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

"Director Chen, how could I possibly accept this? If I had known, I would have ordered more. Opportunities to dine on public funds don't come around often."

Lu Liang smiled broadly as he bid farewell to Chen Jiebin. Before leaving, Chen Jiebin added with a sullen face, "This isn't public funds; it came out of my own pocket."

"It's all the same, all the same."

As Chen Jiebin drove away, Lu Liang's smile faded, and his mind gradually returned to calm.

Upon hearing the news, though there was some anger, it was mostly a show to indicate the seriousness he placed on the matter.

He glanced at the table filled with nearly untouched dishes, pondered briefly, and summoned Xu Jiawei: "Go find out what good deeds Li Zheju has done under my name."

Xu Jiawei nodded, and Lu Liang continued eating by himself.

He was unfamiliar with Xiangjiang, and such situations were unavoidable.

Xiangjiang was just like a small Korea, where the business pie had long been divided among a few families, leaving the younger generation almost no chance to rise. Thus, Lu Liang could only collaborate with the old-established powerhouses.

"In a small temple, the evil winds are strong; in shallow waters, jackals dwell."

Lu Liang rubbed his temples; handling this matter properly wasn't going to be particularly easy.

Dealing with Li Zheju was a minor issue, but the crux was that Chen Jiebin didn't want such organizations to emerge in the future. That was the real problem.

The ideal reference point for Xiangjiang should be Singapore, but the two differ as Singapore is run by a single family, with the royal family suppressing rival chieftains.

While Lu Liang was contemplating, a faint commotion and the sound of glass breaking drifted into the dining room through a crack in the window.

The private room was on the fifth floor, with a front yard and parking lot, yet he could still hear it, indicating that the outside commotion wasn't small.

Lu Liang walked to the window, spotting a few young men in white clothes with black scarves over their faces running ahead, chased by a few officers with batons in hand, who eventually all ran into an alley, leaving shards of glass scattered everywhere.

He folded his arms, watching this reality-based cops and robbers scene with interest.

However, his expression gradually grew serious: "Go with the flow?"

In early February this year, a heinous criminal case with far-reaching impact and significant public opinion erupted in Xiangjiang, still unresolved today.

A 20-year-old girl went to Taiwan with her boyfriend for Valentine's Day, only to be brutally murdered and dismembered by him. The suspect fled back to Hong Kong, where Taiwan requested his extradition, but due to legal constraints, he couldn't be extradited.

Currently, Xiangjiang's applicable legal provisions for transferring fugitives include two laws, both clearly stipulating that they do not apply to regions outside Xiangjiang, including East Country and Taiwan.

To put it plainly, if someone commits a criminal offense in mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, etc., as long as they escape to Xiangjiang, they can evade legal punishment.

If Xiangjiang had applied the same standards to everyone, the public outcry might not have been so intense. The key issue was that these laws predated the handover and hadn't been amended since.

Xiangjiang had long-standing fugitive transfer agreements with 20 European and American countries, allowing these countries to request the arrest and transfer of fugitives who fled to Xiangjiang, sending them back to the requesting country for trial.

This blatant discrimination against nationals and many non-white countries led some to incite the first large-scale public opinion under the guise of seeking justice for the girl.

Initially, the situation seemed hopeful as Xiangjiang heeded the advice and initiated the legislative review process.

However, once the draft amendments were proposed, they sparked even fiercer debates, triggering a second wave of public opinion.

Post-handover new laws naturally wouldn't favor European and American countries as the old laws did.

As a result, some began maliciously spreading various false rumors, seizing the opportunity to agitate...

Due to its unique geographical location and historical background, Xiangjiang had been known as one of the world's top three spy capitals since the last century, with a far greater number of active spies than Lisbon in Portugal or Casablanca in Morocco.

Also, since the peaceful handover, the chief justice of Xiangjiang's highest court and key judicial positions were held by Brits.

More importantly, many companies that appeared to be Hong Kong capital were secretly British capital, not just one or two but numerous.

Among the old-established powerhouses in Xiangjiang, those who were trustworthy yet aspiring to enter politics were indispensable, but due to the unique historical background, transitioning from politics might not yield as good results as from commerce.

And it was at this time that Lu Liang decided to shift the financial industry from Modu.

He tried to analyze the pros and cons from a national perspective, arriving at an unavoidable truth.

If there was someone willing to go to the source, to resist the darkness, or even annex it, the social environment would undoubtedly improve significantly.

Lu Liang believed this wasn't baseless speculation.

His intention to shift the financial industry was so apparent, yet even Modu's finances didn't utter a single word to retain him and remained silent as if nothing had happened.

Even for Modu, losing a major taxpayer who contributed tens or hundreds of millions annually would be a blow.

"Ahead is Li Jia Po! Behind is Lu Family Port?"

Lu Liang recalled Chen Jiebin's attitude—an official who had to pay for his own meals suddenly being so close to him was strange in itself.

If it was merely to make the Xiangjiang market more prosperous and orderly, this reason was clearly untenable, nor worth taking such huge risks, thereby enduring the stigma of driving away Liu Cixin.

Although Liu Cixin isn't really a good asset, Chen Jiebin is a public official with obvious bias intentions, which is harmful and without benefit to him.

"It's all speculation; we still need verification." Lu Liang smiled, already having a means of verification.

If all speculations prove true, then later we can roll up our sleeves and work hard.

At this moment, there was a sudden knock on the box room door. Xu Jiawei looked at the already congealed dishes, but Lu Liang was still subconsciously picking food with his chopsticks and putting it into his mouth.

He asked quietly, "Mr. Lu, the food is cold. How about asking the restaurant to change the table for you?"

"I'm full, going back to sleep, and recharge my energy well, tomorrow we will aim for a big strike."

Lu Liang squintingly smiled, if the objectives align, he is very willing to cooperate with the country.

If objectives don't align, he still retains that feudal thought of a sovereign wanting a minister dead and the minister having no choice but to die.

Then he would decisively refuse, just like the ant incident.

On the way to the hotel, Lu Liang called Sun Yutao, laid out the tasks for tomorrow in advance, and then he smiled at Xu Jiawei: "This move is called Diversion."

Xu Jiawei nodded, astonishment and excitement flowing in his eyes, arriving at this distinguished land and already making such a big scene. One can only say there is no doubt about their Mr. Lu.

The next morning at nine, Lu Liang represented Tianxing Financial Group (Xiangjiang) to sign a sale contract with Zhang Tao, the general manager of Huaren Real Estate.

"Mr. Lu, I am very sorry, Chairman Liu's health is unwell, he couldn't personally come, he asked me to apologize to you."

Melancholy flashed in Zhang Tao's eyes. It was clear he knew why Liu Cixin and those other group shareholders and directors didn't come because they didn't want to attend the press conference later.

The Hong Kong media is always known for its sharp words.

If they dared to come, the media reporters would dare to ask them in person if they were forced to sell Zhixiang Building at the market price of 7.2 billion Hong Kong Dollars.

Being forced to do so is already humiliating enough, if publicly executed, then how would Zhang's old face be placed?

So not coming is the best choice.

"Health is the most important, pass my regards to Mr. Liu, he must pay attention to rest." Lu Liang smiled with fake concern.

"Certainly, certainly."

The contract details have been negotiated in advance, Huaren Real Estate has three months to vacate and terminate the lease, and in November, Tianxing Financial Group will formally move in, with a transaction amount of 7.2 billion Hong Kong Dollars, equivalent to 923 million US Dollars.

Lu Liang suddenly said, "Modify it, no need to pay over two years, the contract takes effect today, and the funds will be completed within three working days."

The parent company of Tianxing Financial, Tianxing Investment, has $2.352 billion in cash flow sitting in its account, so they always have the strength for full payment.

But usually, large transactions are settled in one, two years, three years, or even five years to ensure the company has healthy cash flow.

But now Lu Liang changed his mind, to ensure that his subsequent plans could be implemented smoothly, flaunting wealth became especially important.

"Mr. Lu, I need to consult the board." Zhang Tao suddenly stunned, Tang Caide and Li Junwei beside Lu Liang were also taken aback.

So, while Zhang Tao went to make a call, Tang Caide came over and hurriedly said: "Mr. Lu, I will contact Li Yizhou now to prepare the funds."

She was numb, already used to it.

She determined that after retiring many years later, she must write a book titled "My Elaborate Boss," in which she would condemn Lu Liang's unscrupulous conduct, detailing these years' unconsulted spur-of-the-moment ideas, which unnecessarily added a lot of work pressure and burden on her.

But now, the urgent task is to carry out Lu Liang's thoughts and turn them into actionable facts.

"Go ahead."

Lu Liang grinned, in the whole company, the two people he admires the most are Wen Chao, the man, and Tang Caide, the woman.

The former helps him expand territory in foreign lands and can already stand alone, while the latter oversees everything meticulously without asking for reasons as the head manager of logistics.

Li Junwei originally wanted to ask, but seeing Tang Caide didn't ask, he swallowed back the words stuck in his mouth.

Shortly after, Zhang Tao returned and said: "Mr. Lu, Chairman Liu and the directors all agreed, we shall immediately modify the contract."

He looked at Lu Liang with a gaze full of awe.

Initially Liu Cixin only planned to stay in Switzerland for two months to avoid trouble and observe.

But upon hearing about Lu Liang's decision to settle in full, he immediately postponed his return to Hong Kong and stopped mentioning specific return dates.

He specifically instructed Zhang Tao to reduce all unnecessary projects of Huaren Real Estate during this period, and even more so, not to touch Lu Liang's sore spot.

Payments can be made in installments, but insisting on full payment, which involves a staggering 7.2 billion Hong Kong Dollars, clearly flaunts power.

Tianxing Investment is not a private equity firm; since its founding this company has always been fully owned by Lu Liang.

As an individual, he can fork over 7.2 billion Hong Kong Dollars all at once, if given time to mobilize funds, what a terrifying number it would be.