A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

The next day, Chen Guangliang arrived at Si Yezi's investment company office building. He had never been to ArtElectronic, but he would occasionally visit Si Yezi's investment companies.

Si Yezi's investment company has few employees, and since everyone has met Chen Guangliang, they are not surprised. They guess that Chen Guangliang is Si Yezi's Japanese husband, but they know nothing else.

Si Yezi entered the office and opened the safe; while Nao Miharu hurriedly poured tea for Chen Guangliang, her face slightly flushed.

Yesterday's battle transformed her from a girl into a woman, inevitably leading to some flights of fancy.

Unfortunately, Chen Guangliang showed no unusual behavior, so as Si Yezi's assistant, Nao Miharu naturally shouldn't overstep her bounds. She remembered Yukina's words and told herself not to take herself too seriously. After all, Yukina, as Si Yezi's cousin, was herself very alluring. For her to have such insights, it must mean that this man only cared about 'family,' and they were nothing more than 'tools.'

Si Yezi took out a stack of documents and said, "Mr. Chen, this is an investment statement. Would you like to take a look?"

Chen Guangliang sat at Si Yezi's desk, calmly took the documents, and then briefly flipped through them.

80% of the investments are in securities, 20% are in real estate, and the debt ratio is 20%. The total assets are US$1.5 billion and the net assets are US$1.2 million.

If the sale begins at the end of this year, the net worth is expected to reach $1.5 million.

This amount of money is not a lot, after all, Jiang Meiying's family has a net worth of over one billion US dollars, and Audrey Hepburn's net worth is over four hundred million US dollars (among which Mattel and BMW have grown rapidly, and Audrey Hepburn is a major shareholder of both companies).

Of course, Si Yezi was already very satisfied, especially since her eldest son Chen Wenying's business had taken off.

"There's not much to say. At the end of the year, remember to start cashing out your securities and real estate assets, clearing them out within three months. Then, just wait for the opportunity to buy at the bottom."

This 'oil crisis' will cause a global economic crash, and Japan, as a resource-importing country, will suffer the most. Therefore, if Tsukasa Yoko had $1.5 million in cash flow at that time, and then bought stocks and properties at rock-bottom prices, she could have reached a wealth of approximately $3 million by 1976.

In addition, Chen Wenying was able to graduate from the University of Tokyo in 1974, which would have been a good opportunity for him to join Electronic Arts (EA) and participate in EA's foray into the console gaming market in 1975.

As for his second son, Chen Wensheng, who would graduate from university in 1977, the plan was to have him join Si Yezi's investment company, specializing in real estate development and securities investment. As for his daughter, Chen Yingyi, that was out of the question; by the time she graduated from university, it would be the late 1980s. By then, the second generation's businesses would be largely established, and Chen Guangliang might not be able to offer her any good options.

Si Yezi put away the documents and said, "Yes, your words are like a royal decree, I will keep them in mind!"

"Snapped"

Si Yezi's buttocks made a heavy sound, and her eyes began to fill with affection.

Nao Miharu quickly left the office and closed the door.

Chen Guangliang stroked Si Yezi's hair and said, "Before I leave, give me a list of EA's engineering research and development departments."

Inside the office, a drama unfolds between the CEO and his secretary.

Nao Miharu received a phone call in her assistant's office. Her boss, Tsukasa Yoko, said breathlessly, "Come... here..."

"Hi," she said as she walked out of her assistant's office, glanced around the office building where everyone was busy, deliberately picked up a document, and then went into the president's office, quickly closing the door behind her.

That scene made her blush, but she quickly became a 'tool'.

Afterwards, Chen Guangliang criticized Si Yezi: "Why are all the employees in the company female? Although I am in charge of overseeing the investment matters, your actions are still causing a lot of discussion, aren't they?"

Si Yezi lay on her desk and said bluntly, "I don't like other men. Besides, the company doesn't really need other male employees, just for buying stocks and investing in real estate."

Goodness, this woman is truly taking care of Chen Guangliang's feelings wholeheartedly.

However, she added, "At Electronic Arts, there are almost no female employees. I'm just hiring based on their abilities!"

Makes sense.

On the other side, Nao Miharu took off her stockings and threw them into the trash can, then began to clean her two masters' bodies with a towel.

Throughout, Chen Guangliang truly didn't care about any of this, and naturally wouldn't ask a single question like, "How old are you? Who's in your family?"

Asking that question shows a lack of respect for Si Yezi.

Before leaving Tokyo, Chen Guangliang received a list of employees from Electronic Arts, and he checked off 'Genyo Takeda'.

Si Yezi immediately understood and said, "I will make sure the company pays attention to him."

Chen Guangliang nodded and added, "Don't change your assistants too often. I'm worried about running into greedy people. It doesn't matter who they are, since they're just tools. The key is to find your place, like Xue Nai."

Si Yezi sat in Chen Guangliang's lap and said, "Well, it's all my fault. I couldn't be there for you alone."

The implication was that it was all her fault.

This woman is very sensible!

In reality, Si Yezi may not be entirely naive; after all, she's lived for so many years, she couldn't possibly be completely innocent. Her permission and support in these matters likely stems from her desire for Chen Guangliang to come to Japan.

"There's plenty of time; you'll enjoy the same wonderful moments as them!"

Upon hearing this, Si Yezi immediately understood what he meant—with this man's physique and her youth, she would gradually make up for lost time.

"I wouldn't dare compare myself to my sisters, but I'll do anything if my husband likes me!" "Mm."

In the office of North Point Comics World, the president, Zhang Yuzhen, placed his finger on the sales report on the table, and couldn't help but smile.

The figures on the report are particularly eye-catching: the price of the weekly "Comic World" magazine has been raised to 1.5 yuan, but sales have climbed to 12 copies against the trend, and advertising revenue has surged by 40% compared to the previous quarter.

The deputy editor-in-chief leaned over, his voice brimming with excitement: "At 1.5 yuan, it's 30% to 100% more expensive than similar magazines on the market, yet it still sells like this. This shows that our comics are now on par with top American and Japanese publications!"

Zhang Yuzhen nodded, his gaze falling on the "Overseas Distribution" section—the Japanese edition of "Fist of the North Star" sold 3 copies in its first month after it hit the shelves of bookstores in Tokyo, and Chinese bookstores in Chinatown, USA, frequently placed additional orders.
With its unique style of "urban chivalry," City Hunter even attracted American comic book publishers to actively negotiate copyright cooperation.

"The fact that these two works have made a name for themselves overseas is a real honor for Hong Kong comics," he remarked, though a hint of caution flickered in his eyes—only he knew that the core creative source of these two hit IPs was not original to the company, so even with their remarkable achievements, he never dared to take credit for them.

Just as "Comic World" was enjoying its heyday, in another corner of the Hong Kong comics industry, Wong Yuk-long was gritting his teeth at the sales figures in the newspapers. His magazine "Little Rascal" had once been a sensation with its street fighting themes, and at its peak, sales exceeded 5 copies.

However, Fist of the North Star in Comic World is becoming more and more popular, and with the recent serialization of City Hunter, the gap between them is widening.

Today, "Comic World" has sold over 5 copies, while "Little Rascal" has plummeted to less than 3 copies, and even Shangguan Xiaobao's "Bruce Lee" can only barely maintain sales of 1.2 copies. The prices of the three publications are also vastly different, at 1.5 yuan, 12 yuan, and 1 yuan respectively.

Unwilling to accept defeat, Wong Yuk-long began to declare at industry gatherings: "How can 'Comic World' be considered a local Hong Kong comic? It's just copying the style and formula of Japanese manga, and it only became popular because of the money poured into it by Wah Tai Group! Real Hong Kong comics should be like 'Little Rascal,' telling our own street stories!"

These words quickly reached Zhang Yuzhen's ears, and the vice president slammed his fist on the table in anger: "He draws nothing but fighting and killing himself, and he still has the nerve to criticize us? In 'Little Rascal,' there are always head-scratching and gang fights. So many parents have complained that it corrupts their children, why doesn't he mention that?"

Zhang Yuzhen appeared calm, tapping his fingers lightly on the table: "He's jealous, but it also serves as a reminder to us—Hong Kong comics can't be forever bound by the label of 'violence.' Since he's stirring things up, we might as well go with the flow and let the industry know what truly high-quality comics are."

He looked at the vice president, his eyes gradually hardening. "Go and contact a few well-known figures in the education and cultural fields, and ask them to pay attention to the content of comics on the market, especially those publications filled with violence and gore, and see if you can push for some change."

Before long, a wave of "anti-violent comics" swept the streets of Hong Kong. Dozens of parents gathered in front of the Hong Kong government building with samples of magazines such as "Little Rascal" and "Bruce Lee" to petition, holding signs that read "Reject violent comics, protect children's growth" and demanding that the government introduce regulations to regulate harmful publications.

“My child watched ‘Little Rascal’ and is now imitating the fighting in the comic every day. He even says, ‘If you’re loyal, you have to use a knife.’ This is not something for children to watch!” A mother’s tearful accusation was widely reported by the media, with the Oriental Daily News being the most enthusiastic, instantly drawing attention from the whole society to the content of the comic.

Amid the public outcry, the Hong Kong government responded swiftly, announcing the launch of a "Special Campaign to Rectify Undesirable Publications" and beginning the drafting of the "Undesirable Publications Legislation".

The news sent shockwaves through Hong Kong's comic book industry – newsstand owners removed magazines suspected of violence from their shelves, and small comic book studios destroyed unpublished manuscripts overnight, fearing they would be classified as "tainted publications".

The atmosphere in Wong Yuk-long's office was extremely oppressive.

The eldest apprentice rushed in, holding a police raid notice: "Master, something terrible has happened! The Hong Kong government has passed the 'Undesirable Publications Ordinance,' and the police have started raiding newsstands and arrested several vendors selling 'Little Rascals'!"

Wong Yuk-long suddenly stood up, his face deathly pale: "Have they gone mad? Do they want to wipe out the entire comic book industry? What about 'Comic World'? They've been investigated too?"

The eldest apprentice shook his head, his tone puzzled: "No, I heard that 'Comic World' wasn't touched at all. It seems the police deliberately avoided their magazine."

These words struck Huang Yulang like a hammer blow. He slumped into his chair, muttering to himself, "It's over. This isn't about regulating the industry; it's about us... It's Huatai Group, it's 'Comic World' trying to drive us to our deaths!"

Just when the entire Hong Kong comic book industry was in a state of panic, Zhang Yuzhen took the initiative to strike.

He quickly convened a press conference, neatly displaying all the magazines of "Comic World" since its inception at the venue, and inviting reporters and cultural figures to browse through them on the spot.

“Everyone can take a closer look. Our ‘Fist of the North Star’ tells the story of ‘justice triumphs over evil’; ‘City Hunter’ conveys the chivalry of ‘protecting the weak.’ From beginning to end, there is no promotion of violence, and there are no bloody scenes.”

Zhang Yuzhen picked up a magazine and pointed to the pictures in it, saying, "We have always believed that comics are an important part of the cultural industry. They should not only bring entertainment to readers, but also convey positive values."

In reality, *Comic World* certainly contains bloody scenes, but there are two reasons for this: First, *Comic World* itself publishes a daily comic book, and second, it receives support from *Oriental Daily News*. When the Hong Kong government targets *Comic World*, it's essentially attacking the entire newspaper industry. Second, *Comic World* is indeed different from *Little Rascal* and *Bruce Lee*. It doesn't deliberately promote violence, unlike Bruce Lee's *Fist of Fury*, where Chen Zhen must die at the end because too many people have been killed.

At the press conference, Zhang Yuzhen also released a set of data: "Comic World" has established sales outlets in Chinatowns in 12 overseas countries, and the Japanese market alone brings nearly HK$10 in copyright revenue to Hong Kong every month; the 10 chief artists trained in the company have all received systematic art and literature training, and their salaries are many times higher than those of white-collar workers in Hong Kong. "We attract talent with high salaries and polish our works with high standards because we want to prove that Hong Kong comics can go global without relying on violence to grab attention."

This press conference solidified Comic World's image as a "breath of fresh air in the industry," with media outlets reporting on it as a "positive energy representative of Hong Kong comics," and the anger of parents gradually subsided.

Following this, Cheung Yuk-Chun joined forces with the Cultural Affairs Department to launch the "Comic Industry Self-Discipline Movement," convening a conference of practitioners from more than 20 comic book publishers across Hong Kong and proposing the "Three No's Principle": no publishing violent or bloody content, no promoting gang culture, and no publishing erotic content.

At this point, Huang Yulang and Shangguan Xiaobao had long lost their former arrogance.

"Little Rascal" was ordered to cease publication and rectify its practices for allegedly violating the "Unhealthy Publications Act"; "Bruce Lee" saw its sales plummet to less than 1 copies and was on the verge of bankruptcy. The two had no choice but to attend the conference, sign the self-discipline agreement, and promise to conduct a comprehensive self-examination of the publication's content, delete all violent scenes, and even proactively seek advice from "Comic World" on "experience in creating positive energy themes".

After the crackdown, the landscape of Hong Kong's comic book industry was completely reshaped. With its dual advantages of "compliance + high quality," *Comic World* saw its sales soar to 15 copies, capturing a market share of 90%, making it a true "industry leader."

The previously scattered readership has almost entirely concentrated on "Comic World". On newsstands, only its magazine can occupy the most prominent position, and advertisers are scrambling to place ads in the magazine.

Oriental Daily News published a commentary stating: "This crackdown on the comics industry is not intended to stifle creativity, but rather to guide the industry toward healthy development. The success of Comic World proves that high-quality content is the core competitiveness of comics. In the future, if Hong Kong comics want to gain a foothold in the international market, they must take Comic World as a benchmark, abandon vulgar gimmicks, and cultivate cultural connotations."

After receiving the news, Chen Guangliang also paid attention to it.

When he learned that Zhang Yuzhen had voluntarily "revealed" the truth, he didn't blame him—after all, if "Little Rascal" could be changed into "Dragon Tiger Gate" in his previous life, then their "Comic World" was even less likely to have any problems.

Zhang Yuzhen's voluntary self-disclosure has actually purified the industry and is very beneficial to the future development of Hong Kong comics.

Therefore, Chen Guangliang specifically sent Chen Wenkai to represent his support for Zhang Yuzhen's actions. (End of Chapter)