After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future-Chapter 287 - 286: A Cunning Rabbit Has Three Burrows

Chiyoda District, Yorletown, 72nd floor of Mitsui Sumitomo Headquarters.

"Alone in a foreign land I am a foreigner, every festive season I miss my kin all the more, Mr. Lu, long time no see, happy New Year."

When Old Ma saw Lu Liang coming over, he wore a bright smile and personally brought over a plate of dried fruits and snacks, "Let’s seek some good fortune."

"Joyful together, joyful together," Lu Liang smiled, casually taking a sour plum, knowing that some places had this custom.

During New Year visits, the host had to present a plate of dried fruits and snacks as a sign of respect to the guests, and regardless, guests had to eat a little bit to show their respect in return.

But this was an act of hospitality from the host; Old Ma seemed to be more than just a simple guest of Mitsui Sumitomo.

Lu Liang looked to the side where there was a man in his early forties; Old Ma introduced him, "This is Mr. Ota Ling."

The rotating chairman of Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, because it was a merged bank like the two-party system in the United States, the role rotated periodically.

To this day, Mr. Ota had been the chairman for seven years; under his leadership, Mitsui Sumitomo maintained a growth rate of 12% annually, and internally nobody could compete with him.

"Mr. Lu, hello, I’ve always heard your name, and today I finally have the chance to meet you."

Mr. Ota spoke in fluent Mandarin, a level of fluency that could make Lu Liang feel inferior.

"Mr. Ota, hello."

Lu Liang shook hands with him, and while they conversed, he looked towards Old Ma to ask how his talks with the businessman went.

Last Monday, the businessman took office as the 45th, and by Thursday, Old Ma had departed for the United States for a visit.

He also became the first Chinese person to meet with the businessman after his election, discussing small business development and employment issues.

Over the next four years, Ali Group planned to add 1 million small business jobs in the United States, particularly servicing the businessman’s major stronghold, the Midwest.

Although netizens jokingly called it a flat plain.

But Lu Liang knew, this was a mistake Old Ma made to support Larry.

However, it seemed to turn into a blessing in disguise because by offending the businessman, an apology was offered, the businessman accepted the apology and reciprocated with goodwill, allowing Ali to be removed from the blacklist and enter the European and American markets.

"The result is good, but the process, goddamn it almost got screwed over."

Old Ma was one of the entrepreneurs Lu Liang knew who loved to swear the most. He warned Lu Liang that if he ever met with the businessman in the future, he had to be extremely careful.

The businessman might have been a political novice, but he was an extremely successful real estate mogul, often mocked for even bankrupting a casino, but in essence, it was to avoid debts.

After all, which entrepreneur had gone bankrupt six or seven times but had wealth growing faster each time?

He was exceptionally smart and adept at utilizing rules, receiving high praise from Old Ma.

Old Ma suddenly took pleasure in misfortune, "Mr. Lu, you better be careful, he seems to have his eyes on you."

During the conversation, they talked about Lu Liang; the businessman appeared to highly admire him. It was one thing for ordinary people to admire someone, but being admired by the 45th was not necessarily a good thing.

"Meet force with force, counter water with earth."

Lu Liang just smiled and didn’t take it too seriously.

The United States was a bully, and the businessman was the biggest of them, with seventy to eighty entities and people targeted by them.

Compared to that, Lu Liang was more curious about how Old Ma got involved with Mitsui Sumitomo and why he had invited him?

It surely couldn’t just be to give a warning?

Old Ma looked at Mr. Ota, they caught each other’s gazes, and started discussing the idea of inviting Lu Liang to join and establish an international fund.

Mitsui Sumitomo would hold 40%, he and Lu Liang would each hold 30%, but Lu Liang could join with his capabilities and didn’t need to put in money.

The registered capital of this company would be 300 million dollars, and if Lu Liang agreed, he would gain 90 million dollars for free.

"Mr. Ma, Mr. Ota, I need some time to think about this," Lu Liang frowned, feeling that this matter was not as simple as it seemed.

He did not, unlike Old Ma, lecture around the globe with political intentions written all over his face.

Once overseas, he represented not only himself but should carefully consider the issue of positions.

"Mr. Lu..." Mr. Ota was very sincere, but as he was about to speak, Old Ma gestured with his hand to stop him.

Old Ma said with a smile, "Mr. Lu, it’s getting late, why don’t we find a place to catch up?"

"As you wish." Lu Liang shrugged his shoulders and bid farewell to Mr. Ota.

The two went to Old Ma’s luxury apartment in Ginza, purchased for 28 million dollars.

1,800 square meters, with chefs, maids, and cleaners; there were seven visible staff members, but its level of luxury was still somewhat inferior to Old Xu’s.

"Mr. Lu, this way please."

Old Ma, all smiles, changed into a casual outfit and led Lu Liang to the dining area.

He liked the restaurant here, located in Ginza, the busiest part of Tokyo, where he could dine quietly while enjoying the cityscape of Tokyo.

The floor wasn’t high, just on the ninth floor.

Because the entire country was in a long-term earthquake zone, city regulations stipulated that the tallest buildings could not exceed ten floors.

Without high-rises and swarms of tiny ants, one could even make out the expressions of pedestrians on the street when looking down.

"Mr. Lu, would you like a drink?"

The waiter continuously brought up plates of delicious food; Old Ma got up and headed for the liquor cabinet, while Lu Liang shook his head, "Thanks for the kind offer, Mr. Ma, but let’s not drink at noon."

"The soup tastes very nice."

Old Ma smiled and then started talking about the collaboration discussed at the headquarters of Mitsui Sumitomo, "Mr. Lu might want to consider it."

Just now, Ota Ling from Mitsui Sumitomo had been there, and there were some things he couldn’t say openly.

Old Ma probably guessed Lu Liang’s thoughts, wanting to firmly grasp both finance and industry, which was nothing to fault.

But he shouldn’t waste his capabilities; the focus of domestic development wasn’t on the financial sector, and Lu Liang shouldn’t put all his eggs in one basket; a wise rabbit has three burrows.

Looking at those entrepreneurs, like Little Ma, Lei, and Qiangzi, and even like the father of Lu Liang’s friend, Little Wang.

They had all set up a large number of properties in Xiangjiang, Tokyo, and Singapore, just to leave a way out for themselves.

The national situation of the East Country was too unique, the opening-up was only a matter of the last few decades, after all, it’s still socialist, not capitalist, and one must be cautious.

"Thanks for the high regard, Mr. Ma, I will consider it carefully."

Lu Liang pondered for a long while, his attitude slightly softened compared to his earlier decisiveness; no matter what Old Ma’s intentions were, the perspective of having three burrows wasn’t wrong.

Just like the family trust he had set up in Xiangjiang, that was one burrow, but it wasn’t enough.

Tokyo, Singapore, it would be best to set up some more assets there; that would be truly sleeping without worries.

"Mr. Lu, how long do you plan to stay in Tokyo?"

Old Ma was smiling, not saying much more; Lu Liang was a smart person, and he would agree sooner or later.

He didn’t have any special intentions; primarily, he just wanted to bring Lu Liang into the group to increase his own value.

Not long ago, during a trip to the United States, Old Ma realized just how well-known Lu Liang really was.

Including with Ota Ling, although the two had an old acquaintance, they weren’t close enough to partner up and establish a company.

The key was that he knew Lu Liang and could help make connections, and so he could share in the benefits.

Capitalist society is a social environment prefixed by capital, which clearly shows the value of capital.

Hot wars won’t easily break out; economic wars, financial wars, will become the mainstream in the future.

After the meal, the two went to nearby Fujian Mountain and played several rounds of golf.

Lu Liang didn’t know how, just swung a club randomly. He was very aware that being able to play wasn’t important at all because a golf course isn’t a place for playing golf but a site for socializing.

With a swing, the ball flew tens of meters away, the club was handed to the caddy, and the players walked on the boundless lawn, chatting as they walked; this was the true purpose of golf.

Old Ma was very talkative, pulling effortlessly from historical and contemporary anecdotes from China and abroad; there was never a lull in conversation when chatting with him.

Since having lunch, he hadn’t mentioned the matter of collaboration again, instead talking about some trivial matters.

Successful people, without exception, all have a strong proactive nature; mention it once, and they would ponder deeply.

Mention it too often, and it would backfire.

Until the evening, Lu Liang bid farewell to Old Ma and planned to meet again back in the country; he returned to the hotel in the city.

Little Wang was very curious, "What did you talk about?"

"Adult stuff, kids shouldn’t ask too many questions."

"Damn it~"

At night, Lu Liang locked himself in the study.

After a long time, he finally called Old Ma; he agreed to join the partnership but wouldn’t appear in person.

Just like managing a private fund now, he would only arrange for a trusted person to handle the single-line contact.

"Let’s just make a good connection, hoping there’s never a need to use it," Lu Liang muttered softly to himself.

Old Ma had said that rapid social development could cover all shortcomings, but development wasn’t limitless; there would eventually come a day of stagnation, even deflation.

By then, class solidification and the widening wealth gap would cause frequent incidents, and social resentments would breed.

It was always necessary to sacrifice a few to quell public anger; Lu Liang wasn’t sure if it would be him, but it didn’t hurt to be prepared.