Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 534 Mars hits the Earth

As evening fell, Liu Qin, who had just turned 30, stood at the copper-plated, carved gate. A row of luxury cars were parked in front of the gate, clearly there to celebrate the full moon of the richest man's son and daughter, who were only two or three years younger than her.

In fact, she paid attention to this young director who later rose to fame even before her own father.

In 2004, Lu Kuan sold Mytube, which he had been running for over a year with his core team including Anna Huang, Steve Chen, and Mike Solomon, to Google, receiving approximately 10 billion yuan in cash and shares in Google and Android.

This $10 billion later became the main source of funding for CDS, but we won't go into details about that for now.

But Liu Qin watched the entire live broadcast of Mr. Lu, who was full of vigor at the time, talking about the "American Dream" on Larry King Live. (Chapter 310)
To be honest, Liu Qin, who had been working at Goldman Sachs for two years at that time, thought he was the same kind of person as her father.

Lu Kuan, who appeared on the most popular talk show in the United States, was witty and charming, possessing an innate aura. It's unclear whether this was due to his identity as an actor and director or the confident brilliance of a business tycoon.

This reminded Liu Qin of watching her father calmly face the attacks from the Chinese Academy of Sciences elders during the company's restructuring when she was a child, just like Lu Kuan's skillful handling of Larry King's difficult questions in the camera.

In her view, the acquisitions of IBM by LinkInfo and Netflix by LinkInfo were the same kind of "resource swapping" operation.

Of course, in Liu Qin's eyes, who had been influenced by her surroundings since childhood, she did not think that self-interest was a flaw of capital, but rather a capability and means to be proud of.

Therefore, her recognition and admiration for Boss Lu were, to some extent, genuine.

It wasn't until 2008, when Liu Qin became an executive director for Goldman Sachs in Asia, and after several meetings and tests with the young director through her father, that she truly realized—

The true face of this richest man, who outwardly presents himself as an international citizen yet thrives in China, is far too obscure.

Is he a child with a pure heart?
Not necessarily. Their methods were too ruthless and aggressive, and they had deep connections with some Jewish capital in the United States.

Is he an anarchist capitalist tycoon?

His numerous positive statements and donations seem so numerous that they hardly appear to be acting.

In a daze, the copper-plated gate slowly opened in front of Liu Qin, leaving only a crack for a few people to pass through.

Afei stepped aside to lead the way: "Miss Liu, would you mind walking a few steps?"

Liu Qin smiled and said, "Of course, please wait a moment while I go to the car to get the gift."

Regardless of personal moral stance, Liu Qin, a highly educated woman from a privileged background who studied at Harvard for many years, certainly possesses impeccable manners and poise.

This residence was no secret after Liu Yifei became pregnant and gave birth; however, the outside world always assumed it was a villa complex developed by Wenjie for its core leadership.

In short, no one can get in, let alone take pictures, unless DJI's latest drone, which is still under development, sells well both domestically and internationally, which might give fearless paparazzi a chance to court death.

But perhaps before that, the manor will be equipped with our company's self-developed drone electromagnetic interference and no-fly zone devices.

Liu Qin followed behind A Fei at a leisurely pace, watching the June sun turn the lawns along the way into a golden-green hue. Her gaze swept over the wavy boxwood hedges in the distance, where the silver knobs of the automatic sprinkler system were hidden.

A cozy yet modern private estate.

Including the badminton and tennis courts and caged soccer fields that have been built along the way, the magnificent semi-open domed swimming pool, as well as the slides and wooden houses that are under construction, it should be a children's playground prepared for babies.

While marveling at the grandeur and uniqueness of the residence, she gained a deeper understanding of the tycoon's hedonism and became more inclined to believe that such a person would surely make the right choice at crucial moments.

After all, this capitalist demeanor wasn't much different from the top American capitalists she encountered at Goldman Sachs...

No, there is still a big difference.

At least he only has one wife now, even if he doesn't know how bizarre and eccentric their relationship is in private.

As Liu Qin looked, she saw the wife of the richest man standing in a Western-style outdoor wedding setting, surrounded by relatives and friends.

Even though the baby can't yet appreciate or enjoy all of this, the exterior of the main villa in the manor is still decorated in a very romantic and cozy way:

Two long tables covered with white linen tablecloths resembled rivers formed by moonlight. Pink snow mountain roses, purple irises, and white hydrangeas were clustered together in glass vases in the center of the tables, as if a summer collection from Provence had been brought into a manor in Beiping.

This includes many of the fruits of Liu Xiaoli's own labor, but she has temporarily neglected them since having her baby, as she has a more important task of being a gardener in her life.

As Liu Qin approached, she realized that almost all of these people were familiar faces she had seen on screen, or whom she had only recognized in the past two years due to her research as an executive director of Goldman Sachs Asia.

Female celebrities Su Chang, Zhou Xun, Fan Bingbing, Jing Tian, ​​Tang Yan, and Tong Liya; singers Zhang Liangying and Yao Beina;

Mei Yanfang and Huo Wenxi flew in from Hong Kong with Li Shoucheng; directors and film industry figures such as Tian Zhuangzhuang, Zhang Yimou and his daughter, Han Shanping, Guo Fan, Lu Yang, Ning Hao, and Xue Xiaolu.

She was most familiar with Liu Qiangdong, Dong Shuangqiang, and others, who were jokingly referred to in the industry as the "Twelve Black Slaves of the World." There was also a man with a relatively unfamiliar face and a reserved temperament, whom Liu Qin guessed was Zhang Xiaolong, who was rumored to have been poached by Tencent today.

The remaining male actors who were close to Wenjie and Wuyue Culture all came to join in the fun. Naturally, no official figures came in person; they only sent people to deliver gifts.

The rest were mostly Xiao Liu's family members, and Liu Qin didn't recognize them.

Xiao Liu handed the baby, who had come out to "meet guests," to Liu Xiaoli and Zhou Wenqiong. Her plump postpartum waist was outlined with a gentle curve by the corset, and she looked at Liu Qin, who had been led in, with a serene expression.

Hello, Ms. Liu.

"Hello, Consort Yi, I apologize for my intrusion." Liu Qin, dressed in a beige Dior suit, her pearl earrings gleaming softly at her temples, held a gift box in her hands and opened it in public according to Western etiquette:

"These are longevity locks made to commemorate the two babies and to wish them a healthy growth."

Upon closer inspection, the pair of pure silver longevity locks were quite exquisite, with auspicious beast patterns engraved on the lock face, and the chains were specially woven with red rope in the style of "five poisonous creatures rope".

The Dragon Boat Festival has just passed. The Five Poison Rope is believed to ward off evil spirits and has a hidden meaning of "suppressing evil." Youyou and Tiedan are wearing it on their ankles now.

"Thank you, please have a seat. The road is wide, I'll be down in a bit." Xiao Liu didn't refuse directly, showing the demeanor of a wealthy lady in entertaining her guest.

Even an unwelcome guest is still a guest; the rest of the decision is up to the host.

The roles played by Liu Qin and her father, as well as Damai.com, are self-evident. With her around, the enthusiasm of everyone present for chatting and joking diminished slightly. It's unclear how she had the audacity to come and join in the fun.

The babies made a brief appearance before being taken back to their rooms for care. The scenery along the Wenyu River was beautiful in the evening. Da Tiantian, a regular visitor, volunteered to be the guide. Everyone also wandered off in twos and threes, leaving the hosts some space to "entertain" their guests.

"Liu Qin, we meet again." Lu Kuan walked out of the villa with a calm expression. His shirt sleeves were casually rolled up. He was tall and slender, with neither the bulky look of someone who had deliberately worked out nor the thinness of an artist.

Rather, like Liu Qin's consistent impression, it exudes a just-right sharpness, like a sword sheathed, restrained yet containing sharpness.

"Mr. Lu." Liu Qin, who had just sat down, unconsciously stood up again. Unexpectedly, the man greeted her and then turned to his wife: "Where's the baby?"

Liu Yifei said gently, "Mom and Aunt took them back. They behaved very well just now. So many people were watching, but they didn't cry or make a fuss."

A one-month-old baby can clearly focus on a human face or brightly colored toy 10-20 centimeters away. Their primitive reflexes and coordination are greatly enhanced, and they can also begin to express comfort or discomfort by frowning, pouting, or grinning.

"That's great! She's been so generous since she was little; she'll definitely see a lot in the world." Mr. Lu's train of thought seemed a bit too abrupt; he suddenly turned to Liu Qin:

"Ms. Liu is someone who has seen a lot in life. She didn't come here today just to give a gift, did she?"

Liu Qin paused for half a second before coming to her senses and smiled, "Indeed, it was my father who instructed me to come and express my congratulations. Damai.cn is just one of the companies that Lianxiang has invested in. We are all domestic entrepreneurs, and he also hopes that we can coexist in competition and cooperation."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the laughing crowd on the distant lawn, her voice soft yet clear:
“My father said that navigating the business world is like the Yellow River with its nine bends; in the rapids, everyone strives to cross, but in calmer times, everyone needs to help each other.”

"The high-quality companies under Wenjie should be going public in the next year or the year after. I hope our two companies can cooperate one day." Liu Qin stood up, clearly conveying her meaning in a veiled way, and prepared to take her leave, no longer wanting to play this annoying role.

Xiao Liu neither left nor interrupted, listening calmly to her words, which were ostensibly congratulations but were actually a "warning and persuasion to surrender," finding it all rather amusing.

She was looking forward to seeing what these people would look like and what their true colors would be in a month or two. At that time, the one who would come knocking on her door would probably be the old fox, right?
“That’s well said!” Boss Lu stood up with a smile, as if to see the guest off: “The former chairman is a leader in the domestic business community. Since the reform and opening up, there are very few private entrepreneurs who have been able to reach this position.”

Liu Qin's eyes lit up. Her father was the vice president of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and a representative of the National People's Congress for many consecutive terms. He participated in legislation and policy review and had a voice in the fields of science and technology industry and enterprise reform.

On the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up in the previous life, he was awarded the title of "Pioneer of Reform", which is a national-level honor system on par with the "Medal of the Republic" and the "July 1st Medal".

Who else is in the same row?

Academician Yuan Longping, Academician Tu Youyou, Mr. Fok Ying-tung, and so on.

This is indeed a position that ordinary private entrepreneurs cannot reach, and it is also the reason why Liu Qin privately believes that Lu Kuan and her father are similar in some ways.

They all know very well how to "gild their image".

However, Liu Qin was too quick to judge. He thought that the young tycoon would at least offer some more praise, but he was not familiar with the rhythm of commercial film narratives, which always preferred to start with praise and then downplay it.

Whether the price will rise again after the initial decline or continue to decline indefinitely remains to be seen.

Looking at the sunset glow filling the sky, Lu Kuan said, "Running a business is like sailing a ship. Chairman Liu is an experienced boatman, highly respected, and very knowledgeable about the waters of this great river. He has always been at the forefront."

"But if you keep staring at the whirlpools at the bottom of the water, it's hard to see that the Three Gorges Dam has actually opened its gates. When the massive ships carrying tens of thousands of tons roll over them, won't the alliances and rivalries among the smaller boats look a bit ridiculous?"

He paused, his usual calm and composed demeanor vanishing, as if he didn't take the father and daughter seriously at all.
"Wenjie disdains petty squabbles between small boats. Our goal is to open the floodgates and go to sea, so there is no basis for cooperation between the two companies."

"I appreciate the old chairman's kindness, but please reply on my behalf: when the new generation surpasses the old, the best way for the old generation to maintain its dignity is to lie in a museum as a hydrological specimen."

Liu Qin, whose expression had been calm and composed since she entered the door today, was stunned. Why did he refuse so decisively so early, as if he was avoiding her family like enemies?

When you colluded with CJ and Toho Corporation of South Korea and Japan, and Jewish capital in the United States to seize profits and invite wolves into the house, were you much better than Lien Xiang?

She unconsciously gripped the metal clasp of her handbag, her knuckles turning white from the force.

What alarmed her even more was the certainty in his words:
This is not a bluff or intimidation, but the composure of a predator overlooking its prey, the mockery of the younger generation towards the older generation.

Liu Yifei was a competent observer, watching the subtle and witty dialogue between Chairman Liu and her husband over those few minutes.

In the eyes of this admirer, the old chairman was only willing to be a "Yellow River sampan," while Wenjie was a newly formed "deep-sea aircraft carrier."

The former is a river-based approach, relying on the experience of experienced boatmen and their familiarity with the meandering waterways in China's inland rivers to make a living.

The "Yellow River Sampans" of the Taishan Club have become accustomed to forming alliances and growing stronger in the midst of turmoil, just like this time when Lu Zhiqiang of Panhai cooperated with the old chairman's grand plan.

But Wenjie's thinking is maritime; he prioritizes internal stability before external expansion, opening up new sea routes to compete with the West for cultural discourse power.

Starting in 2001, the captain of this new aircraft carrier will spend nearly ten years laying a solid industrial foundation in China, and with the help of allies in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States, and by taking the initiative, he will sound the horn of a new era and set sail, firing his cannons to blast away the enemy!
Whether it succeeds or not, this is not even a concept on the same level.

"Wah wah wah!" The second-floor window of the villa was open for ventilation; the baby had woken up.

Youyou's cries suddenly rose in pitch, like a small silver hammer piercing through the twilight, followed immediately by Tiedan's wailing, the two waves of sound colliding in the sky above the manor, creating a thunderous roar of life.

In Liu Qin's mind, who was in a state of unease at that moment, perhaps this was what the new father in front of her called the "post-90s generation"?

It is full of vibrant life.

Liu Qin's lips, painted with nude lipstick, managed a forced smile, but her face was stiff like a mask. After a long while, she stammered, "Mr. Lu, I'll take my leave now. Sorry to bother you."

"Go."

The couple had no more interest in her and turned back to their room to check on the baby.

After Liu Yifei finished breastfeeding, she nestled against her husband by the window. The colorful lights that had been hung up in the manor were already on, and the slight summer heat of June was dispelled by the gentle breeze.
“I feel that Liu Qin sees you as the same kind of person as his father.”

“That’s normal.” Lu Kuan smiled. “Wenjie’s equity structure is closed. Its film partners are either state-owned enterprises like China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group, or capital from South Korea and Japan, and most often Jewish capital from Hollywood.”

"Don't they see me as one of their own?"

Boss Lu chuckled in a low voice, "Just you wait and see. Once Avatar sweeps the globe and China, Wenjie, who signed the exclusive agreement, will be like Wu Sangui, who let the wolf into the house. At that time, Nanfang will tie Wenjie and China Film together to incite public opinion."

From the very beginning, he has been using the banner of "relying on foreign powers" to ensure his reputation, public image, and voice at home and abroad, and to protect the industry.

Many things in this land are done "from top to bottom," and when someone wants to do something, in order to avoid being hindered, he can only do it "from the outside in."

In this era, "from the outside in" can provide stronger discourse power and united front value, just like how Liu Yifei used nationality to protect herself in the previous life.

The only difference is that he has a black face but a red heart, while some people have a red face but a black heart.

Lu Kuan thought of the Liu family father and daughter, looking at Youyou and Lu Ping on the small bed, and said with some emotion, "In Liu Qin's eyes, everything must give way to capital; rules are merely loopholes to exploit, and the industry is nothing more than a field of leeks to be harvested. They are always calculating, always weighing, always searching for that optimal solution—"

"The optimal solution for one family and one surname."

"What's most frightening is that, having been exposed to this from a young age and receiving a Western education as an adult, Liu Qin seems to have never thought there was anything wrong with it."

He looked tenderly at his sleeping children: "I hope they won't grow up to be like this. It's not wrong for people to be selfish, but they should still have some sense of awe."

Liu Yifei leaned her head gently on her husband's shoulder, her slightly plump cheeks glowing with a soft luster after childbirth. She reached out to smooth the fine lines between Lu Kuan's brows, her fingertips carrying the faint scent of baby lotion.

"No, they are your children, there's no mistake."

That night, the Wenyu River Mansion was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and toasts. Under the rose trellis, relatives and friends raised their glasses in celebration. Boss Lu moved among the guests, offering toasts. As dusk deepened, the guests dispersed in twos and threes, leaving only the shadows of the sycamore leaves swaying on the lawn.

There was also Li Shoucheng, a Hong Kong tycoon, with whom we chatted until late at night.

As early as the premiere of "Let the Bullets Fly" on New Year's Day last year, Lu Kuan had already taken precautions by asking his Eagle King subsidiary, which possessed financial and real estate qualifications, to create a shell company that could be readily filled. (Chapter 503)
When Zhuang Xu went south in April to poach Zhang Xiaolong's employee, he personally went to Hong Kong again. His reasons were twofold: first, to confirm the domestic entity of the SPV to receive the funds laundered from the CDS; and second, to assess the preparations for the shell company, Eagle King. (Chapter 521)
Many of the evil faction members speculated that Wenjie was facing financial difficulties, but only Li Shoucheng, who was having a long talk tonight, knew that Wenjie's financial strength was now comparable to that of the Shanxi merchants' banks in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.

On the surface, it kept a low profile and lay low, but in reality, its underground silver vaults were filled with official ingots, and it was also known as the "Silver Empire".

Paulson and Anna Huang's $15 billion in CDS, which they handled properly, gradually came into their pockets after the subprime crisis eased in March. It was also gradually transferred to Hong Kong, the first stop, through a combination of offshore "limited partner funds" and domestic entities.

The amount received so far is close to $10 billion, which is poised to be used. Since it will rely on the help of its local Hong Kong ally, Eagle King, it is not convenient to hide it from him.

In 2009, Eagle Group comprised a conglomerate including Eagle International, watches and jewelry, entertainment and hotels, Eagle Capital, and cultural businesses, with the listed portion alone having a total market capitalization of approximately HK$150 billion.

In terms of size, Li Shoucheng is now far smaller than the richest man in mainland China who became acquainted with him through their first film together.

From a personal perspective, the handwritten note Chen Bo left him before his death at Qingcheng Mountain remained vivid in Li Shoucheng's mind, even as he lay in bed with his eyes closed late at night:

This young man has an ordinary forehead and chin, yet he changed his fate solely with his discerning eyes, creating a destiny that is unprecedented in a thousand years, encompassing the Five Sacred Mountains and Four Great Rivers, and bestowing blessings upon the Eastern Sea. He should be your benefactor; you should befriend him without hesitation. Discern this carefully! Be cautious! (Chapter 148)
Li Shoucheng benefited greatly from Chen Bo in his prime, and later became friends with Lu Kuan because of his advice. He still often feels grateful to the old Taoist priest for his honesty.

……

Damai.cn's announcement of occupying the moral high ground was issued in the morning, the full moon celebration was held in the evening, and until the next day, Lu Kuan prepared to say goodbye to his beloved wife, daughter, and son and go out to "work and earn money".

Filming for the scenes at the Huairou base in Beiping has temporarily wrapped up. Below are some other unique filming locations in China, with the final stop being Canada.

Morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled patterns on the bedroom floor. Liu Yifei sat cross-legged in front of her open suitcase, her fingertips tracing the freshly folded shirt tucked into the moisture-proof lining.

Every item in the suitcase reflected the woman's meticulousness: electronic devices in waterproof bags, commonly used medicines pre-packaged in sealed pillboxes, and her essential eye drops.

The sea breeze in Qingdao in June is damp and sticky, so she specially stuffed in two extra packets of dehumidifier. Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly got up and walked barefoot to the dressing room.

"What are you taking? Isn't everything already packed?" Boss Lu asked as he unbuttoned his shirt and followed him inside.

"Sunscreen!" She tiptoed and pulled out two unused tubes from the top drawer. As she turned around, her hair brushed against Lu Kuan's chin. "The UV rays in Qingdao are much stronger than in Beijing. Don't go out for a trip and come back looking like an African dad. They won't recognize you anymore."

"It's enough that you recognize me!" Lu Kuan wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his embrace, his nose brushing against the young woman's ear.

Xiao Liu was incredibly itchy. She turned back and looked at her husband with seductive eyes, feeling a ticklish sensation creeping over her heart. She grabbed the man's collar and kissed him. The washing machine readily complied, supporting the back of her head with his right hand. Her silk nightgown was pushed aside like a pile of snow. By the time Liu Yifei realized what was happening, it was too late.

The morning light shone on the mirror in the dressing room, casting a soft, warm glow on the figures of the two people.

A rustling sound came from inside Liu Xiaoli's house. The cats, including Liu Dongdong, seemed to hear the faint sound, as if it came from their mistress, and they whimpered in response.

"Alright, alright! Not yet! This is all we can do for now." Xiao Liu, worried that someone might go astray, quickly straightened her clothes and came out of the dressing room.

She was still trembling slightly from the tenderness, and quickly went to the bathroom to turn on the tap.

Boss Lu leaned against the door frame, still savoring the moment, watching his wife carefully wash her palms: "You'd be out of quarantine soon, but you have to go out to film now of all times. I really hate it!"

Liu Yifei rolled her eyes coquettishly at her husband, who was getting a little carried away: "I can't leave Beiping anyway. Do you think the three of us wouldn't know to come back on our own?"

"Besides, you need to be gentle now that the restrictions are lifted. I'm very vulnerable right now."

The washing machine teased its wife with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll be as gentle as I was in the places we went this time."

"Huh? What?" Liu Yifei didn't react.

"Pound it gently!"

"roll!"
-

Lu Kuan plunged headlong into his artistic career, leading a large group to Qingdao first and then Mount Tai. Considering the cost, film location scouting should not have pursued such an uneconomical option.

This will allow future money laundering film crews to film the entire scene in front of a green screen.

However, this film will be released globally in collaboration with partners from Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Europe. He also wants to incorporate many of China's original natural landscapes into the film and showcase them to audiences around the world.

Since it would just mean making a little less money anyway, I didn't do much cost control in that area.

Boss Lu was happy to have some free time. As usual, after arranging the major policies, he handed over all the company work to the black slaves. Zhang Xiaolong was enjoying himself and threw himself into the research and development of WeChat. However, Gao Jun, Dong Shuangqiang, and other key personnel in charge of online ticketing were feeling quite uneasy.

Unlike Zhuang Xu, they didn't know the big boss's plans!

In particular, after Liu Qin returned with the gift, she told the old chairman in detail about the results of her probing and the young tycoon's reply. The latter remained silent for a long time with a gloomy expression, but urged the Damai.com team to move faster in their market expansion efforts.

You keep your secrets, I'll do mine. The old chairman, who has been navigating the business world for over forty years, has no interest in guessing what the "bad seed" is up to. Also, Wenjie's equity is extremely closed, with the top and bottom forming an ironclad unit, making it impossible for outsiders to even try to uncover business secrets.

This is the benefit of holding back from going public and having absolute power: high equity stability. Otherwise, the Company Law would provide many ways for shareholders to cause trouble.

Industry insiders can't understand why Wenjie is lying low, and netizens, media, and financial bloggers who are just watching the spectacle are even more confused.

Given the undeniable importance of online ticketing to payment platforms, everyone can only make one guess:
In order to fulfill the previously announced agreement with Fox, the company behind "Avatar," Wenjie's cash flow was exhausted by the production of IMAX and 4K cinemas. In addition, the financial crisis delayed the listing of its subsidiaries. Wenjie is indeed out of money now.

It can only be said that if it weren't for the profits from the CDS traded by Paulson, this analytical conclusion would be entirely reasonable.

The domestic film industry remains booming. With the entire month of June over, the total box office in mainland China is only 2000 million yuan away from breaking the 10 billion yuan mark, setting new records both year-on-year and month-on-month.

Media outlets such as Nanfang and Caijing, which championed Damai.cn, lavishly praised Damai.cn and its shareholder companies, claiming that it revitalized the market through aggressive strategies such as "1-yuan flash sales" and "midnight screening subsidies," making significant contributions to China's film industry's box office exceeding 10 billion yuan during the off-season and driving market prosperity.

As time went on, more and more questions arose about the lack of response from the questioning community.

However, due to the more than 6 million yuan of capital accumulated in the early stage, although the market share of the two companies continued to widen, Wenjie always maintained a bottom line of about 20%.

After all, the fans' money has been deposited into the account, and they can't possibly not use it. This is the source of Lu Kuan's confidence to temporarily "appease" the situation.

July 1, 2009 marked the 88th anniversary of the establishment of the archives.

The city organized an anniversary celebration, inviting key leaders and people from all walks of life to attend, and held an official forum on "Sharing Experiences in Building Archives for the Non-Public Economy".

The former chairman's seniority needs no further introduction, and he gladly accepted the invitation to attend the meeting, where he delivered a speech entitled "The Pioneer Role of Entrepreneurs in Reform and Opening Up".

In an interview with reporters, Chairman Liu expressed his views emphatically:
"Entrepreneurial spirit is first and foremost a sense of social responsibility and mission. Just like when we carried microcomputers through the streets and alleys back then, we truly regarded the popularization of information technology as our mission."

He paused deliberately before saying, "Last year, our subsidiary Legend Capital was also honored to enter the Chinese film industry and be able to contribute to the country's cultural cause. I am very happy."

"At the same time, I also hope that the major companies in the industry will not just talk about grand principles, but will actually put money into it and do practical things to bring real benefits to the people."

"Market prosperity is never achieved by empty promises, and the leaders can't just be landlords collecting rent, haha."

After saying these words, the highly respected former president left, leaving the reporters and onlookers filled with admiration.

These words carry considerable weight. Combined with the online ticketing competition that began last year, and the widely circulated stories of "Napoleon" and the "anti-French coalition," the message is clearly pointed.

Furthermore, this is the first time a domestic entrepreneur has dared to stand up and almost directly criticize someone by name.

While the public still idolized Lian Xiang's help in solving IBM's outdated production capacity as a source of national pride for "Chinese enterprises going global," the old chairman's prestige was at its peak, inevitably sparking a barrage of criticism against Boss Lu.

But the latter's reputation and standing in China are not much worse than Liu Chuanzhi's. Who can forget his contributions to the Olympics and the devastating earthquake last year?
The online battles and insults continued unabated, with Nan Fang and his mouthpieces stirring up a great deal of noise. However, they also faced a counterattack from Lu's supporters who were truly insightful and discerning, and the public opinion situation remained deadlocked for a time.

However, for the media, this is a scene they are happy to see.

In the Chinese entertainment and film industries, almost no one dares to stand up and confront this "counter-attack" anymore.

However, looking at the entire domestic business community, the old chairman and the young richest man are truly evenly matched, based on a comprehensive consideration and comparison of various aspects of Zhengshang.

On July 1st, the former chairman made a "relevant" statement and criticism, but Mr. Lu, who was "hiding" at the Qingdao naval base to film, did not respond at all, and seemed to have no intention of responding.

Even the most audacious reporters wouldn't dare lie in ambush around the area, so they relentlessly besieged the headquarters of Wenjie. The "Twelve Black Slaves" were utterly fed up, and only Zhuang Xu stepped forward to provide official wording:
"Mr. Lu Kuan's contributions to the industry, people's livelihood, and society are evident to all. In the eight years since its establishment, Wenjie has always adhered to its original aspiration of serving the country through culture."

"Regarding the topic Mr. Liu mentioned, I don't know who he was referring to, but in terms of the development of the industry itself, a prosperous market requires healthy competition, not a price war that is like drinking poison to quench thirst."

"Continuously producing works with healthy, positive themes and high artistic value is the most long-term investment in Chinese films."

It was still a simple Tai Chi move that gently parted the fog, preventing outsiders from seeing the truth.

Li Yanhong and Ma Huateng didn't care about all that. Whether it was the popularity of Baidu's search bidding or the surge in Alipay registrations and bank card bindings, they were overjoyed.

There are naturally hidden worries in my heart, but even if we really clash head-on with Boss Lu this time, with the old chairman in front to protect us, the sky won't fall!
The old chairman dared to make veiled accusations in front of the media. Behind him stood members of the Taishan Club, such as Oceanwide, Fosun, and Giant. With more than a dozen companies deeply entrenched in China, would they really be afraid of a young upstart if they were really fighting to the death?

Wang Jianlin has not attended any Damai.cn meetings for the past month. His son, Wang Sicong, who had just returned to China, attended the meetings in his place and was strictly instructed to listen but not speak, and not to participate in any behind-the-scenes conspiracies.

Wanda fears no one in the face of direct business competition, but it cannot get involved in controversies that it cannot control.

Old Wang, who had served in the military and government before turning to business, always harbored a lingering shadow in his heart, because to this day no one could guess why Wenjie avoided the war and handed over the market to Damai.cn.

People are always wary of the unknown and directions. The only thing Wanda can do now is to silently follow the main group, but keep his eyes open as wide as possible so that he can withdraw in time if things go wrong.

Besides his competitors who were directly involved in the matter, Ma Huateng of Nanshan Science and Technology Park had been quietly observing the delicate situation, especially the interview with reporters on July 1st, which completely shocked him.

How did the situation suddenly become so tense?

In his previous meeting with the company's core leadership, he was supposed to take advantage of Wenjie's "brutal attack" on Damai.cn to respond to the olive branch extended by the old chairman and see if there was a "backdoor" way to acquire the struggling Ali shares, thus enabling a possible return to the e-commerce and payment sector. (Chapter 533)
Why is Lu Kuan still hiding in the naval base and not coming out?
Following the question, "What does he want Zhang Xiaolong to do?", Ma Huateng and the others at Damai.cn also had the same question:
Why does the border lie dormant? Why does the road, though wide, avoid war?

It wasn't until the afternoon of August 1, 2009, that Liu Chiping hurriedly knocked on the door of Ma Huateng's office and brought a copy of the People's Daily.

"Boss, take a look at these two reports!"

Little Ma, puzzled, flipped through the newspaper and uploaded the "Decision on Accelerating the Socialization Reform of Equity in Enterprises Invested by Institutes and Research Institutes" issued by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which called for promoting mixed ownership reform and achieving diversification of investment entities.

This is the well-known mixed-ownership reform, a sector that stock market investors should be familiar with.

But that's not the key point. In another list of mixed-ownership reform enterprises published by Caijing Magazine, Lianxiang is prominently listed!

CAS Holdings:

In order to deepen the mixed ownership reform of state-owned enterprises and optimize the layout of state-owned capital, with approval, our company plans to transfer its 29% equity stake in Lianxiang Holdings through the Beiping Property Exchange, with a transfer price of RMB 27.55 billion.

The transferee must meet the following conditions:

The registered capital shall not be less than 40 billion yuan;

The average annual net profit for the past three years shall not be less than 8 million yuan;

It owns controlling stakes in listed companies in the finance, energy, and real estate sectors.

挂牌公示：2009年8月1日至8月20日于北平产权交易所公开挂牌，挂牌期20个工作日；

Payment requirements: The transferee shall pay the full amount in one lump sum within 5 business days after the agreement takes effect;
Equity transfer: After the transaction is completed, our company’s shareholding ratio will decrease to 36%, but we will still be the largest shareholder; the employee stock ownership association’s shareholding will remain unchanged at 35%; and the new strategic investor will hold 29% of the shares.

……

At this moment, not only Ma Huateng, but also Ma Yun in Lin'an, Wang Jianlin and Li Yanhong in Beiping, suddenly realized the truth!

Why has the former chairman stopped managing Damai.cn much this year, leaving all the responsibility to Cao Jie and a few shareholders?
Why did the former chairman suddenly become so tough after returning from the United States, choosing to publicly glare at the "disobedient children"?

Liu Chi stood calmly beside Little Ma, and after a long while, he chuckled and said, "Boss, the commotion up north... is really huge."

Ma Huateng nodded with a somber expression: "There are too many outstanding people in this world, let alone an old captain who has been around for so many years. Lu Kuan may really be at a loss this time."

He pointed to the listing conditions in the newspaper, which could almost be described as "tailor-made":

"The current situation is that the former chairman is hosting a dinner party at home, and this 29% equity stake is the delicious dish served to the distinguished guests."

"Distinguished guests have arrived, and are seated in high positions. Now we are going to lay bare our defenses and criticize and suppress you frankly. Do you think you can still barge in with a knife like before?"

"Aren't all the people in this room people that this tycoon can completely handle with his current connections and power?"

Ma Huateng could almost imagine that this competitor, which was also putting immense pressure on the penguin, would be powerless in this situation.

Unless he is also willing to share his insights with everyone.

If that were the case, he wouldn't be himself.

Liu Chiping nodded silently and said, "These people play a different game than us. Boss, your previous caution was correct. Our roots are in Pengcheng, and we are likely to suffer losses if we go out."

"Furthermore, this old chairman's methods are truly too ingenious. Among entrepreneurs from Tokyo University, he must be unique in this regard."

Hearing this comment, which was neither complimentary nor critical, Ma Huateng chuckled inwardly.

From a business and capital perspective, no one would disagree with such meticulous operational techniques.
In terms of timing, this was achieved by taking advantage of the low stock price of Lianxiang during the financial crisis and the background of the "Opinions" proposed above.
The targeted and stringent requirements, along with the strict condition of payment within five days, are enough to eliminate other competitors.

To be honest, if Ma Ying-jeou put himself in Lu Kuan's shoes, he must have thought about how Lu Kuan, who is reportedly still at the Qingdao naval base, would react upon seeing this news.

Given his decisive and ruthless nature, if possible, he would definitely not hesitate to intervene halfway and turn the old chairman's lavish banquet upside down.

But where could he find such a tailor-made company in such a short time?

How could Wenjie's cash flow situation be considered as if it could produce nearly 28 billion RMB or about 4 million USD within 10 days?

On August 5th, Oceanwide Holdings published a statement in designated media announcing its participation in the share reform of Lianxiang and that it had passed the exchange's review.

At this point, there were only 12 days left in the listing period before the 29% stake changed hands.

In the eyes of industry insiders, the fog of war that had lasted for one or two months gradually dissipated, and everyone was amazed by the old chairman's actions.

What kind of ability is this to seize opportunities and connect all parties?

Even though there are some minor noises and doubts online, most people remain silent because it doesn't concern them.

Ma Yun, Li Yanhong, Wang Jianlin, and others secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that given the current situation, this extremely intelligent and astute young tycoon might have no choice but to swallow his anger and focus on finishing his movie first.

Even if we were to seek retribution later, it wouldn't be a matter of just a year or two.

In other words, we didn't know what you were up to before, and we didn't make any moves.

The current situation is just as the old chairman described in his "lecture" to everyone that day:
Everything must be tested by capital.

The meaning of capital is complex.

Just as Damai.cn was making easy money, even if Wenjie had the resources and money, it was clearly not so easy for them to succeed.

August 8, 2009, marked the first anniversary of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

At Liu Chuanzhi's invitation, Ma Huateng flew from Shenzhen to Beiping in the morning.

This trip was to meet with the spirited former chairman to see if there was a basis for cooperation between the two companies to "jointly achieve great things".

For him, if Wenjie severely damages Damai.cn, he will seek to invest in Ali and enter the track where he once failed.

But now that the industry is declining, if possible and in line with the company's strategy, he has to consider another possibility.

Deep down, Little Ma still harbored the fear of the so-called "worst-case scenario" he publicly announced after Zhang Xiaolong was poached. (Chapter 533)
Ma Huateng was like an observer in the middle stages of a game, watching the battle rage on both the eastern and western fronts:

On the eastern front, Damai.cn swallowed up the ticketing market like a whale, and Chairman Liu's "divine move" was like a dark cloud pressing down on the city. On the western front, Wenjie lay dormant in Beiping like a tiger lying in wait in a ravine.

Every line on the chessboard is an interweaving of policy red lines and capital veins, and every star position conceals the power struggle between the Taishan Society and the Wenjie System.

The situation was changing rapidly, so he had no choice but to go to Beiping in person to look for opportunities.

At this moment, he was unaware that the most dangerous aspect of this game was that there was another hand outside the chessboard, ready to hear a thunderous roar with each move.

At 10:00 AM, the flight from Shenzhen landed at the South Concourse.

Xiao Ma, Liu Chiping, and several staff members entered the core area of ​​the terminal and then followed the signs to baggage claim level B2.

Coincidentally, just ten minutes earlier, a flight returning from Qingdao had docked at the North Concourse, but it also required passengers to collect their luggage via B2.

The vast dome of the Capital Airport cast a cold white light. Wearing sunglasses, Ma Huateng walked past the service counter with a heavy heart. Liu Chiping, who was next to him, suddenly patted his forearm.

Little Ma only heard a casual voice coming from beside him:

"Mr. Ma, are you here in Beiping for tourism?"

He suddenly turned his head, and there stood the young director who, in the eyes of the media and people inside and outside the industry, should still be hiding in the naval base filming, or rather, "saving face," standing next to the service desk with one hand in his pocket, while his cold-faced bodyguard and the service desk staff were communicating with each other.

Ma Huateng paused for half a second, about to reply, when suddenly an airplane roared to take off outside the glass curtain wall, causing the leaves of the pothos next to the service desk to tremble slightly.

Just like the thunderclap that suddenly resounded outside the chessboard at this moment.

(End of this chapter)