My heart is tied to that sky

During the Great Cold solar term, the sea breeze in Victoria Harbour carries salty and damp moisture, which stings the face with a biting pain.

The chill of the last solar term of 2015.

It also dispelled the restlessness and anxiety that had been building up in my heart half a year ago, in early summer, in order to make my IPO attempt.

In the center of the hall, a huge electronic screen was surrounded by people.

The flashing lights were blinding, and the air was thick with the mixed scents of perfume, cigars, and stimulants.

Tang Muyang stood at the very front of the crowd.

He wore a sharp, dark-colored custom-made suit, and the tie was a Windsor knot that Gong Yiqing had tied for him this morning.

His gaze was fixed on the screen, his eyes showing no excitement, only a relieved calm.

In the past six months, I've been meticulous about every punctuation mark in the prospectus and have spent countless sleepless nights working on compliance reviews.

He flew back and forth across the ocean for the roadshow, and the time difference made him almost forget day and night.

"Distinguished guests, friends from the media, I now announce that Qingyang Industry has officially been established!"

The audience erupted in applause as the CEO of Horizons Exchange made his announcement.

Fireworks burst overhead, and red confetti fell like snowflakes.

On the big screen, the numbers below the code "08868" froze for a moment, then started jumping wildly in a sea of ​​red.

At the same time, in the chairman's office of Hangcheng Industrial in Zheshui City.

This is the heart of my father-in-law Gong Chong'an's business empire, and also the place where the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce usually gathers to discuss matters.

At this moment, in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, Gong Chong'an was staring intently at the real-time market data screen on the wall.

This veteran Zhejiang business association president was still playing with those two shiny walnuts in his hands, but today his movements were exceptionally gentle.

Beside him, Zhang Haoting and many shareholders and elders of Qingyang Industrial Group held their breath.

The K-line on the screen surged forward, turning a dazzling red.

Gong Chong'an squinted, his thoughts involuntarily drifting back to those years.

He recalled the image of his daughter, Gong Yiqing, standing before him with tears in her eyes.

The girl was clutching the business plan of Qingyang Industrial Co., Ltd., and a repayment plan tightly in her hand.

She stubbornly told him, "Dad, even if we lose money, I'm willing to suffer with him and go to work to pay off the debt."

He was still hesitant at the time, and as a result, his wife scolded him, both angry and laughing, calling him a miser.

Finally, he pushed the repayment plan back, leaving only the preparation plan.

He looked at his daughter intently and said in a deep voice, "Daughter, we'll waive the interest."

"But you have to make sure that brat spends that money wisely."

"If you lose money, then come back to Hangzhou Industrial and work honestly."

Looking at the vibrant red sky, Gong Chong'an finally smiled with relief.

"That brat." He snorted, but his tone betrayed his undisguised pride.

"That 350,000 yuan was definitely worth it."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Haoting immediately echoed, his eyes filled with emotion.

"Yes, Mr. Gong, you have a keen eye. You saw the potential in this young man back then."

"Now it seems that Tang Muyang has truly risen from the ashes."

Meanwhile, another affluent area in Hangzhou is quiet and luxurious.

My mother-in-law, Su Wanqing, was sitting on a soft sofa, holding two-year-old Tang Shiyang in her arms.

The little guy seemed to sense the tense yet exciting atmosphere around him, staring at the TV screen with his big, dark eyes full of curiosity.

She stretched out her chubby little hand, pointed at the red numbers flashing on the screen, and babbled something unintelligible.

Su Wanqing gently patted her granddaughter's back, her gaze tender yet firm.

Looking at the soaring market value on the screen, she lowered her head and whispered something in Shi Yang's ear.

"Old man, it's fortunate that you didn't let your background limit your future."

"Otherwise, it would ruin Qingqing's happiness for the rest of her life."

However, the atmosphere in the chairman's office of Hengxin Group on the shore of Victoria Harbour was somewhat subtle.

A group of veteran shareholders, including Lee Byung-kyum, the core of the "villainous" faction who had opposed them in the past.

Everyone was intently watching the big screen; no one spoke, only heavy breathing could be heard.

Lu Zhenting stood by the window, his gaze deep, as if he could see through the screen and return to the turbulent year of 1997.

That year, factional struggles were fierce, and Li Bingqian and others tried every means to obstruct him. Helpless, he could only promote Tang Muyang in name only and demote him in reality, sending him to the Southeast Region as general manager.

Later, that kid turned the tide at Hengxin Silver Shop in Kyoto in just six months, which terrified Li Bingqian and others, and he was once again exiled to Hezhou in the Central Plains to gnaw on the toughest nut to crack.

The journey was fraught with stumbles and thorns.

If he hadn't defied public opinion and insisted on bringing this talented individual back to the capital for important positions, perhaps today's miracle wouldn't have happened.

Watching the market value soar to its unparalleled heights, Lu Zhenting slowly exhaled.

He picked up the teacup on the table, gently swirled it, and his eyes held a complex yet deeply gratified expression.

"Good lad."

Lu Zhenting put down his teacup, his voice deep and powerful, the highest praise for his former beloved general.

"These past ten years have taken me from the southeast to Hezhou, and then to the capital."

"I wasn't wrong about you. You won this game."

The transaction volume soared like a rocket, creating new wealth myths every second.

At that moment, Tang Muyang did not cheer, but simply stood quietly.

As he stared at the numbers flashing on the screen, his mind wasn't filled with thoughts of profits from financial reports or the sheer size of the market capitalization.

It was that night ten years ago when I was eating instant noodles in my rented room.

Back then, he and Yiqing squeezed onto a secondhand bed, looking at a tattered blueprint and dreaming about the future.

Back then, we were just a bunch of greenhorns, sweating buckets on the construction site, and even falling out with people over tens of thousands of yuan in project funds.

My thoughts drifted away with the chimes of Victoria Harbour, as if I had instantly traveled through time and space back to the banks of the Xiangjiang River.

At this very moment, across the river from the Tangtian Wartime School, a thousand miles away.

In Qingyang, a hometown in southern Hunan, the cold wind couldn't dispel the soaring enthusiasm on the construction site.

Tang Pingsheng, dressed in dusty work clothes and wearing a safety helmet, stood under the scaffolding and shouted loudly at the blueprints.

"Brother-in-law! Double-check the steel reinforcement ratio over there! This is a house being built for our own family."

"The second phase of Fuyi Jinyuan is also a flagship project for the group; it absolutely cannot afford the slightest mishap!"

His voice was hoarse, yet it exuded an undeniable air of dominance.

Brother-in-law Jiang Dashu crawled out of the work shed.

Holding a walkie-talkie in his hand, with a simple and honest smile on his face, he gestured with his chin towards the southeast.

"Pingsheng, don't worry! We just got a video call from Zhejiang. The old man stared at the big screen for a long time."

"They say our progress bar is running faster than a rabbit, and they're really happy about it!"

Meanwhile, at the same time, Zhejiang Water, Xianghu No. 1.

Mr. Tang Zhiye, wrapped in a thick cashmere blanket, was sitting in front of the huge smart home screen in the living room.

The screen was split in two.

On the left is the glittering live stream screen of the Victoria Harbour Exchange, a highlight moment for the youngest son, Mu Yang.

On the right is a real-time monitoring video of the second phase of the Xiangnan Fuyi Jinyuan construction site, which is the battlefield between the second son, Pingsheng, and his son-in-law, Dashu.

The old man clutched his ever-present old pipe, but didn't light it.

He just squinted, glancing at the fireworks over Victoria Harbour one moment and the scaffolding over the next.

"Good, good." The old man muttered to himself as he looked at the empty living room, his wrinkles smoothing out with a smile.

"One flies in the sky, the other runs on the ground. Mu Yang is charging ahead in battle."

"Throughout my life, I've stayed in my hometown with the big tree, guarding our roots. These are the descendants of my Tang family."

Tang Muyang seemed to sense this unwavering devotion that transcended time and space. He gently clenched his fist and silently said in his heart, "These ten years have been worth it."

The spotlights pelted down like a torrential downpour on the center of the stage.

He pulled himself back to reality, stood in the center, with Qingyang Industrial's core "dream team" behind him.

The long table was covered with dark green velvet, the most prestigious color of the Victoria Harbour Exchange, symbolizing wealth and hope.

The champagne tower reflected a mesmerizing halo under the lights, illuminating every face flushed with excitement.

The brothers behind him were also dressed in sharp suits, which Su Man had specially made for them.

Their impeccable tailoring transformed them from a group of "peasants" into true business elites.

Tang Jianguo from Shanghai, Peng Jiahui from Hezhou, Pan Xingwang from Sichuan, and Hao Haining from Shaanxi.

And Gu Zhixing from Kyoto, and Lin Mo from Lingnan.

The general managers of the six branch companies stood in a row, each with an unprecedented confidence and glory on their face.

They are no longer the despised contractors; they are executives of listed companies and trendsetters in the capital market.

This is not just a company going public, but also a coronation ceremony for these grassroots brothers after ten years of hard work.

"Muyang, give me your hand," Gong Yiqing said softly amidst the noise, her voice gentle yet trembling slightly.

Tang Muyang turned his head and saw that her pearl-white dress looked exceptionally pure and holy in the gaps between the flashes of light.

It was specially made for her, embroidered with Qingyang's logo, understated yet luxurious.

She clung tightly to his arm, her palms slightly sweaty—a sign of her nervousness.

Tang Muyang knew that Gong Yiqing had had an even harder time than him over the past ten years. She was a rich girl born into a privileged family, yet she was willing to suffer alongside him.

"Do you remember when we ate instant noodles in our rented room back in 05?"

Gong Yiqing's eyes were slightly red, and her voice was very low, so that only the two of them could hear it.

"Back then you said that one day you would make Qingyang's name hang on the wall of the stock exchange."

Tang Muyang gripped her hand tightly in return, his fingertips tracing her knuckles, feeling the warmth of her palm.

That was the temperature he was most familiar with and relied on in this world.

Looking at the bustling scene, he replied softly, "Now that it's up, we want to etch it into everyone's hearts."

At this moment, there are no fancy words, only the deepest understanding and tacit agreement between husband and wife.

After ten years of trials and tribulations, they finally stand here.

At the end of the line, the atmosphere was completely different, filled with the ruggedness and boldness unique to brothers.

"Jiahui, listen to this noise!" Tang Jianguo lowered his voice and leaned close to Peng Jiahui's ear, his simple and honest demeanor concealing his excitement.

"It's even more exciting than setting off firecrackers during Chinese New Year! My heart is pounding like a drum, and I'm more nervous than when I first saw Yang Liu!"

Peng Jiahui has just become a father, and he has shed his former playfulness and become more composed.

In October, when all the branches of Qingyang were working late into the night on the prospectus, Zhou Yanting gave birth smoothly in Hezhou.

Peng Jiahui, now a father for the first time, has a gentler look in his eyes.

He patted Tang Jianguo on the shoulder helplessly and teased with a smile, "Jianguo, take it easy."

"You're about to become a father, stop acting like a little kid and making yourself a laughing stock."

Tang Jianguo grinned, his eyes narrowed into slits, his face full of honest expectation.

"Hehe, I'm just so excited! Jia Hui, as my father, you have to teach me what to do next!"

Looking at Tang Jianguo's appearance, Peng Jiahui recalled his own frantic efforts outside the delivery room and couldn't help but laugh.

"You'll see when the time comes; it'll feel even more exciting than going public!"

"Really?" Tang Jianguo asked with a doubtful look.

"The excitement of an IPO? My heart is pounding like a rabbit's!"

"Really." Peng Jiahui looked at him, his tone slightly teasing.

"Jianguo, Yangliu will be giving birth soon. Then you'll know that there are things in this world more important than money."

Tang Jianguo scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, "You need to have money first!"

"Look at Brother Muyang, he's the chairman now. We should benefit from his success, earn more money, and give our children a good foundation!"

Unlike the brothers' boisterous chatter, Su Man and Ye Zhi Qiu stood on the other side, their eyes sharp and piercing, like two sophisticated instruments.

They are constantly monitoring the situation on the battlefield.

Su Man held the newly printed real-time stock price report in her hand, her fingertips tracing the ever-rising curve.

A satisfied smile curved his lips.

Her eyes showed little emotional fluctuation, only absolute control over the numbers.

Ye Zhi Qiu pushed up his glasses, his eyes gleaming behind the lenses, and quickly rattled off a series of market value figures.

"Opening price with a 35% premium, and the oversubscribed funds have been secured—perfect."

"President Su, President Ye, are you fortune tellers?" Tang Jianguo leaned over, curiously sticking his head out.

"We're calculating your red envelope money," Ye Zhi Qiu said seriously, pushing up his glasses.

"Oh dear, you scared me!" Tang Jianguo patted his chest. "I thought I was counting down the days until I became a father!"

"Soon." Su Man rarely joked.

"Once this funding arrives, your expansion plan for the Shanghai branch can be launched, and you will truly be 'General Manager Tang'."

Tang Jianguo chuckled, "That would be great! I'll treat everyone to lots of hairy crabs then!"

This moment, the highlight of his career, resonates with the emotions of Tang Muyang and Gong Yiqing.

Together with a group portrait of the brother team, they are perfectly intertwined, and Qingyang Industry, this giant ship, has officially set sail.

That evening, at a private clubhouse by Victoria Harbour.

Outside the window, the city still shines brightly, offering a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour at night; inside, the hustle and bustle is filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and lively conversation.

The champagne bubbles rose in the glasses, reflecting the excited faces of everyone.

Tang Muyang held the wine glass, but did not drink it. He just swirled it gently, his gaze piercing through the glass and landing on the deep sea.

The anxiety I felt six months ago, arguing over every punctuation mark in the prospectus, seems like it was just yesterday.

He looked out at the sea, but his heart was not particularly stirred.

He knew that the hardest part was over.

"Muyang, what are you thinking about?" Gong Yiqing walked over with a glass of warm water and handed it to him.

"It's nothing." Tang Muyang took the water glass, his fingertips touching her warm palm.

"It just feels like these past ten years have been a dream."

"The dream is over, it's time to wake up." Gong Yiqing looked at him with gentle eyes.

"Yes, it's time to wake up." Tang Muyang smiled. "Yiqing, I want to retire."

"Keep shaking it! You've practically turned this glass of wine into a vintage wine."

Gong Yiqing walked over, naturally took the champagne from his hand, and replaced it with a glass of warm lemonade.

She knew he had a bad stomach, so she prepared it specially.

Tang Muyang took the water glass, the warmth spreading through his palms, and looked into Gong Yiqing's gentle eyes.

She said softly, "Yiqing, I'm wondering, now that this ship has docked, which deep sea should we head to next?"

"Going public is not the end, it's the beginning," Gong Yiqing said, looking at him.

"But you can't stay this tense forever. You've lost five pounds in the last six months."

Tang Muyang gave a wry smile, but his eyes hardened: "So I've decided to step down. I'm resigning as CEO and becoming Chairman."

"Qingyang can't be my Qingyang, Tang Muyang's Qingyang; it has to be everyone's Qingyang."

"Have you thought it through?" Gong Yiqing looked at him, her eyes showing no surprise, only understanding.

"I've thought it through." Tang Muyang took her hand.

"I want to leave the stage to them, and I will take control of the direction, develop overseas strategies, and do things that truly require time to mature."

Upon returning to the headquarters of Zhejiang Water Group, Tang Muyang did not rest but immediately convened an emergency board meeting.

The atmosphere in the conference room was serious, with core executives of Qingyang Industry sitting on either side of the long table.

This includes newly appointed Su Man, as well as six regional leaders including Tang Jianguo and Peng Jiahui.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have gathered you here today to announce an important decision."

Tang Muyang sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. His voice was not loud, but it instantly silenced the entire room.

"With the unanimous approval of the board of directors, effective immediately, I will step down as CEO of Qingyang Industrial and assume the role of Chairman."

As soon as he finished speaking, a slight commotion arose in the conference room.

"Mu Yang, what are you doing..." Tang Jianguo was the first to stand up, looking puzzled. "It's only been a few days since it went public, and you're already giving up?"

"Jianguo, sit down." Tang Muyang waved his hand, his tone calm but leaving no room for doubt.

"This isn't about abandoning my responsibilities; it's about upgrading. I need to take control of the direction and do the things that truly require time to mature."

Tang Muyang stood up, walked to the whiteboard, picked up a marker and wrote three large characters: Depersonalization.

"We need to establish a management system that does not rely on individuals."

Tang Muyang's gaze fell on Su Man. "From today onwards, the group will make full use of the professional management team."

"Suman, you will take over as CEO and be responsible for the group's daily operations."

All eyes in the room instantly focused on Su Man.

Su Man looked up abruptly. A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of this elite woman from Hunan, which then turned into a firm sense of trust.

She did not refuse, but stood up, her voice clear and firm: "Chairman Tang, rest assured, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

"Leave the daily operations of Qingyang to me."

"Pan Xingwang and Hao Haining, you will continue to coordinate and develop the Southwest region in the Sichuan-Chongqing and Sichuan-Chengdu areas."

"Fu Dayi, Shaanxi and Anhui are now stable. We should promote talented individuals and make every effort to expand the Northwest region."

"Gu Zhixing will continue to incubate and expand northward from Kyoto, and will also be in charge of the group's technology research and development center."

"Peng Jiahui, with Hezhou in the heart of the Central Plains as the center, covers the surrounding areas."

"Tang Jianguo, you have a heavy responsibility in Shanghai. You need to work with the Zhejiang Water headquarters to make Qingyang flourish in Jiangnan."

Tang Muyang announced the personnel appointments one by one, each one precisely implemented.

"Lin Mo, a key figure in Lingnan, will be promoted and recruited, covering the entire southern region of Qingyang."

"The Southern Special Economic Zone is our starting point. The first step in our overseas expansion will begin in Southeast Asia. Please come up with a plan first."

Lin Mo stood up and nodded solemnly: "Received."

One week later, at the headquarters of Qingyang Industrial Group.

Su Man's first move after taking office was to address the bloated organizational structure, refining and implementing Tang Muyang's appointments and plans.

"Chairman Tang, this is the new organizational structure plan."

Su Man walked into the chairman's office carrying a stack of documents, exuding an even more capable aura than before.

Tang Muyang took the document and quickly flipped through it.

"The flattening is well done; three redundant layers have been eliminated, which will significantly improve efficiency."

Tang Muyang nodded approvingly, "President Su, that was a brilliant move."

"And this too," Su Man pointed to another document.

"The digital management system has been fully upgraded, and we aim to achieve real-time cloud upload of data from all stores and construction sites nationwide."

"Okay." Tang Muyang put down his pen: "We don't need to skimp on funding. The money raised from the IPO should be spent wisely."

"Just go for it, Zhang Haoting, the board of directors, and I will back you up."

This huge sum of money came from the capital market.

Under Tang Muyang's strategic planning and Su Man's meticulous operation, the division was made very clear.

Part of it was used to pay off early debts, allowing them to start afresh.

Part of the digital upgrade project injected into Suman was used to create "Digital Sunny Sun".

The largest remaining portion, as strategic reserves, lies quietly in Tang Muyang's overseas investment account.

Waiting for the bugle call to march south.

Stepping out of the building, Tang Muyang took a deep breath. The winter sun over Zhejiang Province warmed him.

He looked at the Southeast Asian market research report that Lin Mo had sent him on his phone.

Then I glanced at Su Man's back as she chaired a senior management meeting in the office.

He knew that this giant ship no longer needed him to steer it personally.

He turned and walked towards his home. The phone rang; it was Gong Yiqing's gentle voice.

"Muyang, Shiyang is awake and looking for her father."

Tang Muyang answered the phone with a warm smile on his face: "Okay, I'll be right back."

Pushing open the door, Gong Yiqing was holding Shi Yang, who had just woken up and was rubbing his eyes, in the warm yellow light of the living room.

As soon as the little guy saw his dad, he immediately reached out his little hands for a hug.

Tang Muyang took his daughter and kissed her soft cheek.

"You've had a hard day." Gong Yiqing handed her a glass of warm water, her eyes full of understanding and support.

"Now that the IPO is successful, what are your plans next?"

Tang Muyang sat down on the sofa with his daughter in his arms, gently patting her back, his gaze calming down.

"The group has gone public, which means we've overcome a major hurdle."

"But I think it's time for my older brother and sister and brother-in-law to have a more respectable career of their own."

Gong Yiqing smiled slightly, as if she had expected this: "You mean...back home?"

"Yes." Tang Muyang nodded: "Dad has always been thinking about our hometown."

"When I go back this time, I want to upgrade the Qingyang Hometown project directly into Qingyang Industrial Xiaoxiang Branch."

Gong Yiqing understands her husband's Fuyi Jinyuan, which is a motherly project that Qingyang's hometown is giving back to its hometown.

"Then I'll go back to my parents' house for the next few days to say goodbye."

"Let Suman send a group of capable core members over there to stay for a period of time."

"I will guide my brother and brother-in-law step by step until they can completely and reasonably take charge of the overall situation."

"They've suffered so much, they deserve to have their own space now."

A hint of approval flashed in Tang Muyang's eyes. He leaned her against his shoulder and said softly, "That's a good idea."

"Since my father is so attached to our hometown, let's take the team back to our hometown in Xiaoxiang."

Tang Muyang looked into his wife's gentle eyes, then at his innocent daughter nestled close to him in his arms, and felt a warm glow in his heart.

At this moment, the institutional changes in the career path and the warmth and fulfillment of family life are perfectly captured.