Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 536 Traitor! He's a traitor! (Bonus chapter for Sky)
The announcement over the radio was like a thunderbolt splitting the chaotic chessboard, instantly turning the tide of the battle.

For the parties involved in the transaction, such as Lianxiang and Oceanwide, the auction hammer, which they held firmly in their hands, was stopped by Wenjie in a way that no one could have predicted.

Capital behemoths like Oceanwide had to halt their rapid advance, and this sudden embarrassment was clearly visible on Lu Zhiqiang's face in the trading room.

He and Liu Qin learned about Hongmeng Capital, which seemed "strange" to them, ten minutes earlier than the old chairman.

Liu Qin rushed out to find her father immediately, and almost bumped into Lu Kuan at the entrance of the trading room. The latter very gentlemanly stepped aside to let her go first.

"Thank you..." The little bastard looked at the man with a particularly complicated, shocked, and flustered expression.

She was a capital industry expert who had worked at Goldman Sachs for five or six years. At this moment, she was trying to figure out the origin of "Hongmeng Capital" in her mind, but to no avail.

This once-spirited female CEO staggered toward her elderly father, who was surrounded by reporters, her back already drenched in cold sweat.

"Mr. Lu, it's a pleasure to meet you." Lu Zhiqiang looked at Lu Kuan, who was walking into the trading room with a relaxed gait, and had no choice but to bite the bullet and go forward to talk to him.

Mr. Lu smiled and shook hands with him, as if they were old friends meeting again: "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've admired Pan-Hai's reputation for a long time."

This isn't him being polite or boastful; the so-called "capital" in the traditional sense requires control over financial channels, which is the real cash cow.

Mr. Lu, who is standing in front of us, is a master of this.

He acquired 1.6 million shares for 1.3 million yuan on the eve of Minsheng Bank's listing in 2000, becoming the second largest shareholder of Minsheng Bank.

Subsequently, this Minsheng Bank equity was pledged for a long period of time, during which dividends were continuously paid and the stock price soared, making him extremely wealthy. His status as a major shareholder of Minsheng Bank also allowed him to obtain a continuous stream of loans.

In 2007, Sina Finance released the "China Capital Market Control Ranking". Lu Zhiqiang, with a total market value of 2609 billion yuan from Minsheng Bank and Oceanwide Holdings, ascended to the throne of "the person with the highest A-share market value".

Where did the nearly 3 billion yuan that helped the Taishan Club this time come from?

The cash generated from the continuous reduction of shares in Minsheng Bank since January of this year demonstrates the unity among members of the Taishan Club and the prestige of the former chairman.

In the business world, there are no absolute friends or enemies. Although Lu Zhiqiang was quite wary and troubled by the young tycoon in front of him, he did not share too much "hatred" with the old chairman and his words were polite.

“Mr. Lu, doing business really... requires harmony to make money.” Old Lu said helplessly, “This time it’s truly a lose-lose situation. You and Mr. Liu must be having a tough time.”

Boss Lu waved his hand: "Hey! I'm just a movie director, what do I know about doing business! I'm just messing around."

Lu Zhiqiang smiled helplessly, thinking to himself that chatting with this kid was really a waste of his lifespan, and he couldn't help but feel a little concerned about the old chairman outside.

"Mr. Lu, please have a seat. I'll go out and take a look."

"Okay, see you later."

If only one bidder submits a bid, the hammer can be dropped immediately. If two bidders submit bids, they must compete on price, especially after the initial qualification review. Otherwise, it would be an obvious transfer of benefits.

In this situation where everyone is watching from top to bottom, who would dare to do that?

Inside the review office, the elder brother Lu Zhiqiang cared about had transformed into an old man, furiously confronting the staff of the Beijing Stock Exchange:

“I urge you to rigorously review the qualifications of this newly added ‘Hong Kong HarmonyOS’. Is a few minutes really enough to confirm compliance?”

The qualification reviewer from the Beijing Stock Exchange looked at him calmly: "Mr. Liu was just joking."

"First, we have conducted a thorough review in strict accordance with the 'Rules for Transactions of State-owned Enterprise Property Rights' and the special provisions of this mixed-ownership reform."

"Including the capital verification report audited by Deloitte, and the audit reports of the company's subsidiaries in the past three years, such as Eagle Capital (a financial company), Eagle International (a real estate company), and Xiangjiang Gas (an energy company)."

"Secondly, considering the efficiency of compliance review for shortlisted candidates in the mixed-ownership reform bidding process, the city's working group communicated with the institute early this morning to conduct a pre-qualification review. They just came over to submit paper materials and supplementary materials, so it took much longer than the few minutes you mentioned."

"Third, you are a highly respected entrepreneur. Such bidding requires prior verification of funds and deduction of a deposit. For a bid of nearly 28 billion, the deposit alone is more than 7 million. If the qualifications are falsified, we will confiscate the deposit. This Hong Kong company shouldn't be that stupid, right?"

The old chairman's face was ashen, but he wasn't so muddled as to directly question, "Why weren't you notified in advance?"

With the conclusion of the European inspection, the forces of justice have been restored. The symbolic letter from the Beijing Stock Exchange is still fresh in our minds, and now it is clear that things will be more just, fair, and transparent.

Liu Qin looked coldly at the auditor in front of her: "Which department are you from? I haven't seen you here last time."

The young woman was a highly capable person that Lao Cai had coordinated from the city. She blinked and said, "Oh, I was just transferred here a few days ago. I'm specifically in charge of compliance and access."

The old chairman's face darkened, and he instantly understood what was going on.

But he clearly didn't think this lowly figure who handled official business had the right to speak to him, and directly ordered his daughter:
"Contact Vice President Zhu. I need to ask the relevant leader at the Beijing Stock Exchange to re-examine their qualifications!"

How could Lu Kuan possibly carve another radish in such a short time? Considering the temporary reviewer in front of him, there was clearly something fishy going on.

Unfortunately, this clever "little guy" wouldn't let him off easy: "Stop hitting him, Vice President Zhu has some family matters to attend to and took leave the day before yesterday."

"Damn it! What are some people trying to do? Don't they care about fairness and justice?!"

The old chairman, already quite angry at someone who "bought a gift for his wife," was now in a state of righteous indignation. His head was buzzing, his blood was churning, and he looked rather unsteady on his feet.

"Old Liu." Lu Zhiqiang, who had just finished chatting with Boss Lu, rushed over and grabbed his old friend's arm: "Don't get excited, let's talk over there."

The entourage and staff blocked the reporters, and the three of them found an empty trading room.

“I just contacted the leaders of the Beijing Stock Exchange. The city sent a working group a few days ago, which was supposed to be a simple business guidance, but they still haven’t left.”

The father and daughter looked grim; their hearts seemed to sink to the bottom.

Who governs the Beijing Stock Exchange?

First, the Beiping Asset Management Company is the largest shareholder and actual controller;
Secondly, the municipal government directly supervises, audits, conducts compliance reviews, and provides policy guidance to the Beijing Stock Exchange.

Thirdly, Guo, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, provides professional business guidance based on major policies and guidelines.

In the power struggle between the two forces, the former chairman had the upper hand, which is why that innocuous announcement was made, and the situation has been stable ever since.

But now, with the change of personnel in the review process, the arrival of the working group, and Vice President Zhu being put on leave, it is a very clear case of the East Wind prevailing over the West Wind.

For the former chairman, power was certainly alluring, but when it backfired, it precisely dissected the cage of rules he had painstakingly built, trapping him in the dock.

Human relationships are the most extravagant consumable; every bit of convenience previously granted by power has now become a noose tightening around one's neck.

And this is precisely the coldest and ultimate fairness in the constitution.

Hongmeng Capital, which entered the fray halfway through the process, passed the qualification review and paid the deposit. The next step is the bidding process.

How to do?
The air in the trading room was as still as lead. Every tick of the clock's second hand felt like a hammering on the nerves of the three people. The 10:30 mark was particularly glaring under the stark white light.

There was no conversation, no eye contact, only the dying hum of the central air conditioning vents.

"Dad, let's just bid. Are we really inferior to the little bit of money he scraped together?"

Lu Zhiqiang said in a deep voice, "I'll contact Lao Guo and the others. We should lend a helping hand at this time."

The old chairman remained silent. This wasn't about the money; it was about how he would repurchase the shares if bad actors artificially inflated the price.

In the previous life, after acquiring shares for 27.55 billion yuan, Oceanwide Holdings blatantly violated the five-year lock-up agreement and eagerly transferred them to several private shareholders just two years later, with the transaction price remaining undisclosed.

Even if he is the head of the Taishan Club, he can't expect his old brothers from member companies to pay such exorbitant bills for him, can he?
In order to raise nearly 28 billion yuan, Lu Zhiqiang has already frantically reduced his holdings in Minsheng Bank to the minimum required level, and there is no room for further demand.

The key issue is that, like everyone else, including Lao Cai, he simply couldn't figure out what Lu Kuan's real purpose was.

“In terms of financial strength alone, we naturally have nothing to fear, but money shouldn’t be used this way, and things shouldn’t be done this way.” The old chairman’s throat bobbed, his voice slightly hoarse from the burning desire in his heart.

"Please take care of these two matters immediately—"

"First, Lu Kuan is a despicable person who is good at colluding with outsiders. There must be a mole in his team. Otherwise, how could he so easily take over this so-called compliant company? He is trying to imitate the Huayi story!"

"Go back and investigate!" The entrepreneur, already in his sixties, practically spat out each word through gritted teeth. "Whoever it is, teach this traitor a lesson!"

"Secondly, on the last day, he tried to steal the prize by relying on his superiors, hoping for a quick victory. But have you ever considered where his money actually came from?"

Lu Zhiqiang and Liu Qin were taken aback by what they heard. They had been blinded by their own limited perspective and had only now had time to consider the second strange thing besides the "real purpose".

Even though Wenjie's equity structure is highly closed, given the size of each company, there is still a wide range of possibilities to guess about their cash flow situation.

If you ask me to say that Liu Yifei could instantly produce 10 billion yuan, I can assume that it was cash that she obtained after Wuyue went public.

Even if it's 15 billion! 18 billion! I'll just assume you, this wicked seed, have a gold mine under your villa, okay?
But now it's nearly 28 billion!
Moreover, considering the bidding process, at least 35-40 billion should be prepared to be on the safe side.

If he is really prepared to bid for the shares.

"As far as the domestic part is concerned, every penny of Wenjie's financing is not a big secret. The banking system can easily find out. It is impossible to raise such a large amount of funds in a short period of time."

"Where did this money come from?"

The old chairman seemed to be just reasoning to himself. Before the two could answer, he suddenly looked at his daughter with a sinister gaze: "Liu Qin, you're going back to the United States this afternoon, back to Goldman Sachs headquarters!"

"Dad, you mean..."

"Find Paulson! Ask him to help investigate Lu Kuan's assets in the United States. Unless this money really fell from the sky and landed on this bastard, it can only come from overseas!"

Liu Chuanzhi's face hardened: "Doesn't he always claim to be a global citizen, like to talk to Americans about the American Dream, and say that he won't take a single penny from America?"

"I want to see how he explains this money! Can he still fulfill the promises he made to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States when he acquired Netflix?"

Liu Qin's eyes lit up, and she was about to reply when her father's words became even harsher:
"If the funding comes from the Jewish capital he's befriended, such as Disney, Miramax, or even Fox, it would further demonstrate his wolfish ambitions!"

"What is this?" The old chairman tapped the table lightly. "Lianxiang is a benchmark for the national science and technology industry and shoulders the strategic responsibility of national information security."

"His audacity in doing this is an act of collusion with foreign capital, attempting to control our country's core technological infrastructure!"

"Isn't this exactly the kind of accusation Lu Kuan used to frame us by bringing up the acquisition of IBM? Lu Kuan is a complete comprador!"

Lu Zhiqiang and Liu Qin exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of relief and hope after the old chairman's few words.

This move, turning the tables on the opponent, is indeed ingenious, a brilliant strategy of using their own methods against them.

Not only did they skillfully deflect the charges, but they also used the situation to their advantage, returning the blame to the original perpetrators and setting up an even more insidious trap.

Let's analyze the flow of these funds carefully, based on Lu Kuan's self-proclaimed identities as an international citizen and a patriot:

If the money came from his US-based businesses, then he is a traitor to the US.
If the money came from his capitalist allies in the United States, then he is a traitor.

In short, being able to expose one of his two masks might be enough to make the bad guys back down.

Liu Qin's face lit up with joy. She knew that her father, whom she had always admired, would have the quick wit to retaliate. In this vast domestic business world, there were indeed not many who could rival him.

“I’ll call him later. Paulson just stepped down as Treasury Secretary, but he has the connections to handle this.”

Admittedly, Lu Kuan may have concealed the source of funding before implementing the plan, but he could not escape Paulson's pursuit.

The Paulson mentioned by the father and daughter is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs, named Henry Paulson, not Mr. Lu's good friend and big short seller John Paulson.

Henry Paulson is a veteran figure in both the American political and business worlds. He joined Goldman Sachs after the Watergate scandal in 1974 and became chairman and CEO in 1999, wielding immense power.

After stepping down in 2006, Paulson was sworn in as Treasury Secretary, but due to Obama's newly appointed reorganization of his team, the former minister Paulson left office in January of this year and is currently a member of the Boao Forum for Asia Council.

It is well known that top U.S. investment bank executives have historically had deep connections in the political and financial systems, forming a "revolving door" mechanism that enables them to mobilize government resources to investigate cross-border assets.

As for why Paulson would lend a helping hand?

A close examination of Goldman Sachs's activities at Southeast University with a magnifying glass reveals a lot:
In 2004, Lianxiang and Goldman Sachs jointly established Goldman Sachs Gao Hua Securities, with Goldman Sachs holding 33% of the shares and Lianxiang indirectly holding shares through a related party, "Fang Mou".

Goldman Sachs provided loans of approximately RMB 8.04 million to related parties to establish three shareholder companies for Goldman Sachs Securities, which would then be used to gain controlling interest through joint ventures.

Also in 2004, Lianxiang and Goldman Sachs jointly restructured Hainan Securities, with each party holding 33% of the shares and Fang holding 34%.

As a result, Goldman Sachs successfully bypassed foreign investment restrictions and became a new player in the domestic financial market.

All of the above are legal and compliant in principle.

Goldman Sachs was the leading force in the highly anticipated IBM acquisition. In 2014, when Didi bypassed regulations to go public in the US, Goldman Sachs was also an underwriter. After the listing, it was even fined 80 billion yuan by the state for exposing data security risks.

This includes Liu Qin's career path, which she is currently listening to her elderly father's earnest advice on:

He graduated from Harvard University, the same university Paulson attended, in 2002, joined Goldman Sachs' Asian investment banking division, was promoted to executive director in 2008, and became managing director for the Asia Pacific region in 2012.

These are just a few examples.

Liu Qin felt a surge of excitement, but the investigation would take time. Even if she contacted them immediately, what would happen to the wicked seed next door who was sharpening his knife?
The compliance review is over, and the bidding process starts today. Do you think they'll have time to find fault with us?
The old chairman gave a solution in a deep voice: "You should call Paulson immediately, then fly over to cooperate with him and act as an intermediary to contact people in China."

"With his influence, he could at least have some reliable clues within a day or two, which would be enough to serve as evidence in court and prompt the authorities to re-examine the safety of their funds."

"I'll try to stall the Beijing Stock Exchange and find another opportunity to test their true intentions."

The old chairman sighed deeply, seemingly not pleased with his quick wit, but still feeling a sense of helplessness, as if his white hair was getting shorter with each passing year.

When playing against this kind of person, you'll never feel relieved until you see him actually resign in front of you.

If you breathe a sigh of relief prematurely, you may very well be the one who dies.

Lu Zhiqiang chuckled awkwardly, "I just tried to persuade Lu Kuan a few times to no avail. I didn't have a legitimate reason, given the city's current tough stance..."

"It's going to be difficult to delay."

"No legitimate reason? I'll give it to you!" The old chairman was so angry that his hair turned white. He silently touched the pills in his breast pocket and helplessly lay down on the chair.

"Liu Qin, I'm having a heart attack. Call 120 and take me away immediately."

"If this bastard insists on pushing his luck, let him force me to my death in front of all these reporters today."

Lu Zhiqiang and his eldest niece Liu Qin exchanged a glance, both seeing unspeakable bitterness in each other's expressions.

According to the "Measures for the Administration of Major Asset Restructuring of Listed Companies", if the transaction party experiences "major changes that may affect the ownership or business continuity of the target assets", the procedure should be considered for suspension.

In China, even a change of chairman can lead to a trading halt for listed companies, let alone a former chairman who is the key figure in organizing mixed-ownership reform.

His health issues will greatly influence questions about the company's future governance structure, fully meeting the definition of a "major change".

Liu Qin looked at her once imposing father, a pillar of the domestic business world, with heartache. He lay back in his chair, motionless, his fingertips unconsciously digging into his palms.

This act of lying down not only signifies the abandonment of one's usual demeanor and dignity, but also evokes a sense of sorrow, like a tiger fallen into the plains or a hero meeting his end.

She looked at her father's face, which was feigning illness but could not hide his true decline, and swallowed a sigh. He must be feeling very bad too.

Liu Qin took a deep breath, exchanged a glance with Lu Zhiqiang, took out her phone to dial the emergency number and gave him the address, then prepared to push open the door and go out.

……

"What are they up to? They're keeping me from going home to see my little one! These people have made me pass by my house three times this month without going in."

In the first trading room, Boss Lu looked at the wall clock and saw that it was 10:45. He tapped the table impatiently, his face showing increasing impatience.

Delaying? Will delaying solve the problem?

Li Shoucheng laughed and said, "Lu Sheng is a role model for men. He only cares about his children. As for whether it will delay his wife's birthday, he's not worried."

"Haha, I'm scared too, I'm scared too."

"I'll go to the people at the Beijing Stock Exchange to urge them. If Oceanwide doesn't show up by the time the deadline arrives, does that mean I've abandoned the bid?"

Zhuang Xu got up, ready to put some pressure on them, but as soon as he pushed open the door to the trading room, the corridor was already packed with reporters who had broken through the security guards' blockade.

Outside the glass doors of the Beijing Stock Exchange, the sirens of ambulances grew louder as they approached, and flashes of light rained down from the cameras.

His brows furrowed suddenly, and Boss Lu and the others behind him had already come out.

With tears still streaming down her face, Liu Qin screamed at the reporters in a fit of rage, "Can you please move aside? Let the ambulance in! My father has had a heart attack!"

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

The leaders of the Beijing Stock Exchange also arrived after hearing the news. They thought, "Why did we have to die here? We're just asking for trouble!"
As the reporters were forcibly pulled away by security guards and forced to back away, they all started chattering away:
"Miss Liu, is the former chairman unwell? Could you please share some information?"

"How is Mr. Liu now? What caused his heart attack?"

A reporter glanced at Lu Kuan and the others outside another trading room and boldly asked, "Ms. Liu, is it because... because of Hongmeng Capital mentioned on the broadcast just now?"

Liu Qin wiped away her tears and glanced at Lu Kuan and the others at the entrance of the first trading room, seemingly casually.

Seeing the paramedics rush in with a stretcher, he shook his head and hurriedly returned.

The people on this side all looked somewhat displeased, but they couldn't be sure whether the old chairman was putting on a show or was really angered by Boss Lu.

"Liu Qin's gaze is one-tenth as powerful as Xiao Liu's." Lu Kuan looked on helplessly, then suddenly turned his head and noticed that Zhuang Xu and the others were looking at him strangely.

"What are you all looking at me for?" Boss Lu cursed in frustration. "Even if it were true, he'd still be angry if I bought my wife a gift. How can you blame me?"

The "bad seed" decided to go all the way, scoffed, and stepped forward, ready to follow the medical staff to see what was going on.

He naturally didn't believe that the old chairman could be injured in a non-confrontational state by such a coincidence, but what was the point of delaying for a while?
When passing reporters tried to ask some "wild" questions, his solemn demeanor prevented him from being presumptuous, much less daring to create any inexplicable gimmicks in public.

From another perspective, even if people laugh at poverty but not prostitution, everyone still has a basic sense of right and wrong.

In this situation, no matter what question you ask Lu Kuan, you're bound to get into trouble.

The reputations of these two are now completely different. The one in the trading room is now really rotten, so why bother Boss Lu?

Inside, the president of Oceanwide Holdings was speaking quietly to the medical staff with his back to everyone, presumably planning to recruit these people to become temporary actors soon.

Liu Qin stood firmly at the door, turning to the leaders of the Beijing Stock Exchange: "I'm sorry, my father has had a sudden emergency, and we need to go to the hospital immediately."

“Although my father is not a bidder, he represents the opinions of Lianxiang and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is a participant in the mixed-ownership reform. Please postpone the bidding in the morning according to the regulations.”

The person in charge from the Beijing Stock Exchange glanced at Lu Kuan discreetly, recalling the instructions from his superiors last night. After a few seconds of hesitation, he said carefully, "We will report this to higher authorities. Please ask Chairman Liu to go for medical treatment first. We'll discuss the rest later."

Boss Lu walked in leisurely, followed by Zhuang Xu and a group of staff from Hong Kong Harmony Capital.

"Liu Qin, I've come to see the old chairman." The man was stopped at the door. Liu Qin's face was cold: "It's not appropriate. The doctor is trying to save him. Please leave for now, Mr. Lu."

Her face was as resolute as a proletarian fighter: "No matter how you do business, nothing is more important than human life. Please be lenient."

"Make way! Make way!" Before Liu Qin's resolute words had even finished, the doctors in white coats were already carrying the stretcher and rushing out.

She hurriedly helped her father away, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man standing still, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at my father, who was over sixty years old, on the stretcher, his lips were purple from holding his breath, and his eyelids were trembling slightly.

This once powerful and influential figure in the business world is now forced to huddle under the tattered umbrella of "heart disease" to avoid the rain. It's truly a pity for him.

Reporters swarmed in and followed the ambulance out in single file, thinking that even a few words from someone would be enough to make a story!

The leaders of the Beijing Stock Exchange exchanged a few pleasantries and then left, leaving only Wenjie standing silently at the entrance of the trading room.

"Heh." Boss Lu suddenly chuckled, "No wonder Chinese films are doing so well right now, there are so many good actors."

"If the old chairman were willing to switch careers and make films about the Ming Dynasty, I think he would be the perfect candidate for the role of Yan Song."

Volume 5204 of the "Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty: Jiajing Records" states: Song feigned illness and stayed in his residence, unable to get up, while secretly sending his son Shifan to the Western Garden to draft documents on his behalf...

Now it's become an old man faking a heart attack to quickly send his mistress back to the US for help.

Zhuang Xu didn't share his enthusiasm and said in a deep voice, "I'll ask the city to coordinate. It's true that Lian Xiang nominated him to represent the company in the mixed-ownership reform bidding, but we can't let one person affect the overall situation. Lian Xiang can easily nominate someone with a background in the Chinese Academy of Sciences to replace him."

"Give it a try," Lu Kuan sighed. "The leaders consider things more than we do. After all, no one can bear the infamy of driving a representative and the vice president of the Chamber of Commerce to their deaths."

He turned to Li Shoucheng and teased, "Mr. Li, how did you like the show today? There are still many hidden talents in this world, aren't there?"

Even after all this, he was still told to feign illness and flee to avoid further trouble.

“Absolutely brilliant.” Li Shoucheng smiled and shook his head, still filled with superstition about the young tycoon before him, so his words inevitably carried a mystical connotation:
"A person is sustained by a single breath. It was easy for him to feign illness in front of you this time, but it will be difficult for him to regain that spirit."

Those who achieve great things value power above all else. If their body goes weak, their spine will break. If their spine breaks, their soul will scatter. No matter how many schemes they have afterward, they will be nothing more than a walking corpse.

The drama temporarily ended around 11 a.m. Liu Qin urgently contacted Paulson and asked President Yang of Nanfang to help "uphold justice," playing the sympathy card.

It is undeniable that Chinese people, who are accustomed to sympathizing with the elderly and the sick and like to say things like "the dead are dead," will inevitably feel compassion.

After all, everyone receives different information from the internet, and "Old Hu Doesn't Talk Nonsense" can't be broadcast on CCTV at 8:30 pm.

The situation has changed subtly once again. Leaders from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Ministry, the city, and other relevant departments are all quite concerned about the old chairman's sudden heart attack.

After all, his identity as a righteous person is undeniable.

For Mr. Lu, however, the old chairman's performance, which was worthy of the Best Actor award at the Huabiao Awards, completely disrupted his plans to be a model husband and father today, and he couldn't care less about Xiao Liu's birthday for the time being.

After having lunch with Zhuang Xu, Li Shoucheng, and others, I went to the municipal government in the afternoon to discuss the bidding process and report to the leaders. But the actual issues we discussed are self-evident.

It's mostly about assessing the current situation, communicating information, and achieving the ultimate strategic objective given the initial signs of victory.

Ultimately, Leader Liu gave instructions to both the Beijing Stock Exchange and the coordinating working group:

Please rest assured and take care of yourself. If you are really unable to take on the work of representing the company in the bidding process, please ask the National Science and Technology Commission and the Employee Stock Ownership Committee to recommend another candidate. This is also for the sake of the former chairman's health, and we cannot bear to let him take on the heavy burden of work.

The deadline is only three days.

After leaving the city government at six o'clock, Mr. Lu called his wife in the car and then headed straight to the Wenjie Building to meet a guest.

The person who called him this morning is now sitting in his office.

It is no easy task to persuade him to reach a cooperation agreement amidst such fierce business competition, and today may be the perfect opportunity to make a final decision.

Lu Kuan got into the private elevator to the president's office floor, his phone still ringing: "I'll be there soon. You guys eat first, I don't know what time it will be."

"By the way, wouldn't it be great to wear that one tonight?"

On the other end of the phone, Xiao Liu playfully scolded, "Get lost! All you think about is this trivial stuff!"

"Ugh, I hate that old bastard so much! We were supposed to be enjoying our honeymoon, but we've been cooped up for almost a year!"

Today was supposed to be a happy day for the new mom to recover and for the couple to be free from quarantine. The washing machine was ready to be plugged back in and given a good spin, but it was unexpectedly delayed.

"Ding!" Boss Lu stepped out of the elevator, chatted with his wife for a few moments, then hung up and went into his office.

"Mr. Lu, you've arrived." Old Dong, who was having tea with guests, stood up, and the man next to him looked at the richest man in mainland China with a smile: "Mr. Lu, it's been two years since we last met!"

Boss Lu smiled and stepped forward to shake hands: "It was only two years! Back then, we were still struggling brothers on K Street!"

The man in front of him, who was not tall but stood upright like a pine tree, was Ren Zhengfei, whom he had met in the United States in 2007.

At that time, Lu Kuan was struggling with Netflix's public relations issues and found K Street's lobbying team;

At the same time, Renesas, together with Bain Capital, also bid $22 billion for 3Com, but ultimately failed because the latter had previously supplied equipment to the US military. (Chapter 346)
This was the first time the two had crossed paths. Later, they only met occasionally at various unavoidable meetings and did not develop a deep relationship.

To be honest, when this film director approached him two months ago, expressing his desire to collaborate on the mobile phone business, Ren Zhengfei was completely opposed.

Huawi's main business is the manufacture of communication equipment, which creates a natural barrier to entry with the film and television media industry to which Wenjie belongs.

Ren has always adhered to a focused strategy of "concentrating efforts on one thing" and has a cautious attitude towards cross-border cooperation. In 2009, Huawei was fully committed to breaking into the European and American markets and had no time to be distracted by attempts unrelated to its core business.

Moreover, 80% of the company's current mobile phone business consists of carrier-customized phones, which are the kind of phones that people give away as a gift when they top up their phone credit. It follows a pure B2B OEM model, and there is no such thing as a brand.

This resulted in Huawei's mobile phone sales reaching $40 billion in 2009, but only 5%, or less than $2 million, generating a net profit. The company couldn't even recoup its R&D costs and relied entirely on data cards to offset the losses in its mobile phones.

Under these circumstances, what opportunities are there for cooperation with Youwenjie?

Don't tell me you're not in the mobile phone business. Even if you were, Huawei's current OEM manufacturing model doesn't require any partners at all.

However, at that time, Boss Lu asked him a very sincere question that made Lao Ren wonder if all his years of business experience had been wasted.

He recalled with a sigh, "To be honest, I don't doubt your character or credibility, Mr. Lu, it's just that you suddenly called yesterday to say—"

"Ren, do you want Lenovo's mobile phone business?"

"That one sentence really stunned me. I thought, how come a big director like you is now doing brokerage business? Are you trying to fool this old man?"

Lu Kuan laughed heartily: "We can put this topic aside for now. I believe we'll have a result soon."

"The reason I bring this up is that Lenovo's mobile phone business can indeed complement yours."

He patiently explained, "Now they have already imitated Apple and launched the 3G OPhone. Although the technology patents were all bought, it can effectively make up for the embarrassing situation where you can only rebrand."

"Putting everything else aside, Lenovo now holds all the patents for the TD-SCDMA terminal protocol stack. China Mobile's TD terminal subsidies next year may exceed 10 billion yuan. Lenovo's O1 radio frequency calibration solution alone can save you two years of R&D time."

"Furthermore, Lianxiang is indeed doing solid market development and distribution. They use their PC channels, Gome and Suning's appliance departments, and even our Wenjie Mall to create online and offline terminals."

"Now it has surpassed Motorola to become the number one domestic GSM brand in China, second only to Nokia and Samsung."

Mr. Lu's expression was extremely sincere: "Mr. Ren, the birth of Apple's smartphone two years ago can be said to be an epoch-making masterpiece. In the future, the profit margin of OEM will become smaller and smaller. I think this time to transform is an excellent choice."

Nintendo still had some unresolved issues, after all, the OEM business could bring in $2 million in revenue for the company every year.

If we really shift to R&D, we will inevitably have to allocate some of the R&D funds for our basic business. Moreover, is this track really suitable for Huawei to get involved in now?
He once wrote about his embarrassing moments in his memoirs.

Huawei's mobile phone business suffered losses from 2003 to 2008. Ren Zhengfei slammed his fist on the table and roared: "Anyone who mentions making mobile phones again can pack their bags and leave!"

Moreover, how could he be sure that this young man, who was always making outrageous statements, would definitely be able to secure Lenovo's mobile phone business?
Seeing that he remained silent, Lu Kuan sighed inwardly and had no choice but to prepare to increase the stakes.

This move was originally intended as a negotiating condition to gain a larger share in the joint venture, but if he can't even convince him now, it won't make much of a difference even if he manages to acquire Lianxiang's mobile phone business this time.

Since this wasn't Wenjie's main business, he couldn't possibly lead the company through such a transformative leap; otherwise, it would surely fail.

In China, is there a more suitable partner than Huawei?
"Mr. Ren, it wasn't convenient to talk about this over the phone before, but there's something I think can help you better assess the situation."

Old Ren nodded: "Please go ahead."

"You might think Apple's brand and R&D are unmatched, but don't forget the third operating system that emerged from the end of last year to this year, following OS and Symbian—"

Android.

Ren Zhengfei was even more confused by what he said. Of course I know Android!

Or rather, who in the mobile phone industry doesn't know about Android this year?
Since HTC launched the first Android phone last year, Samsung, HP, and Dell have all launched Android smartphones by the middle of this year.

This was an industry transformation that everyone had to participate in, because everyone saw the insanely high profit margins of the iPhone.

But what does that have to do with your wide road?
Thus, in his eyes, the richest man in mainland China continued to make outrageous statements: "North American Interconnect holds more than 31% of the shares of Android, making it the second largest shareholder after Google."

shock!
Android has only recently become popular this year, and it is not a publicly listed company. Few people in China know about his actual shareholding in Android.

In 2006, Mytube was sold for $23 billion.

He used the $10 billion in cash to operate companies like Twitter and to introduce special effects technology. He also pledged shares of companies like Focus Media and gave them to Paulson to establish the CDS fund that year.

The remaining $13 billion was converted into shares in Google and Android. At Google's share price of $450 in 2006, this "huge sum" would only represent less than 1% of the company. Therefore, Lu Kuan planned ahead and included the shareholding in Android in the contract terms.

In conclusion, through his parent company Google and direct control of Android, his shareholding reached approximately 31.06%. (Chapter 472)
In 2020, Android will become a core division of Google, accounting for more than 35% of its revenue.

Ren Zhengfei was genuinely surprised this time.

In fact, Huawei's first smartphone was the U8220, launched in 2010. It also ran on Android, but it was still an OEM product and didn't have its own logo, so consumer awareness was zero.

Huawei's mobile phone division may have just begun communicating with Google and Android, but little did they expect that Android's second-largest shareholder would be this young compatriot standing right in front of them?

If Lianxiang's "acquired patents" and offline channels only motivated Nintendo to come to Wenjie's headquarters today for a conversation, then this new information about Android has prompted this strategist to begin imagining things—

Envisioning the future and future of Huawei mobile phones.

When did Huawei make the decision to completely abandon the low-end OEM model and turn to independent research and development of mid-to-high-end smartphones?

It was at the "Zunyi Conference" within Huawei in 2010 that Lao Ren, a native of Guizhou, faced with his own struggling OEM model and the booming smartphone market outside, made a tough decision and embarked on the road to success.

It's fair to say that in 2009, with the richest man in mainland China holding Lenovo's patents and distribution channels in one hand and Android's second-largest shareholder in the other, it was impossible for him not to be tempted.

Old Ren, as usual, fell silent and pondered. Just as he was about to make a final, decisive move, he suddenly looked up and stared at Lu Kuan's sincere face.

Damn, I almost got tricked by this kid!
Even now, he's still the former chairman!
You just gave someone a heart attack this morning, do you even think this will work out?!
"Mr. Lu, although I am much older than you, I admire all the things you have done for society, and I believe everyone has seen them."

Ren Zhengfei said seriously, "When it comes to making friends, I really admire a young comrade like you with such a pure heart, but when it comes to running a business, this is real skill, and there is no room for empty talk."

"Please tell me, what makes you think you can get Lenovo's mobile phone business?"

"To be honest, although I'm not very familiar with Chairman Liu, we do have some connections. If he asks us to cooperate with Wenjie in doing something that crosses the line..."

"I'm sorry to have to obey."

"What are you saying!" Lu Kuan laughed. "Who in China doesn't know that I always abide by the law and only act within the rules?"

"I never make things difficult for leaders or friends, that's common knowledge. Mr. Ren is not without connections in Beijing, you can ask around yourself."

His expression turned slightly serious: "As for your question, I can speak frankly now, and I'm not afraid that you might accidentally let it slip, Mr. Ren."

"We are determined to acquire the 29% stake in Lianxiang's share reform. At that time, the former chairman will face two choices: whether to take this stake or the mobile phone business."

"Lienxiang's mobile phone business is not small now, but how does it compare to the overall PC business that it has been painstakingly trying to control?"

"Isn't that too insignificant to mention?"

Ren Zhengfei felt a deep sense of sympathy. He and the former chairman were born in the same year, and he had witnessed the heated public opinion battle between the two sides, culminating in the Beijing Stock Exchange incident this morning.

Admittedly, even if I were in the position of the former chairman, I wouldn't have been able to find a better solution under such strong pressure from Lu Kuan.

Now, Wenjie is making it clear that Chema wants to acquire your 29% stake. Once acquired, it will become the third largest shareholder of Lianxiang, after Guoke and the Employee Stock Ownership Committee.

The old chairman's dream will undoubtedly be shattered, and he will have no chance of realizing his grand ambitions.

But now, here's a choice for you, a drowning person who's practically faking a heart attack to survive:

The company will split and package Lenovo's mobile phone business, along with related patents and channel resources, and sell them at a "friendly price." Hongmeng Capital will then transfer the equity at an opportune time.

If you were the former president, what would you choose?
Old Ren smacked his lips, then, remembering a certain heart patient, suddenly reminded him, "Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit," which made Boss Lu laugh out loud.

Big things are settled.

Old Ren is a workaholic. Once he starts talking, he can't stop. After having dinner at the famous Wenjie Canteen, he chatted with Lu Kuan for a long time about mobile phones.

From Android system architecture to TD-SCDMA patent portfolio;

Can cross-licensing of patents from the Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, bypass some of Qualcomm's patent barriers?
Even the details of future product distribution and terminal development through the Wenjie Mall were meticulously and repeatedly examined.

By 9:30 p.m., even a workaholic like Boss Lu was exhausted by the old man's efforts. Looking at the project roadmap on the whiteboard in the conference room, he said helplessly:
"Uncle Ren, it's getting late. Shall we talk again another time?"

Ren Zhengfei said solemnly, "Xiao Lu, that's not right of you. You just mentioned the path that HiSilicon is going to take, and you sounded quite professional! Why are you hiding your abilities?"

The time traveler thought to himself, "If I were truly professional, I would have done it myself. Why am I just a major shareholder now?"
"It's not that I'm hiding my abilities, I really don't know anything about technology. The stuff I just mentioned was something I heard about by chance while I was abroad, I was just showing off to you!"

Ren Zhengfei thought to himself that young people are just too impetuous. Why do they have to rush home at such a good time? He then reluctantly drank a cup of tea that had already gone cold.

"Let's go then! Oh, by the way—"

The old man hurriedly rummaged through his bag and pulled out two photos, which turned out to be of a top female star from mainland China!

Boss Lu looked at him, both amused and exasperated: "Uncle Ren, you're not actually a fan of Xiao Liu, are you? That's quite a crossover for you!"

"No, no, it's my youngest daughter, she's only 11 years old this year." Old Ren rubbed his hands together with a simple and honest expression, his Guizhou accent becoming even stronger when he mentioned his daughter:

"She's your partner's number one fan! Her bedroom is covered in posters of hers, it's practically blinding."

Old Ren laughed and said, "To be honest, your wife also deserves credit for the fact that we were able to have such a long and smooth conversation today."

"If it weren't for Anna pestering me relentlessly for Xiao Liu's autographed photo, and you telling me about Wenjie's participation in the bidding, this trip would have been really tough!"

"Haha! It's her birthday today, she'll be so happy to hear this."

Old Ren slapped his forehead: "Oh dear! It's her birthday! Look at me, this old man is in the way!"

Lu Kuan pointed to two photos of Liu Yifei, one of Little Dragon Girl and the other of Iris Chang: "I'll have her sign the whole set when I get back. You take it back now, and next time I'll have An..."

“Anna, Yao Anna.”

Boss Lu laughed and said, "If she wants, she can just go and get it herself next time. Xiao Liu is currently at home taking care of the children and hasn't gone out to work yet, so she's quite free."

"Really? That's great!" Upon hearing this news, Ren Zhengfei seemed even happier than if the company had launched a new business.

As the butterfly's wings flutter, Xu Hongdou and Xie Qin from the previous life's novel "With Wind" will meet in advance.

Lu Kuan had to use all his resources to convince Lao Ren to embark on the road to prosperity ahead of his previous life. This allowed Wenjie to establish a solid industrial foundation that aligned with future technological trends, in addition to its existing layout in the cultural and media industry.

For him, the mobile phone, chip, and Android systems are all based on the future trend of three screens converging and his plan to seize the initiative in the mobile internet.

However, for other branches outside of the internet film industry, which he is truly proficient in, he can only occupy the field through this kind of equity investment and then plan for the future.

Ironically, the time travelers here had already considered Lianxiang's mobile phone business as their own, and were waiting for the bidding and negotiations three days later.

But on the other side of the ocean, an American compatriot received a request and was studying this multinational tycoon with great interest to see if there was any possibility of him being taken advantage of.

Many Chinese tycoons pay deposits to cover up their "crimes," and these are all business dealings.

If possible, he wants to earn some retirement money from both the old chairman and the director.

The temporarily unemployed former Goldman Sachs CEO, leveraging his extensive connections on Wall Street and in politics, launched a pervasive infiltration investigation. Moreover, in 2009, Goldman Sachs was still a primary dealer to the Federal Reserve, enjoying the authority to monitor cross-border capital flows and track offshore accounts and complex financial instruments.

When such seasoned financial professionals mobilize all their resources to do this business, the profits are bound to be substantial.

Just as Goldman Sachs assisted the US government in investigating JPMorgan Chase's derivatives operations during the Greek debt crisis in 2010, Paulson himself, during his tenure as Treasury Secretary, also forced banks to disclose toxic assets. These all demonstrate the investigative capabilities of the Zhengshang Collaboration Group.

After confirming that neither Netflix nor the Jewish financial group had conducted large-scale fund transfers through any conceivable means, Paulson bribed an SEC insider to provide him with a highly dubious "BS Fund," which had undergone multiple layers of nesting and offshore rebranding.

……

At noon on August 28, 2009, in a special care ward of a high-end private hospital in Beiping, the air conditioning was turned up high, but it still couldn't stop the fine beads of sweat from seeping from the old chairman's forehead.

He paced back and forth in the ward, which was covered with a non-slip mat, with his hands behind his back. The hem of his hospital gown swayed with his hurried steps.

He would occasionally glance at the satellite phone on the bedside table with a worried expression, then remain silent.

If Paulson and Liu Qin in the US still can't find any reliable evidence, even speculative evidence, to tear off their fig leaf in half a day—

They either dragged their ailing bodies to witness a bidding war that was likely to fail, or they simply retired from the business world, spending the rest of their lives filled with regret for their failure.

The minute hand of the wall clock seemed to grind against his nerves with each tick, and the cicadas outside the window chirped more and more shrilly. The old chairman suddenly pulled open a drawer, took out a nitroglycerin tablet, and put it under his tongue. The bitter taste of the medicine mixed with a faint smell of rust spread in his mouth.

Ring ring ring!
The satellite phone's simple ringtone instantly energized him, and he rushed over to answer it in three quick steps:
"Hey?"

"What! A subprime mortgage crisis fund? Can you confirm that?"

The old chairman's face flushed slightly with a moment of ecstasy. He was so excited that he almost jumped up and down. The pressure of the past few days almost made that day's performance come true.

"It's alright! It's alright! It doesn't matter if it's not confirmed yet. You still have time. At least fax me some basic information before the bidding starts tomorrow!"

"Liu Qin, listen to me. Many leaders will be attending the bidding tomorrow. This is our best chance to expose Lu Kuan's true colors to the world!"

"I'll talk to him before we start. If he doesn't give up, then nobody's going to have an easy time!"

Mr. Lu's investment of the money he made from the subprime crisis back in China will only cause his reputation abroad to plummet, given the countless American families ruined by the subprime crisis.

However, in terms of domestic mixed-ownership reform requirements, no law or regulation states that such overseas investment income is illegal funds.

Therefore, the greatest value of this information is that it can be used to negotiate with bad people.

"There's still a chance... there's still a chance..." The old chairman, gripping the hospital bed railing tightly, kept repeating this sentence in a low voice, as if encouraging himself.

It's like grasping at the last straw in despair.
-

On August 29, 2009, the “Lianxiang mixed-ownership reform bidding”, which had attracted much attention from both the business community and the government after three months of endless disputes and a fierce battle for equity, resumed its process after a three-day delay, following instructions from relevant leaders.

Before 10 a.m., crowds gathered in front of the Beijing Stock Exchange building on Financial Street, with reporters holding long lenses and cameras crowding outside the cordon, flashing their cameras one after another.

The live broadcast vans of various media outlets had already secured the best camera positions, and the hosts were facing the camera to summarize the three-month-long battle for mixed-ownership reform.

The uniformed security personnel had stern expressions and kept waving to stop the media from trying to cross the cordon. Amid the noise, shouts of "Please show your pass" could be heard from time to time.

To ensure fairness and impartiality, today's special bidding process will be attended by leaders in charge of various departments, including Leader Liu, to prevent a repeat of the "Yan Song reclining chair" incident from having a negative impact.

Inside the Beijing Stock Exchange building, a three-story high bidding hall was temporarily put into use, with a deep red carpet laid from the elevator entrance all the way to the stage, and security personnel wearing headsets standing on both sides.

Above the stage hung a dark gold banner that read "Public Auction for the Transfer of Equity in Lianxiang Group," and the area below the stage was divided into three sections:

On the left are representatives from the assessment agency and notary office, wearing name tags, quietly checking documents;

On the right sat leaders from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and other departments, each with a gold-embossed nameplate and a confidentiality agreement in front of them;
A few seats were reserved in the very center, awaiting the grand finale appearance of the core leaders.

In the central bidding area, six black leather chairs are arranged in an arc, with an electronic bidding device next to each chair. Here, the final showdown between Hongmeng Capital, represented by Zhuang Xu, and Oceanwide Holdings, represented by Lu Zhiqiang, is about to take place.

The old chairman arrived at the scene early in the morning, with a clear intention: to ask the leaders to use their discerning eyes to look at their aged appearance today, hoping that they would feel a little sympathy for the humiliation and oppression they had been suffering for the past few months.

At the same time, he was also anxiously waiting for a fax from the United States.

In this setting and at this level, simply talking about it verbally is insufficient. Not only would Leader Liu present be able to make an impartial judgment, but even the leaders who have always supported Lianxiang would be unable to uphold justice.

After all, he had already used feigning illness to save face once, and he had indeed reached a dead end. It all depended on how things went today.

After socializing and exchanging pleasantries for a while, he lingered near the elevator on the third floor, reluctantly yet helplessly anticipating Boss Lu's arrival to "discuss" matters related to the origin of Hongmeng Capital's funds.

If this were held in court, it would be called a pre-trial conference; now it can only be called a pre-bid negotiation.

The richest man in mainland China, whom the old chairman had been longing to meet, didn't appear until 9:50 a.m., after passing through the crowd of reporters and having his face scanned at the security checkpoint. He was accompanied by Liu Yifei, who was wearing a black suit.

The reporters almost forgot their main task for the day as she passed by, snapping photos non-stop with their cameras, making Xiao Liu feel like a star again after a long time.

Otherwise, in a few months, Liu Yifei, who is naturally a laid-back person, might just retire and become a full-time housewife, staying home to take care of her baby.

She also had a sudden urge in the morning, seemingly still wanting more from last night's passionate encounter, and insisted on dragging her husband along, claiming she wanted to witness the "belated gift" with her own eyes.

Liu Yifei, making her first semi-public appearance since becoming pregnant, appeared slightly plump, but was much slimmer and more graceful than before giving birth, exuding a mature charm.

Even under the reporter's lens, her face remained beautiful and elegant. Today's makeup featured long, slender, and graceful eyebrows, resembling a lightly brushed ink wash of distant mountains. She held her husband's arm and occasionally whispered a few words in his ear.

She is lively and beautiful, making others envious.

"This is such a grand occasion today! It feels like it's going to be as dramatic as when you debated with everyone when you acquired Netflix in 07." Xiao Liu, who had just been released from his ban, looked around excitedly.

Boss Lu laughed and said, "We're all just spectators today. We'll just watch Zhuang Xu throw money around."

"I should have let me bid! I've never experienced what it's like to spend hundreds of millions!"

The washing machine squinted at her: "Never experienced it? In the past six months of pregnancy, you've handled at least hundreds of billions of dollars for me!"

"Get lost!" Little Liu's pretty face flushed slightly as she secretly pinched the soft flesh on his arm. "Behave yourself, you bastard!"

The two chatted and laughed as they exited the elevator on the third floor. There were very few people along the way. Today, because important leaders were present, all unauthorized and irrelevant personnel were prohibited from entering the inner area.

Xiao Liu was laughing heartily at her husband's antics when she suddenly noticed a tall figure staring at them from around the corner. Instinctively, she tugged at her husband's sleeve.
"Over there, that's..."

Following his wife's gaze, Boss Lu saw the old chairman leaning on a sandalwood cane, his body slightly hunched, yet his eyes piercing.

He was dressed in a crisp, dark gray Zhongshan suit, and he seemed to have regained the composure he had before his "heart attack".

"Lu Kuan, such a big event, and you still bring your lover to play around?" The old chairman walked slowly closer, his voice deep but clear, as if he was deliberately suppressing some kind of emotion.

"You can't come in person to buy gifts? Old Chairman, you really don't remember things well these days. Didn't I tell you that just a few days ago?"

President Liu was no longer provoked by this level of provocation and said in a deep voice, "If it's convenient, please step aside and say a few words."

He paused, then emphasized, "If it's important to you and to me, is that alright?"

"You'd better have someone with you." Boss Lu shrugged: "I don't have the skills of those angels in white from that day. If you cause any more trouble, I'll have a hard time explaining it."

The old chairman's face instantly darkened, and he walked into the trading room next door first.

Xiao Liu playfully stuck out her tongue, smiled, and followed her husband into the trading room, cleverly opening the door behind her.

She knows everything that happened these past two days, so don't let that old bastard try to extort her again!

As the two sat down at the table, Liu Xiaolv switched to first-person view of the live stream.

From watching him impress Harvey at the Venice Film Festival when she was 15, to Netflix's passage through the U.S. Capitol in 2007, she has never missed any of these significant or interesting experiences in her life.

The old chairman glanced at his watch, knowing that the bidding would begin in forty minutes. Even if he presented his terms, the other party would need time to consider them. So he carefully said:

"The so-called Hongmeng Capital is nothing more than a tool you painstakingly created to intercept others. Its origins are tainted, and the blood flowing through its veins is dirty."

"Lu Kuan, do you agree with what I said?"

Mr. Lu was both amused and exasperated: "Old Chairman, don't try to be so sophisticated with me. If you really want to act in a movie, just say the word, and getting a role won't be difficult."

"Listen up!" Liu Chuanzhi slammed his hand on the table, his energy so high that he hardly looked like a heart patient who had just recovered. "The funds you injected into Hongmeng Capital were originally black money from foreign Jewish capital, a result of your ambition to seize the country's core technology industries!"

Boss Lu paused, then realized what he had been doing for the past two days, and his expression turned slightly somber: "Nothing of the sort."

"How do you explain the source of these funds? I will definitely provide conclusive evidence to prove that the funds are illegal, and even if you win the bid today, it will be invalidated!"

Lu Kuan felt that his probing was pointless and boring, so he patted his thigh and got up to leave: "Then go ahead."

Liu Yifei pouted helplessly, realizing she had only seen a void.

The old chairman paused slightly, having been intently observing the young man's expression. Seeing no trace of panic on his face, not even a change in his eyes or pupils, he concluded that the money was indeed the so-called subprime loan. Only then did he calmly say:

"Lu Kuan, since you don't admit to any of this, surely the BS Foundation in the United States has some connection with you, right?"

The young tycoon, who had his back to the old chairman, paused in his steps. Xiao Liu, who was beside him, immediately noticed her husband's stiffness and had a premonition that something was wrong.

After only a moment of adjustment, Lu Kuan glanced slightly at the old chairman, as if this judgment was such an absurd framing that even a response was superfluous, before continuing to push open the door and leave without the slightest hesitation.

BS Foundation, Project Black Sea! (Chapter 472)
This is a deal between a traveler and the Black Sea.

This is also a top-secret information that could instantly destroy his career! How did Liu Chuanzhi find out about it?
Lu Kuan couldn't linger for even a second, because at this moment there was a huge information asymmetry between him and the old chairman; he didn't know how much the latter knew or where he had dug up.

If you act strangely or panic, it will immediately become a handle that the enemy can use against you.

Today's failure in the bidding is a minor matter; what if these people unintentionally uncover more secrets that are best kept hidden...

Liu Yifei, who was standing next to him, could feel the tension in her husband's arm muscles more and more. With a tacit understanding, she was also experiencing for the first time that a man could be so nervous.

What exactly is this momentous event?
She desperately wanted to look up at Lu Kuan's expression, but she forced herself to hold back. Before she even reached the door, the old chairman shouted and rushed in front of the two of them, slamming the trading room door shut!

"Lu Kuan! It's no use denying it to the death!"

Left with no other choice, the old chairman had to resort to hard currency: "This matter was discovered by U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson, who only retired in January. I think you should be well aware of his influence!"

"You may walk out this door now, but I can guarantee that tomorrow all of America will know that a Chinese man was frantically reaping excess profits during the subprime crisis."

"Do you think you can get away with it by using layers of offshore shell companies?"

"Paulson has discovered that your 'BS Fund' precisely shorted the US housing market in 2008, reaping the wealth of countless bankrupt families through CDS!"

"The money earned by Americans who lost their homes and became homeless due to the subprime crisis, through their blood, sweat, and tears, ultimately ended up in your pocket!"

The old chairman grew increasingly agitated and convinced. He took a step closer, his eyes like knives: "The investment banks and rating agencies on Wall Street are certainly guilty, but you! A Chinese person, not only showed no compassion in this disaster, but also pounced on the wreckage like a vulture! Do you know how the American media will report this?"

"Do you think you can still protect American industries? Can your movies still sell well worldwide?"

"Lu Kuan, believe it or not, as soon as this report is handed over to The New York Times, someone from the White House will demand an audit of all your assets in the United States tomorrow!"

"If you're a smart man, stop playing dumb with me and leave with Zhuang Xu right now!" The old chairman stared intently at the man in front of him, his body trembling slightly from the intensity of his words.

Xiao Liu's heart sank to the bottom with each of his words. She couldn't help but look up at her husband's profile, only to find a hint of mockery in his eyes, completely different from the tension she had just felt in her palm!
That's it?

That's all the fucking information you found?

Then you're going to die a horrible death today!?
Lu Kuan wasn't particularly familiar with Paulson, the man he was referring to, but since he was a former Treasury Secretary, he should have close ties with Goldman Sachs.

Given this, it's not surprising that he was able to uncover some secrets under the old chairman's targeted attacks. Besides, the old chairman has only been talking big so far, because they can't possibly get any deeper information!
Judging from his questioning just now, he was merely speculating that he was profiting from the US financial crisis, without even obtaining any concrete evidence; it was just empty talk.

The Berlin Film Festival Best Actor's mental fortitude is undeniably strong; the turmoil that raged within him over those few minutes appeared completely calm to the old chairman.

Only Liu Yifei, who was clinging tightly to her husband's arm, knew the whole story.

Mr. Lu looked at the elderly man in front of him with a leisurely air: "Old Chairman, what else do you want to say? Please feel free to say it later, but don't spoil it for me in advance."

He paused for a moment and then chuckled, “Life always needs some surprises, even if they’re just shocks.”

The old chairman watched the couple leave with bloodshot eyes, his withered hands gripping his sandalwood cane tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging like gnarled tree roots.

The young man's tall, straight back cast a long shadow under the corridor lights, lying right in front of him like a drawn sword.

“Good… very good…” he managed to squeeze out a hoarse growl, and immediately dialed his daughter Liu Qin’s number.

A young couple had walked a little further away when Xiao Liu was about to say something joking when her husband suddenly pulled her into a corner, hugged her tightly, and whispered in her ear.

"Listen to me! There's no time to explain now!" Boss Lu's face was more serious and tense than ever before, as if he had been transported back to the scene just now.

He decisively pulled out his phone: "I'll give you an American number. Go find Ah Fei and keep watch. Dial this number yourself, and make sure no one hears it!"
"Just call and say a few words—"

“BSFund was founded by you, and former Treasury Secretary Paulson is investigating it.”

Before the stunned Liu Yifei could react, Lu Kuan pulled his wife's phone out of her back pocket, but this time he didn't have the leisure to give her a squeeze of her firm, plump breasts:

"If no one answers the phone just now, immediately call that person and tell them the same thing."

"Who..." Xiao Liu took the phone with a blank and confused look, her phoenix eyes widening instantly!

On the screen was none other than Aunt Michelle, her neighbor from her time at the University of Chicago, who owned two adorable Portuguese Water Dogs! (Chapter 316)
But she is...

Liu Yifei's fingertips trembled violently, and she almost dropped her phone. No matter how rich her imagination was or how much she had seen in her life, she couldn't instantly connect so many trivial factors into a coherent logic.

Seeing that she was a little too nervous, Lu Kuan pinched his wife's pretty face: "I'll explain to you later. Don't feel pressured. Even if we can't get through, it's probably okay, but we can't take the risk."

“I’ll be sitting next to the leader as soon as I go in, so I won’t have time to look at anything else. Michelle knows you and our relationship, so just have Afei keep a close eye on things.”

"I understand." Xiao Liu breathed a sigh of relief, and his pale face regained some color.

She looked up at her husband, and as if to gather her courage, she grabbed his collar and bit his lip hard, ignoring the reporters with their cameras and microphones on the first floor.

"Wait for my message." Liu Yifei decisively left in her high heels, her black suit dress outlining her straight back, a stark contrast to the timid woman who had just been nestled beside her husband.

The on-site bidding officially began at 10:30 a.m.

Inside the bidding hall on the third floor of the Beijing Stock Exchange, Li Mingyuan, director of the State-owned Property Rights Transaction Department of the Beijing Stock Exchange, steadily stepped forward with a folder in his hand.

He was dressed in a dark suit, wearing an exchange badge, and after surveying the room, he began with standard procedure:
"Distinguished leaders, representatives of bidding parties, and guests, good morning. According to the State Council's 'Approval Regarding the Public Transfer of 29% Equity Interest in Lenovo Group Holdings Co., Ltd.'..."

The leaders and business people present seemed to be used to the lengthy speeches and procedures, but the old chairman was restless and stared at the leaders around him with a sinister look, as if he completely regarded himself as an outsider.

Is he really not afraid at all?

Or did Paulson have sufficient grounds to deny the evidence he had gathered?
Or is he just putting on an act to avoid a complete breakdown in the fight?
He couldn't understand it three months ago, he couldn't understand it a month ago, until today, the final stage regarding whether this grand undertaking can be realized.

The old chairman still couldn't understand it.

Having lost all patience, he casually stood up and walked to the front of the stage with his cane as soon as the host, Li Mingyuan, announced the start of the free bidding.

"Wait a minute, I have something to report to the leaders present first."

Leader Liu was extremely annoyed, but said with a kind expression, "If you have something to say, you can sit down and talk. If it's not urgent, I think we can talk about it later today."

"No, this matter must be discussed because it involves significant risks of malicious foreign infiltration and loss of state-owned assets!"

The old chairman's voice suddenly rose, and his cane slammed heavily on the ground, silencing the entire room.

Leader Liu looked slightly displeased, but another leader in the middle said with a smile, "President Liu, you should take care of your health. You can speak slowly. We have plenty of time today."

"Alright, thank you for your concern, leaders." The old chairman glanced at the road ahead and said solemnly:

"Today, I am going to file a formal complaint here!"

"I want to report Lu Kuan, chairman of Wenjie Holdings, for colluding with foreign capital and using the profits from the US subprime mortgage crisis as a cover to attempt to seize 29% of Lianxiang's shares through illegitimate means via a shell company called 'Hongmeng Capital' temporarily registered in Hong Kong!"

"He used CDS financial instruments to short the market, reaping the hard-earned money of American families, and then laundered the funds through offshore financial means, disguising them as 'legitimate investment returns,' attempting to seize the core assets of our country's technology industry!"

"His heart is to be killed!"

The whole place was in an uproar!
Even though there were only a dozen or so people in the completely enclosed bidding hall, not one of them could control their gaze and couldn't help but look at Lu Kuan, who still looked calm.

"What's even more despicable is that, in order to cover up his conspiracy, he did not hesitate to use his media outlets to persecute me through public opinion! He instigated Ni Guangnan, Zhang Jie, and others to file real-name reports in an attempt to interfere with the mixed-ownership reform process!"

The venerable old president, finally able to witness the just trial of the wicked, had tears welling in his eyes, like an old soldier who had endured humiliation during the revolutionary period.

Leader Liu's face turned ashen: "Old Chairman, you are also a representative of the People's Congress and the vice chairman of the Federation of Industry and Commerce. Do you think it's meaningful to vent your anger and frame others in such a pointless setting?"

"Everything must be based on evidence. We have great faith in your character and stance, but Comrade Lu Kuan's contributions to the country and society have always been evident to all."

"Yes! I have evidence!"

Knowing he had no choice but to fight to the death, the old chairman raised his phone high, like a flag to eliminate traitors:

"My daughter, Liu Qin, has been traveling non-stop in the United States for two days and two nights to gather evidence of his illicit funds, and she will be here in ten minutes..."

Ring ring ring!
The shrill ringtone of the cell phone shattered the silence of the bidding hall like a thunderclap.

All eyes turned to the buzzing cell phone in the old chairman's hand, and even Leader Liu leaned forward slightly, his brows furrowed.

He couldn't help but glance at the road ahead and saw that he was sitting there with his arms crossed, still motionless and with a calm expression. Only then did he feel a little relieved.

The old chairman's withered fingers gripped his phone tightly, his eyes blazing with wild joy. He almost trembled as he pressed the answer button, his hoarse voice distorted with excitement: "Liu Qin? Did you get the materials?!"

"Quick! Fax the address I gave you to the meeting venue!"

I don't know what Liu Qin said on the other end of the phone. The old chairman said "hello" twice, but her voice was too soft, so he simply pressed speakerphone.

Liu Qin's rapid, weak breathing came through the air, with the faint wail of police sirens in the background: "Dad... Paulson was just taken away by the FBI! They said... he's suspected of insider trading and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act... I... I'm hiding in the stairwell right now..."

A loud bang suddenly came from the phone, followed by a cold, harsh rebuke in English: "Freeze! FBI! Put your hands where I can see them!"

Liu Qin's screams came to an abrupt halt, replaced by the sounds of chaotic footsteps and the clanging of metal handcuffs.

The old chairman was struck dumb, and his phone slammed to the ground.

All that could be heard from the speakers was the last, indistinct phrase, "You have the right to remain silent..." followed by a jarring dial tone.

beep...

The air in the entire bidding hall seemed to freeze.

Clearly, it was Paulson, the private investigator who provided the materials to the old chairman, who was taken away along with Liu Qin.

Everyone looked at Lu Kuan, who had been silently accused for more than ten minutes with tears streaming down his face, but now remained calm and composed even though he had the victory in his grasp. Then they looked at the old chairman in the middle of the venue, who was frozen like a statue, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Even if one is completely unaware of the cause and effect of this farce, the current situation is clear to anyone with eyes:
Some of the conspiracies, which were disguised as a heart attack, have once again fallen apart.

Before it broke down, it even prevented the attacked party from paying more attention to it.

The person who had just been subjected to a frenzied attack sneered inwardly. BS was being cautious enough not to use the Secret Service (USSS), the bodyguard of the president.

He shook his head indifferently, looked at the solemn expressions of "those" leaders, and politely asked, "Leaders, can the bidding continue? Please give your instructions."

Before the leader in the middle could respond, the statue-like old chairman seemed to be awakened by his request.

He staggered a few steps as if all his bones had been pulled out, his withered fingers clawing forward like eagle claws, a hoarse roar escaping his throat:
"Traitor! He's a traitor!"

The old man's eyes bulged, and he cried out in tears, "Leaders, you must believe me! I'm telling the truth this time!"

"The road is wide..."

"Lu Kuan is a real traitor! You've all been fooled by him! He has protectors in America!"

The righteous old chairman could not escape the fate of being the only one sober in a world of drunks. He staggered forward, his voice hoarse and broken, only to be met with incomprehension and disgust.

"Nonsense!" The leader in the middle finally couldn't stand this undignified scene any longer, got up and left in a huff, and everyone followed suit.

At the entrance to the bidding hall, Xiao Liu cutely pushed open the door, revealing a pretty face. Looking at the tears streaming down her face, she couldn't help but pout.

As she watched the tall, handsome "traitor" stand up, she recalled the contents of the phone call and thought to herself that he should be considered a "sleeper agent" disguised as an international citizen.

Xiao Liu recalled with amusement a scene and a line from the popular Travel Channel drama "Lurking," which dealt with the topic of undercover agents:
Emei Peak, and he even took a solo photo! It has a very romantic feel to it!

(End of this chapter)