A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1404 The World's Richest Man's Graduation Work! (Please Subscribe!)
P.S.: This chapter is 8000 words, so I guess it's an extra chapter, hehe. Please give me a monthly vote, thank you!

The river of time flows ceaselessly, carrying the tides of the era forward, never stopping for anyone. The wheels of history roll over the tracks of the years, leaving marks, some deep and some shallow, but the mark belonging to Huashi Twelve is undoubtedly profound and dazzling.

As we entered 2007, the business empire that Hua Twelve had built had long since shed its initial immaturity and tentativeness, and had grown into a true behemoth capable of influencing the industry and even the economic landscape.

This aircraft carrier, with its powerful engines and robust structure, is sailing against the wind and waves with unstoppable momentum, carving out a remarkable course in the turbulent sea of ​​commerce.

Among them, Jingnan Mall, one of its core businesses, entered a crazy cash-burning expansion mode after several rounds of massive financing that shocked the industry.

However, this 'madness' is not blind, but rather a targeted approach guided by Huayi Twelve's precise strategic blueprint.

With its self-built logistics system providing exceptional user experiences such as "next-day delivery" and "precise delivery," coupled with its strong market reputation and trust built through its resolute fight against counterfeit goods and strict quality control, and further supported by Huashier's almost unlimited cash flow and accurate predictions of future trends, Jingnan Mall has rapidly expanded its market share and firmly secured its position as the leading B2C e-commerce platform in China, with its leading advantage continuing to grow.

Even Alibaba, which received a huge investment from SoftBank at the same time and should have shone brightly in the history of e-commerce, was far behind Jingnan in the B2C track, which emphasizes self-operation, quality and logistics, and was more than half a step behind.

The rise of Jingnan has reshaped the landscape of e-commerce in China and established Huashier's godfather-like status in the e-commerce industry.

In early 2007, in New York, the Nasdaq Stock Exchange was packed with people, the atmosphere was as lively as boiling water, and the air was filled with the smell of money and the excitement of dreams coming true.

On the huge electronic screen, heart-pounding numbers and codes flashed continuously, each flash potentially signifying the birth or demise of a wealth myth.

Today marks the official listing of Jingnan Mall, a moment that has captured the attention of countless eyes.

As the founder, chairman, and largest shareholder, Hua Shier naturally stood at the very center of the bell-ringing ceremony. He wore a well-tailored dark custom-made suit, stood tall and handsome, with a calm and confident smile on his lips and deep and calm eyes, as if this grand occasion, worthy of being recorded in business history, was nothing more than a natural outcome for him.

Beside him is his core team, who have accompanied him from campus to here through thick and thin.

Shi Jie, the elegant, capable, and powerful CEO.

Xu Kaiyang still retains some of his honest and simple demeanor, but his eyes now hold the sharpness honed by the business world.

Zhang Kai is lively and good at setting the mood.

Ruan Wan is gentle, intellectual, and responsible for product and user experience.

Zheng Wei is lively, agile, and in charge of marketing and public relations.

Zhu Xiaobei, the tomboy with short hair in the past, has now grown his hair long and looks mature and capable, taking charge of technology research and development on his own; in addition, there are several other important shareholders and senior managers of Jingnan Group.

These young people, their faces beaming with excitement, pride, and boundless anticipation for the future, are deeply connected to the fate of this company. Their hard work has transformed into the resounding bells of Nasdaq today.

As the bells, symbolizing the listing and the beginning of a new chapter, rang out in unison, their clear and melodious sound echoing throughout the exchange, thunderous applause and cheers erupted. On the electronic screen, the stock price of Jingnan Mall began to fluctuate, steadily and strongly climbing, opening with a significant surge, demonstrating the capital market's immense confidence and enthusiasm for this Chinese e-commerce giant.

At this historic moment, Hua Shier and his group of young, energetic friends, most of whom were his classmates and roommates from Beijing University of Science and Technology, stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the bell-ringing platform and took a very memorable group photo.

In the photo, Hua Shier stands in the center, calm and composed. Everyone around him has a bright smile and a firm gaze, capturing their shining moment.

This group photo, brimming with success, youth, and deep friendship, quickly spread back to China with the explosive news of Jingnan Mall's successful IPO and its soaring market value, which soon surpassed the $10 billion mark, sparking great attention and heated discussion among the media and the public.

When the all-powerful media reporters meticulously unraveled the mystery and discovered that almost all of the young core executives around Hua Shier were his classmates and roommates at Beijing University of Science and Technology, and that he had recruited them when they were still in their infancy at Beijing University of Science and Technology, and that they had worked together to this day, the entire online public opinion field was in an uproar!
"My God! They're all classmates and roommates? This is like one person carrying the entire dorm, no, two dorms (male and female) to victory!"

"Look at their friendship! And look at my roommates who only know how to ask their dads to bring them food. It's so unfair!"

"What an amazing roommate/classmate from Huashi University! Is it too late to retake the college entrance exam and get into Beijing University of Science and Technology?"

"This is even better than winning the lottery jackpot! Winning the lottery is a matter of probability, but this is a real leap in social class and financial freedom!"

Online, topics such as "best roommate" and "strongest classmate in history" quickly rose to the top of the trending search list, and Huashi's name was once again closely associated with words such as "legend," "mentor," and "life winner."

Countless college students were filled with envy and regretted not choosing Beijing South University of Technology when they filled out their college applications, and not becoming classmates and roommates with Huazhong University of Science and Technology students.

These two dormitories for men and women in the Department of Architecture at Jingnan University of Science and Technology have become famous overnight, and netizens jokingly call them the "Jingnan Youth Rich Group"!
Their story has become a model of entrepreneurial success among contemporary college students.

However, outsiders only see the surface glamour, but they may not know that when opportunities are presented to them, not everyone can seize them.

Take Chen Xiaozheng, for example. Because of his pitiful pride and narrow-mindedness, he fell out with Hua Shier, completely ruining what could have been a brilliant life for him. He is a typical example of someone who picked up a sesame seed but lost a watermelon.

Take Li Weijuan, for example. At this moment, standing in a corner of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, watching Hua Shier and his core team surrounded by crowds and enjoying their glory, she felt a mix of emotions, filled with regret.

Back then, opportunities were clearly presented to her. Whether it was early-stage investment or active participation in operations during the startup phase to obtain equity incentives, she had the chance to become a part of this wealth feast.

However, due to her shortsightedness, her petty shrewdness, and her indecisiveness, she neither invested funds nor put in enough effort. In the end, she didn't even get a glimpse of the enormous wealth that Jingnan brought to NASDAQ.

She came to New York as a friend and classmate, traveling and sightseeing with everyone.

Of course, she would like to do it in another capacity, as a shareholder's family member, but unfortunately, Hua Shier didn't think much of her.

Even when Li Weijuan wanted to rekindle her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Li Youcai, who is now the deputy general manager of Jingnan Logistics and also holds valuable shares in the company, Li Youcai explicitly rejected her.

The saying "a good horse doesn't eat the grass it has already grazed" can also be applied to Li Youcai.

In short, Li Weijuan was already sobbing inside, but on the surface she had to force a smile. She was suffering terribly!
After returning from New York, Hua Twelve did not stop.

He proactively contacted Dong Ge, wanting to acquire Jingdong Mall, which had been barely surviving for the past two years due to the squeeze on its living space in Jingnan.

The two held an in-depth meeting in the capital.

The outcome of the talks surprised many, yet it was also quite reasonable.

Jingnan Group announced that it has acquired Jingdong Mall in its entirety.

Dong Ge himself, along with his team and valuable supply chain management experience, joined Jingnan Group as Vice President, taking full responsibility for the construction of Jingnan Logistics' supply chain system.

This powerful alliance further solidifies Jingnan's absolute leading position in the e-commerce field.

Time flies, another spring has arrived, and graduation season is here in the blink of an eye.

For graduates of the Department of Architecture at Beijing South University of Technology, this is the moment to submit their last and most important assignment of their university life—their graduation project.

The assignment given by the homeroom teacher was 'Architectural Design Incorporating Chinese Elements'.

Given Huashi's current special status and enormous influence, the school leadership intends to establish him as a model of outstanding graduates, and therefore attaches great importance to his graduation project.

The homeroom teacher specifically called Hua Shier to the office and said earnestly:

"Twelve, the school is really going to use you as a flagship project for promotion this time. Your graduation project will be displayed in the most prominent position in the school's exhibition hall. Many leaders will be coming to inspect it, probably all because of you. Your project has to be outstanding and impressive!"

He looked at Hua Shier, his tone conveying understanding:

"I know you're busy with your company and have a lot on your plate. It's normal if you don't have much time and energy to do detailed modeling. If you have any difficulties, just tell me and I can help you out."

This statement is almost a blatant implication that Hua Shier only needs to provide an idea or even just lend his name to the project; the teachers can handle the actual work for him.

Upon hearing this, Hua Twelve smiled and shook his head:

"Teacher, I appreciate your kindness. However, it's better to do the graduation project myself. Actually, I've already prepared several plans and am currently choosing the best one."

Upon hearing this, the homeroom teacher immediately became interested:

"Oh? You already have a plan? Have you finished the model? If so, bring it over to the teacher for review and feedback!"

Hua Shier smiled and said, "The modeling hasn't been refined yet, but it has a basic effect. You'll understand it at a glance."

After saying that, he turned and left the office, and a little while later he came back carrying a large suitcase.

Under the homeroom teacher's questioning gaze, Hua Shier opened his suitcase and carefully took out three painted statues of gods, placing them one by one on his desk.

The Three Star Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity!

The homeroom teacher stared blankly at the three kind-faced, brightly colored statues of deities on the table. After a long pause, she pointed at the statues and stammered, "..."

"Hua Shier, what's going on here? Didn't you say you were bringing a model? Why did you bring a deity to your office?"

Hua Shier, with an air of self-righteousness, pointed at the statue and said:

"Teacher, this is my graduation project! I used the appearance of these three immortals as the exterior of the staircase. Look, it's the three gods of fortune, prosperity, and longevity! Didn't you ask me to incorporate Chinese elements? Look at these elements, are they Chinese enough? Are they traditional enough? And the meaning is good too!"

The homeroom teacher nearly choked on his breath, and, half-laughing and half-crying, yelled, "Get lost! According to you, if I bring in a statue of Erlang Shen, can I say I designed a 'Three-Eyed Building'?"

Hua Shier's eyes lit up, as if he had met a kindred spirit, and he exclaimed with delight:
"Teacher, that's a great idea! You're truly amazing! So, you're really planning to build a building? Then we need to discuss the issue of portrait rights first."

"I'll talk your legs!"

The homeroom teacher pointed to the door, her hands trembling with anger, "Get the hell out of here with your magic! Fine, fine, I'll swallow my pride and do your graduation project for you!"

Hua Twelve, however, said solemnly:
"That won't do, teacher! We can't commit academic fraud! What will I look like if it gets exposed? What will you look like? We can't bring shame to the school!"

As he spoke, he put the statue back into the box. “Teacher, don’t worry, I have several other design options here, and I guarantee that each one will be absolutely brilliant!”

As he spoke, he took out three buckets of braised beef noodles from his suitcase, stacked them together, and placed them on the table:
"Teacher, look! This is the 'Instant Noodle Building' I designed! Look at the lines, the structure—how unique and down-to-earth it is!"

The homeroom teacher's eye twitched.

Hua Shier then took out a huge "copper coin" model made of cardboard with a square hole in the middle:
"This is the 'Copper Coin Building'! Its main theme is 'abundant wealth,' which fits the positioning of a commercial building!"

The homeroom teacher took a deep breath and felt her blood pressure rising.

Next, Hua Shier took out a white, oval-shaped one that looked remarkably like a toilet seat. "Teacher, this is the 'Luxury Toilet Seat Building'! It's inspired by life and full of postmodern deconstructive beauty!"

The architectural designs that Hua Shier presented were all renowned in China in later generations; they couldn't possibly be ordinary!
The homeroom teacher was so shocked that he started rubbing his temples, and his mouth was twitching.

"The most amazing thing is here! A perfect blend of Chinese and Western styles, a model of cultural integration!" Hua Shier excitedly took out a modular model. The base was a four-story Western-style building made of building blocks, while the top was a miniature three-story model of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, carefully made of paper.

"Teacher, look! This building of mine, viewed from the left, is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, full of the solemnity and beauty of classical Chinese architecture!"

"Looking at it from the right, doesn't it resemble the White House on the other side of the world, representing the classic style of Western architecture and a symbol of power!"

"Let me ask you this: isn't this design amazing? Does it have an international perspective? Does it demonstrate sufficient cultural confidence?"

Looking at this incongruous model, which resembled a child's haphazardly pieced-together creation, the homeroom teacher felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and his hands and feet began to tremble slightly uncontrollably, causing him to start to shake.

He stared intently at the 'Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the White Palace,' and an impulse welled up within him to overturn the table and take this wicked disciple down with him.

Just as the homeroom teacher was about to completely explode and prepare to clean house, Hua Shier finally, leisurely, took out an architectural model covered with a transparent acrylic cover from the bottom of the suitcase.

The model features sleek lines and a unique structure. Two massive 'Z'-shaped towers are cleverly connected by a sky bridge, forming a peculiar geometric structure that exudes a futuristic and powerful feel.

It is a model of the later television station headquarters building (commonly known as "Big Pants") of the 12th copy of Huashi TV.

The moment this visually striking model appeared, it instantly stunned the homeroom teacher, who was on the verge of losing her temper.

His eyes widened as he circled the model twice, his anger gradually replaced by surprise and scrutiny.

"this."

The homeroom teacher breathed a long sigh of relief, his grim expression softening as if he had just escaped death. Pointing at the model, his tone became much gentler:

"This looks quite interesting. Come on, tell the teacher about your design concept!"

Hua Shier cleared his throat and began his introduction in a serious tone:
"Teacher, the design concept of this building is actually very simple: it originates from life but transcends it. The inspiration came from Zhang Kai in my dorm. He has a pair of basketball shorts that he hasn't washed for three months. He just sticks them on the ground, and hey, they stand up on their own!"

"When I saw this design and its stability, it was simply a masterpiece!"

"So, art originates from life! I immediately noticed the unique artistry and structural beauty it contained."

"Therefore, my building is completely inspired by the classic shape of a pair of chubby underpants, and I named it the 'Underpants Building'!"

"puff"

The homeroom teacher had just picked up her teacup and taken a sip of water to calm her nerves when she heard this, and immediately spat it all out.

He pointed at Hua Shier, his fingers trembling even more violently than before. His face turned from red to white, then from white to green, his lips quivering, and he was so angry that he could barely speak.

"You wretched disciple! Do you have a grudge against me? Are you deliberately trying to anger me to death so you can inherit my piggy bank?!" Completely unable to comprehend these iconic architectural concepts of later generations, he shook his head regretfully.
"Sigh, it seems your art appreciation level is still not up to par with this avant-garde design. Fortunately, I have a trump card prepared to guarantee your satisfaction!"

The homeroom teacher clutched her chest, weakly waving her hand, and said in a pleading tone:
"Please, please stop. I'm begging you, just let me live a few more years. I'm afraid if you use this trump card, one of us will definitely be injured today!"

Hua Shier, however, didn't care about all that. Confidently, he took out the last model from his travel bag, which was also the model he really prepared to use to impress everyone—a copy of the design of the CITIC Tower (Jiuzhou Zun) in Beijing in later generations.

When the model was placed on the table, the whole office seemed to light up.

The model has a hyperbolic shape, tapering naturally from bottom to top, giving it a stable and dignified appearance. The top is slightly widened, with elegant and smooth lines, full of modernity and power, while also subtly revealing a unique oriental charm.

The homeroom teacher had his eyes half-closed, bracing himself for another mental shock, but when he caught a glimpse of the model, his eyes widened instantly.

He suddenly stood up, leaned close to the model, and examined it closely. The more he looked, the brighter his eyes became, and the expression on his face changed from despair to unbelievable surprise.

The homeroom teacher's voice was filled with excitement:
"This is really great! The lines are simple, yet the overall effect is magnificent, the structure is unique, and it looks extraordinary! However..."

He frowned slightly: "It seems I can't see any obvious Chinese elements?"

Hua Shier smiled slightly and calmly explained:
"Teacher, Chinese elements don't necessarily have to be flying eaves and brackets, or carved beams and painted rafters. The idea for this building actually comes from the image of the bronze 'zun,' a precious ritual vessel in our traditional Chinese culture!"

"Look at the tapering curves, the stable base, and the top that opens to the sky—don't they subtly echo the shape and spirit of the bronze zun? This is an attempt to integrate the spirit of traditional culture into modern architectural language; it's a higher level of fusion!"

"The bronze vessel, the bronze vessel is wonderful!" the homeroom teacher murmured, his eyes growing brighter and brighter. He suddenly slapped his thigh, "Wonderful! Really wonderful! It's fucking wonderful!"

His lips were trembling with excitement, but this time it was pure exhilaration. His student, under his guidance, had created such a wonderful design. At this moment, the homeroom teacher even imagined that it would be remembered for eternity in the history of Chinese architecture!

He immediately grabbed the phone on the table and called the dean, giving a rambling report on his 'shocking' graduation project.

Soon, the dean and the principal were alerted and rushed over in person.

When the school leaders saw the model of "Jiuzhou Zun" and heard the explanation of Huashier's design concept, they were all amazed! They immediately decided to have Huashier perfect the details as soon as possible and make a complete and exquisite model, which would be placed in the school's exhibition hall for permanent collection and display!
Such an outstanding work must be shown to all teachers and students, and to the leaders who come to inspect. This is the level of the top talents cultivated by our Jingnan University of Science and Technology!
Soon, news that "the architecture department's genius 12 designed 'Jiuzhou Zun' and received high praise from school leaders" spread like wildfire, even attracting attention and interviews from social media.

During the interview, Huawei took the opportunity to announce a major piece of news:
"Our Weibo company has already purchased a plot of land in the core area of ​​Beijing's CBD and plans to build our own headquarters building. And this future Weibo headquarters building will adopt the 'Nine Provinces Supreme' design that I personally designed!"

This announcement further elevated the prestige of "Nine Provinces Lord" and Hua Twelve to new heights.

Hua Shier did not become complacent with commercial success; he had a bigger blueprint in mind.

He knew that true strength came from technological breakthroughs.

With his full support and almost unlimited funding, the "Weibo-Jingnan Joint Frontier Technology Research Institute" was officially established, focusing on core areas concerning the future such as artificial intelligence, new materials, and biomedicine.

With his visionary foresight, Hua Shier pointed out several key research directions for the research institute.

In August, the world-renowned Olympic Games opened in Beijing, and the whole country rejoiced.

As the chief sponsor of the track and field events, Huashier personally visited the training base before the competition to extend his regards to the athletes who were about to represent the country.

While shaking hands with the highly anticipated "Flying Man" Liu, Hua Shier subtly repaired some long-standing injuries and strains in Liu's body, and also reinforced Liu's Achilles tendon, so that he could not only recover to his best competitive condition for the competition two days later, but perhaps even go further.

On the morning of August 18th, the Bird's Nest Stadium was packed to capacity, with a vibrant atmosphere. The men's 110-meter hurdles final was about to begin.

Hua Shier, accompanied by her four beautiful and charming confidantes—Fang Hui, Lin Jiamo, Shi Jie, and Ruan Wan—as well as a group of friends including Xu Kaiyang, Zhang Kai, and Zhu Xiaobei, sat in the stands with an excellent view. Coincidentally, sitting in front of them were the ever-changing movie star Tony Leung Ka-fai and his wife.

The starting gun fired! Eight figures shot off from the starting line like arrows released from a bow.

Liu Xiang took the lead, his starting reaction was incredibly quick, and his rhythm between hurdles was as smooth as flowing water. Every hurdle movement was full of power and beauty. He seemed to have shed all constraints and pressure, and his form was astonishing!
Sprint! Cross the finish line!
When the clock stopped at "12.79", the entire Bird's Nest was silent for a moment, and then erupted into a thunderous roar of cheers and applause!

A new world record! Liu Xiang not only successfully defended his title, but also broke through his own limits, creating a new limit in the history of the 110-meter hurdles!

At this moment, the whole country rejoiced. All the sons and daughters of China who were watching TV or listening to radio were moved to tears and cheered with joy.

In the stands, Liang Yingdi, who was in front of Hua Shier, instantly transformed into a passionate young man, raising his hands and jumping up from his seat. He was so excited that he jumped and hopped around, hugging his wife tightly, his face beaming with a pure and radiant smile like that of a child.

Of course, it wasn't just actor Liang; Ruan Wan and Lin Jiamo, who were beside Hua Shier, were also incredibly excited.

They pulled Hua Shier up from his seat, one on each side, and dragged him along to join the sea of ​​joy, cheering and shouting with abandon.
In the second half of the year, Hua Shier made a decision that surprised many people—he applied to become the graduate student of the newly appointed vice dean of the college.

This was truly the result of the school's persistent pleading and cajoling.

His design for the "Nine Provinces Monument" was expected to take as long as eight years to complete.

So here's the question: if a building designed by a student during their time at school wins an award, is it the same as a building designed after graduation?

The school leaders went to great lengths to ensure that this great honor and influence would remain firmly tied to Beijing South University of Technology, using all sorts of kind words to persuade him to pursue further studies.

First, pursue a master's degree, then a doctorate. In any case, the school will not "release" anyone until "Jiuzhou Zun" is officially completed. In the end, they even promised that he could stay at the school to teach.

It gives off a feeling of 'You think you can leave after offending the abbot?'
Hua Shier had no choice but to agree, as he was happy to have a quiet identity to continue "slacking off".

Time flies, the years are like a shuttle.

In 2017, the "Jiuzhou Zun" finally passed the completion acceptance and stood majestically in Beijing's CBD, becoming a new landmark building.

In the same year, Hua Shier's personal wealth, along with the soaring market value of his various companies and a series of successful investments, officially surpassed Bill Gates, making him the world's richest man!
After Hua Shier became the world's richest man, Fang Hui, Lin Jiamo, Shi Jie, and Ruan Wan, the four women, completely gave up their initial desire for a marriage certificate.

They discussed it privately and felt that things were fine as they were. Not getting married meant they could continue dating, making their relationship purer and more stable. Once they got a marriage certificate, legal issues could easily arise, leading to problems.

They were willing to compromise and maintain the status quo for the sake of the man they both loved and for the deep affection they had developed over the years.

However, they also made a common request to Hua Shier—each of them wanted a child of their own and his.

Hua Shier readily agreed and solemnly promised that after having children, he would never again seduce other women in this world and would give all his love to them and the children.

This world is the key point!

That day, Hua Shier had just completed the "great undertaking of creating a baby" with Lin Jiamo, and was gently embracing her and whispering sweet nothings when, without warning, the long-absent system notification sounded in his mind:

"Ding! Detected that the host has connected with a minor world clone and encountered a sudden crisis. The host can make one of the following two choices:"

"First, abandon this minor world and actively sever the connection with the clone. The clone's life or death is irrelevant to the host. Cost: The fusion progress of some souls will be stalled, which may trigger unknown backlash."

"Second, immediately traverse this minor world, take over the clone, resolve the trouble, and after successfully resolving the problem, you can accelerate the fusion of souls."

Hua Shier was taken aback at first.

Doppelgangers? I have doppelgangers in other worlds?
But then, from the depths of his soul, which had merged with a part of Erlang Shen's primordial spirit, came a faint resonance filled with anxiety and crisis, which made him instantly realize that it wasn't that he had a clone, but that the Erlang Shen Yang Jian he was merging with had a wisp of his spirit or reincarnation in some minor world that had encountered great trouble!

Recalling the experiences of Erlang Shen that he knew, although they were full of hardships, there seemed to be few moments when his life was truly in danger.

This made Hua Shier feel that there shouldn't be any danger involved, and it was worth going.

Not only will it resolve potential hidden dangers, but it might also bring unexpected gains, accelerating his complete fusion with Yang Jian's primordial spirit!
Without much hesitation, Hua Twelve silently recited in his heart:
"I choose two!"

Thank you to 08a, Little Tiger of the Demon Realm, Starry Sky 696, and God of Death Li Meng for the donations. Thank you also to the brothers who voted with monthly tickets and recommendation tickets. Thank you so much!