Chapter 1610: Legacy or Explosive Barrel
Since Meng Chao’s words were true descriptions of what he had seen in his apocalyptic nightmare, they seemed particularly hard-hitting and powerful.
Shen Yuanbao was silent.
In his deep eyes, many hospitals, schools, bridges, and even cities named “Yuanbao” seemed to rise from the ground and stand tall.
“Continue.”
Shen Yuanbao said, “There are two more.”
“The other two are relatively simple.”
Meng Chao said, “I think that such a new foundation should pay attention to the rehabilitation of disabled citizens and the purchase, installation, use, and maintenance of artificial limbs. or to put it simply, more money should be invested in our Broken Star Club. On behalf of the thousands of disabled citizens in Dragon City, I would like to thank you for your generosity.
“Also, the foundation should pay more attention to the heroes who have done meritorious deeds during the Monster War in the past decades and those who do such deeds during new wars in the future, whether they are veterans or not. It could help with their further education, employment, and even pension issues.
“Now, there are three meritorious deed systems in Dragon City, which are aimed at ordinary citizens, superhumans, and the Red Dragon soldiers respectively.
“Logically speaking, as long as you make contributions, you will receive glory and tangible benefits.
…
“The problem is that Dragon City’s market is too small. The process of changing from a wartime economic system to a normal economic system will inevitably experience a stumble with the many pressures and obstacles.
“In order to make a breakthrough outside Monster Mountain Range as soon as possible, our financial pressure has been extremely great.
“Under such circ.u.mstances, for the heroes who have done meritorious deeds, the glory is barely enough. There will be fewer real benefits, and the heroes will feel cold toward it.
“In reality, Dragon City is not without money.
“However, the money is in the hands of some superhumans from the nine great cultivation families. It’s been used to build The Grand View of the Universe, which is destined to be destroyed in the flames of the apocalypse.
“In my opinion, instead of wasting an astronomical amount of resources to build The Grand View of the Universe and hoping that the reinforced concrete sh.e.l.l can protect the Shen family’s descendants, it’s better to bring out all these resources and form a good relationship with the heroes who have made outstanding military achievements.
“When disaster really comes, it’s much more reliable to count on these heroes to help the Shen family than to count on The Grand View of the Universe, which has yet to be completed and is already emitting an aura of decay.”
“You…”
Shen Yuanbao’s face was white with a tinge of red and green.
It was his idea to build The Grand View of the Universe.
On one hand, that was the trend of the nine great n.o.ble cultivation families. Everyone was building a lot of things. If the Shen family did not follow, it would be looked down upon.
On the other hand, Shen Yuanbao, who had fought his way from the lowest level of the mine to the peak, was not lacking. He had capped off his turbulent life with The Grand View of the Universe. After his death, he would leave behind something meaningful in the world.
He did not expect Meng Chao, a powerhouse of the new generation, to say that the magnificent and indestructible The Grand View of the Universe was merely a concrete and steel b*stard sh.e.l.l.
What pained him even more was, Shen Yuanbao could tell that Meng Chao was not deliberately provoking him because he was not on the same page.
Meng Chao truly believed that The Grand View of the Universe would be destroyed together with the Shen family in a few decades.
If Shen Yuanbao were a few decades younger, he would definitely not be convinced. Instead, he would risk everything to compete with Meng Chao.
However, it came down to the same thing in the end.
He was already old.
There was not much time left.
After his fall, Dragon City was destined to belong to Meng Chao, Lu Siya, and the other new generations.
He had mentally chosen his own children three to five times. There were really not many people who could withstand Meng Chao and Lu Siya’s combined attacks.
Therefore, no matter how ridiculous, ear-piercing, or excessive Meng Chao’s opinion was, he had to acknowledge it. He had to listen to it and consider it carefully.
“These five rules don’t work.”
After careful consideration, Shen Yuanbao slowly shook his head. “Based on what you’ve implied, these five rules require the nine mega corporations to do what the Survival Committee should do for free.”
“In the past few decades, the nine mega corporations have dominated Dragon City. They firmly controlled the Supernatural Tower and the Survival Committee and used it to earn excessive profits, allowing them to develop to their current state.”
Meng Chao said, “From a certain point of view, all of you are the Survival Committee. This is the responsibility that all of you should bear!
“Earlier, in the meeting hall, didn’t the Shen family’s disciples, who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, say ‘we are the ones in charge of Dragon City’ and ‘Dragon City is our world’?
“Since Dragon City is your world, if you don’t shoulder this responsibility, who will?
“That’s not always possible. When there is a cake to share, you will wave your knives and forks, howl, and rush faster than anyone else.
“When it’s time to pay for the cake, you’ll turn a blind eye, make excuses, and run away, right?”
Shen Yuanbao’s old face turned red.
The most significant difference between him and the Shen family was that he had not been born with luxurious clothes, an astronomical amount of resources, and thousands of employees forced to obey, revere, and even worship him.
Therefore, he would not take these things for granted and pay no price at all.
“But, it’s too much.”
Shen Yuanbao said, “According to the five rules that you’ve proposed, how big is the scale of this foundation? How much money will the Shen family have to throw into it? Even if you put the entire family and business on the line, it might not be enough!”
“That’s right. It’s the only way that the Shen family’s long-term survival be guaranteed. It’s the only way that your name will be remembered by everyone in a thousand years, ten thousand years, or even longer, Senior Shen!”
Meng Chao said, “Otherwise, what kind of legacy do you want to leave for your children to ensure that they, their children, and their children’s children will be well-fed, dignified, and even above Dragon City forever, Senior Shen?
“Don’t tell me that you’re going to rely on those crystal ore veins that you’ve worked hard for your whole life?”
Shen Yuanbao snorted.
The implication was obvious. “Aren’t the crystal ore veins enough?”
“Don’t joke around.”
Meng Chao said, “The crystal ore veins don’t have the name of your Shen family carved on them. If you summon them, they won’t agree to anything. It’s just that those heavenly materials and earthly treasures have no owners, hence strong soldiers and horses can get to them.
“Back then, you were strong and invincible in Dragon City. It’s no surprise that you were able to occupy so many crystal ore veins.
“But when you occupied the crystal ore veins, you must have offended a lot of people and formed unresolvable grudges. You also acc.u.mulated the jealousy of countless people.
“Take the events of the past few days as an example. Which ordinary superhuman who didn’t have the money to buy cultivation resources didn’t silently curse Universe Corporation and Sky Pillar Corporation in their hearts?
“As long as you’re alive, everything will be fine.
“Unfortunately, once you fall, do you think that all those years of resentment, jealousy, and the struggle for benefits will not rebound or even backfire?
“So, you’re not leaving a rich legacy for your descendants at all. You’re simply leaving countless explosive barrels under their behinds that can explode at any time!”