Chapter 506: The Sword of Morality

Then, Liang Haiyuan came in and handed over a document.
“Chairman Su, the group's charitable foundation just submitted a proposal.”
Su Hao took it and glanced at it, raising an eyebrow slightly.
“…ESG?”
Environment, Society, and Governance.
In the past, evaluating a company was simply about cold, hard financial data like revenue and profit.
But as the tide of time has rolled forward, issues such as labor rights, environmental damage, and governance structures have received increasing attention. Thus, the entirely new evaluation system of ESG emerged.
It tells the world that a great company cannot be judged solely by how much money it makes; its cleanliness must also be considered:
How environmentally friendly it is, how responsible it is to society, and whether its internal governance is a mess.
This is why large companies today are all clamoring for environmental protection, investing heavily in philanthropy, and desperately trying to maintain their brand image.
Because these aren't just empty titles, but real, tangible benefits!
Top global institutions like BlackRock and Bridgewater have long publicly declared they will never invest in companies with low ESG ratings.
A poor ESG score can be devastating to a company's brand image and sales.
Especially in this era where social media dominates public opinion, ESG has become a "moral sword" hanging over the heads of all businesses.
"The foundation believes that, given the problems exposed by the Turkish incident and the widespread existence of appalling labor conditions globally, they recommend…
that our Fanghuan Investment lead the establishment of a brand-new ESG association.
Using higher and stricter standards to evaluate companies, establishing an 'ultimate rating'."
"And then promoting it worldwide through our social media and news networks?" Su Hao instantly understood their idea.
"Yes. The foundation's staff around the world have seen far too many workers struggling in inhumane conditions.
They…can't bear it."
Su Hao understood the foundation's people's compassionate heart.
Those people, you wouldn't be exaggerating to call them saints reincarnated; seeing injustice and suffering, they couldn't sit still more than anyone else.
"What do you think?" Su Hao asked.
"Chairman Su, the initial intention is good. But if the standards are too strict, I'm afraid there will be considerable backlash within our own ranks."
"But it's for environmental protection, for social justice, isn't it?
Besides, climate change is getting increasingly outrageous."
Su Hao felt that as long as it could bring even a small positive change to the world, this project was worth trying.
Improving workers' rights and reducing environmental damage is itself a meritorious deed.
Su Hao closed his eyes slightly, quietly waiting for that mysterious intuition.
Should we proceed, or discuss it further?
"…!"
In an instant, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning!
It was an incredibly clear signal of affirmation from the depths of his intuition!
***
As night deepened, in a private club, Huang Fengwen was enjoying drinks with Qin Han of Jiangjin Group.
"Oh, Chairman Huang, brother! This time, we owe you a huge debt of gratitude!"
"Hmm? Helped? What did I do?"
"Don't be so modest. As soon as the fruit business hit the rocks, Fang Huan's marketing team acted swiftly and decisively, going all out to spread all sorts of negative rumors and gossip across the media and social networks!
That's quite a feat, we can only dream of it!"
Qin Han personally poured Huang Fengwen a full glass, his face full of admiration.
Huang Fengwen laughed heartily: "You're joking. Even if we hadn't intervened, Jiang Jin would have done the same, wouldn't they?"
"Of course we did, but our influence can't compare to Fang Huan's."
Looking at this business tycoon who he once looked up to, now calling him brother and clinking glasses with him, Huang Fengwen was filled with mixed emotions.
Truly, life is like a game of chess, unpredictable and ever-changing.
“But speaking of which,” Huang Fengwen put down his wine glass and smacked his lips, “I feel like we might have been a bit too hasty this time.”
“Oh? What makes you say that, Chairman Huang?”
“Chairman Qin, you saw the news too, right? That kid Su Hao issued an official statement through the company today.”
“Ah…that one?” Qin Han smiled. “The statement Fang Huan made claiming he had absolutely no interest in acquiring the fruit company?”
When Huang Fengwen saw that news, he felt a little embarrassed, realizing he had gotten excited for nothing.
However, Qin Han smiled mysteriously:
“Chairman Huang, in my opinion, quite the opposite!
What I read in that statement was a determination to devour the fruit whole, stronger than any declaration!”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Chairman Huang, you must have heard that Fang Huan is going to establish a new ESG association, headed by Chairman Su himself, right?”
“Ah, yes. The group debated this for a long time, everyone feeling the standards were too high, that it would trap them.
But since it was Su Hao's decision, no one dared to stop him.”
“My dear Chairman Huang!” Qin Han slapped his thigh,
“You and those executives have followed Chairman Su for so long, how come you still don't understand his methods?
This isn't just putting shackles on him, it's clearly sharpening a knife!”
“…?” Huang Fengwen looked bewildered.
What methods could a non-profit association aiming to protect the environment and care for society possibly have?
"Think about it, this isn't some makeshift operation set up by some nobody; this is the ESG Association spearheaded by Fang Huan Investment!
It's the rules of the game personally set by the most influential capital giants on the planet!
Once this association is established, guess how many companies worldwide will be scrambling to join, desperate to obtain that damn 'ultimate rating' certification?"
"Then... they'll be flocking to it."
"Exactly! Things are different now; brand value is the lifeline!
Consumers today don't just look at quality; they care more about whether a company is clean!
That's why BlackRock and Bridgewater value ESG so much—because it's directly linked to real money!"
"And then?"
"Then, Fang Huan's ESG Association will implement an 'ultimate rating,' using extremely stringent standards to scrutinize all companies."
"And they'll announce the rating results to the world through their media empire."
"Yes, that's why we're all worried, afraid of playing with fire and getting burned.
By that standard, even we at Fang Huan ourselves have a slim chance of meeting it."
"That's right," Qin Han's eyes flashed, "but do you think Chairman Su would be so bored as to suddenly create an association to revolutionize himself?"
Hearing this, Huang Fengwen's eyes suddenly lit up!
"You mean... Su Hao is forging a weapon?"
"That's right!" Qin Han snapped his fingers,
"He's polishing a spear, a sharp spear capable of piercing a dragon's heart!
And that dragon, who do you think it is?"
"That dragon..."
A name flashed through Huang Fengwen's mind like lightning.
"Could it be... Fruit?!"
"Exactly!" Qin Han's voice was filled with glee.
"Fruit has always been known for its rampant factory construction in third-world countries, like mushrooms growing, and for exploiting cheap labor!
After we joined forces to blockade it, it burrowed even deeper into those godforsaken corners!
Now, imagine what would happen if the ESG Association, founded by Fang Huan, one of the world's most influential tycoons, started to give Fruit a 'fair and objective' rating?"
Fruit's brand image, of course, wouldn't collapse immediately.
But what if Fang Huan used the media and social networks he controlled to expose its sweatshops, its environmental pollution, and its many original sins, day after day, year after year?
"Like a huge, glossy apple, slowly and thoroughly eaten away, inside and out, by countless tiny termites."
Qin Han raised his glass, his eyes flashing with a crazed light.
"In the end, only an empty, rotting shell remains!"
And those seemingly harmless "termites," now, under the lofty banners of "environmental protection" and "human rights," are swarming towards that once-invincible fruit!