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

"Go ahead and say it."

Old Ma raised an eyebrow. He didn't believe Lu Liang would be so kind-hearted, mainly out of curiosity about what schemes he might be brewing.

"If the Ant Group IPO fails, why not hand over the overseas market to Xingheng? I believe it can carry on your legacy."

Lu Liang said earnestly, having had a long conversation overnight with Ota Ling before returning to Xiangjiang from Tokyo.

He learned that Old Ma spent years laying out in the East Asian market, with Alipay holding crucial online payment channels.

Traditional investment banks focus on the offline market, but Lu Liang wanted to emulate Old Ma and forge a different path.

"Are you so sure Ant will fail?"

Old Ma's expression became composed as he gradually squinted his eyes.

After all, with Lu Liang saying this, it felt to him like the man was already eyeing his industry before he was even gone.

"Whether it succeeds or fails, isn't it good to have a backup plan?" Lu Liang said with a smile.

"Let's talk about it later." Old Ma's eyes grew colder.

"I'm full now, enjoy your meal, the two of you."

Lu Liang picked up a napkin, wiped the corners of his mouth, and took his leave.

Guo Changguang watched his departing figure and softly said, "Lu Liang is too greedy, our situation isn't good."

He knew Old Ma would agree because Lu Liang had three options: support, neutrality, and opposition.

He chose neutrality during the public meeting, now support in the restaurant, but opposition had not yet been used.

Exposing the intention early on, pushing the Ant Financial IPO, had a success rate of less than 30%. If Lu Liang publicly opposed it, the success rate might not even reach 10%.

They are now being thoroughly roasted over the fire.

"Reaching this stage, who isn't greedy?"

Old Ma sighed, then quickly adjusted his mood: "It's far from the time for us to make a decision."

The lunch break was one and a half hours, and in the afternoon, Lu Liang attended two more closed discussion sessions.

Due to the large number of leaders participating in this meeting, the content and process were far less exciting than the morning's public session.

Eventually, two projects were finalized, the establishment of a project team for the Sci-Tech Innovation Board, and a pilot plan to break the 10% fluctuation limit on the Growth Enterprise Market, to be officially implemented on September 15.

"August 24, 2020."

After the two closed meetings, Lu Liang packed up his materials, a trace of unrecognized melancholy in his eyes.

According to future information, the Growth Enterprise Market formally decided to break the 10% fluctuation limit, which was supposed to be two years later.

The events he changed became more numerous and increasingly important, the advantage of foresight seemed to be disappearing.

"Mr. Lu, it's time for you to prepare for the upcoming press conference."

At this moment, a staff member approached with a gentle reminder, thus interrupting Lu Liang's thoughts.

The staff member looked at Lu Liang with admiration.

They were the same age, both born in 1985, yet one was still struggling for basic needs, while the other was capable of influencing significant decisions.

"Thank you, I know." Lu Liang nodded with a smile, following the staff to prepare for the press conference.

He had no regrets, and he had known for a long time that this day would come, as he had chosen this path himself.

At six in the evening, before the press conference commenced.

A young man wearing an administrative jacket came before Lu Liang with a smile, respectfully asking, "Mr. Lu, could I have a word with you?"

"Hello, what can I do for you?"

Lu Liang nodded slightly, following him outside the door.

He knew the youth's background, the secretary of the leader who was second to speak in the morning's public conference.

In any important meeting, the first speaker might not be important, but the second speaker was certainly significant.

The first was likely there for opening remarks, preparing for the second speaker, much like Guo Changguang and Old Ma.

The young man said, "Director Zhao would like to talk with you, I wonder when you'd be available?"

"How about seven o'clock?" Lu Liang glanced at the schedule; the press conference was expected to conclude at 6:40.

He also understood the purpose, likely to hear his thoughts and opinions on Old Ma's remarks.

"Alright, I'll come to get you then."

After setting the time, Lu Liang returned to the press conference hall to finalize preparations.

Old Ma glanced over, saying nothing.

But his demeanor was no longer as relaxed and natural.

"Mr. Ma, can you get through this ordeal?"

Shen Peng and Zhou Hongwei were conversing in a corner.

Zhou Hongwei pondered, sighing, "It's probably tough, but he still has the power to voluntarily give up."

"Does he?" Shen Peng asked, as if questioning himself.

Zhou Hongwei remained silent, because he knew there was none.

For any group founded for over a decade, even if the helmsman was the same as ten years ago, their control over the group was much weaker.

Many decisions, many choices, are actually forced, even knowing the path ahead is a deep abyss, one has to step forth and try.

This does not mean the helmsman bears no responsibility; on the contrary, the helmsman must bear the main responsibility.

Because when to start and what decisions to make are decided by them, but when to end, and what constitutes an end, is not up to them.

The press conference went smoothly, mainly summarizing stage results of the day's public meeting, six closed meetings, a total of 23 issues.

For example, the Growth Enterprise Market's pilot on September 15, or the restriction of financial licenses issuance, and the regulation of the online financial industry, capping online loan annual interest rates at 24%, policies confirmed to be implemented.

However, the interview session after the meeting was not as smooth as the summary process.

A reporter stood up and asked Old Ma, "Mr. Ma, since you think the Basel Accord is an old club's clause, what kind of financial policies would be more suitable for our country's market?"

"Here it comes!"

Lu Liang, Zhou Hongwei, Shen Peng, and Guo Changguang all sternly looked at Old Ma and the journalist interviewing him.

There was no such question in their speech script, and it was probably not in Old Ma's either, indicating it was added impromptu.

Who added this question last minute?

Who has the authority to do so?

The answer is obvious!

The regulatory agency's countermeasures this time were more swift than they had imagined, suggesting Old Ma had truly crossed the line.

Old Ma smiled calmly, took the microphone, and said: "In recent years, I've exchanged ideas with many entrepreneurs; pawnshop thinking is quite severe domestically, either pledging all assets with huge pressure or recklessly borrowing, constantly leveraging, creating massive debts.

There's a saying online you might all know: If you borrow 100,000 from the bank, you'll worry a bit, borrow 10 million, you and the bank will both worry, borrow 1 billion, you won't worry at all, and the bank will worry a lot."

"The pawnshop mindset of collateral cannot support the financial needs of the world over the next 30 years. We must leverage today's technological capabilities, rooted in big data credit systems, to replace the pawnshop mindset.

This system isn't based on IT or a familiar society; it must be based on big data to equate credit with wealth.

Even beggars need credit; without it, they won't even get food..."

Old Ma is a great orator, skilled in diverting sharp and self-targeted topics into societal problems and confusing the questioner, while adding his agenda.

But the reporter wasn't swayed by his rhetoric and directly addressed the core issue: "Citizens can be regulated through credit systems, but what about corporations? What should limit them? Should enterprises be allowed to develop chaotically? Is this your idea of new finance?"

The reporter came well-prepared, as normal people, even if not confused by Old Ma, usually fall into his trap.

Because constructing a credit system has been Ant Technology's endeavor, criticizing Old Ma for speaking publicly for private purposes if taken from this angle.

Old Ma would surely respond with righteous indignation, saying he'd give everything for the nation if needed.

This way, even if the future IPO fails and Ant Financial is nationalized, he'd still leave the market with the impression of not being at fault in war.

However, the reporter avoided the trap, emulating Old Ma's approach, standing from the market's perspective, from a macro viewpoint.