After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future

Handing Harris over to Hilt, Lu Liang had completed the second-to-last task in New York.

He stayed another day, and in the capacity of the chairman of Delimei Commercial Investment Bank, he, along with Harris and Hilt, successively visited the headquarters of Goldman Sachs, Citibank, JPMorgan, and several other investment banks.

He announced to Wall Street that he had arrived.

He joined this big family with goodwill, not to break it apart.

This was also Lu Liang's thought and his exact words during interviews with the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and several financial media outlets.

As for what others thought, it wasn't his concern.

In any case, matters of the investment bank would be left to Harris and Hilt to handle from now on.

"From now on, Hilt will handle internal affairs, Harris external matters. I hope you can surprise me in the near future."

On the evening of the 16th, Lu Liang received a call from Flannery, assigning powers to the two before leaving New York.

For conservative projects, Hilt's opinions would take precedence; for aggressive projects, Harris's opinions would lead.

Hilt, seasoned and experienced, suited managing internal affairs, and Harris, with his ruthless nature, suited market expansion.

The two had extreme personalities, and Lu Liang looked forward to what kind of chemistry they would produce.

That night, Lu Liang boarded a plane heading to Detroit, Michigan.

Watching the direction of the departing plane, Harris smiled: "Hilt, I think we should stir things up."

Lu Liang also mentioned to them the plan set for JPMorgan's Q3 report in two months, which was expected to bring down several mid-sized investment banks at the time.

They needed to quickly grow in this period until they qualified to sit at the table, joining this cannibalistic feast.

"What do you want to do?" Hilt furrowed his brow, looking at Harris with apprehension.

On Wall Street, there was a phrase to describe people like Harris, devils from hell.

When he learned Harris completed the task given by Lu Liang in just eighteen hours and even bypassed him to contact Lu Liang directly.

At that moment, Hilt knew Harris was that kind of person, and he couldn't control Harris.

The fact proved that not only did he know, but Lu Liang also knew.

But Lu Liang chose to delegate power, planning to use this bloodstained knife to tear through Wall Street's blockade from within.

With a cruel smile, Harris suddenly changed the subject: "But right now, we should quickly attract new savings clients. When Mr. Lu took us to visit those investment banks and accepted multiple media interviews, the intention was to quickly expand our assets."

Money at investment banks doesn't fall from the sky; it comes from the savings of countless depositors, offering them some interest, then using their money to invest.

But compared to Goldman Sachs, Citibank, JPMorgan, and Wells Fargo representing the four major banks of East Country, Delimei was more like a rural commercial cooperative credit bank.

No matter how high the interest was offered, savings users might not buy in because of the risk of bankruptcy, just like Thomas' Delimei.

However, Lu Liang took on the debts and all obligations, bearing the previous mistakes alone, ensuring former users' savings weren't wasted.

Aware of the Americans' love for individual heroism, he directly revealed this information during interviews with various media, stating that without him assuming this responsibility, over twenty thousand families' savings would have gone to waste.

Lu Liang even provided an example at the time of a commercial bank entering bankruptcy liquidation, detailing several processes.

Some interested financial institutions might take over, but none would take on all the bank's debts and assume the corresponding social responsibility like him.

These sincere words allowed the phrase 'Lu Liang's Liang is the good conscience of capital' to successfully break out internationally, conquering the United States.

Though inevitably making Delimei the target in the banking industry, it also successfully amplified Delimei's reputation.

Now, as long as they slightly raise the interest rate on active deposits and add three years to the savings interest, they could attract massive funds.

The American public really buys into this because Lu Liang followed a path similar to Trump's.

Just like Trump's hardcore fans often say, he could have leisurely spent the rest of his life playing golf in a luxurious mansion, occasionally dating sexy women, living lavishly, carefree, and worry-free. Yet he couldn't stand seeing the public suffer, so even if criticized, he resolutely emerged to vie for the throne.

Hilt's eyes were complex; words formed but swallowed down: "Evan, I stayed at East Country for several years, and their methods to attract new depositors have some merit. Once back, we can have a good discussion."

In the afternoon, Lu Liang had spoken with him privately, stating bluntly that although he was the president of Delimei and Harris just a consulting advisor, their identities were worlds apart.

However, he was more optimistic about Harris, asserting that as long as what Harris did benefited the bank, nothing should stop him, even if it was morally unacceptable.

"Alright." Harris nodded with a smile, respecting Hilt's perspective, but only to that extent.

In his heart, there was now only one person worth respecting...

Not long after, Lu Liang's private jet disappeared into the horizon, and the two left the airport by car.

During the flight to Detroit, Lu Liang's remarks in interviews with US media not only fermented in Western countries but also flowed into the simplified Chinese internet.

"Everyone post big time on the screen."

"Has Liangzi become so awesome now? Already starting to acquire American investment banks, officially entering Wall Street."

"Now all American headlines feature Liangzi, calling him the most globally influential person in East Country's business world. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

"Calling him number one is an exaggeration; he's not even the First Rich. Fun fact: Old Ma is also a special invited officer at the United Nations."

"Jack Ma? Just forget about it. Who was the guy wearing the white hat a few years ago, mourning at the Wailing Wall?"

"Ma Ba Ba was just respecting local customs."

"So funny, does your dad know you exist? Or does your mom know you found her a new stepfather?"

"Holding a high position for so long, also famously astute, even the female guests of the Flowers Youth Group knew to clasp their hands together politely. Did Old Ma really not know the meaning of praying with a white hat?"

The World Cup final's heat had barely dissipated, and the mysterious East Country tycoon who lavishly spent a billion US dollars was already presumed by the public to be Lu Liang.

Now, the news of Lu Liang acquiring the New York Commercial Investment Bank surfaced, officially venturing into banking and accepting numerous mainstream media interviews.

Lu Liang's popularity could not be contained, even dragging Old Ma into public scrutiny.

After all, Lu Liang openly entered the kingdom of capital, while Old Ma, known as the third-generation business godfather, seemed to kneel his way in.

Comparing people inevitably leads to elevating one and demeaning the other. Thus, Old Ma's photos praying with a white hat at the Wailing Wall resurfaced in the simplified Chinese internet.

In the comments below each photo, enthusiastic netizens explained its meaning, likening it to Hollywood stars wearing all-seeing eye accessories or making an all-seeing eye gesture in front of the camera, which to some extent is also seen as a compliance test.

"Old Ma, this isn't my fault; it's someone trying to ruin you."

On the plane, hearing the news, Lu Liang contemplated for a moment and sighed.

Since last year, when Old Ma wore the white hat and frequently made grandiloquent statements about making Alipay a utility for billions, his halo as the number one in East Country Commerce had been fading.

In Lu's view, Old Ma's changing reputation over these two years was actually a setup, perhaps in preparation for the upcoming financial summit.

If by then he still doesn't find his way back and continues making grandiloquent claims, it might become a reason to target him.

Just like how, in films and dramas, a hero cannot turn dark without first being given a reason to be willingly tainted by darkness.

"But this is a good thing for me." Lu Liang's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and a smile crept over his lips.

He could feel his way across the river by touching Old Ma's actions and use the results to strategize his future direction.