Chapter 213: Blessing Friends and Relatives

Words : 1963 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

"None of my business." Lu Liang sighed. That day, he had also received many calls and messages from relatives and friends inquiring about him. Even the class group, which had long been silent, reduced to a battlefield for Pinduoduo's slash-a-thorn campaign, showed 99+ messages. Although the vocational college students from ten years ago had some value, if they hadn't caught the wave of the times around 2007, they were pretty much the same as the current ones. At that time, those who were going to prosper already had, and those who hadn't probably never would in this lifetime. Unexpectedly, the legendary concept of accumulating knowledge and experience over time happened to their class, and it was one of their classmates who exemplified it. With a fortune of several billions and control over hundreds of billions in liquid assets, there was no doubt that Lu Liang had become the most badass person they knew. "I remember Lu Liang once pursued Zheng Xiuqin, right?" "That was probably eleven years ago, I guess everyone has long forgotten about it." "Now, the only person who still has contact with Lu Liang is probably Liu Mingxuan." "Forget it—he's gone home with his earnings and is now dealing with mini electric cookers. Anyone interested can get in touch." Liu Mingxuan suddenly chimed in, sharing a product link. He was instrumental in turning the class group into a battlefield for Pinduoduo's slash-a-thorn campaign. "Mingxuan, our company is planning to hold an event for new and returning customers for Mid-Autumn Festival. Can we make a custom special order?" Big Huang, Huang Lihui, who had been notably generous at Liu Mingxuan's wedding banquet, replied first. She messaged Lu Liang privately, apologizing for an earlier issue, but Lu Liang didn't respond. The more Big Huang thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Although the chances were slim, what if Lu Liang was the type to hold grudges? A casual comment might result in her building materials company having no place in Modu. So, she thought of an indirect approach. Although Big Huang liked to show off, she wasn't foolish. She knew well that men's friendships are entirely different from women's. Men's friendships can be like marriage vows, weathering poverty or wealth, sickness or health, lasting decades without change. She figured she'd first get on good terms with Liu Mingxuan, so in case Lu Liang decided to settle accounts later, Liu Mingxuan could at least put in a good word for her. As soon as Liu Mingxuan received the message, he forwarded it to Lu Liang with the demeanor of a bystander: "Does this count as relatives and friends sharing their good fortune?" Big Huang's Hongxin Building Materials wanted him to customize 3,000 electric cookers, as long as the purchase price didn't exceed 30 yuan. There was only one condition: they had to create a new link, upload it to the online store, and price the product above 200 yuan. This kind of operation was actually quite common. Not long ago, he had negotiated a similar deal with a local telecom business. After all, as giveaways, the higher the price tag, the more prestigious it looked, and there were also kickbacks to be had from the purchases. Lu Liang chuckled, seeing right through Big Huang's intentions, and said with a smile, "If you think there's a profit to be made, just agree to it." Liu Mingxuan replied in a hurry, "Definitely profitable. The cost is only about 16 yuan each. Even if we make 3,000 units, the cost won't exceed 20 yuan per piece with a new mold." "Not bad. A neat little profit indeed." Lu Liang's face lit up with a smile and added, "Seems like you're doing well in the e-commerce game. Send me your business card. I'll be visiting the Industrial and Commercial Bank in a few days. They should have a similar event and will probably do me this favor." Liu Mingxuan sighed, "Feels a bit like cheating. I haven't experienced any of the hardships of entrepreneurship at all. Why's that?" Lu Liang, not amused, asked, "Do you want it or not?" After all, they had been friends for many years. Back in their school days, they were so poor they would share a single cigarette between them. He always kept Liu Mingxuan in mind, willing to help financially or through introductions, which Liu Mingxuan couldn't possibly refuse. "Of course, I want it. Homegrown water shouldn't flow into outsider's fields, and we're certainly not outsiders," Liu Mingxuan laughed. Giving a man a fish or teaching him how to fish—he was over thirty now, a father, not someone incapable of adapting. After all, when he had sold his house and saved millions in the bank back in his hometown, the bank manager had been exceptionally attentive. Considering Lu Liang had several hundred billion, Liu Mingxuan couldn't even imagine how the bank holding those savings would repay him. This small request was nothing, less significant than a mosquito bite, so of course, it wouldn't affect Lu Liang, and Liu Mingxuan naturally wouldn't decline. "Should I say something to Big Huang?" Liu Mingxuan suddenly asked, bearing in mind the saying that one is beholden to those who give. Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "No need to say anything, just leave her be," Lu Liang replied. Although he didn't care, he also wasn't going to make a special effort to explain. He then saw messages from his parents who were thrilled, saying the village ancestral hall was planning to honor him with an inscription. He had heard rumors that being an outstanding young entrepreneur could be a stepping stone to the People's Congress. Moreover, since Modu's administrative status was much higher than that of an ordinary province-level division, Even if Lu Liang went elsewhere now, at the very least, he'd be guaranteed a position at the city-level People's Congress. Rounded up, he'd be considered an official. Lu Liang just smiled, unsure of what to say, and simply asked if his parents needed more money, offering to transfer some to them. "No need, your mom and I are both old now, we have a car and a house, and practically no place to spend money on." Dad was beaming with pride; having a successful and wealthy son was a great honor for any parent. He then inquired about someone who had brought over an Audi a while back, wondering if it was at Lu Liang's instigation. "Yes, that car was just sitting in the parking lot unused, so I thought my sister could drive it for a while." Lu Liang planned to let Lu Ya use it for a year or so, before sending it to the great parking lot in the sky, figuratively speaking. Probably it wouldn't even cost ten thousand. "Very good, very good." Dad's face was full of gratification. After chatting about some family matters, he hung up the phone. The next day, the divorce scandal involving Wang Bao continued to ferment. A male star, whose dirt couldn't be dug up by either those closest to him or his agent, had become the entertainment industry's 'White Lotus,' with public opinion overwhelmingly sympathetic toward Wang Bao. As a result, Lu Liang was left unbothered. That day, Lu Liang had an exclusive interview with Forbes, which mainly focused on his investment criteria and decision-making process. As expected, OFO was dragged through the mud, given that the next day marked Dai Wei's annual trip to the US, which was also rumored to be his return date. OFO often pulled various stunts due to deposit issues, and as a company with 19 million creditors, its prominence remained high, something Forbes was keen to capitalize on. So, they sent their ace reporter, Wang Chuting, a tall, Eurasian beauty, to conduct the exclusive interview. Wang Chuting, with a pleasant smile and her 1.2-meter-long legs having no place to rest, had to keep her knees tightly together and slightly offset to one side. She glanced down at her interview script and smiled sweetly, "Mr. Lu, there's been an ongoing discussion online saying if OFO's success was an illusion of invincible capital power, then OFO's collapse represents the shattering of that illusion. What do you think about this?" Lu Liang, who had cashed out at the market peak ahead of everyone else, likely had a unique perspective. He pondered for a moment, then answered with a nonchalant smile, "So many analyses, but not one has pointed out the real reason." "The demise of OFO ultimately boils down to inexperience on the part of its creators, the chief culprit being the veto power of a single vote." OFO had cooled off, and with Dai Wei probably not returning, Lu Liang didn't mind revealing some insider information. OFO and Mobike started on an equal footing, and due to cost reasons, OFO even had an advantage over Mobike. Yet, one joined forces with Meituan and achieved success, while the other went to the US in search of answers and was due to return next month. This could all be traced back to Dai Wei's stubbornness and arrogance. "When multiple people hold veto power, the seeds for a disastrous outcome were sown from the moment that decision was made." Lu Liang was all smiles, speaking freely as he fully embraced the benefit of hindsight. After all, he was the only investor to profit from OFO, cashing out at the peak. So, even his slightest remark was considered golden. "Indeed, a thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant burrow." Wang Chuting mused, her interview yielding far more than she had anticipated. After all, such details were generally known only to insiders, who were likely reluctant to speak out. Only Lu Liang, who had been an insider but now stood apart, could speak so candidly. Soon, the fifty-minute interview was over. "Mr. Lu, thank you for taking the time to do this exclusive interview with our magazine." Wang Chuting stood up, and even in her low-heeled flats, she was almost as tall as Lu Liang. Lu Liang chuckled and shook her hand, "Miss Wang is too kind. An exclusive interview with Forbes is something many people are eager for." As the world's first magazine dedicated solely to business news, Forbes had created the marvel of building an empire with just one publication. Forbes was about to celebrate its centennial, with celebrities and elites from all over the world taking pride in being featured in its rankings. "Indeed, many individuals and organizations are eager, but I presume that doesn't include you, Mr. Lu." Wang Chuting's face carried a hint of resentment. Since last December, they had extended at least four interview requests to Lu Liang. Each time they were met with silence, and when he finally agreed to an interview, he gave his first exclusive to the city's public relations team. "Miss Wang, your expression makes me feel as if I have done you some wrong," Lu Liang teased with a smile. Wang Chuting, charmingly annoyed, tucked her hair behind her ear, and coquettishly asked, "How does Mr. Lu plan to apologize, then?" "I've heard there's a new French restaurant next to the International Financial Center that's quite good. Do you have time this evening, Miss Wang?" Right or wrong was not the point, The key was having a good excuse.

Chapter 213: Blessing Friends and Relatives

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