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

"Mr. Journalist, on what grounds do you believe our company would develop disorderly under the new financial model?"

Old Ma smiled slightly; when it comes to eloquence and expression, he has never been outdone in his life: "Actually, monitoring and managing are two different things. Monitoring is watching your development, while managing is only stepping in when there's a problem."

"The current situation is that our managing ability is strong, but monitoring ability is insufficient. Good innovation is not afraid of regulation. But it is afraid of yesterday's regulation, just like how we can't manage an airport with the methods used for a train station, nor can we use yesterday's methods to manage the future."

"It's not wrong to plan for the worst in everything, but every matter has two sides, or even multiple sides. You can't just see the bad side and refrain from action, denying everything; otherwise, nothing will develop in the future..."

Old Ma talked fluently, the journalist rendered speechless, without a chance to chime in.

Lu Liang yawned, rested his chin on one hand, quietly watching Old Ma perform.

He hadn't met anyone better at expressing themselves than Old Ma; there was no way the journalist could win against him.

The best way is to throw out the first question, then just say thank you, leaving the chance for netizens to answer.

After all, in the face of billions of netizens, there are always stubborn and unreasonable people, and even if Old Ma had three heads and six arms, he couldn't withstand it.

Fortunately, the press conference was time-limited, Guo Changguang lifted his gaze, Old Ma received the message: "Let's pause the discussion here, so we don't waste anyone's precious time."

"Thank you, Mr. Ma, for your answer."

The journalist forced a smile, a hint of frustration flashing by, feeling bothered by not having argued well.

"Mr. Lu, what do you think about this matter?"

Lu Liang was taken aback, he was just an onlooker, didn't expect to be called to answer.

He thought briefly: "Expanding the limits of rise and fall helps increase market liquidity, attracting more investors to trade on the Growth Enterprise Market. However, risks and opportunities coexist, and attention should be paid to the volatility risk brought by a 20% rise and fall limit."

"???

The journalist was bewildered, was this the question he asked?

Lu Liang smiled and said: "Why? Weren't you asking about this?"

"Thank you, Mr. Lu, for your answer."

The journalist evidently wanted to follow up, but it seemed someone next to him gently tugged at his sleeve.

Lu Liang wasn't their target, don't stir up trouble.

The twenty-minute press conference ended in an instant. It should have been Old Ma's solo show, but once uploaded online, Lu Liang stole the spotlight with a meme.

You have to admit, this batch of netizens knows how to screenshot.

Lu Liang rested his chin on one hand watching Old Ma, captioned with 'Quietly watching you pretend.'

At the same time, backstage at the venue, a man in an administrative jacket was waiting for Lu Liang.

The two met, nodded, and prepared to leave together.

Just then, Old Ma called out to Lu Liang, nodded and smiled at the man in the jacket, then looked at Lu Liang: "Let's leave it at that for the matter."

Lu Liang suddenly understood, smiled, and nodded: "Alright."

Old Ma was scared, afraid he would secretly sabotage the tires, so he agreed that if Ant's listing failed, let Xingheng inherit Alipay's overseas legacy.

But absolutely not for free, some funds and equity have to be exchanged. However, compared to resource channels, funds and equity are insignificant.

It's like Lu Liang has the funds to acquire Huanfang Technology, but Liang Wenhu disagrees, he can't help it, so he had to take a detour to make Huanfang abandon its quantitative business.

"Is Lu Liang trustworthy?" Guo Changguang frowned.

Lu Liang could easily have a facade and a hidden side, their situation is very passive now.

Old Ma chuckled lightly, "Mr. Lu still has a bit of credibility, and haven't you noticed, he's very reluctant?"

"Because he has too many choices, so many that he doesn't need to get involved in these things." Guo Changguang smiled wryly.

In the domestic business world, whether private or state-owned, the one who probably has the most confidence is Lu Liang.

Left-hand finance, right-hand industry,

Finance transferred overseas, industry remains domestic.

It's not just walking on two legs anymore; even a four-legged tortoise would probably not be as stable as him.

He can attack or retreat, if new finance can develop, he follows the trend, if not, he doesn't lose anything either.

Old Ma was silent for a moment, then skipped the topic: "It's time to take action; it seems we don't have much time left."

"What do you plan to do? What can I help with?"

Guo Changguang asked; they share prosperity and loss together.

Not just because they've known each other for many years, their relationship has long been inseparable, but also because he's the second-largest individual shareholder of Net Merchant Bank.

Old Ma said: "Immediately push for Ant Group to go public, not giving them time to react, directly cook the rice before the decision."

"What if it fails?" Guo Changguang frowned; forcefully pushing for Ant's listing was akin to tearing the face apart.

Old Ma was betting, betting that those leaders wouldn't react in time, unable to make the right decision in a short period.

After all, he is the founder of Ali Group, second on the East Country billionaire list, and Ant holds 1.86 trillion in savings.

Any single one of these is no small matter; even the greatest leader must handle it prudently.

If it can be cooked before they meet to discuss it, it becomes an established fact once the rice is cooked.

"If we don't succeed, we die trying!"

Old Ma squinted his eyes, a hint of madness appeared on his face.

Busy like a president every day, yet without the power a president should have.

Especially in the past few years, the country's restrictions on him have increased.

He's had enough of these suffocating days, willing to risk all past achievements and reputation for a final gamble.

As long as Ant Financial goes public smoothly, he can wield power over millions of people and command the lords of the world, becoming the uncrowned king of East Country's business world.

Even if he's later blacklisted, it doesn't matter, because his goal is achieved, and Ant Group will rise and fall with the country, too big to fail.

Making money is no longer an issue for people like them; they want more and greater power, and they want to achieve fame both during and after their lifetime.

"..."

Guo Changguang was silent, with a famous adage suddenly popping into his mind: If God wishes to destroy someone, He will first make them mad.

In recent years, Old Ma has neglected too many things for Ant Group, allowing JD to become synonymous with high-end online shopping, letting Pinduoduo emerge as a dark horse, and allowing Douyin Store to start showing prominence.

Looking at Taobao and Tianmao, they have been declining, and Alibaba is about to become the next Baidu, always starting early but arriving late.

Ant Group has become his obsession.

Guo Changguang knows this isn't good; without a calm mind, they cannot make the right decisions, but they have no choice anymore.

Night deepened.

Lu Liang walked out of the hotel's private room, beaming with a smile, and waved behind him: "Director Zhao, please stay."

"Little Wu, see Lu out, please." Director Zhao also smiled, but a hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes.

A meal lasted for one and a half hours,

and he listened to Lu Liang's nonsense for one and a half hours.

Reluctant to offer any constructive suggestions, slipping away like a mudfish, clearly not wanting to get involved in this matter.

They are not bandits; whatever they do needs a clear name. Now that the clear name has run away, it gives him a headache.

"Secretary Wu, please stay; the driver has come to pick me up."

After saying goodbye, Lu Liang got into the car, nudged Fang Shiyu in the driver's seat, urging him to drive quickly.

"Mr. Lu, take care, and drive safely."

Through the rear-view mirror, Lu Liang could still see Secretary Wu with a smile, watching him off without returning to the hotel for a long time.

"There are always crafty civilians trying to harm me~~"

He had a radiant smile on his face and lazily stretched.

Times have changed.

Lu Liang now has the power to refuse, unlike last year with DiDi, where he could only choose to cooperate with the country.

They always want him to take the lead; once is fine, but they want it a second time. If they keep pushing this way, how can he survive in the international market?

Lu Liang's heart can be patriotic, but only if it doesn't harm his interests and there is no moral coercion.

If Ant achieves a successful IPO, he can follow Old Ma and pick up the spoils; if it fails, he can still clean up.

So whether successful or not, Lu Liang doesn't need to bear any risks; why get into the trouble?

"If Mr. Ma falls, then the next one..."

Xu Jiawei looked worried but didn't continue.

He's been following Lu Liang for almost two years now, no longer the little rookie who only booked hotels and arranged daily schedules.

Lu Liang often tells him to observe more, learn more, and give some opinions when appropriate since he sometimes overlooks things.

"Let's talk about future matters when they come."

Lu Liang knew what Xu Jiawei wanted to say, smiled, and replied, "Isn't Mr. Ma living pretty well right now?"

"Mr. Ma?"

Xu Jiawei suddenly reacted: "The one from the south?"

Lu Liang nodded with a smile, "Just like planting a tree for others to enjoy the shade, there are always people to refer to."

The Penguin Group is an even more terrifying capital group than Ali, but Little Ma seems to be outside the three realms, not within the six paths.

Although there was some impact from being hammered in the early years, more is due to Little Ma not liking to stir; he just wanted to focus on earning money peacefully, paying taxes honestly, without participating in any power struggle.

In business, they have Old Ma as a reference,

In life, there is Little Ma for reference.

So Lu Liang is not worried at all,

If Old Ma falls, he will become Old Ma.

At worst, just learn from Little Ma and live in Xiangjiang permanently. After all, in that place, he could be a local emperor without much problem.