Reborn Action Star: Starting in Hollywood

Lee Boo-jin smiled and replied, "You are right. China was very advanced in history and was once the center of East Asia."

This sentence obviously had a subtext, and Lin Yuan immediately heard the part that Li Fuzhen did not explain:

"Historically" very advanced, "once" the center of East Asia.

Relatively speaking, it is not very advanced now and is no longer the center of East Asia.

It is an indisputable fact that Lin Yuan will not be angry because of what Lee Boo-jin said.

After all, China lagged behind the world in modern times and was bullied for a hundred years. Although it is now catching up, it is obviously still lagging behind South Korea and Japan, which were once its younger brothers.

In fact, when China just started to open up to the outside world, Japan had a great psychological advantage over China.

At that time, Japan proposed the flying geese economic model in East Asia.

In other words, East Asian economies should form a whole echelon like geese.

In Japan's vision, as the country with the highest level of technology and the largest economy in East Asia, they should naturally be the "leader".

South Korea, as the country second only to Japan, ranks second.

Japan and South Korea are responsible for exporting technology and capital to build an industrial chain with Japan and South Korea as the core.

Looking back at Japan's "flying geese economic model" many years later, it seems quite ridiculous.

But in the 8s, 90s, and even in the early 00s, it didn't seem too outrageous.

Because at that time, China had not yet completed primitive accumulation in terms of technology or capital, and seemed relatively backward.

In the early 2000s, many Chinese people believed that it would take until 2030 or even 2040 for China's economic output to surpass Japan's.

But no one could have imagined that five years later, in 5, China's total economic output would surpass Japan in one fell swoop and the gap would continue to widen.

By 2024, China's total economic output will be 4.5 times that of Japan.

Even the Japanese economy is crushed by China, let alone South Korea.

It can be said that China, a behemoth known as the "developed country crusher", will crush South Korea, whose industries highly overlap with China, as the first country to do so on its way forward.

Lin Yuan, who has a far-sighted vision, certainly knows that this means that South Korea will be extremely hostile to China's rise in the future.

After all, it is difficult for anyone to remain indifferent when their job is destroyed.

For South Korea, the only way to avoid being crushed by China is to integrate into the Chinese economic circle early and turn itself into a force in China's rise rather than an obstacle standing in the way.

If South Korea can make such a choice, it will naturally be a very good thing for China.

After all, South Korea is also a manufacturing powerhouse, and its current industrial and technological advantages can also help China overcome many difficulties.

This is also the reason why Lin Yuan previously brought together mainland companies, South Korea's Samsung and Japan's Sony to form a preliminary semiconductor industry chain.

This is a good thing for China, Japan and South Korea. The only country that does not like to see this change is, of course, the United States.

Therefore, Lin Yuan needed to use his Chinese identity and a large group of investors behind him, including the Adams family, the DuPont Group, and the Boston Group, as a cover and lubricant for the project's advancement.

In the previous life, there was no one like Lin Yuan whose influence could span the Pacific Ocean, so there was no trace of such a thing at all.

In this life, what Lin Yuan wants to do is to integrate the resources of high-end manufacturing so that he can become the helmsman of a consortium with real global influence.

Regarding Lee Boo-jin's hint of sharpness, Lin Yuan replied with a smile:
"A large country has a large size and a lot of inertia. Once it starts to decline, it is very difficult to curb the downward trend and speed up again.

But if you have already entered the acceleration channel, the speed will become faster and faster and unstoppable.

Smart people see the trend early on and stand in the direction of the tide of the times."

Lin Yuan believed that Lee Boo-jin could understand his subtext.

Before Lee Boo-jin could speak, Lee Soo-man took over and said, "Yes, people of my age have witnessed the fall of the red giant, the Soviet Union. After the Soviet Union was gone, the United States seemed to have fallen ill as well.

When I came to the United States again in recent years, I didn’t feel as good as when I studied abroad before.

The number of homeless people on the street is several times greater than when I was in school."

After hearing what Lee Soo Man said, Lin Yuan couldn't help but give him a thumbs up in his heart.

Who said A-man would only feel embarrassed and at a loss?
What you are saying now is very sensible.

I have to say that Lee Soo-man is quite knowledgeable.

He studied in the United States and has a good understanding of China, so SM company has always attached so much importance to the Chinese market.

Among the many entertainment companies in South Korea, most of them are very keen to explore the American market. Once an artist becomes popular in the country, they like to arrange for them to "go to the US" in the hope of making a name for themselves in the US.

But Lee Soo-man is well aware of how xenophobic the United States is and how difficult it is for Asians to integrate into mainstream society in the United States.

Over the years, he only arranged for BOA to try to develop the American market when he was full of energy. After all, her development in Japan was very successful.

But unsurprisingly, BOA also failed.

So Lee Soo-man became more down-to-earth and focused his main energy on the three major East Asian markets of South Korea, Japan and China.

This is also the reason why Lin Yuan was willing to invest in SM company. As long as Lee Soo Man can continue to be in charge of the company with his support, instead of being seized by spokespersons controlled by capital like in later generations, then SM company will be able to become an important channel for him to "resurrect" and export his influence.

Seeing Lin Yuan's approving look, Li Xiuman couldn't help but straighten his chest.

He felt happier to receive Lin Yuan's recognition than to receive the year-end dividends.

After all, this is the greatest benefactor in his career, the kind that can decide his destiny.

After Lee Soo Man finished speaking, Lim Yoona nodded and continued, "My brother is studying in the United States. He also said that he feels that the United States has become increasingly chaotic and socially divided in recent years. Therefore, he does not want to stay in the United States to work after graduation."

Kim Taeyeon, who had been concentrating on eating, also looked up and said, "Will the United States also become irreversible and slowly decline? If so, will China, which has developed rapidly in recent years, continue to do better in the future?"

Their words made Lin Yuan sigh: Where did these ace supporting actors come from? Why did three of them appear at once?

Lee Boo-jin just listened to them quietly and did not speak.

She seemed to be thinking, clearly touched.

Lin Yuan did not continue speaking, but stopped there.

After all, the theme of today's dinner is to welcome the guests from South Korea, rather than to force Lee Boo-jin to instill ideas into her. He is very clear about the principle that too much is as bad as too little.

After enjoying the refreshing "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond", the guests had already worked up a great appetite.

So the next dish can be the main course.

The next dish served by the waiter was Korean’s favorite - Dongpo Pork.

This is not a joke. Later, Koreans "occupied Shanghai" with the help of the mainland's visa-free policy.

Every Korean who comes to Shanghai seems to have the same travel guide. When they come to Shanghai, they must experience: Dongpo pork, Mapo tofu, Holiland's towel cake, and the lamb skewers from "a long time ago".

Among them, Dongpo pork has the highest praise and is the most popular.

This is not surprising, because Koreans are very fond of pork belly with alternating fat and lean meat. It’s just that due to their cultural background and imagination, they only know how to eat pork belly by grilling it.

It was time to show them the true art of cooking. The square-inch-sized piece of meat was placed on a white porcelain plate and served to each person.

The surface of the meat is covered with a crystal clear amber sugar coating, which has a honey-like luster under the light, and the delicate lines of subcutaneous fat like frost flowers can be vaguely seen.

The meat has sharp edges, but has a slightly trembling texture due to the long cooking time.

Even before putting it in your mouth, everyone knows that it must be an ultimate delicacy that melts in your mouth.

Neither Kim Taeyeon nor Lim Yoona had ever eaten authentic Dongpo pork, so they picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks and put it into their mouths.

As soon as she spoke, Kim Taeyeon's eyes lit up immediately:
When her teeth broke through the crystal skin, the first thing she touched was the fat soaked in the aroma of aged Huadiao wine, full of meaty aroma but not greasy.

Next comes the lean meat with distinct fibers, the rich aroma of star anise and cinnamon blooming on the tip of the tongue, and finally the salty and sweet aftertaste of rock sugar and soy sauce rising to the throat.

"It's...delicious..." Kim Taeyeon exclaimed, "How can Chinese people eat pork belly like this?"

"Do you think we only know how to roast pork belly and are like uncivilized savages?" Lin Yuna asked with a smile.

"Just think about it in your heart, don't say it out loud. If you say this in China, you will be criticized to death by those sensitive people." Kim Taeyeon said quickly.

"I'm not stupid. I always keep my mouth shut than anyone else in public," Lin Yuna replied.

After saying that, Yoona picked up another piece of Dongpo pork and prepared to put it into her mouth.

Seeing the two little girls eating meat, Lee Soo-man sighed.

It seems that Dongpo pork is so much to their liking that they don't care about their body shape anymore.

The company has strict weight standards for idols. If they exceed the standard, they will be criticized and reprimanded at the very least, and corporal punishment or even termination of their performing resources at the worst.

But on this occasion today, Lee Soo-man can only turn a blind eye.

Instead of dissuading them, he kindly said, "Don't just eat the meat; it'll make you sick. Cut the meat into small pieces and pair it with this special lotus leaf pancake."

Dongpo pork itself has the characteristics of soft skin, tender meat, fragrant but not greasy. When paired with lotus leaf pancake, the aroma of meat and pancake blend together, making the overall taste more glutinous, the mouth is full of meat aroma, and the aftertaste is endless.

Lin Yuan said that old ginger is still spicy, and it turns out that A-Man knows how to eat.

Just when Lin Yuan thought Lee Soo Man was being quite "professional", Lee Boo Jin smiled and said to the waiter: "Please give me half a bowl of rice, thank you."

Lin Yuan: (1`1;)
It turns out that the person who truly understands eating is you!

Although Dongpo pork and lotus leaf pancake are an excellent combination, in Lin Yuan's opinion, rice is the best partner.

The salty and sweet delicious sauce, and the fat but not greasy Dongpo pork, mixed with rice and put into your mouth in one bite, this is the ultimate delicacy.

Looking at the Dongpo pork with rice in Lee Boo-jin's hand, Lee Soo-man suddenly felt that the lotus leaf cake in his hand was not fragrant anymore.

"Give me a bowl of rice!" Lee Soo-man raised his hand.

"I want half a bowl!" said Lee Yoona.

"I want half a bowl too!" Kim Taeyeon followed closely behind.

Lin Yuan looked at them with a mixture of laughter and tears as they showed off their Dongpo pork with rice, secretly sighing that Koreans really couldn't refuse this.

"It's so delicious. As a Korean who has been eating pork belly for half his life, I didn't expect that I would discover a new world of pork belly today." Lee Soo-man exclaimed.

"It's unbelievable that I ate so much meat. But even if I'm overweight, I still have to eat it. At worst, I can go back and exercise hard to lose the weight back." Kim Taeyeon said.

"Is this the cultural heritage of China over thousands of years? What was originally just ordinary pork belly has been made into a work of art." Lin Yuna nodded.

Hearing how surprised they were, Lin Yuan said, "This is just the beginning."
The next dish is a work of art.

When the Dongpo pork in front of several guests was cleared out, the waiter brought the third dish of the night: boiled cabbage.

This dish can be said to be a low-key and luxurious showpiece in Chinese cuisine.

Having just finished the greasy Dongpo pork, a plate of boiled cabbage would be a great choice. It's obvious that a lot of thought went into the arrangement of tonight's dishes.

Lin Yuan pointed to the exquisite white porcelain bowl in front of him and said, "This dish is 'Boiled Cabbage in Boiled Water'. It may look simple, but it is actually a state banquet-level dish."

Kim Taeyeon curiously opened the lid and saw a few pieces of tender cabbage floating in the clear soup. A hint of doubt flashed across her face: "Is this boiled cabbage?"

What’s the difference between this and the cabbage soup we Koreans cook?
Could this even be considered a state banquet-level dish? Could it be some hidden secret?

Seeing Kim Taeyeon's puzzled look, Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Please taste the soup first."

Kim Taeyeon scooped a spoonful of clear soup into her mouth doubtfully.

In an instant, her expression froze - the seemingly clear soup actually contained indescribable layers of deliciousness, as if the essence of all the delicacies from land and sea were concentrated in this one bite.

“This soup…” she asked in surprise, “How did you make it?”

"We use more than a dozen ingredients, including old hens, ham, and dried scallops, to make the soup, which is then filtered repeatedly until it's as clear as water," Lin Yuan continued.

"For the cabbage heart, only the tenderest part is used. Silver needles are used to poke tiny holes invisible to the naked eye, allowing the broth to penetrate. It may seem simple, but it actually takes three days and three nights of preparation."

"Wow! This dish really is the perfect interpretation of what low-key luxury is." Kim Taeyeon exclaimed.

Lin Yuna nodded in agreement. "Just like the nobility, too much ostentation will only destroy the quality. This may look simple and unpretentious, but one bite and you can immediately feel its rich connotations."

Li Fuzhen finally spoke: "You made this dish tonight on purpose, didn't you?"

When Lin Yuan heard what Lee Boo-jin said, he immediately smiled. Half of the matter was already settled.

When it comes to famous Chinese dishes, we can make a long and dazzling list.

But Lin Yuan chose Dongpo pork and boiled cabbage from so many dishes.

It’s not because these two dishes are the most delicious, but because they are the most familiar to Koreans.

Pork belly and Chinese cabbage are the most commonly consumed ingredients in Korean daily life.

Using these two ingredients to make tonight's dishes will naturally allow the Korean guests to feel how the same ingredients can be transformed into delicacies that they can't even imagine in the hands of the Chinese.

This will naturally make them feel China's long-standing cultural heritage, and then realize how shallow the roots of their own country and nation are.

Lee Boo-jin obviously understood Lin Yuan's subtext, and there was a hint of resentment in her tone.

This is exactly what Lin Yuan wants. What he least wants to see is Lee Boo-jin being businesslike.

Originally, he and Lee Boo-jin had a very close relationship, at least as business partners.

But after this meeting, Lee Boo-jin always kept a distance from him.

This was obviously because she had not yet thought clearly about how to respond to Lin Yuan's request, so she chose to keep a moderate distance.

Now that her defense is broken and her health bar is bright, it will be much easier for Lin Yuan to deal with her.

But at this moment, Li Fuzhen suddenly asked: "Why is there no wine tonight? Let's drink together?"

Lin Yuan: (1)
Feeling a little off? (End of this chapter)