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

"Mr. Lu, Mr. Ma, what are you two so engrossed in discussing?"

Suddenly, two hearty laughs erupted, as Shen Peng sat between them, with Zhou Hongwei next to Lu Liang.

"Mr. Shen, Mr. Zhou, you both arrived quite early." Old Ma chuckled, avoiding any mention of the previous topic.

He had a vague sense of Lu Liang's intentions and didn't want anyone interfering with their shared interests.

"It's almost ten, so it's not that early anymore."

Shen Peng pursed his lips, glancing towards one side of the stage.

Just as Lu and Ma were conversing, the city and central leaders arrived, preparing to deliver speeches on stage.

"Mr. Ma, let's find another time to chat." Lu Liang bade farewell, not opposed to collaborating with Old Ma.

Old Ma had been deeply rooted in the industry for many years, and Alipay held a certain authority in the international market too.

Their collaboration would be a seamless blend of online and offline, with a combined effect that would undoubtedly result in one plus one being greater than two.

The premise was that Old Ma shouldn't sabotage things himself to avoid dragging him down as well.

"We'll talk again." Old Ma nodded with a smile.

Shen Peng looked thoughtful, while Zhou Hongwei was more straightforward, winking and asking, "What are you discussing? Include me too."

One is the third-generation business guru from China, the other the country's top moneymaker. A collaboration between them is a sure win, even breaking even is unlikely.

"I heard Nezha is selling quite well recently?" Lu Liang asked with a smile, clearly not wanting to delve deeper into the topic with him.

Zhou Hongwei, not naive, sighed inwardly, then continued on, cursing, "A good hammer, that lousy name, I will make Fang Yunzhou change it sooner or later."

"Once a name is chosen, don't keep clinging to it. Didn't you recently test drive the new Nezha L?"

Lu Liang suddenly laughed at himself and apologized, "Sorry, I misspoke, you were testing the seat, I remember you don't drive."

In his forties, physically fit, healthy, with wealth and power.

If his license had been revoked with a lifetime ban on reapplying, it would be understandable.

But he didn't even have a driver's license and couldn't drive; it would be hard to find another person nationwide in the same situation.

"Mr. Lu, it's boring if you're discussing this." Zhou Hongwei turned black-faced.

"Sorry, let's stay quiet and listen to the leaders' speeches."

Lu Liang smiled; he was deliberately provoking Zhou Hongwei to prevent him from constantly trying to whisper to him.

After all, they weren't really close, and previously they had an unpleasant dispute over whether Nezha should use Baidu's or Tianxing's infotainment system.

In a blink of an eye, it was ten o'clock, and the leaders took turns giving speeches on stage, with the audience applauding cooperatively.

Lu Liang discreetly yawned; if it weren't for his curiosity about Old Ma's thoughts, he wouldn't have attended the meeting at all.

Clearly, the goal was to make Modu a first-class financial center nationally, even globally.

A matter that could be explained in one sentence was unnecessarily complicated.

But one had to admire these leaders; they were all saying the same thing, yet their wording differed, such that if it were a thesis, the similarity rate would be less than 5%.

However, it wasn't all empty talk; there was some substantial content.

For example, the tightening of new financial policies, repeatedly mentioned risk management, and the days when an app could easily apply for a license and lend money might be gone for good.

Moreover, it focused on RMB internationalization and the development of a new economy system led by the information industry, indicating that the RMB would continue to depreciate.

This was also in response to the impact of the United States' tariff increases since a significant portion of the foreign market had been lost, compensation could only come from other countries.

RMB appreciation benefits imports but harms exports; only depreciation of RMB benefits exports but correspondingly harms imports.

"When the world prospers, the people suffer; when the world falls, the people suffer," Lu Liang murmured to himself.

Currency depreciation leads to higher import material costs; although beneficial for goods exports, ultimately, it's the domestic populace who foot the bill.

They remain unaware, occasionally lamenting that their money doesn't last as long anymore.

Lu Liang listened attentively, at times flipping open his notebook to jot down some potentially useful keywords.

Unbeknownst to him, two seats over, Old Ma's face grew increasingly grim, sensing he was being targeted.

The tightening of new financial policies directly impacted Ant Financial and the rapidly developing Net Merchant Bank.

It was akin to a runner, joyously pouring youth and sweat on the track, suddenly being doused with a bucket of cold water.

After half an hour, the leaders finished their speeches, setting several keynotes for this summit.

Green finance, financial openness, asset management, financial technology, among several themes.

Guo Changguang, as the event organizer, was the first entrepreneur to take the stage for a speech.

Besides being one of the organizers, he was also the second-largest shareholder of Net Merchant Bank, holding a 25% stake.

All his remarks seemed to pave the way for Old Ma's forthcoming speech, and soon it was Old Ma's turn to go on stage.

Lu Liang squinted, noticing Old Ma looking rather unusual, faintly sensing a tense atmosphere in the air.

"I've heard no talk of risk management, only aversion to risk."

Old Ma did not disappoint Lu Liang. He faced the audience, bowing, and then directly launched into his speech.

He spoke with conviction, "With the times we're in, why does our financial regulation still cling to the old pawnshop mindset?"

"Ten years ago, in a public speech, I mentioned that if banks do not change, we will change the banks."

"With the passage of time, we achieved it; the former cumbersome procedures and remittance charges of banks have become things of the past."

"Clearly, the lives of our people have improved due to these changes, so why regress now?"

Outstanding speakers excel at packaging their demands as public needs and presenting market-driven achievements as their own accomplishments.

Old Ma was undoubtedly a master in this art.

Lu Liang frowned, having sensed Old Ma's probing tone, but he was puzzled, what was Old Ma probing for?

"From '15 until now, these past three years have been a phase of new financial development, hence we've seen the emergence of many excellent financial professionals."

Old Ma shifted the topic and began to talk about the benefits of financial openness, subtly hinting at someone in the process.

Although he didn't mention any names, everyone's gaze instinctively turned to Lu Liang in the front row.

In these three years, many outstanding financial professionals have emerged, but who could be more outstanding than Lu Liang?

After all, he was seated in the first row of the conference, with the Red Robed Sect Leader of 360 on his left, and the homegrown investment godfather on his right.

Lu Liang smiled, his expression unchanged,

But in his mind, he had cursed Old Ma eight hundred times.

He was stubborn enough to challenge the domestic financial regulatory system, but he didn't want to be dragged into this.

Lu Liang wasn't as good-natured as Daqiangzi, who remained silent even when Old Ma said Alibaba's existence was to create more JD's.

If Old Ma dared to continue using him as an example, Lu Liang just might retaliate by metaphorically slashing his tires later.

Because he understood what Old Ma was probing; this guy definitely had even bolder plans in mind.

Today's comments were just laying the groundwork for future plans.

Net Merchant?

Or Ant Financial?

It was unknown for the time being.

But it probably wouldn't end well.

Lu Liang smiled warmly, like a student attentively listening to the lesson, but cold glints occasionally flashed in his eyes.

Old Ma caught his gaze and felt a chill in his heart, swallowing many words back down.

He also realized his words might have been too much, as Lu Liang was not as easygoing as regulators.

Although Old Ma criticized the domestic financial regulation, he was also keenly aware that when regulators face them, they usually adopt a lenient approach with the presumption of innocence.

As long as it wasn't done, it didn't exist.

Even if the pants are down, pressed against the door.

As long as nothing actually went in, even if it's just a brush, the charge couldn't be established, and it wouldn't be forcibly stopped.

But Lu Liang wouldn't wait until his pants were down.

If he even attempted to undo his belt, with Lu Liang's temperament, he might instantly be regarded as an enemy, and any future cooperation would be out of the question.

Because Old Ma is a pioneer of new financial concepts.

The meaning behind his words is to inform the regulatory leaders that tightening policies would mean no more individuals like Lu Liang would emerge in the future.

To others, it also seemed like he was claiming to have created this era, hence giving rise to Lu Liang.

Evidently, Lu Liang understood these layers of meaning and comprehended his intentions, which is why he issued a warning.

"As a developing country, our nation lacks financial system risks, rather than systemic financial risks."

"It's like Alzheimer's and polio, although the symptoms seem similar, the actual difference is huge."

"If a child takes medicine for Alzheimer's, not only would they acquire the disease of the elderly, but many unheard-of illnesses might also pop up."

Old Ma continued speaking, as his true intentions gradually came to light, aiming a blow at the Basel Accord system.

Denying its efficacy and claiming it was still not open enough.

"Capital adequacy ratio..."

Shen Peng murmured softly, Lu Liang heard it, and those words linked together all the clues.

The Basel Accord system primarily comprises three points: capital adequacy ratio, risk management, and market discipline requirements.

The first of which is also the most crucial, requiring banks to hold a capital amount in proportion to their risk-weighted assets, ensuring they have enough capital to absorb potential losses.

In simple terms, loans need asset mortgages; without assets, a bank's resilience is nearly zero.

This is quite a normal thing, but Old Ma stands on the borrower's side, rather than on the lender's side, to criticize this system.

Because Ant Financial, in addition to being a lender, is also a borrower, absorbing billions from Alipay users without corresponding assets for collateral.

"Too fast, it shouldn't be happening at this time."

At the end of the row, Guo Changguang appeared tense; evidently, the situation had evolved beyond his expectations.

Because in their plan, today's meeting was mainly for laying groundwork and probing the domestic financial regulatory attitude.

Their true intentions weren't intended to be revealed at this moment, as the plan wasn't yet perfect, nor had they amassed enough funds.

On stage, Old Ma seemed to have a tacit understanding, glancing at Guo Changguang, but then abruptly casting another glance at Lu Liang.

He also knew it was too fast, but time waits for no one; if he didn't expedite the layout, there might not be another opportunity.

In the past, his position was irreplaceable; he was a guest at the White House, an official at the United Nations, met by leaders of various countries, essentially a representation of East Country in the world.

But then Lu Liang appeared out of nowhere, enjoying the same treatment as him on the international stage, even exceeding his influence.

Crucially, after earning his first pot of gold in the country, this guy went on to stir up the international market and never returned.

He only left behind Lou Shui New Energy Industrial Park, the Tianxing District, and other heavy, nation-benefiting assets.

Even now, with unclear relations with international capital, having acquired a New York investment bank, he hasn't affected the domestic financial system.

Even Old Ma had to admit, Lu Liang was more suited to be that face of representation.

Thus, he became anxious.