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

"Achievement doesn't have to be mine. Our generation needs to take responsibility for tomorrow, for the future, for the next generation!"

Old Ma expressed his thoughts, bowing deeply to everyone, his attitude sincere and earnest: "That's what I want to say!"

Guo Changguang was the first to applaud. Although the plan had changed, he was already involved and couldn't sit idly by.

Lu Liang, Shen Peng, and others exchanged glances, merely clapping symbolically, each lost in their own thoughts.

Before leaving the podium, Old Ma took one last look at Lu Liang, then walked off the stage and returned to his seat.

He hoped for a response from Lu Liang. With Lu Liang's support, the odds could increase by at least twenty percent. Even though he knew the chances were slim, he still held a glimmer of hope.

Guo Changguang glanced at Old Ma and quietly whispered, "You're too impatient."

"If you don't say it out loud, nothing will happen!"

Old Ma had made up his mind. Once he made a decision, he wouldn't change it easily.

He would not turn back unless he hit the south wall, and even if he did, he'd try to break through it.

Guo Changguang sighed softly, no longer trying to persuade him.

This public meeting opened with a bang!

It made many speculate about Old Ma's intentions, but it was a topic they had no right to touch.

Those who were qualified to touch it and comment on it sat like nails in their seats, indifferent, causing the latter half to feel somewhat dull and tasteless.

"Mr. Lu, today's first event is a public discussion. Anyone with ideas can go up and speak."

Zhou Hongwei smiled slightly, speaking softly. He willingly became the mouthpiece for the attendees, including Old Ma.

On a public level, the national implementation of a relaxed financial policy benefits all enterprises; on a personal level, he wanted to enjoy the spectacle.

Because with Lu Liang on stage, whether he agreed or opposed Old Ma's views, the excitement would be significant.

"Sorry, Mr. Zhou, what did you say?" Lu Liang was startled as if waking from a dream: "I was just thinking about something else."

"Nothing," Zhou Hongwei glanced at Lu Liang, suddenly finding it dull.

Apparently, Lu Liang didn't want to wade into this muddy water, perhaps wanting to follow Old Ma's lead.

Old Ma had made his intentions clear. Ant Financial's rapid development had reached the point where he had to stand out.

In contrast, Lu Liang was recently acquiring investment banks abroad, seemingly following Old Ma's route, but after all, it's abroad.

Domestic regulators wouldn't focus on him, so Lu Liang could easily emulate Little Ma back then.

Just like when WeChat let Alipay pave the way initially, and after Alipay broke the bank monopoly and opened a slice into mobile payments, WeChat quickly followed up, seizing the market and reaping the benefits.

Zhou Hongwei, looking past two people, glanced at the composed Old Ma, feeling a surge of admiration.

As he said, true innovation requires someone to take the lead, necessitating someone to bear the responsibility. Innovation inevitably involves mistakes; undertaking risk-free innovation is stifling innovation.

Though he spoke for himself, from their perspective, Old Ma was undoubtedly a lone hero.

However, walking the dark path too often, it's inevitable to encounter ghosts. This time, will he be able to retreat unscathed as before?

At eleven thirty in the morning, the first public discussion ended, and related clips began spreading on the internet.

"Basel Accord? Old People's Club clause?"

"Am I crazy, or is the world crazy? Can these two terms be placed together?"

"The Basel Accord is the mainstream financial clause in the West, praised as the most liberal financial clause. As long as the capital adequacy ratio is kept at 8%, it's sufficient."

"In other words, assuming Xiao Ming wants to borrow one million from the bank, if his credit is excellent, as per the minimum conditions of the Basel Accord, having collateral worth eighty thousand would suffice."

"On the surface, it adds a 12.5 times leverage. For a company, as long as the debt ratio doesn't exceed 1250%, theoretically, a bank can continue lending according to the Basel Accord."

"Imagine, Xiao Ming has only a million in assets but carries a 12.5 million loan. As Xiao Ming's creditor, wouldn't you get nervous?"

"If Xiao Ming runs away, even if all his assets were sold, there'd still be an 11.5 million shortfall. Who would cover that?"

"However, Old Ma says this kind of agreement is an Old People's Club clause, which indirectly reveals that if he were Xiao Ming, he wouldn't even offer eighty thousand worth of collateral. According to him, a simple face scan would suffice."

"But Old Ma is not Xiao Ming. If he wants a loan or plans something similar, the funds involved may far exceed a billion."

"To add a point, in the second quarter, the asset management scale of Yu'ebao was 1.86 trillion yuan. As for what Old Ma intends to do, you can figure it out yourself."

An article full of content, without a hint of filler, was uploaded, yet it sank like a stone into the sea, not causing a ripple.

Unless it touches a relatable topic, describing contemporary netizens as scattered sand is most apt.

Without 'water' to stir the waves.

Netizens would rather focus on entertainment news, such as International Fan's re-emergence in Hollywood after a year of silence, starring as the female lead in "Joker," or the film "I Am Not the Medicine God" ending with a box office of 3.07 billion.

Moreover, the person involved in this matter is the founder of Alibaba, one of the two internet giants, frequently a fixture in the top three of the rich list, currently standing at second, known as the third-generation business godfather Jack Ma.

Platforms also fear offending people, so without 'water' to propel them, they typically choose to play dead.

If there's 'water' driving it, then it would be like last year's sudden outbreak of the '5G Voting Gate' event.

The incident clearly happened the year before, and there were pros and cons analysis then, but the incident erupted collectively last year.

Conversely, many incidents get buried deep within the internet, surfacing only when needed. Under the nurturing of water, scattered sand becomes sharp blades, striking the targets in need of assault.

Meanwhile,

At the fourth-floor buffet restaurant of Wanda Ru Hua Hotel,

Lu Liang carried a tray, casually browsing around, selecting a few items of interest.

Along the way, he encountered Little Wang, who smiled broadly and beckoned, reserving a spot for Lu Liang.

Lu Liang shook his head with a slight smile, carrying his tray straight to a corner by the window deep in the restaurant.

This spot had windows on the left, no one in front or behind, and at the center, Old Ma and Guo Changguang sat.

The two exchanged glances, surprised at seeing Lu Liang approach.

Lu Liang placed his tray on the table, waved to summon a staff member to bring him a stew pot.

Finally, he looked at them, smiling as he asked, "You two don't mind me sitting here, do you?"

"Not at all," Guo Changguang shook his head with a smile, Old Ma's smile was more meaningful: "I thought you'd avoid me."

Of the more than three hundred guests involved in today's public meeting, there were good people and bad, but none were fools.

Listening to his words and observing his actions, they basically understood his intentions.

Apart from those too deeply entangled and unable to sever ties, most intended to keep their distance, fearing the metaphorical 'heaven's punishment' might strike them.

After all, what he said and did not only crossed the red line but danced upon it. Any misstep could lead to a downfall into a bottomless abyss.

However, given his status and social influence, he might still manage to escape with some sacrifice, but others wouldn't be as fortunate.

"I don't owe you money, why would I avoid you?"

Lu Liang smiled, picking up a piece of Chinese-style fried chicken, chewing it.

Old Ma chuckled, suddenly asking, "Ant Financial wants to go public, do you think it will succeed?"

"I don't know," Lu Liang shook his head, softly saying, "But I hope you succeed."

If Ant Financial successfully goes public, he'd have to change his strategy, launching a counterattack on the mainland.

From Xiangjiang to Tokyo and even New York, he'd conduct an all-out encirclement, seizing the results of Old Ma's efforts to break through.

If it fails, Lu Liang would stick to the original plan, treating the mainland market as a restricted area, not crossing it.

"You hope I succeed, yet you won't help?" Old Ma looked displeased, knowing he was being used as a minesweeper again.

Lu Liang showed surprise, glanced around, and retorted, "Haven't you noticed I'm helping you?"

Old Ma had just boasted shamelessly, and Lu Liang coming to dine with them was already helping.

Old Ma sneered, "I don't see it."

Lu Liang's arrival posed a double-edged sword; if the regulators' stance wavered, it could become a bargaining chip against them.

But if the regulators' opposition was firm, then Lu Liang's presence would be a death knell.

After all, during the initial Tianxing public offering, 300 billion yuan was raised in just a month.

A year later, the scale approached 600 billion.

With the new energy market rapidly expanding, as the largest weight fund in the sector, its size keeps growing.

Regulators would wonder if they allowed this opening for Ant Financial, Lu Liang would surely follow, potentially creating a capital monster scarier than Ant.

Old Ma's grievance lay in the fact that he bore all the risk, while Lu Liang could merely enjoy the gains.

"You have no choice, isn't that right?" Lu Liang grinned, unfazed by being seen through.

Old Ma remained silent, and Lu Liang suddenly said, "Feeling a bit embarrassed, how about I cover for you?"