Chapter 058: The Sunset Glow Club

Casually mentioning the demand for one hundred and fifty thousand to Qi Dazhu, Lin Yu’s impression was that the old man was either mentally unstable or had seen so much in life that he regarded money as mere paper.

This was Lin Yu’s judgment deep down. Between the two possibilities, he felt the first—though brutal—was more likely.

Everyone, when young, harbors a beautiful, complete dream. Some dreams are realized, becoming a lingering fragrance entwined among autumn reeds, to be savored slowly in the years that follow; others are shattered, drifting like a tender melody upon spring waters, their reflections faintly shimmering with the waves of youth.

To be able to reside in a cadre sanatorium in old age proved that Qi Yue’s grandfather, Sun Jin, had been successful in his youth. Whether his dream was fulfilled or not, at least he hadn’t failed.

Yet no matter what, the old man’s era would inevitably draw to a close. It was regrettable, but such was reality—a cruel reality.

If possible, Lin Yu sincerely wished to help the old man recover his childlike innocence, to reignite his passion.

“Grandpa, why do you need so much money? What are you planning to do?” Seeing her grandfather lost in thought, Qi Yue interrupted him with her question.

There was a faint trace, almost imperceptible, of reproach in Qi Yue’s tone. Since her parents had divorced, it seemed inappropriate for her grandfather to ask her father for money.

“It’s just what I told you last time—the matter of founding the Sunset Club.” As soon as Sun Jin spoke of this, he perked up noticeably, his enthusiasm apparent.

“That matter… Didn’t I give you fifty thousand last time? Isn’t that enough? It’s just something you all came up with because you’re restless. Isn’t it fine to just dabble in it?” Qi Yue replied softly.

Qi Yue was actually opposed to the idea of her grandfather and thirty-odd other elders pooling funds to start the Sunset Club for commercial investment, simply because they were restless.

After all, though these elders had once been powerful figures, now they truly were old. Many could no longer stand up straight and could only sit in wheelchairs, gazing at the scenery.

“Nonsense! What can fifty thousand do? Old Zhang from next door, the one who used to work on the railways, he contributed a hundred thousand directly! I can’t offer less than him. Otherwise, your Grandma Wang would look down on your grandpa!” Sun Jin retorted, dissatisfied.

“You’re all at such an advanced age—why are you still competing with each other?” Qi Yue said, exasperated.

“That’s where you don’t understand. This is what we call enjoying our old age,” Sun Jin laughed.

At this point, Lin Yu was certain the old man’s mind was clear; he was definitely not confused. So he stepped forward and greeted, “Grandpa, hello. My name is Lin Yu, and I’m Qi Yue’s classmate.”

The old man, who had been focused solely on Qi Yue, now turned his cloudy gaze to Lin Yu, watched him for a moment, then smiled, “Call it what you will, I won’t stand in your way. ‘Classmate,’ huh? Who would believe that? Your grandpa may be old, but his mind is sharp.”

“Oh, Grandpa~” Qi Yue blushed and protested playfully.

“Grandpa, may I hear more about your Sunset Club?” Lin Yu asked respectfully.

From then on, Sun Jin launched into an impassioned account of how a group of restless elders had decided to establish the Sunset Club.

Just as Lin Yu had guessed, most of them were retired cadres or once-successful figures—people who simply couldn’t sit idle.

So, games of chess, singing Beijing opera, or making dumplings together simply weren’t enough to satisfy their hearts, which were still vigorous despite their age.

Thus, prompted by Sun Jin and another elder, these retired officials were ignited by the idea of forming a club.

To Lin Yu’s surprise, the old man even proposed the concept of hiring professional managers.

A professional manager is someone who, in a company where ownership, legal property rights, and management are separated, takes responsibility for preserving and increasing the company’s assets, overseeing its operations and management. The concept originated in America. In 1841, after two passenger trains collided, Americans realized that railway company owners lacked the ability to manage such modern enterprises, and that capable managers should be appointed. The world’s first manager was born this way.

“These elders are truly remarkable! No wonder they spent their lives as officials,” Lin Yu thought.

As the old man spoke more deeply, Lin Yu became increasingly astonished; he felt these elders were so professional, their insights piercingly sharp.

He was certain that if these elders were young, their prospects would be limitless. Unfortunately, most of them would not be long for this world.

“Grandpa, I’m a little confused. If you hire professional managers for everything, what do you elders do as investors?” Lin Yu asked curiously.

“That’s a good question,” the old man said, taking a sip of warm water, then picking up a book about human resource planning and career design from the bedside. He flipped a few pages and read aloud, “According to Drucker, the main responsibilities of senior managers are: pursuing the enterprise’s mission; setting standards and forms for the organization, carefully considering its structure and design; cultivating human resources for the professional future, especially at high levels; establishing and maintaining good external relationships; participating in various ceremonies and rituals; and acting as the organization’s ‘reserve instrument’ in times of crisis.”

After reading, the old man smiled confidently, “That’s what we old folks do.”

“The idea is impressive, and the philosophy advanced. But what if one of you passes away suddenly?” Lin Yu knew these elders had extensive connections, so whatever they did would surely receive strong support from the government and all sectors. The only thing he couldn’t figure out was, if an elder died, what would happen to their share? Since the investment wasn’t large, and even if a company was formed, listing it would be a distant dream. Without going public, shares wouldn’t really exist.

“Hehe, child. The question you ask—we old timers have long thought about it.”

Sun Jin smiled kindly and said lightly, “Actually, at our age, all this fuss is just one last effort for our grandchildren. If someone passes away due to poor health, their share will be turned into a dividend, deposited directly into their grandchild’s account. That’s our final contribution to the next generation.”

Hearing this, Qi Yue’s eyes instantly reddened. In the end, no matter how you look at it, her grandfather was still thinking of her.

“If you’re sad, just let yourself cry,” Lin Yu gently soothed her back and whispered comfort.

“I won’t cry; it’s not pretty,” Qi Yue said stubbornly, tears glistening in her eyes.