibilities."
Dingtian Xiao paused, sipped on his wine, then told Dai Li: "My requirement to my future son-in-law is simple: to be able to take my turn, and be strong enough to support the whole Dingtian Group, so that Yunan can have a rather relaxing life, and won't worry about Dingtian anymore."
He continued: "You may think that my behavior is selfish, to force my son-in-law to shoulder more responsibilities in order to make my daughter's life more comfortable. Sometimes I also think this is like finding an uxorilocal son-in-law in ancient times. In the past, an uxorilocal man married into, and lived with, his bride's family, and he also needed to do the bride's farm work. Isn't it like my requirements?" Dingtian Xiao paused here, laughed at himself, then continued:
"You are not too old to start learning to do business. Many successful entrepreneurs didn't start their business until their forties or fifties, but you haven't yet reached your thirties. So, I think I can offer you a chance, and assess whether you have talent in management or not. As for you, there is no need to reply right now. You can take time and consider thoroughly."
...
The hotel's bed was soft and comfortable, and lying in bed was like falling into a snow pile. But Dai Li was not in the mood for enjoying this. He lay in the bed, pondering Dingtian Xiao's words.
Dingtian Xiao indeed offered Dai Li a great chance, a chance which could help Dai Li reach the sky in one step. And Dai Li's desire was indeed aroused. Like many commoners, he had a dream of being rich, or even lucky enough to be the richest person in the country. Now, he was very likely to attain his dream.
But I'm a professional coach!
With hundreds of billions money, why do I do this shit?
My dream is to become the best coach in the world!
Comparing that with hundreds of millions in money, how much does it cost for a dream?
Two voices kept ringing in Dai Li's mind, arguing back and forth, making Dai Li incomparably conflicted in his heart. Dai Li tossed and turned restlessly, unable to fall asleep at all. He never knew that a night could be so long.
...
One day later.
Dai Li walked out form Duke Gaer's castle, enjoying the warm sunshine. Dai Li had already introduced Dingtian Xiao to Duke Gaer, who met Dingtian Xiao after afternoon tea. As for what they discussed in the meeting, Dai Li didn't care. But as for Dingtian Xiao's suggestion, Dai Li had made up his mind. He took out his phone, typed Yunan Xiao's number.
"Yunan, I met your father in London," Dai Li said calmly.
"My father? He seems to be there for some natural gas program. Why, did he embarrass you?" Yunan sounded very nervous.
"President Xiao wanted me to join in Dingtian," said Dai Li.
"Join in Dingtian? But aren't you the coach in our club?"Yunan Xiao asked, confused.
"Not the club, but Dingtian Group. He wanted to cultivate me as the successor of Dingtian, to take his turn in the future." Dai Li told Yunan Xiao about Dingtian Xiao's general idea.
Yunan Xiao remained silent for a while, before she asked: "Then, what's your plan? Did you agree?"
"Today, on my way to Duke Gaer's, I have refused him." Dai Li's voice was calm: "I have thought carefully, and it might be a right choice to join in Dingtian, but it's not what I want."
"Don't you want to try?" Yunan Xiao sounded causal, but Dai Li could feel that she was controlling her emotions.
Dai Li didn't reply directly, but said, "I remember that you once mentioned wanting to prove to your father that you have sufficient ability to take charge of Dingtian, so inheriting Dingtian Group is your dream. But for me, I want to be the best coach in the world! I don't want to be some successful entrepreneur at all. So, I have made a decision."
"What decision?" Yunan Xiao immediately asked.
"I want to achieve my dream, to be the best coach in the world. Then I will retire and go to Dingtian to help you. I can be a garbage man, or fetch lattes for you!" Dai Li said seriously.
"Hum..." On the other side of the phone, Yunan Xiao suddenly snickered.
"Hey, don't laugh, I'm serious." Dai Li continued, "And I'm planning to go to America!"
"You wanna go to America?" Yunan Xiao stopped laughing now.
"In this country, If I want to be a good coach, I have to rely on the governmental system, which is unreasonable to me. So I want to go to America in order to open a private training center, and to offer commercial physical training." Dai Li paused, then said: "Actually a few years ago, when I was in America for a study tour, I had this idea of running my own training institute! But at that time, I had neither sufficient funds nor good timing. Now, I think I'm ready!"