Chapter 134: Self-reliance

Words : 1697 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

"Mr. Lu, we're looking forward to the second issuance of Tianxing Private Equity. If you need help, just say the word." Zhou Yongjiang smiled slightly. Although he thought that Lu Liang seemed a bit idealistic, there were still two or three months to go, and time would tell. A net value of 3.01 indicated assets worth 301 million US dollars. If it could maintain a proper growth rate, it would also mean that Lu Liang was capable of managing an even larger portfolio, and they would engage in deeper cooperation. There was no shortage of fund managers in the country, but there were few outstanding ones with the guts to venture internationally. If Lu Liang were a mediocre fund manager, merely conning and deceiving in the domestic market, then he wouldn't be worth their investment and favor. Modu may be hailed as the financial capital, but it's filled with those who fish for fame and fortune, repulsive creatures. Whether private or public funds, essentially they were all the same. The former set traps to harvest retail investors in the market, while the latter did the same to the masses, ultimately funneling the people's money into their own pockets. They needed someone to represent the finance industry and make an impact on the international stage. After '97 and '08, they had been searching for a capable individual, numerous as carps crossing the river. But eventually, most gradually lost their adventurous spirit, content to stay within their own small patch of land in the domestic market. Lu Liang might be the one, for they had meticulously researched his growth trajectory, which was quite remarkable. He had been selling houses at Green View Group for years, with a performance early on that was rather notable, even securing top sales a few times, but it had declined to mediocrity. After his divorce and resignation post the Spring Festival holiday, having undergone significant life changes, he suddenly flourished, becoming the Golden Touch they knew today. They had suspected that Lu Liang may have received insider information, thus being able to consistently make the right calls. But their investigations turned up clean. Baofeng Technology's share allocation was due to good luck with lots, and why he bought into Teli A was uncertain, but it wasn't as miraculous as rumors suggested. He bought in around ten, sold once over twenty, and again in the thirties. Now the stock had soared to over seventy, his judgement was flawed, just not publicly known. Then came gold, yen, and Tesla. They concluded that Lu Liang was a financial prodigy whose talents were buried while he sold houses, and his marriage further wasted his years. Free from marital ties, he sold his house and took out online loans to make a bold move. In the end, he succeeded. Lu Liang pondered, "Director Zhou, I need a higher foreign exchange quota and more covert channels overseas." Though the era when colonial powers could blow open the gates of a country with a few coastal cannons was long gone, They had mastered a more sophisticated game, where mere public opinion was enough to reap the wealth of other nations financially. Take the neighboring island nation, whose past deeds enrage many—still, their capacity as a race cannot be denied. From a small island, they rose to become a dominant force in Asia. Their present hardships were undeserved. The consequences of the previous century's bubble should have been repaid after twenty years, but others had been keeping their peace for them. Considering the days and the nation's economic scale, it would almost be their turn. The world was fair—if some enjoyed peace, others would bear the burdens. Zhou Yongjiang laughed heartily, "Of course, I'll contact Director Sun from the Foreign Exchange Administration for you." "Thank you, Director Zhou." Lu Liang watched Zhou Yongjiang leave until his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, and the smile on his face gradually faded away. Zhou Yongjiang was almost explicitly saying: He hoped he would venture overseas to fend for himself. Put positively, it was about representing the financial industry abroad—if someday people like Soros thought of shorting, they would have the power to defend and counterattack. But there was certainly more to it. The country's development focus was never on finance. If he took another bite, others would have less. Perhaps that was the main reason. "Hope you can walk the talk." Lu Liang had no objections to this arrangement. In the international market, he felt free, ready to ride the waves without constraint, and without fear of scrutiny. The only concern was that Zhou Yongjiang might not be fully committed to his work, putting him on the front lines but not providing the necessary protection and support. Sёarᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although the possibility was very low, as there were almost no competitors in this race, precautions still needed to be taken. The next day, Lu Liang went to Beijing and met with Director Sun of the Foreign Exchange Administration. The negotiations went smoothly, and he secured an exchange quota of one billion dollars, as well as a special channel for moving capital overseas. With this, Lu Liang could now throw caution to the wind and act boldly, since he had the Foreign Exchange Administration to cover his back. The so-called free market was just a self-proclaimed term; once he earned too much, sanctions would still be imposed. But with the Foreign Exchange Administration managing over three trillion US dollars, his few hundred million or even tens of billions seemed insignificant in comparison. ... After wrapping up everything in Beijing, Lu Liang returned to his hometown for a visit, to celebrate his mother's birthday, and also to check on the progress of the new house being built. The main structure, external walls, and fence of the new house were all completed, a three-and-a-half-story building with its inner courtyard and parking bay. The concrete and steel reinforcement were currently in a curing phase, needing daily watering for ventilation to release gases, and thus too early for interior decorations. The siblings strolled in the unfinished house. Lu Ya supervised the construction every day, and her arms had grown considerably darker: "How about it? Are you satisfied?" "Definitely satisfied," Lu Liang said with a smile. The main area was only 175 square meters, but with no shared space, it felt like it was over 200 square meters. The parents would live on the first floor, he would stay on the second, and his sister and brother-in-law would occupy the third floor. Lu Ya took a deep breath, hesitating slightly as she said, "Recently, mom and dad lent 300,000 yuan to Luo to open a grain and oil store." Luo was her husband, and they had been running a small shop in town. Now, they were looking to expand just a bit. "How's the business?" "There's a gross profit of two to three thousand a month, but there's quite a bit of overstock, and all the earnings are tied up in the inventory." The profit margins on grain and oil were actually not low, even though they seemed thin and prices were transparent, but there were peak and valley pricing strategies. When prices were low, they would stock up on more goods, and when prices were high, they would sell at regular prices or mark up a bit. The profit from these transactions could be around 20%. Moreover, a grain and oil shop wasn't just limited to selling grains and oils; cigarettes, liquor, beverages, instant noodles, and snacks could all be wholesaled or retailed. "As long as there's profit to be made, it's fine, the goods in the warehouse aren't going to grow legs and run away, so slow returns are not a big deal." Lu Liang beamed, putting his arm around his sister's shoulder, wanting her to feel reassured. On his last visit, he had left a million yuan for his parents, specifically for them to support his sister's family. In the countryside, a family-run shop with a monthly income of twenty to thirty thousand yuan could live quite comfortably, free from financial pressures. As for the future of the two children, they had him as an uncle. As long as he was around, everyone could lead a good life. "Let's go have dinner, and after we eat, I need to dash off," Lu Liang said, smiling. Having money and power mattered only outside of home. At home, his mother kept on him, hoping for him to remarry and have children. Explaining was pointless; he couldn't argue, so his only option was to escape. "You and your ways," Lu Ya said, with laughter and tears. After going downstairs, the family went to a restaurant to eat, full of joy and festivity. While money couldn't solve all problems, it could indeed solve 99% of them. The remaining 1% was that Lu Liang wasn't married with children, so he took his leave right after eating, giving no chance for any difficulties to be raised. Before they knew it, it was November 9th, Lu Liang received an invitation to an ofo financing event. Dai Wei was full of joy and vigor, boasting that ofo had overtaken Mobike to become the industry leader. He announced that the valuation for this round of financing was set at 72 million dollars and was planning to offer 10% of the shares for investment. Liu Qing came over again, she was enjoying a lively conversation with Zhu Hu, and the two showed no signs of the confrontational stance they had during the last round of financing. Upon seeing Lu Liang arrive, Zhu Hu quickly stepped forward, with Liu Qing following behind him. "Mr. Lu, long time no see, what have you been up to recently?" Zhu Hu asked with a smile. It was evident that Golden Sand River must have struck some deal with DiDi; he was in a great mood.

Chapter 134: Self-reliance

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