Reborn since 1993

Chapter 1211 Yesterday they ignored me, today they can't afford to associate with me
Attitude...is very important!

As for how to demonstrate this attitude, it certainly involves donating money, admitting mistakes, and getting things done honestly.

And that's what companies like Philips Tobacco, Reynolds, and even old European companies like British Tobacco needed to do.

After losing their lawsuits against the federal states, they not only face a massive $2060 billion in damages, but also the challenge of changing their image.

After all, if anyone who buys their tobacco thinks of all sorts of diseases, or even losing their life, then who would dare to buy their tobacco?
Therefore, major tobacco companies that want to continue operating in the tobacco industry must change their image.

However, after a century of development, the tobacco industry has reached its limit. Traditional tobacco formulas and flavors have become largely fixed, making it difficult to come up with any new tricks.

At this time, Ruyan e-cigarettes, however, sold very well as a smoking cessation product, which is considered "great, glorious, and righteous." One wonders if the tobacco giants are envious?
What could be a better way for tobacco giants to express their attitude and determination than by choosing to join the e-cigarette camp? They're supporting e-cigarettes to sever ties with their past selves. Doesn't that prove their stance?
Among these, the most effective approach was to partner with Ruyan e-cigarettes, which achieved the desired results in one step!

Similarly, for Ruyan e-cigarettes, this class-action lawsuit from traditional tobacco companies is also a windfall opportunity!
With traditional tobacco being suppressed, the market share vacated can be taken by e-cigarettes.

If traditional tobacco giants were to transition to e-cigarettes, they would certainly have to rely on Ruyan e-cigarettes, as the patents for e-cigarettes are held by Ruyan e-cigarettes.

This is Ruyan e-cigarettes' real chance to take center stage in the tobacco industry; it all depends on how Ruyan e-cigarettes manages it!
Upon hearing Li Dongling's words, Cao Zongyan, Wei Jiaxuan, Cornell, and others all showed expressions of surprise.

I was both astonished by Li Dongling's assessment of the structure and situation of the American tobacco industry and amazed by the philanthropist Li's operational skills.

This move has practically dragged all the traditional tobacco giants, whether from America or from old Europe, into the game!
If the situation unfolds as Li Dongling predicted, then the attitude of traditional tobacco giants towards e-cigarettes will undergo a dramatic change, transforming from past hostility and resistance to enthusiastic embrace.

As for e-cigarettes, they will become a piece of cake and a hot commodity in the eyes of tobacco giants, and all parties will fight hard to get their hands on them!
Thinking about this, Cornell couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He felt that Ruyan e-cigarettes might be even more popular and profitable than Goldman Sachs had predicted!
"When the American class-action lawsuit against the tobacco industry ends, if it really is as I expect."

I hope Goldman Sachs and Bear Stearns can help Ruyan e-cigarettes reach a partnership with a tobacco giant, such as Reynolds Tobacco, at a "suitable" valuation!

Li Dongling specifically named Reynolds, and Wei Jiaxuan and Cornell must have understood the underlying meaning of Li Dongling's words. In reality, he wanted to cooperate with Reynolds, or rather, to have Reynolds invest in Ruyan e-cigarettes at an exorbitant price, thus completely inflating the valuation of Ruyan e-cigarettes.

The reason for choosing Reynolds is that in any industry, the second-place company is always more willing to take risks than the first-place company. Who wants to be second forever?

Moreover, while the industry leader can reap the rewards, the second-place industry leader may not even be able to get a bite. Naturally, they will try every means to catch up with the industry leader and are most willing to take risks and pay the price for it!
"Of course!"

"Goldman Sachs is willing to provide necessary assistance to Ruyan e-cigarettes. Goldman Sachs has always been helping its partners resolve problems!"

Cornell said he felt he needed to report everything that happened on the yacht today to Paulson at Goldman Sachs headquarters in America, as everything had exceeded his expectations.

The scheme that Li Dashan has devised on the chessboard of Ruyan electronic cigarettes has already exceeded his control.

After finishing their business, Li Dashan, the president of the mainland fishing association, set an example by picking up the fishing rod that Guangwei had customized for him and starting to fish at sea.

As the head of the fishing association, Li Dongling is accumulating experience; otherwise, how will he guide the fishing masters in the association to fish at sea in the future?

"Mr. Li!"

"Are you really optimistic about the internet industry?"

Cao Zongyan casually grabbed a fishing rod, sat down next to Li Dongling, and asked him a question.

Bank of China Hong Kong City is actually quite conservative. It doesn't get involved with many emerging internet and technology companies. After all, given its status, Bank of China Hong Kong City wouldn't dare to easily touch those high-risk companies, in case the money invested goes down the drain.
But what happened on the yacht today still shocked Cao Zongyan. He keenly sensed that the technology industry was undergoing a huge change, and it seemed to have a stronger ability to attract money and a faster speed to cash out after listing than traditional industries!

"The future will be the age of the internet, at least for the interior and America!"

After using his unique method to scatter several bags of fish food, Li Dongling cast his fishing rod according to the standard operating procedure for fishing issued by the Mainland Fishing Association. That's right, this standard fishing procedure was also completed under the personal approval and important instructions of the benevolent Li.

All anglers should follow this standard procedure to be considered authentic anglers certified by Principal Li; all others are heretics and should be avoided.

After casting his fishing rod, Li Dongling said to Cao Zongyan, "But every industry has its ups and downs; it's impossible to go straight on. However, I believe that the internet will be the mainstream of the technology industry in the future, and our daily lives, including clothing, food, housing, transportation, and even future payment methods, will all change because of the internet."

The future of the internet can only be in America and the interior, because the two major demands of the internet are either having money and technology, or having a sufficiently large market, such as billions of internet users!

You have to get involved in both sides, and only two countries across the Pacific can satisfy both of these characteristics. The rest of old Europe is fragmented, with more than a dozen languages ​​such as German, French, and Italian naturally dividing the old European market.

As for English, with America around, Britain can only be a junior. Can it carry the banner of the English-speaking internet camp?
Although the mainland lacks the internet technology and funding of America, it has a huge user base. With such a massive user market, which has formed its own distinct ecosystem, it would be surprising if it didn't produce internet giants.

As for Cyberport's Silicon Harbor project, it relies on the mainland market and attracts money from Southeast Asia, America, and old Europe. Otherwise, it would be like a tree without roots, falling apart with the slightest breeze.

However, the internet industry is not always smooth sailing. Even Yahoo, which is currently enjoying immense success, could have been unexpectedly acquired and collapsed one day.

Cao Zongyan listened to Li Dongling's words and fell into deep thought. Unlike inland areas, banks in China have virtually no competitors and can make money effortlessly.

In Hong Kong and overseas markets, Bank of China faces fierce competition from a large number of rivals and needs to build its own core business.

Cao Zongyan was unsure whether to bet on the internet industry, but with the example of China.com, he was prepared to increase his investment in the technology sector, support technology companies, and bring them into the camp of Bank of China Hong Kong City Company!

After speaking, Li Dongling stopped speaking easily. People like Cao Zongyan, who held great power, could only discuss things briefly at most. They couldn't accept being bossed around. He knew when to stop.

In the future, both in Hong Kong and overseas, Dongling High-Tech and Cyberport will have to deal with Bank of China. As for Hong Kong-based Bank, which was acquired by Cyberport, it will be many years before we can count on it!

As evening fell, Li the Philanthropist finally put away his fishing rod after the yacht entered Victoria Harbour. Before disembarking, he glanced at the empty bucket and realized that the standard fishing procedures on the mainland were only suitable for river fishing; they were simply not adapted to the sea environment. It wasn't his fault...

After disembarking from the yacht, Cao Zongyan, Cornell, and Wei Jiaxuan hurriedly left. They all needed to report to their respective headquarters. Both China.com and Ruyan e-cigarettes involved investments of hundreds of millions of US dollars, which were by no means a small matter for their respective organizations.

Lin Xianhui didn't even have time to dine with Li Dashanren. He hurriedly returned to China.com. He needed to get the legal department to finalize the agreement and send it to Bear Stearns' investment bank to finish things while the iron was hot.

Li Dongling and Ning Wenke had a meal with Zhang Xiaocheng, and at the table, they directly confirmed the agency rights for Ruyan e-cigarettes in Southeast Asia, which were then handed over to Ning's Trading Company. Ruyan e-cigarettes will be promoted in Southeast Asia, especially in Japan, South Korea, and other places.

Given the relationship between Ning's Trading and Dongling High-Tech, Ning's Trading has become part of Dongling High-Tech's system in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia!

The Southeast Asian distribution rights for Ruyan e-cigarettes will definitely not go to outsiders; they can only be given to Ning's Trading.

Li Dongling strolled along the streets of the port city, while Yang Zhigao, accompanied by security personnel, was scattered around to ensure that no accidents would occur.

Under the flashing neon lights, pedestrians hurried by. Inside the bustling shops, Li Dongling felt as if he were seeing a prosperous street scene from a future era. The port city at present was indeed extremely prosperous, truly one of only two cities in Asia that never sleeps.

Ning Wenke took Li Dongling's arm as they walked along the streets of Hong Kong. The lights occasionally flashed across their faces. Ning Wenke tilted her head to look at Li Dongling, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her lips. For her, this scene of taking a walk with the philanthropist Li was not easy to come by.

Just as Li Dongling and Ning Wenke were strolling through the streets of Hong Kong, news began to circulate that China.com had secured funding at a valuation of $28 billion.

The news immediately shocked the entire city of Hong Kong. Everyone in Hong Kong knew that China.com might be "very expensive", but no one expected it to be this expensive!

The news then spread to inland areas, Southeast Asia, and even Silicon Valley and Wall Street, where it was immediately reported.

"The most expensive startup in history has been born!"

"China.com sets a new record in the history of internet financing!"

The technology section of Tianya Forum was once again flooded with posts from China.com.

(End of this chapter)