Ling Tian met Feng Baoqiang in a coffee shop next to Jiangzhou University.
More than a month had passed, and the man was still as aged and haggard as ever, his face even more weathered.
However, Ling Tian could sense the emotions radiating from him. The dejection and loss of hope that had once characterized him were gone, replaced by a sense of calm and detachment from worldly affairs.
Ling Tian was relieved. It meant the man hadn't given up on himself. That experience had matured him and helped him find his direction in life.
"Thank you, thank you, Mr. Ling. Not only do I thank you for saving my life, but I also thank you for waking me up with your scolding.
You were right that day; I was indeed an idiot, devaluing my own life for a woman, without any regard for my parents...
I've realized now that what I've done these past few years was utterly worthless. I want to change and repay my parents for raising me..."
As Feng Baoqiang spoke, he suddenly shifted the topic: "Oh, right, Mr. Ling, there's one more thing I need to thank you for. Thank you for teaching that pair of scumbags a lesson on my behalf."
After his detention ended, Feng Baoqiang learned that Ma Rongrong and Song Shao, that pair of scumbags, had gotten into a fight with each other, resulting in both of them being severely injured.
Ma Rongrong was disfigured and her life was ruined. Song Shao was even worse off; he had to undergo gender reassignment surgery in Thailand.
The incident was unbelievable, and the parties involved had no idea why it happened.
The authorities were also suspicious of the event, as it was quite bizarre, but they had no leads.
If Feng Baoqiang hadn't been in detention at the time, the authorities would likely have suspected him.
But Feng Baoqiang wasn't foolish. He recalled the skills Ling Tian displayed when he saved him, and the words Ling Tian had spoken to the scumbags at the end. He immediately guessed that Ling Tian was responsible.
"What scumbags? What are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean," Ling Tian denied outright. They exchanged a look, understanding each other without words.
Even if Ling Tian had done it, he couldn't possibly admit to such a thing.
"Baoqiang, it's best that you've cleared your head. I was worried you'd get stuck in a rut. What are your plans now?" Ling Tian asked curiously.
"I plan to find a job... earn some money first, support myself, and be filial to my parents. As for anything else, I don't want to think about it for now," Feng Baoqiang said forlornly.
The man had attempted suicide in a public place that day, which was a violation of the law, and he was detained for seven days.
During those seven days, he had thought a lot and realized how foolish and ridiculous his past actions were.
However, after being released, he also received disciplinary action from the university and was expelled, ending his postgraduate studies.
Fortunately, Feng Baoqiang had come to terms with it and accepted everything, preparing to find a job to make a living.
"Send me your resume!"
Feng Baoqiang was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood that Ling Tian was offering him an opportunity.
He looked at Ling Tian gratefully, and they exchanged contact information. Feng Baoqiang sent Ling Tian his resume electronically.
Ling Tian saw that the man had majored in statistics but had also taken elective courses in marketing and other related fields.
Furthermore, he had extensive experience working part-time jobs to satisfy the vanity of that woman, Ma Rongrong.
Ling Tian immediately judged that this young man was quite capable.
"You don't need to look for a job anymore. I'll give you one! I happen to need someone to work for me and handle some matters!"
"Really? That's great! What kind of work is it? I will go through fire and water to do whatever you ask and not disappoint your expectations!"
"It's not that serious, no need to be so dramatic! I'm establishing a charity foundation and will be involved in charitable work. I need you to help me manage the related funds, grow the assets, and oversee the allocation and use of these funds..."
Feng Baoqiang thought for a moment and frowned.
"Mr. Ling, I must remind you that the authorities are very strict about managing charity foundations now. Without a certain amount of assets and scale, it will be difficult to get approval."
Ling Tian smiled: "It doesn't matter. You can register a regular fund management company. I don't need to solicit donations or raise funds from the public. All the funds for this charity foundation will be provided by me! I also don't need tax exemptions; we'll pay every cent of tax due!"
"Okay, I will definitely manage this foundation well for you!" Feng Baoqiang said very solemnly.
Ling Tian's decision to establish a charity foundation was not made on a whim. The primary reason he did so was to manage the money he acquired from the Jin family.
For Ling Tian, it was ill-gotten gains. However, his several masters had all taught him that if ill-gotten gains were not handled properly, they could become karmic obstacles.
Because ill-gotten gains came too easily and too quickly, over time, people would become addicted to the thrill of acquiring them, ultimately losing their true selves and their way.
Regarding how to handle these ill-gotten gains, although his masters' answers were not exactly the same, they could be summarized in eight words: "Rob the rich to help the poor, and act on behalf of heaven."
Ling Tian knew that there were many unfortunate people in the world who needed help, so he wanted to use this money to assist those in need!
Next, Ling Tian explained his ideas for the foundation to Feng Baoqiang in detail.
The foundation would not require many management personnel, and all management would adopt a vertical management approach. This would make communication simple and efficient, and also prevent issues of overstaffing.
Most importantly, many so-called charity foundations had very bloated management structures, with personnel expenses alone amounting to a significant sum each year, leading to the waste of a large portion of charitable funds.
Ling Tian decided that since he was going to undertake this task, he would do it differently!
"Um, boss, where should we choose the office location..."
"Near Jiangzhou University would be fine. When we recruit, we can prioritize selecting outstanding graduates or even current students from Jiangzhou University. Additionally, some projects of the charity foundation will require many volunteers, so it will be convenient to carry out work near the school," Ling Tian explained.
"Okay, I'll go look for nearby office spaces now..."
"No need. Why waste money? Office rents are expensive, and parking is inconvenient. We don't need an office space to maintain appearances. Finding a decent residential property as an office would be quite good!"
"Okay, I'll go look now..."
Just then, Ling Tian's phone suddenly rang. Ling Tian glanced at the caller ID and was taken aback.