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

The cocktail party was originally scheduled for eight o'clock, but before eight, the important guests had mostly arrived.

Lu Liang played the role of doorman for over ten minutes and gained a clear understanding of the local forces through the introduction of Li Zhikai.

They can basically be classified into four types:

For instance, the Wu Family and Dong Family, who are indifferent to worldly affairs.

The Huo Family and He Family, who are close to politics.

Families like the Guo Family and the Li Family, who can and only want to live off their savings.

And the Zheng Family, who is willing to embrace and actively accept new industries.

And there is the Li family's Superman Li, whom Lu Liang considers the most unique and powerful force.

Although Li Zhikai analyzed issues from a "we" perspective for him, Lu Liang didn't consider himself part of "we" with him.

These wealthy families, without exception, face a dilemma. The old refuse to step down, unwilling to relinquish power, and the young are not qualified, nor do they step up.

At fifty-two, Li Zhikai, being at the table, could certainly still be regarded as a young man.

Unlike the mainland, where every few years, new faces emerge in the internet industry, like Byte's Zhang Yiming, Pinduoduo's Huang Zheng, Meituan's Wang Xin, and DiDi's Cheng Wei.

Lu Liang felt a strong sense of class rigidity.

However, this was good news for him. The younger generation couldn't step up, and the older generation, ambitious as ever, was in their twilight years.

"Is everyone here?" Lu Liang asked.

"Almost everyone is here." Li Zhikai nodded, although some people hadn't arrived, they weren't important.

The more powerful the wealthy family, the more sensible they were, because as the initiator of the gathering, Lu Liang would certainly stand at the door to greet everyone.

Arriving early was also a sign of respect for him, as for those second and third-rate forces who weren't clear on the situation.

If they didn't come, so be it.

Lu Liang nodded slightly, ending his reception duties.

He held a glass of wine and walked into the crowd, scanning around with a smile on his face: "All of you present are my seniors. I, Lu Liang, as a junior, would like to toast to everyone first. If I offend anyone in any way in the future, please bear with me generously."

With that, he raised his glass and drank it all in one go, completely ignoring the strange looks of the crowd.

The Li Brothers and the two families close to the mainland, the He Family and the Huo Family, immediately raised their glasses and toasted back to Lu Liang with thoughtful expressions.

Others looked stern, and the word "arrogant" simultaneously flashed in their minds.

In such a solemn occasion, Lu Liang was unlikely to make a slip of the tongue, but he spoke of the future rather than the past.

This meant that with Tianxing Finance settling in Xiangjiang and Tianxing Private Equity shorting the Hong Kong stock market, Lu Liang didn't think he had offended them yet. Rather, he would offend them in the future, hence the early toast of apology.

He was also sending a signal, just as they suspected, that Lu Liang was about to make some big moves.

The elders exchanged glances and all turned their attention to Yang Shoucheng.

Yang Shoucheng sighed quietly; when he was young, he was just a mouthpiece and didn't expect to be one again at this age.

Despite his reluctance, the Yang Family wasn't as influential.

He could only chuckle and ask, "Little Lu, I suppose I can call you that?"

Lu Liang smiled and said, "You're a senior, of course, that's fine."

Yang Shoucheng genuinely didn't want to offend Lu Liang and pondered for a moment before saying with a polite smile, "Then I'll be presumptuous and add that this place, Xiangjiang, might not be as simple as you think."

He hoped Lu Liang would rethink his strategy, carefully consider how to handle their relationship.

It's easy to conquer, difficult to maintain.

Though Lu Liang can make advances and retreats on Wall Street, it doesn't mean he can easily establish himself there.

Just like the Qin Dynasty, which swept through six kingdoms but ended in two generations; or Mongolia, which swept across Eurasia but only lasted a few decades.

The Xiangjiang market is no exception; even adding the time developed in Modu, Lu Liang has only been developing for just over three years.

Arriving in Xiangjiang and assuming a high and mighty stance on who supports or opposes, he might take a serious fall in the future.

"I'm enlightened as a junior," Lu Liang cupped his hands, his smile unchanging: "But I still want to give it a try."

His eyes were like torches, scanning the crowd, hoping someone would step up to cooperate and perform with him.

Lu Liang focused on Zheng Qilong, but meeting his gaze, Zheng Qilong instinctively looked away to somewhere else.

Just reprimanded by his father, even told that if he offended Lu Liang, he would be ruthlessly abandoned.

Now it's clear Lu Liang wants to find someone who stands out to set an example, punish to warn others, give everyone a show of force. Unless his brains were squished by a door, he wouldn't stand out.

Lu Liang's look of great disappointment was as good as openly mocking that everyone present had no guts.

Seeing the atmosphere become more tense, Li Zheju quickly came forward to mediate with a smile, saying: "Everyone, it seems like it might rain, why don't we go inside?"

"No wonder my knee hurts again, seems like a typhoon is coming."

"We should have gone inside earlier, right before a storm, the mountain mosquitoes are particularly active."

The crowd bantered back and forth, orderly entering inside as if nothing had happened just moments ago.

Lu Liang looked up at the sky, a large mass of clouds just covering the moon, and muttered, "Quite a coincidence indeed."

A barking dog does not bite; he hoped someone would step out, so he could set an example to prevent being backstabbed at a critical moment.

"The wind's picking up, let's go inside."

Although Li Zhikai didn't know Lu Liang's plans, he knew Lu Liang's presence in Xiangjiang would bring about change.

And change often accompanies bloodshed and sacrifice.

A gentleman's anger may spill blood within five paces.

An emperor's wrath could claim millions of lives.

The investors hurt during the day by Lu Liang in the Hong Kong stock market resembled a million corpses.

Not only did Li Zhikai know this, he believed those inside knew it too.

These families, having stood firm for half a century or more, even after the handover, perhaps have foolish descendants, but no leader is foolish.

At least until they knew Lu Liang's plans, even if he defecated right on their heads, they wouldn't make a sound.

"The wind is picking up,"

Lu Liang smiled in relief, not thinking too much anymore.

Unstoppable when encountering warrior spirits, unmovable even by divine spirits, just go for it.

The two returned indoors, as a sudden downpour began, like the heavens were leaking, with flashing lightning and roaring thunder.

The bad weather outside didn't affect the lively conversations and exchanges inside.

But it seemed like Lu Liang was being isolated, deliberately placed in an information cocoon by the crowd.

Whenever someone was discussing business, upon seeing him approach, they'd immediately stop and divert to talking about love and romance.

Lu Liang aimed to be their father, but they wanted to be his father-in-law, grandpa, uncle, or cousin...

"My eldest brother has a daughter, 22 this year."

Li Zhikai chuckled, joining in on the fun.

Even though many knew Lu Liang had kids, what did it matter, as long as he wasn't married, he was free.

Even if married and with kids, having mistresses outside was nothing; the wealthy families cared only for alliances.

Emotions, who talks about those?

Lu Liang glanced and, with a pique, said, "Tonight, have her cleaned up and sent to my room, Shangri-La 1811."

If Li Zhikai dared to send her, he'd dare to sleep with her, even if she got pregnant, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Direct bloodline is indeed a condition for inheriting the family business, but it's not the only condition.

Lu Liang would simply spend tens of thousands a month to handle those he disliked.

A few millions would be enough to support them for life.

It's not like he couldn't afford it.

Li Zhikai smiled awkwardly and said, "Is that how you talk, Uncle No. 2?"

"Hello, Mr. Lu, my name is Li Siyan, I currently work in the business department of Cheung Shing Group." the girl said with a bright smile, showing a perfect row of eight teeth.

"Hello, Miss Li." Lu Liang glanced at her, saying with a half-hearted tone, "Have her cleaned up tonight and sent to my room, Shangri-La 1811."

When confronted by her gaze, Lu Liang instinctively looked elsewhere.

He had just been scolded by his father, who even said if he offended Lu Liang, he would be abandoned without hesitation.

Now Lu Liang clearly wanted to find someone to make an example, kill one to warn a hundred, give everyone a shock. Unless he was out of his mind, he wouldn't step up.

Lu Liang looked towards the crowd again, his disappointment as palpable as openly mocking them for lacking courage.

Seeing the atmosphere grow increasingly tense, Li Zheju hurried to smooth things over, smiling as he said: "Everyone, it looks like it's going to rain, why don't we head inside?"

"No wonder my knee's hurting again, seems like there's a typhoon on the way."

"We should have gone inside sooner, before the storm, mosquitoes in the mountains are always particularly numerous."

The crowd exchanged pleasantries, entering into the building in an orderly manner as if nothing had just transpired.

Lu Liang looked up at the sky, a thick cloud conveniently covered the moon. He muttered to himself, "What a coincidence."

A biting dog doesn't bark; he hoped someone would step forward to make an example of, to avoid being backstabbed at a crucial moment.

"The wind's getting in, let's go inside."

Although Li Zhikai didn't quite know Lu Liang's plans, he knew that Lu Liang's arrival in Xiangjiang would inevitably bring about change.

And change often comes with bloodshed and sacrifices.

When a common man becomes angry, blood splatters within five paces.

When an emperor becomes angry, millions lie dead.

The investors Li Zhikai fooled in the Hong Kong stock market earlier today were reminiscent of the millions of corpses.

Li Zhikai wasn't the only one who knew this; he was sure the other people inside knew as well.

These families have stood firm for centuries, weathering even the transition of sovereignty; while descendants may be fools, no Sect Leader is foolish.

Not until they know Lu Liang's plans would they make a move, even if he were to defecate on them, they wouldn't make a sound.

"The wind really is picking up."

Lu Liang smiled with relief, not dwelling on it.

If a deity stops him, he will fight it, if Buddha stops him, he will fight. Just do it.

They returned indoors as a torrential downpour began, as if the sky itself had split open, with lightning flashing and thunder rolling in.

The bad weather outside was no match for the lively banter and drinking inside.

But it seemed that Lu Liang was being intentionally isolated, kept in an echo chamber by those present.

Whenever someone was talking business and saw him approaching, they would immediately stop and switch to talking about romance and beauty.

"My big brother has a daughter, she's 22 this year."

Li Zhikai chuckled again, joining the amusement.

Sure, many may know Lu Liang has kids, but what's the big deal, as long as one's not married, they're still free.

Even if already married with kids, keeping a mistress is no issue; wealthy families only care for alliances.

Emotions are not discussed.

Lu Liang glanced at him with slight annoyance and said, "Have her cleaned up tonight and send her to my room at the Shangri-La, 1811."

If there was someone Lu Liang didn't like, he would merely spend tens of thousands a month to maintain them.

He could easily spare that much money to support them for life.

Li Zhikai cringed awkwardly and murmured, "Is that how you talk, Uncle No. 2?"

Li Zhikai squinted his eyes, a not-so-friendly look, standing next to a young girl in her early twenties.

The girl playfully jibed, "Is it okay to call you Uncle Lu?"

"Hello, Mr. Lu, my name is Li Siyan, I currently work in the business department of Cheung Shing Group." The girl had a bright smile, showing a standard set of eight teeth.

"Hello, Miss Li." Lu Liang glanced, snarkily saying, "Send her over to my room tonight, washed up nicely, Shangri-La 1811."

For someone he didn't like, the children they bore would only get a mere tens of thousands of dollars for upkeep each month.

Easily coughing up millions was nothing to support them for a lifetime.

It wasn't like he couldn't afford it.