As a rising business star, Jiang Chan gave many business interviews. With so much discussion about her online lately, she was not afraid of trouble, but neither was she willing to do nothing and simply let the matter fester.
The host of Business Stars was a very capable woman of about forty. Her hosting style was both composed and engaging, and the show could be called a well-known program in a certain province.
Who among the people invited onto this interview program was not a prominent figure? Someone as young-looking as Jiang Chan had never appeared before. Looking at the young woman before her, whose brilliance was on full display, the host could not help reflecting that every generation brought forth new talent.
“To find truly outstanding figures, we must look to the present. Today, we’ve invited President Lian Qiao, CEO of a company that has just gone public. Please welcome her with a round of applause.”
After the brief introduction, Lian Qiao walked onto the stage from the side in well-fitted, appropriate clothing. When the audience saw her face clearly, they cheered on cue, their applause roaring like a surging sea.
People these days truly admired heroes of business, and Jiang Chan’s achievement at such a young age amazed them all the more. She and the host conversed very well. There was not a single awkward silence.
Even when the host posed difficult questions, Jiang Chan resolved them lightly without revealing any change in expression. There were two reasons this program’s ratings were so high.
One was naturally the host’s professionalism and the prominent guests’ accounts of their experiences. The other was that the show was not entirely rigid. Sometimes it also asked about the guests’ private affairs. Whenever that happened, the ratings shot up.
Halfway through the interview, the host suddenly gave a mysterious smile. “Now we’ve reached the part everyone looks forward to most. I have ten questions collected online that everyone most wants to ask. Shall I begin?”
Jiang Chan grew alert, knowing they had reached the real business. She sat a little straighter. “Go ahead.”
“All right. First, let’s watch a video. It was recorded by President Lian’s classmates and teachers. Let’s watch it together.”
Interview clips appeared on the screen at the back of the stage. Many of the people were familiar to Jiang Chan, including her former homeroom teacher Old Tang, the principal, and her classmates.
Everyone spoke of Jiang Chan with endless praise and admiration. One boy even joked at the end, “Boss, your company has gone public. Don’t forget us now that you’re rich and successful!”
Everyone in the studio laughed at this, and a faint smile appeared on Jiang Chan’s face too. She remembered this boy. He had been Class One’s sports representative and had often stood up for her in high school.
Seeing that Jiang Chan looked relaxed, the host began her questions. “There have been rumors online that you only attended high school for one year before taking the college entrance examination?”
Exclamations of surprise immediately rose from the audience. Jiang Chan nodded. “That’s right. I was admitted to No. 2 High School, but I had been studying high school material on my own. I felt that studying things I already understood would waste time, so on the day I registered for my first year, I went to the principal’s office to ask to skip a grade.”
“The principal probably didn’t agree at first?” the host asked at the right moment.
“Correct. Naturally, he didn’t agree. But eventually, after I kept asking, he gave me a chance and organized a grade-skipping examination. If I passed, I could enter the second year. Otherwise, I had to stay in the first year. Fortunately, I succeeded.”
“That was also the result of your own hard work.” The host interjected at the right moment. “And what about your classmate’s final comment, ‘Don’t forget us now that you’re rich and successful’?”
Jiang Chan gave her broadest smile so far. “I remember him. He was our class sports representative. Because I was the youngest then, everyone looked after me like older brothers and sisters. He’s very optimistic and always willing to help. If my classmates are interested, my company’s doors are always open to them.”
At a time like this, Jiang Chan did not forget to do a little recruiting. They had all been in the same class, and their college entrance examination results had been good. Most had entered leading universities. Once they graduated, they might as well come work for her. Every one of them was talented.
“President Lian truly never misses a chance to recruit talent. Your classmates must be in their third year of university now. Their internships are coming up at just the right time.”
“That’s why I welcome them to intern at our company. Ideally, once they come, they won’t leave.”
Jiang Chan pressed her lips together, smiling with particular anticipation.
The host shook her head. “Let’s return to the topic. As you’ve become more famous, President Lian, your past has inevitably come to light. People online have revealed that your family relationships seem rather strained?”
Jiang Chan’s expression did not change. “Giving birth to you doesn’t mean your parents will love you. My biological parents treat their stepson and stepdaughter better than they treat me. Perhaps I was simply born without much affinity with my parents. But that doesn’t matter. I’m grown up now and stopped needing so-called paternal and maternal love long ago.”
The host had not expected Jiang Chan to say that. When discussing such matters, most people instinctively chose a tactful response or denied them. Who would act as unconventionally as Jiang Chan?
“Rumor has it you had to start working on your own to earn living expenses at a very young age. Didn’t you find it hard?” Looking at Jiang Chan, who was only twenty and just a few years older than her own daughter, the host could not help feeling maternal concern.
“Actually, I wouldn’t call it hard. I’d say I rather enjoyed that sort of work. My life wasn’t all that difficult financially either, because my grades were fairly decent?” Jiang Chan raised an eyebrow. “So the school waived my tuition, accommodation, and meal fees. My classmates also looked after me a great deal. There really wasn’t much I needed to spend money on.”
“I chose to work then for two reasons. First, to earn my future university tuition. Second, because I desperately needed money. When someone has been short of money for a long time, money becomes her source of security.”
Some of the more sensitive audience members had begun to sob. Jiang Chan had no intention of appealing to pity. “I’m not saying this to make myself sound pitiful. I really needed money that badly then. For someone whose greatest wealth had been twenty yuan in spending money, I wished I could earn a great deal of money all at once.”
“But as my horizons gradually broadened, I discovered that money isn’t everything in this world. It’s more of a tool. What truly supports you as you keep moving forward is your ability and your character.”
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